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Today is the last day of National mourning of the Republic of the Philippines for our 11th President Mrs. Corazon "Cory" Cojuangco-Aquino.
Last week, the funeral cortege passed in our neighborhood here in Makati along South Super Highway (or as is known today "President Osmeña Highway"). I went out and captured the historical moment when the Filipino people waited for the cortege to arrive.
Inside you will find a short story of what happened, and after which, you can view all 332 photos to your leisure.
Date: August 5, 2009
Camera: Canon
Model: Canon PowerShot A460
640×480 pixels
Since this is 5 pages long, you can just jump straight to all the photos by visiting this link: this link (where you can also leave comments to each photo).
Or you can watch all the photos via this slide:
All of my photos are license under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Philippines.
I first watched the requiem mass up to the portion when the funeral cortege turned left at Quirino Avenue. At around 1:30 in the afternoon, I went out…
As you can see, life already stopped in Makati. From Barangay Bangkal, I just kept taking photos while walking Northwards. My first stop was the South Super Highway "Buendia" Flyover.
Rain or shine…
Filipinos will climb anything just to get a good look and pay their final respects…
I reached Barangay Palanan
They're not afraid, just as Cory was
At Barangay San Antonio, Makati City
And this is what I call raining
We're still in Makati City :p
I'm walking back at this point, headed back to where I started, Barangay Bangkal. This is the North end of the South Super Highway "Buendia" Flyover.
Under the flyover
As I've said, Filipinos will climb anywhere…
These people weren't here when I first passed by the Buendia Skyway ramp at around 1:48pm. This only shows how much the crowd has grown since I first started my photo documentation, this was around 2:59pm. And the cortege at this point will still take 2 to 3 hours more to reach this point.
The helicopter (I think ABS-CBN's Sky Patrol) covering the cortege. The cortege at this time, if I will take a guess is still stuck in Manila's portion of President Osmeña Highway where radio coverage said that the Manileños were intentionally blocking the cortege. That's how much they love Cory Aquino.
And guess who was leading… far ahead, the funeral cortege…
People were shouting, "Ako na ang papadyak!"; "Sama-sama tayo!" then another followed up, "pero mauuna na ako!" Oh well..
The crowd along the South Super Highway – Pasay Road interchange… again, these people weren't here an hour earlier 😉
Back at AMA Makati Campus (South Super Highway corner Tinio St. Bangkal, Makati City)
In front of Yellow Cab Pizza Main office, Bangkal, Makati City
Yes, that's how slow they're going because of the immense crowd. And yes, I was trying to get good shots of him so I walked ahead of them 😉
And I'm back to where I started, Bangkal, Makati City, 3:19pm
Now, my journey from my starting point to Magallanes cloverleaf interchange…
Now, I would have let go of making the Philippine Flag a "towel" or "jacket" of sorts when our sportsmen win but writing on the flag is too much already… No offense to these people…
Some youths and young adults who wants Kris Aquino to be the President of the Republic of the Philippines
A family giving their thanks..
As a point of reference…
Can you see the crowd?
Let's get up-close and personal..
Looking back first… (Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan.)
Time stopped
One last look.. back.. (facing North from the North end of the South Super Highway and EDSA cloverleaf interchange)
Now let's trek the length of the SSH-EDSA cloverleaf interchange
Leaving Barangay Bangkal and crossing to Barangay Magallanes, it looks empty…
Just look, when we turn around and face North towards Barangay Bangkal…
The crowd difference is obvious… but still there are people waiting, few they may be…
At 4:15pm
And now..
We found the crowd..
The funeral cortege arrives at the SSH-EDSA cloverleaf interchange at 4:22:44pm
Read this message of the man who walked with the funeral cortege…
Here quoted:
Watch history repeat itself. Just as, after Ninoy's burial People Power was ignited and brought down a despot and violator of human rights.
After Cory's burial, Filipinos will revive once more the spirit of EDSA and bring down another despot and tormentor of Human Rights activists.
Deja Vu!
Gloria, Babu!
Going back..
Our final respects to the 11th President of the Republic of the Philippines
Some photos down on the side of SSH going North that is now passable
Facing South from the South end of the SSH-EDSA cloverleaf interchange
the rain, no storm, hit us hard
now it's Signal #1 (figuratively :p )
No one is budging… what storm?
At this point, it doesn't matter whether you have an umbrella or not, you will surely get wet. The strong winds with the rain is blowing towards us, and we're in an area where there are not much buildings.
Even a helicopter made an emergency langding…
Yep, we're wet, dripping.. (me on the left)
And that ends the story of the South Super Highway portion of Makati City from Barangay Palanan, Barangay San Antonio, Barangay Pio del Pilar, Barangay Bangkal, and Barangay Magallanes. My best guess, I walked 80% to 90% of the length of President Osmeña Highway that is within the territory of the City of Makati.
A history in the making and a very memorable experience for me. When I was there, it wasn't just Senator Ninoy that was in my mind, I also felt how it was like when the Nation mourned for President Ramon Magsaysay. Two Presidents that made a huge difference in this country that the Filipinos will love for as long as our race lives.
Goodbye Corazon "Cory" Aquino, 11th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Date: August 5, 2009
Camera: Canon
Model: Canon PowerShot A460
640×480 pixels
You can watch all the photos below:
Or you can visit this link (where you can also leave comments to each photo).
All of my photos are license under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Philippines.
Is a bibliophile and technophile other than being an early adopter, an avid gamer, anime otaku, trekker, and photographer. He is an advocate of "Free Culture", "Open Knowledge", "Creative Commons", "Free/Libre Open-Source Software", and the "Fediverse" (federated social-network).
His first online project was in 1998 when he launched the unofficial website for Ansalon MUD (a text-based online game) and his own community forums Laibcoms.Community. Today, he owns a variety of online properties and help others establish their online presence.
Confirm his identity through Keybase, and learn more by reading his central bio. Yuki's hubsite, Tomes of Knowledge, is located at jcsesecuneta.com.
A Story to Tell… A President to Remember by ᜌᜓᜃᜒ (Yuki|雪亮) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at Legal Notice.


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A book review is something I've never done, but when I won a book, Branching Out: Kids Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15 by Jennifer Holik of http://blog.generationsbiz.com/ I wrote and told her I'd be happy to write a review. In addition, I'd prefer her PDF version and not the hard copy. When I subscribed to her blog, I hadn't known there was a contest to win this book, so I was quite surprised to learn I was the winner.
How do I write a review? Is it the same as a critique? I'm not sure, but critiques always seem so negative, so I'll give my thoughts.
The things that came to mind after I finished reading the 65 pages were, there is a lot of information. And, it isn't just for high school students; in my opinion, this is a perfect book for those who home-school their older children or even somebody teaching a small group of scouts or young adults who are interested in their family history.
There are a lot of reading assignments as well as hands-on projects. It might be noted, however, the students have to have access to four other books, and a computer, in addition to Jennifer's book.
It is apparent that Jennifer put in a huge amount of time and effort into her book. In addition, she has other books in this vein, covering other grades, and a new one for adults. Please see her blog at http://blog.generationsbiz.com/ for further information. Thanks Jennifer, I enjoyed receiving and reading your book.

subset: commoncrawl


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Long time no update. Since my last entry, I've basically dropped out of being an active developer on any project--- much to my frustration, but I think it's just a matter of life refocusing. Spent a long time working on a very very large Zope CMF system, went through major angst, transitioned, burned out on software, decided to pursue a Ph.D. in history. My profile, recently updated, has the rest.
Anyone need a contract hacker?


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Ok guys you asked for it.. and it would stop you taking over 'Ruined my day.. Made my day' thread. By the looks of it most of u have girl trouble at the moment so please talk here and we will try and give as much advice and help as possible.
Ok guys you asked for it.. and it would stop you taking over 'Ruined my day.. Made my day' thread. By the looks of it most of u have girl trouble at the moment so please talk here and we will try and give as much advice and help as possible.
February 10th 2009 <3
Rest In Peace Fardin
Rest In Peace Sazza
Piper, I reckon the worst place for guys to get tactical advice from is a girl. Don't forget that every single one of these girl problems is caused by the fact that we don't understand women. It's like asking a vegetarian for the best way to eat a porterhouse steak.Originally Posted by Piper
'Copperfield,' said Mr. Micawber, 'farewell! Every happiness and prosperity! If, in the progress of revolving years, I could persuade myself that my blighted destiny had been a warning to you, I should feel that I had not occupied another man's place in existence altogether in vain.
- Wilkins Micawber
Through a straw.
Parmi | #1 draft pick | Jake King is **** | Big Bash League tipping champion of the universeCome and Paint Turtle
You'll be drinking your food through a straw if you don't STFU.. Yeah, Gibbon..Originally Posted by benchmark00
It's on.. You and me... Mano e mano..
I'll dance with the devilOriginally Posted by Shounak
In the pale moonlight..Originally Posted by benchmark00
Can quote Batman.Originally Posted by Shounak
Two can play at a game.. Consider yourself, served..Originally Posted by benchmark00
Suitably chastisedOriginally Posted by Shounak
Dear Auntie Piper:
I have a girl-related problem. I have considered murdering the missus because she suggested that it was 'cruel of me' to laugh when Bradford scored against Nottingham Forest earlier this afternoon, thus depriving them of a chance of making the play-offs.
I'm a little undecided as to what method to despatch her with, and how to dispose of the corpse. I have a 'non-slip' hammer, but when the blood really starts to flow, am I likely to lose my grip? We have some very nice ornaments that could easily get cracked or broken. Also, will an under-sink garbage disposal mechanism work on bone?
Nigel Clough's Black and White Army, beating Forest away with 10 men
Gerrard.. I did not say that i would help.. i just made the thread so u guys could help each other.. but i guess i shouldnt have eh?Originally Posted by Mr Casson
Andrew Cameron is a better day-to-day prospect than you.Originally Posted by Shounak
How about divorce?Originally Posted by luckyeddie
Why - because the sink garbage disposal is not good enough?Originally Posted by Piper
Stop over-reacting.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


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Investigative and child advocacy resources at the heart of annual conference
Investigative and child advocacy resources at the heart of annual conference
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.– About 260 child advocates from around Pennsylvania gathered at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus on Wednesday (Sept. 25) to promote the expansion of multidisciplinary investigative teams and child advocacy centers.
Penn State's Second Annual Conference on Child Protection and Well-Being aimed to provide information and share expertise in developing these teams and centers specifically in counties that do not have these resources.
Speakers specializing in an array of areas — including child abuse investigations and prosecutions — participated in panel discussions that built county-level partnerships and identified consistent protocols for child abuse intervention and investigation. District attorneys, county children and youth administrators, law enforcement and child advocacy center representatives, along with Penn State faculty experts, were present to begin this significant statewide collaboration.
"This conference is about building partnerships in every county across the state and setting a foundation for a network of well-connected, well-developed child advocacy centers and multidisciplinary investigative teams," said Nicholas Jones, Penn State's executive vice president and provost.
Jones, who opened the conference, encouraged the attendees to share experiences and start the conversations that will build vital resources for the children of Pennsylvania.
Secretary of the state's Department of Public Welfare Beverly Mackereth echoed Jones' statement, and applauded the University for its ongoing commitment to combating child maltreatment.
"Today we embark on a partnership with Penn State."
— Beverly Mackereth, Secretary,
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
"Today we embark on a partnership with Penn State," Mackereth said.
"Child welfare looks very different than it did 10-20 years ago," she added. "Thanks to the University's Network on Child Protection and Well-Being, and our partners at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Pennsylvania, I believe we have the makings to be a national leader."
Teresa Huizar, the executive director of the National Children's Alliance, was the conference's keynote speaker. The organization is the accrediting body for 750 child advocacy centers across the country, and she shared her expertise in creating and maintaining the centers.
Two panel discussions covered the development of teams and centers. Another session began the conversation on identifying model set of standards across Pennsylvania. Every speaker stressed that developing consistent protocols across resources was vital.
An important ingredient in pinpointing these best practices and procedures relies heavily on research from Penn State faculty. Lori Frasier, chief of the Division of Child Abuse Pediatrics at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, and Jennie Noll, professor of human development and family studies, shared with the audience the importance of university-community collaboration to combat child maltreatment.
"With the child advocacy center-faculty synergy, we can come up with ideas for new treatments and learn how to communicate with families," Noll said. "Together we can garner the evidence-base that has the empirical traction to change policy."
Frasier and Noll represent two of at least 12 new faculty that will join the Network over the next three years. The two researchers shared the Network's vision to improve collaboration with community-based agencies. Noll is the Network director of research and education.
"Community-university collaboration looks like this," Frasier said. "All of us in this room. What we grow here will be of notice to the state, nation and world."
Penn State's third annual Conference on Child Protection and Well-Being will be held starting May 5, 2014, at the Nittany Lion Inn on the University Park campus. It is a two-day conference that will feature the expertise of top researchers in the field. The focus will be on parenting and family processes. Registration will be available early next year.


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Jacquelyn Wilson, MD is a consultant to the homeopathic pharmaceutical industry.
As your consultant, Dr. Wilson will:
- Guide you through the feasibility and process of creating an official homeopathic drug product to be marketed in the United States.
- Work with you to select OTC and Rx label indications for your homeopathic products.
- Identify trusted consultants and manufacturers for your homeopathic drug products.
- Formulate new homeopathic combination drug products using official HPUS homeopathic drugs and specific disease and symptom indications referenced from the vast homeopathic medical literature as proof of claims.
- Answer healthcare provider and consumer questions about your homeopathic drug products.
- Train your employees on specifics of homeopathic drug products using the guiding principles of homeopathy.
- Advise you on conducting affordable homeopathic drug research including homeopathic drug provings, pilot studies and clinical trials research on new homeopathic drugs.
- Help you understand the US Federal laws, regulations and the role of the FDA and FTC in regulating homeopathic drug products.


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Macadamia Coconut Tart
Originally uploaded by wanderingcoyote.
Pardon the bad photograph!
As I mentioned in the previous post, I get a few foodie magazines. This recipe came from Gourmet, the most recent additon to my subscription collection. The other day, my sister-in-law said, "Do you ever use the recipes in these magazines?" I had to admit that I rarely did, and resolved there and then to start making some.
This tart is really decadent and sophisitcated. I took it last night to a dinner party at my younger brother's place, and it was a huge hit.
One caveat: the shell shrunk considerably during the baking process and I had to take out some of the filling right before putting it in the oven. I wound up with four mini-tarts made in muffin tins with the leftover pastry dough and filling. So be careful when filling the tart; you don't want it overfilled or you'll get a real mess. Bake it on a baking sheet, too, in case of overflow.
Macadamia Coconut Tart
For the crust:
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
1/4 tsp salt
3 - 5 tbsp ice water
NOTE: the original recipe calls for 6 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp vegetable shortening. I used the above ingredients and it was fine - though I did have that shrinkage...
OK, this is really simple - if you have a food processor. Just pulse all the ingredients until you get a coarse meal-like consistency. Tablespoon by tablespoon, add the water until the mixture just comes together when pressed with your fingers. Remove from the processor bowl, knead once with the heal of your hand to distribute the fat evenly, then press into a 5" disc. Wrap with plasic wrap and refrigerate until chilled - about half an hour.
Alternately, if you don't have a food processor, whisk together the dry ingredients and cut the butter in with a pastry cutter unitl coarse meal is formed. Add water, a tbsp at a time, mixing with a fork, until it just comes together when pressed with your fingers. Continue as above.
Now you need to do something called "blind baking". This means you're going to bake the tart shell without its filling. So, roll out your dough to a 13" round. Gently place the dough in a 10" tart shell with removable bottom (these are cheap at any kitchen shop). Fit into the tart pan and prick the bottom all over with a fork (I neglected to do this - big mistake, trust me!). Chill until firm - again about 30 minutes (or stick it in the freezer to speed things up). Now place a sheet of foil over the tart shell and fill this with pie weights (I used raw rice; you can also use raw beans). Bake at 375F until sides are pale golden and firm. Remove the foil and pie weights. Continue to bake until deep golden brown. Leave oven on.
NOTE: I used an 11" tart pan and it shrunk about an inch in diameter and half an inch in depth, and like I said above, the filling didn't fit in when the time came. So just be wary of this because it may happen to you, too.
For the tart filling:
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 1/2 cups dry roased, roughly chopped macadamia nuts
1 cup flaked coconut (the recipe calls for sweetened; I used unsweetened and it was fine)
Whisk together the brown sugar and eggs. Add vanilla and salt until combined. Whisk in melted butter, nuts and coconut. Pour into tart shell and bake until set in centre - about 25 - 30 minutes. Cool on rack to room temperature. Serve with sweetened whipped cream.
Let me know how it goes!


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Views: 632
Too many
My family on both sides is very JW. My father was a Bethelite and a missionary. I was born abroad as a result. The religion has been one of the most dysfunctionally divisive forces of family destruction.
I was a Witness until I was 13 and most of my fam back in Brooklyn and Upstate are as well. Ironically, so is my ex girlfriend, and it's the reason she broke up with me. An off the cuff comment got me "Apostate'd".
I lived with my grandparents for 3 years and they were Baptists turned Jehovah Witnesses. Grandma did not hold to that claim but my grandfather did even though he never attended any meetings. His oldest son (my uncle) lived right up the road from us and his entire family was Witnesses that did make meetings. My 4 cousins and myself were very close, but today 2 of them are Pentecostal. I went that route also until I realized that I am atheist. You can blame too much bible study for that. :)
They are all dead now. Just myself and my 4 cousins survive.
My family is Pentecostal, so I grew up in that setting, however I did have a school colleague/friend (sort of) who was a Jehovah's Witness. She always tried to have me attend a church service with her, and would always bring pamphlets and booklets to school. How ironic that at the time I found her form of Xianity weird and "ungodly" lol
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"A Sense Of Place"
by Chet Raymo
by Chet Raymo
"It would be hard to find two writers more different than Eudora Welty and Edward Abbey. Welty was a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of stories and novels who lived all her life in Jackson, Mississippi, in the house in which she was born, the beloved spinster aunt of American letters. Abbey was a hard-drinking, butt-kicking nature writer and conservationist best known for his books on the American Southwest. Both writers are favorites of mine. Both were great champions of place. I always wondered what it would have been like if they got together. As far as I know, that never happened. But let's imagine a conversation. I have taken extracts from Welty's essay "Some Notes on River Country" (1944) and from Abbey's essay "The Great American Desert" (1977) and interleaved them.
"This little chain of lost towns between Vicksburg and Natchez."
"This desert, all deserts, any deserts."
"On the shady stream banks hang lady's eardrops, fruits and flowers dangling pale jade. The passionflower puts its tendrils where it can, its strange flowers of lilac rays with their little white towers shining out, or its fruit, the maypop, hanging."
"Oily growths like the poison ivy - oh yes, indeed - that flourish in sinister profusion on the dank walls above the quicksand down those corridors of gloom and labyrinthine monotony that men call canyons."
"All creepers with trumpets and panicles of scarlet and yellow cling to the treetops. There is a vine that grows to great heights, with heart-shaped leaves as big and soft as summer hats."
"Everything in the desert either stings, stabs, stinks, or sticks. You will find the flora here as venomous, hooked, barbed, thorny, prickly, needled, saw-toothed, hairy, stickered, mean, bitter, sharp, wiry and fierce as the animals."
"Too pretty for any harsh fate, with its great mossy trees and old camellias."
"Something about the desert inclines all living things to harshness and acerbity."
"The clatter of hoofs and the bellow of boats have gone. The Old Natchez Trace has sunk out of use. The river has gone away and left the landings. But life does not forsake any place."
"In the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix will get you if the sun, snakes, bugs, and arthropods don't. In the Mojave Desert, it's Las Vegas. Up north in the Great Basin Desert, your heart will break, seeing the strip mines open up and the power plants rise..."
"The Negro Baptist church, weathered black with a snow-white door, has red hens in the yard. The old galleried stores are boarded up. The missing houses were burned - they were empty, and the little row of Negro inhabitants have carried them off for firewood."
"...the highway builders, land developers, weapons testers, power producers, clear cutters, oil drillers, dam beavers, subdividers."
"Eventually you see people, of course. Women have little errands, and the old men play checkers at a table in the front of the one open store. And the people's faces are good."
"To go there, you start west from Port Gibson. Postmen would arrive here blowing their horns like Gabriel, after riding three hundred wilderness miles from Tennessee."
"Why go into the desert? Really, why do it? That sun, roaring at you all day long. The fetid, tepid, vapid little water holes full of cannibal beetles, spotted toads, horsehair worms, liver flukes. Why go there?"
"I have felt many times there is a sense of place as powerful as if it were visible and walking and could touch me. A place that ever was lived in is like a fire that never goes out. Sometimes it gives out glory, sometimes its little light must be sought out to be seen."
"Why the desert, when you could be camping by a stream of pure Rocky Mountain spring water. We have centipedes, millipedes, tarantulas, black widows, brown recluses, Gila monsters, the deadly poisonous coral snakes, and the giant hairy desert scorpions. Plus an immense variety of near-infinite number of ants, midges, gnats, bloodsucking flies, and blood-guzzling mosquitoes."
"Much beauty has gone, many little things of life. To light up the night there are no mansions, no celebrations. Wild birds fly now at the level where people on boat deck once were strolling and talking."
"In the American Southwest, only the wilderness is worth saving."
"There is a sense of place there, to keep life from being extinguished, like a cup of the hands to hold a flame."
"A friend and I took a walk up beyond Coconino County, Arizona. I found an arrow sign, pointed to the north. Nothing of any unusual interest that I could see - only the familiar sun-blasted sandstone, a few scrubby clumps of blackbush and prickly pear, a few acres of nothing where only a lizard could graze. I studied the scene with care. But there was nothing out there. Nothing at all. Nothing but the desert. Nothing but the silent world."
"Perhaps it is the sense of place that gives us the belief that passionate things, in some essence, endure."
"In my case, it was love at first sight. The kind of love that makes a man selfish, possessive, irritable..."
"New life will be built upon these things."
"...an unrequited and excessive love."
"It is this."
"That's why."
- http://blog.sciencemusings.com/


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Can Obama Prevent an Attack on Iran?
He'll try to convince Israel to let sanctions work, but Netanyahu seems ready to act alone.
The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is very much flying solo in its campaign to whip up support for an immediate airstrike targeting Iran's nuclear sites.
SEE ALSO: Iran Tensions Will Drive Gas to New High
Just ahead of the annual convention of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), to be held in Washington on March 4, the Israeli government's demand that it be given a thumbs-up to attack Iran has reached a crescendo. But already having been rebuffed by European leaders, Netanyahu, at best, will get a face-to-face opportunity at the White House on March 5 to hear President Obama's reasons for rejecting Israel's military option at this time.
Obama will urge Netanyahu to take a deep breath and think about the long-term ramifications, including the possibility that a military mission to take out Iran's nuclear capability won't succeed. Not surprisingly, the ultrahawkish Netanyahu has been deaf to Obama's pleas. In fact, Netanyahu is planning to go so far as to argue at the White House meeting that the U.S. should join in on any strike against Iran.
No matter the end result, the Israel-Iran showdown will mean record-high gasoline prices for American drivers this summer. Even if Israel eventually stands down, uncertainty will push prices past the $4.11 zenith reached in July 2008, and perhaps up to $4.50 a gallon. And if Israel does unleash airstrikes, gas will top $5 a gallon and trim U.S. gross domestic product growth to about 1%. That's just one crisis -- natural or manmade -- from another recession. How long prices will stay that high depends on a number of factors, including whether Iran makes good on threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway for about one-fifth of global oil supplies.
That brake on the economy would be politically dicey for Obama, since his hopes for a second term are very much tied to keeping the U.S. economy on a road to recovery. Republican presidential hopefuls are already beating him up over gas prices, and will no doubt raise their voices even more when record levels are reached.
Israel is convinced that Iran is developing the capability to build nuclear weapons at underground facilities. Opposition to bombing is nearly universal from the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon, but U.S. officials suggest that Israel could strike as soon as April.
The biggest U.S. fear: Single strikes won't be enough to destroy fortified targets, and the U.S. will get drawn into an air war it wants to avoid. While there is no guarantee the U.S. would join the fight, it's hard to imagine the White House shunning a vital ally, especially in an election year.
Like Obama, European leaders worry that the fragile world economy can't take the hit to oil prices that even a short-term war with Iran would trigger. The transatlantic allies also take seriously threats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey that they, too, are inclined to go nuclear if Iran develops the capability to produce the bomb. None of that would be good news for Israel or the region.
U.S. officials hope to quiet Israel's war drums by demonstrating that economic sanctions against Iran are showing signs of working.
Iran has recently signaled a willingness to resume high-level talks, but taking Tehran at face value is a risk. And Iran has shown no signs of relenting on its nuclear designs. Since plans for a Chinese-built plant at Natanz were announced in 1996, Iran has not suspended its nuclear program for any reason.
Outside of Iran, there is near-universal agreement that Iran must be prevented from achieving the capability to build nuclear weapons, even as there is widespread debate about how far along the program is. And outside of Israel, there is near-universal agreement that Israel should be patient.
What matters at the moment -- for the global economy, for Middle East stability and perhaps for Obama's reelection efforts -- is how much of a threat Israel senses. The other wild card is how much pressure Netanyahu feels to act.


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I've actually been harassing Noah Fentz with emails about his pics.
So worth the wait.
These look absolutely amazing.
More at The Creepy House Next Door.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Katzper's Haunt Halloween 2011
I've actually been harassing Noah Fentz with emails about his pics.
6 comments:
- wicKED said...
Very cool haunt. I really like that tree trunk with the eyes. I would love to see a video walk through of this haunt.
- November 11, 2011 at 11:57 AM
- Jay's Shadow said...
His "family" always gives you the creeps.Especially the one under the stairs and the one peeking at you through the door....
- November 11, 2011 at 12:27 PM
- Pam Morris said...
looking at all these very cool haunts is already gettin' the blood flowin' for next Halloween....
- November 11, 2011 at 3:42 PM
- Marianne said...
These are awesome! The one of the cabinet and sink looks like my kitchen did after Halloween. LOL!
I love the little glowing eyes in the tree trunk. Very clever.
- November 11, 2011 at 11:07 PM
- Sara said...
Wow, these are really, really cool.
- November 15, 2011 at 1:53 PM
- NoahFentz said...
Thanks guys!!
Crazy year weather and all...had no power on Halloween so we gave our TOTs flahlights to go thru the basement...had about 200 TOTs.
Took pics when power came back on Tues. Working on video...
Happy Halloween!
- November 15, 2011 at 5:54 PM


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It's Thursday, November 8th, but it's not just any old Thursday, It's International Stout Day and I had no clue. I'm not entirely sure how it happened, I must have missed all the early warning, so when I started seeing the Tweets and Untappd check-ins I realized quickly I was missing out. I had to remedy the situation, so as soon as I got out of work I headed over to Burby and Bates in Orono and picked up a couple stouts. Enjoy the review and I hope Stout day didn't pass you by like it almost did for me.
Brewed by: Sebago Brewing Company
Bottle/Draft: 12oz Bottle
Purchased: Burby and Bates, Orono, ME
Lake Trout is a very dark brown color, not quite black but close. When held up to the light none shows through. The pour raised a thick milk chocolate colored head that slowly fell leaving some thin lacing down the glass.
Smells of roasted malts and caramelized sugars, there is a slight coffee smell and definitely some dark chocolate.
Tastes very roasty, lots of dark malts and just a hint of smoke. There is a really nice coffee flavor up front that plays well with the bitter dark chocolate flavors at the end of the taste. I'm also picking up some faint vanilla notes. This beer is medium bodied, not overly carbonated and has a creamy mouthfeel.
Overall a really nice stout, I enjoyed the coffee and dark chocolate flavors and the slightly bitter aftertaste that lingered after each sip. Weighing in at 4.7% Lake Trout is a beer I could easily enjoy a couple of. I would recommend this beer to any fan of stouts and I would also recommend keeping an eye on your local bottle shop for the Bourbon Barrel aged version of this beer, it's really nice, if I find a bottle I'll be sure to review it.
Sebago Brewing Company
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sebagobrewing
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sebagobrewing
Burby and Bates
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Burby-and-Bates/256423167757687
Web: www.untappd.com


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Dome IP Cameras
In recent years, a number of different solutions have been made in the field of video surveillance on the market. There can therefore be many monitoring systems reminiscent of each other, where the user-friendly software, the high video resolution or the beautiful design becomes the deciding factor for the final choice of surveillance camera.
When choosing your surveillance camera, it is important to consider the purpose of the camcorder and whether it should be used in your private home, for remote monitoring of the cottage, in the office or in your company. The most important factor is that the monitoring system fits your individual situation. If you want to use the monitoring camera in your own home, we always recommend that you also invest in a good house alarm so that your home is secured in the best possible way.
The Dome camera is a great choice for protecting your home or business from intruders. These efficient and vandal-proof surveillance cameras are shaped like domes, which are usually mounted on a wall or ceiling. A dome camera does not require much space and can be hidden so that the thief does not detect the monitoring.
Unlike the dome camera, a bullet camera fills something more and is pretty visible. The bullet camera therefore often has a more preventive effect that scares off potential burglars and keeps vandals from afar. These surveillance cameras are especially suited for guarding large areas such as schools, warehouses and apartment buildings.
IP stands for internet protocol and allows digital devices to talk through the internet. An IP camera is super smart because you can use your smartphone to monitor your property anywhere, anytime. In addition, an IP camera is most often wireless, which means that the system is not dependent on a fixed cable routing, so there is also no need for a trained fitter to assist with the installation.
A wireless surveillance camera can be a really good security solution and safety device. This camera type can be used both indoors and outdoors. In addition, they can be connected to an encrypted network so that the property can be monitored from your smartphone, no matter where in the world you are, just having internet access.
Dome Cameras
- Nivian IP Camera
- Resolution 5Mpx (2592x1944)
- 18 IR LEDs range 30 m
- Plug&Play P2P Installation
- Recording on microSD card
- Nivian Connect App for Smartphone


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Subhash Ghai's students associated with 'Life of Pi'Mar 1, 2013 IANS
Mumbai, March 1 (IANS) Three students of filmmaker Subhash Ghai's institute Whistling Woods International (WWI) were associated with "Life of Pi", which has won four Oscars.
The movie, directed by Ang Lee, took away the best picture, best cinematography, best music and best visual effects at the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles Feb 24.
Murali Krishna worked with Claudio Miranda, who won the trophy for cinematography. Kavan J. Ahalpara and Supreet Singh were part of the team at Rhythmn & Hues that won for the best visual effecrs at the gala night.
"Six years ago, we dreamt that one day our students would be part of a winning film at the Oscars. I'm extremely happy for my students," Meghna Ghai Puri, president of Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, said in a statement.
"Life of Pi", based on Canadian author Yann Martel's book of the same name, narrates the journey of an Indian boy who survives a storm. The film features Indian actors Suraj Sharma, Irrfan and Tabu, and a huge Indian crew had worked on the movie too.
Click the Movie button below for more info:
Life Of Pi
Subhash Ghai Pictures
More News


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Machine tools
High demand for high performance
Demand is equally high for machines and components that are more reliable and energy efficient. Operators want low-maintenance products with low environmental impact – and even lower operating costs. Profitability depends on it.
We've been an engaged partner and supplier to the machine tool industry for decades. And we operate hundreds of machine tools in our own manufacturing facilities worldwide. So we understand your technical and business challenges, and we see your opportunities. Our optimized products and solutions can help you realize them.
Informed by our deep knowledge in bearings and units, lubrication systems, seals, mechatronics and services, SKF can help machine tool manufacturers develop products that:
- Reduce lifecycle costs
- Increase machine speed and precision
- Increase uptime and productivity
- Increase service lifetime
- Increase warranty period
- Reduce maintenance
- Increase energy efficiency
- Reduce environmental impact
A provider of CNC machining centres for the auto industry was able to increase spindle speed by 50%
A manufacturer of machining centres for the aerospace industry increased the productivity of its machines for higher-tech products.
Improved performance
A components producer for consumer electronics runs its machine tools flawlessly and precisely at up to 60 000 r/min 365 days a year.


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By Press TV
A report has revealed that thousands of US troops have arrived in the Yemeni island of Socotra for a possible military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
The troops built up comes a few months after the announcement of the creation of a US Army base near Yemeni waters, Islam Today website reported.
This is while Yemen had said that it rejected a deal with Washington for having a temporary military base in the island.
Socotra, which is situated 80 kilometers east of the Horn of Africa and 380 kilometers southeast of the Yemeni coastline, lies athwart the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The United States has been quietly building giant air force and naval bases on Socotra since 2010 with facilities for submarines, intelligence command centers and take-off pads for flying stealth drones.
The secret Socotra facilities are never mentioned in any catalogue listing US military facilities in this part of the world, which include Jebel Ali and al-Dahfra in the United Arab Emirates; Arifjan in Kuwait; and al-Udeid in Qatar.
The US and Israel have repeatedly threatened Tehran with the "option" of a military strike, saying Iran's nuclear program may include a covert military aspect, a claim strongly rejected by Tehran.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.


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29 members19 Comments 0 Likes
399 members142 Comments 11 Likes
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2369 members1379 Comments 42 Likes
Started Jun 20, 2011 0 Replies 0 Likes
With its programs to subvert gay rights, science, and even mainstream christianity by spending millions to spread its teachings, is FoTF the most evil charitable organization in the US?Apparent…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by John D Feb 25, 2011. 7 Replies 0 Likes
I just posted this INFOGRAPHIC and I'm wondering if folks have opinions or comments on it, as to the accuracy, or dispute…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by paul babcock Mar 25, 2011. 6 Replies 0 Likes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =4Z9WVZddH9w Definitely worth a watch, and share with everyone. Again, its not…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by AgeOfAtheists14 Sep 25, 2010. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Ze master race? Racial purity? Did we learn nothing in the second world war?…Continue
ryan cameron has not received any gifts yet
Posted on June 30, 2011 at 3:50pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
The other day I posted a link that demonstrated some hope in the intellectual capacity of Kansas among the dismal, dubious achievements of the Creation Museum where the Kansas university became among the first to demonstrate multicellular lifeforms evolving from single celled ones.
Well today I read…Continue
Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:27pm 4 Comments 2 Likes
Posted on April 24, 2011 at 11:06am 4 Comments 0 Likes
he is risen! he is risen indeed! the "secret handshake" of christians popping up all over my facebook, and these creepy flash based easter greeting cards.
Zombie Jesus indeed.
Posted on March 25, 2011 at 12:52pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
In case you're interested here's a book I've co authored...
I take a lot of pot shots at various religions and its a skewering of many cultures in a kind of homage to the great Diogenes.
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- This event has passed.
Family Climb
Event Description
We are now excited to offer Family Climbs in conjunction with Family Swims! Family Climbs are held in the Student Fitness Center at their rock wall. Please note that in order to participate, children must securely fit in Campus Recreation's harness or bring a harness to be approved for use by Campus Recreation staff. Parents/guardians are required to remain in the area while children climb.
Campus Recreation staff and adaptive equipment will be available to provide assistance. If participants are unsure of what accommodations they may need, please contact Andrew via email at firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions and to request specific accommodations. Accommodations such as sign language interpreters or FM Systems may also be available upon request. Crates for service animals and ADA locker rooms are available near the Climbing Wall area. For specific questions, please contact Andrew at firstname.lastname@example.com.
This is a free event, but registration is required. Please register online at http://Wellness.IllinoisState.edu.
For a complete list of climbing wall policies, please visit http://campusrecreation.illinoisstate.edu/about/policies/sfc/index.php?id=1&tabID=tabs-accord2.


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National Institutes of Health Public Access Policy
Comply with the National Institutes of Health Public Access Policy at
- Send items to the Libraries' Scholarly Communications Officer, Elizabeth Brown at (607) 777-4882.
- Set up an online account to register manuscripts and reports.
- Some publications require authors to ensure their copyright transfer agreement permits
submission to PubMedCentral. To comply with the policy, add this statement to your copyright transfer agreement:
Journal acknowledges that the Author retains the right to provide a copy of the final manuscript upon acceptance for Journal publication for archiving in PubMed Central as soon as possible but no later than 12 months after publication by the Journal.
- Book chapters, conference presentations, and posters are not covered by the policy.
- Journals participating in PubMed Central (PMC) submit the final manuscript copy to PMC - no additional work is required.
- Journals not participating in PubMedCentral can submit articles to PMC - no additional work is needed.
The NIH's "Revised Policy on Enhancing Public Access to Archived Publications Resulting from NIH-funded Research" became effective April 7, 2008. It requires all authors of NIH-funded research manuscripts to deposit copies into PubMed Central, a free digital archive that enhances the visibility of publicly-funded research of biomedical and life sciences literature. It is based at the NIH and was developed at the National Library of Medicine.
Questions? Contact the Libraries' Scholarly Communications Officer: Elizabeth Brown, (607) 777-4882.


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|Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on April 11, 2018
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to Japan upon invitation from April 15 to 17 and co-chair the 4th China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's this official visit to Japan makes an important move for the two countries to step up high-level exchange and communication. We hope this visit will strengthen mutual trust, build consensus and manage differences between the two sides, thus further consolidating the momentum of improving China-Japan relations.
Q: President Xi Jinping's speech on expanding opening-up at yesterday's opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference has drawn great attention worldwide. Some foreign media said that China quite coincidentally plans measures in areas where the US has previously expressed its concerns, such as automobile and intellectual property right. Can you confirm that such opening-up measures China plans to take are related to the trade friction with the US?
A: I can assure you unequivocally that these major measures we will take have nothing to do with the trade friction we are having with the US. Anyone who has some knowledge of how the Chinese government operates will understand that the rollout of such an important decision involving all these major measures will take some time to formulate, deliberate, and improve until everything is ready. It is impossible to make such a decision at short notice.
You may recall that we keep stressing that China will continue to adhere to its fundamental national policy of opening-up and pursue development with its door wide open. China's door of opening-up will not be closed and will only open even wider! This is our consistent position. Last year's 19th CPC National Congress report and this year's government work report drew up guidance and plans for our opening-up efforts going forward.
Yesterday's announcement of these measures is a solid step to implement the aforementioned two reports. It was made in line with our own needs, timetable and roadmap.
China is determined to open wider to the outside world, no matter what others do.
Q: According to reports, Song Tao, who serves as head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will visit the DPRK on Friday. Could you provide more information?
A: According to my information, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee has already released relevant information. At the invitation of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Song Tao, Director of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, will lead a Chinese art troupe to the DPRK to attend the April Spring Friendship Art Festival on April 13.
The April Spring Friendship Art Festival is an international event hosted by the DPRK to promote cultural exchanges. China sent art troupes to the previous festivals upon invitation. This time, our attendance at the festival, which comes on the heels of a historic summit between General Secretary Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim Jong-un, is meant to implement the important consensus reached between the two leaders of the parties and the countries on deepening cultural exchanges. We believe that this visit will contribute to strengthening China-DPRK friendship and promoting cultural exchanges between the two sides.
Q: The UN Security Council failed to adopt three draft resolutions on the issue of chemical weapons in Syria on April 11. What's your comment?
A: China's representative has stated its position and proposition in a comprehensive and clear way when the Security Council took actions regarding relevant draft resolutions.
China firmly opposes the use of chemical weapons under whatever circumstances and for whatever purposes by any country, organization or individual. China all along maintains that the Security Council should engage in negotiation with patience to build consensus and send out a message of solidarity. We are regretful that it failed to reach consensus on the issue of chemical weapons in Syria and concerned over the latest development of the situation there.
China calls on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint and avoid any move that may escalate tension. The pressing concern for now is to conduct a comprehensive, fair and objective investigation on the suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria to find out the truth. We have noted that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will send experts for investigation on the ground.
Q: It is reported that while meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on April 10, President Xi Jinping said that the two sides should continue to properly handle the South China Sea issue, and discuss joint exploration, development and cooperation at an appropriate time, thus making the waters a sea of cooperation and friendship. President Duterte also said that the Philippines will work with China to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and boost cooperation in this regard. What is your expectation for such bilateral cooperation in the South China Sea?
A: China remains committed to peacefully resolving the South China Sea dispute with parties directly concerned through negotiation and consultation. Pending final settlement, China would like to conduct practical cooperation in various fields with parties concerned, including under the principle of shelving differences and seeking joint development. Joint development will not affect the legal position of either side on the relevant issue.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides, China and the Philippines have seen a sound and steady development of bilateral ties and a smooth running of practical cooperation in various fields. Yesterday, the two leaders held another successful meeting and made the strategic decision on continuing to properly handle the South China Sea issue and move forward maritime cooperation. For the benefit of the two countries and peoples, China stands ready to work with the Philippines to implement the important consensus reached between the two leaders, jointly conduct and deepen practical cooperation in the South China Sea, and seek an early realization of joint exploration and development.
Q: What topics will come up in State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's discussions with the Japanese side this time? What is China's expectation for the outcomes of this visit?
A: As I said, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's official visit to Japan this time makes an important move for the two countries to step up high-level exchange and communication. We hope this visit will strengthen mutual trust, build consensus and manage differences between the two sides, thus further consolidating the momentum of improving China-Japan relations.
In addition, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also co-chair the 4th China-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
Q: According to reports, a senior Australian official said yesterday that they would view with great concern the establishment of any foreign military base in Pacific Island countries and their neighbours, and China seems more engaged in the Pacific region. What's your comment?
A: Such allegation of the Australian side is sheer fiction, and Vanuatu has clarified on this matter.
I would like to point out that the practical cooperation between China and South Pacific island countries in various fields has effectively promoted local socioeconomic development and been warmly welcomed by local governments and people.
The South Pacific island countries should not be the sphere of influence of any country. Enough with certain Australian individuals' interference in other's internal affairs. It would be better if they can make concrete contributions to those countries' development rather than stir up troubles.
Q: Why did China abstain from voting on rather than veto the resolution proposed by the US concerning the Syrian issue at the Security Council yesterday? Given the increasingly tense situation in Syria, military operation may become an option. What is China's attitude on this matter?
A: As I said, Ambassador Wu Haitao, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the UN, already made an explanatory statement to explain China's position in a comprehensive, thorough and clear manner when the Security Council took actions on relevant draft resolutions. You may refer to that.
As to the latest development of the situation in Syria as mentioned, including possible military strike, I already made clear China's position yesterday. We always believe that political settlement is the only viable way out and military means will lead to nowhere. China always stands for peaceful settlement of disputes, opposes wanton use or threat of use of force in international relations and acts in accordance with the UN Charter. China is willing to work with parties in support of the mediation by the UN to ease the tension in Syria and promote the political settlement of the Syrian issue at an early date.
Q: The Spokesperson of the US White House said on April 10 that the US is encouraged by President Xi Jinping's words and wants to see concrete actions from China, and the US is going to continue moving forward its tariff measures until those happen. How do you respond?
A: By announcing these new major opening-up initiatives, China demonstrates its commitment to promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, forging an open global economy, and seeking win-win cooperation with other countries. We also made clear our opposition to unilateralism and trade protectionism. We believe that companies and people of all countries, not just in China, stand to benefit from our new measures.
The international community responded to these measures with positive remarks. At the luncheon held after the opening ceremony, leaders of many foreign states and international organizations said that China's attitude is quite clear, and now it is up to the US to respond. We hope that the US could carefully assess the situation and make the right choice.
As for what you asked about the US proceeding with its imposition of tariffs, I would like to reiterate that if the US takes further actions to undermine China's interests, we will fight back forcibly. There is no doubt about that. We never just talk the talk.


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In films as wide-ranging and diverse as Memento, L.A. Confidential, The Hurt Locker, Animal Kingdom, The King's Speech, and most recently, Mildred Pierce, Guy Pearce has brought many complex characters to life in compelling roles. In his latest movie, the futuristic action thriller Lockout, he turns in another riveting performance as Agent Snow, a cynical, sarcastic guy with a scathing sense of humor who is tasked with the dangerous assignment of rescuing the daughter of the U.S. President when her humanitarian mission is derailed by an intergalactic prison break.
We sat down with Pearce at a roundtable interview to talk about what inspired him to play a serious, badass action hero that's so completely different from his usual roles. He told us what attracted him to the character of Snow, how he got in shape for the physically demanding role, and why he enjoyed shooting on location in Belgrade, Serbia. He also talked about his lifelong passion for music and songwriting, the possibility of a Lockout sequel, and his upcoming projects including Prometheus, John Hillcoat's Lawless (formerly known as The Wettest County) and an untitled Drake Doremus project.
Question: Let me say on behalf of all the women who have already seen this film, you have never looked hotter or better.
PEARCE: It was a lot of serious working out in a Belgrade gym.
What kind of training did you do to get yourself into shape for this film and handle all the tricky wirework?
PEARCE: It is tricky, yes. I just went back to the gym. I used to work out in the gym a lot when I was younger. I was a competition body builder when I was 16 or something crazy like that for a short period of time. So, the gym is quite familiar and I know what I'm doing there. It was really about taking lots of protein and buffing up as much as I could, which stopped the day we finished shooting. For a number of reasons, and obviously for the look of the character, I think it was important that he looked like a serious action hero, even though he has this slightly irreverent sense of humor about the whole thing and feels a bit old and a bit afraid of heights. But it was good for me because it was a physical role. It was good to feel strong and feel like I was in shape, even though I kept injuring myself every week as well. It became a bit of a joke between me and the crew. "Oh, what's he done this time?"
How high did the medical insurance go up?
PEARCE: I think through the roof. But the wirework is fun. It's just awkward. It's awful to be suspended by your groin for hours on end and try to remember what you're supposed to be doing at the same time.
We're more used to you doing roles like The King's Speech or Mildred Pierce. Have you always wanted to play a badass character like this?
PEARCE: Well, it's not that I've always wanted that. I never really think about roles that I want to do. I just wait to read things, I suppose. I met with Luc Besson here just before I was going off to do Mildred Pierce and had a discussion about it. I liked the sound of the character. And then, I met with the directors when I was in New York doing Mildred and they both said "Well he's a bit skinny, isn't he? We might have to set up…" "I'll be fine. I'll buff up." So it wasn't that I necessarily wanted to do something like that, but I just enjoyed where the character was coming from and I thought it was a nice change from things that I had been doing at the time like The King's Speech and various things like that.
Was chewing gum your personal choice for Snow?
PEARCE: I can't remember now, but it might have been written in there, I think.
Do you see it as sort of an homage to Burt Reynolds?
PEARCE: Not specifically. I didn't go back and look at any other films. Stephen (St. Leger), one of the directors, was talking about how he enjoyed these kinds of action heroes who do have a sense of humor and who don't take themselves too seriously, I suppose. But we didn't go back and talk about any specific characters as such from films.
Is there a certain trick to delivering the one liners just right?
PEARCE: There probably is. I don't know whether I'm able to do it because I haven't seen it.
Did you work on the funny one liners to make sure they came out right?
PEARCE: They're all written in there. Some I needed to adjust a little bit to make them work for me, which I do on any film anyway, I find. If something doesn't come out of your mouth right, you've got to acknowledge the fact that you're trying to deliver an honest performance. If it doesn't' come out of your mouth correctly, then it's not going to work. So no, not anymore than any other film really. I didn't want it to be just a device or an aspect of the film. I needed it to be honest within the character. I needed to find somebody who was naturally like that, had reached a point in his life. I think that's how I viewed it, that it was a guy who had done all this kind of stuff many times before. He's sick of being beaten up. He's sick of leading this kind of life and probably sick of being misogynistic. It was nice to work with Maggie (Grace), for example, who has such a mature level about her and was able to put him in his place when she could. He's a bit of a smart aleck and hard to put in his place. I wanted it to feel like an honest character. I didn't want to go "Oh, okay. It's one of those movies. This is what they do. They deliver the sassy one line."
Your character and Maggie's character reminded me of the Hans Solo/Princess Leia dynamic. Do you see that at all?
PEARCE: I guess so when you say it, but I certainly didn't … When I'm in the middle of doing something, I never really think of any other film. I think that's healthy as well because I don't want to feel like I'm plagiarizing something. You don't want to discover later that you've plagiarized something either. But no, I'm just so involved in what [I'm doing] and I feel like on some level most characters that you play are a reflection of others that have been on the screen before. But I guess it is a fairly common theme in action films. I think a lot of action characters are a little bit too serious as well. They take themselves a bit too seriously, which I don't find particularly interesting, whereas I like the fact that there was at least some humor in this because really it's a piece of entertainment. If it can be entertaining for us as well, then I think it helps.
Do you ever watch a movie that you're in and see it in a completely different way compared to what it felt like when you were the actor on set?
PEARCE: I've done films before and gone "Oh, it doesn't quite land the way that it could have or should have." Not necessarily seeing it differently but maybe just the rhythm of it isn't as I'd hoped or whatever.
Is your sense of humor similar to that of your character? Are you that sarcastic in real life?
PEARCE: No. I mean, I can be, but I think I care more about the people around me than this guy does.
That's sexy, too.
PEARCE: Really? Maybe I should take that. (laughs)
With all the great banter and sexual tension between you and Maggie, it seems like a good set-up for more stories. Do you think there'll be a Lockout sequel?
PEARCE: I don't know. I guess it depends on how successful it is. Then I may have to go back to the gym, wouldn't I? I think it's left open for that, but it's obviously based on whether the film makes enough money, I suppose.
Were you worried that the part where you hit Maggie could come off wrong and be perceived as misogynistic?
PEARCE: Not anymore than anything else in the film. As a singular action, I think it needs to fall within the realm of him as an entire character. So, if that comes off as misogynistic, then everything else should or probably would anyway. I think he's generally kind of misogynistic. He loves women but he's quite immature, so he doesn't really know how the best way is to handle them. But, at the same time, there are also hints at how good he is at what he does. They're in a life and death situation, so no matter how smart alecky he is with her, they're on a prison with 500 other prisoners. And, as much as he probably took a liberty there by doing what he did, I think ultimately he comes from a particular world where things have to be done in a particular way and it's brutal. That's all there is to it. Otherwise, you're going to get yourself killed. I can justify it in that way as well. And that, probably also, is connected to being a misogynist on some level, but that's just the world that he lives in.
Maggie said that one of the hardest scenes was when you guys were trying to run in your spacesuits. Was that the hardest scene for you, too?
PEARCE: That was terrible. I'm not sure. It was terrible trying to get those bloody things on. It took half an hour to get them on and half an hour to get them off. We sort of drilled into them and drilled out of them. It was uncomfortable. It was really uncomfortable. People are always asking what the most difficult thing was to do. Ultimately, the most difficult thing to do is be convincing and sometimes that's harder in some scenes than in other scenes. That's my overriding feeling throughout any film is just to make sure that everything you do is as convincing as it can be. Things like putting on an uncomfortable spacesuit or hanging in wires by your groin or whatever just add to the difficulty of it. But we couldn't hear anything. We couldn't hear each other. We had to hold hands at one point and all you could feel was like clack, clack. "Was that your hand? Do we look like we're holding hands? Okay. Action!"
When you saw the final scene in the film, what was your reaction?
PEARCE: Good! It looks like it works. That's where you trust your directors and you look at the monitor and go "Okay, this works." But it was difficult wearing those horrible yellow suits.
What was it like for you working in Serbia? Had you been there before? What did you do in your off time?
PEARCE: I didn't really have much off time. I was in a lot of the stuff. Obviously, there are a few scenes that Maggie does that I'm not in. But I was at the gym. Pretty much I was at the gym. I did have a driver who was insistent on taking me around and showing me Belgrade which was great to do. Even if I wanted to do something else, he was still insistent on doing it. But it's a fascinating place. Obviously, it's got quite a tumultuous history. I thought the people were fantastic there because they're obviously out for a good time. I guess when you live in a war torn country, you want to have as much fun as you can in between bombs going off. I generally love Eastern Europe anyway. There's an artistic, intellectual and psychological view of the world that I find really alive and engaging. It's different in different countries obviously, but it was fascinating being there, I have to say. I think Maggie had bigger chunks of time where she wasn't working than I did. I would probably have half a day or a day somewhere, whereas Maggie had periods of six or seven days when she wasn't working. I think that becomes difficult. I never experienced that. I was busy. And funnily enough, I was more isolated than they were because they all stayed in the one hotel in the new part of town over the river, and I stayed in the old town in an apartment. I had this fantastic apartment. I had a guitar with me, so if I had any free time, I could play the guitar. If I wasn't too bruised, I had something to play. I had a nice time there.
You've chosen some very eclectic roles throughout your career. We've just seen you in Seeking Justice which is totally different…
PEARCE: Which is so not the movie it was called when I did it. They say "You did this movie called Seeking Justice." No, I did a movie called The Hungry Rabbit Jumps, but now it's called Seeking Justice.
With the diversity of characters going all the way back to The Count of Monte Cristo, what is it that speaks to you about a role and what spoke to you about Snow?
PEARCE: I do like a variety of things so I'm always interested in finding something that I haven't done before, if possible, to whatever degree that sometimes changes, and how much is something now that I wouldn't have a year ago but sort of based on what I've done recently as well. Obviously, it has to feel honest. But it's a difficult thing to explain because sometimes you might read a book, for example, and then the book stays with you for days afterwards, and that's what I need from a script as well. I need to feel that it's got this life that kind of bubbles away, whereas some scripts you read and you go "Well I can see what you're going for. It's sort of an interesting idea, but it just kind of dies as soon as you finish the last page." There's no life that's left in me when reading it. It's about a feeling, I think. I don't specifically look for certain characters. I don't have one idea of a character out there that I want to play, and it does change at times as well. I was talking about having done Bedtime Stories the other day, and somebody said "Why did you do Bedtime Stories?" I said "Well, in 2007, I'd done a film about a massacre at a café. I'd done this film about this girl being murdered in Australia. I did Hurt Locker about the Iraq War. And then, I did a movie about terrorism. So, when Adam Shankman rang me and said, 'We're gonna do this crazy comedy with Adam Sandler. Would you be interested?,' I said 'Yes! Fantastic!'" You work, I suppose, based on your emotional responses to things.
I'm excited about your next space movie, Prometheus.
PEARCE: Yes. Everyone is very excited about that.
Do you feel any extra weight playing a character named Wayland?
PEARCE: I do on some kind of level. I'm trying not to take that on. There's an extra weight added to that movie because everybody has such an expectation. And, it's an interesting time at the moment because there's a lot of discussion going on about what we can say and what we can't say that keeps changing. I'm reluctant to talk about it really because none of that is established yet. But it's an interesting thing to be part of, obviously because of Ridley and because of Ridley's history with other films. I'm just going "Whoa, this is a big beast to be attached to," and I'm very curious to see it. I haven't seen it myself, but the little bits that I have do look quite amazing, so we'll see.
Which did you shoot first: Prometheus or Lockout?
PEARCE: Lockout. We did Lockout leading up to Christmas of 2010 and then Prometheus I did in the middle of 2011.
Was it still called Alien Prequel when you signed on?
PEARCE: It was never called Alien Prequel. It's not an Alien prequel. It's a stand alone movie. I mean, there are some characters that run through from that, but it's not an Alien prequel as such.
You're also in the next Drake Doremus movie. Are you working without a script in that?
PEARCE: We work with a 70-page treatment, so a story, and there are scenes and there are scene numbers and there is very specific direction in each scene, but there's no dialogue. So we work with Drake to understand who these people are, to understand the situation they're in, and to understand each kind of moment to moment, but the dialogue is up to us really. That, again, was an interesting experience. Improvising with an American accent is tricky.
Do you have a favorite Luc Besson movie and did his involvement attract you to do this movie?
PEARCE: No, not necessarily. I've been a fan of a number of Luc's films. I mean, The Fifth Element is a pretty interesting film. I think there's something amazing about that. But no, not specifically. Just knowing that he was involved in this was interesting, I think.
Between Prometheus and Lockout, this is sort of the year of you being in space. Besides action movies, are you interested in science fiction or other genre roles?
PEARCE: No, not necessarily. If you look at the films that I've done generally, you would probably get an idea of what I'm most interested in, and if ever I do something unusual like a science fiction film or an action film or a comedy or something, then that to me feels like a step to the side to do something different. But, in a way, I don't know what you would say is the typical film that I've done necessarily. I suppose psychological dramas might be it, if you look at L.A. Confidential and Memento or whatever, but I'm not really sure myself. I don't feel like I want to take on a new path or anything like that. As I say, [I'm looking for] a real variety of films. I've also just done John Hillcoat's film, too, which I think is now called Lawless. It was The Wettest County. But that's a very different film again. It's Prohibition times. It's a really harrowing story about these three young brothers trying to make money out of selling illegal alcohol and the various people that come into their lives and try to stop them, and I'm one of them.
When do you ever get home?
PEARCE: I'm home at the moment. Well I'm not really, I'm here. But I'm taking six months off at the moment so I'm trying to just enjoy Melbourne.
What did you enjoy most about being a part of this project?
PEARCE: I think the character because normally the kinds of people that play these kinds of characters are like that in real life and they play those kinds of characters a lot because that's the kind of people that they are. So, for me to step into a character like that and take it on as a character rather than just a sort of another go of being myself, like other characters I play, is the point of it. Even though he has a difficult time with what he's experiencing, he also takes the mickey out of what's going on around him. I enjoyed that. But, being in Serbia too is fascinating, I have to say.
You mentioned you were playing a bit in your off time. Do you plan to do a recording?
PEARCE: Well I do record but I just don't do anything with it. One day I'll release six million albums just before I die.
Today it's so much easier because you don't have to go out and get a label. You could go to YouTube or iTunes.
PEARCE: That's right. Just put it online. I think I'll just do that.
But you don't really want to pursue that?
PEARCE: I don't want to turn it into that but I'd like to because, as a creative outlet, it's great to finish things off and then solidify that you've finished it off, and I think putting it out there publicly is a way to do that, because otherwise I keep going back to all the songs and keep tinkering and keep doing things with them, and on some level that's not healthy creatively. So I think I do need to set up a website and go alright and just dump all of the music on there, and if anyone wants to give any money for it, it can go to a charity, and if they don't, then great.
What sense do you have of the legacy that Memento still has?
PEARCE: It's a film that people respond to still in the same way that they did [when it was first released]. A lot of people come up to me and say "We're studying Memento in film school and it's really incredible to watch it and dissect it again. Oh my God!" I'm constantly being made aware of – I hate to say this – but the importance of a film like that, and in saying that, I'll add Chris Nolan's name to that because he is a highly innovative filmmaker who I think always reaches a new height every time he makes a film. When Memento came out, it was quite cutting edge and affected people in a particular kind of way and it stands out. I mean, we had a 10-year reunion screening of it at the New York Film Festival a couple of years ago because it was released in 2000. So, even then, we screened it and we had a Q&A afterwards, and the audience was just as enthusiastic about asking us questions about it then as they were ten years before. Some poor people still hadn't got the answers for ten years. (laughs) "I've been waiting for ten years to find out what really happened. Is Joey Pants a bad guy or not?" It was fascinating really.
Are people still putting the scenes back in chronological order?
PEARCE: That's right. It's really interesting making films and actually seeing the life that they have in the subsequent years and seeing which ones stand up over time and which ones sort of fade away. Things like L.A. Confidential and Memento and Priscilla (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) obviously hold up, I think.
I loved L.A. Confidential more after I moved to L.A. and I knew all the places. I'd go "Oh wow!"
PEARCE: I know. I'll come across places when I'm here and go "Oh yeah, that's right."
Lockout opens in theaters on April 13th.


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1.2 Superficial dissection, male pectoral region
The platysma muscle, which descends to the 2nd or 3rd rib, is cut short on the right side of the specimen; together with the supraclavicular nerves, it is reflected on the left side. The thin pectoral fascia covers the pectoralis major. The clavicle lies deep to the subcutaneous tissue and the platysma muscle. The cephalic […]Read more


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LeBron James set the season's scoring bar at 51 points against the Orlando Magic last night. And while he also grabbed 11 boards and doled out eight assists, I refuse to be impressed until he also makes balloon animals for the kids at halftime. And maybe that's a bit stubborn of me. Perhaps a big ol' cooler full of Haterade is being dumped on my head here, but you don't understand. I predicted this guy was going to average 28/6/6 before the season started and he's making me look quite the fool averaging 27/7/7. Man, I was way off! I've got a rep to protect, Bros (and six Brosephines!), I can't just go around giving props to a guy who is clearly better than everyone else in the league. When Kevin Durant has a game like this, he makes it look hard. When Chris Paul has a game like this, he makes it look like a struggle. When James has a game like this, it looks so easy you get pissed at everytime he doesn't score 50. A 22/8/9 game seems like he's 3/4-assing it. I'm not even sure if it's possible to 3/4-ass something, but if anyone can 3/4-ass something, it's one full ass like LeBron James. Still, you're not playing fantasy nice guy, (Tom Hanks is my first pick!) you're playing fantasy basketball. Time to respect … some more.
Here's what else I saw in fantasy basketball yesterday:
Ryan Anderson – Shot a cool 3-for-10. Not cool like pompadours and Beetle boots. Cool like wearing sweatpants to your first day as a high school freshman, which is to say – not cool. Still though, Anderson's three made shots were all treys. That counts for something. Besides nine points, I mean.
Andrew Bogut – Missed his second straight game with a knee injury, which is not the injury I had in my Why Bogut Misses Games This Season office pool. I had the "rickets" and "mono" boxes. Anywho, he's expected to return over the weekend.
Ersan Ilyasova – Snare Yo Saliva's averaging 31 mpg in his last seven along with 16.7 ppg/6.9 rpg/1.7 spg and a .562 average from the floor. Slurp it up, snitches!
Carlos Delfino – The Delfino Line™ was 20/8/5, with five steals last night against the stat-floozy Warriors. His field goal percentage isn't quite there yet, but his minutes are. Leagues deeper than 12 teams ought to have snapped him up three games ago.
Brandon Jennings – Cold shootin' since return (8-of-32, .250). Although it's hard to tell what's rust and what is Jennings' naturally atrocious shot selection, like deciphering John Mayer in a roomful of a-holes.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute – 15/19/5, with two steals in 41 minutes. Get out your mechanical pencil (Dixon Ticonderogas are for chumps!) and a pad of paper and copy down this a Moute pro/con list along with me. Pro: He's played 40+ minutes two games in a row. Con: … 'Cause Bogut's been injured those two games. Pro: This was the third best game of his career. Con: There's almost no chance he approaches these numbers again this year. Pro: His face appears on the currency in Cameroon. Con: No, seriously. Bogut will probably be back Saturday. Con: You didn't stram him last night. The cons have it!
John Salmons – Two games since returning from injury and he's played a total 32 minutes and shot 2-for-12. If you still own him, bench him until he gives you a reason not to.
Stephen Curry – 16/5/5, with seven turnovers. I know the H2Hers scoff at TOVs, FT%, and low-brow Natalie Prtman rom-coms (probably), but 16/5/5 ain't good enough to outweigh those tovs.
Richard Jefferson – 18 points, four threes. I don't own Jefferson in any of my leagues and, frankly, I hadn't been paying any attention to him. He's scored 18 in two of his last three games. He's not the worst 12+ team league option out there, though he might be the most boring. Honestly, are any of you Jefferson owners, happy to have him?
George Hill – After gearing up a bit in December, he took a half-step back in January and a full-step so far in February (9/2.5/1). This might not be Hill's year, but something tells me San Antonio won't look like this next year, which makes me think 2011 is Hill's year. One of these years will be Hill's year. Come Hill or highwater.
Andrew Bynum – Returned from injury. Ended with a line of 10/10/6, with three blocks. For him, that's still injured. Get him in your lineups.


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Vanilla Vanilla planifolia
An elegant, trailing plant, vanilla supports itself on a host plant with aerial roots and the vanilla we use comes from organic farms in South India where the plants grow up Betel Nut Palms.
A type of orchid native to Mexico, the country used to have a monopoly on the crop as the flower had to be pollinated by a particular species of bee native to Mexico.
Now growing outside of Mexico each flower has to be hand pollinated with great care and attention.
The whole process of harvesting is extremely labour intensive from the pollination through to the airtight storage that activates the enzyme reaction that creates the flavour we all know and love.
After all this work it's no wonder this beautifully scented plant is considered to be a luxurious treat.
We use the exotic sweetness of organic vanilla in our Vanilla Chai, Chamomile, Vanilla and Manuka honey and Womankind teas.


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Exploring Kapolei
(page 1 of 7)
Originally dubbed the "Second City," Kapolei has grown steadily over the past decade. Residents and townies alike have witnessed the construction of a new highway offramp, as well as sprouting neighborhoods and even a Target and Costco. Makakilo, Campbell Industrial Park, Ko Olina and Kalaeloa—or Barbers Point, as many still call it—carry the 96707 Kapolei zip code. We discovered 27 reasons to head out west.
En Fuego Grill & Poke
While its name is Spanish for "on fire," En Fuego Grill & Poke's cuisine is definitely local: garlic chicken, grilled poke, short ribs and beer-battered fish are among the eatery's most popular items. "We sell a lot of fish and chips, garlic ahi and pork chops," says owner Ross Okuhara, who opened En Fuego in 2003. For baby's first birthday or graduation parties, the restaurant also caters, with à la carte pans of everything from kālua pig to mahimahi. 590 Farrington Highway, Suite 534, 674-8805, enfuegogrill.com.
Tokyo Noodle Shop
» Diners at Tokyo Noodle House don't seem to mind the restaurant's no-frills ambience. The tables at this small eatery are almost always packed with customers slurping down seafood ramen, digging into shrimp-fried rice or biting into pork-fried noodles. Perhaps the best deal on the already budget-friendly menu (almost everything costs less than $8) is the not-so-mini mini ramen set, which comes with a steaming bowl of ramen, a side of rice and four meat-and-vegetable gyoza for about $7. 590 Farrington Highway, Suite 510, 692-9888.
Kazoku Sushi
"We wanted to offer a more traditional, sit-down sushi experience, with conveyor-belt pricing," says owner Melody Chin. "Customers can have the variety right in front of them, plus it's fast." On a recent visit, the place was hopping, as customers helped themselves to dozens of plates circling the double-looped conveyor belt—cold tofu, gyoza, edamame, chicken teriyaki and specialty sushi rolls were among the day's selections. The combination bento, which comes with two choices of entrées, salad, rice and miso soup for $15, was the lunch of choice for several of our fellow diners. 338 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 102, 674-8844.
Why I Love Kapolei
Maeda Timson
Chair, Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board
Its Uniqueness
"There is no place in Hawaii where a city was built with the community involved. Yeah, we have growing pains, but that comes with building a new city. There's a lot of jobs, there's a lot of opportunities. Our future is so bright in Kapolei, I wear sunglasses every day!"
The Neighborhood Board
"The neighborhood board gets to see projects before they happen and is able to comment." Those comments, she explains, can help solidify or make the developer think twice about project plans.
The Latest Project
Kroc Center: "It's a huge community center: activities from swimming, daycare, seniors activities, cultural events. It's an opportunity physically, culturally and spiritually.


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Too bad its still at 480p.
Anyone play Wii anymore? Never played a "real" game on this outside of the bowling/sports stuff so I picked up Super Paper Mario and Super Mario Galaxy a few weeks ago. Which of those two would be a good start to get reacquainted with the plumber? Last Mario game I played was SMB on the N64 back in the day.
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In the chapter "how can we add more rules to the existing rules, you know; those that have never been implemented…."One meeting to watch out for today is the sustainable stock exchanges event in New York, hosted by several United Nations' bodies including the the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.
The aim of the gathering is to take stock of how the world's exchanges can work together with investors, regulators and companies to increase corporate transparency and encourage responsible long-term investing. This will involve tackling environmental, social and corporate governance issues. Eiris, the Ethical Investment Research Services, says one of the key drivers will be to include ESG disclosure into listing rules and corporate governance standards.
Paul Abberley, chief executive of Aviva Investors London says little support from listing authorities "who play a crucial role in setting out what companies report to the market" has not forthcoming. Many present today will be hoping to discuss measures to encourage best practice among companies through sustainable indices. Some exchanges such as Johannesburg Stock Exchange Socially Responsible index or the Deutsche Borse Daxglobal Alternative Energy Index, and the Indonesian exchange have already done this but there is plenty of scope for others to follow. Global stock exchanges are likely to hear some challenging calls to take action.