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Case reveals Jacko's battle with drugs
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's struggle against drug addiction was put on display Monday during opening statements at his mother's wrongful death case against concert promoter AEG Live.
Competing portraits of Jackson emerged during the first hours of the trial, with Katherine Jackson's attorney acknowledging the pop star's drug problems while also trying to show he was a caring son and father.
AEG's attorney Marvin S. Putnam said, however, that the singer's guarded private life meant the company was unaware that he was using the powerful anesthetic propofol.
"The truth is, Michael Jackson fooled everyone," Putnam said. "He made sure that no one, nobody, knew his deepest darkest secrets."
A jury of six men and six women will determine whether AEG should pay Jackson's mother and three children after his 2009 death from an overdose of propofol. Millions and possibly billions of dollars in damages are at stake in the case that opened with private photos and video clips of Jackson dancing.
"This case is about personal choices," Putnam said about Jackson's decision to be treated by physician Conrad Murray "Also, it was about his personal responsibility. There's no question that Michael Jackson's death was a terrible tragedy.
"I believe the evidence will show it was not a tragedy of AEG Live's making," Putnam said as he ended his opening statement. Testimony will begin Tuesday.
Katherine Jackson's attorney, Brian Panish, said AEG created a conflict of interest for Murray and forced him to choose between a large payday and Jackson's care. He told the jury AEG was feeling competitive pressures and wanted the Jackson tour at all costs.
"They didn't care who got lost in the wash," Panish told the jury.
Katherine Jackson sued AEG Live in September 2010, claiming it failed to properly investigate Murray before allowing him to serve as Jackson's doctor as he prepared for his "This Is It" shows. She is also suing on behalf of her son's three children - Prince, Paris and Blanket
AEG denies it hired Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death. AEG's attorneys have said the company could not have foreseen the circumstances that led to the singer's death at age 50.
Panish said Jackson's behavior was just one of several warning signs the company ignored before the death.
He told the panel that they would be the ones to assign liability for Jackson's death, but they should look at AEG's actions and not focus on Jackson's issues.
"Michael paid the ultimate price. He died," Panish said. "Michael has taken responsibility."


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PUNKIN CENTER, Colo.—Authorities say a Fort Carson soldier is recovering after he was wounded in an accidental shooting at a home shooting range in eastern Colorado.
Lincoln County sheriff's Capt. Clint Tweden said Tuesday 18-year-old Reid Potwin was shot in the leg when 21-year-old Zachary Clay's gun went off while he was trying to clean his weapon.
Potwin was flown to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs following the weekend shooting. Tweden says no charges are expected.
Officials at Fort Carson said no weapons from the base were involved.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We're really sorry but we've sold out of this product and are unable to obtain more stock. In most cases this is usually because the manufacturer has discontinued the product. We don't want you to miss out though so here's some of our best selling products which are similar to what you are looking for. Take a look and you could just find the perfect item. Just a small point to note - they might not have the exact features as the product you initially wanted so please be sure to check the features before you buy.
For fast Ethernet networks that require bandwidth-intensive voice, data, or video distribution applications. Meets all Cat6 TIA/EIA standards, and drastically reduces both impedance and structural return loss (SRL). Each of the individual pairs are bonded together to help maintain the twist-spacing throughout the line right up to the termination point. Constructed from high quality copper cable, this design minimises Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT) levels with a LSZH outer jacket. The moulded, snagless boot prevents unwanted cable snags during installation and provides extra strain relief. Available in a variety of colours to easily colour-code your network installation. Each cable is individually labelled with the length for ease of use.
Connector 1: (1) RJ-45 Male.
Connector 2: (1) RJ-45 Male.


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When people complain about the nearly three-hour length of the first installment of "The Hobbit" film trilogy because the source book is a slim 300 pages, they're forgetting that much of the story isn't from "The Hobbit" itself -- but expanded from the appendices to "The Lord of the Rings."
That extra material is what justifies the longer time on screen, and answers such questions as where does Gandalf go when he disappears? Why is the wizard helping the dwarves on their quest in the first place? What's so bad about dragons? And so, to put a stop to all those moments when you'd otherwise wonder, "But that wasn't in the book!" here are the five major changes from "The Hobbit" the book to "The Hobbit" the films.
The Dwarves' Quest
In the book "The Hobbit," a company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield seek help from Bilbo Baggins because they need a "burglar." That's the term they use, because they seek to steal a whole mess of gold, treasure and other gems such as the Arkenstone from the dragon Smaug. (Or rather, steal it back, since Smaug stole it from them in the first place). In the film, the quest becomes a bit more noble, since the dwarves now phrase it as stealing back their homeland, Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. Even though this only existed in "The Hobbit" as a story Thorin told Bilbo to explain their quest, in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" film we get to see what a thriving dwarf town looks like and how they lost it, even if Smaug himself is barely glimpsed yet -- a tail here, a wing there, an open eye that looks eerily like the Lidless Eye of Sauron.
The Necromancer
"He is an enemy far beyond the power of all the dwarves put together, if they could all be collected again," Gandalf says in "The Hobbit." But when J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the novel he had not yet conceived of Sauron and the One Ring which only came 17 years later in "The Lord of The Rings," so the connection between the Necromancer and Sauron was not made clear. Now that we know they're one and the same, the filmmakers are able to connect the dots for us, by bringing in glimpses of the Ringwraiths (or the graves of the nine men who are the Ringwraiths) and their Morgul blades. And while Gandalf knew that the Necromancer was a great threat, knowing Sauron is no longer sleeping is an even greater one.
Dol Guldur
Gandalf found Thorin's father Thrain in Dol Guldur, which was near the river where the Ring was lost, as "a prisoner in the dungeons of the Necromancer," he says in "The Hobbit." When asked to explain, he says, "Never you mind." We get much more an explanation in the appendices, which will undoubtedly become a major scene in a later Hobbit film. As a ringbearer, he was hunted down by Sauron's emissaries, who then tortured him and took the Ring from him at Dol Guldur. When Gandalf found him, he was near death, and could barely remember his own son's name. Despite his condition he asked the wizard to give him an inheritance anyway: a map and a key to Erebor. Of course, when Dol Guldur is threatened, Sauron need only move on -- to Mordor.
The Orc Azog
We also will meet another foe, Azog (played by Manu Bennett), an Orc who fights with Thorin's family and during which Thorin earns his nickname "Oakenshield" for the makeshift tree branch he uses in battle against him. Azog is described in the appendices as "a great Orc with a huge iron-clad head, and yet agile and strong." Azog, who killed Thorin's grandfather Thror, is believed to be dead in "The Hobbit," but why kill off a great villain when you can have him hunting down the dwarves throughout the story? His history gives the Orcs more reason to chase down Thorin and company than the other nameless Orcs who would have been required otherwise.
The White Council
In the film, Gandalf leaves the dwarves (and Bilbo) from time to time on their quest -- but where does he go? At least during one of these absences, he consults with a member of his order, Saruman the White (before he goes bad) and two elves, Galadriel and Elrond. It's never specified in the books who are the members of the White Council other than Saruman (who never actually appeared in "The Hobbit" proper).
We do know from the appendices that the council is formed around the same time that Deagol found the Ring, only to be murdered by Smeagol. Coincidence? With the council, Gandalf discusses what kind of a danger the Necromancer really is, why they should destroy Dol Guldur, and why that's necessary for him to help the dwarves -- getting rid of the weapon of mass destruction that is Smaug is their best interest, too, since the dragon would certainly aid the enemy. And why shouldn't they be allies, when both are played by Benedict Cumberbatch?


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Dropbox for iOS has been updated to version 2.0, and with it comes a slick new design and an all new photos tab with timeline. Dropbox says:
Now all of your photos are right at your fingertips with the brand new Photos tab. With just a tap, you'll be able to scroll through a timeline of all the photos you've automatically uploaded (including the pocket-dialed ones too). And since Dropbox is a one stop shop for all your memories, you can also check out the photos you've uploaded from everywhere else!
And as pointed out by our own Seth Clifford, Dropbox is yet another example of an app switching to a flatter, simpler, more digitally authentic interface design, similar to what's found on Windows Phone. Dropbox, talking about just that design, says:
We've packed a ton of love and tiny details into our new iOS design, and we think you'll dig its simplicity. For example, we got rid of the text labels on our tabs in favor of clean and streamlined iconography. Splashed across the app is the glorious Dropbox blue you've come to know and love, and we've reduced complexity to make everything feel so fresh and so clean, clean.
If you're a Dropbox user and don't have the app installed on your iPhone or iPad, go get it now. Otherwise, hit the update button and enjoy.
- Free - Download now
This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.


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Simple Mozzarella
Who doesn't love soft, fresh cheese with sun kissed tomatoes and bright basil? Throw in some fresh bread and a little olive oil…now imagine that with your own warm, homemade mozzarella! You can make it and have it ready in an hour. Check it out!
1 gallon of milk
1 ½ tsp citric acid (to purchase citric acid or a complete mozzarella kit visit our SHOP.)
¼ Rennet Tablet
1 tsp cheese salt (or to taste, herbs optional)
Large pot- at least 6 quart
Butter Muslin (fine cheesecloth)
Large Slotted spoon
microwaveable bowl
Rubber gloves or large spoon
YIELD- 1 ½ lb (2 big fists)
Ok, less than an hour to fresh Mozzarella!
If you'd like to see this process in step by step photos, check out my Facebook Album. The only part you don't see is the heating of the curds before folding and kneading, you will choose microwave or hot water bath but the curd handling is the same.
Step 1- Dissolve ¼ rennet tablet into 1 cup of cool, chlorine-free water. Stir and set aside. Wrap the remaining pieces of tablet and store in the freezer.
Step 2- Mix 1 ½ teaspoons citric acid into 1 cup of cool, chlorine-free water until dissolved.
Step 3- Pour 1 gallon of milk into your pot. Pour the citric acid solution in and stir thoroughly. Heat to 90°F, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
Step 4- At 90°F slowly stir in the rennet solution with a gentle up and down motion for approximately 30 seconds. Continue to heat to 105°F (110°F if you will use the water bath).
Step 5- Your curds could already show clear signs of coagulation- curds would look like shiny yogurt, you'd see a separation between curds and whey and the curds would pull from the sides of the pot.
– If so, stir very gently for another minute and turn off the heat. Skip down to step 6.
– If the curd doesn't look like shiny custard or yogurt but looks like clumps of melted cheese floating in yellow liquid, you're still in good shape. Skip down to step 6.
– If you don't see any of these signs and your whey is still milky instead of yellow, heat a little more (110°F max) while gently moving the curds around with your spoon. You are now cooking the curds and expelling whey. If you reach 110°F and still don't see any signs, let the pot sit off the heat for 15-45 minutes. Skip down to step 6 when you have coagulation.
– If your milk did not form a curd at all, you may have some unlabeled ultra-pasteurized milk on your hands. Try another brand but follow this through- cheese has a way of working out!
Step 6- Ladle your curds into a heat-resistant bowl. At this point, you can cover and refrigerate the curds for stretching later or move on to the heating and stretching steps.
Note- If you will use the "Water Bath" (no microwave) method, heat your whey to 185°F and read the following instructions in bold. For microwave instructions, continue below the bold print.
No Microwave? No problem! Follow these instructions:
When your water/whey bath hits 185°F (no hotter or you'll overcook your curds!) take the pot off the stove.
Gently shape half of your curds into a ball (as much as possible) and dip into the whey for 1-3 minutes or until your curds hit 135°F (heated to the core). Put on your rubber gloves, lift the ball of curds out of the whey and proceed with salting, stretching and shaping as detailed below in steps 11 and 12 (you may also stretch with a spoon in your heat-resistant bowl).
Repeat on all curds- more than once if necessary for a smooth ball of cheese. You may need to reheat your whey if you're slow- remember, no hotter than 185°F! If temperamental curds don't stretch sometimes, do not despair. Just fold, salt, and shape warm curds into balls. Practice, practice- enjoy!
Step 7- Ladle your curds into a large microwaveable bowl. Put on your rubber gloves or use a large spoon for steps 7-12. Gently hold back the curds while you pour off whey (don't press much).
Step 8- Heat the bowl in the microwave for 1 minute.
Step 9- Gently use a spoon to fold the curds over several times and evenly distribute the heat. Drain off any whey as above.
Step 10- Microwave for another 30 seconds. Drain again and knead the curd gently- try stretching. It must be 135°F to stretch properly. If it isn't hot enough, microwave for another 30 seconds.
Step 11- Add your salt (I like 1.5 tsp or so) plus any herbs and work into the cheese by stretching and folding, stretching and folding…the more you work the curd, the firmer the cheese will be.
Step 12- Stretch the cheese until it is smooth. Shape into a ball or get creative! This mozzarella is best eaten immediately but you can store it covered. Do NOT store in water or whey or it will get slimy and disintegrate. You can however, dunk your shaped mozz into ice water for just a few minutes to retain it's shape. Otherwise, its own heat can flatten it. Use within 1 week.
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World Bulletin/News Desk
The government has launched its "Together, We Rebuild" campaign that now peppers the capital's streets with posters that feature hands clasped together.
But some residents of the capital anticipate more destruction and say talk of rebuilding is premature. Daily, they hear blasts of government bombardment onto rebellious suburbs and the booms of warplanes in the sky on bombing runs.
To retaliate, rebels use mortars and car bombs to hit the centre of the capital, an area a few miles wide that is firmly in government hands. Earlier this month, 27 mortar and rocket attacks hit on a single day and Damascenes fear rebels will rain hell on the capital on election day to protest the event.
"If that day is the rebels' new benchmark for showing their wrath, and I think it is, then God help us with these elections," said Mahmoud, 37, a merchant by day and chauffeur by night.
A new fear is that rebels are digging tunnels into Damascus, either to smuggle themselves and weapons into the heart of Assad's stronghold or to pack explosives under the capital.
Such "tunnel bombs" are a tactic rebels have started using in recent months on military targets in the north, including a hotel used by soldiers in Aleppo and a base in Idlib province. Fighters dig tunnels hundreds of meters long to plant explosives that obliterate an entire area.
Tunnel bombs have not yet been used in Damascus, but residents fear they could reduce a whole neighborhood of tower blocks to rubble and kill hundreds.
Earlier this month, state security guards searched basements of dozens of buildings in several Damascus neighborhoods including affluent Malki, home to senior government officials. They were looking for signs of tunneling, residents say.
Authorities have levied a "reconstruction tax" that shows up on the monthly phone bill in small print, on the utilities bill, and even, to some soldiers' outrage, as a deduction from their already meager pay.
"In what kind of crazy world do I get sent to shoot rockets at buildings then pay to rebuild them?" said Hassan, a 19-year-old conscript.
Most major businesses and high-profile merchants in Damascus have put up banners endorsing Bashar al-Assad's presidency. The larger-than-life posters of Assad striking various military or stern postures far overwhelm the handful of campaign slogans put forth by the two other presidential candidates.
This month, the city streets are also paralyzed with marches in support of Assad, adding to gridlock that developed over the past two years as the government shut down major avenues and placed armed men at checkpoints on most streets.
Even Damascenes who support the government express doubt about the prospects for a genuine election in war time, although they say the vote is needed to move beyond the conflict.
"Of course the whole thing is rigged. It's a film, but it's the only way out of our crisis," said Ayman, 35, a government supporter. He suggested the result of the election was already a foregone conclusion: "Assad will win 70 percent, and each of the other (two) candidates will win 15 percent. You'll see."
Anti-Assad residents, such as middle-aged Ammar, an entrepreneur and father of two, say they might consider boycotting the vote but fear potential consequences.
"If I don't vote, will there be a permanent note in my record? Does it mean that when I'm stopped at a checkpoint, they can punch in my ID into their computer and discover that I've abstained? I don't know," he said.
Pockets of normalcy remain in Damascus, despite three years of fighting that has killed 160,000 people, driven nearly a third of Syrians from their homes and cut the capital off from its war zone suburbs.
In the city centre, a packed gym offers a spinning class with techno music that blares out onto the street. Not too far from Assad's residence, the Bulgarian Cultural Centre offers salsa and tango classes.
Some Damascenes say they conduct most of their business at night because fewer rockets seem to land after dark - perhaps because rebels are careful not to give away their firing positions with flares that can be seen in the night sky.
Packed coffee shops continue to cater to young people, many of them unemployed, spending hours sipping coffee and tea and chain smoking. Some are college students who have delayed their graduation by purposely failing a course or two in order to postpone mandatory military service.
Asked to describe his life lately, 25-year-old Motaz, who is a chemistry major, said: "Frozen. My entire generation is suspended in time."
Among the crowd that consumes alcohol, a minority in traditional Damascus, drinking get-togethers sometimes start in mid-afternoon in order to wrap up the party by 10 pm, so that guests can get home through streets choked with checkpoints.
The city has been militarized - dozens of shops have dropped their usual merchandise and instead now cater to soldiers and state security service members. One shop advertised a sale on shoulder-worn gun holsters and hot weather combat boots.
The war-time economy is hitting small businesses. One cafe owner says he freezes bread and reheats it, and is cutting down on "tahini", or sesame seed butter, a key ingredient in hummus.
"It's a little bland, but it's war-time hummus."Last Mod: 22 Mayıs 2014, 16:45


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Plagiarism, defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is "the action or practice of taking someone else's work, idea, [words, cartoon, graph, chart, music, PowerPoint] etc., and passing it off as one's own."
Plagiarism tutorial
How do I correctly quote and paraphrase?
How do I correctly cite my sources?
What citation styles are used at SMC?
Why do people plagiarize?
Examples of plagiarism:
How do I avoid plagiarizing?
How do I correctly quote and paraphrase another author?
What citation styles are used at SMC?
Subject disciplines often use citation styles prescribed by their professional associations. Contact your professor to determine the required style for your courses.
Why do people plagiarize? Excuses, excuses!
"Plagiarism." Oxford English Dictionary. 2006 Draft Revision. England: Oxford University
Press, 2007. Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT. 28 May 2007
Wilhoit, Stephen. "Helping Students Avoid Plagiarism." College Teaching 42 (Fall 1994)
Writing a Great Research Paper. 4, Plagiarism & Other Pitfalls. Dir. Karl Weber.
Videocassette. Video Aided Instruction, 2007.


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Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
FreeCandy44 wrote:Deadspin
Puffymuffin wrote:You mean primarily American based sports I guess? There's quite a few athletes who have a medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympics the last few years
pittsoccer33 wrote:FreeCandy44 wrote:Deadspin
weird timing. i just watched the Bo Knows 30 for 30 last night.
That gem has (had?) been airing on one of the local digital sub channels, I think MeTV
cheesesteakwithegg wrote:Id love to see Lebron play in the NFL as a TE / WR. Will never happen though.
Kaizer wrote:
ulf wrote:I think so. Do you guys really believe "specialization" sets them apart? It's a matter of the risk to the team they're on, and their self. LeBron could play tight end. He's an athlete.. Just depends on when someone feels like doing it, in my opinion.
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I very much appreciate the story on Playboy's prospering enterprises in TIME, but I'm not really the superficial, sex-oriented guy your story suggests. I like girls as well as the next fellow, but I spend considerably more time editing and publishing Playboy than I do chasing chicks.
Hugh M. Hefner , CHICAGO


text:
serdab is a valid word in this word list. For a definition, see the external dictionary links below.
The word "serdab" uses 6 letters: A B D E R S.
Direct anagrams of serdab:
ardebs bardes beards breads debars sabred
Words formed by adding one letter before or after serdab (in bold), or to abders in any order:
a - abrades b - dabbers e - debaser sabered g - badgers i - abiders braised darbies seabird sidebar k - debarks n - banders s - brassed serdabs t - dabster u - daubers v - adverbs y - redbays
Shorter words found within serdab:
ab abed abs ad ads ae ar arb arbs ardeb are ares ars arse as ba bad bade bads bar bard barde bards bare bared bares bars bas base based baser be bead beads bear beard bears bed beds bra brad brads brae braes bras bread bred dab dabs darb darbs dare dares de dear dears deb debar debs drab drabs ear ears ed eds er era eras ers es rad rads ras rase rased re read reads reb rebs red reds res sab sabe sabed saber sabre sad sade sae sard sea sear ser sera
List shorter words within serdab, sorted by length
Words formed from any letters in serdab, plus an optional blank or existing letter
Try a search for serdab in these online resources (some words may not be found):
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Each search will normally open in a new window.
List all words starting with serdab, words containing serdab or words ending with serdab
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Other words with the same letter pairs: se er rd da ab
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Previous word in list: seraphs
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Some random words: aedes didst ogam ewer eczema glom piing
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Wing Tags Identify where Wensum Birds Go in Winter
2012 | Five young marsh harriers hatched on Sculthorpe Moor reserve in 2012 have had wing tags fitted as part of a long-term study of where the species travel to once they leave the area where they are born.
They joined a total so far of 32 young marsh harriers hatched from other Norfolk sites in the same season and 14 from the 2011 generation, making a total to date of 46 birds carrying distinctive lime green wing tags.
Tags are visible to the naked eye from a distance, and the individual codes can be read with binoculars or telescopes.
Older birds can be distinguished from this year's because the 2011 harriers' tags carried white letters and numbers, while the 2012 birds have black codes.
So far four of these 2011 birds have been sighted. One was on the Isle of Sheppy in Kent in autumn 2011, one spent the winter around Lakenheath Fen and another near Welney, both in East Anglia. The fourth was reported on the Somerset Levels during spring 2012, and possibly the same one crossed the River Severn into South Wales.
Sightings of tagged harriers can be reported here and are valuable even if details of the codes are not clear to the observer.
Hawk and Owl Trust volunteer and North West Norfolk Ringing Group member Phil Littler is carrying out the study with help from other Norfolk bird ringers. The project is being funded through generous donations made by the visitors who attended a 'Wild About the Wensum Event' hosted by the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust. The River Wensum flows past the reserve.
2011 | The Hawk and Owl Trust is carrying out a new study to monitor the movements of rare marsh harriers in the Wensum Valley, Norfolk.
A total of 14 young marsh harriers have been fitted with wing tags. These Norfolk birds have a lime green tag and an individual identifying combination of two letters or one letter and one number in white, with one tag per wing.
The fitting of the wing tags is done by bird ringers, who have a wealth of experience and knowledge in handling birds of all species. It is a painless experience for the birds. Eight of the tagged youngsters fledged from nests at the Hawk and Owl Trust's Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve and another six birds from nests nearby.
Hawk and Owl Trust volunteer and bird ringer Phil Littler is carrying out the study with help from Gary Elton of the Norfolk Ornithologists Association (NOA), Ray Gribble and Allan Hale from the Wensum Valley Bird Watching Society (WVBS) and John Middleton of North West Norfolk Ringing Group (NWNRG), using funding from the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust, raised at the Wild about the Wensum events.
Marsh harriers nest at the Hawk and Owl Trusts Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve near Fakenham each year and the adults and young then leave the reserve in the autumn. For several years cameras installed on nests at the reserve have given insight to the private life of young harriers.
Data from the images is being analysed by students at Leicester University, but little is known about the birds' movements once they leave the nest, where they go in winter and where they return to nest in the spring. Marsh harriers are migratory and are expected to fly south. However in recent years many marsh harriers have been seen along the North Norfolk coast and the Norfolk Broads in winter.
Nigel Middleton, Conservation Officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust in the Eastern Region said, "20 years ago this study would not have been undertaken. No-one would have dreamed of approaching a marsh harrier nest because they were such a rare breeding bird. Although they are still very rare, the numbers of marsh harriers now breeding in Norfolk means we are in a better position to study this bird and have been given permission by Natural England. This study will allow us to understand the following questions:
- Where do these birds go once they are independent of their adults? Are they a long distant migrant, travelling into Europe and beyond, or do they stay in the local area for the winter?
- Once mature, do they return to the area where they were hatched, or do they breed at completely different sites?
- Once they start to breed, do they breed in their traditional reed bed habitat or in other crops such as oilseed rape?"
Members of the public can help with this study by reporting any sightings of wing tagged marsh harriers. If you see a wing tagged bird, please make a note of the letters and numbers on the wing tag – if you can see them, date, time and location (if possible an OS 6 figure grid reference) and also the sex and age of the bird – if it is possible to tell.
Contact Phil Littler at email@example.com or phone 07748 556758.


text:
Welcome to The PC Guide!
It seems that either your browser does not support frames, or you have them
disabled. The PC Guide makes extensive use of frames to facilitate easier navigation
through the site. The PC Guide site uses a hierarchical structure of pages. The general
rule of thumb is that the information on the site is displayed in the "Contents"
frame, called "C", while the links deeper into the structure are in the
"Index" frame, called "I".
I realize that some people don't like frames, and that some don't have browsers that
support them, so I have provided several ways to get to the information on the site for
those who fall into this category. You can find information on the site without using
frames in three different ways:
To get directly to the front page of the site without frames, click
Charles M. Kozierok
Webslave, The PC Guide
Home - Search
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text:
Supporting local farms is very important to me. I ONLY source fibers from local fiber farms raising sustainable, happy, healthy fiber animals. Whenever possible I try to know the name of every fiber-producing animal who contributes to my yarns! It is a delight and a joy to work with local fiber producers raising wonderful animals.
This is a pure and simple creamy white Lincoln wool lockspun yarn from the Lein farm flock in Iowa . I washed and picked these locks myself, then spun them into this gorgeous yarn. Single ply, 20 yards, bulky weight. Perfect as is, to add texture and pop to any project! It also takes dye beautifully, works well for weaving or felting, and makes great doll hair or dreadlocks!
I have spun and knit with lots of this Lincoln locks yarn, so if you want pattern ideas or suggestions, simply convo me!
1.8 oz
Often these yarns are completely one of a kind, but occasionally I might have doubles, or may be able to custom-spin larger amounts if you need. Please convo me if you have any questions or requests.
These yarns are spun in my home; I do my absolute best to keep my felines and house bunny out of the fiber, but please do be aware that these yarns are created in an pet-friendly home. After they are spun, tagged, photographed and listed on etsy, they "live" in my herb shop until they are sold, so they DO smell pleasantly of herbs - most people find this pleasant but if you think this might be objectionable, you have been warned :) .
Payment due upon receipt. I accept paypal, dwolla (convo me) and credit cards.
We ship via USPS Priority mail in the US, and USPS First class mail overseas. I'm always glad to ship anywhere in the world! Most packages shipped with in 1-3 business days of purchase.
We do accept refunds if you find the item unacceptable, but you must be in touch immediately after it's arrival, and you must pay to send the item back before receiving a refund on the item cost.
Have a store, or do you make items for re-sale? Contact me, let's talk about an artisan/store wholesale arrangement.


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Our services
HCT Group delivers a very broad range of transport and related training services across our eleven depots – from London red buses to social services transport, from school transport to Park and Ride, from community transport to education and training.
This page provides an overview of what we do. If you're looking for a specific service in a particular place, you may find it easier to use the navigation on the left hand side of this page. Simply move your mouse over the type of service you are looking for and more options will appear to take you directly to the information you need.
What we do
Red bus services: CT Plus – a part of the HCT Group - delivers 10 London red bus routes on behalf of Transport for London from our Ash Grove depot.
Mainstream bus services: We deliver the bus services in Jersey and Guernsey.
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While engineers and designers feverishly worked overtime on the development of a four-passenger cars they code-named the F-car, the Chevy public relations, marketing and advertising team prepared the world for the intro of an automobile they called the Panther.
All through the summertime of 1965 virtually every aspect of the automobile's design and advancement, from initial design sketches to clay designs, was photographed and thoroughly documented. Chevy used the possessions to produce a 30 -minute motion picture The Camaro for sale in Maumee OH , which was later on shown on TELEVISION and in movie theaters. They also introduced women's clothing called the Camaro Collection and even a Camaro roadway race online game.
Buy Classic Chevrolet Camaros
In November, Chevy sales executives and imaginative individuals previewed prototype designs at the GM Tech Center. Campbell-Ewald, Chevy's age-old advertising agency, right away started deal with catalogs, direct-mail advertising and sales promotion products, in addition to print, outdoor and TV/radio marketing. In April 1966, at the New york city Auto Program Interview, Chevrolet sales executives confessed no name had been selected for the brand-new car, however did announce that rates of 1967 Chevy Camaro for sale in Maumee OH design will remain in the Corvair-Chevy II range.
Throughout early 1966 Chevy struggled over a name for its Mustang-killer. GM's upper management was nervous about the aggressive connotations of the Panther name. A comparable bout of cold feet would later cause the Pontiac variation, code word the Banshee, to be relabelled Firebird. Over its brief life time, the F-car had been called by lots of names including Wildcat, Chaparral, Leader and Nova. It's likewise rumored that Chevy considered utilizing the letters "GM" in the name, and came up with G-Mini, which progressed into GeMini and finally Gemini. However, GM's upper management vetoed the concept, fearing the car might be a failure.
Automotive legend has it that someone at Chevrolet finally proposed the name Camaro and upper management rapidly agreed. Although the name has no real significance, GM scientists reportedly discovered the word in a French dictionary as a slang term for "good friend" or "buddy." It's rumored that Ford Motor Business researchers likewise found other meanings, consisting of "a shrimp-like creature" and an arcane term for "loose bowels."
Because a number or pre-launch products had already been released utilizing the Panther name, Chevy's most pressing difficulty was to now relabel their brand-new Mustang killer, the Camaro. Camaros are found in Maumee OH by looking for classic car dealers.
The sticker price of $2,466 for a Camaro base coupe and $2,704 for a base convertible was totally competitive with Ford's rates of their 1967 Mustang designs which was $2,461 for the basic coupe, $2,692 for a standard fastback and $2,898 for a basic convertible.Taking a page from Mustang's success in making additional profit from alternatives and devices, the Camaro could be ordered with almost 80 factory alternatives and 40 dealer accessories.
Buyers might likewise alternative as much as a bigger 250-inch version of the conventional straight six engine, an option of 327-cubic-inch small-block V8s fed by either a two-barrel or a four-barrel carburetor and 2 variations of the 396-cubic-inch big-block V8. In order to keep the brand-new Camaro from taking sales away from the Corvette, a business edict prohibited equipping it with engines larger than 400 cid. Transmission alternatives included a four-speed manual, a two-speed "Powerglide" and in late 1967 the new three-speed "Turbo Hydra-Matic 350".


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Ricky Gervais in his most 'postmodern' interview ever
Ginny Dougary
The Times
April 2010
The comedian talks about everything from relationships to body image
It started pretty badly. At one point, Ricky Gervais said it was the most difficult interview he'd ever done – and he was using "difficult" in the same way that someone says a dress is "interesting" when they mean "horrible".
The feeling, it must be said, was mutual but, fortunately, this encounter in his anonymous-looking office, above an estate agency in Hampstead – despite 60 hellish minutes which veered between awkwardness and outright bloody-mindedness – does have a happy, if somewhat unorthodox, ending.
To be frank, I had half-expected it to be tricky. It was the control thing that worried me. I'd heard stories, possibly apocryphal, about Gervais, dissatisfied with the way a photoshoot was going, simply taking over and directing himself himself. There was in addition something about the look in his eyes – cussedness tinged with anger, a lack of trust, maybe – underneath the hectic bravado that could spell trouble.
We chitchat about the pronunciation of his name – which is French-Canadian on his father's side – "Gervaaayze" (as in haze), although his mother, from Reading, rolled it out with a rural burr: "Gerrrrrvayze."
He remembers only fully understanding that his dad came from another, far-off country when various uncles and aunts came to visit and "of course, they were real Canadians and had check jackets on". He's been to Canada but not to visit his relatives: "Obviously, I'm interested in my immediate family [he has three much older siblings] but, no, I've never worried about where I came from. I don't see the point, really."
So you won't be doing that Who Do You Think You Are? genealogy show any time soon? "No. Who cares who the f*** you are? Oh God, I love it when they cry when they find out their great-great-grandmother was a prostitute. Really? I mean, really, do you care? It's all come flooding back now, hasn't it? Oh, the terrible memories of 150 years ago."
He is close to his two brothers, Larry and Bob, and his sister, Marsha: "I like them and I get on with them. We've shared a life together. So that's why I care about them, because they're nice and loyal and, you know, if they were all adopted I'd feel the same. That's what caring about someone is, not someone saying, 'By the way, you share 99 per cent genetic material.' Do I? Oh that makes it different, then."
We've barely started and already we're into the heavy sarcasm and belligerence. I happen to agree with Gervais that those shows featuring an endless parade of weeping celebrities are a bit suspect, but there's also something absurd about his toxic snideness. It would probably be funny on the stage, but close up it's faintly alarming; a bit like being trapped in the back of a cab with an irate driver who's sounding off.
My next mistake is to comment (innocuously, I think) on why he always puts his feet on his desk – does he have a lower-back problem?
"It feels comfortable," he says, looking faintly uncomfortable. "I wouldn't do it in your house. I do it because it feels nice and relaxed."
Later, when we sort of kiss and make up, it transpires that this was a turning point for him – ie, when things really started to go wrong – and his reasons reveal a lot about his rather complicated personality, as well as his uneasy accommodation with fame.
His comedy – and writing, in general – works because it is true to life, and full of acute observation. There's no lumbering exposition and he follows the good writer's rule of "Show, don't tell." His creation and portrayal of David Brent, The Office's boss, resonates because his character is totally recognisable, whether the audience lives in Slough or Poughkeepsie. We all have a little bit of Brent inside us – an executive friend of mine confessed she feels herself to be cringingly like him whenever she tries to chum up to her staff.
There are discernible overlaps between Gervais himself and his most famous character, particularly his mannerisms. After our interview, I talked to half-a-dozen people about the feet-on-table business, and most of them said either that it was something Brent actually did or, at the very least, it was a quintessentially Brentian thing to do. What is intriguing is that Gervais intuited my discomfort with him sticking his trainers under my nose before I was even really aware of it. It was only afterwards that I thought, "Well, what if I were an elderly, genteel lady – would he still think it was OK to do that?" It also struck me how much it was a distancing device; with his body stretched out in an L-shape, his face could not have been further away from mine.
I ask him if he is sentimental, and he says that he is. So, I wonder, what is the stronger element in him: sentiment or ironic detachment. "I don't know," he says. "I don't understand the question because it doesn't make sense. I don't think you can break it down to a percentage, because there's lots of overlap as well. I'm 100 per cent human so I'm a logical person with all the attributes of being human…"
Perhaps you find me asking for a percentage a bit off-putting but… "I'll take every question you ask very seriously." OK, let's try it another way: some people are completely sentimental without a trace of cruel wit in them and… "I never lose one when the other one's happening. I don't understand the question. You've gotta start again."
Well, you have answered the question in a way… "I couldn't have. If I did, I did it by mistake because I don't understand the question."
Oh dear, I sigh. The reason I'm asking the question, partly, is because your new film, Cemetery Junction – which you've said is very autobiographical (a coming-of-age story of three lads trapped in Nowheresville, plotting their escape) – has got a lot of warmth and heart, and feels quite different in tone to, say, The Office (or, certainly, from the one episode I saw, Extras).
Now we're talking about "the work", Gervais is back in his comfort zone; he knows where he's going, he has control and there is a momentary ceasefire in hostilities. "[The new film] is more an out-and-out drama so there's no veil of irony in it, like some of the other works. In The Office, we were laughing at the people who were delusional and un-cool, and now we've found people who are cool and, you know, we're going, 'This bloke is cool and his feathers are going to fall out one day but not this summer, and isn't it excitin'?'
"I suppose it was quite dangerous in The Office to expect people to go from laughing at a bit of slapstick with a middle-aged man having a breakdown and then going, 'But, really, no, he's a real person and he's got real emotions.'"
That's what made it so interesting. "Of course and I think we've always done that.
As long as your characters are real and they resonate and there's some sort of basis in reality and empathy to the piece, as opposed to just crazy slapstick, then I think you can shift gears.
"But it's all in how you set up your wares, you know. We drip-fed the boy-meets-girl thing, which sometimes doesn't work in sitcoms because they're either plonked in or they're cynical or they forget the jokes, so it's quite hard to have it all."
His accent weaves in and out of the Reading burr and a more sloppy urban-teenager-speak – "re-uh" for real; "resonaigh" for resonate; "re-a-li-ee" for reality.
When Tim, the world-weary sales rep, finally gets his girl, Dawn, the gorgeous blonde receptionist, I tell him that I felt like cheering. There had been more misunderstandings, missed opportunities and silent yearning than in a Jane Austen novel. "As soon as you realise that Tim and Dawn can't say what they want to say because the cameras are watching them…" He snaps his fingers in a very Brent way, "…takes on a whole new level… It's like, seething and Victorian. So all Tim had to do was look at Dawn and for her not to be looking back or look at Dawn and then get caught. It was all body language because people don't blow up what they're thinking anyway."
It's time for some more questions and, feeling flushed and anxious, I fan myself with some papers on his desk and then totally freak him out by mentioning the menopause. Do you think people are frightened of you? "Erm – um – in what way?" Frightened of your brightness or that you will lampoon them or put them down?
"Er, I think that, yes, some people are intimidated by a famous person and if they knew how, you know, how idiotic… Well, I think it's the same percentage of idiots that are famous as not, probably more, I would have thought. So… er… I hope I'm not intimidating in a bad way. I mean, taking this example – um – you know, it's not nice when it's combative."
At this point, I almost fall off my chair as it swings backwards alarmingly – practically to the ground – and I gasp, "Is this a joke seat?" (to dispatch pesky interviewers, I'm thinking.) "No, it's Stephen Merchant's – so it's got a very long back."
Well, I'm leading up to a question that I'm worried is going to make you angry but, anyway, let's go. "I won't be angry," he says. "I won't answer it if I don't like it." So I want to talk to you about your looks. When you were a pop star (in an Eighties Spandau Ballet-ish duo, all cheekbones, dusky eye make-up and earrings, called Seona Dancing) – "Failed pop star," he interjects – you were an incredibly pretty boy. Do you ever look at those old videos or pictures of yourself? "No, they're too depressing."
Why this interests me is that, in practically every single interview he's ever done, Gervais refers to himself, in some way, as "fat" or "ugly" or both (as in "ugly, fat git"). Is that really the way you see yourself?
"Well, I don't think I am a fat git, looking at the national average… and certainly the world average. But I'm a fat git compared to what I was, I suppose. I went from 9 stone to, you know – and then you hit 30 and those were my eating years…" (He's now 48.)
Do you feel any nostalgia for that pretty boy you once were? "No, of course not." Do you not care about your looks? "Er… I don't know. I'm not vain in that way. I don't preen. I've started working out for other reasons." Health? "Yeah, health – and because I don't want to get fatter.
"You know. It went far enough. And it was laziness because no one gets fat behind their back. If you burn off less calories than you eat, you put on weight – it's not a shock to anyone. The people who eat too much must be happy with that or they'd do something about it.
"And I'm eating as much as I ever did because I enjoy it, but I've decided to work out more. I run over the Heath and I've got a gym at the house, so no excuses at all – not that there was an excuse before… The only reason to live longer is to drink more wine and eat more cheese."
He and his TV producer partner, Jane Fallon (This Life, Teachers) – the couple have been together since they met at University College London in 1982 – live in a big pile in Hampstead but have also bought a flat in New York. They don't have children, so no schools to worry about, and what with Gervais's burgeoning Hollywood career (Ghost Town, The Invention of Lying), it wouldn't be all that surprising if they spend more time in the States. If so, will he feel pressurised to submit to the American beautification process?
"I think you mean, Los Angeles. New Yorkers are more…" Normal?
"Absolutely." They're still far more high-maintenance in the looks department in Manhattan than we are. "It's probably more to do with what you do… The Hollywood pressure is that you do have to be of a certain standard or a certain type. I see everyone doing it, even good character actors. I think, 'Why are you starving yourself?' The pressure is there to have white, straight teeth…"
Would you ever do your teeth? "No, they're clean and they're real – it's so strange to me that anyone would ever think I would. If I haven't done them now, why would I do them?"
And, boom, off he goes… "What is in America? Who gives a f*** what anyone thinks? I don't give a f*** what they think and if I don't get a film role because my teeth are crooked, then f*** them, I don't want it. I just go, 'It's ridiculous.' And if I don't get a film role because I'm not thin enough, then, 'F*** you.Why would I f****** do that, you f****** shallow c****!' I hate them, and I hate that people think that I would. It makes me angry. I remember when a newspaper said, 'He's lost three stone for Hollywood.' I went, 'No [his voice veers upwards], I haven't lost three stone and I would never f****** do it for Hollywood. I did it 'cos I work out and I wanna be fit.' And that annoys me. Someone said, 'I saw him in The Ivy and he was having a salad.' 'Yeah, I had a salad. I also had f****** deep-fried scampi and followed it with ravioli, you lying f****** c***!' So the answer is, 'No.'"
This is a splendid rant and hugely entertaining, although Gervais is genuinely angry and not performing it for laughs. But even in Hollywood, he is now calling the shots. The Invention of Lying – in which he plays an unsuccessful film writer who is told by everyone that he's a fat loser and, guess what, he still gets the girl – was written, directed, produced, narrated by and stars Ricky Gervais. As he says, "I create my own labour. I write my own roles and I write fat little putz roles, and now I write slightly less fat little putz roles. I don't go for roles which demand a 28-year-old model. Why would I do that?"
The reason, I think, that he is quite often misunderstood is because his humour hinges on playing with taboos. The danger being that while the audience accepts when is on stage, his offensiveness is a parody of other people's prejudices (made more piquant by our worry that, at some level, we battle with equally unattractive knee-jerk reactions), that comic tension doesn't always come across in interviews. So something that he intends to be humorous – even though it may be, as Gervais says in another context (calling his friend, Stephen Fry, "a f****** bent c***"), possibly "a joke that went wrong" or "ironic humour that fell flat" – it can be reported as what he really believes.
A case in point, are his recent remarks – asked for the umpteenth time about why he and Jane haven't had children – when he went off on a sort of sub-Loaded riff that fat chain-smoking impoverished slags in leggings should be compulsorily sterilised. As he says, coming from his background (his father, Jerry, was a labourer, and his mother, Eva, a housewife with a salty tongue; they were not well off), "it's fundamentally the opposite of what I believe". The thing is, he should have known better. He should have been sufficiently media-savvy to realise how bad that would look in print and, actually, if anything qualifies as "a joke that went wrong", that hits the jackpot.
Gervais has said, in the past, that he shouldn't need to wear a "Billy Bigot" T-shirt in order to flag up to people that he's only joking. But when I try to get him to talk about the way we all have thoughts that pop in our head that we're ashamed of, don't we, he comes over all arsey again.
First of all, he says that this is a subject he talks about on his latest tour. "I love to examine it. I look at middle-class angst all the time.
"When David Brent goes up to the black guy in the office and says, 'I love Sidney Poitier', that was him trying to tell him he's not a racist. I love looking at those taboo subjects that make us feel uncomfortable. If you're brought up in an environment where people are saying, 'Black people are lazy', for instance, you hit an age, if you're an intelligent person, when you go, 'That's just not true.' It's like why I became an atheist at the age of 8. Until that point I'd never questioned it and when I did, it was, 'Of course, it's bulls***', because the evidence – just like the evidence of racism – is overwhelmingly wrong."
Still, I wonder, are there any thoughts he has now that occasionally make him ashamed of himself? "That doesn't make sense. How can you go, 'I know that's wrong but I like it'?" And then, "You can't help what pops into your head. It's how you act on those things, rationally." Are you sometimes shocked by the things that pop into your head? "No."
You're frowning at me as though I'm saying something very stupid. "No, it doesn't make sense is what I'm saying. I think you've made a category mistake in what the mind is, is my high-falutin' answer. You can't be ashamed of…" Yes, you can. "No, you can't." More wrangling ensues… At one point, he insists that my suggestion that there is a gap between an unbidden thought leaping into your head, and the way you believe you should think and behave, is schizophrenia. No, it's not, I say, pretty cross and exasperated myself by now. "I dabble with those things in comedy…" Precisely. "I dabble with the worst thing to say and then I deal with it – but I haven't got this strange sort of man with two brains sort of syndrome." Oh God! "I'm sorry if it's uncomfortable, but I think you've got to realise that this is important to me. I don't want to be misinterpreted, so I don't want you to be unclear. This is as much for you as it is for me. So if you mean, 'Have I ever had a belief that I'm ashamed of?', the answer's, 'Yes.'"
I wonder if this verbal torture is something to do with Gervais having studied philosophy for three years; perhaps he took courses in semantics and semiology while he was at it. "It's difficult because we can't even get our interpersonal frames of reference correct to answer the question," he says. "But also what's good about it is that it seems to be about how you portray yourself and how you perceive yourself. Are you worried about your press persona; are you worried about the press, in general?"
Actually, it wasn't really about that in my mind but it clearly was in his… As I'm considering this, we have a breakthrough. He mentions a recent, not altogether friendly, interview and tells me that, despite it giving the impression that the two had met face to face (details about his body language and facial expression and so on), they had only spoken on the phone. When he sees that I am shocked and disappointed, the whole mood changes dramatically.
He goes to the next room for a glass of water, I follow him and when we resume our conversation, it's like talking to a different person. All the aggro has dissipated and everything about him has changed: his feet are nowhere to be seen, he leans across the desk to engage more fully; even his face opens up, his eyes widen and one catches a glimpse of that younger, unhardened self.
Bizarrely, we start to discuss why the interview has been so difficult to that point. He says that the reason he does interviews is that there's a responsibility to the backers of his various projects. Was it the directness of my questions that bothered you? "No, I was thinking, 'Oh my God, she thinks I'm such a horrible, nasty power freak… She thinks I'm intimidating, she thinks I'm combative.'
"Because on the face of it, that's how I was being. And what I should have done is sat you down and said, 'Listen, once bitten twice shy, and I'm really worried about things being taken out of context.'" But maybe I did irritate you, anyway? "No, the situation does. Straightaway I go, 'Why am I swimming with sharks again?' And I'm so conscious that anything can be… So when you said, 'You like putting your feet up', I suppose I was on the defensive. And straightaway we got off on the wrong foot." He's so earnestly in the moment, he doesn't hear what he's just said. "I thought, 'F***, she could think that's an affectation or that I'm rude; she could think I'm doing a power play, like I've read that in a book, you know.' And so I tried to make it clear in a weird, like honesty-type Tourette's-type of way that I just felt comfortable because it was my place – and I said in such a weird way, 'I wouldn't do it in your house.'
"I feel really bad now. It must have been like walking into someone who'd just come from a harrowing experience in Vietnam and didn't want to talk about it!" This, in case there is any doubt about it, is a joke.
Complicated, isn't it? "I've never done an interview when in the interview you analyse the interview. This is the most postmodern, deconstructed interview I've ever done. I wish we could do the post mortem.
"Of course, you do that in your head. I'll go home to Jane and go, 'Oh my God, I said this… and I know the headline.' But you can't get a headline out of this."
Earlier, before our détente, I had wondered whether Gervais fell into the Englishman's retreat of making a joke in order to avoid talking in an honest way about his feelings. He gives an answer to a different question – one that has been on his mind, not mine – about the perils of being famous. "I suppose I came to fame a bit cynically. I wanted people to know fame was an upshot of what I did, as opposed to the driving force because, fundamentally, I probably do want to be considered above the people who do anything to be famous and live their life like an open wound."
I ask him if he's self-analytical; again, his thoughts wander back to fame, and at first he becomes spectacularly tongue-tied. "Er, probably no more than I ever was… I mean fame makes you – um – more… um, self-analytical I suppose because… now you're worried about not how people perceive you but how people who don't know you perceive you, which seems unfair because your reputation is everything.
"I'm more conscious in public than I ever was. I'm probably less of an extrovert than I was. Fame has made me a bit more of a recluse.
"I go to restaurants but they're safe environments. People don't bat any eyelid in the Ivy but I probably wouldn't go to Nando's on a Friday night in Birmingham, and I don't go to pubs. I've had no bad experiences, everyone's very polite, but you can get phobic. It's about feeling trapped. If you walk into a shop and you see someone go [he whispers behind his hand], then you walk out again. Walking down the street with someone going, 'Love the show' – nothing wrong with that at all. But being plonked somewhere where there's loads of people who you don't know but think they know you – that's a bit weird. We're not really meant to be famous."
He was walking down the street once and there were a couple of kids, about 12 or 13, and one went: "'Hey, man, it's you, innit? Office man.' I went, 'Yeah', and I kept walking. And heard them going, 'Who is it?' And I kept walking and I was about 20 yards away and this kid shouted, 'What's your name?' And I had to shout, 'I'm Ricky Gervais.'"
The idea of him doing this, it must be said, is snortingly funny. "'Cos I don't want to be impolite. They don't know. And I never want to be that bloke – you know, when they go, 'I asked for his autograph when I was 14 and he told me to f*** off.' I hate that."
It's at times like this that you catch a glimpse of the nicer side of Gervais, and understand why his friendships are long, and why a smart-sounding woman like Fallon would still be at his side, 25-plus years on. He's unforthcoming, which is unsurprising, on the secret of sustaining a relationship over three decades: "There is no secret.
It's all the obvious things. Things in common. Respect. I suppose – um – you're soul mates. You see eye to eye on everything."
But his romanticism comes out when we talk about his idea of the perfect endings to films. When I say that Cemetery Junction has the same sort of grit-with-a-heart feeling as British films like The Full Monty and Brassed Off, Gervais says he hasn't seen them. He only catches new films – about three a year – when he's on the plane. At home, he watches the same DVDs again and again and rattles off a list: The Godfather, Casablanca, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Play It Again, Sam, Tootsie, Raging Bull. "It's like taking a drug because it gives me the same emotion as it did the first time, and some things are made better the second time round. I'm better the second time round."
With his new film, "We wanted to do Hollywood does gritty. It had to be glorious and glamorous in its blue-collar degradation, like Saturday Night Fever. When you watch that – he's walking down the street, he's looking good but he works in a paint shop and he lives for Saturday night. But most people who watched that weren't going, 'How sad, this fellow's gonna fall'; they're going, 'Oh, look at that! He's f****** cool.'"
The Apartment (directed by Billy Wilder) has had the biggest influence on his and Merchant's work. When I say that two of the young guys (Christian Cooke and Tom Hughes) in Cemetery Junction are pretty gorgeous, he says "Who wants to see fat ugly people?" Oh no, don't start that again. "No, Billy Wilder said that when he cast Marilyn Monroe alongside Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis [in Some Like It Hot], and he said, 'No one wants to look at ugly people.'"
He says Cemetery Junction is autobiographical in that "all the women in that film are women from my family – my mum and my nan – and all the men are the men in my family and different friends growing up. There's a line in it that my Mum actually said to me. [Gervais plays the character based on his father, in a white vest, always being undermined by his crabby mother-in-law.] When I was 18, I said, 'I'm going to France', and she said, 'What do you want to go there for? There's parts of Reading you ain't seen.' Which is very sweet."
It was the death of his mother, nine years ago, in particular, which made a profound impact on her son: "It's devastating when you see someone dying of lung cancer – it's f****** horrible, dreadful. My dad died a couple of years after. He was pottering around the garden with a few cans and sort of went, just like that. When your parents die, you're sad because you miss someone who bore you and shaped you and cared for you, and it does make you think about other things, like your health. I went to the doctor, and dragged Steve along once, and said, 'I've found a lump – I've got cancer.' It happened twice."
We move away from intimations of mortality to those romantic endings.While his humour is graphic, his romances are oblique. "It's so much more powerful when they don't kiss. 'Cos in Hollywood they go, 'Da da da, kiss, happy ever after.' What do you mean, 'Happy ever after'? What blew me away about The Apartment was the ending – he says, 'I love you' and she's sort of shuffling the cards, 'cos when they were friends they used to play, and he says, 'Did you hear what I said? I absolutely adore you.' And she says, 'Shut up and deal.' Beautiful – soul mates – they've got things in common, they've already built it on a friendship."
There is one especially moving moment in Cemetery Junction, when the father and son reconcile, in a tiny gesture, and Gervais – who co-wrote it with Merchant, their first feature film together – would burst into tears every time he shot it. "Yeah, it was, like, 'Wheew' [blows his nose], 'That was brilliant' [another honk], 'Ok, let's go again' [clears his throat with emotion].''
By now I am emboldened to ask him directly if he's a romantic.
"Of course," he says. "As an atheist, that's all that matters. You don't get rewarded for being nice in Heaven, you get rewarded for it on earth. So be nice to people. Make a connection – because, you know, what else is there except making a connection with someone?"
It was lucky for both of us that there were two parts to this interview and, I would agree with him – Gervais is definitely better the second time round.
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Cemetery Junction is released on April 14
03 Apr 2010 Administrator 0 comments


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Every gamer who owns more than one console to game on has probably asked this question more than once: Why aren't there more cross-platform accessories? It's a very valid question, especially since there are many third-party companies out there who will make accessories that are specifically tailored to one specific console or platform. Sennheiser, the Germany-based audio manufacturer, jumped into the gaming arena not too long ago and presented gamers with at least one option for a multi-platform headset in the form of the U320 Gaming Headset.
The U320 is meant to be a universal headset for gamers who enjoy quality audio but aren't specifically tied down to one system. Designed with adapters that will make the transition from PC to Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, loss of audio quality is a thing of the past. Before jumping into the actual impressions, let's take a look at some technical specifications of the U320 and break them down.
|Noise-canelling microphone arm, mutable when raised
|113 dB (headphones)
|32 ohms
|Volume Control
|Dual volume control for game and player audio
|15-23,000 Hz
None of the technical aspects of the U320 truly stand out over any other headset as these are pretty typical of the industry when it comes to straight-audio headsets. The sensitivity, at 113 dB, however, is a little higher than normal and does make the quality a little more impressive at lower volumes.
The microphone really is the star of this show, in my opinion. Testing out the microphone on applications such as Ventrilo and Skype registered clear-cut audio with absolutely no issues of background noise. Recording, as expected, had no issues as well. The beauty of the microphone arm, though, is the simple way to mute your voice: Just raise the arm. When the arm is in the raised position, it automatically shuts itself down without killing the audio to the earphones. Simple, elegant, and easy. Everything one would want.
The audio quality is clean and beautiful all in one nice package. Several audio tests came from titles Final Fantasy VII, FarCry 3, and Guild Wars 2. I did get maybe the slightest of distortion at higher levels when playing Final Fantasy VII via Steam, but it could have to do with older audio and the title perhaps not mastered for higher end sound cards. Either way, the distortion was very, very minor. Whether the title was on PC or on console, the audio was crisp and clear.
If there is a negative that sticks out, I will say that the length of the audio cable can be frustrating if the PC tower a gamer is using it on is directly below or near them. Of course, the reason for this is the need to have a long enough cable to run across the room for console gamers. Yes, it creates a nasty little trip hazard as if we were reverting back to retro gaming days, but it's a necessary design for the headset.
Audio control is taken care of via a dual-control device on the cord itself. One volume control is for the game itself, while the second control is for player chat, allowing a player to independently change the volume levels without having to go into the game's settings or into their settings on Ventrilo/Teamspeek. Just change the dial and away you go.
The Sennheiser U320 Gaming Headset is available at many locations currently this holiday season, including directly ordered from Sennheiser.com at a sale price of $135.96, which is very competitively priced for what can be considered a high-end gaming headset that takes care of all of a gamer's audio needs in one tidy package.
The Sennheiser U320 Gaming Headset is everything a gamer would want in an all-in-one audio solution. With crisp audio, a noise cancelling microphone that gives precision when its needed, and comfort that is very underrated, this is a headset perfect for the gamer in need this holiday season.
* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.
I've been writing about games and entertainment since 2006 after starting out at Xbox Ohio. Since then, I have made the jump to Gaming Nexus and have enjoyed my time here. I am an avid gamer that has a solid old school game collection that includes the likes of Final Fantasy games, Earthbound, Gitaroo-Man, MvC2, and a whole slew of others. I have a primary focus on Xbox/PC games and PC peripherals and accessories. If you ever want to game against me, you can look me up on XBL with the gamertag GN Punk. View Profile


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Remittances: a Reconstruction and Development Tool
In post conflict countries, those who have made it out of the country are keenly aware that the livelihoods of those left behind vitally depend on remittance transfers. While concerns have been expressed about the possibility that remittances may stoke conflict, the majority view is that Diaspora support from abroad can contribute to democracy. It has been clearly established that private remittances are of central importance for restoring stability by enhancing human security in strife-torn societies. As in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, due to the predominantly informal nature of remittance delivery mechanisms, the magnitude of remittances to the economies of these regions has been under-estimated.


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The report studies Marine Black Box in Global market Professional Survey 2017 : Size, Share, Trends, Industry Growth, Opportunity, Application, Production, Segmentation, Cost Structure, Company Profile, Product Picture and Specifications during the Forecast period by 2022
The research study titled 'Global Marine Black Box Industry 2017' evaluates the performance of the Marine Black Box market the world, at present and historically, and makes future projections based on the result of the analysis. The report analyzes the global market for Marine Black Box from the perspective of the market chain supporting the industry, the statistical data regarding import and export, and the dominant market dynamics.
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Starting from the definition of Marine Black Box, the market study covers every aspect of the market for Marine Black Box in the globe. Various segments of the Marine Black Box market, their prime end-use applications, and the geographical distribution of the global market is also discussed at length in this report.
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The research report elaborates upon the competitive landscape of the Marine Black Box market in world by profiling the major participants of the market in order to identify the leading players in the market. It thus assists current market players, consultants, and stakeholders operating in the market to work out crucial strategies and make rewarding decisions.


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10k White Gold Polished Cross Pendant
10k White Gold Polished Finished Hollow Cross Charm Pendant Approx. Weight 0.43 gm Charm Length 19 mm
Weight (lbs.):1
Length (in.):1
Width (in.):1
Height (in.):1
Ships To
Additional Item
Continental United States
This product usually ships in 4 business days and should be delivered in 10 business days.
Shop worry free! If you're not 100% happy with your purchase, you can return this item within 14 days of receiving it.


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Chopper City Responds To The Chopper Suit! "Im Bout To Come With Chopper Suit Mixtape" + Rainin Money + Goes In On Lil Wayne "My Sister Mad Cause This P*ssy Stole Her F*ckin Lip Ring & She Wants It Back" + Says R.I.P To E. Ness Career
Chopper City addresses Lil Wayne. Done with E. Ness & the "Choppa Suit"
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Don Lucas has been designing southwestern jewelry for over 35 years. Drawing from the rich tradition of Native American art, each piece of handmade jewelry is custom designed by Don Lucas. Our distinctive southwestern style can be seen in every piece – sterling silver bracelets, turquoise pendants, and stunning southwestern necklaces – just to name a few. To wear a piece of our southwestern jewelry is to bring to life a melody of traditional craftsmanship and unique design.
At Don Lucas Jewelry quality is king. All workmanship is guaranteed and only the finest materials are used to make each hand crafted piece of southwestern jewelry. Stunning sterling silver, vibrant turquoise and hand selected semi-precious stones make our jewelry creations wearable pieces of art. Don Lucas personally selects all materials to bring the brilliant colors of coral, turquoise, amethyst, and other semi-precious stones to each piece of hand made southwestern jewelry.
We hand pick everything we use to assure that the soul of the stone highlights the beauty of the design. Don Lucas creates exquisite one of a kind pieces of southwestern jewelry which exemplify his skilled design and experienced craftsmanship. Wear one of our stunning pieces of southwestern jewelry for a night on the town or an elegant dinner at home. Our one of kind southwest jewelry is always unique and never duplicated. Don Lucas Jewelry offers a one of a kind collection featuring bracelets,earrings, pendants, concha belts and more.


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|Jake Cruise
Short review: Jake Cruise has an eye for the queer guy on this website. Nothing like engaging in business that you can get a "piece" of .over and over again with all the hot hunks. A few things I didn't care for, but the action can't be beat and the lighting, content, sound, etc were all really good. My complaints were the image layouts and just a bit of initial confusion on how to get into member's area.
Content Amount: Amount seems to be up to par for this website, not each thumbnail held images, but there were 260+ that did, containing 50 images per folder, along with 260+ episode/clips and full length movies too.The intro promises of what was promised to find held up


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There's never been a better time
to apply to Otterbein University.
Apply online today!
Faculty meet regularly to share current research projects relating to their service-learning courses.
This award provides funding to meet community project expenses, including travel to conferences or meetings, purchase of books and acquisition of software and/or research equipment. Issue Based Communities:
These communities include faculty, staff, students, and community partners who develop experiential learning opportunities that address local community needs. A list of these experiences can be found here.
The CCE is located in the Mikesell House, 82 W. Main St.
p / 614.823.1270
Otterbein University, 1 South Grove Street, Westerville, OH 43081 614.890.3000
Otterbein University is a private, non-profit, United Methodist affiliated, regionally-accredited institution.
© 2019 Otterbein University. Otterbein University is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer


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We have some musical action happening here in Manawa this Friday evening, June 4th at Smith's Manawa Steak House. Not only is it Friday evening, featuring the Land and Sea buffet, which is newsworthy in it's own right. John & Robyne are featuring performer Paula Slow from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. I have seen Paula perform once before and her range and musical selections dabble in varying genre's. I've heard her inspire with a gospel tune and then turn around and sing some Rascal Flats. Come to Smith's Manawa Steak House this Friday evening, enjoy some dinner and stay for the musical musings of Paula Slow….sure to be a magical time.
Music in Manawa
June 1st, 2010 by Judy Trull


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Well, they heart my collar design anyway. Check me out on Topshop's Tumblr page minding my own business at NYFW in one of my coveted glitter collars. See what happens when you show up to fashion week looking chic? If you've read my fashion week guide you can now plainly see what I mean about ending up on Tumblr. It happened to me!
Hey Topshop! You wanna offer me a few thousand for the design? I might just hand it over!
Categories: glitter collars, moi, NYFW, press


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NILES, IL, November 17, 2009 — Mention The Rat Pack to anyone with a love of great music from the 50s and 60s and classics like "Volare," "Fly Me To The Moon," and "New York, New York" instantly spring to mind. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin epitomized the cool and glamour of the era with unparalleled lifestyles that captivated a global audience. They were film stars, showmen, comedians, and playboys, but most of all…it was about their music.rat pack one
Chris Whybrow, the live sound engineer responsible for the West End show "Frank, Sammy & Dean – The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas" has spent his career working on a string of award-winning theater productions and on tour with artists and bands like Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay, and Dizzie Rascal. But with "The Rat Pack," it's all about combining great sound with authentic style.
"When you're recreating some of the biggest classics ever to be recorded," said Whybrow, "you need to be certain the gear you're using is up to the job."
When London's West End celebrates these performers, it also celebrates some of the finest music ever recorded. So, it stands to reason that "The Rat Pack" show had to set the bar higher for sound quality than any other, which is why several Shure microphones, including the KSM9, KSM137, Beta 87, Beta 98, Beta 91, SM58®, and 55SH are used for vocals and the backline during the performances.rat pack two
"We're using a lot of Shure microphones on this show," said Whybrow, "but the star is undoubtedly the KSM9 handheld condenser. We have two in black, but the six main ones we use are in champagne. They sound fantastic. With the KSM9s, I don't need to treat the sound of their voices…it's pretty much just flat, natural sound. You don't really have to put any EQ on, as they're a very natural sounding microphone."
Chris has used KSM9s in some of his previous theater designs – including "Thriller Live," the show that celebrates the career of Michael Jackson – so he was already familiar with what they were capable of, but he isn't alone. The performers have been impressed with them, too.
"The performers love them, actually," said Whybrow. "The performer playing Dean Martin especially loves them! During the show the mics come in for a bit of abuse, so it's good that the housing on them is really strong. The capsule is also shock-mounted, making it ideal for hand-held performance, especially seeing as they get thrown off stage every performance – after 'Sammy Davis Jr.'does 'That Old Black Magic.' At the end of the song, he swings the mic around and lobs it off the stage and someone catches it. Well, that's the plan – it's been dropped a few times now, but it still works!"
So after designing the sound for "The Rat Pack," does Chris ever have enough of hearing these tracks?
"I love all that old music – even after hearing it a lot," he said. "These tunes…they're classics."


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In our forums an interesting discussion has begun regarding the attention some people are getting with their new Windows Phone, specifically with people coming up to ask what kind of phone thou art wielding.
Case in point, when we were recently traveling to San Francisco we were brandishing our appropriately titled California Blue HTC 8X and we had multiple instances of people inquiring and fawning over our phone. Yes, it's the color that lures 'em in and the Tiles that pique their interest. Personally, we hadn't experienced that much attention to our phone in public in a long time, if ever.
The mystery isn't too hard to figure out either—basically if you have any of the brightly colored Lumias or 8Xs that are now out there, there's a good chance someone may ask you about it (it also depends on your region as those in the North East are less likely to come up to in public, so it seems).
If you're sporting a matte black device, it will certainly be less noticeable and for some that's a good thing. The biggest surprise from people is also consistent: they're shocked that there is no case on the phone.
So the question for you folks with Windows Phones: Have you seen an increased amount of people asking you about it?
Take the poll and share your stories either in comments or our forum!


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Lake View East
Chicago's other districts
Latest News
5 best boozy afternoon teas in London Dainty china cups and cucumber sandwiches - could you get a more British past-time than Afternoon tea?! It seems so, with a booming popularity for cocktails, many hotels are supercharging their teatime treats with some bonus liquor on the side. Here are five of our favourite boozy afternoon teas in London.
Must Try: The Toot Toot cocktail at Scarfes Bar The epic Scarfes Bar cocktail menu pays homage to mainstream icons that have shaped UK history since the millennium.
The Punch Room's famous Milk Punch cocktail True to its name, boozy punches are the headliner at this secret hotel bar. Of the long selection (30 on the list!), it's vital you first try the bar's renowned cocktail, the 'English Milk Punch' before you dive into anything else.


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