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Media, Entertainment, Gaming, Casino and Hollywood News Report: Marvel Entertainment, WWE, Movies, James Bond...
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Packer likely to pour money into gaming...
James Packer may use money from selling his pay TV interests to make a takeover play for casinos operator Echo Entertainment Group or other plans in the gaming sector.
Media giant News Ltd on Wednesday made a $1.97 billion takeover bid for Mr Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings, which owns 25 per cent of pay TV service Foxtel and 50 per cent of Fox Sports.
Mr Packer is executive chairman of Cons Media's largest shareholder, Consolidated Press Holdings (CPH), which holds a stake in Cons Media of just over 50 per cent.
The multi-billionaire, who is also chairman of casinos operator Crown Ltd, has been steadily dumping his media interests to focus on gaming.
But if Mr Packer pursues Echo, he will have to overcome regulatory limits on the amount of shares in Echo that any one shareholder is allowed to hold.
That limit is currently 10 per cent, which Packer's rival casino outfit Crown already holds.
Mr Packer said CPH considered News Ltd's offer price of $3.50 per Cons Media share to be fair and would support the proposal, which was subject to regulatory approvals, in the absence of a superior cash offer.
Fat Prophets analyst Greg Fraser said it appeared Mr Packer was looking to build up funds to make a bid for Echo.
"It does increase the speculation that once CPH is out of Cons Media that it is indeed building some sort of war chest," he said.
"Does that signal that he (Mr Packer) is confident that he will get that 10 per cent shareholder limit lifted?"
Mr Fraser said it was still to be made clear where another major shareholder in Echo, Asian gaming giant Genting, stood.
It appeared the two were aligned but that could not been taken for granted, he said.
City Index chief market analyst Peter Esho said the News Ltd offer for Cons Media had come at a convenient time when Mr Packer was looking at recycling capital into higher-growth areas such as the casinos business, which were capital intensive.
Mr Stokes' Seven Group Holdings owns 24.4 per cent of Cons Media.
Seven said it would review the News Ltd proposal and was considering its options.
However, Mr Esho said he did not think Mr Packer would necessarily move to take over Echo.
He said that between them, Crown and Genting already held just under 20 per cent of Echo, which was enough to block a takeover by anybody else and still influence the Echo board.
It also gave them "skin in the game" to benefit from any business that Echo takes away from their own respective operations.
"And they don't have to pay any (takeover) premium, deal with regulators - go through all the headaches," Mr Esho said.
"Together, Genting and Crown have got what they want, so far out of Echo.
"So I think any cash will be recycled elsewhere, but that's just purely speculation."
Shares in Echo were four cents higher at $4.29 at 1500 AEST on Wednesday. (AAP)
Investors welcome shake-up of media companies...
Investors and analysts have welcomed moves by Australia's two largest print media companies to restructure in response to declining newspaper revenues, warning the industry's outlook would remain uncertain for years.
Staff at Fairfax Media and News Limited have been left reeling by the announcements, which are expected to result in substantial job losses at both companies, but investors believe that neither was left with much choice. (The Australian)
Australian TV...
Top Rating Shows Tuesday 19th June 2012
1. The Block (Nine) - 1.408 million
2. Packed To The Rafters (Seven) - 1.371 million
3. Seven News (Seven) - 1.329 million
4. Nine News (Nine) - 1.254 million
5. Today Tonight (Seven) - 1.184 million
6. The Big Bang Theory (Nine) - 1.165 million
7. A Current Affair (Nine) 1.129 million
8. MasterChef (Ten) - 1.036 million
9. Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms (Ten) - 1.026 million
10. Home And Away (Seven) - 922,000
11. The Big Bang Theory (Nine) - 875,000
12. Once Upon A Time (Seven) - 869,000
13. ABC News (ABC) - 827,000
14. Being Lara Bingle (Ten) - 782,000
15. Pictures of You (Seven) - 746,000
Source: OzTam Ratings
Crown bouncers did not tell police of 'shut down' death...
It was four hours after Anthony Dunning was taken to hospital after being crash-tackled by a Crown casino bouncer when security staff sat down to review the closed circuit television footage of the incident, a court heard today.
Crown security guard Noel Griffiths told the Melbourne Magistrates Court the debrief was held at 3am and a second review at 7am.
The court has been told no casino staff informed police about what had happened to Dunning because casino protocol is not to report any incident unless a patron has died.
Dunning, 40, died four days later.
Six security guards - Matthew Lawson, 27, Quoc Tran, 34, Benjamin Vigo, 24, Cameron Sanderson, 40, Nicholas Levchenko, 26, and Jacques Fucile, 30 - have been charged after Dunning's death.
Lawson has been charged with manslaughter while the other five face assault charges.
Mr Griffiths told the committal hearing today he had seen Dunning lying face down on the gaming room floor being restrained by Sanderson and Vigo just before 11pm on Sunday 3 July last year.
Dunning's friend, Olivia Ferguson, was upset and crying.
Ms Ferguson and Mathew Anderson had gone to the casino after a day at the football.
Dunning, 40, had been asked to leave the casino because he was drunk and his friends had followed him.
Prosecutor Andrew Tinney, SC, had earlier told the court that as Dunning was moving towards the exit, Tran can be seen on the CCTV footage saying something to Lawson.
Ms Ferguson believed it was something insulting towards Dunning, so she slapped him.
"He immediately grabbed her around the neck and slung her violently to the ground," Mr Tinney said.
Mr Griffiths told the court today he was not a fan of "putting females to the floor".
Asked if what happened to Ms Ferguson was in accordance with casino security training procedures, he said: "In a perfect world, no."
Mr Anderson was also thrown to the floor and allegedly held by the throat before Lawson tackled Dunning around the legs and waist.
Lawson then got on top of Dunning, straddling him, and placed his arms around Dunning's head and neck.
Another Crown security guard, Amy Tobiasz, said the usual procedure to put someone on the ground was to grab them by the arms, push them down on to their knees and then lower them on to the floor.
Dunning was later taken by ambulance to The Alfred hospital. He died in the intensive care unit four days later.
The hearing continues.
James Packer gives the nod to News's $2bn bid for Consolidated Media Holdings...
News Limited looks well positioned to push ahead with a $2 billion bid for James Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings, after the competition regulator indicated it had an open mind on the deal and shareholders in Kerry Stokes's Seven Group questioned whether it had the balance sheet capacity to pull off a rival offer.
ConsMedia revealed yesterday that News had proposed to pay $3.50 a share in cash for the pay-TV holding company, which owns 50 per cent of Fox Sports Australia and 25 per cent of Foxtel, in a conditional, non-binding deal.
News Corp in $2 billion Australia pay-TV bid...
Packer cashes up
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp made a $2 billion takeover offer for Australia's Consolidated Media Holdings on Wednesday, boosting top shareholder and billionaire James Packer's warchest as he abandons media in favor of casinos.
Packer, who has built stakes in casinos in Australia, London, Macau and Las Vegas, indicated he would accept the offer in the absence of a higher bid for the pay-TV stakeholder, in which he holds 50.1 percent.
Comics film gives legend respect...
Many people put Marvel creator Stan Lee in the same ranks as Walt Disney and Jim Henson. This is exactly the reason William Lawrence Hess and Nikki Frakes decided to make a documentary about the comic book legend.
"When I met Stan, I began to realize how big the things he created and stories he told were," Hess says during a recent phone interview. "I'm into history and with Stan, there's a rich history in what he's done. You can tell he's one of the 20th-century creators that people look up to."
The duo's result was the documentary "With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story." The film will screen at 9 tonight at the KiMo Theatre, 420 W. Central.
Lee will introduce the film and then sign autographs during the Albuquerque Comic Expo, which runs today through Sunday at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
The documentary took nearly four years to complete. Hess says production began at Comic Con in San Diego in July 2006.
"We shot about 40 hours of footage right before that," he explains. "When the project was over, we had 480 hours of footage that we managed to fit into an hour and a half documentary."
Hess says the editing was tiring, but what softened the blow of cutting so much content out was the ability to make bonus footage.
"Nikki worked really close with the editor in carving it down," he says. "It was a big process to go through, but it worked out in our favor."
Frakes says it was important to show the man behind the mask.
"He invited us into his house and we got to see what he's like with his wife," she says. "It was important that we captured that and tell the story of how he came to be this icon in the comic industry."
The duo led a team that searched archives and interviewed people associated with Lee. One of the prized interviews was with "Captain America" co-creator Joe Simon, who died in December 2011.
"Joe was basically Stan's boss six decades ago," he says. "We wanted to get inside the inner workings of the comic book industry. There were plenty of heavy hitters that came along in the '40s. This was a huge interview for us."
Yet for both filmmakers, comics weren't the first thing they read. Frakes didn't read them, but says when she learned more about Lee's story, she wanted to help tell it.
"A lot of people think that he's an overnight success," she says. "He's overcome a lot in his life and managed to become this cultural icon. He's worked hard to get to his status."
Hess, who grew up in New Orleans, was introduced to "X-Men" comics and later the Saturday morning comics that Lee participated in.
"I can still hear him saying 'Stay Tuned Because We'll be Knee Deep in Danger' before the commercial break," he says. "I appreciate that he's been able to make an impact like that on me."
'Black Panther' movie rumour: Marvel Studios...
Entertainment Weekly's inside sources at Marvel Studios advise the news report is no true, however studio representatives declined to comment on the hot rumour.
A news report from the movie website Latino Review by writer El Mayimbe stated Marvel Studios has committed to making one of its next projects a picture based on Black Panther, the leader of the fictional African nation and the character widely regarded as the first major black superhero.
Marvel Studios and its parent company Disney did not immediately comment on the rumor, which has circulated far and wide, causing a buz among comic book movie fans. But now inside sources at Marvel have told EW that it's simply not true that Black Panther will be one of their next films.
Black Panther is not just a cool codename, it's the title bestowed on the Wakandan king. In the comics, T'Challa, a Wakandan prince and warrior, passed the trials necessary to ascend to his nation's throne, thus earning the mantle of Black Panther. Coincidentally, he also fell in love with Ororo Munroe, a.k.a. the weather-controlling Storm from X-Men, during his journeys, but don't expect her to show up in any Marvel Studios film about him. She remains a part of X-Men mythology still owned by 20th Century Fox.
Black Panther first appeared in a 1966 issue of Fantastic Four, and the name only coincidentally mirrors that of the militant civil rights political party, created that same year. (He also fought as part of The Avengers, which could factor into any sequel for that blockbuster.)
If the look of the character recalls DC Comics' Batman, the two characters actually have similarities beyond the costume. T'Challa's superhuman powers are his acute senses of perception and strength, but he is also a brilliant scientist, and as heir to the throne of Wakanda he is every bit as wealthy as Bruce Wayne.
Wakanda was the site of an ancient meteor crash which scattered the element vibranium throughout the land. That fictional element, of course, is one of the rarest and strongest minerals on earth, and is used in the creation of Captain America's shield. Black Panther's prime nemesis is Ulysses Klaw, a physicist who murders T'Challa's father to gain access to the precious vibranium deposits, which he uses to craft a weapon that can create solid objects out of sound waves.
Being the first mainstream black superhero, there were also political elements to Black Panther's story. In the mid-1970s, comic book story arcs sent him to the American South, where he clashed with the Ku Klux Klan. Black Panther also ventured into an Apartheid-ruled South Africa depicted in the guise of a Marvel nation called Rudyarda.
The Black Panther script was revealed last January, with documentarian Mark Bailey (The Fence, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, and Pandemic: Facing AIDS) crafting the story — an unusual choice, but not if Marvel would like to add a dose of social commentary to the action hero's story.
If Latino Review's report proves to be true, the next big questions are who would star and who would direct.
In breaking the scoop, Mayimbe proposed Nate Parker, who got high marks from critics for Red Tails (even if the movie itself did not) and garnered lots of praise at Sundance for a powerful turn opposite Richard Gere in the Wall Street thriller Arbitrage.
Parker's a solid choice, but The Wire's Idris Elba would also supply endless intensity for the character. Chiwetel Ejiofor has the kick-ass-professor vibe down, and Anthony Mackie, although a little slim physically, could build some muscle for the role. If we're talking pure star power and charisma, Jamie Foxx could be a good choice, and will be riding high after Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained debuts this year.
Marvel Entertainment movie fans.. if the rumour turns out to be true it sure will be excelsior!
Chris Hemsworth talks 'Thor 2,' fighting Hulk, working with Anthony Hopkins...
From "Thor" to "Avengers" and back to "Thor 2," Chris Hemsworth has made his mark on comic book movies. The Australian actor can now reflect on the projects and getting ready for the next chapter.
During an interview with Flicks and Bits, published on Monday, the "Snow White and the Huntsman" star recalled how director Kenneth Branagh made Thor and Asgard so related to the audience.
"He doesn't earn his powers through the film, or begin as a normal man. Thor, he's already a God. It's quite the opposite, we have to break him down, build him back up. Kenneth Branagh just kept saying to me, "Lets make it truthful, lets make it real. It's you talking to your brother or it's you talking to your father, don't try to play a God." The costumes, the sets, everything else around us did that for us. For us it was about simplifying it and humanizing it."
Hemsworth confesses he hasn't read the script for "Thor 2," but offered his insight into what fans can expect.
"A lot of real locations, as opposed to green screen, a lot of great sets. I know that is certainly something they want to do with the sequel, 'Thor 2.' Make Asgard more liveable and more tangible."
One of the highlights of "The Avengers" was the battle between Thor and Hulk. Hemsworth described the challenge of 'pretending' with the CGI Hulk.
"…they were like, "Throw yourself on the ground." I was like, "I'm not doing too well in this fight!" (Laughs) It was rather painful, but then we have the nice big uppercut which I was thankful for. With that fight, a lot of the time it was me having to pretend….it was like being a kid in the backyard swinging a stick around."
He added that he loved Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner and Hulk.
"I loved what Mark Ruffallo did with The Hulk, he's one of my favourite characters, watching what he did – and especially those sequences of Thor and Hulk fighting. Hulk backhanding Thor through the wall. Reading that, and on the page it said, "And Hulk smashes Thor and his big Norse face." (Laughs)."
Anthony Hopkins will also return for "Thor 2" and the "Cabin in the Woods" star praised the legendary actor.
"He's always been a big hero to me. With people like that you can't help but absorb and learn from. There's absolutely no ego with him, with him being someone everyone on set kind of wants to bow to (laughs). There was always advice if needed and there's such appreciation for the business even how many films later, he's been in the industry for this long, but he still loves making films. That's infectious to be around."
"Thor 2" will be second film in the new set of Marvel projects beginning next year. Hemsworth, Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba all return to lead the ensemble cast.
"Thor 2" opens on November 8, 2013.
Hugh Jackman to host free short film fest in NYC...
NEW YORK (AP) — Hugh Jackman wants anyone with a cell phone to get a chance to break in to show business.
The actor is hosting New York's first installment of Tropfest, billed as the world's largest short film festival. It's free and open to the public.
"Forget it, (if) you've got a mobile phone you can make a film, you can enter," Jackman said.
"It's a great way for me to support the arts and anybody who wants to can get involved."
A panel of celebrity judges including Rose Byrne, Judah Friedlander and Jennifer Westfeldt will pick best film, actor and actress on Saturday in Bryant Park.
The films showcased at Tropfest may be short (they must all be under seven minutes) but they've led to some impressive success stories. The idea for the FX series "Wilfred" starring Elijah Wood came from Tropfest. Sam Worthington of "Avatar" won Best Actor in 2000.
Jackman recently received a special Tony for his "contributions to the Broadway community" and "personal generosity of spirit." With Tropfest, he's reaching out to filmmakers.
"The movies are not judged on technical merit because that's one way to make film very elitist. It's not so much about that or the quality of the lens but more the strength of the idea and the concept," he said. "Previously it's people who may have been excluded or may not have the money but they have the talent and here they can show it."
The entries have been narrowed down to eight finalists — each required to have a Tropfest Signature Item. (The required item for New York's first Tropfest? A bagel.)
Tropfest, the brainchild of director John Polson, started 20 years ago in Australia and now draws more than 150,000 attendees each year. The winner for best film gets $20,000 from The Motion Picture Association and a week of meetings with studio execs, agents and managers.
Jackman says it's a no brainer for someone who wants to break into showbiz.
"When I first graduated from drama school I knew the statistics that 98 percent of actors were unemployed. I vowed to myself that every day I would do something for my career. I wasn't going to sit back. I was going to actively get out there and participate," he said. "Here is a way that anyone can contribute. There's no whining, 'But I'm a filmmaker it's so difficult, I can't get an agent.'" http://tropfest.com/ny/events/tropfest-ny
Another Hemsworth heads to Hollywood...
LOOK out world, the "other" Hemsworth is headed to Tinseltown.
Fresh from his turn as Shadow in Ten's Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms, the third (and oldest) Hemsworth brother, Luke, is preparing to give the acting business a serious tilt, telling Confidential he is about to head to Los Angeles where younger brothers Liam and Chris are currently dominating the film world.
But the 32-year-old father-of-three - who got his start on the kids series Saddle Club almost 10 years ago - is realistic about forging his own path.
"Do I have an unfair advantage? Uh, yes, no," he said with a laugh.
"We've all worked really, really hard.
"It does help. . . having two brothers in the industry already, to a degree. But you're still doing the same things. You're still learning lines and doing the same thing every day. Going to the same auditions as everyone else - you still have to get over the line yourself."
Even brother Chris admits it was Luke who entered the business first, with he and Liam following in his acting footsteps as Luke and wife Sam started a family.
"Luke was actually acting before both Liam and I," the Thor megastar told us on the red carpet of Tuesday night's premiere of his new flick Snow White and the Huntsman. "Then he went and did other things. But he's getting back into acting now - and it's great."
Luke has already signed with the same management as his brothers - ROAR in the US - and said that he was currently planning his trip across the pond.
"We will go there eventually," he said.
"But at the moment it's about the kids and family."
The Amazing Spider-Man Reviews Are In: Critics Praise Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone...
Relationship between the two is praised by experts...
The first reviews are in for 'The Amazing Spider-Man'... and they're mostly positive.
Critics have been complementary of the film's focus on the relationship between Andrew Garfield's titular lead and Emma Stone's female lead Gwen.
Leading British film mag Empire said: "Graced with great performances from Garfield and Stone, 'The Amazing Spider-Man' is a rare comic-book flick that is better at examining relationships than superheroism."
Total Film praised English actor Garfield, saying: "A young buck made testy by grief, a rebel without a comb, Garfield nails all bases here, star DNA aglow. Starey eyes melting, he's winningly earnest; lithe of physique, he delivers in the dust-ups; blithely gatecrashing Gwen Stacy's bedroom, he gives good dreamboat."
The Daily Telegraph had nice words for Stone, too. They wrote: "On paper Gwen might be the love interest, but in many ways she's the main character, giving us a human perspective on the superhuman drama."
The Evening Standard were less impress, but did not pin the blame on the leading man. "[Webb] dispenses with much of the character and sass that always made this character fun," they claimed.
"It's not Garfield's fault: he is a convincingly troubled, inarticulate Peter Parker, a springily athletic Spider-Man, and has awesome hair. His greatest enemy is the script. That, and the rather wearisome 3D."
'The Amazing Spider-Man' is released later this month and premiered in London last night.
Pro Wrestling News...
Wrestling companies square off in Nashville, USA court...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lawyers for World Wrestling Entertainment have told a Nashville judge the company has not and will not use confidential information from rival Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
The pledge came during a hearing last week over a lawsuit TNA filed last month against pro wrestling giant - WWE, claiming WWE had obtained secret contract details in an attempt to poach TNA's wrestlers.
Attorneys for WWE told Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle that the company has not contacted any of TNA's contracted personnel. The attorneys also said WWE has returned the only copies of the confidential information to TNA.
Lyle dissolved a May 24 temporary restraining order against WWE that had prohibited it from using the information to solicit TNA wrestlers, but she made no ruling on the merits of the case. Another hearing will be July 12.
TNA, based in Nashville, claimed in the suit that WWE apparently had already tried to hire away veteran wrestler Ric Flair. According to the court record, WWE lawyers said the company "has no intention of doing so."
TNA alleged that one of its former employees, Brian Wittenstein, went to work for WWE and provided his new employer with contract details. WWE said he was fired when he gave them the information.
A TNA suit against Wittenstein is still pending.
Jerry McDevitt, an attorney for Connecticut-based WWE, said Tuesday the company will file clarifying details with the court. He said the latest order "speaks for itself."
Dixie Carter, president of TNA, said in a statement Tuesday that the company "will vigorously protect TNA and its brand from damage at the hands of any and all sources, no matter who is involved." TNA was founded by wrestler Jeff Jarrett.
WWE Legal Letter To TNA Legal Counsel...
WWE Attorney Jerry McDevitt recently sent a letter to TNA legal counsel Erika Blonquist. The letter was filed with the court last week and can be read below:
First, and as I advised you orally on the phone during our recent conference call, WWE has not solicited Ric Flair to leave TNA and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has made no offer to Flair and has no intention of doing so.
Second, as I also advised you, WWE has not solicited any other current TNA talent to repudiate their contracts and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has no interest in current TNA talent.
The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK To Air On FX...
TUF: Australia vs. UK broadcasts on FX in Australia this fall
"The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. U.K." will air on FX in Australia in the fall as the latest installment of the reality series from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
UFC officials announced the news yesterday.
Tryouts for the upcoming season of "TUF" are currently underway, featuring fighters from both Australia and England. The coaches for the season have not yet been named, though an official announcement is expected soon.
"We're excited to be part of the FX family in Australia," UFC managing director for international development Marshall Zelaznik stated. "When the first series of 'The Ulimate Fighter' debuted in the United States seven years ago, it brought in millions of new fans who tuned in each and every week to watch their favorite fighters. I have no doubt that 'The Smashes' will do the same in Australia."
"The Smashes" is the title given to this season, referencing a cricket rivalry ("The Ashes") between the two countries.
While the season will air in Australia, no plans have been announced for those hoping to view in the U.S. Fans could watch "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil" online earlier this year as it was taping in Brazil, but the season did not broadcast on national television until FUEL TV began airing episodes just recently.
Are you ready? Are you ready? Let's get it on!
JR's Blog...
Wednesday Blog..Heyman..Lesnar..HHH..Grilling Perfect Burger..Kane..JR'S @ wweshop.com..FIRST TAKE
Wed, 06/20/2012 - 11:06am — J.R.
Happy that you stopped by our site and encourage you to tell friends about it. Our Twitter account is growing rapidly and we are at over 450,000 followers @JRsBBQ and I personally invite you to join us. WWEShop has restocked their JR's inventory at this link http://www.wweshop.com/Category/JimRoss. Random thoughts about to be served....
The Monday Night Raw from Nassau Coliseum was a hit in the TV ratings. The HHH/Heyman business along with the Cena/Big Johnny content at the end of the night were big winners.
As a fan, I thought the segment involving 'The Game' and Paul Heyman was the most compelling thing on Raw.
Heyman is a natural born antagonist and when he speaks he isn't 'acting' but simply being himself. I've personally been in too many non televised arguments with Paul to know of what I speak. Heyman has 'it' and always has plus it's obvious that the native New Yorker hasn't lost a step in his self imposed, long sabbatical from the biz over the past several years.
Paul Heyman is the best, antagonist, promo talent in WWE hands down.
A few weeks ago when HHH had his physical encounter with Brock Lesnar, I 'felt' that any bout between the two would be special. Specifically after the 'Cerebral Assassin' (Great handle...wonder where that came from?) fired up on Lesnar for a brief but impactful interlude of hammering right hands. That exchange struck a chord with me and flipped the switch for my motor to engage.
IF Lesnar vs. HHH happens at Summerslam, and I hope that it will, it will be a stellar attraction that will be fresh and not too likely to ever happen again. The bell to bell of this potential main event really has my interest and I'm intrigued to see how this matter plays out between now and August 19.
I'm hoping that WWE uses some of the classic moments of Money in the Bank to help promote the PPV that will be held in July in Phoenix. There are so many great moments in MITB that can be utilized to help sell the PPV. MITB has been a solid concept and really has been a star launcher to a large sense over the years.
Love how some in main stream sports love to knock the genre of sports entertainment yet shows like ESPN's 'First Take' is nothing more than an elongated, promo segment between a villain manager, Skip Bayless, and his 'arch rival,' Stephen A Smith. The role of Mean Gene is played by Jay Crawford. Don't take this as a diss of the show as I'm a regular viewer but main stream sports entities generally do all they can to distance themselves from 'pro wrestling' even though they use regularly elements from the business in this programming.
When I got the Atlanta Falcons gig in 1992 the local media had an outcry especially some columnists in the newspaper. How could a major, sports franchise hire, of all people, a WRESTLING GUY to be a part of their broadcast team?
Another prime example of prejudicial, elitist horse manure from those that look down upon my profession because of what? That it's show business with an athletic backdrop?
I'm a broadcaster and feel supremely confident, perhaps defiant, that I can broadcast any sport with ample time to prepare so that the specifics of the sport become second nature and I can allow my instincts and 'feel of the game' influence how I handle the presentation.
Back to RAW, it was another stellar night for the veteran Kane who has seemingly been reborn over the past several weeks with his physical involvement with WWE Champion CM Punk and Daniel Bryan notwithstanding the big Red Machine's soap opera entanglement with the controversial Diva A.J.
Kane's physical performances have been outstanding as it appears that Punk and Bryan bring out the best in the big man who has recently demonstrated amazing athleticism for a 300+ pounder.
Kane's on going relationship with A.J. has been an intriguing element on Raw that has my interest.
I'm still of the mindset that A.J. has developed a main event level persona in one of WWE's better creative presentations in quite some time.
Obviously, steps are being taken to make the tag team scene in WWE more meaningful but that still won't be good enough for some keyboard warriors who will continue to squeal ala Ned Beatty in 'Deliverance' or the proverbial pig stuck under a gate. It will take time to rebuild something with little, current equity but I'm of the mindset that it can and will be done but that it will not happen over night.
Before I forget, I made some guy food a few nights ago ala beans akin to what was consumed around the camp fire on the cult, film classic 'Blazing Saddles.' I promised the recipe so here it is:
1 can of pork 'n beans drained..put drained beans in a sauce pan on low heat...add JR's All Purpose Seasoning to taste..add chopped sweet or purple onion to taste..add squirt of honey..add JR's Original BBQ Sauce and Chipotle Ketchup as in a drizzle of each..add chopped bell pepper of your choice equal to the amount of onion that you use. Allow to simmer until done but it's better if there is still a little 'crunch' to the onion and bell peppers. It's a quick, easy, inexpensive and healthy dish that's a great tag team partner with grilled main eventers.
Great to hear the feedback from many fans who have never heard the late, Gordon Solie's work to any extent and who have heard him on the WWE Home video release 'Best of Clash of the Champions.' Working with my broadcasting idol on the Flair-Funk I Quit Match was a bucket list thing for me but discerning fans need to remember that it was during the later stages of Gordon's career and that he was doing color and not play by play which does make a difference as it relates to timing, etc. As good as Gordon Solie was that infamous night, his earlier work was that of legend and established that a pro wrestling announcer didn't have to be an over the top baffoon to get the job done. Gordon took his work seriously and treated the business as were a legit sport even though the genre has always been about entertainment featuring amazing athletes.
Mike Tyson being a playable character in WWE13 is a significant development for THQ and WWE. Iron Mike's involvement in the video game should be an outstanding, new, unique feature as the Attitude Era is represented strongly on this upcoming game that I assume will be released this fall perhaps in October.
Just asking but could the new RAW/Smackdown GM be announced at the premier of the weekly three hour Monday Night Raws, episode 1000, in St. Louis on July 23? This isn't a 'spoiler' even though some knuckleheads will think it's such but merely a question. Doesn't seem like a bad idea.
Antonio Cromartie, professional NFL player w/ the New York Jets and reproducer extraordinaire, has many children (12??) and baby mama. Many as in he could be consider the 'Father of our Country' many. Soucrces say that Cro has so many kids that it takes him three days to celebrate Dad's Day. Funniest segment on a past HBO 'Hard Knocks' one of my favorite TV shows, was when Cromartie was naming his children and their ages.
My @okctunder are gravely ill in their quest to win a NBA Title this year as they are down 3 games to 1 against the nWo like Miami Heat. I'd love for OKC to get one win in Miami to bring the series back to Oklahoma for the final two games to add some drama to the NBA Championship and give the local favorites a chance to make Sooner State history. I know the odds are long but as long as there is time on the clock, so to speak, I'm not abandoning my team.
Our potential business relationship with @americansoda in the UK is evolving and we may have some positive news on that matter soon as it relates to them distributing JR's products in that part of the world. Stay tuned over the next 4-6 weeks.
Burger tips for the grill or kitchen...an 80/20 blend of ground beef generally works best as it relates to the meat but that 's your call. I never buy hamburger patties pre made. I always buy bulk meat and make my own patties. Season to taste with JR's All Purpose Seasoning, add a little JR's BBQ Sauce, a few drops of your favorite liquid smoke (I generally use hickory or mesquite) and you can even add finely chopped onion if you choose to blend together to comprise a great burger pattie. If you can, let them sit in the 'fridge, covered, overnight or for as long as you are able IE make the burgers in the morning and grill them in the afternoon. Allowing the burgers to sit and marinate before grilling makes a HUGE difference. Grill over medium heat as to not overcook or cause flames. Sometimes I also add little pieces of cheese to the patties to cook inside them. Grilling is a great hobby and don't be afraid to experiment but always pay attention to what you're doing and don't constantly open your grill or flip your burgers numerous times. I generally turn mine once or twice at the very most.
JR's products are NOT available in any stores except Norman, Oklahoma Homeland stores and unfortunately we do not expect to be in retail stores any time soon. WWEShop has many packages featuring our products, some with personally signed swag, available online at http://www.wwweshop.com/Category/JimRoss.
Sad that some fans feel that any wrestling TV show can essentially solve all their ills simply by going to a TV14 rating and bringing back "blood." If these are young fans thinking this asinine theory, it makes one sort of wonder about the future.
Be Well everyone and come back to see us soon.
Boomer Sooner!
James Bond turns 50...
James Bond turns 50 this year but you'd never know it by looking at him. Despite hundreds of skirmishes with the world's scariest villains, not to mention a diet heavy on shaken-not-stirred martinis, the man in the Aston Martin still cuts a dashing figure.
In October, it will have been five decades since 007 -- in the form of Sean Connery -- first sauntered onto movie screens in "Dr. No." And he's still going strong. The Bond movies are not only the longest continuously running series in cinema history but also the most successful, with more than $5 billion in box-office receipts. Take that, George Lucas.
Daniel Craig, the sixth actor to play the world-saving spy, will step into Bond's shoes once again on Oct. 26 with "Skyfall," the 23rd film in the series. Also this October, MGM will celebrate 007's birthday with a 22-disc Blu-ray set that finally makes all of the movies available in high definition.
The movies, which will be presented in 35 mm prints, include "Goldfinger" (June 17), "GoldenEye" (June 26), "The Spy Who Loved Me" (July 2), "Dr. No" (July 10), "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (July 16), "Live and Let Die" (July 24) and "From Russia With Love" (July 30).
The Bond film franchise began in 1962 with "Dr. No." It was not only a worldwide smash but also turned out to be a big influence on popular culture. Think "The Man From U.N.C.L.E," "Our Man Flint," "Get Smart" and "Mission: Impossible."
So where did the idea come from? Ian Fleming, of course. A former journalist and British Naval intelligence officer, he conceived of the book series in 1952 while vacationing in Jamaica in a holiday home he called Goldeneye.
James Bond made his first appearance in "Casino Royale," which was published in 1953. Thirteen more Bond books by Fleming followed.
Since the release of "Dr. No," we have never gone more than five or six years without a new Bond flick. Connery played him five times 1962-1967 and then again in 1971 and 1983. In between, there was a one-off appearance by George Lazenby. In 1973, Roger Moore took over for seven outings.
Next came Timothy Dalton for two films beginning in 1987. Pierce Brosnan got the job in 1995 for four features. The latest Bond is Craig, who has played him in series re-boot "Casino Royale," "Quantum of Solace" and the upcoming "Skyfall."
Did we mention that Bond also enjoys a good game of poker and baccarat and often the stakes have been life or death. Would you like to play with Bond? That's what we thought.
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Midday Dogwalking
Midday walks are billed as visits, so as to be as flexible in meeting client's needs. Not everyone wants a 30 minute walk, and walking often isn't the only need a dog has. Feeding, medication, backyard playtime for that new puppy that hasn't finished his shots and can't go mingling with the neighborhood - We do all that, and will tailor the visit to meet your specific needs.
Overnight Care
We're not going to lie: Veterinary pracitioners favor keeping companion animals in the familiar, home environment when you leave town, and our experience is that boarding environments consistently leave dogs out of sorts, taking sometimes weeks to return to normal sleep/eating/play routines.
So, we don't do boarding. It seems an imperfect solution, when better options exist. What we do offer is in-home overnight care for dogs/cats, where we let you tailor the care regiment for a flat fee. Not sure why anyone would offer to do differently, really.

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Race leader Michael Matthews won the gruelling sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday as fellow Australian Cadel Evans lurked on a day's racing marred by a nasty crash.
Matthews, 23, surged home in a four-man sprint finish to the 257km stage from Sassano to Montecassino, the longest on the Tour, ahead of Belgian Tim Wellens and Evans.
They had a 49sec advantage over the main chasing pack that included a host of overall rivals to Evans, the big beneficiary of the day's racing.
"It was all for the win today," said Matthews, more known as a sprinter than climber.
"It was me against him (Cadel Evans) for the jersey and the stage, and I was lucky enough to have really good legs in the final after my team put me in the perfect condition at the bottom of the climb.
"On this sort of terrain, it's definitely my best win, and totally a dream come true. Winning a hilltop finish over Cadel Evans while wearing the Maglia Rosa in the Giro d'Italia: it doesn't get much better than that."
Heavy rain made for a slick surface and there were two falls in the final 12km, 8.7km of which was a steep climb.
Evan's BMC teammate, Switzerland's Steve Morabito, accelerated away to build up a lead that the fallen riders were unable to reel in.
In the general classification, Matthews has a 21sec lead over Evans, with Colombian Rigoberto Uran at 1min 18sec.
"Everyone wanted to be in the front because of the wet conditions," Matthews said of the lead-up to the worse crash.
"The road narrowed before the roundabout, we were riding at 60 km/h, and everyone wanted to be in the front. If you're lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you're OK. That's racing these days. It's all about positioning."
Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) later pulled out of the race with a fractured finger and two broken ribs.
Rodriguez had targeted winning the Giro after coming a close second to Ryder Hesjedal two years ago, but he finished the stage seven minutes behind Matthews.
Friday's seventh stage is a 231km ride from Frosinone to Foligno, and Matthews vowed no let-up.
"We'll try again for the win tomorrow. We have a really strong team for the lead-outs, as we showed in the opening team time trial," he said.
"We're not going to back down now: we have two stage wins now. We'll push all the way and see how far we can get."


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© Vanuatu National Cultural Council
In 1993, following an agreement between UNESCO and the Japanese government, a special Funds-in-Trust was created aimed at assisting UNESCO in its actions in favour of intangible cultural heritage. Up to and including 2007, Japan's total contribution to the Fund has amounted to approximately USD 12 millions. In particular, the Fund played an important role in the preparation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In accordance with the spirit of the Convention, the main focus of the Fund is currently given to activities, especially for developing countries and post-conflict countries, aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural heritage, including identification (inventories), transmission, particularly through formal and non-formal education, protection, promotion, enhancement, documentation and research. The Fund also contributes to awareness-raising about and capacity-building in ratification and implementation of the Convention, especially in the Pacific region.
The various projects supported by the Fund provide examples and lessons learnt of the development and implementation of safeguarding projects in the field of intangible cultural heritage. The following list presents, by region, the projects and meetings that were possible thanks to contributions of the Japan Funds-in-Trust.


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Sr. Louise MADORE, originally from Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA, was elected the Superior General of the Roman Catholic Religious Community of the Daughters of Wisdom (Filles de la Sagesse). A teacher by profession, Sr. Madore is the only girl in a family of 5 brothers. Georges MADORE, her brother, is a Roman Catholic priest, member of the Montfort Fathers of Québec..
For more information about the Daughters of Wisdom, you may visit their website by clicking on the ORANGE title above.
Friday, August 18, 2006
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Hong Kong's residential property market, which has seen dramatic price gains over the past decade because supply has not kept up with demand, is set for a slowdown as the new administration comes good on its pledge to increase land supply for housing, says an industry expert.
"With a pro-supply government and hence likely rising supply, and more proactive policies against price rises, we expect residential price growth to halve at best," Nicole Wong, Regional Head of Property Research at CLSA told CNBC.
In his inaugural speech on July 1, Chief Executive C.Y. Leung reiterated his pledge to increase land supply to ensure affordability for middle-income buyers. The government's target is to help private developers release for sale 20,000 units every year – almost double of the 9,500 units made available in 2011.
Residential property prices, which have surged 66 percent between 2000 and 2012 at an annual rate of 5.2 percent, will slow to a 2.6 percent growth rate per annum between 2010 and 2020, according to Wong.
"I think the pressure on property prices is going to hit the property market much earlier than people would have expected," Wong said, adding that she is underweight Hong Kong property developers as she believes earnings have peaked.
Policy risks surrounding the sector, along with a general rise in investor risk aversion, sent Hong Kong property stocks down 2 percent in the second quarter – after rising 19 percent in the first quarter.
Some developers in the city have already started pricing their housing projects at a discount. Cheung Kong Holdings, for example, priced units at a new project located in the city's suburbs 5 percent below apartment prices in the same district.
"Future land is not going to be pricier, it is going to be a little cheaper - so (Cheung Kong is) offloading the flats and recouping the cash (to) buy lower," Wong said, a trend that is likely to continue among other developers.
Paul Louie, property analyst at Nomura, however, disagrees that government's policies to increase supply will have a large impact on prices in the coming years.
"Even though there will be an increase in land supply, the transmission mechanism takes four years. It takes at least four years in order to complete the constructions before they can be moved into," he said.
Louie adds that there is adequate demand to meet an increase in supply, which will ensure that prices remain supported.
"The physical market has been fine year-to-date – most of the projects that have been launched have been clearing units at a decent pace," he said.


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Greensboro Library, NCHome Menu
Women's Literacy Class
English for Speakers of Other Languages
- Date: -
- Location: Glenwood Branch Library
1901 W. Florida St.
Greensboro, North Carolina 27403
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This women only class is for ESOL intermediate adult learners. It features four aspects of learning English: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Please call 336-297-5000 to register or for more information.Return to previous page >>


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The Mikelson 75 factory currently has hull #016 more than half way through construction. Twin CAT C32's at 1925HP have been installed and this will be the fastest Mikelson 75 yet! Three main staterooms and two crew staterooms put the Mikelson 75 way ahead of the competition! The large cockpit and adjoining Lanai deck enhances fishing enjoyment with plenty of room for spectators!
The fully enclosed airconditioned flybridge with a raised settee and table offers comfort and supurb views! Four control stations (Main and aft flybridge, cockpit and Marlin Tower) gives the Captain tremendous options!
Buyer can still select many décor items, choose navigation electronics, and pick the tender to grace the foredeck!
Offered with MASSIVE FACTORY DISCOUNT.
Mikelson Yachts, Inc.
2330 Shelter Island Dr., # 202
San Diego, CA 92106
United States


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- series: Sgt Rock
Comic book series : Sgt Rock
Artist: Joe Kubert
Publisher: Dc Comics
Sgt Rock Archives
artist: Joe Kubert
series: Sgt Rock
volume: 4
publisher: Dc Comics
publish date: 17-10-2012
language: English
coloring: full color
Hard Cover
War is hell -- and no one knows that better than Sgt. Rock and the fighting men of Easy Company. These classic tales of World War II take readers deep behind enemy lines, where Easy Company never has it easy -- because battle can break out at any moment.
These hard-hitting tales star the man they call Rock and the colorful members of his platoon, including Wildman, Ice Cream Soldier, Bulldozer and more, as they face the enemy in one hopeless situation after another.
In this new, high-quality archive edition, Sgt. Rock battles his opposite number: a German sergeant, protects a young refugee, clashes with other Army sergeants, attempts to rescue a captured soldier and more.


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View the list of NAICS and SIC industry codes used by the Division. To view all industry codes, visit Census.gov.
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Hottest-ever February day may be recorded this week as Britain braces for balmy weekendTemperatures will rise to near-record levels for February over the weekend as warm weather spreads across the UK, the Met Office has said.The mercury could hit 18C this Saturday in some places, and most areas will see a lot of sunshine, forecasters say.The warm, sunny weather will contrast with the same time last year, when Britain was braced for the arrival of the Beast from the East, which took hold at the start of March.The warmest February since records began was in 1998, when temperatures reached 19.7C in Greenwich, south-east London.
UK basks in warmest February day on recordThe UK is experiencing its warmest February day on record, the Met Office reports.A temperature of 20.3C (68.54F) has been recorded at Trawsgoed, Ceredigion.It is the first time a temperature of over 20C has been recorded in winter.
UK experiences winter temperatures above 20C for first time The UK is experiencing its warmest February day on record and some of the highest temperatures ever recorded in winter, according to forecasters.Temperatures in Trawsgoed, Wales, reached 20.3C, (68.5F) on Monday morning and rose to 20.6C in the afternoon.This time last year there was widespread snowfall across the country between late February and March and some areas of the country were hit by blizzards.Bob Ward, of the centre for climate change economics and policy at the London School of Economics, said that while warmer temperatures are often welcomed, they can be deadly. "People may find it very pleasant to be in warmer temperatures but they must also remember that it's the same trend that saw hundreds of people die last summer as a result of overheating."Over the last five years we also had two record wet winters during which there was severe flooding. This is a sign of the fundamental and profound way that Britain's climate is changing."He said the weather change could also have disastrous consequences for wildlife. "If we have a cold [snap again] now there is a danger it will kill a lot of wildlife that has emerged early due to the spring-like temperatures."The spell of warm weather is expected to continue over the weekend, and bookmakers are offering odds of 5-2 that this summer will be the hottest on record.
Naturalists concerned for early-emerging spring species in UKA cold, wet March could prove problematic for animals now out of hibernation
UK breaks winter temperature record againThe UK has broken the record for its warmest winter day again, as the Met Office confirmed... Porthmadog in north-west Wales hit 20.8C while temperatures of 20.7C were reported in Teddington, south-west London.
UK experiences hottest winter day ever as 21.2C is recorded in London The UK has experienced its warmest winter day on record, the Met Office has revealed.Temperatures in Kew Gardens, south-west London, reached 21.2C (70.2F), breaking the record for the warmest February day. The Met Office defines winter from the beginning of December to the end of February, so Tuesday's sunny spell is also a winter record.
Saddleworth Moor fire: Crews tackle huge blazeFire crews are tackling a huge moorland blaze in West Yorkshire.Five engines from West Yorkshire and two from Greater Manchester are at the scene on Saddleworth Moor.West Yorkshire Fire Service said the blaze started at about 19:30 GMT and flames covered a square kilometre. The A62 is closed between Colne Valley and Diggle in both directions.It comes as the UK broke the record for the warmest winter day for a second time.There have been no reports of any injuries.
Hot weather has driven hungry magpies to attack donkeys, sanctuary says Hot weather has driven hungry magpies to attack donkeys in what is becoming a "critical" problem, a sanctuary has said.Four elderly donkeys at Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary in Huttoft, Lincolnshire, are being "picked on" by "flesh-eating" magpies that are inflicting wounds the size of £2 coins onto the animals.
UK weather forecast: Storm Freya to batter Britain with 80mph gusts'Intense rainfall' also expected to sweep across central and southern parts of the UKBritain's unseasonably warm February sunshine is set to come to an abrupt end as Storm Freya is expected to batter the UK bringing gusts of up to 80mph. The Met Office has issued weather warnings for Sunday as "very strong winds" and "intense rainfall" is expected to sweep across central and southern parts of the UK over the weekend.Travel routes are expected to be disrupted with warnings in place for potential power cuts and damage to buildings and trees."Storm Freya will bring very strong winds, with some travel disruption and possible dangerous conditions late Sunday and into Monday," the Met Office said.
Snow and 'severe gales' to pummel Britain as Met Office issues multiple warnings'There is a risk of further snow overnight - it is likely to be very, very cold,'The UK will be hit with severe gales, snow showers and frost in the coming week, as unsettled conditions continue. A variety of weather warnings for wind, snow and ice have been issued from Sunday to Wednesday by forecasters."An area of low pressure is moving very quickly across the south this morning bringing gale force winds with it," Sarah Kent, a meteorologist at the Met Office, told The Independent."There's a yellow warning in place for wind for Sunday. It will be extremely gusty and people should keep an eye on the warnings as they change."Wind speeds are expected to reach 40 to 50mph inland and could rise to 55 to 65mph in more exposed areas.
Storm Gareth forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rainStorm Gareth is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the UK throughout the week, the Met Office has warned.
UK weather warnings issued by Met Office as snow, wind and rain set to batter BritainForecasters warn of delays to travel, and flooding and large waves in some places
Flood warnings issued across Britain after rain
UK weather: Temperatures plummet and snow falls overnight in a wintry start to springSpring may have officially begun, but some parts of the country woke up to a wintry outlook as snow and sleet fell overnight.Temperatures dipped to freezing overnight and snow covered high ground in Scotland and northern England. Flurries were also seen down into the Midlands during the early hours.There will be sunshine and some rain for the southern and western parts, although showers are forecast to be heavy with hail and thunder mixed in.Temperatures will remain on the cold side, with around 5C or 6C the maximum for many and 10C expected in the south-east.The outlook for Thursday remains the same, but the focus of the showers will be in the south-west of the UK.
Newcastle set to be hotter than Greece as temperatures forecast to soar during Easter weekendIf you're staying at home during the long weekend you might get better weather than those jetting off on holidayTemperature highs of 18C have been forecast on Saturday and Easter Sunday, warmer than the predicted highs of 15C in Athens.
UK weather: Thunderstorms could hit Britain after Easter weekend of record-breaking temperatures Thunderstorms could hit Britain after an Easter weekend of record-breaking temperatures.Thousands of holidaymakers are descending on parks and beaches this weekend to enjoy the sunshine, with highs of 24C making Saturday the hottest day of the year so far.And tomorrow is predicted to be the hottest Easter Sunday in 178 years as a "Greek plume" sweeps the country.But stormy conditions are predicted to begin from Tuesday, threatening floods, as temperatures dwindle.
Two arrested after horse collapses in Cardiff as Easter heatwave grips cityTwo men have been arrested after a horse, which is believed to be pregnant, collapsed on a main street in Cardiff city centre on the hottest day of the year so far.
May Bank Holiday weather forecast: Temperatures to drop as low as -2C as frosts and wintry showers predictedHeavy showers with hail, frosts and breezy conditions make marked contrast with sun-soaked Easter two weeks ago
UK weather forecast: Britons to bask in temperatures hotter than Corfu next weekTemperatures expected to soar to 20C after wet and chilly weather, forecasters sayBritons will have to endure a couple more days of heavy rain and thunderstorms before warmer temperatures return early next week, with the UK set to be hotter than Corfu on Tuesday.
QuoteUK weather forecast: Britons to bask in temperatures hotter than Corfu next weekTemperatures expected to soar to 20C after wet and chilly weather, forecasters sayBritons will have to endure a couple more days of heavy rain and thunderstorms before warmer temperatures return early next week, with the UK set to be hotter than Corfu on Tuesday.https://www.independent.co.uk/weather/uk-weather-latest-hot-temperatures-mediterranean-corfu-sunshine-met-office-a8908216.html
UK weather forecast: Temperatures to soar to 25C as Britain set to be warmer than Rio De Janeiro, Tunisia and Athens
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Snap o' the Day: Mall protest
In an apparent protest of the waves of dust wafting across the Downtown Mall as workers cut bricks, a prankster has placed a breathing mask on the face of a human sculpture near Miller's restaurant. Photographed Monday, March 6 by Kevin Cox.
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Saw that several tables had crept out onto the mall at Bizou. The sun and warmth made outdoor dining appealing but the dust whipped March wind cancelled that thought.
I think that you are a track that we need to be on
- I was just wondering if there is any lighting and
other contols to keep within your requirements?
I understand that the home are energy efficient but what about safety. The homes look as if they can eaisly be broken into. Just how secure are the windows and doors since no one talks about the fantastic security these homes provide. Are there any contractors/builders concerned about safety as well being an energy efficient home?


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The Kunstakademie Düsseldorf is the Arts Academy of the city of Düsseldorf. Notable artists who attended the academy include Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Thomas Demand and Andreas Gursky. In the stairway of its main entrance, are engraved the Words: "Für unsere Studenten nur das Beste" ("For our Students only the Best").
The school was founded by Lambert Krahe in 1762 as a school of drawing. In 1773, it became the "Kurfürstlich-Pfälzische Academie der Maler, Bildhauer- und Baukunst" (Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture of the Electorate of the Palatinate).
It has been amongst Europe's foremost art schools for more than two centuries.
The German photographic movement commonly known as the Düsseldorf School of Photography, began in the mid 1970s at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under the instruction of the influential photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher, known for their comparative grids of mundane industrial buildings captured with an objective and clinical eye.
This school has not only birthed some of today's most important and successful photographers, but has also had a fundamental and lasting influence on the history of the medium.
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous and beautiful creatures, portrayed as femme fatales who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on some small islands called Sirenum scopuli. In some later, rationalized traditions, the literal geography of the "flowery" island of Anthemoessa, or Anthemusa, is fixed: sometimes on Cape Pelorum and at others in the islands known as the Sirenuse, near Paestum, or in Capreae. All such locations were surrounded by cliffs and rocks.
When the Sirens were given a name of their own they were considered the daughters of the river god Achelous, fathered upon Terpsichore, Melpomene, Sterope, or Chthon. Although they lured mariners, for the Greeks the Sirens in their "meadow starred with flowers" were not sea deities. Roman writers linked the Sirens more closely to the sea, as daughters of Phorcys. Sirens are found in many Greek stories, particularly in Homer's Odyssey.
According to Ovid, the Sirens were the companions of young Persephone and were given wings by Demeter to search for Persephone when she was abducted. However, the Fabulae of Hyginus has Demeter cursing the Sirens for failing to intervene in the abduction of Persephone.
The Sirens might be called the Muses of the lower world, Walter Copland Perry observed: "Their song, though irresistibly sweet, was no less sad than sweet, and lapped both body and soul in a fatal lethargy, the forerunner of death and corruption." Their song is continually calling on Persephone. The term "siren song" refers to an appeal that is hard to resist but that, if heeded, will lead to a bad conclusion. Later writers have implied that the Sirens were anthropophagous, based on Circe's description of them "lolling there in their meadow, round them heaps of corpses rotting away, rags of skin shriveling on their bones." As Jane Ellen Harrison notes of "The Ker as siren:" "It is strange and beautiful that Homer should make the Sirens appeal to the spirit, not to the flesh."
"They are mantic creatures like the Sphinx with whom they have much in common, knowing both the past and the future," Harrison observed. "Their song takes effect at midday, in a windless calm. The end of that song is death." That the sailors' flesh is rotting away, though, would suggest it has not been eaten. It has been suggested that, with their feathers stolen, their divine nature kept them alive, but unable to feed for their visitors, who starved to death by refusing to leave.
According to Hyginus, sirens were fated to live only until the mortals who heard their songs were able to pass by them.
"Oh Lord Most High, Creator of the Cosmos, Spinner of Galaxies, Soul of Electromagnetic Waves, Inhaler and Exhaler of Inconceivable Volumes of Vacuum, Spitter of Fire and Rock, Trifler with Millennia — what could we do for Thee that Thou couldst not do for Thyself one octillion times better? Nothing. What could we do or say that could possibly interest Thee? Nothing. Oh, Mankind, rejoice in the apathy of our Creator, for it makes us free and truthful and dignified at last. No longer can a fool point to a ridiculous accident of good luck and say, 'Somebody up there likes me.' And no longer can a tyrant say, 'God wants this or that to happen, and anyone who doesn't help this or that to happen is against God.' O Lord Most High, what a glorious weapon is Thy Apathy, for we have unsheathed it, have thrust and slashed mightily with it, and the claptrap that has so often enslaved us or driven us into the madhouse lies slain!" -The prayer of the Reverend C. Horner Redwine"
― Kurt Vonnegut, The Sirens of Titan
A group of Anglican nuns travel to a remote location in the Himalayas (the Palace of Mopu, near Darjeeling) to set up a school and hospital for the local people, only to find themselves increasingly seduced by the sensuality of their surroundings in a converted seraglio high up in the mountains, and by the local British agent Mr Dean (David Farrar). Clodagh (Deborah Kerr), the Sister Superior, is attempting to forget a failed romance at home in Ireland. Tensions mount as Dean's laid-back charm makes an impression on Clodagh, but also attracts the mentally unstable Sister Ruth (Kathleen Byron), who becomes pathologically jealous of Clodagh, resulting in a nervous breakdown and a violent climax. In a subplot, 'the Young General' (Sabu), heir to the throne of a princely Indian state who has come to the convent for his education, becomes infatuated with Kanchi, a lower caste dancing girl (Jean Simmons).
Black Narcissus achieved acclaim for its pioneering technical mastery and shocked audiences at the time of release with its vibrant colour and the themes of the film. Audiences gasped at some of the scenes, notably the shot of the vibrant pink flowers, which shown on the big screen was a spectacle at the time. The film's clever use of lighting and techniques have had a profound impact on later film makers, notably Martin Scorsese who used the extreme close ups technique of the nuns for Tom Cruise's character around the pool table in Color of Money. Martin Scorsese has said that the film is one of the earliest erotic films, in the last quarter of the film in particular, which caused controversy given its Roman Catholic content. The film was one of his favourites as a boy, and Scorsese has stated that one of the greatest experiences he has had with film is viewing Black Narcissus projected on a massive screen at the Director's Guild in 1983. In Michael Powell's own view this was the most erotic film he ever made. "It is all done by suggestion, but eroticism is in every frame and image from beginning to end. It is a film full of wonderful performances and passion just below the surface, which finally, at the end of the film, erupts".
The story concerns a quiet insurance agent and Vietnam War veteran named Bobby Thompson (Tim O'Kelly) who murders his young wife, his mother and a grocery delivery boy at home and then initiates an afternoon shooting rampage from atop a Los Angeles area oil refinery. Several motorists and passengers are wounded or killed on the nearby freeway. When the police respond and start to close in on him he flees and resumes his shootings at a Reseda drive-in theater where an aging horror film icon, Byron Orlok (Boris Karloff) is making a final promotional appearance before retirement. Orlok slaps the murderer into submission and the police arrive and affect an arrest. Thompson wonders aloud about the exact number of victims.
Newsom was born and raised in the small town of Nevada City, California. Her mother, Christine (née Mueller), is an internist, and her father, William Newsom, is also a doctor. Her parents were "progressive-minded professionals" who previously lived in the Bay Area. Newsom's family includes her brother, Pete, a fellow musician, and sister, Emily, who inspired her song "Emily" (and contributed backing vocals). She is the second cousin, twice removed, of Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom of California.
As a child, Newsom was not allowed to watch television or listen to the radio because she was raised by parents who she described as, "kind of idealists when it came to hoping they could protect us from bad influences, like violent movies, or stupid stuff". She was exposed to music from a young age. Her father played the guitar and her mother was a classically trained pianist who played the hammered dulcimer, the autoharp and conga drums. Newsom attended a Waldorf school where she studied theater and learned to memorize and recite long poems. This skill helps her to remember lyrics while on tour.
At the age of five, Newsom asked her parents if she could play the harp. Her parents eventually agreed to sign her up for harp lessons, but the local harp instructor did not want to take on such a young student and suggested she learn to play the piano first. Starting at the age of four she began playing the piano. Only later did she move on to the harp, which she, "loved from the first lesson onward." From her instructor, Joanna learned composition and improvisation. She first played on a smaller Celtic harps until her parents bought her a full-size pedal harp in the seventh grade. During her teens, she and the instrument became inseparable, and she describes her relationship with the harp as similar to "an artificial limb or a wheelchair. It's almost part of me, but more to the point, it serves a purpose, and if it wasn't there I would wonder what was supposed to fit in its place."
The Bell Jar is American writer and poet Sylvia Plath's only novel, which was originally published under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas" in 1963. The novel is semi-autobiographical with the names of places and people changed. The book is often regarded as a roman à clef, with the protagonist's descent into mental illness paralleling Plath's own experiences with what may have been clinical depression. Plath committed suicide a month after its first UK publication. The novel was published under Plath's name for the first time in 1967 and was not published in the United States until 1971, pursuant to the wishes of Plath's mother and her husband Ted Hughes.
The Bell Jar addresses the question of socially acceptable identity. It examines Esther Greenwood, a young woman from the suburbs of Boston's, "quest to forge her own identity, to be herself rather than what others expect her to be". Esther is expected to become a housewife, and a self-sufficient woman, without the options to achieve independence. Esther feels she is a prisoner to domestic duties and she fears the loss of her inner self. The Bell Jar sets out to highlight the problems with oppressive patriarchal society in mid-20th Century America. The men in Esther's life are all oppressive, whether it is in a physical manner or an emotional one.
In Buddhism, all objects, or in other words, color and matter are another word for space and space is another word for color. All objects can become one according to the concept of "all matter is emptiness" and the process of breaking down is called "emptiness is form." In particular, Hua-yen Buddhism's teachings of "one is all, all is one" is a physical analysis of how points build to space and space breaks down to a point. Buddhism's "all matter is emptiness" does not mean a lack. I will use my work as an example.
New York (2008) Indala Series A photographic portrait of New York using 10,000 images.
My ON-AIR Project's Indala Series (Indala is another word for Indra's net, which refers to the concept of the interconnectedness of all things in the universe. New York, Washington, Moscow, Tokyo, Paris, London, Venice, Berlin, Athens, Seoul, Delhi, and others, comprise the 14 cities that are a part of this project). For the project, I took 10,000 photographs of New York and superimposed them to create one final picture.
The completed picture appears to be nothing but a blurry, gray image, but there are physically 10,000 photographs within it. Those 10,000 photographs of New York streets, buildings, people, and events were vividly captured over the course of several years, lovingly, with proper photographic technique. I'm not Buddhist and I didn't do this project with the intention of explaining the concept of "all is emptiness," but this is similar to that concept of emptiness. If one penetrates into the gray image (as in Heidegger's concept of entwurf, or the mental process of absorption in something), one is able to meet again the countless events and identities melted into the 10,000 cuts. This process of disassembly is "emptiness is everything." If one physically dismantles an analog picture, one is left with the particles that make up analog film; in a digital process, only the pixels are left. In the final gray image of the Indala project, those 10,000 photographs have become one and each has lost its function but their identity is not gone. Just like how my DNA contains all of humanity's genes, identity does not disappear. This is similar to how the point's identity is inherent in space. Ironically though, the final gray picture of one city composed of 10,000 different superimposed photographs is digitized and has no mass or volume; it only has form when it comes out.
Atta Kim
In philosophy, "the Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any. In this context absurd does not mean "logically impossible", but rather "humanly impossible". The universe and the human mind do not each separately cause the Absurd, but rather, the Absurd arises by the contradictory nature of the two existing simultaneously. Absurdism, therefore, is a philosophical school of thought stating that the efforts of humanity to find inherent meaning will ultimately fail (and hence are absurd) because the sheer amount of information as well as the vast realm of the unknown make certainty impossible. And yet, some absurdists state that one should embrace the absurd condition of humankind while conversely continuing to explore and search for meaning. As a philosophy, absurdism thus also explores the fundamental nature of the Absurd and how individuals, once becoming conscious of the Absurd, should respond to it.
Because of the world's absurdity, at any point in time, anything can happen to anyone, and a tragic event could plummet someone into direct confrontation with the Absurd. The notion of the absurd has been prominent in literature throughout history. Many of the literary works of Søren Kierkegaard, Samuel Beckett, Franz Kafka, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Eugene Ionesco, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus contain descriptions of people who encounter the absurdity of the world.


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Chinese civil servant: golden handcuffs
College student Wang Zixu was among the 1.1 million hopefuls who packed out school and universities across China on Sunday to sit the country's civil service exams.
It's a tradition that dates back more than 1,300 years when exams were first held to select the best applicants for ancient imperial bureaucracy. Today's young job seekers are vying for government posts in record numbers.
Like many of the candidates, Wang, who will graduate next year, says the prospect of a stable salary and good benefits make it more appealing than the private sector that attracts many of the most ambitious minds in the U.S. and Europe.
"I think the exam wasn't too hard. I answered all the questions," Wang told CNN after taking the three-hour exam outside the China Institute of Political Science and Law.
"The pay is not very high but it has good bonus and social security," he added.
Central government jobs are often described as a "golden rice bowl" for their stable income and generous benefits. Officialdom can also lead to membership of the Chinese Communist Party -- a status symbol in China.
But with only 19,000 jobs available, Wang's chances of a civil service career are slim. The exam attracted record numbers of applicants, with 1.52 million completing the online registration process up from 30,000 in 2001.
About 7,200 people competed for the most popular position as a researcher with the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, according to The China Daily.
The annual exam includes an aptitude test and a policy essay, and those who pass make it to an interview round.
When China's economy first opened up 30 years ago, going into private business or commerce was seen as the best way to get ahead. But the civil service first began attracting huge numbers of applicants a decade ago, said Zhang Juwei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Population and Labor Economics.
"30年前,也就是中国刚开始改革开放的时候,进入私企或经商被认为最有前途。公务员变得如此热门也只是近十年才有的事情。" 张居伟(音译)说道。他是中国社科院人口与劳动经济研究所的研究员。
"The private sector in China is not very well structured or developed like the U.S.," he said.
"Most of the people in private companies in China, unless their positions are high, they usually don't pay well or have a clear career ladder to move up."
Many of the candidates are university graduates and the increase in the numbers applying for government jobs reflects a surge in the number of university graduates entering a fiercely competitive job market. This year a record seven million graduated, up from around two million a decade ago, according to Chinese magazine Caijing.
Xu Ru and her friend Liu Jiashuang were among the class of 2013 trying their luck. While some prepare by taking crash courses offered by cram schools, Xu said she had not studied for the exam.
"Everyone is taking it today, so I just feel like I should give it a try, and if I got it, it would be simply great," she said.
"大家都这么做,所以我觉得也该试一试,如果考上就太好了。" 她说。
None of the half a dozen candidates CNN spoke to said they were concerned by the government's anti-corruption drive that has targeted both high and low-ranking officials. "I think I would not do that -- I have my own principles," said a man called Wang, who said he didn't do well in the exam this time around and would consider taking it again next year.
The exam is also seen as being relatively transparent and fair in a society where connections can often count for more than ability. Parents also think it's a suitable career in today's uncertain economy.
"I mean for a girl, being a civil servant can be ideal. I know people who worked in the private sector here, they jump from place to place, it's a lot of pressure," said Fu Wenxia, the mother of an exam taker.
"我觉得对女孩子来说,做公务员还是挺理想的。我认识一些在私企上班的人,他们工作生活常常不稳定,压力太大了。" 某个考生的妈妈付文霞(音译)说道。


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DENVER (AP) – A Colorado district court judge has blocked Secretary of State Scott Gessler's rules on mail ballots.
The judge in Denver ruled Monday that state law allows county clerks the authority to send ballots to inactive voters in mail-in-only elections.
Under the previous rules, county clerks were required to mail a series of notifications to inactive voters, who had to change their status in order to receive a mail ballot.
Gessler sued Denver County Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson in 2011 for sending mail ballots to people who had not voted in previous elections. The judge also sided with Pueblo County officials.
Gessler has been seeking a compromise that would allow voters to receive election-related notices by email and by mail.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Pese a existir innumerables noticias, investigaciones y miles de pruebas sobre los altos niveles de contaminación en la Amazonía, causados por la explotación y exploración de pozos de petróleo de empresas extranjeras, los gobiernos de Perú y Ecuador anunciaron que cederán más territorio amazónico a entidades petroleras en los siguientes meses del año: en Noviembre la empresa Petroperú abarcará miles de hectáreas en Loreto.
Even as indigenous people struggle to cope with current levels of contamination and illness caused by years of oil production in the Amazon, the governments of Peru and Ecuador are preparing to sell off even more Amazonian territory to the oil industry in coming months.
Starting in November, Peru's state-run leasing agency Petroperu plans to start auctioning licenses to 36 new oil blocks for exploration, 19 of them in the northern region of Loreto. Just across the border, Ecuador is set to lease at least 13 blocks on or near waterways that eventually flow south into Peru and join the Amazon River.
Many of the blocks overlap or abut protected areas and indigenous territories and threaten the forests and rivers that indigenous people and other river people depend on for their lives.
Indigenous groups are rallying to stop their governments' plans, and some talk of making a stand for a total moratorium on all exploration until both countries come up with a regional environmental plan.
"Oil production is an activity that definitely alters our territory, our environment, our health and our culture," said Alfonso Lopez Tejada, leader of the federation of 57 indigenous Kukama communities along the Maranon river region in Peru, where three new lots overlap Kukama communities and threaten the famous Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
"Again they impose these lots on us just as they did not consult us when they leased our territories before," Lopez said.
In Ecuador, indigenous groups are planning demonstrations and marches to protest the new round of concessions begin on November 28.
"We are defending our land. We won't allow oil activity," said Franco Viteri, president of a Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorean Amazon (Confeniae), according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.
Ecuadorian indigenous leaders say they will make an appeal to the country's Constitutional Court.


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The buildings of the ancient era were built with their main gates facing South. The imperial palace naturally followed this rule as well, but there was a large mountain to its North. The entire back of the imperial palace was part of this mountain.
But very few people knew that this the center of this mountain had also been hollowed out like Xu Tian Cave; however, it was not built as a fort. It was turned into a prison.
This prison had a depth of ten li. The mountain was made of rock, and the cells were carved into the stone. There were a total of 200 cells that were without windows. The pillars in each cell were covered in spikes, and each cell had puddles of cold water. There were sounds of despair, and it was just like hell.
This was where prisoners condemned to death were held. Depending on the severity of their crimes, the prisoners would be placed nearer to the entrance or further in. The entire prison was very complex. Not to mention escaping, even going from one cell to the next without someone guiding the way, one could get lost.
At this time, the four from Qian Zhou were locked up in here. Each one was given a small cell, and they were all side by side. However, there were iron shackles around their arms and legs. Even if they wanted to get together, they could not manage it no matter what.
The rotten smell was everywhere, spreading into the thin air. Slowly, it began to silently seep into their flesh.
Feng Kun leaned back against the stone wall and sat on the ground. The dark water drenched his shoes and socks, and the moisture entered his body. This caused his legs to hurt very slightly.
Suddenly, a wild gust of wind picked up and slammed against the thick stone wall with a rumble. This shook the entire mountain.
Qian Zhou's imperial relative, Feng De, still had a bloody wound on his arm, and the blood flowed freely from this wound, but nobody came to stop the bleeding. With a wound like this in this sort of environment, it would slowly swell, get infected, and he could imagine that it would begin to rot. Eventually, it would spread to his entire arm until he himself rotted to death.
He gritted his teeth and turned to look at his neighboring Feng Kun. Seeing this short son, the anger in his heart burned even brighter, "I told you not to come, yet you insisted that you had to come. If you came, you came, but that did not mean you had to go out and try to kill county princess Ji An. Have you gone crazy?"
"Hmph!" Feng Kun coldly snorted, "You fear death, but you did not fear coming to Da Shun. Since you came, you had to prepare yourself to fight to the death. Could it be that we would just foolishly keep waiting? You keep talking about opportunity, but after arriving in the capital for a month, I did not see you come up with any plans. Father, opportunities will not just fall from the sky for no reason. We need to go find them on our own! This time, if it was not for the ninth prince having a whip, Da Shun's Emperor would already have died!"
"Bullshit!" Feng De was so angry that he wanted to strangle this son to death, "What is the point of speaking after the fact of what could have and should have happened? Failure is failure. This time, it seems like we will all be taken care of here."
"Taken care of is taken care of." Feng Kun was not at all afraid of death. As a dwarf, he had already lived long enough. It was just a pity that he could not pull someone down with him. "Qian Zhou has been suppressed by Da Shun for many years. Each year, we must send our best things. Jia'er really likes moon palace silk, but even if the emperor dotes on her so much, he does not dare to leave any for her. It's not just this. The three northernmost provinces are the greatest shame of our Qian Zhou. Father, could it be that you do not wish to see those three provinces returned to Qian Zhou in your lifetime?"
His words caused Xing Hai Sheng and Chang Da to feel moved. The two both spoke up: "That's right. Rather than living helplessly, it would be better to just fight to the death."
"I do not believe that Qian Zhou would fail to be able to defeat Da Shun based on its current army. Didn't our divine archery squad manage to injure the ninth prince back then!"
Feng De was the eldest among the people present, and he was the wisest. Hearing the three go back and forth, he could not stop himself from shaking his head: "Madness, you've all gone mad! Right now, the four of us have been locked in this prison for the condemned. Outside, Kang Yi and Ru Jia are also unable to escape misfortune. Kun'er, oh Kun'er, you dote on Ru Jia, but in the end, you still caused her harm."
Feng Kun gritted his teeth, and a trace of tolerance finally appeared on his face. He did not have a child in this life, so he treated Ru Jia as his own daughter. Now that something had happened, Ru Jia would no longer have an easy time. "I only hope that she can escape the imperial palace." Feng Kun found something to comfort himself, "I went to visit her a few days ago. Her body has already recovered for the most part. She can already move. Jia'er is a smart child. I told her that once something happened to us, she must immediately escape. We have our four shops in the capital. She can just choose one, and that shops people will do their best to safely escort her back to Qian Zhou. Moreover…" He sneered, "If the hidden agents that we had placed here revolt, we could act together. Inside the palace, we still have the power of that prince, Xuan Tian Ye. That has been prepared the entire time. As long as Qian Zhou takes action, his subordinates will definitely get to work."
"So what if they get to work?" Feng De helplessly said: "It's not like we didn't go visit that third prince. He was injured to that degree, and he could not even get out of bed. Is it still possible for him to become emperor?"
"Why must he become the emperor?" Feng Kun sneered, "By his hand, our obstacles shall be removed. Da Shun's large central lands should be left to our Qian Zhou to take care of."
Feng De shook his head upon hearing this, as he muttered the same thing: "Madness, you've all gone mad."
While they spoke, another sound came from the mountain prison. It sounded like the gate was being opened. Immediately following this, someone was pushed and shoved in.
The four raised their heads in unison. Not long later, they saw a guard bring in another person that had shackles around their wrists and legs.
The inside of the prison was very dark with only one candle every ten steps, but the people from Qian Zhou still recognized this new prisoner as Kang Yi.
The imperial relative, Feng De, subconsciously rushed toward the door, but as he moved, the iron chain that around his arms and legs tightened. He only managed to take a couple steps before he was pulled back, causing him to drop to the ground.
Kang Yi heard movement and turned to look. Her emotions rose and fell; however, they immediately stabilized.
She had been locked into a cell next to Feng Kun, and she also had shackles around her arms and legs. After the guards locked up her cell, they left and threw out the words: "After this, only Princess Ru Jia remains."
Kang Yi's nerves trembled, and a look of sorrow finally appeared on her face.
"Zhao Jun." Feng Kun called to her.
Kang Yi turned her head, but her face was filled with disappointment. She said to Feng Kun: "You guys were too rushed and wasted all of my plans. Now, I just hope that Ru Jia is able to escape this crisis. As long as she can escape back to Qian Zhou, there is still a hope of living."
Nobody expected that the dignified Princess Ru Jia from Qian Zhou had hidden in a carriage of garbage to get out of the imperial palace. When she climbed out of the disgusting garbage, a heavy rain immediately began falling. This caused her to feel very happy.
She simply made use of the rain and cleaned herself up. While enjoying the rain, she ran away. The direction that she ran was the Feng manor.
She did not know what had happened to Kang Yi. Although she knew that this crisis would be hard to escape, she still held onto a bit of hope. She only hoped that Da Shun would give the prime minister some face to give Kang Yi a way out. As long as her mother was alive, she was not afraid of anything.
Ru Jia braved the storm and ran toward the Feng manor. Along the way, she needed to avoid guards and ended up falling more times than she could remember. When she was thirsty, she just opened her mouth and drank some of the rainwater. She then regained some strength and continue to run toward the Feng manor.
Finally, when she saw the Feng manor, she found that there was a large number of guards surrounding the Feng manor. She hid in the shadows and saw the governor, Xu Jing Yuan, enter to search the manor, and she also heard the matriarch asking the official to void the marriage, throwing Kang Yi out of the family.
She was dazed. The Feng family was actually so unremarkable. It seemed that her mother had already been arrested. Ru Jia thought, for such an important matter, she must have been taken into the palace, right?
Suddenly, she felt a little bit of regret. If she did not run, perhaps she would have been with her mother now? Although she was savvy, she had never done anything important on her own, but at this moment, she suddenly felt as though she was the only one in the world. She had nobody to rely on, and everyone was an enemy. Everyone was waiting for her to die. She had to duck and hide to protect her life.
But how long would she need to hide?
She took one last look at the Feng manor then gritted her teeth and left from behind the tree.
The clothes on her body had already become tattered beyond recognition. The clothes worn during Summer were already very thin. Now, it was basically just a piece of cloth covering her body. Fortunately, there was this heavy rain. Aside from the soldiers searching for Qian Zhou's people, even the hoodlums went to find places to wait out the rain. How could there be anyone that bothered looking at her?
Ru Jia forced herself to calm down. She then thought back to the times when Feng Kun had visited her and recalled the address that she had been given. That place was in Da Shun's capital. On the surface, it looked like a pastry shop, but it was actually a gathering point for people that had been secretly inserted into Da Shun by Qian Zhou. Feng Kun said that place had already mingled in the capital for many years, and nothing had ever happened. Whenever her life was in danger, she should go there. The people there would naturally recognize her as the princess.
Ru Jia gritted her teeth and estimated the direction then began running toward that shop.
Just as Ru Jia was running like a wild woman, the members of the Feng family finally saw Feng Jin Yuan return.
The people in the manor seemed to have found their pillar of support when they saw him. Jin Zhen was unable to hold back and immediately dove into him and began crying. While crying, she said: "Husband, this servant was scared to death."
Feng Jin Yuan was quite upset and was not in the mind to comfort her. Pushing her to the side, he quickly walked forward and arrived in front of the matriarch, saying: "Mother."
The matriarch nodded and did not say anything else. She just pointed at the Cheng shi sisters and said: "From this day forward, Jun Man will be my Feng family's head wife, and your official wife. Jun Mei will be your auxiliary official wife. Her standing will be equal to Jun Man. Jin Yuan, do you have any objections to my arrangements?"
What objections could Feng Jin Yuan have? This was something that he had already thought about for an entire evening, so he immediately nodded: "Mother is wise. This is as son desired." Just like four years prior, this mother and son once again promoted someone to the position of head wife, expressing their stance to the imperial family and to the entirety of Da Shun.
As for Ru Jia, she finally arrived in front of the shop with her last effort. She remembered that Feng Kun had said that if something had happened to the shop, the people inside would remove the red cloth sign that was always hanging outside. She looked to the side and saw that the red cloth was still there, allowing her to finally let out a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to bang on the door, with her hand raised, the door of the shop was suddenly pulled open from the inside before her fist could land on the door. Ru Jia absolutely never thought that she would actually see Feng Yu Heng's pretty face.