text:
Who We've Got: TV Talent
Quick Search
Casting List
If you are casting a large job you can create a 'Casting List' of artists you are interested in. Simply click the symbol below an artist or visit their portfolio page and click 'Add to casting list'.
Once you have a collection of artists you are happy with you can create an Online Casting Package which can be viewed by collegues and amended at any time. You will also be able to download your selction as a printable PDF to help your casting process.


text:
State Sen. Joyce Elliott said she plans to introduce another bill that would grant the in-state rates to anyone who has attended an Arkansas high school for at least three years and has an Arkansas high school diploma or general education diploma in the state.
A proposal to allow in-state tuition rates for children of illegal immigrants in Arkansas is likely to resurface in the upcoming legislative session.
State Sen. Joyce Elliott said she plans to introduce another bill that would grant the in-state rates to anyone who has attended an Arkansas high school for at least three years and has an Arkansas high school diploma or general education diploma in the state.
Supporters say such a measure would offer higher education opportunities to students who came to the U.S. illegally as children and who currently have to pay out-of-state rates despite having grown up and gone to school here.
"If you operate on the assumption that these are not our kids and they're just going to be sent somewhere, that's not going to happen," said Elliott, D-Little Rock. "So how do you want them to be prepared to be citizens who can contribute to the best of their abilities?"
Elliott's planned proposal would come months after President Barack Obama announced last year that some young illegal immigrants would be allowed temporary status and work permits. Voters in Maryland also recently approved in-state tuition for illegal immigrants who meet certain conditions.
Still, Elliott acknowledges it would be challenging to pass such a bill here in the coming session, which begins Monday. Republicans now control the Arkansas Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction — a marked change from 2005 and 2009 when similar measures on in-state tuition rates failed.
In 2005, a similar bill failed even though it had the backing of then-Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Elliott pushed forward with another similar proposal again in 2009, but by then, she lacked the support of Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe, who had said the measure could violate federal law.
Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample would not say Friday whether the governor would sign such a bill into law this time around if it were to reach his desk.
"The issue needs to be addressed in (Washington) D.C. because... you have an increasing number of college graduates who were educated here, all the way through elementary and high school, went to college and then they graduate from college and have a degree that they can't legally put to use in Arkansas," DeCample said.
Out-of-state tuition rates in Arkansas are about twice the in-state rates. In fall 2012, about 12.5 percent of the 156,252 students who were enrolled in public colleges and universities paid out-of-state tuition, according to Arkansas Department of Higher Education spokeswoman Brandi Hinkle.
Some educators have spoken out in favor of in-state tuition rates for students who came to the U.S. illegally as children but who have grown up and gone to school here.
"If you look at it from the standpoint of just the state of Arkansas... it would also be in our best interest to remove those barriers and open the doors as wide as we can to as much education as persons that Sen. Elliott's legislation would affect want to get," said Joel Anderson, chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Not everyone agrees.
"I think in-state tuition should only be to in-state residents or those who have been granted a waiver through some agreement with another state," said House Majority Leader Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
by Nikon |
Item # 602847
|Model # 13172 |
About this item
Bundle includes:
Nikon D3100 DSLR Body
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens
Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
DSLR Bag and 16GB SDHC Card
Free standard shipping for online orders.
The camera that amazes. Shoot with D3100 and enjoy the beauty.
D3100 employs Nikon's latest breakthrough technology to deliver superb results. A newly developed DX-format CMOS sensor with 14.2 effective megapixels works in tandem with new EXPEED 2 image processing engine to produce highly detailed images containing rich tonal gradations and faithful color. This combination also helps produce beautifully defocused backgrounds - a hallmark of quality digital SLR cameras. In addition, a maximum ISO of 3200 (expandable to ISO 12800 equivalent using the Hi 2 setting) allows you to shoot without worrying about camera-shake blur.
Easy Operation
The camera that teaches you how... Let D3100 satisfy your dreams of better photos.
An enchanting portrait against a softly defocused background, or a radiant couple surrounded by sparkling lights. Taking photos like these is easy with D3100's Guide Mode - in-camera guidance that shows you step-by-step how to change camera settings. Just select a Guide Mode setting that matches the scene then let Guide Mode assist. Not only will you obtain the desired results, you'll understand how you achieved them. Guide Mode even displays sample photos so you'll know what to expect from each setting.
Full HD Movies
Breathtaking full HD 1080p movies.
Discover the difference a digital SLR makes when shooting movies. A wide selection of NIKKOR lenses gives you freedom to explore different angles and obtain lovely defocused backgrounds while D3100's advanced imaging system assures outstanding quality. And for action sequences, new Subject-tracking AF keeps subjects properly focused. After the shoot, view movies on the large 7.5-cm (3-in.) LCD monitor and perform simple editing tasks like trimming scenes before or after a designated point and extracting still images. HDMI compatibility* lets you connect D3100 to an HDTV with playback managed by the TV's remote control**.
* Via HDMI mini-pin connector.
** HDMI CEC-compatible TVs only.
Policies & plans
Limit 5 per Member.
|Effective Pixels:
|14.2 million
|Total Pixels:
|14.8 million
|Sensor Type:
|Sensor Size:
|23.1 x 15.4 mm
|Crop Factor:
|1.5x the lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
|Sensor Cleaning:
|Image sensor cleaning, Airflow Control System, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
|Included Lens:
|• AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens
• Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
|Optical Zoom:
|11.1x with two lenses combined
|Optical Image Stabilization:
|Maximum aperture: f/3.5-5.6 for 18-55mm VR lens; f/4-5.6 for 55-200mm VR lens
|Filter Size:
|Lens Mount:
|Nikon F bayonet mount
|Lens Compatibility:
|AF-S, AF-I: All functions supported. Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor: All functions supported except autofocus.
|LCD Size:
|LCD Type:
|TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
|LCD Pixels:
|230K Dot
|LCD Coverage:
|Not specified
|Viewfinder Type:
|Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
|Viewfinder Coverage:
|Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical
|Autofocus Points:
|11 Area TTL
|AF Assist Light:
|Continuous Autofocus:
|Yes, available
|Shutter Speed Range:
|30 to 1/4000 sec (1/3 EV steps)
|Bulb Shutter Setting:
|Flash Sync Speed:
|Up to 1/200 sec
|Flash Modes:
|Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye correction, and rear curtain with slow sync
|Flash Exposure Compensation:
|-3 to +1 EV in 1/3 steps
|External Flash Connection:
|Yes, hot shoe
|Exposure Control
|Exposure Modes:
|Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]); scene modes (portrait; landscape; child; sports; close up; night portrait); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M)
|Exposure Compensation:
|-5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
|Exposure Bracketing:
|Metering Modes:
|Matrix, Center-weighted, Spot
|Metering Range:
|EV 0 to 20 (matrix or center-weighted metering); EV 2 to 20 (spot metering).
|ISO Sensitivity:
|ISO 100 to 3200 in steps of 1 EV; can also be set to approx. 1 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 6400 equivalent) or toapprox. 2 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 12800 equivalent).
|Auto ISO Options:
|White Balance Modes:
|Auto, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning.
|Shooting Specifications
|Shutter Release Modes:
|Single frame, continuous, self-timer, quiet shutter release
|Top Continuous Shooting Speed at Full Resolution:
|Up to 3 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values)
|Scene Modes:
|Portrait, landscape, child, sports, close up, night portrait
|Face Detection:
|Panorama Mode:
|Image Stitching:
|HDR Mode:
|Remote Control Option:
|Yes, compatible with MC-DC2 (available separately)
|Playback Specifications
|Playback Functions:
|Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters)
|In-Camera Image Editing:
|Not specified
|Video Specifications
|Video Resolutions:
|• H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding.
• 1,920 x 1,080 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps).
• 1,280 x 720 (30p): 30 fps (29.97 fps).
• 1,280 x 720 (25p): 25 fps.
• 1,280 x 720 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps).
• 640 x 424 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps).
|Linear PCM; Built-in monaural microphone
|Video Frames Per Second:
|24p; 25p; 30p. See resolutions above for further detail.
|Computer Interface:
|Hi-Speed USB
|Video Out:
|NTSC, PAL; Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
|Audio Out:
|Not specified
|Included Software:
|ViewNX 2 software included
|Media Storage
|Internal Memory:
|Compatible Memory Cards:
|Image File Formats:
• JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression
• NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
|Video File Formats:
|Included Battery:
|One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL14
|Battery Life (Images):
|Not specified
|Physical Specifications
|Tripod Socket:
|1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
|None included. GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately).
|Package Contents
|Nikon D3100 DSLR Body
|EN-EL14 Battery
|MH-24 Battery Charger
|DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
|DK-20 Rubber Eyecap
|AN-DC3 Camera Strap
|BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover
|BF-1B Body Cap
|ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
|AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens
|Nikon AF-S DX VR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED
|DSLR Bag
|16GB SDHC Card
1 year limited manufacturer's warranty on camera body; 5 year limited manufacturer's warranty on lenses.
Televisions, laptop and desktop computers, projectors, digital music players, cameras, camcorders, and other electronics must be returned within ninety (90) days.
Televisions, laptop and desktop computers, projectors, digital music players, cameras, camcorders, and other electronics must be returned within ninety (90) days.
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
Component Country
Shipping Info
Standard - 2 to 6 business days
Premium - 2 to 4 business days
Express - 1 to 2 business days
View map for estimated delivery days.


text:
Hollywood scam; Tax credits cost taxpayersEDITORIAL
August 18. 2013 11:15PM
In Massachusetts, the unemployment rate has increased to 7.2 percent, substantially higher than New Hampshire's 5.1 percent. But at least Bay Staters can take comfort in this: Their state is in the movies more than ours.
Massachusetts is one of the states that falls all over itself to extend "tax credits" to the film industry. Its politicians and star-struck hacks like to say that such credits will more than pay for themselves. Think, they say, of all the jobs that are created.
Two things are wrong with this thinking. First, the credits are often sold, at a premium, to companies other than the original film outfit. The state sees no benefit from such sales, and the credits may or may not be of the benefit to the taxpayers that the pols claim.
But more interesting is that the jobs supposedly created by the movies made in Massachusetts are costly. A recent study, according to a Boston Globe story, showed that each of these jobs costs the taxpayers more than $128,000, based on the lost tax revenue.
Noah Berger, president of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, told the Globe that the tax break to film companies equals 25 percent of their payroll and production costs, as well as a sales tax exemption.
"Even if the movie does make any money, we don't get back any of those profits," Berger said. "The way the law works, you can make a movie and it can be great, terrible, popular, not popular . . . and we will simply pay 25 percent of the cost of making it."
We hope that Granite State lawmakers and bureaucrats can keep that in mind the next time someone proposes providing financial help to Hollywood. The best help we can give them is the beautiful backdrops that New Hampshire offers, plus the genuine business-friendly atmosphere we have.


text:
ThunderThighs wrote:spy hole
hidden camera
AZGman wrote:hidden camera
security footage
ThunderThighs wrote:security footage
under surveillance
AZGman wrote:under surveillance
camera shy
lplady wrote:camera shy
stage fright
AZGman wrote:stage fright
fright night
lplady wrote:fright night
fraternity hazing
AZGman wrote:fraternity hazing
always trouble
pooflady wrote:always trouble
bad habits
AZGman wrote:bad habits
rascally rabbits
wellwooted wrote:rascally rabbits
frisky critters
AZGman wrote:frisky critters
leaping lizards
ThunderThighs wrote:leaping lizards
horny toads
AZGman wrote:horny toads
stink bugs
miken927 wrote:stink bugs
rolly pollies
pooflady wrote:rolly pollies
dung beetle
AZGman wrote:dung beetle
Volkswagen convertible
Raining wrote:Volkswagen convertible
ragtop ride
AZGman wrote:ragtop ride
topless cruise
ThunderThighs wrote:topless cruise
playboy yacht
AZGman wrote:playboy yacht
ship shape
ThunderThighs wrote:ship shape
deck decor
AZGman wrote:deck decor
swim suits
ThunderThighs wrote:swim suits
clothing optional
AZGman wrote:clothing optional
dangling bits
ThunderThighs wrote:dangling bits
saggy baggies
AZGman wrote:saggy baggies
defy gravity!
thenativesarerestless wrote:defy gravity!
Anti gravity
magnetic levitation
AZGman wrote:magnetic levitation
rise above
pooflady wrote:rise above
high tide
thenativesarerestless wrote:high tide
mud flat
pooflady wrote:mud flat
four wheelin'
KtCallista wrote:four wheelin'
monster truck
stacipurv wrote:monster truck
huge tires
AZGman wrote:huge tires
school playground
KtCallista wrote:school playground
monkey bars
AZGman wrote:monkey bars
insurance nightmare
KtCallista wrote:insurance nightmare
not covered
thenativesarerestless wrote:not covered
bare naked
View All →


text:
Yes, he says that after he (Bhante V.) explained the correct point of view some Bhikkhus started teaching his way. No mention of the Bhikkhus (such as those quoted by Geoff), who obviously didn't learn their stuff from Bhante V.retrofuturist wrote:Actually there's part of the talk, seemingly not transcribed in Tilt's notes where he says that others are now teaching a sutta-only approach as well, though he doesn't give names.mikenz66 wrote:without suggesting that they are the only ones to have figured it out...
I've no problem with :
(a) People having a Sutta only approach.
(b) Teaching their particular take on meditation based on their interpretation of the Suttas and their experience.
As has been stated here, there are many, many, teaching that way.
What I find curious is the need to imply that everyone else got it horribly wrong and practitioners have been wasting their time on wrong paths, from Bhuddhaghossa's time (or before) to when Bhante V. figured it out all by himself.
Does anyone who has spent any time with real teachers seriously believe that they are all that confused?


text:
Waynesville's Vino Alan singing with the rest of the top 12 tonight at 7 p.m.
Even though Vino Alan has hit it big on the national stage, igniting the "X Factor" competition with his soulful voice and acquiring an impressive 24,532 'likes' on his Facebook fan page, he has kept close to his Waynesville roots.
"Like they say, you can't take the country out of the boy," Alan said. "You can't take Waynesville out of the boy either."
Alan was born in Waynesville 40 years ago and has moved around the country playing music for the last 20 years.
Recently, Alan had a contract with the military for morale welfare and recreation to perform for the troops.
"When I perform for them I feel like I'm doing my part," he said. "I've heard from so many members of the military that it is very important to have actual live entertainment and not just background noise. It really helps boost morale."
Alan said while he was on contract, he was able to perform a few times for the soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood and really enjoyed it.
"It was really cool to go back to Fort Leonard Wood and perform since I'm from that area."
Alan said he wanted to join the military after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but was not able to join because he had too many tattoos. He said performing for the troops makes him feel like he is doing his part and contributing to his country.
"It meant a lot to me to know I was giving back in some way," he said.
Over the last two months, Alan has lived in Los Angeles competing on Fox's X Factor." Alan's unique and soulful voice impressed judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. He recently advanced to the Top 16.
Alan said he is thankful for the experience and the opportunities the show has given him.
"It's the opportunity to get to perform in front of such a big crowd — to finally pour my heart out on the stage and to be around so many big music producers like L.A. Reid and Simon, to validate me and tell me how unique my voice is, it's just incredible."
Last week, Alan earned the third most votes from viewers out of the 13 contestants competing on the "X Factor."
Alan is simply taken aback by all of the support he has received, especially from people in the Waynesville area.
"I'm blown away and overwhelmed by the feedback,"he said.
Alan said he "couldn't believe" that there has been a billboard and signs with his face on it all around town. He said he actually lived in St. Louis more years than he did in Waynesville.
"I feel like the whole state is supporting me. It's absolutely incredible," Alan said. "I can't say how much I appreciate all the local support and knowing that Waynesville still remembers me, it's just incredible."
Alan will be singing again on the X Factor which airs live at 7 p.m. tonight. Voting will be open starting after the performance. The next results show is Thursday at 7 p.m.


text:
The offer from Lansing High School to allow some students to opt out of finals has had mixed results.
The offer from Lansing High School to allow some students to opt out of finals has had mixed results.
But during a meeting Monday, a group of teachers that helped develop and evaluate the program urged the Lansing School Board to be patient.
The exemption was developed and implemented this year as a way to incentivize students to meet certain benchmarks in attendance, discipline and grades, part of the school's multi-tiered system of support for behavior. Any student who had no grade below C in any class, missed fewer than 14 class hours of school and had no major disciplinary referrals during that semester was eligible.
LHS Counselor Kristie Wessel said 403 out of 865 LHS students met the criteria for the exemption in the fall 2012 semester. Of those, 133 students reportedly chose to take one or more finals anyway as an opportunity to raise their class grade, though they were given a "safety net" option under which the score would not count against them.
However, LHS math teacher Christina Hoverson said the data gathered after the first semester, which in addition to those behavioral indicators also included surveys of students and teachers, painted a mixed picture of the pilot program.
"From 2011 to 2012, we saw nearly a 20 percent jump in attendance," she said, meaning a greater number of students missed fewer than 14 classroom hours. "We're pretty happy with that."
However, the percentage of students getting a grade of D or F in at least one class rose over the same time, from 30 to 34 percent, and the percentage who received major discipline referrals rose almost 27 percent.
Comments from both teachers and students mentioned the attendance requirements as potentially concerning if a student missed class for a funeral or came to school sick to get the finals exemption. Jeff DaMetz, a science teacher at LHS, said the school was amending the policy, allowing for a future process during which a faculty committee will review appeals on a case-by-case basis. However, the comments and surveys generally showed that students and teachers approved of the finals exemption in concept.
"We still need to make adjustments and we know that," he said.
DaMetz, who was also on the steering committee for the effort, said there were caveats for the grade and discipline data — the board did approve an overhaul of the advanced placement and honors offerings at the school this year and Kansas' new common core curriculum is in the process of being implemented as well. And changes are already taking place in the way that teachers handle disciplinary actions.
"There are changes that we have to look at, so as we look at the data it seems to be best that we compare fall 2012 with fall of 2013," he said.
However, with the early data, Wessel said the program if nothing else did help LHS administration better zone in on students who needed the most help.
"By really putting a plan in place like this, we got rid of those kids didn't really have a reason to be gone or those kind of things and so we removed those kids from those initial data that we looked at a year ago and now we're really getting deeper into the kids that really do have an attendance issue or a discipline issue and those are affecting their grades," she said.