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A season in harmony
While some people spend this time of the year fighting the war on Christmas and arguing about manger scenes, holiday trees and whether to say seasons greetings or Merry Christmas, Father Frank Salmani, pastor of St. William Church in Warwick, has taken a different approach.
For more than 10 years, dating back to his days as pastor of St. Mary Church in Providence, the Advent season in the parish has begun with a concert of Advent and Christmas sacred music. On Saturday, Dec. 1, more than 80 people attended an evening of music performed by the Rhode Island College Chamber Singers, under the direction of Teresa Coffman (professor of music at RIC), and the parish choir and Pro Cantare, under the direction of Reuel Gifford, the parish music director.
"There are so many things distracting us from the real purpose of this time of year," said Salmani. "That it is important to start the season off reminding ourselves what Advent and Christmas are all about ... that there is more to this time of year than shopping, getting gifts, making money and getting all stressed out."
This annual tradition began when Salmani was pastor at St. Mary Church in Providence and has continued every year since. The performance at the parish is usually the last performance of the season by the Chamber Singers before exams begin. Father Salmani is told every year by Teresa Coffman that "the young singers really enjoy coming to the parish and that it is often the high point of their performance schedule."
The audience was comprised of people who attended the concert in previous years, as well as those attending for the very first time. All agreed on one thing; it was a wonderful evening and a great way to start preparations for the Christmas season. The hour-long concert included Advent and Christmas music as well as an audience sing-a-long.


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The Navy caught San Diego's major shipyards off guard Friday, announcing that it is delaying at least $219 million in repair and modernization work on 10 warships that are homeported in San Diego Bay or scheduled to visit over the next year. The decision could have a significant affect on local shipyards, which collectively employ about 10,000 people. The decision involves some of the Navy's biggest and oldest ships, including the 32-year-old amphibious assault ship Peleliu, which played a role in Operation Iraqi Freedom. And less money could be available later this year to service the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, and for the decommissioning of old ships.
James Gill, a spokesman for General Dynamics-NASSCO, learned about the Navy's decision Friday night and did not have an immediate comment. Repairing and modernizing Navy ships represents a crucial area for NASSCO, which employs about 3,200 people in San Diego.
BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repairs is even more dependent on such work. The yard employees about 1,300 people and said recently that it was looking forward to five to 10 years of steady work because of anticipated contracts to repair and modernize destroyers.
John Measell, a spokesman for BAE, said Friday night, "These cuts will certainly impact our operations in San Diego but we're still analyzing the details of the report."
Eric Wertheim, a defense analyst at the US Naval Institute, said, "We won't really know what this means until the Navy says specifically which repairs or types of modernization might be delayed. It could be that they have five things planned for one ship and they only go ahead and do two.
"It's like doing maintenance on your car. Sometimes, you just don't have the money to do the things you want to do. But we do know that delaying maintenance on ships, over the long term, affects their performance. And you want to get the most out of these vessels."
Wertheim added that, "It was smart that the Navy announced the delays. This is like a shot across the bow. They're telling people that if the money isn't there, it will have consequences.
"One question that will have to be answered is whether the ships that have already been modernized will be pressed into service more often, and whether this is going to mean that some ships don't go to places like the South China Sea or the Persian Gulf of Korea."
The Navy announced maintenance delays on the destroyers Benfold, Higgins, Gridley, Sampson and Russell, the amphibious warships Green Bay and Rushmore, and the mine-countermine ships Devastator and Pioneer.
The amphibious warships Comstock and New Orleans, cruiser Bunker Hill and destroyers Milius and John Paul Jones are currently undergoing repairs at BAE, and the littoral combat ship Independence is being repaired and upgraded at NASSCO.

subset: commoncrawl


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Following an impassioned exchange from residents and a minority report presentation from the CB5 Land Use Committee, the board voted in favor of the required variance proposal.
With hopes that the vote would provide developers the approval to move ahead with their 138-unit, $18 million plans, Starr Street resident Dan Russo said the new commercial and residential mixed-use space would ultimately change the community for the better.
"If this doesn't go through, that means it's going to go back to the trucks with the exhaust, and the condoms in the mornings from the prostitution," Russo said. "I really just wish it would go through, just for the neighborhood, for the kids."
CB5 Land Use Committee chair Walter Sanchez said there was "overwhelming support" from the neighbors for the project at their last committee meeting, and suggested the board move to do the same.
With the proposed community space and commercial components, Sanchez added that the committee nearly voted unanimously in favor of the proposal.
Land-use committee members Paul Kerzner and Theodore Renz, also members of the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation, were the sole votes against the rezoning that would eliminate manufacturing space for rental apartments, and presented an alternative plan that would incorporate the two.
In an effort to keep manufacturing on site, Kerzner and Renz proposed a Special Mixed Use District (MX) designation, a plan that would require the developers to sell their apartment spaces and keep two floors for a manufacturer who they said has already agreed to move a portion of their business to the site.
"We all have to agree that nobody likes what's happening there now," Kerzner said. "By doing so we will be bringing back to this location 250 jobs, where right now that spot is maybe providing two jobs."
Councilman Antonio Reynoso said the average median annual income in his district of Ridgewood is nearly $41,000 (50 percent of the average median income (AMI), and that the average rent for a two-bedroom should be no more than $1,025 per month.
However, studio apartments are currently listed from $1,000 to $1,200 per month, one-bedrooms at $1,400 to $1,800 and two-bedroom apartments at $2,000 per month.
"For the families that are in need of housing, the AMI is not necessarily met by this project," Reynoso said. "So even though we might not need extremely affordable housing, we can talk about moderate and middle-income housing, or other AMI's that might be appropriate."
The newly elected councilman added that while work in the past has been mainly focused on creating an affordable living environment, he alluded to finding new ways of doing business when it comes to seeking housing agreements.
"This is going to be the first rezoning that happens under my watch - and not this project necessarily, but developments in the City of New York - we have been extremely narrow-minded and limited as to how we should be doing these projects so that we can maximize the benefit for the community," Reynoso said. "That means many things, and not just affordable housing."


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10 Women Designers to Watch in 2011
The New York Times may have dubbed 2010 the year when furniture took a manly turn, but we noticed a lot of women coming out with great work — some new to us and some long-time designers who've made big breakthroughs. Here's hoping that the pendulum swinging into 2011 will push these 10 women further to the forefront of design.
- Jeanine Hays of AphroChic
Apartment Therapy's been a fan of Jeanine Hays' "modern soulful style" blog for a long time, but this year she moved beyond tastemaking into actual making. Her new line of pillows, wallpaper, table linens, and organic shower curtains — the Brooklyn Renaissance Collection — launched in fall 2010 and has been sweeping design blogs and mags.
- Donna Wilson
This British textile designer's been steadily gaining a following over the last few years, but 2010 gave her a big push onto the international stage. A British "Designer of the Year" Award, a show at Brooklyn's cutting-edge store the Future Perfect, and a big profile in the Guardian are all signs that this strong talent will continue to garner much-deserved recognition in the coming year.
- Camilla Meijer
A Swedish designer living in London, Camilla Meijer's super-saturated wallpaper won "Best British Pattern" at the 2010 British Design Awards, while write-ups in Elle Decor and on Apartment Therapy raised her profile.
- Esther Horchner
We spotted this illustrator/designer's Naked Girls Teapot ($56) at the Future Perfect, which led us to her site and Flickr page, where you can see these smart, funny pieces in action. Although there's very little out there now, apart from a couple of items at SCP and TFP, we predict more interesting, offbeat work from Horchner.
- Katja Behre of Elli Popp
In 2010, British wallpaper designer Katja Behre found US distribution for her brand, Elli Popp. She appeared at ICFF in New York and 100 Percent Design in London, while her work made its way through the blogosphere. Already available through Hygge and West and the Future Perfect, her Psychedelic-Victorian style is unique, memorable, and we predict we'll see it in more stores this year.
- Wieki Somers
Her Grasshopper Chair and Table caused a stir when Maxwell blogged them as a Daily Find, while Sarah Rainwater caught her boat-shaped bathtub at the Victoria & Albert Museum. With other pieces in the collections of MoMA and the Pompidou, this Dutch designer is an established talent, but her work keeps getting better, and we expect to see more of her in 2011.
- Lindsay Alker
She started out in the fashion industry and now creates hand-silkcreened and linoblocked prints on Irish linen. Janel Laban included her 2010 collection in the best wallpaper from ICFF, and Remodelista recently spotted her line of pillows at the John Derian store in New York City.
- Kristin Wentrcek of Wintercheck
Apartment Therapy wrote up Brooklyn-based furniture and lifestyle shop Wintercheck Factory last spring. Since then, designer Kristin Wentrcek has refined her line of functional, flexible pieces. She's partnered with Against the Grain, a woman-owned millwork shop in Pomona, California, and she's been able to scale prototypes into larger production runs while lowering prices on her furniture.
- Emily Henderson
The winner of HGTV's 2010 Design Star now has her own show — Secrets From A Stylist. When Emily's home appeared on Apartment Therapy, her refreshing vintage/modern style (which she describes as "weird, eclectic and modern, but loose and casual") earned big pageviews.
- Margriet Foolen
A Dutch designer who's worked for Royal VKB and Droog, Margriet Foolen created a contemporary Slow Cooker from two interlocking bowls. Combining forms from Moroccan tagines, Dutch ovens, and contemporary sculpture, the Slow Cooker won the prestigious Red Dot Award and Wallpaper's 2010 Design Award. At just 28 years old, Foolen's already amassed an impressive collection of smartly designed dinnerware, gifts, and furniture.
• 10 Talented Women Architects
• 10 For the Bookshelf: Women in Design


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MADISON - Bryan Angel contends he was wrongfully discharged from his coal mining job because of his disability status.
Charleston attorneys David Grubb and Kristina Thomas Whiteaker filed Angel's suit Feb. 1 in Boone County Circuit Court seeking jury trial. The defendant is Frasure Creek Mining, LLC, d/b/a Trinity Coal Corp.
Angel represents that an X-ray and pulmonary function test on Sept. 13, showed a lymph node abnormality "compatible with borderline occupational pneumoconiosis," although further testing would be necessary to rule out sarcoidosis or nonspecific interstitial disease.
Angel began employment with Frasure Creek about Sept. 14 and worked three days, according to complaint.
On Sept. 17, the complaint says, Angel's superintendent told him he needed to have a CT scan follow up on "something" found in his pre-employment lab work. Also, he would need a release from his doctor to return to work. A scan was done that same day and a work release given, Angel relates.
A pulmonary specialist examined him Sept. 20, the complaint continues, and advised that a medastinoscopy would be beneficial to obtain a tissue sample. A follow-up appointment was scheduled and the doctor provided a return to work slip. Angels says he returned to his surface maintenance crew work Sept. 21-23.
He received a phone call while driving to work the next day, Angel says, from a company human resources representative, Ty Coleman, informing him the work release turned in was "not good enough" and he needed a different kind of document.
According to the complaint, Coleman was quoted as saying "that's not a risk we're taking" in reference to Angel's medical test results.
Following additional procedures, Plaintiff's doctor diagnosed him with mild sarcoidosis, prescribed oral steroids and "provided a letter indicating that Plaintiff was medically cleared for work as a coal miner, without limitations," Angel says.
After he worked about an hour-and-a-half on Oct. 5, the complaint continues, Coleman told him to leave the premises because he "never worked here."
After explaining he had received two paychecks, Angel was still ordered to leave, it is alleged.
Angel contends that at no time did he have any symptoms related to his lung condition and his pre-employment pulmonary function test was normal.
He accuses Frasure Creek Mining of disability discrimination under the West Virginia Human Rights Act, among other things, and seeks jury awards of compensatory and punitive damages, litigation costs, pre- and post-judgment interest, plus further appropriate relief.
He also asks for a permanent injunction ordering Defendant "to establish an ongoing training program for their employees on the subject of unlawful employment discrimination."
The case has been assigned to Judge William S. Thompson.
Boone Circuit Court case number: 13-C-23


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Killer Klowns from Outer Space (UK - DVD R2)
Reviewer Marcus Doidge cracks out the candy floss for Killer Klowns on DVD...
We all want to see good movies, right? We want to avoid the bad movies, right? Well what about that other rare breed of movie? That breed that transcends bad to such a degree, that it's actually good? The good bad movie if you will. I'm a solid believer that once in a while you need a good bad movie in your viewing schedule and thanks to Optimum releasing Killer Klowns from Outer Space, I got to re-visit one of the greatest good bad movies of my youth to see if it's as good a bad movie as I remembered.
On an ordinary night in a small American town called Crescent Cove, some of the residents are startled by a streak of yellow light landing in the nearby woods. Deciding to postpone their make-out session, two of the town's teenagers, Mike Tobacco (Grant Cramer) and Debbie Stone (Suzanne Snyder), decide to investigate.
Rather than the expected meteor, the couple discover a massive glowing circus tent. They decide to investigate further, because frankly who doesn't love the circus, and they soon discover that this isn't the fun and laughter they'd expected but an alien spacecraft full of Killer Klowns—with the all important K rather than a C and Killer because their ship is full of bodies wrapped in candy floss cocoons. After escaping the circus tent ship with only a slight peppering from one of the Klown's popcorn guns, Mike and Debbie make their way to the local police station to get some help.
Their warning is met with laughter by Sgt. Mooney (John Vernon), who is sick of the pranks the young people of the town keep pulling and the only officer who decides to check it out is Dave Hanson (John Allen Nelson), who only helps because he used to date Debbie. Well, as you can imagine, police guy Dave initially doesn't find anything to back up the story, but when he does, he soon discovers to his horror that the town has indeed been invaded by Killer Klowns from Outer Space and their seemingly innocent party tricks will soon have the town wrapped up in candy floss.
I mean, come on, does it get any more kooky than that? What other horror movies have scenes like this:
Or this:
It's not even played for scares for the most part, what with the inclusion of party ribbon, confetti and giggles. Slightly odd prosthetic aliens invading a small town is the thing of B movie legend, but these are clowns, sorry, Klowns. These goofy lovable weird looking things just sort of wander around until they happen upon someone and then do a trick to entertain their victim (puppet show, magic trick or the classic shadow trick) and then they pull out their goofy ray guns and candy floss them, or alternatively put their victim in a giant balloon—if you're the main chick in the movie and you might need someone to save you later.
But what of the human cast? Well they just make it an even better good bad movie. The two teenagers, who I'm guessing aren't actually teenagers, are fantastic eighties clichés. Debbie screaming at all the wrong moments and acting naïve to the power of ten. Her boyfriend Mike is pretty much the nerdiest horror jock ever. Using terms like 'neat' to describe a circus tent does very little to help his shocking dialogue delivery and his woollen jumper really doesn't earn him much credit either. The third in this love triangle of lead characters is Officer Dave Hanson, the blonde haired pretty boy policeman. This actor really thinks there might be an Oscar nod with this performance. He's throwing around dialogue like he's in A Few Good Men for the most part and not meaning to ruin the ending for you but when he doesn't die the raw emotion he tries to show off in his hugs with both Debbie and Mike, are good bad movie magic.
Alongside all of this and in a supporting role, is the always great John Vernon as Officer Mooney. Seriously, this role is classic. Mooney is the ultimate pissed-off cop. He hates pretty much everything and his lines are all pure B movie gold. In fact he gets the killer opening line of the movie, in which he sees an innocent kid walking past his police car and calls him a 'son of a bitch' for absolutely no reason. It's just grumpy brilliance and what's more, he gets the best death in the movie as well. He's too good to be taken out with a candy floss ray, he gets his mouth sliced and a Klown's hand inserted into his back and then he gets used as a ventriloquist's dummy to freak the other cop out. Seriously, if you're gonna go out in a good bad movie, this is the way to do it!
Whatever way you cut it, Killer Klowns is a mental premise with an even more mental execution. The sheer fact that you go through the movie just accepting this is happening and then they throw the bugnut crazy theory that clowns on earth may have copied the style of these outer space Klowns for thousands of years, is a credit to the filmmakers, even if it's just having respect for their sheer balls to actually commit this to film.
I don't know what I was expecting with this one, mainly due to the fact that the last time I watched Killer Klowns From Outer Space, I was twelve, but all in all I guess it's what you'd imagine a low budget goofy horror from 1988 would look like. The image is soft and the colours are muted. There are no obvious marks or dirt, which is a good thing, and the grain level isn't too bad. All things considered but the detail is pretty bad with anything in the backgrounds just looking hazy as well as the handful of special effects shots looking almost exactly as I remember them on video.
Surprise, surprise, the audio isn't up to much either. Dolby Digital 2.0 is probably about as much as Killer Klowns needs in all honesty, but it just feels hollow. The dialogue is clear for the most part but any sort of increase in volume can get pretty irritating as it has that electronic buzz to it in places. Saying that, the score is still a great one and The Dickies performing the film's theme, 'Killer Klowns', as well as the freaky twists on carnival music throughout the film, sort of made me let the audio off a little as it's so much fun and sounded exactly as I remember it as a kid.
Once again, a R2 release doesn't get the same treatment as the R1 release, and this is an extreme case. The R1 got commentaries and featurettes amongst other things (see Chris's R1 review for more details). What we get with this release is the trailer (1:49) and… well, there is no and. We just get the trailer. Gutted.
I remember watching Killer Klowns a lot in a small space of time when I was a little un' and watching it again so many years later was great fun. It's more bizarre than I remember and of course watching it with a critical eye, I have to say that it hasn't exactly aged well (not that it was a masterpiece back then).
Yet despite all that, I was grinning like a school kid watching those Klowns do all the stupid stuff I remembered from my youth. I still laughed when the little Klown knocks that biker guy's block off and I still found the Klowns iconically cool, despite their absurdity.
This edition is a total waste of time considering what else is on offer, but if you're meeting up with friends one night and you can't quite decide what movie to pick up for a rental and you know you want to have a bit of a laugh, I can't recommend Killer Klowns From Outer Space highly enough. It's kooky as all hell, it's as crazy and as out there as they come and frankly it's a classic good bad movie that you need to experience.
Oh, and once there are enough us of on board, I say we get a remake petition going. Who's with me? Anyone?... Anyone?
Review by Marcus Doidge
Bouncy X Member Join Date: March 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,931
i still remember the shadow puppet scene vividly, totally not what i expected to happen. lol
Andy3105 Member Join Date: April 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 175
I only ever saw the trailer and the one thing that sticks in my mind is that shadow puppet scene !!!
leigh1975 Contributor Join Date: October 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 318
Sorry Marcus, my intense phobia of clowns prevents me from reading any part of your review for fear of coming across a screenshot of one of those horrific abominations. So, congratulations on a review that I'm quite sure is very good.
Marcus1138 Contributor Join Date: June 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 910
Stampers Member Join Date: September 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 12
Fantastic review Marcus - I NEED to see this film. You know I'm a massive fan of Mystery Science Theater and this film just looks like its crying out for a 'riffing' (though it looks hilarious enough without one!)
Yoda3539 Member Join Date: February 2006 Location: United States Posts: 225
This is a classic!
rebel-scum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,101
John Vernon's in this? Hell, that at least merits a rental!
Chris Johnson Member Join Date: October 2005 Location: United States Posts: 1,465
And he is great in it.
Worst Nightmare Senior Member Join Date: July 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 6,716
Classic, classic film! A must for all!
Chris Gould Editor Join Date: May 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,171
Stampers wrote: Fantastic review Marcus - I NEED to see this film. You know I'm a massive fan of Mystery Science Theater and this film just looks like its crying out for a 'riffing' (though it looks hilarious enough without one!)
Get the region one release. it has loads more extras.
Get the region one release. it has loads more extras.
Fabricio De Zuasnabar Member Join Date: July 2005 Location: United States Posts: 1,350
i have not seen this at all...
i may have to check it out, but im not into clowns... lol
although im trying to find a movie about a clown... if u guys know which movie im talking about, please let me know...
it's about a clown, that kills women on the phone... i saw it like 10 years ago, and since then i never saw it again... and i could never find it... =(
i may have to check it out, but im not into clowns... lol
although im trying to find a movie about a clown... if u guys know which movie im talking about, please let me know...
it's about a clown, that kills women on the phone... i saw it like 10 years ago, and since then i never saw it again... and i could never find it... =(
Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date: 22nd September 2008
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Single side, dual layer
RCE: No
Video: PAL
Aspect: 1.85:1
Anamorphic: Yes
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround English
Subtitles: None
Extras: Trailer
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Stephen Chiodo
Cast: Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, John Vernon
Genre: Horror and Sci-Fi
Length: 82 minutes
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Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 3 Collection (US - DVD R1)
Gabe swears that this time, for really reals, is his final Avatar DVD review...
Ok, so this is really and truly my last look at Avatar: The Last Airbender for DVDActive. I've decided to forgo my previous rout of synapsing and reviewing each individual episode. I don't know why I started doing that. I suppose I just felt I'd said everything there was to say on the show as a whole in my first season two review, but the practice is exhausting, for me to write and for poor Chris to edit. This review section is going to be a scorecard for the entire series run.
Avatar is obviously based on the basics of Japanese animation. This includes the character designs with their giant eyes, the camera placement, and various uses of 'face fault' and 'super deformed' animation to express comedy. Some older viewers are turned off by the physical humour, and dependency on techniques like sweat drops, sleep bubbles, blushes, overhead ellipsis, shrunken pupils, and any other number of Manga based emotive techniques, but I'd argue that when the emotion counts the creators default to a more realistic look.
Avatar tends to use its budget to the nth degree, and the directors know when to save a few bucks using still frame pans and the like. Usually problem shots are delegated to an area of an episode that can stand them, but occasionally the non-theatrical budget shows its stitches. It's an unfortunate fact that without limited supplies of cash an animated series will always feature less then perfect moments, fortunately, in the case of Avatar these shortcomings are usually smoothed over by grand storytelling.
One of the grandest and most understated achievements of the series is the creator's insistence on developing personal relationships with the Korean animators, who are normally treated like factory machinery. According to the commentary tracks this simple human contact brought out so much pride in the animators that they ended up working after hours, and on their personal time.
The theatricality and scale of the series really grew over time to the striking degree of the final season, but from the beginning the creators were sure to infuse as much live action influence into the animation as possible. Among the cracks of visual homage to Miyazaki and Otomo, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko pack shots from the best John Woo, Akira Kurosawa, and Steven Spielberg films. The scope and scale is breathtaking for American based television animation, only occasionally coming second to the near perfection of Bruce Timm's Justice League. And to that token the final season of the show utilized the talents of one of Justice Leagues strongest action directors, Joaquim dos Santos.
Though the show's design, acting, and animation are all important to its success, it's the writing that remains paramount. The overall arc of the story is very traditional, almost cliché in its plotting. Like all classic and modern versions of 'The Hero's Journey', the audience knows how the story is going to end, and the challenge in dealing with classic storytelling is in keeping the audience interested. Quite often Avatar sets up a long standing trope, then inverses it at the last minute. In almost every case the trope ends up finding its way back into the mix, and the cliché is appeased, but the trickery ensures bated breath, and a return for the next episode.
The characters are archetypes more or less across the board, but I don't see this as a screenwriting short cut, I see it as a framing device. The top list cast fulfills every inch of 'The Hero's Journey' trope, but as in the plot points and devices the tropes are presented as a means to an end in a creative storytelling manner. Given the epic serialization of this particular tale, it's only after the audience is comfortable with the stereotypes are the writers free to riff on the material, and in turn, their characters.
For example, the character Sokka is presented initially as a straight man to Aang's clown. Sokka is goal oriented, protective, the premature adult, and the cynic. He's forced on his journey against his better judgment (he's Han Solo). However, around the middle of the first season, when Aang and Katara begin taking more responsibility, he becomes the clown, a mantel which he rides well into the third season. At the same time he doesn't fully lose the mantel of straight man, and he definitely doesn't stop being a protective, goal oriented premature adult.
When one looks at every episode from front to back a pattern emerges. Almost every single act break and final shot ends on a cliff hanger. It would seem very easy to invoke a tired reaction from an audience with this predictable structure, but when done right such a pattern can prove irresistible. Just look at the ever lasting popularity of daytime soap operas. The question isn't the effectiveness of the stories' addictive nature, it's in the integrity of the titillation. I think the writers and creators have a great story to tell, and I think they utilize serial clichés to tell it in a palatable manner, but the argument could be made against the practice.
Another relatively innovative feature of the series is the employment of children as actors. For a while now most child characters in television animation have been voiced by women, because their voices aren't likely to change with age, and they're usually easier to work with. Since the premier of Avatar I've noticed a lot more new animated series using child actors, likely because these kids were so good. One can really appreciate how talented the child actors are when watching interviews or listening to commentary tracks, namely because they obviously aren't their characters in real life.
The quality and notoriety of the adult actors was pretty paramount from the beginning, including Mark Hamill, Jason Isaacs, Clancy Brown, and Dante Brasco (who plays a kid, but is an adult), and later Wayne Duval, Robert Patrick, and Joe Polito. The cast never quite got as star packed as Batman or Justice League, but the quality was never in question. The show's final secret weapon is casting and voice director Andrea Romano. Romano may be the single most underappreciated person in modern television, responsible for much of the casting and voice direction of the highest caliber animation of my lifetime. Her credits include Batman the Animated Series (and every subsequent DC Animation series and spin off), Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, The Boondocks, and Ben 10. Romano deserves as much credit as the writers and actors for the density and realism of these characters.
Unlike Justice League and The Boondocks, Avatar hasn't been animated with the widescreen in mind, and doesn't really work when re-framed. The scope and scale of the final four episodes really lends itself to a bigger canvas, but that isn't going to happen without losing a lot of real estate. Some of the final battle footage in the final episodes is so gigantic in scale that the animation's detail is lost even on a big screen, but there just isn't anything we can do about it right now. The final season looked about as good as standard definition television animation can be expected to look, but there were some errors peppered throughout the first two seasons. If this M. Night Shyamalan movie series really does happen I think we can expect a re-release, and possibly this time in high definition, but the 1.33 framing will still be an unavoidable issue.
Feel free to check out my half dozen other Avatar reviews for more specific details on the DVDs' video quality ups and down.
I neglected to really compliment the live orchestral scoring that accompanied the final four episodes of the series in my last disc review, and I'd like to rectify that now. Jeremy Zuckerman's series music has always been large, original, and theatrical, but the budget constraints really began to show in the last season as cues were regularly recycled. The turn the music took in the final episodes was actually a huge surprise. Most would assume that given the time and money, and given the increased scale of the episodes one might assume Zuckerman would go bigger, but the final score is filled with creepy dissonance, scathing strings, and deeply melancholy new themes.
The most poignant moment of entire series came in the end as royal siblings Zuko and Azula face off in an epic fire fight. Even as a staunch, almost blindly positive supporter of the series, I was shocked at the treatment of the scene, which juxtaposes the beautiful slow motion violence with one of the saddest pieces of string music I've ever heard. Avatar is an emotional series, and I've found myself a little choked up a few times (shut up), but this particular collage of image and sound speaks without words more incredibly than most major filmmakers can imagine. The scene could practically be used as a visual definition of the pure film theory of movie making.
Again, if you want to know more about the audio quality of these DVDs check out my older reviews. There should be links at the end of the review.
Discs one through four are identical to the original single disc release, including all those commentary tracks. The fifth disc is where the producers earn a proper finger waving. The single disc release featured commentary tracks on the first three episodes, but not the final four episodes, which are frankly the four fans would want to hear about (I complained a little in my review). This new release is exactly the same except for full commentary on the final four episodes with creators DiMartino and Konietzko. The track is in keeping with every other Avatar creator commentary, especially the ones featuring only the creators—it's good natured and informative, but a little lethargic.
In my review of the final disc I said this about the Lion Turtle sequence, where Aang learns how to take away the Fire Lord's power without killing him:
'This section has drawn the most critical ire, and with good reason. It's a total Deus Ex Machina moment, but it's such a Deus Ex Machina moment that I'm suspecting it was the point. The Lion Turtle is basically a god, and it is by his hand (literally) that Aang learns to energy bend. So much of Avatar is about dealing with tropes, clichés and myth that such a direct use of a classical mythic trope simply has to be pointed. If I'm wrong, and I'm simply defending a big mistake on the part of the writers, I apologize to every single detractor.'
Well, I owe at least a partial apology because DiMartino and Konietzko never really address the Deus Ex Machina, or the fact that the plot point does weaken the finale. What they do establish is that like everything in the series, the sequence is based on classic, nearly ancient literature, and classic stories and myth often use the Deus Ex Machina device. The 'weak' plot point is sort of explained away, but the issue is never directly addressed, so I have to use my imagination, which is often a sign of fanboy blind eyeing.
The exclusive bonus disc is comparable to the minor discs that accompanied the other two season collections, containing a small amount of still intriguing extras. Things begin with 'The Women of Avatar', a nearly twenty minute, sort of fluffy featurette concerning the three main female characters from the series, featuring episode footage, cast and crew interviews, and words with a few fans. Next crudely drawn caricatures of DiMartino and Konietzko introduce us to eleven minutes of pencil test animation (which are the basis for the final animation, minus in-betweens, ink, and final colour) from the final episode. The extras come to a close with footage from the 2007 Comic Con panel concerning the final season. This kind of rabid screaming fandom kind of freaks me out, so despite some interesting factoids, some fun live action reference footage (Konietzko is a pretty gifted physical comedian), and possibly one of the best trailers I've ever seen, I found these thirty seven minutes pretty uncomfortable.
Congrats to all the talented people that brought Avatar: The Last Airbender to life for the last three years. I could watch hundreds more episodes if the quality remained this consistent, but I appreciate the story coming to an end at its highest point, and would hate to have seen the whole thing devolve into the mediocrity of so many long running shows. Fans who already own all four single discs from the third season should only update with this new release if they're really excited about the commentaries, and possibly for the Comic-Con footage.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Movie Dude Member Join Date: November 2006 Location: United States Posts: 373
If this is your last Avatar review, what are going to do once M. Night Shamaylan's live-action take on the series comes out on DVD after its theatrical run?
Gabe Powers Editor Join Date: September 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,721
Lincoln6Echo Member Join Date: August 2004 Location: United States Posts: 1,125
I discovered that if your DVD player has a standard or auto 16x9 setting, set it on standard 16x9 and it will stretch 4:3 programs to 16:9, and in most animated series cases, you really can't detect any so-called stretching. I use it for the 4:3 2003 TMNT series, and it looks just fine artifically stretched.
llama Member Join Date: February 2008 Location: United States Posts: 503
A. Well, Gabe, I would like to first say "thank you," for turning me onto the show. Also, "damn you," for bringing about a horrible addiction. The show, I mean. I like the show. This was just an overblown way of saying I like the show. Yes.
B. Y'know one really nice way to watch Avatar on a widescreen TV? Set the zoom to "Zoom." It'll have an unstretched image, with only a tiny bit of the top and bottom cut of, so that it looks like widescreen. This is probably also good for if there's a DVD with non-anamorphic widescreen. Which there shouldn't be.
B. Y'know one really nice way to watch Avatar on a widescreen TV? Set the zoom to "Zoom." It'll have an unstretched image, with only a tiny bit of the top and bottom cut of, so that it looks like widescreen. This is probably also good for if there's a DVD with non-anamorphic widescreen. Which there shouldn't be.
picaresk Member Join Date: January 2010 Location: Turkey Posts: 1
i miss Avatar so much and was looking for something on the internet that would express my great appreciation of this incredible show. reading your reviews, i feel satisfied now. thanks Gabriel. and special thnx for mentioning the score. i hope down to earth and quality shows like Avatar will be the next trend in today's children's tv world of mania and lunacy.
Not Applicable
Disc Details
Release Date: 16th September 2008
Discs: 5
Disc Type: Single side, dual layer
RCE: No
Video: NTSC
Aspect: 1.33:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Surrond 2.0 English, Dolby Surround 2.0 French, Dolby Surround 2.0 Spanish
Subtitles: None
Extras: Cast and Crew Commentaries, The Women of Avatar, Comic Con Footage, Pencil Tests
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Various
Cast: Zach Tyler, Jack De Sena, Mae Whitman
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation and Comedy
Length: 519 minutes
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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
The North Tonawanda History Museum, 54 Webster St., will present, a return engagement by Milton C. Sernett, professor emeritus of African-American studies and history at Syracuse University, with a program on "Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory, and History" at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6.
This illustrated lecture will introduce the latest research on her life and the history of how the poor, illiterate woman became a "larger than life" symbol of the Underground Railroad.
The program and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 716-213-0554.


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Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart: Lunch Date!
Taylor Lautner arrives at LAX airport in Los Angeles on Friday (August 6) after flying via an Air Canada flight from Vancouver.
Other pictures include costar Robert Pattinson grabbing lunch with friends and on-screen love interest Kristen Stewart at a West Hollywood restaurant on Friday (August 7).
Pictured below: Taylor grabbing dinner with costars Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, and Elizabeth Reaser in downtown Vancouver on Thursday (August 6).
20+ pictures inside of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's lunch date…


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The Sky's the Limit
The Sky's the Limit : Elise Andréa
West Gallery
This exhibition will transform the Gallery's Middle Room into a wonderland of small, affordable, fine artworks for holiday giving and receiving. Entitled "GEMS," this exhibit of small and smaller works of fine art is designed to illustrate the beauty and potential of an image that does not exceed 8" x 10." Bryan Gallery members are encouraged to have fun with the concept.
Middle Room
Heartbeet is a vibrant life-sharing community in Hardwick and Craftsbury that includes adults with developmental disabilities living in a supportive environment. Our middle gallery is filled with quilted felts created by members of this community
East Gallery
Legacy 2018 is full of new works by the best selling artists of 2017! New artists in Legacy 2018 include Dianne Panarelli Miller, Ken Dewaard, Irina Rybakova, Dennis Sheehan, Tom Adkins, and SSam Vokey. They join returning favorites, Eric Tobin, Andrew Orr, TM Nicholas, Julie Y Baker Albright, Jeanette Fournier, Bob Aiken, Susan Bull Riley, Tom Nicholas, Mark Tougias, Fiona Cooper Fenwick, Chris Magadini, Mary Martin, Jayne Shoup, and John Clarke Olson.


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Celebrate May Day: 10 DIY May Baskets
May 1 is quickly approaching. Years ago this day would have been filled with May Day celebrations, including the making of May baskets. The flower and treat-filled baskets were secretly placed on neighbors' door handles for a May Day surprise. This is one tradition I'd love to see back in rotation!
Check out these tutorials for inspiration to make your own May baskets this year and consider surprising that neighbor you really like (or really like, if you know what I mean) or your lovely friends and family.
Top Row:
1. I love the idea of a simple mason jar filled with flowers and attached to a door handle with a wire hanger. So simple yet so lovely!
2. Use a basket you may have on hand, or a secondhand basket, and fill it with fresh cut gerber daisies, like this colorful basket.
3. Re-use tin cans filled with delicate spring flowers for a simple and elegant presentation.
4. This rustic May basket is made from recycled tin cans, twigs, and ribbon.
5. This basket incorporates traditional paper stars for an elegant presentation.
Bottom Row:
6. This May basket is another example of using recycled tin cans along with brown paper and twine for a pretty and eco-friendly presentation.
7. I like this DIY May basket idea, made up of craft paper and candy for a new spin on a classic concept.
8. Camille Style's May basket is a modern interpretation using a mason jar wrapped in colorful thread and some homemade jam for an extra special gift.
9. Make a May basket using a paper cone filled with fresh flowers and a handmade tag.
10. This is a cool May basket idea for kids to make, using a recycled tin can, craft paper, and treats galore.
(Images: 1, Rhythm of Home,2. Baltimore Sun, 3. Martha Stewart, 4. Fat Bottom Bags, 5. High Hopes, 6. Skip to My Lou, 7. Skip to My Lou, 8. Camille Styles, 9. Singing with Birds, 10. Alpha Mom)


text: #lang racket ;;; Science Collection ;;; special-functions.rkt ;;; Copyright (c) 2004-2011 M. Douglas Williams ;;; ;;; This file is part of the Science Collection. ;;; ;;; The Science Collection is free software: you can redistribute it and/or ;;; modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as ;;; published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License ;;; or (at your option) any later version. ;;; ;;; The Science Collection is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, ;;; but WITHOUT WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY ;;; or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public ;;; License for more details. ;;; ;;; You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License ;;; along with the Science Collection. If not, see ;;; <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>. ;;; ;;; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;;; ;;; This is the sub-collection for the special functions provided by the Science ;;; Collection. These include: ;;; - Error Functions ;;; - Gamma Functions ;;; - Psi (Digamma) Functions ;;; - Zeta Functions ;;; - Beta Functions ;;; - Exponential Integral Functions ;;; Note that the gamma, psi, and zeta routines are provided as a single module. ;;; This is because their definition are interdependent and would result in ;;; circular modules. Individual modules are available (as gamma.ss, psi.ss, and ;;; zeta.ss in the special-functions sub-collection), but they all load the ;;; combined file and provide just the corresponding routines from it. ;;; ;;; Version Date Description ;;; 1.0.0 09/20/04 Marked as ready for Release 1.0. Includes all of the ;;; special-functions for Release 1.0. (MDW) ;;; 1.1.0 02/09/06 Added beta and exponential integral functions. (MDW) ;;; 3.0.0 06/09/08 Changes required for V4.0. (MDW) ;;; 4.0.0 07/03/10 Changed the header and restructured the code. (MDW) (require "special-functions/error.rkt" "special-functions/gamma.rkt" "special-functions/beta.rkt" "special-functions/exponential-integral.rkt") (provide (all-from-out "special-functions/error.rkt") (all-from-out "special-functions/gamma.rkt") (all-from-out "special-functions/beta.rkt") (all-from-out "special-functions/exponential-integral.rkt"))


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From ROHWrestling.com:
It's 10 months away, but as has become tradition, Ring of Honor is already planning events for the biggest wrestling weekend of 2014! This year the road takes us to New Orleans on April 4th & 5th for a pair of events at the John Alario Event Center located at 2000 Segnett Blvd, Westwego, LA 70094.
Ticket on-sale information will be available very soon but we wanted to make sure the ROH Faithful around the world knew our plans so they could make ones of their own! You do not want to miss what will surely be the absolute best professional wrestling events going do in Louisiana that weekend!
Ring of Honor
John A. Alario Sr. Event Center
at the Bayou Segnette Sports Complex
2000 Segnette Blvd.
Westwego, LA 70094
Friday April 4, 2014
Bell time – 7:30pm
Saturday April 5, 2014
Bell time – 2:00pm


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In Vitro and Animal Data Support Safety Profile BMS 986001: d4T-Like NRTI Currently in Clinical Trials
July/August 2012
Two posters were presented on a new d4T-like nucleoside in development with BMS.
This molecule is structurally similar to d4T but, according to in vitro data, it is 75-fold more virologically potent and more than 200-fold less active as an inhibitor of mitochondrial polymerase-gamma, responsible for toxicity associated with d4T.
While d4T (stavudine) has long been dropped as an option in Western countries and even in WHO guidelines, it continues to be widely used in resource-limited settings where it continues to produce irreversible peripheral neuropathy and facial lipoatrophy.
Both side effects, together with more rare but potentially fatal complications that include lactic acidosis, are mediated by the impact of the drug on mitochondrial function. So the prospect of a new d4T-like compound rolling into clinical trials must be dependent on pre-clinical data that has cleared this toxicity hurdle.
The first of two posters reported in vitro results from exposing renal, muscle and fat cells to therapeutic dose concentrations of BMS 986001 and four other NRTIs: tenofovir, AZT, d4T and abacavir.
Primary cultures of human renal proximal tubule epithelium, muscle, preadipocytes and differentiated adipocytes (subcutaneous) were exposed to each of the NRTIs at their reported Cmax concentration and at 200 uM for 5, 10, 14 and 19 days.
Six in vitro cytotoxicity parameters were measured: percent dead cells, cell protein and ATP content, lactate concentration in the media, and mtDNA (ATP8) content by qualitative PCR.
BMS 986001 was not cytotoxic in any of the four cell cultures tested. Tenofovir showed toxicity in muscle cells and preadipocytes with regard to mtDNA content which decreased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner to approximately 40% control values. In contrast, AZT and d4T were cytotoxic in all four cell culture types and for all measured parameters. Abacavir was only significantly cytotoxic at the 200 uM concentration.
A second poster reported finding no BMS-986001-related changes in renal function (serum and/or urine urea, creatinine, total protein and excretion, albumin, phosphorus, calcium, and glucose) or biomarkers of renal toxicity (serum cystatin C and renal b2-microglobulin, clusterin, and NGAL), or in bone formation (serum osteocalcin) or bone resorption (serum free deoxypyridinoline and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen [C-Tx]; and urine N-Tx) following oral six month dosing, at any dose tested compared to control group in rat and cynomolgus monkeys.2
These in vitro data contribute to supporting the safety of the ongoing clinical trials programme for this new compound.
The major pre-clinical toxicity with BMS-986001 (up to 6-month duration) at high exposures has been dyserythropoiesis in the bone marrow with lower myeloid to erythroid ratios and decreased red blood cells, and thrombocytopenia.
There remains a need for NRTIs with improved tolerability both in the developed and developing world. If this compound is being primarily developed for the former, it should have a parallel programme for the later, including early discussions with generic manufacturers to help ensure its access (if successful and approved) where d4T continues to be used.
Links to other websites are current at date of posting but not maintained.
Switching to Rilpivirine/Tenofovir/FTC Fixed-Dose Combination From Boosted-PI Regimen: SPIRIT Study Draws the Line at 24 Weeks
This article was provided by HIV i-Base. It is a part of the publication HIV Treatment Bulletin. Visit HIV i-Base's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.
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May God bless you and your...
My belated Condolences and Empathy to you Governor Milliken and all your family. I had the very great pleasure and privilege of meeting Helen on several occasions during my time working for you at the Office of Economic Expansion in Brussels, Belgium - and on my visits to Lansing in the '70's. She was a beautiful, vivacious human being, full of warmth, empathy, intelligence and humour - a lovely and outstanding First Lady of the State. I remember her and your good self most fondly.
Michael Vanderosen (Roosen)
January 08, 2016 | Molkom, Sweden


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Thanks for welcoming celebrity blogger Ali Landry!
A former Miss USA, the model and actress, 38, most recently starred in and executive produced Hollywood Girls Night on TV Guide Network.
Landry is also the founder of Spokesmoms, a product review platform for mothers, and is a supporter of SafeKids.org, which works to prevent childhood injuries.
Married to director Alejandro Monteverde since April 2006, the couple are parents to 5-year-old daughter Estela Ines and 9-month-old son Marcelo Alejandro.
You can find Landry on Facebook and on Twitter @alilandry.
Beachin' it – Courtesy Landry-Monteverde Family
I love those airline commercials, the ones that ask me if I "want to get away". Although I would love to get away, I already travel so much for work as it is. So sometimes, when I feel like my family and I need a vacation, we settle for a little quality time together at home instead.
You can call it a "daycation" if you want, or even a "staycation." In fact, there's probably hundreds of different things to call it, but in the end it's what can be best for my family when life gets a little too crazy and we need to disconnect from our daily lives — without the travel.
Daycation mornings are spent with Alejandro, Estela, Marcelo and myself all curled up in bed together having our morning coffee (or chocolate milk, for some of us).
While my family cuddles up or plays around, I'm usually on my computer, figuring out what fun adventures we can go on for the day. It's pretty easy to find a good mommy-approved website to give you some tips on where to spend your day. I also have a great city guidebook that has a wonderful selection of family-friendly things for us to do in and around our city.
Our family stays in bed for as long as possible until — eventually — Alejandro will get up, head downstairs and make us one of his famous Mexican breakfasts. (This is one of the reasons I fell in love with him, by the way.) We put the music on, open all of the windows and doors to let the fresh air in, and set the table on the patio to eat.
We try to set the mood so it feels as though we are in some fabulous hotel somewhere. It's definitely something we get excited about. If it's a Sunday, church is a must for us. Luckily, our church has services both day and night so if there's something we want to do in the morning, we can end our day together at church or vice versa.
Some of our fun California outings have included: pony rides at Griffith Park, a visit to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, exploring Olvera Street or Chinatown, day hikes at one of the canyons (with Marcelo strapped to my back — I like to think of it as hiking with weights), Kidspace Children's Museum, a picnic at the beach, a day trip to Disneyland, or even just movie day at home or an afternoon outside by the pool.
I've realized that when life gets a little hectic and I'm feeling as though I really need a vacation, what I'm really craving isn't the big elaborate getaway, but the quality time with my family without all of the extra noise that life sometimes creates.
I hope that when my kids grow up, they look back and remember everyone snuggling in bed on the weekends as fondly as they might remember a trip to Disneyland or the beach.
Have any readers taken a staycation? I would love to hear some of your ideas!
— Ali Landry


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Students watching the model of earth with atmosphere.
Student interacting with an exhibit composition of air.
Students interacting with an exhibit coriolis force.
Students registering their actions that can be done to save the earth's atmosphere.
Students experiencing the principle of air brake.
Students feeling the global warming due to increase of greenhouse gases.
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"I would most definitely recommend to family and friends "
"All was perfect and the reaction off the wife was priceless thank you so much "
"Simple to order, and it was exactly what I expected, from colour to size of print. "
Book with name
Reading is not only fun, but it also trains good listening skills and concentration. Create their new favourite book by adding their name to a character in the book. A book with name will make reading their favourite pastime!
miffy booksProbably the most populair bunny in the universe, miffy! Who hasn't grown up reading about the adventures of the bunny and his friends. This time your kid can be part of the adventures! Personalise this miffy book with a name and a message. The kid's name will be mentioned throughout the book so they really are part of the story. It's the perfect gift for a baby shower or birthday. Are you or your kids big fans of miffy? Have a look at all the other amazing miffy gifts!
Books for boysWhen they have outgrown little miffy, the boys like to read about cool stuff. Stories get even better when they are the main character in the book. As the main character of a Formula 1 adventure it will more attractive for them to start learning how to read. This exciting race car book can be personalised with a child's name and a personal message. Everything comes to live when he drives his own race car in races. These books for boys will sure be their favorite bedtime stories for a very long time.
Books for girlsSometimes girls want to be the main character in a Formula 1 story as well. For the girls who don't want to drive race cars there are books with other adventures. The Sugar Mousey book is a cheerful and fun book about the smallest member of the Ollimania family. Sugar Mousey likes pretty things and beautifully wrapped gifts.
The Pink book is for everyone who loves the colour pink. Everything in the book is pink. Customise the book with the child's name and a personal message to make it the perfect birthday gift or baby shower gift.


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The University of Rochester's Mock Trial Team placed among the top six teams in the American Mock Trial Association's Opening Round Championship, earning the team a bid to the National Championship Tournament in April. Peter Dierkes '11 also received an Outstanding Attorney Award for his performance at the March 21 tournament.
Seventeen undergraduate students participate in the University's Mock Trial organization and represent themselves as two teams at several regional and national competitions throughout the year. This is the first time in the group's history that both teams have made it to the opening round and the second time in four years that one Rochester team has qualified for the national championship. Eight members of the group will represent Rochester at competition.
Because Rochester's team does not have a faculty coach, they rely on the most experienced members for guidance, making their achievements all the more remarkable. "This is definitely a competition that requires a lot of preparation and rewards teams that prepare well, but also demands the ability to think on your feet," said Brittany Crowley '10, who has been a team member since her freshman year.
Crowley explained that mock trial competitions use a hypothetical case scenario to test a team's knowledge of courtroom procedures, mastery of case facts, and ability to examine witnesses and deliver opening and closing remarks. Teams must prepare both prosecution and defense arguments and practice by acting out different courtroom proceedings, taking on the roles of witness, prosecution lawyer, and defense lawyer.
"Mock trial is almost like putting on a play, except people ad lib their lines and interrupt you," said Andrew Cashmore '10, the group's president. "We try to script to the best of our ability, but we also have to be prepared to respond quickly to new developments."
Possibly the most exciting new development for the Rochester team is heading to nationals, which will pit them against some of the best teams in the country. Attending the tournament, which will be held April 16 to 18 in Memphis, Tenn., is one way Rochester is proving itself to the mock trial community.
"We're really trying to get our name out there and solidify longevity for the program," Crowley said.


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Harry Trout
Harry Irl Trout, age 70, of Pickford, Michigan, died October 29, 2012 at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace, Michigan. He was born August 18, 1942 in Alton, Illinois. Harry is the son of Harry Trout Sr. and Naomi Trout.
Harry grew up in California and worked for the San Diego County Road Commission until his retirement in 2003. He moved to Pickford shortly after and enjoyed photography, traveling, camping, and spending time outdoors. Harry was a member of the American Legion in honor of his father's military service.
Harry is survived by one son, DeWayne Trout of Hartman, Arkansas; siblings: Mary Susan Flumian, Kent Trout, Nancy Trout, Ed Trout, Greg Trout, and Alton Trout; and good friend, Martha Selon of Pickford and her family.
No services are planned at this time.
Reamer Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129 in Pickford is serving the family.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.reamergalerfuneralhome.com.
Death Notice
SHEPPARD, ELEANOR, age 99, a life-long resident of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan passed away at Freighterview Assisted Living on November 3, 2012. She was born August 29, 1913. Arrangements are in the care of Hovie Funeral Home.


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National Curriculum and GCSE courses
The ICT Statutory requirements for music state that at:
- Key stage 2 (ages 9-11)
Breadth of study:
5d: Pupils should be taught the knowledge, skills and understanding through using ICT to capture, change and combine sounds
- Key stage 3 (ages 12-14)
Listening, and applying knowledge and understanding:
4c: identify the resources, conventions, processes and procedures, including use of ICT, staff notation and other relevant notations, used in selected musical genres, styles and traditions
Breadth of study:
5d: Pupils should be taught the knowledge, skills and understanding through using ICT to create, manipulate and refine sounds
How can Cubase be used to meet these requirements?
The following ideas illustrate some of the many ways in which Cubase can be integrated within a balanced music curriculum to provide learning opportunities that meet the statutory requirements for ICT within music.
Keystage 2:
Students can use Cubase to:
- Record Audio (capture) with a microphone
- Import Audio as a loop or sample from a CD or Audio file
- Use basic editing features to change the length, pitch, tempo or EQ of a sound
- Use MIDI sequencing to record melodies and rhythms
- Experiment with MIDI timbres - combine sounds to make textures
- Create rhythm patterns using the Drum Editor - combine these to make longer pieces of music
Keystage 3:
Student can use Cubase to:
- Create audio loops and samples - making use of editing and manipulation tools such as cut/paste/repeat/reverse etc…
- Use audio loops and samples within the creation of original musical compositions
- Edit, manipulate and develop sounds and timbres using a range of editing features including the mixer - EQ, Plug Ins, VST Instruments, Time stretching, Pitch-shifting
- Mixing and producing stereo recordings of multi-track material - considering balance, blend, stereo field, acoustic depth
- Creating MIDI sequenced backing tracks - considering pitch, rhythm, sense of style, instrumentation, balance, articulation and phrasing etc…
- Using MIDI sequencing as a tool to realise compositional ideas
- Using the score-writing features within Cubase to produce staff notation of musical projects
2) GCSE Courses
Music Technology can be used within all of the major GCSE syllabuses in different ways.
In particular it can be used as an excellent tool to aid the production of composition work, facilitating the realisation of ideas.
Cubase can be used as a digital sketch book, allowing students to compose and arrange music in a wide variety of styles and genres, from Contemporary Dance music - that only exists with the help of Music Technology, through to experimental 20thCentury music, and even as a notation tool for conventional Western, Tonal Classical music.
Cubase can also be used as an excellent tool to aid the development of performance skills. Students can create backing tracks or piano accompaniments to use during their individual instrumental or vocal studies. If these are created using MIDI sounds, the tempo can be altered to allow difficult sections to be mastered slowly, with specific phrases or bars repeated over and over again using the loop /cycle functions.
The development of aural skills can also be supported by working with Cubase. Teachers can prepare listening exercises ranging from simple dictation tasks, through to the analysis of chords and cadences all within the software.
In the EDEXCEL GCSE syllabus, students can choose to follow a discreet Music Technology pathway, and study more detailed sequencing and recording skills. Cubase is an excellent piece of software to work with in the course of this programme of study.


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Interview with Joe Kissell, author of Take Control of 1Password
With our release of the all-new 1Password 4 for Mac this month, the venerable Joe Kissell also wrote a whole book for the Take Control series called Take Control of 1Password (on sale for just $10!). It's a great look into getting setup with 1Password 4 for Mac and even iOS and Android, as well as all the real-world ways 1Password can be useful for passwords and beyond.
Since Joe went so in-depth into getting the most out of 1Password, I figured we should go in-depth on Joe, the Take Control series, and his thoughts on 1Password and the future of security. I reached out for an interview, and he had some great responses.
AgileBits: First off, thanks for writing a whole book about 1Password, that's pretty great of you. For our customers who aren't familiar with the Take Control books, can you give a rundown on what the series is about?
Take Control is a series of ebooks that help ordinary, nontechnical people understand and make the best use of technology. The idea is that you have a professionally written and edited explanation of some technical topic that's much more detailed than a magazine article could be (say, 100–150 pages instead of 2–6) but far more manageable than a 500+ page printed book. And, since they're ebooks, we can treat them much like software: we offer minor updates for free and discounted upgrades on major new editions. You click a link to check for updates, download the new version, and that's that. So the content can stay up to date as the technology changes, and you don't end up with this huge chunk of paper that's outdated before you even read it the first time. And all this comes at a modest price—most of our books are around $10–15.
The majority of our books focus on Apple (Mac and iOS) technologies. But we're increasingly covering topics that apply across platforms, such as online privacy, Dropbox, and (of course) 1Password. We've even had a few books in the series that weren't about computers at all, including one I wrote about how to prepare Thanksgiving dinner!
This month is actually the 10th anniversary of Take Control Books. Ten years ago this spring, I got a call from Adam Engst, who is well-known in the Apple community as the publisher of TidBITS and the author of numerous books. I'd known Adam for a long time—I'd written some TidBITS articles and Adam had written a foreword to one of my books and so on. He said he had an idea for an experiment in electronic publishing, and wanted to know if I'd be interested in joining a small group of other authors and editors in trying out this new model. I said sure, and the first book I wrote in the series was "Take Control of Upgrading to Panther," which came out the same day Panther (Mac OS X 10.3) did, in October 2003. It sold a bazillion copies, and the rest is history. (And, this month, in keeping with tradition, we shipped "Take Control of Upgrading to Mavericks"!
What about your Take Control of 1Password book, in particular? Is there an overall approach or theme you had in mind while writing it?
Earlier this year I wrote a general-purpose book on password security, "Take Control of Your Passwords". That book was all about understanding password security generally—why you need to have excellent, strong, unique passwords; what makes one password better than another; and what strategies you can use to keep from being overwhelmed by passwords. Of course, using a password manager like 1Password is one aspect of that, although I take pains to say it's not a complete solution in and of itself.
In the 1Password book, I wanted to say, OK, if you've chosen 1Password (which happens to be my favorite password manager) for that aspect of your password strategy, then here are all the details about doing the stuff you care about doing with it. It's no good to just say, "Go out and buy this app" if a reader isn't sure what to do with it, how to use it most effectively, how to solve problems, and so on. So that's what I was trying to do with this book.
For whom did you write this book? Was there a type of user or skill level in mind?
Well, I was thinking of people like my wife (hi, honey!), who may have had 1Password for a long time but never quite grokked it. People who aren't technophobic but also don't wear propeller beanies, if you know what I mean. Ordinary folk who just want to get things done and appreciate a bit of patient, systematic hand-holding but don't want to be talked down to.
It's not that 1Password has such a steep learning curve, but you kind of have to get on board conceptually with its way of handling things. And I think the best way to do that is to walk through all the steps of creating, storing, and using passwords a few times, with the sites you use most frequently, so it's not just a vague idea about what should happen but the actual experience of making it happen. I try to walk users through both the theory and the practice so that, hopefully, after a few tries the process clicks and they go, "Aha! Now I see how much better this is than the old way."
So, as with all my books, I'm writing for an intelligent reader who just isn't an expert in this particular thing. And I try to focus more on real-world tasks than on features. In other words, I don't think that by simply cataloguing what every button and menu command does, I'd be teaching someone how to use the product. Instead, I frame it as, "You probably need to accomplish x, y, and z with this app. How do you go about doing that?"
Besides stronger passwords, do you have another favorite use or some tricks for getting more out of 1Password?
I keep all my software licenses in 1Password. At the moment, I have—let's see—373 of them! I find, especially at times like these when a new OS version is coming out, that I'm reinstalling apps quite a bit and I have to say, I've kind of fallen in love with 1Password mini for quickly retrieving license codes. I launch an app and it asks for the code, and now I just press Command-Option-\, type a few letters of the app's name to find it, arrow over and down to the password field, and press Return to copy the code. Click back in the app, paste, and I'm done. So much simpler than it used to be!
Another thing I suggest in my book is to include not only textual data, such as your credit card, driver's license, and passport numbers, but scanned images of the items themselves, as attachments. If you ever lose one of these items, a scanned copy can be very helpful in getting it replaced (and also provides some supporting evidence that you are who you say you are).
What do you think are some of the challenges for the security software space in general?
Wow, where to even begin? Well, I'll focus on a couple of issues. First is the actual security part—making products and services robustly hack-resistant. Some of the folks who want to break into people's accounts and steal their data, money, or identity are extremely smart and, shall we say, dedicated. Staying ahead of them requires even more smarts and dedication. I've seen some pretty scary security products—I'm thinking of a couple of password managers in particular—where it's evident that the developers didn't have a deep understanding of things like entropy, encryption algorithms, and exploits, but just threw something together that seemed to basically work. Most users won't know the difference—until they get hacked.
So I love reading the security posts on the AgileBits blog by Jeff Goldberg and Roustem, because they demonstrate an extensive, thorough knowledge of cryptography that shows you guys really do know the score.
The other side of that is usability. You could ask users to enter a password, type a code from an SMS message, and do a fingerprint scan every time they go to a new Web site, and that might be super secure, but it's an unreasonable amount of effort for what you're trying to accomplish. Tools like password managers have to not only be easy to use but to respect varied workflows. If a tool requires you to throw out all your habits to adapt to the one way it knows how to do things, or if it imposes unreasonable restrictions (like forcing you to use just one browser), it's not being kind to users.
Now, it does make me a bit sad that 1Password has had to remove or alter certain useful features over the years in order to remain compatible with all browsers and platforms. I understand why that is—you have to work within what browser developers, and especially Apple, permit you to do, and those restrictions have gotten tighter. But man, I miss the time when I could visit a new Web site that asked me to generate a password and then, with a single click, create, fill in, submit, and memorize that password. Those were the days! And I've been lobbying for an option to fill in and submit a default set of credentials automatically when you load a page, no clicks or keystrokes required. I would love to see 1Password take that next step in usability.
You have a section called 'Glimpse the future of 1Password.' Care to offer a glimpse of that glimpse for your potential readers?
Part of the reason for that section was to reassure users who upgrade to version 4 and have a moment of "Hey, wait a minute! What happened to (my favorite feature)?!" During the version 4 beta testing, AgileBits staffers were constantly reminding everyone that, because it was a total rewrite as well as a redesign, a few of the elements people were used to in version 3 aren't quite there yet, but will be soon—and there are big new features in the works too. I think one of the most important changes in version 4 is that 1Password was rethought in such a way that adding new features will be easier, and significant updates should be more frequent.
So, based on my discussions with AgileBits staff and what I read on the beta discussion boards, I expect to see things like more view options (not just the single-column list) and editing directly in 1Password mini, without having to open the full app. And I know that some bugs—er, design challenges—such as getting 1Password mini to work correctly on multiple displays are being addressed too.
One of the other things I mention there is that the Windows and Android versions of 1Password, which haven't seen a lot of love lately, are actively being worked on to bring them to feature parity with the Mac and iOS versions.
Do you remember when you first found 1Password? Who or what got you into it?
I looked through my email archives, and the first mention of 1Passwd—it didn't have the "or" in the name back then—was in July 2006, about a month after its version 1.0 release. I got a copy of version 1.3 to review for TidBITS, although for reasons I can no longer recall, that review didn't appear until nearly a year later: 1Passwd Eases Password Pain in June 2007. My very first impression was one of puzzlement: I couldn't figure out why someone would need an extra program to do something that any Web browser can do on its own. But the proverbial lightbulb went on as soon as I started using 1Passwd, and as early as October 2006, when Macworld was asking contributors for nominees for that year's Editors' Choice awards, I wrote to my editor, "I'm really jazzed about 1Passwd, which has quickly become indispensable for me."
So, I'm proud to say I've been a user almost since the very beginning of the product. That year, 2006, was also when I wrote my first Take Control book about passwords (which was replaced with a much more modern title earlier this year). I've written an awful lot about passwords in the intervening years, and 1Password has been a faithful companion the whole time.
Thanks a lot Joe!
As you can see, Joe knows his stuff and we're honored that he's been with us since way back when the "1Password" name was missing a vowel. The Take Control series really is wonderful, so check out Take Control of 1Password and their other books to learn how to get more out of your apps.


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Concerns over resurgence of mosquito-borne diseases in Pacific
Health officials are warning about the rise in mosquito-borne diseases in the Pacific region this year, including dengue, chikungunya and zika.
Over the past few months, there has been a resurgence of Type 3 dengue in several countries.
In total, there were 11 dengue epidemics across the Pacific region last year.
Dr Yvan Souares, director of the Public Health division at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat that dengue poses an increasing threat to public heath.
"We're now in the South Pacific in the rainy season - temperatures are high, precipitation [is] high and the current prospect in terms of meteorological forecast indicate increased risk of tropical depression," he said.
"So to speak, it's going to be a mosquito fair."
Dr Souares says there is an added danger because the virus is resurging after around 20 years in countries like Fiji, Kiribati and French Polynesia.
"Hence, the whole population of the island under 20 years - plus a number of others who wouldn't have been exposed like expats who have come back - are susceptible."
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation says it is monitoring the situation in French Polynesia which is fighting outbreaks of zika virus and dengue fever.
Dengue, spread by infected mosquitoes, is caused by four types of virus and is at its worst during warm and humid climatic seasons.
Chikungunya and Zika are both closely related to dengue and causes debilitating joint pain, rashes and fever.
Topics: diseases-and-disorders, dengue-fever, health, pacific, french-polynesia, kiribati, fiji
First posted


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The release of Microsoft's Surface Pro tablet in February brought it into the picture for agencies considering issuing agency tablets or implementing "bring you own device" mobile strategies. Beyond the tablet format, however, the real question may be which of the two different OS versions available is the best fit for agencies.
There actually are four versions of Windows 8 right now — Windows 8 RT, Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise. Let's look at the whole tablet/operating system package, meaning the Surface RT and Surface Pro.
The Surface RT runs on a Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, which is ARM-based. As such, it can't run standard off-the-shelf software that typically is made for x86-based processors. However, there is a version of Office made for RT, and it comes pre-installed on the device. There are also many apps available at the Windows Store for RT.
The processor and other components were chosen for their relatively low drain on power, which allows the RT to last much longer than its counterparts. Storage is a bit of an issue because the OS and system recovery tools take up about half of the base model's 32G of storage space, leaving 16G. Alternatively, the 64G option leaves 45G of storage. This puts the starting price at $599 with the larger hard drive.
The Surface Pro has an Intel Core i5 processor, which of course is x86-based, and is much more powerful than the processor in the RT. Also, it can run the full version of Office, as well as any off-the-shelf software for Windows desktop computers. The OS also can be upgraded to Windows 8 Enterprise, which has additional network access and security features and thus might be useful for government agency settings. The much larger OS takes up even more room than RT, so the 128G hard drive option, which leaves 89G for the user, will provide needed room. This configuration starts at $999.
So, if an agency is considering the Surface, which version would be better? It comes down to answering some basic questions about how the tablet will be used.
For most government uses, the Surface Pro would probably be preferred. However, for jobs where employees are out of the office for hours at a time -- and can get by on apps optimized for tablets and limited network access -- the Surface RT likely has enough battery power to get the work done.
The Microsoft website has more information comparing the two Surface models.
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Really, your serious? Microsoft Products? And why would you use such a device? I can't imagine anyone really taking your article serious, and if they are I don't know what to say to them other than.
My work has web sites that only work with Internet Explorer so I have to get one of these. No one else has invented a web browser or app that can fool them. Looks like I'll have to get the Surface just because of that
Sorry but I am like a maid. I do not do Windows. Cant see any reason to have either of these tablets in the work place. Microsoft Office is not a reason to use these products and shame on the U.S. government for not sticking to open document format standards. All documents of all types should be kept formatted to be easily opened with any viable office product without having to be reformatted. This should be a competitive open market. It should not be a, "Oh wow that looks so pretty". A good plain format is much more professional looking and much more pleasing to the eye. Also gets the point across much better.
Actually, Surface RT does come with MS Office. I use it often on my Surface RT and it does great. Since I am not an Outlook user, I have not had any problems with Surface RT's lack of Outlook in MS Office. I find it quite easy to be productive with my Surface RT. However, I also have a Surface Pro and the fact that it does run standard windows software does make a difference. Even so, I do like the thinner, lighter, longer lasting Surface RT a lot just the same. That is the one I carry around with me wherever I go.
There is not much to compare between the surface pro and the surface rt ,but the asus vivotab smart could be a a better tablet to compare then the surface rt because it runs fun wondows and has 64gb.
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GOSHEN — Three architects testifying Monday about the Orange County Government Center told county lawmakers it should be saved, calling it an architectural landmark and solid structure that could be upgraded and rid of its leaks with little more than a new roof.
GOSHEN — Three architects testifying Monday about the Orange County Government Center told county lawmakers it should be saved, calling it an architectural landmark and solid structure that could be upgraded and rid of its leaks with little more than a new roof.
Harvey Berg, a retired architect and structural engineer from Blooming Grove, told a special committee investigating the state of the closed complex it was obvious why rain streamed into the Government Center during the Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee deluge last summer.
"You had a roof full of holes. You had a hurricane. You had flooding in the building," Berg said, later adding, "There is no reason why a decent roofing job shouldn't seal the building."
On its first day of testimony, the panel also interviewed three consultants who helped develop reports on the storm damage inflicted and the potential cost of upgrading or replacing the 42-year-old complex. Each stood by his firm's work, rebuffing any suggestion that renovation estimates were inflated.
"It was a very unbiased report," said Middletown engineer Al Fusco, whose firm worked with three others on proposing options for the center. "Everybody had an opinion, except us."
The testimony helped illuminate the central issue county lawmakers face as they continue to ponder the fate of the county's main office building, which has been closed for almost 11 months because of water damage and mold. That issue is how much it would cost to modernize the center and whether it would make more sense to tear it down and start from scratch.
County Executive Ed Diana's $75 million plan for a new building failed in May and lawmakers have yet to take further action. The committee hopes to gather information to guide the next step.
A consultant team led by Rochester-based LaBella Associates estimated last year it would cost $67.2 million to overhaul the Government Center and expand it by 22,000 square feet. Renovation supporters have questioned that figure. A firm hired by Berg and others calculated a total renovation would cost $35 million.
Both sides defended their figures on Monday. Berg said the $35 million estimate by Nasco Construction Services was, if anything, higher than it should be. Fusco argued that lawmakers should trust consultants who studied the building for a year "rather than someone who's walked through it for a day or even a week."
Also testifying Monday were Mark Fellenzer of Fellenzer Engineering, one of the firms that collaborated with LaBella and Marco Pedone of Environmental Solutions of New York, which assessed the mold growth.
Pedone fired back at criticism the Federal Emergency Management Agency leveled in a report on the Government Center's condition in February. A FEMA contractor had challenged the mold-counting methods Pedone's company used and suggested the mold problem was exaggerated.
Pedone replied Monday that the FEMA analysis misinterpreted mold guidelines and ignored the closed air circulation in the Government Center.
"The FEMA assessor, in my opinion, was not competent, not current in the research that existed," he said.
Testimony will resume at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the county Emergency Services Center.


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Yankees captain Derek Jeter had to be removed from Wednesday night's game in the late innings because of a painful bone bruise on the top of his left foot, so he'll probably be a game day decision for Game 4.
"He hit a ball off his foot,'' said manager Joe Girardi. "I believe it was the second or third pitch of the game, or the second at-bat maybe. It's a bone bruise, and it's day to day, and we'll see how he feels tomorrow. Hopefully we can get him back in there."
Girardi said he already faced a tough decision just prying Jeter out of the game.
"That's not easy either,'' he said, "but you could see that he was limping pretty good. Derek is one of the toughest players I've ever been around, and you know what he told me: 'I'm great.' That's what he always tells me…You know, he understood. He never wants to come out. He could have two legs that were broken and wouldn't want to come out of the game."
In other words, don't be surprised if Jeter is back in the starting lineup on Thursday.