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Ever since I saw a well on Pinterest I decided I NEEDED to make one myself. I mean look how cute my first try turned out, imagine what anyone with more skill than me, can do. And I'm sure once I'll try and make them again I'll get better and better. There are other doable designs out there, but I choose to make the ones with pebbles as a challenge. So here is what you need to know on how to do a Fairy Well so you can do it yourself even if you lack skill.
When I planned to make myself a Fairy Well, I wasn't sure what
materials I needed, so I figured out the steps on my own. Here is the
– Pebbles – the size you need, and also a bit smaller, cuz maybe you'll need to fill in some gaps.
– Construction Plaster – I bought the smallest bag I could find, unfortunately that is 5 kg. Make sure it's a powder that mixes with water, only the amount you need, and it is easily spread and doesn't harden too quick.
– Paper cylinder – from your toilet paper roll, or from paper towels if you want to go bigger.
– One ice cream stick – I cut it in 2
– 2 matches – cut the burner out
– A piece of thick paper, or just a folded regular paper.
– A piece of cooper wire or a thin and long stick – you'll need this to hang the bucket on.
– A small chain – for the bucket
– Water glue – it will dry slowly
– Fast dry glue.
– A multipurpose varnish to make it waterproof.
– A piece of cardboard – big enough to cut pieces of tiles for the roof.
– And paint – to paint the roof top, I used acrylics. If you would use pine cone scales the paint won't be necessary, however, I find pine cones too stiff to work with, and the cardboard glued super fast and blended well with the other pieces.
Step 1 – making the base
I took the toilet paper cylinder and spread some plaster on, just on a
1-2 inches and just on about half of the roll. Don't cut the roll, it
will help you hold onto something while rotating to put pebbles all
around. Then put the pebbles on the surface you applied your plaster
starting with the upper row, the one in the middle of the roll, so you
can form the straightest line you can manage, and the last row. Assemble
the "jigsaw" puzzle out of pebbles, and when needed fill gaps with
little ones. Some might drop in the process, just apply the paste on the
pebble and shove it in their spot again. After you finished it let it
dry as long as you can. I let mine over night, cuz I would've been too
anxious to let it during the day, as I would want to touch it every 2
seconds. And cut the extra paper roll.
Step 2
Cut the ice-cream stick in 2 using a thin saw. Use the fast dry glue to glue the sticks to the base on the inside, where the paper roll is. After it dries add the two matches on each stick at the end, so the roof will settle on them, this will form the letter T, or a cross if the ice-cream stick looks a bit too long. Make the cooper wire, shaped like an L at the end, just a bit, to make it look like a lever that you pull the bucket out with. I found my bucket on a site, made out of tin, and really cute, but I was thinking before finding it, that I could make one out of a walnut shell, or if I could find a big acorn I'll try and empty it. I would probably glue a thick, old looking, string to it and clip the chain on it and on the lever. I made 2 small pieces of wire, in the shape of J letter, and glued one on each ice-cream stick, so I would be able to put the lever, with the bucket, on them.
Step 3 – making the roof
Make a V shaped roof out of paper, make sure it is a bit bigger than the well, that it settles on the matches well and it is not too long so you can still see the well from every side. I made holes in the paper with a screw where the matches would fall and put them thru with a bit of glue. Cut tiles from the cardboard and take a water based glue, that's good with paper, to glue them to the rooftop. Just spread a tiny line of glue, from top to bottom and start put the tiles, starting with the bottom one, then on top of the first another one, and so on. When you finish with the tiles, cut another long piece to finish the roof with, and glue it on top of the last row of tiles, bent it in half, on the long part, before you attach it, just make sure it's the right size.
Step 4 – Finish it off
You can start paper machete-ing the roof a bit. Use water based glue and pieces of a paper napkin, or toilet paper. If the toilet paper has more layers, try and get just one. I used white toilet paper. The cardboard is made of layers too, so the margins will show some wholes, the hollow in the cardboard pieces, so I tried and masked that, just the side view, the bottom row and the top long pieces. It would've been too hard to get the paper and glue around every tile, but the hollows aren't a problem there. After you finish it, give a generous layer of glue on the entire roof, and let it dry. After it dries start painting it. Better not to use water at all, just plain paint. You can use just brown, or get some fine yellow stripes in there after you put the darker brown. Tiny smudges of green work too. You can always play with the natural colors you would find in a garden, or stick to one color, it will be fine. I painted the ice-cream sticks too, and the matches, all green. Then varnish it, after the paint dries too, to make it waterproof. Maybe wait a few hours and give another layer of varnish, just to make sure.
AND you're done! It's a bit time consuming, because of all the waiting, but I say it's worth it.
Probably sounds harder than it is, but you won't know until you start. You can always come back here to show us your progress or ask for advice. Or even propose other projects that I should try and make for the first time and then describe the process to you. I would love a challenge


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- Shaun Marsh Date of Birth: 9th of July 1983
- Shaun Marsh Birth Place: Narrogin, Western Australia, Australia
- Shaun Marsh Birth / Full Name: Shaun Edward Marsh
- Shaun Marsh Nicknames: SOS (Son of Swampy), Salt (Shaun "Salt" Marsh)
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- Shaun Marsh Batting Style: Left-handed batsman
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- Shaun Marsh Test Match Debut: 8 September 2011 v Sri Lanka
- Shaun Marsh ODI Match Debut: 24 June 2008 v West Indies
- Shaun Marsh Shirt Number: 9
- Shaun Marsh T20I Match Debut: 20 June 2008 v West Indies in Bridgetown
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- Shaun Marsh Father Name: Geoff Marsh
- Shaun Marsh Mother Name: Michelle Marsh
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- Shaun Marsh Facebook Profile Links: N/A
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subset: commoncrawl


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Fishnets you say? Why fishnets? Because, look at how bad ass I look, that's why, you FOOL! I have managed to turn pretty boring get ups into punk heaven, with the aid of those and my new/ very old docs.
One of my bestest chummies in all the land, (yes, the one who is constantly featured in my Kodak Moments posts and the reason why I am considering changing the name of my blog to "Julianne's Face Appreciation Fan Girl Club", man her face is so good.) has decided to move into my gaff. There are a few reasons as to why this is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Reason 1: We are both single, but needy in equal measures. This means we enjoy a good 5am party upon the Mess Express, but some nights we just need to feel loved and eat pizza in bed watching documentaries and noozing. She's the perfect heterosexual life partner I could of ever asked for.
Reason 1: We are both single, but needy in equal measures. This means we enjoy a good 5am party upon the Mess Express, but some nights we just need to feel loved and eat pizza in bed watching documentaries and noozing. She's the perfect heterosexual life partner I could of ever asked for.
Reason 2: She likes baths. Not like 'Oh I enjoy a good bath as much as the next gal - nonono. She LIKES baths, like, as much as I do. Which is a daily occurrence. Before she lived here, she would come over and spend a few hours in the bath with me, Netflixin' and chilling out in the bubbles. And she doesn't pee in the bath like my brother used to, so that's also good. We are fiiiinally going to get our best-friend tattoos next month, and they are totally going to be bath themed. OH THE CHEESE!
Reason 3: She eats a lot of shit. I want some crisps but I can't be bothered leaving the house? She has a packet stashed under her pillow. I wanna eat pizza for breakfast, but can not warrant cooking a whole one for myself, she'll go halfers. I need a Boojum, but I only had one yesterday so I shouldn't really? She will tell me it's okay and come with me, only to order the same thing and go halfers on a side. She's perfect.
Reason 4: She has ridiculously tiny feet, LIKE ME! Do you guys even know how hard it is to find a decent pair of shoes in size 3 in Belfast without spending a gazzillion pounds, of course you don't because you likely have averaged sized feet, unlike us. I love me a good pair of shoes, and it's clear to see with my collection being pretty laaaarge (unlike my feet, sorry!), and so does she. Thus double the amount of footwear. See them Docs I'm wearing up there? Yeah they are one of our shared pairs of kickers. Read it and weep ladies. Sharing truly is caring.
I will say this though. As I sit typing out this big massive gush sesh about how much I am infatuated with my pal, I am actually really pissed at her. She borrowed my foundation this morning, but then took it to work with her and now I am sitting with the worst make-up I have ever done to myself (using concealer as foundation is NEVER a good idea). She's ruined me.


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There's really nothing worse than having mid-afternoon snack craving. Especially if you're like me and the hanger is toooooo real (ask Carl anytime, he'll attest to that). Keeping snacks in your purse at all times is a must. We've all been told that snacking between meals is important (especially if you're looking to lose weight), but not all snacks are equal.
You always want to make sure that you're snacking on treats that aren't too high in fat or sugar- it's not only unhealthy, but also can cause you to have a mid-workday crash if you binge on bad bites! These are a few of the snacks I like to keep in my (probably too oversized) bag!
RX Bars
These bars are a major lifesaver when you're running out the door in the morning! They're the perfect size for breakfast on the go and pack major flavor. And more importantly, there's no artificial crap. Each bar literally lists its ingredients on the wrapper, which I love. My faves are the chocolate sea salt and chocolate coconut (can you sense a theme here?).
Raw Almonds
Almonds are my FAVE. They are so tasty and full of antioxidants, protein, Vitamin C and more. They also have tons of fiber and Vitamin E, which makes them filling AND good for your skin. I usually throw a handful in a Baggie into my purse and snack on them post-lunch.
Yes and yes. I normally am not a huge fan of popcorn, but this Boom Chicka Pop is the best I've ever had. It tastes amazing (and 35 calories a cup?!) and is made with whole grain energy, contains no GMOs and is gluten free. And if my sweet tooth kicks in, I go for the kettle corn.
My all time fave snack, especially in the warmer months! A good apple is crisp, juicy, filling and hits the spot almost every time. I slice my apples at home using this handy tool and pop them in a baggie and into my purse. I usually try to grab a packet of almond or raw nut butter and squeeze it on as I eat. SO good!
What are your fave healthy on-the-go snacks?!


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Sunday, July 28, 2013
undun: a review of "Fruitvale Station"
Written and Directed by Ryan Coogler
**** (four stars)
"I didn't raise you to be in this kind of a world."
My Father said those words to me not terribly long ago during a weekend phone call during which we had a lively conversation about the politics of the day. Those same words have continued to echo in my brain as I watch the news as well as the local political events that surround me in Madison, WI. Those same words have never echoed as loudly as they did after the United States Supreme Court's devastating decision to eliminate Section 4 of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 and even more powerfully, after the unthinkable jury decision to allow that racist child murderer George Zimmerman walk away free after ending the life of Trayvon Martin.
Dear readers, while I am a person who carries a certain utopian vision of the world, I am by no means remotely naive as to how the world actually works. That said, I do not believe that I have ever previously lived during a period in which I have felt so frightened just because of my skin color. It feels that despite the presence and reality of having Barack Obama as the President of the United States, racist attitudes have become even more overt, direct and boldly out in the open than I can even think to remember. I distinctly remember the night when President Obama won the election for his first term in office and I watched the glorious celebration in Chicago's Grant Park. Announcers and commentators remarked and pondered if by electing America's first Black President, have we now entered into a new "post-racial society." Immediately I thought to myself, "Are you kidding me?! It's only going to get worse." Little did I know how much worse...
This afternoon, I went to a screening of Writer/Director Ryan Coogler's debut feature film, "Fruitvale Station," a haunting docudrama based upon the true story about the final day in the life of 22 year old Oscar Julius Grant III, an African-American who was shot and killed by a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer at the Fruitvale train station located in Oakland, California in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009. Whatever cosmic symmetry has unfolded that has allowed this particular film to be released to the world at this time is of course unknown, but its arrival could not be more timely even if it had been calculated. We have long past the point where we all need to have an open and honest dialogue about race, violence, police brutality, an indifferent justice system and the corruption of power but even as "Fruitvale Station" places all of these issues front and center, it is the topic of humanity for all people that rises to the top. While this film is not nearly the iconic slice of life powder keg that we saw almost 25 years ago in Writer/Producer/Director Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" (1989), "Fruitvale Station" is a moodier update of the same social/political/racial landscape, illustrating how much things have actually not changed in this country. That is what makes this film such a quietly devastating work, so much so that it left me sitting solemnly in my theater seat long after the the end credits had scrolled and the ushers had cleaned the theater. I urge all of you to head out and see this film for yourselves.
"Fruitvale Station" stars Michael B. Jordan (you may remember him from HBO's "The Wire" or in last year's terrific thriller "Chronicle") in a wonderfully naturalistic performance as Oscar Julius Grant III. As previously stated, this film is not remotely plot driven but essentially an intimate drop-in into what would become the final day of his life. We see his relationship with his long time girlfriend Sophina (Melonie Diaz) and the joy he carries for their daughter Tatiana (Ariana Neal). We see him planning for his Mother, Wanda Grant's (Octavia Spencer), birthday dinner/party. We see him interact with his friends, enemies and even strangers on this fateful day, while also witnessing Oscar's brutally pre-empted journey to piecing his life back together after being released from prison, presumably for drug dealing. The film culminates with Oscar's final moments when he and his friends, celebrating on New Year's Eve, are apprehended by BART police responding to calls of a fight on the train. Oscar Grant, who was unarmed, handcuffed and laid face down upon the pavement was shot in the back by an officer and he died several hours later.
With "Fruitvale Station," Ryan Coogler has made a confident, sure handed debut feature film that is completely sobering as it is empathetic and humane. He possesses an easy, unforced directorial hand, making the bulk of the film appropriately mundane in its natural, everyday tone and approach. Michael B. Jordan has elicited a performance of such skill and seemingly effortlessness that I think it would be very easy to actually not see how committed he truly is to bringing the story of this young man to life. While the confrontation, shooting and death of Oscar Grant is appropriately intense and carries an equally appropriate sense of moral outrage, for much of the film's running time, Coogler and Jordan focus not upon the tragedy of Oscar Grant's death but utilizes "Fruitvale Station" more as a character portrait of a young man taking stock and trying to straighten himself from his more philandering, violent past. By doing so, the loss of life that we do see is completely upending as Coogler demonstrates not only how rapidly celebration can transform into terror but he remarks painfully upon the fragility of life itself, especially for young African-American males in this country.
Just watch Jordan during an early sequence set in a market where Oscar Grant was once employed in the butcher section. As he arrives to purchase some crabs for his Mother's birthday dinner, we see him interact not only with a friend but also with a confused, pretty young customer (played by Ahna O'Reilly) seeking the proper fish to buy for a fish fry dinner but also with his former employer who will not re-hire him to his former position due to his questionable past. Michael B. Jordan is able to slide back and forth from jovial to slyly flirtatious and accommodating to flashes of brutality and violence in a blink of an eye giving us in mere moments, the fullness of Oscar Grant's life and emotional palate as a son, friend, former criminal, grandson, child and emerging adult. Jordan brilliantly elicits Oscar's continuing struggle with the very past impulses that landed him in prison in the first place and the new manhood he wishes to ascend to. Michael B. Jordan is remarkable from start to finish and I sincerely hope that this performance is the very one that will begin to attract him to more filmmakers itching to find fresh, young talent as strong as this.
But "Fruitvale Station" has something much greater on its mind than just bringing a new-ish actor to the forefront. What Coogler, his team and his entire cast have accomplished so powerfully is the very thing some critics have even criticized this film for. Some reviews has referred to "Fruitvale Station" as being the type of movie that needlessly succumbs to shameless audience manipulation when the inherent drama of the story is fully apparent. That Coogler perhaps overplayed his hand in presenting to us the humanity of Oscar Grant. That shouldn't we just already understand that Oscar Grant was a "decent human being," as one critic expressed in their review of this film. Well...there is a part of me that might be able to see that criticism but frankly, it is to a minuscule degree.
I never felt as if "Fruitvale Station" was toying with me or was trying to force me to feel the very things I should be feeling anyway. I never felt that Coogler had neon signs instructing me how to respond from moment to moment at all. I felt that "Fruitvale Station," once again, was one of the most natural films I have seen this year, a film that was allowed to live and breathe upon its own terms. This was especially true when the film reached the precise moment when tragedy struck Oscar Grant down. Coogler never allowed his film to flounder in melodrama or forced histrionics. I connected with this young man and this tragedy because of the grim reality that this very tragedy, at this very time in 2013, could easily happen to any other African-American male. This tragedy could easily happen to me.
To those who have criticized "Fruitvale Station" for maybe coming on too strong with showing what should be obvious, that Oscar Grant was a "decent human being" have missed the point entirely. The fact is that at this current stage in the life of America, the lives of African-Americans, especially young African-American males are not seen in the same fashion as our White counterparts. It is not "obvious" that a man like Oscar Grant could be seen as a "decent human being" especially when he is not even being seen as a HUMAN BEING.
Based upon racist attitudes and downright fear, African-American males are envisioned as nothing more than crime dwelling thugs who mean to harm White people in all manner of violence, theft, gunplay, rape and anything else that would make a White individual clutch their purses tighter to their bodies while sharing elevator space with Black people and quickly cross the street to the other side when being innocuously approached by a African-American.
Take the Trayvon Martin case for instance. As I watched the news, never once did I just hear within all areas of the media that his murder was a tragedy. Never once did I just hear in all areas of the media commentators speak of him in the same somber manner that would be utilized for the death of a White child. I had to endure listening to the painful speculations of Trayvon's character, his past, his associations and not just hearing about the tragedy and the reality that he was an innocent, unarmed child, doing nothing to anybody and was just heading back home when he was stalked, attacked and murdered. The entire court case itself was too painful for me to watch as what essentially transpired was that Trayvon Martin was tried for his own death, a trial in which he lost. Out of the many responses I read after the case was closed, I do not think that I was affected more than from an essay written by The Roots' drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson who stated so powerfully that in the minds of African-Americans in this country, and after this court decision, we are being told once again that our lives don't matter, that our lives are not important because as he poignantly yet brutally states..."You ain't shit."
With that reality stacked against young African-American males especially, Ryan Coogler more than had his work cut out for him in trying to establish the life of Oscar Grant as one of equal worth of any White person or character just through the act of displaying his humanity. Have we really reached a point in our collective humanity, even after everything we as a human race have traveled through and supposedly learned about ourselves and each other, that Black people are not an entity unto themselves? That Black people love their children just like White people? That Black people have loving families and meaningful interpersonal relationships just like White people? That individual Black people struggle with their own foibles, faults, and mistakes with hopes of attaining some sense of redemption and elevation just like White people? That Black people should not be inherently feared, especially because of skin color? Have we really returned to the stage where Black people were considered to be 3/5 of a human being? I cannot fathom that we have but reality is telling me otherwise.
Let me please recount a personal story from my past to you, one that I have never shared before this time. Many years ago, I was waiting for a bus to take me to my place of employment, a prominent children's bookstore. As I waited for the bus in my neighborhood, I immediately took notice of several police cars idling within the area, a sight that was not of any sense of normalcy to me. I wondered of course if something had happened but all seemed quiet so I didn't worry. My bus arrived, I got on and prepared myself for my ride to work. Soon after departing the bus stop, I noticed that a police car was following us and had then directed the bus driver to pull over to the side of the road. I watched the proceedings with the same curiosity as my travelling companions, just wondering what had occurred. Soon, a police officer entered the bus, pointed at me and asked me if I would exit the bus to answer some questions. Of course, I thought that perhaps with all of those idling police cars I saw earlier, an officer may have taken notice of me and was possibly wondering if I had seen anything as I had been waiting for the bus for some time. The first moment I felt that my perceptions were completely off base was when the police officer waved the bus driver away thus taking away my ride to work. And then, the police officer asked if they could search my back pack. And then he asked if he could search me. I was not being seen as a potential witness. I was being seen as a potential suspect.
The ordeal ended rather quickly as it was determined that I was not the person they were looking for and they offered to give me a ride to work. When the officer asked me where I was employed and I told him, he exclaimed, "My son LOVES that store!"
"Good," I said. "Maybe you could tell him about the staff member you almost arrested by mistake." Clearly not a wise move but it just erupted out of me as I was so bewildered.
Once I arrived at work, the officer then asked me if I wanted him to drop me off at a distance away from the store due to any possible embarrassment to which I replied, "Why? I didn't do anything wrong." The police officer dropped me off at the front of the store, I exited and went about my day...somehow.
Despite the fact that the officer was indeed cordial, non-threatening and even apologetic towards me, I was humiliated. I was humiliated tat in my own neighborhood where I was a productive member of the community and never strayed from the path of law and order, here I was being searched and suspected anyway. When the full story hit the local newspaper and I read the description of what turned out to be a coin shop store thief, I became enraged as the thief's height, weight, clothing and overall appearance looked absolutely NOTHING like me. A Madison Metro bus was stopped by police solely to apprehend me because I was the only Black person they saw. Period.
As I watched "Fruitvale Station," I returned to that morning feeling thankful for how the situation did play out but also fearful at how it could have played out much differently. What if this situation happened to me today and the officer was not anything like the officer I dealt with? And if it did turn out tragically, my humanity would not matter at all because all that officer would have seen (and did see in the event I just recounted to you) would have been skin color. It would not have mattered that I am a husband. It would not have mattered that I am someone's son and grandson or that I am a teacher or that I love animals, have friends, and love art, music and films. I would just be another Black face, constant societal suspect of wrongdoing, the true content of my character be damned. This is where we live in America in 2013 and this is where Oscar Grant was living in those early morning hours of 2009 when police officers saw skin color without any regard to the content of his character.
At the time of Oscar Grant's death, many train passengers recorded the full event through telephone cameras, I am presuming some footage of which is shown at the start of "Fruitvale Station," a tactic I am certain some critics would admonish the film for.To that, I say that if Director Kathryn Bigelow can open her over-rated and irresponsible film "Zero Dark Thirty" (2012) with the telephone calls from airplane passengers about to die on September 11th so disingenuously and without major criticism, then what Coogler has done is not only fair game, but truly representative of the film and story he is trying to tell. That Oscar Grant was indeed a human being. What could be a more powerful statement than that?
Ryan Coogler's "Fruitvale Station" is easily one of the most humane films I have seen this year. It is also one of the best. It is a film about life, the loss of life and the wrenching question of how do you even begin to tell a child that her Father is dead and furthermore killed by the police?
We have a tremendously long road ahead of us in terms of pushing the moral arc of the universe in the proper direction. May this film be one small way in getting us to do just that. Because dear readers, it just kills me that my Dad is here to see a world that he never intended for me grow up into.
Posted by Scott Collins at 6:48 PM No comments:
Sunday, July 21, 2013
PIXAR'S FUTURE?: a review of "The Blue Umbrella"
A Pixar Animation Studios Film
Written and Directed by Saschka Unseld
**** (four stars)
In the spirit of this seven minute feature, I shall try my best to make this review equally brief.
Never have I written a posting for one of the short films that precede the main Pixar feature film but this time, I felt compelled as it seemed to fully illustrate the crossroads Pixar Animation Studios has found itself, as far as I am concerned. In (ahem) short, "The Blue Umbrella," is a visual/emotional storytelling dynamo that is quite possibly the finest short feature film Pixar has released to date. It is easily the most visually forward looking short feature they have made and frankly, it is even more forward looking than Pixar's last four feature full length films. And speaking of Pixar's features, short and full length, "The Blue Umbrella" is their finest release since "Up" (2009) and it is one of the best films I have seen in 2013.
The story of the dialogue free "The Blue Umbrella" is beautifully simplistic as it is just about the titular blue umbrella's lovestruck pursuit of a red umbrella during a rainstorm in an urban setting. That's it. And of course, the success of the film is not because of what it is about but how it is about what it is about. Writer/Director Saschka Unseld has created a feature that is as romantic and wistful as it is poetic and downright magical. It is precisely the very type of feature that placed Pixar on the map of American animated films as it has found that inexplicable pixie dust to makes the mundane dreamlike wonderment.
The visual palate of "The Blue Umbrella" is unlike any Pixar feature we have seen thus far as it is a merging of what seems to be live action and animation creating a photo-realistic universe, which new techniques with colors, lighting, shadings and even movement, that is dazzling, beguiling, and euphoric in its presentation. Our emotional connection to that blue umbrella is instant and his tribulations in just making contact with that red umbrella are elegantly expressed and gorgeously augmented by Composer Jon Brion's floating score which features the vocals of Sarah Jaffe.
I have been heavily critical of Pixar in recent years due to the blandness and lack of imagination and fearless risk in their work. It seems that all of that fearless risk and unabashed imagination, heart and soul went into this small feature and I really believe that if Pixar is to have the future that it deserves to have, they truly need to tap back into this well and just...CREATE again. "The Blue Umbrella" is not the kind of film that will sell lunchboxes or is subject to create a new theme ride at Disney and why should it?
Pixar needs to make some serious decisions in what films it wants to make going forwards. Films that are guaranteed box office behemoths but creatively dispassionate or the ones where they just throw caution to the wind, open their minds and hearts and let those box office chips fall where they may?
You all know where I stand and I really believe that all members of the Pixar Senior creative team should get down on their knees to thank Saschka Unseld because with "The Blue Umbrella," he has re-discovered Pixar's soul.
And just in the nick of time.
Posted by Scott Collins at 8:18 PM No comments:
OK: a review of "Monsters University"
A Pixar Animation Studios Film
Story by Dan Scanlon & Robert L. Baird and Daniel Gerson
Screenplay Written by Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird & Dan Scanlon
Directed by Dan Scanlon
** (two stars)
Near the conclusion of "Monsters University," the latest release from Pixar Animation Studios and the prequel to their outstanding classic "Monsters, Inc." (2001), a despondent yet reflective Mike Wazowski (again voiced by Billy Crystal) announces that while the brass ring of greatness just may be forever out of his reach, he has resigned himself to the idea that "I'm OK with being OK." To that end, Abigail Hardscabble (voiced by Helen Mirren), the deliciously stern Dean of the Monsters University's Scare Program expresses that she hopes that Mike Wazowski will still find it within himself to surprise her once again. After that exchange, I was amazed as I do not believe that the wizards of Pixar have ever been so openly and directly self-reflexive. Maybe one day they will take their own advice as voiced by Ms. Hardscrabble, and decide to not just be merely OK and surprise us all again.
Dear readers, I feel as if I am going through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, depression, bargaining and acceptance) when it has come to my relationship with the continuing oeuvre of Pixar Animaton Studios. Where this collective of artists and dreamers once set the gold standard for American animated films, raising their own bar of quality with each new release, Pixar, as voiced by Mike Wazowski, has seemingly settled for artistic mediocrity despite the massive box office rewards they still continue to reap. Ever since the strong but padded "Toy Story 3" (2010), Pixar has offered up a mildly entertaining yet completely unnecessary sequel that nobody asked for in "Cars 2" (2011), one full fledged disaster with last year's "Brave" and earlier this year, there was the wholly underwhelming announcement that "Finding Dory," another unnecessary sequel, this time to the glorious "Finding Nemo" (2003), would be released in 2015. Ugh!
I just cannot believe but may be forced to accept the fact that Pixar just may not be interested in making entertainment that is artful anymore and they will just keep on chasing the dollar. But then, that thought infuriates me because we do have their filmography at hand and we all know the magic they are able to create. There was a time when I would be filled with extremely anxious anticipation with the release of each new Pixar experience, ensuring that I would endure the ocean of small children and families just to get that great seat on opening weekend. But now, after having been let down time and again, I am not nearly as anxious and each new announcement and sequel/prequel idea is just meeting me with a completely dispassionate yawn. So, after a few weeks of release, I finally decided to give "Monsters University" a whirl and while it was a large step upwards from "Brave" with its strong performances and resplendent visual palate, the film was ultimately another blandly creative exercise that was nothing more than artistic wheel spinning and shameless money grabbing.
"Monsters University" is essentially an origin story of how our heroes Mike Wazowski and James "Sully" Sullivan (again voiced by John Goodman) met during their college days, began as rivals and tentatively found their way to best friendship. As the film begins, we meet six year old Mike, the diminutive, fast talking, one-eyed creature whose heart becomes filled with BIG dreams of one day becoming the greatest "scarer" in monster history after a school field trip to Monsters Inc.
Flash forward to his Freshman Year of college where Mike becomes roommates with future nemesis Randall (voiced by Steve Buscemi), enrolls in the Scare Program where he meets Sully, the son of a campus legend, for the first time and is determined to ace his semester finals. A semester's worth of rivalry between Mike and Sully escalates all the way to the fateful day of the exam and to the degree where they are both ejected from the Scare Program by Dean Hardscabble.
Unshakable in his determination to prove his worth as a scary monster, Mike joins the fraternity Oozma Kappa (O.K.) with a small group of misfit monsters and attempts to enlist in the campus Scare Games to compete against a collective of fraternities and sororities including the elite Roar Omega Roar (R.O.R.), the very fraternity from which Sully had just been ejected from. Yet, there's a problem. OK is just one member short of being eligible for competition so Sully reluctantly joins Mike and they are forced to work together to achieve their respective dreams.
As with every single Pixar release that has come before, "Monsters University" is a visual marvel. My eyes simply drank in the heavily layered sights of the campus which is essentially a stunning amalgam of Harvard, Princeton and even the University Of Wisconsin-Madison (apparently, a graduate of UW-Madison worked on the film and Madison viewers will easily spot the campus Carillon, the archway to Camp Randall and even our gargantuan Bascom Hill). Additionally, the return of Billy Crystal and John Goodman does indeed go a long way with this prequel as they slide easily back into their roles to strong and enormously endearing effect. Even so, Pixar should know better than any other animation studio that visual brilliance and the warmth of familiar characters is just not enough in making a story and film resonate into something unique and it just makes me crazy that "Monsters University" never pushes past any sense of its own comfort zone.
While the story itself is as appropriately simple as all of the other Pixar features, what the filmmakers have done with those simple stories in the past is precisely what has made films like "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo," and "Toy Story 2" (1999) for instance such beloved and timeless films. By the time the studio reached the fare of "Wall-E" (2008), "Up" (2009) and Director Brad Bird's towering "The Incredibles" (2004) and "Ratatouille" (2007), it felt as if Pixar was not content with just making films for children. They were obviously making the films that they would pay to see themselves and as a result, if children didn't' quite respond initially, they were films that refused to be disposable and defiantly the type of films anyone could grow up with. Not so with their most recent material and "Monsters University" is no exception. Where the story and emotions contained within were once the true stars of each Pixar feature, those elements have been replaced with a disturbing and sadly hollow heart that is seemingly only filled by how much merchandising can be created from the film itself.
It is just a shame that with a story and film that had so much opportunity to be fresh, inventive, clever and emotionally resonant, that the filmmakers just decided that Mike's journey should only exist in the "believe in yourself" universe that is the hallmark of essentially all children's films. Pixar offered absolutely nothing new on the subject and just chose to remain safe, predictable and pedestrian. Certainly not the traits that made us all fall in love with Pixar in the first place.
And then there are the Scare Games themselves, another opportunity for greatness which the filmmakers squander. Yes, these sequences essentially combine the classic "Revenge Of The Nerds" (1984) and the Tri-Wizard Tournament from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire but everything is just played towards the same tired cliched, snobs vs. slobs collegiate hijinks we have all seen ad nauseum ever since Director John Landis' iconic "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978). There was just nothing in the film that felt new or presented anything in an unusual, perspective altering fashion as with the bulk of Pixar's past works.
Think back to the original "Monsters, Inc." and remember how sharp and satirical the humor was and how laugh out loud funny it has remained. Think of the many sequences that offered surprise and awe (that wild roller coaster ride through the factory of bedroom doors is still a jaw dropper). And then add on the emotional wallop of the relationship between Sully and the little girl Boo, a relationship that reduces the friend I first saw that film with into a sea of flowing tears and the exclamation, "That was the BEST FILM EVER!!" "Monsters University" is nowhere in the same league as it just falls on the easy sentiments of cherished characters and hackneyed homilies that Pixar seemingly rejected in most of their films. Such a shame to see them trying to just get by on those very elements now.
And it didn't have to be that way either. There is one, and I mean, ONE scene in the film that pointed to where Pixar used to be. It occurs late in the film where Mike and Sully have a heart to heart talk about the nature of failure and how despite a familial legacy and/or hard work and relentless perseverance, success may always elude you. It was a scene that showed true emotion, as well as a hard truth of life, and yet, Pixar blinked and ran from that moment as fast as it could.
Look...I didn't hate "Monsters University." It is mildly entertaining but from a studio that has the ability to produce enormously entertaining works, why should I settle for less? I shouldn't and neither should you! Pixar is in the position to be making great works of art because money is no longer an issue and yes, it nearly angers me that they have chosen to play it so safely for a few years now. I haven't given up on them yet as the next two features before "Finding Dory" are reportedly originals and the short feature that preceded "Monsters University" was such a splendidly beautiful piece that it could potentially point to Pixar's future.
If only they want it.
Posted by Scott Collins at 6:51 PM No comments:
Sunday, July 7, 2013
I REQUITE THEE: a review of "Much Ado About Nothing"
Based upon the play by William Shakespeare
Adapted For The Screen, Produced and Directed by Joss Whedon
**** (four stars)
If only all home movies were like this one...
After viewing a series of films that have ranged from serious (Richard Linklater's "Before Midnight," Sofia Coppola's "The Bling Ring"), to dark (Zack Snyder's "Man Of Steel"), to pitch black (Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's apocalyptic comedy "This Is The End"), I think that I have been longing for a bit of a cinematic palate cleaner. Something lighter and frothier but also not something that I would regret either for just because something is lighter and frothier doesn't mean that it has to lose all sense of artfulness when providing the entertainment. So, how fortunate was I to step into Joss Whedon's terrific adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," a contemporary film version that provided me with the perfect amount of light and frothy entertainment while also existing as a supremely warm and wonderfully mounted artistic experience. For those of you out there who may feel intimidated at the prospect of taking on Shakespeare in the summer, especially during a period when you just want to have to see a film that is not mentally taxing, I urge to not allow the language to deter you. For me, the best way to experience the beauty of Shakespeare's language is to see it performed, and if you have never seen Shakespeare performed in any medium of the theater or film, I guarantee you that Whedon's production places nearly all 21st century farcical romantic comedies to shame. "Much Ado About Nothing" shows 'em all how it's done.
Utilizing the original text but updating the location to modern day Southern California, "Much Ado About Nothing" is entirely set at the compound of Leonato (Clark Gregg), the Governor of Messina who welcomes the prince Don Pedro (Reed Diamond) into his home after defeating Don John (Sean Maher), the nefarious bastard half-brother to the prince who led an ill fated uprising.
As part of Don Pedro's entourage is the misogynistic and sharp tongued soldier Benedick (Alexis Denisof), who endlessly engages himself in spirited wars of words and sexual tension with Leonato's equally feisty and quick witted niece Beatrice (Amy Acker). Also included, is Benedick's brother in arms Count Claudio (Fran Kranz), who is deeply in love with Beatrice's cousin Hero (Jillian Morgese). Don Pedro decides to play match maker for Claudio and Hero while most of the remainder of the household covertly tries to play match maker with Benedick and Beatrice, two souls who have sworn off marriage and commitment yet are obviously made for each other.
But trouble lurks in the shadows as Don John malevolently attempts to to foil all of the romantic plans and schemes, resulting in an rapidly escalating series of overhead conversations and misunderstandings that have the potential to grow into tragic results. But of course, this is a Shakespeare comedy so no worries as this whole escapade is a grand party. Yet how it all unfolds, falls apart and merges back together again is for our enraptured enjoyment.
Eat, drink and be merry, dear readers, as "Much Ado About Nothing" is an absolutely perfect movie to take in on a hot summer's day or languid summer's evening, so much so that you will wish that you had several glasses of wine alongside you as you watch (and if you see it at the Sundance theater in Madison, you can do just that). Unlike Baz Luhrmann's excellent and extravagant adaptation of "Romeo + Juliet" (1996), Joss Whedon has decidedly approached Shakespeare's material with an elegant minimalism that is also a showcase for a homemade excursion of equal elegance.
By now, I am certain that many, if not all, of you have heard the legend as to how this latest film adaptation of a William Shakespeare play came into existence. Whedon, a Shakespeare enthusiast who often holds readings at his home for kicks, decided to film his adaptation of the play while on a break from post-production work on last year brilliant comic book behemoth "The Avengers." Filmed in luxurious black and white cinematography over only 12 days and at his own home, no less, "Much Ado About Nothing" is precisely the type of personal filmmaking that is of such rare occurrence these days as Whedon not only adapted the text, produced and directed the film, he also served as co-editor, set music to two of Shakespeare's sonnets contained within the original text and even composed the film's score! That very type of hands on filmmaking translated beautifully to the silver screen as the love he obviously holds for the text is palpable and his presentation is not one that felt lugubrious by any means. Throughout he entirety of the film, Whedon's tone is of relaxation, effortless ease and a summer's day breeziness and you cannot help but to be swept away by the good cheer and honest merriment that he and his extremely able cast have prepared for us.
Strong writing and dialogue especially is of such small amounts these days when you go to the movies and by placing the words front and center, Joss Whedon (who is one of those unusually gifted screenwriters himself) is playfully giving the audience and current and future filmmakers a most a valuable lesson into how ridiculous situations and romantic shenanigans can be made truly surprising, rapturously romantic and blissfully gorgeous. In all of the filmed Shakespeare productions I have seen, I think Joss Whedon has been the most successful in wisely making the language the true star of his film rather than any sense of cinematic spectacle. In doing so, he and his gifted cast somehow, someway made this poetic yet archaic langue sound as natural as the language we speak in the 21st century, while also ensuring that the film is a visual treat of clean, crisp subtlety. Not one cast member ever felt to be tongue tied, tripped up or out of their depth as Shakespeare's luxurious words floated from everyone's lips and mouths with the grace of falling leaves.
I was extremely impressed with Reed Diamond's work as I only have known of him through his riveting performance as the scrappy, hotheaded firefighter turned detective on television's outstanding "Homicide: Life On The Street." Sean Maher brought some sinister clouds into the proceedings very effectively and I was also very impressed with Clark Gregg, a veteran character actor who sailed through his role with a dancer's agility and grace. Nathan Fillion is just perfect as the "ass" Dogberry, the buffoonish constable in charge of the Messina night watch. But, the film largely rests upon the shoulders of Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker and they made for a formidable pairing as they each expressed cunning wit, wry playfulness, wondrous verbal dexterity, skillful physical comedy and dramatic heft and poignancy. Acker especially nearly walks away with the film through a few of her briskly delivered put-downs and soliloquies which gave this lighter than air storyline an unexpected sense of righteous feminist anger.
With this adaptation Joss Whedon did make a couple of changes to his otherwise faithful adherence to the original source material. Aside from the contemporary setting, Whedon altered the gender role of one character but mostly, he added the notion of a past affair between Benedick and Beatrice, something that then fuels their bickering (and Shakespeare's dialogue) with a greater purpose, turbulence and urgency. With that. Whedon was also able to make gentle commentaries about 21st century sexual attitudes and gender roles for both men and women. It is a sharply satirical stance as it is smartly compelling and Amy Acker makes the most of every moment. During one section late in the film after Hero has been mistakenly and publicly shamed, Beatrice explodes in a ferociously delivered soliloquy about what she would do to rectify the situation, even as far as revenge, if only she were a man. It is a speech of rage and powerlessness. Yet, what she does do, what she does request of Benedick, in order for him to obtain her hand and love, shows how much power she actually wields, when she is able to utilize that power and the contexts in which men and women actually do or do not have power. Great stuff but again, this film is not a dissertation about sexual politics. "Much Ado About Nothing" is exactly what the title itself suggests and we should just place out feet upright and allow the words and romance to wash over us.
Dear readers, I urge you to not let "Much Ado About Nothing" fall through the cinematic cracks as it is a piece of entertainment that is more memorable and purely entertaining than so many of the films that I have already seen this year. No, it is not a film designed to advance the medium of cinema itself and it is not one to knock you through the back wall of the theater in amazement but I am telling you, there is just not one negative thing that I can say about it. This is a film where a love of language, great writing and love itself carry the day and sometimes that is absolutely all that you need.
Posted by Scott Collins at 8:36 PM No comments:
Thursday, July 4, 2013
FREAKS AND GEEKS AT ARMAGEDDON: a review of "This Is The End"
Based upon the short film "Jay And Seth Versus The Apocalypse" by Jason Stone
Screen Story and Screenplay Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
Directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
**** (four stars)
"Cat calling, love balling, fussing and cussing
Top billing now is killing
For peace no-one is willing
Kind of make you get that feeling"
-Curtis Mayfield
"(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go"
Every now and again, there is a film that comes along that I just have not a whit of an interest in seeing and somehow, someway over time, my curiosity piques upwards and upwards to the point where it cannot be denied any longer and after seeing the film in question, I kick myself for not having seen it sooner. "This Is The End," the directorial debut of writing partners Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg is precisely that type of film.
While I have been a fan of Rogen's ever since the release of Writer/Director Judd Apatow's "Knocked Up" (2007) and then, travelling backwards through to the television glory of Apatow and Paul Feig's "Freaks And Geeks" as well as Apatow's own "Undeclared," there is indeed a sameness to Seth Rogen's performances that can either work to his advantage in films like Apatow's "Funny People" (2009) and Director Jonathan Levine's "50/50"(2011) or just grow to be painfully wearisome as in Director Michel Gondry's "The Green Hornet" (2011). When I first heard about "This Is The End," starring Rogen plus his friends and frequent collaborators James Franco, Danny McBride and Jonah Hill, I just figured the film was going to be yet another "hanging around" film, copious filled with all manner of profanities peppered with narcotially and scatologically fueled humor and I just wanted to take a pass, fearing that this would have existed as nothing more than a "been there, done that" exercise. Oh, how wrong I was.
Yes, "This Is The End" is indeed a "hanging around" movie copiously filled with profanities peppered with narcotically an scatologically fueled humor but Rogen and Goldberg have raised the stakes to their highest pitch in what may not only be the most self-referential comedy I have seen since Writer/Director Kevin Smith's "Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001) and definitely the most inventively raucous comedy I have seen since the likes of Director Steve Pink's wildly vulgar "Hot Tub Time Machine" (2009). I would actually place this film as existing in the same neighborhood as Smith's "Dogma" (1999) and even the dual brass rings of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (1975) and "Monty Python's Life Of Brian" (1979). That is high praise of course, but allow me to assure you that "This Is The End" is a ruthless, no-holds barred, take no prisoners, laugh out loud and fall down on the theater floor comedy, the likes of which are in profound rarity these days. It is a film loaded with one surprise after another as Rogen and Goldberg have at long last fulfilled the promise made by their terrific screenwriting work for Apatow and Director Greg Mottola's hysterical "Superbad" (2007). Even higher praise that that? You got it. I think "This Is The End" is one of the best films of 2013. How about that?
Playing off of the expectations that I and I am certain many of you have for Seth Rogen, "This Is The End" begins with Rogen picking up best friend Jay Baruchel (playing himself) from the airport to spend a long awaited weekend together. As the twosome walk through the airport, Seth is accosted by a "fan" armed with a camera who admonishes him for his lack of acting depth and questioning when he would ever give a real performance. After a car ride where the friends argue about the dangers of gluten and a full afternoon of pot smoking and video game playing on Seth's 3D television, Seth invites Jay to attend a party at James Franco's house, an invitation that makes Jay feel wary as he just wanted to have the weekend with Seth to themselves, and also due to the fact that he cannot stand Seth's more famous friends.
Reluctantly, Jay agrees and the twosome arrive at the house party which is filled top to bottom with drinks, drugs, debauchery and many celebrities like Rhianna, Jason Segal, Michael Cera, Craig Robinson, Jonah Hill, Emma Watson and many, many others. After a spell, and feeling increasingly out of place, Jay decides to leave the party on the pretense of purchasing a pack of cigarettes. Seth accompanies him and while in the drug store, Jay, Seth and all around them suddenly experience what sounds to be like a sonic boom, followed by what appears to be the greatest earthquake to ever hit Los Angeles. While Seth is covered in rubble, Jay witnesses several strands of glistening blue light plunging down from the heavens, enveloping several people and raising them all through the sky. Rousing Seth and racing back to James Franco's house from the constant carnage, chaos and destruction that is raining down upon them, a massive sinkhole opens up in front of Franco's home, swallowing up nearly all of Franco's party guests, leaving only Seth, Jay, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson and Franco himself safely inside. Believing that they will all soon be rescued (because they are famous actors), the quintet hole up, take inventory of all of their supplies and food and decide to wait it out. Unfortunately, no rescue ever arrives...and Jay begins to fear the worst as he believes that what has occurred has not been a massive earthquake but in actuality, The Rapture itself.
In a cinematic environment where impersonal, homogeneous slabs of entertainment designed for bland mass appeal rule the day, "This Is The End" is the brilliant brick being launched through that stagnant motion picture window. It is a film that constantly defies expectations, consistently keeps you off guard through comedy, terror and even some sharp theological debates, while it cheerfully breaks all of the rules via a biting inventiveness that is supremely refreshing to experience. With this one film, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
have proven themselves to be an R rated comedy film writing/directing force to be reckoned with, showing every other filmmaker these days (who is not Judd Apatow), exactly how to make a hedonistic film that hits essentially every single target it aims for.
"This Is The End" is cheerfully, and I would also say proudly vulgar, as much as you would expect from Rogen and Goldberg because they fully understand that just saying dirty words and doing reprehensible things in and of themselves are not inherently funny. They understand that they do have a story to tell and characters to create and within those situations and motivations the jokes and vulgarities will spring forth...and man, do they spring forth as we are subjected to riffs that go as far as who masturbated into the last porn magazine all the way to cannibalism and who just may unfortunately be giving off a "rapey vibe" to the axe wielding Emma Watson who is hiding in a nearby room. Rogen, Goldberg and the entire cast know the notes and the music for this style of comedy and they make even the most gratuitous gross out gags work triumphantly.
By making "This Is The End" essentially the ultimate meta-comedy film, we are just blessed with a cast who are outrageously game with mocking themselves and their silver screen/public media personas, plus issues of vanity, superiority and insecurity to their most extreme. Seth Rogen wisely plays to his strengths and allows the remainder of the cast the ample room to strut their stuff. Jay Baruchel's sensitivity carries the film on its sense of goodwill among the voluminous nastiness, making him and Rogen the straight men to the hedonism and annihilation that surrounds them. Jonah Hill's unctuous superiority combined with his duplicitous and nearly effeminate niceties are as unpredictable as they are hilarious (I loved his prayer late in the film..."God, it's me Jonah Hill...from 'Moneyball'"). Craig Robinson's sly deliveries are devastatingly funny and Danny McBride nearly steals the film as he plays the film's id, the person whom you would never want to crash your party let alone live out the end of days with. He is feral, ferocious, dangerous, devilish and just plain unstoppable. the already excellent film ascends to greater heights once he makes his grand entry.
As for James Franco...all is forgiven. This is exactly what we should have seen in his overly bland and even miscast work in Sam Raimi's "Oz The Great And Powerful" earlier this year, as Franco shows off his daredevil rogue-ish persona to terrific effect from the moment he appears on screen all the way through to his shocking final moments. And to that end, I must give Rogen and Goldberg great credit for their set design work as Franco's apartment is nothing less than an extension of his (perceived) massively pretentious ego from the props and costumes from his past films, wall artwork and the giant penis statue that looks like it was stolen from the set of Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" (1971)!
Speaking of shocking, here is where "This Is The End" transcends its own comedy and becomes something truly special. I loved that no matter how ridiculous and vile the cast behaves for our comedic benefit, Rogen and Goldberg always play the apocalypse as a real event with real physical and spiritual consequences, making the movie a much, much darker affair than I anticipated the film to be. I was also deeply surprised at how well Rogen and Goldberg were able to wrench large amounts of genuine tension and scares into the proceedings, which often were screamingly hilarious. The combination of comedy and graphic violence is a very fine line to walk and one they handled awkwardly with their script for Director David Gordon Green's "Pineapple Express" (2008). With "This Is The End," they walked that line terrifically and while not nearly as professionally skilled, this film also made me feel as if I was witnessing something that could exist in the same universe as something like Writer/Director John Landis' classic "An American Werewolf In London" (1981), a film which merged comedy and horror seamlessly and never squandering a thing in either category.
From a more horror film standpoint, the frame work of having the group trapped inside James Franco's house was a masterstroke as it kept the actors doing what they do best, talking and riffing, while laying a terrifying foundation as having the nightmare of the world's oblivion outside of the house as well as something unseen for much of the film. One minute, the cast is spewing one vulgarity after another and without warning, Rogen and Goldberg keep jerking the rug out from under us, reminding us that no matter how much fun we are having, the world is indeed ending and there's no way out unless...
I also have to give it to Rogen and Goldberg for even attempting to not only play The Rapture as real but have the spiritual leanings of the story actually carry some real weight as the cast has to deal with the fact that despite the fact that they are actors who bring joy to us common-folk through their movies, they just might not be worthy of finding their way into paradise as their extreme amounts of pettiness, spitefulness, avarice, vanity, lusts, and all around horrible behavior continuously keeps them in their own way. It's sort of like Director Harold Ramis' "Groundhog Day" (1993) via the fire and brimstone of the Old Testament. Seriously, I did find those sequences more than a little stirring when the cast, once they were all fully convinced that spiritual Armageddon was occurring, discussed what it actually meant that none of those bright blue lights ever came down from the skies for them. Like the excellent novel The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta, "This Is The End" boldly inquires what does it mean to be left behind to suffer in a gradually disintegrating existence when others were able to be collected into the afterlife? What does it mean to sacrifice and to be selfless instead of selfish? Most films, especially R rated comedies, wouldn't even attempt to go into this arena but Rogen and Goldberg do and without blinking an eye in the process.
After reading all of this, I am certain that you may have decided if this is a film for you or not. I do understand if it is not. But I cannot stress enough how thrilling it was to see a film that just broke all of the conventions and rules so gleefully as "This Is The End" accomplished. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have re-set the creative bar for themselves with a film that kind of merges Ivan Reitman's "Ghostbusters" (1984) with William Friedkin's "The Exorcist" (1973), and skewers the numbingly narcissistic media "reality" culture of "The Real World" and "Big Brother" to shattering effect, while being wholly original in the process.
Next month, Writer/Director Edgar Wright returns with his own apocalyptic comedy "The World's End," so I guess I cannot truly say that there is nothing else like "This Is The End" playing at the theaters. But even so, not being able to make that statement doe snot in anyway take away even a modicum of the greatness Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg placed on display in "This Is The End."
Posted by Scott Collins at 9:29 PM No comments:
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
You know, you miss just one week...
Yes, dear readers, within the month of June, there was one week where, due to matters much more important than the movies, I did not venture out to the cinema to check out the new releases. And ever since, I have been playing a game of "catch up."
In fact, the lack of new releases that have sparked my attention for this month, July will actually allow for me to continue catching up on films that I just have not had the time to see as of yet.
1. Writer/Director Joss Whedon's contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" is very high on my personal list to see, and I have a feeling that I had better act quickly!
2. Despite my dwindling enthusiasm for all things Pixar as of late, I do intend to see their latest offering "Monsters University."
3. My curiosity has somehow grown for Co-Writer/Co-Director Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's apocalyptic meta comedy "This Is The End" and I may have to try and squeeze that one in.
4. As for official July features, if "Blue Jasmine," the latest film from Woody Allen arrives, I have got to be first in line.
5. Buzz has been building for the following independent feature films, the drama "Fruitvale" starring Michael B. Jordan and the coming-of-age comedy "The Way, Way Back," with Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell.
6. And then, there has been this one film that has been patiently awaiting me to view it for quite some time but I'll keep that one a bit of a secret at this time.
That is more than enough for me to chew on at this time and let's see if I am able to keep up with my own plans and schemes....
Watch this space to find out and I'll see you when the house lights go down...
Yes, dear readers, within the month of June, there was one week where, due to matters much more important than the movies, I did not venture out to the cinema to check out the new releases. And ever since, I have been playing a game of "catch up."
In fact, the lack of new releases that have sparked my attention for this month, July will actually allow for me to continue catching up on films that I just have not had the time to see as of yet.
1. Writer/Director Joss Whedon's contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" is very high on my personal list to see, and I have a feeling that I had better act quickly!
2. Despite my dwindling enthusiasm for all things Pixar as of late, I do intend to see their latest offering "Monsters University."
3. My curiosity has somehow grown for Co-Writer/Co-Director Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's apocalyptic meta comedy "This Is The End" and I may have to try and squeeze that one in.
4. As for official July features, if "Blue Jasmine," the latest film from Woody Allen arrives, I have got to be first in line.
5. Buzz has been building for the following independent feature films, the drama "Fruitvale" starring Michael B. Jordan and the coming-of-age comedy "The Way, Way Back," with Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell.
6. And then, there has been this one film that has been patiently awaiting me to view it for quite some time but I'll keep that one a bit of a secret at this time.
That is more than enough for me to chew on at this time and let's see if I am able to keep up with my own plans and schemes....
Watch this space to find out and I'll see you when the house lights go down...
Posted by Scott Collins at 3:54 AM No comments:
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text:
vBeers – Manchester NWVMUG (Wednesday 2nd, May, 2012)
Wednesday, May 2nd sees the first NorthWest England VMUG. Afterwards we will gather at the Lloyds No.1 Bar which is located inside the Printworks, Withy Grove afterwards, from 5.00pm onwards. Hope to see you there!
Location: Lloyds No.1 – Printworks
Address: 27 Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 2BS
Date: Wednesday, 2nd May – After the NorthWest England VMUG
Time: 5:00pm – Till late


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Dodge isn't playing games with its Tomahawk Motorcycle that really defies what you'd think of a tradition motorcycle. Featuring four wheels (with each wheel having its own independent suspension) and a 8.3-liter V10 Doge Viper SRT10 engine, this baby is capable of speeds up to 420 mph (Dodge claimed this but it was never tested because it was deemed that it did not have sufficient aerodynamics), pushing out 500 ponies for a pure adrenaline rush. Originally released at the 2003 North American International AUto Show in Detroit as a concept cycle since it didn't have street-legal status, now you can own one of the nine machines created for the bargain price of a half a million bucks.
But Dodge is trying to sell them as "rolling sculptures," and don't really want you riding them (as if any of the buyers aren't gonna try to take them out for a spin or two). Who wouldn't want to test out a bike that can go from zero to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds, right?! But since you can't legally drive it on regular roads, it would be wise to try and find somewhere with lots of open road that cops don't frequent 'cause we can just imagine the ticket you'd get while testing out its limits.
Also why not check out:


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7 Interesting Facts You need to Know Before Visiting Islamabad
If you're planning to visit Islamabad for your next vacation, the given list of recommended NOs in the city will be undoubtedly helpful in making your experience a much smoother one:
No Malls:
It might seem unbelievable; but, is true that before Centaurus, there wasn't any shopping mall in Islamabad. Although, there were supermarkets, a mall infrastructure was still missing from the city. This might be one of the reasons that the Centaurus Mall instantly became one of the most favourite shopping destinations in Islamabad.
No Railway Stations:
The nearest railway station to Islamabad is of Rawalpindi as the city doesn't have its own railway station, apart from one at Golra Sharif. This small station does see a lot of to-be-married couples posing for their wedding shoots and random students. One can also explore the city's beautiful railway museum. Thankfully, you've already booked cheap flights from London to Islamabad, so you won't have to worry about railway tickets!
No Dry Nights:
Indubitably, you will get beautiful days to experience almost every day of the year; however, Islamabad's rainy days are to die for. The wet roads and beautiful scenery of the Margalla Hills make it like no other place. The good thing is, it rains almost every other night in the city.
Not-so-Late Night Life:
Most of the people in Islamabad follow a 9am-6pm lifestyle and hence doesn't have any time left for late night activities. Hence, if you are night-life lover, you might need to reschedule your plans before visiting the city. However, you can always visit Rawalpindi to enjoy late-night dinners to savour different lip-smacking delicacies with your family and friends.
No Cinema Halls:
You will be surprised to know that Islamabad didn't have any cinema halls since 2001 till 2015. The only two cinema halls in the city before 2001 were closed due to government negligence and public protest, respectively. However, you can find a private cinema running in the Centauras Mall now.
No Cricket Stadiums:
There is no denying the fact that cricket is one of the most popular games in Pakistan. But despite hosting the biggest sports complex in Pakistan, Islamabad doesn't have any international cricket stadiums. Once again, one can rely on Rawalpindi - the twin city of Islamabad - to host one of the best cricket stadiums in the world.
No Traffic Jams:
Last but definitely not the least, being stuck in traffic is an excuse that will never work in your favour, while you are in Islamabad. It only happens once in a while that the city has a traffic jam.
So, don't delay any-more and get your tickets booked for cheap flights from London to Islamabad and be ready to enjoy a lifetime experience with one of the oldest cultures alive.


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The previous article was about How configure the Keystore and generate SHA1 fingerprint for Unity Android Project.
At the end of the post, I promised you, that I will show you way to get rid of warning, when you generated certificate fingerprints.
So, this post will be about how migrate JKS keystore to PKCS12 format.


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Hello Again!
Baby I has been cluster feeding at night the past few weeks, so come morning time I've been too tired to brush my hair let alone make elaborate breakfasts. I wanted to make something that I could have for those days and also for mornings where we are on the go! Mr T's mum has been playing around with some carrot cake recipes so I thought it might be fun to try to make some carrot cake breakfast biscuits. These are refined sugar free and are packed full of complex carbohydrates that will keep you and your little ones fuller for longer. They are very quick to make and the recipes make 12 medium sized cookies.
What you will need:
1 medium banana, mashed
1/2 cup of rolled oats
1/4 cup of rye flakes
1/4 cup of oat flour
1 tbsp of chia seeds
1 egg
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of nutmeg
1/4 tsp of salt
1 cup of grated carrots
1/4 cup of finely chopped walnuts (optional)
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup of almond butter
Preheat your oven to 170.C. Combine the banana, almond butter, vanilla extract, maple syrup and egg in a bowl. in a separate bowl, mix the flour, oats, rye, baking powder, chia seeds and spices until well combined. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Fold carrots and chopped walnuts and into the mixture. Spoon mixture on to a pre lined baking tray. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until biscuits start to brown slightly. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes in the tray. Transfer to wire cooling rack and allow to cool fully and enjoy!
These biscuits have a soft, cake-like texture so are ideal for baby led weaning and young babies. Baby I and L devoured 3 each so I guess they get a thumbs up from them!
Hope you guys enjoy!Let me know how they turn out.
Bye for now!


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Don't worry, there are no spoilers below.
Kansas City – A few weeks ago I published my first review of a "television" show. I find it amusing that my first TV review should be of the first big-budget show to be produced and broadcast by an online-only broadcaster. In January, I wrote about how the first season of Netflix's House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright as Congressman Frank Underwood (D-SC) and his wife Claire, related to its British parent.
Like the country in which it is set, this new American House of Cards needed a while to set itself up as an independent show. However, with the start of Season 2, Netflix's masterpiece of drama truly set itself apart from its roots in Westminster. I found the second season to be far more thrilling than the first. The speed by which the action moved, balancing the need for both quick and slow plot lines, was exhilarating. There were quite a few moments over the past fortnight that I found myself sitting forward in my seat, gasping "Did they just do that?" My first season mulligan of "Well, I know how the BBC version went" quickly became defunct and resoundingly out of place in this truly American drama.
Spacey continues to refine and evolve in his role as Underwood, the epitome of the modern anti-hero, perhaps villain. He was able to balance out the ruthlessness and chessmanship of the political realm with the more mellow personal moments here and there throughout the season. I found myself amazed that even he as an actor going off of a script could keep up with the many twists and turns, the double and triple bluffs that lace the plot in such a fashion that they began to seem almost too fantastic for the politics of the reality (or at least I should hope, though perhaps naïvely, so).
Complimenting her Golden Globe award from last month, Robin Wright's performance as Claire Underwood continued to evolve just as much, if not even more than Spacey's role as her husband. I found Claire much more likeable after a while in this season than I certainly did in Season 1, though the same characteristics that made me wary of her in the first season are certainly still present in her character. After seeing the second season, I find myself hoping, again perhaps naïvely, that Claire Underwood won't turn out as Elizabeth Urquhart (the wife in the BBC series) did, as a sort of Lady Macbeth to counter Frank Underwood/Francis Urquhart's Richard of Gloucester (Richard III).
Beyond the acting, the runaway golden winner here has to be the writers. Their work is truly a masterpiece of drama that certainly does a good job at expressing the emotions and desires of our time, especially in the political realm. Netflix's House of Cards is a drama for our time, set in our time, featuring us, and calling upon us to ask ourselves how we feel about what we see in the mirror that the series offers the United States in 2014.


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Holiday Season Shopping Tips & Tricks for your Pocketbook & The Planet!
Turn Black Friday into Green Friday! Shwag out your friends and fam this holiday season with the gifts that give back! There is no reason to go out and spend! spend! spend! on products that our loved ones might not necessarily NEED. The holidays contribute to a lot of mindless waste and we can all do our part this season by sharing gifts from the heart, not just our pocketbooks.
Here are some helpful tips this Holiday Season for gift-getting and green-shopping!
Come prepared & write that list!
Pack snacks, bring your own water bottle, and a list of exactly what you need to buy to limit any mid-day hangry impulse buys. You will save yourself time, money, and again the urge to buy things that your family and friends don't necessarily absolutely need. You will also limit yourself from having to go out and do more shopping trips in the upcoming days towards the holidays, and use less gas, energy and reduce your shopping carbon footprint.
Go Local!
Shop your local stores, support artisans, and refrain from buying anything overseas or wrapped in plastic! A lot of these items just end up turning into "junk" over time and do not necessarily have the same meaning opposed to something that was handmade with love. Having transparency with the goods you buy and where they come from is an easy way in contributing to the greater-good of humans and Earth.
Make Something Special!
This by far is the most meaningful gift, but somehow along the way lost its true appreciation and charm. Perhaps it is too time-consuming? So instead of spending your time this "Green Friday" shopping, repurpose a second-hand item and get your creative juices flowing! Whether you create, bake, paint, or use your green-thumb – by turning something old into something useful and new, you are doing everyone including our planet a great service of showing you truly care!
Don't "Buy Things" – instead "Share Gifts!"
One of the biggest hangups we have when it comes to holiday seasons is thinking we have to purchase our appreciations for the people we love through tangible goods. But what about donating towards saving a rainforest or protect animal welfares in the names of loved ones? World Wildlife Fund and Stand For Trees are both great organizations to purchase pay-it-forward appreciations and helping those ecosystems and communities in need.
When in Doubt – Surf it Out!
The internet always has options for you to browse and save, which in the end will save you spending more money and time in traffic and lines. You can also understand more about product-origin, employee wellbeing and the company's mission, which can rarely be found at retail stores.
Here is a roundup of some helpful sites and ideas with products that give back.
Hip, urban and active wear for the tree-hugger at heart. For every item of clothing and accessory sold, ten trees are planted with your name on it! For Men and women alike, the clothes are stylish and affordable, and having fun details paying homages to trees, forests, and nature. Love!
- BONUS: Use code GREENFRIDAY for 20% off!!
Help Someone Invest in a Zero-Waste Kit
Have you heard of the zero-waste movement? Essentially refusing the use of single use plastics, but also preparing oneself by purchasing products that have no waste once its time on our shelves is used up. Show someone you care about them by packing them a fun zero-waste kit setup with a water bottle, reusable utensils, babmboo toothbrush, cloth shopping bags, etc. Personalize it with their favorite colors and tokens. The thought of them using it everyday will make them think of you and knowing you want them to live a cleaner and greener daily life!
- Package Free Shop – an online shop selling all "zero-waste" products, from razors, kitchen supplies, and travel goods. A great way to get started and learn more about wasteful packaging in products!
- Etsy is always a great place too to find personalized goods and support artisans around the world, as well as understanding how and where the products were crafted and made.
United By Blue
This brand is awesome! For every product sold, 1 lb. of trash is removed from the oceans and waterways around the globe! The products on their website are for the more outdoor-driven individual, so great for anyone who needs backcountry or camping gear. Ranging from accessories like socks, mugs, and hats, to outdoor wear like backpacks and flannels. A great buy for that guy on your list!
Kickstarter is a great place to find sustainable start-ups and support their cutting-edge gadgets and eco-savvy products. The range of possibilities to find "just the right gift" for someone you care about leaves you with high chances of discovering something truly unique, and encourages small business growth. It even inspires innovation in your own personal life! A current favorite for me is:
Hemp made shoes – investing in more sustainable products. Did you know hemp uses 95% less toxic agrochemicals and 75% less water used than cotton for production? Its not damaging to soil like cotton, and can grow up to 4x the same amount of plants on same amount of acerage. Learn more and Fund their kickstarter!
The holidays are a time for us to give thanks and gratitude the things we have, and ultimately we should be appreciating our Planet Earth first and foremost. Make sure your purchases are mindful and sustainable, and encourage others in your life too to know what they are buying and where it is coming from! The impacts we have as individuals can and WILL make the changes needed for a better and cleaner, greener tomorrow!
Remember! Do all your searches online with www.ecosia.org – every search performed plants a tree and helps offset our holiday carbon footprints!


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The Entrepreneurial Post-Doctoral Program in BME
Graduates of doctoral programs in biomedical engineering are increasingly focused on entrepreneurship as a career path. While PhD programs have been successful in educating engineers focused on academic or corporate research careers, they have not typically delivered the skills needed for graduates to launch and succeed at startup companies.
We are pleased to announce a new entrepreneurially-focused postdoctoral program in Duke Biomedical Engineering to address this emerging need. It focuses on imparting the skill set needed to start technology-based companies to participants.
As a condition of entry into the program, candidates will agree to engage in each of the bolded activities. Other activities are available optionally. By the end of the first year, all program participants will be required to:
- Prepare and deliver a company pitch deck and supporting materials – Entrepreneurship @ Duke Engineering will provide in depth coaching to support the development of a detailed business plan and pitch deck.
- Participate in Entrepreneur's Workshop Series – Eight Saturday courses focused on key elements of entrepreneurship. Topics range from Customer Discovery to Corporate Law to Fundraising. Each short course is taught by a seasoned practitioner.
- Participate in In-Depth Customer Discovery Workshop – This three-day workshop is designed to educate attendees in the fundamental processes needed to understand customer needs and frame product vision to align with those needs. This workshop will be offered by a seasoned practitioner.
available Resources
Salary Support: Program participants will receive the standard stipend established by the NIH for PhDs with zero years of post-doctoral experience
- BRiDGE Program participants given preferential consideration in applying for entry into the BRiDGE: The BRiDGE startup incubator provides mentorship, lab and office space, and interns
- Access to Mentors In Residence (MIR): The Duke Office of Licensing and Ventures employs part-time MIRs to support the commercialization of Duke-owned IP
- Duke Team Mentoring: This program, to be launched in 2018, will couple teams of seasoned entrepreneurs to new ventures. Participants in our program will guided through the application process to improve their odds of success in competing for mentoring teams
- Duke Innovation Fund: Program participants may compete for $20,000 seed grants
- Duke Angel Network: Program participants will be supported in applying for funding by the Duke Angel Network
Applicants must be:
- Recent PhD graduates of Duke BME, with less than one year of research experience at the time they enter the program (the earliest start date is August 1, 2018), or
- Plan to graduate with a PhD in BME from Duke within the 2018-2019 academic year, and must start the program by May 1, 2019.
How to Apply
Please submit your application to firstname.lastname@example.com. Each application must include in a single PDF file:
- A cover letter
- A 3-page proposal that provides a compelling argument for selection of the candidate. In an introductory section, not to exceed a page, describe your motivation in applying for this fellowship, what you plan to do during the fellowship to take your startup idea from concept to reality (for example, carry out additional experiments to answer key questions that will help in fundraising, focus on business development and/or fundraising), and your anticipated outcomes after one year of funding. In separate sections that follow the introduction, describe: (i). Product or service description to be provided by proposed newco; (ii). Summary of data in support of the proposed newco; (iii). Status of the underlying technology — ideally in terms of Technology Readiness Level; (iv). Estimate of market size; (v). Indication of who the customers are; (vi). IP status: provisional, pending, or issued patents.
- The applicant's academic transcript
- The applicant's resume or CV
Key 2018 dates
- Application submission deadline: 11:59 pm EDT, May 15, 2018
- Announcement of awardees: June 1, 2018
- Earliest commencement of program: August 1, 2018
- Final date for commencement of program for this funding cycle: May 1, 2019
Award information
Initial program support will be for one year, with the opportunity to compete for a second year.


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On the flats or shallow clear water, toss your fly well ahead of the fish, cutting the chances of spooking it. In brown or dirty water where sight-casting is impossible, look for a stream of bubbles, caused by air leaving the fish's bladder. You'll also see them roll for air. Cast your jig far enough ahead of bubbles to intersect the approaching fish, allowing enough time for it to sink to the tarpon's feeding depth (near bottom).
When casting jigs, the lure is brought back with a quick lift of the rod, reeling as the rod is lowered for the next lift. If your jig feels funny, either "weightless" or "logy," at any point in the retrieve, immediately set the hook-- hard. Tarpon will hit a jig as it falls, often spitting it before you can come tight on them.
It the tarpon is hooked, it'll jump, possibly 10 feet into the air. As the fish falls, "bow" to it by leaning toward it and pointing the rod-tip at the tarpon. This lessens the chances of line breakage due to the weight of the fish falling upon it. If the fish is still hooked, consider it good fortune. After a few more jumps, the tarpon may settle under the skiff and tow you. Lift on the fish from its side, either left or right, and keep steady pressure. After five minutes, change sides, pulling on the tarpon from the opposite direction. This seems to tire a fish quicker and works with many light-tackle species.


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For those who listen to Radio Cambridgeshire you can listen again to Angela talking with Christopher South on Gardener's Questiontime on Sunday lunchtime 12 till 1pm on 2nd December.
Radio Cambridgeshire are also following our progress from now until Chelsea on the building of our display and what has to be done to get ready for a big show like Chelsea.
Luke is interviewed by Vanessa Mann from Radio Cambridgeshire, discussing the progress of our Chelsea stand.


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Job Summary:
The Service Technician will perform all activities associated with installing, servicing, and maintaining a wide range of the company's state of the art CNC precision machine tools and related equipment for the railway industry.
Essential Functions:
- Use electrical schematics to test and troubleshoot electrical systems including switches, PLCs, PCs, CNCs, sensors, motors, and measurement devices
- Use laptops, PC applications, and printed documentation to test and troubleshoot PLC ladder logic programs
- Use drawings to test and troubleshoot basic mechanical systems such as pistons, rams, pulleys, belts, gears, lubrication systems, and alignment
- Use hydraulic schematics to test and troubleshoot hydraulic power systems
- Testing of all machines to verify calibration and operation
- Start-up and debug of newly manufactured or rebuilt machines both at the Simmons factory and at customer's facility
- Provide thorough reports immediately following all service activities
- Extensive travel both domestic and International is required; travel will be about 80-90% including weekends
Additional Responsibilities:
This description reflects the principal functions of the job for the purpose of job evaluation. It should not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements of the job nor shall be construed as giving exclusive responsibility for every function described.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Associates or Bachelors Degree in a technical field, mechanical engineering, or electrical engineering OR 3-5 years related experience in similar field
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required
- Excellent time management skills required
- Self-motivated individual - be able to hit the ground running meeting the company's and client's needs
- Very good working knowledge of mechanical and electrical process and must be able to merge them together so that the equipment is operating efficiently and effectively
- Experience in programming and working with PLC's a PLUS
- Work well with people
- Combine professionalism and enthusiasm in approach to work
- Proficiency in MS Office suite of products
Character, integrity, and trustworthiness are very important attributes that Simmons Machine Tool Corporation looks for in all candidates.
Simmons offers a complete medical/health care plan, 401(K), and incentive programs.
Equal Opportunity Employer: M/F/Disability/Veteran


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When space pirates snatch the last remaining Metroid, bounty hunter Samus Aran is called back into action! Use new abilities like the grappling beam and x-ray scope to navigate the massive labyrinths of planet Zebes; battling enemies and enormous bosses with an arsenal of beams, missiles and bombs. Super Metroid is renowned as one of the greatest 2D action games ever made, and paved the way for the Metroid™ Prime series with its innovative blend of exploration, action and secrets galore. If you own this title on your Wii™, perform a system transfer from your Wii to your Wii U™ to receive a special upgrade price.
This is the European version of the game, which was optimised originally by the developer to offer gameplay and music speed similar to the US version. Demos and animations may run at PAL speed. The aspect ratio has been corrected for this release.
Available languages: English
Original system: SNES
Multiplayer mode: No
Players: 1
© 1994 Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Now on Startselect!
Now available at Startselect: Super Metroid™. At Startselect you can purchase your digital games and gift cards anywhere and anytime. All of our products are fully authorized and supported by the publisher or developer.
Do you want to purchase this product? Just pick one of the payment methods, check out and you will receive your digital code almost immediately in your mailbox. If you run into any problems or if you have a question, our support team is standing by. We want to give you the easiest shopping experience, so you can use your product straight away!
Happy with your choice? Be sure to check out all the other products available at Startselect!


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Every once in a while, something fun just falls in your lap. This week was going to be a boring, same-old, same-old week. But, then, I fond out that I had won a family pack of tickets to the Portland Thorns game on Marlynn's Urban Bliss Life blog (a little plug here: Marlynn is a local blogger with a fabulous site. I can't even tell you how many tips, ideas, and recipes I've gotten from her. If you have a minute, check her out).
Green Bay is a football town (God bless 'em!), Boston is a baseball town, but Portland is a soccer town. We actually have 2 MLS teams--a soccer team and a men's soccer team (see what I did there?) The Thorns is the women's team and they have 7 (I think?) players who played in the recent World Cup, 2 of which played on the US Team--forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Tobin Heath, who scored the final goal in the World Cup Championship game. This was the first game since the World Cup and the first time they had sold out Providence Park (21,144 if anyone is wondering).
My husband is a huge soccer fan and played seriously growing up, so I knew he would enjoy it. And my kids like to have the opportunity for "sanction screaming," so I knew it would be a fit for them as well. So, my daughter skipped her swim lessons and we headed down to the park. I had never been to "Providence Park" before, but I had spent more than a few hours there back when it was "PGE Park"--and a baseball field. All I can say is that it was pretty much a completely different facility now--and a great improvement!
Back to the game....The Thorns were playing the Seattle Reign, which also had several World Cup players (including goal keeper Hope Solo--who wasn't playing that night--and forward Megan Rapinoe who was petty much everywhere during the game). Our seats were great-with easy access to the snack bar and the bathrooms (this is very important when you have kids!) and we even sat next to Marlynn and her family, so I was finally able to meet her!
Ultimately, the Thorns went down 0-1, but it was still a fabulous night. My daughter has adopted Tobin Heath as her idol and I'm sure my husband and I will be back next season (most tickets are already sold for the remaining games this year), but maybe without the kids. As I said, my husband is big on soccer and, with him, it is all about the game.
|The view from our seats
|My son is trying to figure out who is who
|No sporting event is complete without cotton candy
|My son got into the chanting and even tried to do the wave. Of course, he was the ONLY person in our section doing the wave, so it didn't really have the desired effect.
A little side note...I've started an Instagram account for this blog at westmetromommyreads. I still have my private mdawnott account, but that one will mostly be just kid pics and everything else will be on the new (and public) account. Feel free to give me a follow!