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Piano Lessons Near Me Clitherall MN 56524
Learning to play the piano is something which typically we require guidance on for sure, and our primary thought might possibly be to seek out a local piano teacher. This is a wonderful notion but it of course gives us problems we hadn't considered. For instance, if we are located in a quiet region far away from a city in that case it could very well be very difficult to come across exactly the style of tuition required. The piano coach might actually be very good, but will he or she be expert in the style of tunes that you are curious about, that's the question.
Piano Lessons Near Me Clitherall MN 56524
You cannot disregard the question of pricing and private teachers are expensive, as much as fifty bucks /hour in some places, which is a whole lot of hard earned cash in anyone's language. The most respected internet based packages include a big systemof lessons in their software, often split into the musical classes of classical, swing, blues and popular. For youngsters wanting to get familiar with the most recent hits, this is absolutely perfect. Many times, local piano instructors are older school professors delivering private lessons to make ends meet and don't really know the most up-to-datesongs in the slightest, unless you really are pretty fortunate.
An additional concern is time and convenience. In the event that you work then in that case you have to find a slot that matches both of you and moreover incorporate the commute time into the equation (aside from the cost of travelling!) It's easy to understand that employing a local piano tutor is not everything that it's cracked up to be, except in cases where you are really a budding Mozart or alternatively a child prodigy, in this instance you would definitely need expert private coaching. For the rest of us, that wish to learn the piano tunes welove relatively quickly, so we can have a little enjoyment, internet based courses can certainly be ideal.
What is the best way to teach yourself piano?
I don't know how many of these people here actually PLAY classical piano at an advanced level, but as a classical pianist for nearly 40 years, I'm telling you that getting a teacher trained in classical piano technique is vital if that is what you want to do. Classical piano is far more demanding physically than any other kind of piano, and poor or nonexistent technique WILL cause injury. So a teacher is vital. You will need to learn how to position your hands, fingers, arms, wrist. You will have to learn proper posture so that you don't put undue strain on your body and so that you make efficient use of your energy. The lesson should be one on one in person-not a video or anything that isn't interactive. This is so the teacher can customize the lesson just for you. Different people have different body/arm/hand structure, and the teacher has to be able to see what you are doing so that he/she can correct you.
Piano Lessons Near Me Clitherall MN 56524
Yes, technique can be boring. But mastering it is just as important as developing musicality. Just because something is boring doesn't mean it isn't worth doing, and once you master the technique, it won't be boring. Without technique, your ability to present a piece that is up to expected standards musically speaking without causing injury will be compromised.
If you cannot master the technique, you will not be able to:
Play one hand softer than the other. If you cannot do this, you cannot play classical music well-it will simply sound one dimensional without any color, artistry or subtlety of any kind. I cannot think of any classical piece that DOESN'T require the pianist to be able to play one hand softer than the other. And you should be able to do that for both hands. 80% of the time, the left plays softer than the right due to the fact that the bass notes will overwhelm the treble notes if they are played at the same volume and the melody most of the time is contained in the treble clef, but there is that 20% where you have to be able to do it the other way around.
Beethoven's "Waldstein" Sonata, third movement, is a very good example of this switch. It doesn't sound that way on a recording, but that melody the first time at the beginning before it is repeated with octaves is played exclusively by the left hand, with the added twist of having to cross the left hand over the right to play that melody with the left hand. Beethoven also does this with his "Pathetique" Sonata, 1st movement, only with this one, it is the right hand that crosses the left, with the right hand playing the melody. Pull up a YouTube video of either of these pieces, and you'll see what I mean. To put it very bluntly, classical pieces played without any contrast between the left and the right hand will be absolute garbage to listen to.
Emphasize one note over the other with the same hand-this is very important in many classical pieces where the melody is contained in the fourth or fifth fingers with figures or chording played simultaneously by the remaining fingers. Not being able to do this will mean the melody will get lost, and the coloring of the piece will be at best less than optimal to downright unlistenable (see the aforementioned "garbage" sobriquet). Listen to pieces like the "Moonlight Sonata", first movement, or Chopin's "Harp Etude" for examples. In both of these cases, the melody is carried in the fourth or fifth fingers of the right hand with the underlying figures being created by the other fingers of the right hand, with the left hand much softer than the right. If you cannot bring out the melody over the moving figures, you may as well not play these pieces-you will ruin them. It will simply be a mass of notes.
Perform scales, leaps, and arpeggios smoothly, fluidly, and with the dynamics, accuracy, and speed required with both hands. BOTH the right and left hands have to be able to perform scales/arpeggios, leaps, ornaments like trills and turns with the properties above. A top of the line classical pianist will have no discernable differences in the capability of each hand in this area-technical demands as listed above will sound the same regardless of the hand being used.
Perform octave/chord work smoothly, fluidly, with the dynamics, accuracy, and speed required with both hands. See the note for the scales/leaps,etc. requirement. Good examples of this would be Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf" rag-the left hand does octave/chord leaps through the entire piece. While not classical music, a person who is not trained in classical music will probably find that piece VERY difficult to play well. Chopin's "Military" Polonaise is also a good example of expectations regarding the performance of chords in classical music.
Play many long pieces all the way through without thoroughly tiring yourself out/injuring yourself over the long haul. Pieces like the "Winter Wind" and the "Revolutionary" Etude by Chopin (again, pull it up on YouTube) will whip your butt if you don't have the technique to play efficiently enough to conserve energy and not have undue tension. Even with good technique, it tests your endurance. With bad technique, you definitely won't make it.
Even the simplest classical pieces require all of the above as far as technique is concerned. Excepting the Maple Leaf Rag, which isn't a classical piece, the ones I've listed are very advanced pieces, but they are part of the standard piano repertoire for advanced pianists, and most serious pianists do play at least one or two of the listed pieces. If you want to study classical piano, at some point as you progress, you will probably be learning any of the above.
All of the above contributes to the pianist's ability to convey the music in all of its colors and moods in an efficient manner. The higher the level of technique, the more the pianist can do to bring out the subtleties of the music and to express the music in a way that it needs to be expressed. There is a reason classical pianists spend so much time developing technique.
I don't care what anyone says, there are NO shortcuts for the serious student of classical piano who wants to perform these pieces in a manner that won't get them laughed at or booed. If you are hearing there are you are hearing bullshit. If you want to play classical music well, you have to put yourself through the grind with a qualified teacher who can observe you and help you, and practice a LOT. If you don't want to do that, play something else.
If all you want to do is bang out the notes to "Fur Elise" so that you can show your friends you are one level up from the "Chopsticks" crowd, then yeah, go with the YouTube lessons and the "play what you love and forget the boring stuff" zeitgist. But if you want to perform classical music with some level of artistry then you have to pay the price, and that price is mastering the technique.
Show me a person who says technique isn't important, and I'll show you a subpar classical pianist who probably has injuries, or who thinks having just enough technique to bang out a pop tune is analogous to what a classical musician has to do. Other types of music may not require the same level of technique, but with classical music, you cannot have musicality without technique. You cannot. Period.
Article Source: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-way-to-teach-yourself-piano
Soundboard Cleaning
The soundboard of my grand piano is covered with a thick layer of dust. Can you clean this for me? Of course. Cleaning the soundboard is quite tricky as it involves getting a cleaning pad underneath the strings. Trying to clean it using a vacuum cleaner just won't work – you can try blowing the dust towards the bass end and wiping up what accumulates there which will get some of the looser material out, but the heavier, greasy dust will stick. I carry some specialist cleaning rods which are perfect for wiping the soundboard over its entire area but please ask me to do this before I tune your piano! Some of the strings are likely to get knocked which will put them out of tune…
Old or new pianos best?
My grandmother's old Collard and Collard grand is about to passed down to me, much anticipated by my son who is about to take his Grade 6 exams. I had intended buying a decent piano but now I'm not sure which to go for – much loved old or good quality new. Help! Collard & Collard were a well respected make of piano many years ago and your grandmother's grand piano is likely to be a rather elderly example which has rather outlived its sell by date. It is common for piano owners to become very attached to their old family piano and allow sentimental value to cloud their judgement when assessing the condition and quality of the instrument. Very occasionally it has been maintained admirably well and is worth the effort in preserving it for another few years of happy service to the family. More often than not, the passing of the years will have seen the tone fade and the action deteriorate to the point where it is positively difficult to play with expression or enjoyment. No matter how loved the piano is, how many happy memories are associated with it or how beautifully the casework has aged, it is time for a new piano. If in doubt, why not ask a reputable tuner (preferably PTA qualified) to give you his honest opinion before you tell him your attachment to the piano? Grade 6 level piano deserves the very best you can provide if you are not to hinder your son's musical progress. Hanging on to an old, unsatisfactory piano might just prevent him from reaching the…
Effect of environment
I recently inherited my Grandmother's piano and, having moved it into my house, found it is not the same piano at all – the tuning is awful and notes are sticking – can moving a piano really have such a drastic effect on its condition? This is actually quite a common problem and is partly due to the moving process but more to do with the change in environment to which the piano has been subjected. Moving a piano, even from one room to another, can upset the tuning just because the temperature might be different, or because it catches the evening sun, or it's now sitting in a draught. It is quite possible that, if the piano has been kept in an unheated or barely heated front parlour for many years and is then moved suddenly into a warm centrally heated house, this type of problem will occur or indeed, be almost inevitable. Dampness and even mildew can lie dormant deep inside the piano without appearing to have any effect until it is moved into a warmer, drier environment where the piano will mysteriously develop classic symptoms of damp such as sticking notes or a sluggish action. The only solution is to wait until the piano has completely acclimatised to its new position before having it properly tuned and repaired which may possibly entail quite a major…
When my tuner takes off the casework to tune my piano I notice how dirty and dusty it is inside. Is there anything I can do to keep the piano clean myself? Treat your piano like a valuable piece of furniture: keep it clean and avoid standing drinks, vases of flowers, or potted plants on it. Spilled liquids can cause serious damage, the repair of which may amount to a serious overhaul. New pianos are generally finished in polyester which requires only to be wiped over with an anti-static cloth or special cleaning preparation, definitely no wax polish! Unless you are very confident in what you are attempting, it is probably best to leave the inside of the instrument to the care of your tuner. Even removing the top door, fall, and bottom door can prove problematic as can replacing them properly. The dust and debris you can see when the tuner is working on your piano is best left where it is, not causing any problems. Dust tends to settle inside where it does no harm and moving it around could change that delicate balance; it takes only a small bit of grit to jam two keys together. That said, if your piano is really dirty, ask the tuner to clean it for you. At least if he knocks the delicate action out of kilter, he will be able to put it right…
I have had my Steinberg upright piano for over 40 years during which time it has been regularly tuned every 6 months. Recently, however, the strings in the upper register go considerably flat two weeks after tuning. What could be causing this? If the tunings over the last 40 years have been stable and have only recently become less so then you will need to look closely at what may have changed. Assuming the piano has not been moved then the most obvious thing to look for is a change in the heating system of the house. Anything which affects the temperature and most importantly, the humidity of the room in which the piano is kept is likely to have a detrimental effect on the piano.
Has the central heating changed in some way? A more efficient boiler or new radiators, even the installation of double glazing may dry the air to the degree that the wrest plank (the block of laminated wood which holds the wrest, or tuning, pins tightly in place) becomes over seasoned or too dry which in turn causes the pins to become loose and unable to hold the high tension required to keep the strings at pitch. The fact that in your case the top treble seems to be affected most might indicate the presence of an over efficient radiator near that end of the piano. If you are very lucky, removing the source of heat (e.g. turning that radiator off) may restore the wrest plank to its former condition. Otherwise there are several options which you must discuss with your tuner.
Article Source: http://www.cambridgepianotuner.co.uk/newsite/category/general-piano-info/
Piano Lessons Near Me Clitherall MN 56524
When you evaluate the best online piano lessons and the cost of an exclusive nearby piano instructor, it just does not add up. On top of the cost, also and you've traveling fit a treatment in to you busy schedule. The key here is the pupil must match round the schedules, which can be incorrect with web piano sessions of the instructor. Learning piano online ensures quick development and becomes a happiness.


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Chamber music > String Duos, String Trios
Joseph Haydn
Barytone Trios no. 73-96
Editor: Hubert Unverricht
151.00 $
Complete Edition, Reihe XIV, Band 4, clothbound
Pages: 143 (VIII, 135), Size 25,5 x 32,5 cm
Order no. HN 5392 · ISMN 979-0-2018-5392-5
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- Hob. XI:73-80
- Hob. XI:81-96

subset: commoncrawl


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My Love James Gillespie
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rebecca palmer
Arrive early be the last to leave and kick ass all fucking day. Shut up and pay me.
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My name is Amanda Reyes. I am a second year Master's student in the University of Alabama's Women's Studies program and an instructor of Introduction to Women's Studies. Throughout my career as a feminist, women's studies student, and university instructor, I have always been passionate about reproductive and sexual justice and eager to engage anyone on a discussion of these topics. Though their notion of "access" is generally limited by assumptions of affordability, legally documented immigration status, and personally-owned transportation, many individuals can understand the need for women to have access to basic preventive health services, sexually transmitted disease testing and counseling, annual well woman exams, and contraception. However, attitudes can quickly change when the topics of emergency contraception and abortion services are mentioned.
Because of misinformation spread by politicians, organizations, and individuals hostile to the notion of reproductive and sexual justice, many individuals do not understand the difference between emergency contraception and abortion. Emergency contraception works by keeping a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs, or ovulating, so that there is no egg to join with sperm. Furthermore, an individual can only use emergency contraception to prevent a pregnancy up to five days after the unprotected sex occurs. An abortion terminates an already existing pregnancy. Even at this juncture, there are still many individuals who question women's need for abortion services. Frequently, I'm asked "How would you feel if your mother had decided to get an abortion?" and, fortunately, I can answer that question quite well.
My mother, Jeanne, is the reason I believe in reproductive and sexual justice. At seventeen years old, my mother had unprotected sex that resulted in my conception. Because abortion was a legal and accessible option for my mother, she had the personal power to make a decision concerning her pregnancy. My mother elected to not have an abortion, marry my father, and start a family because she felt that she was ready and had the familial support to do so. While my conception was unintended, my birth was eagerly anticipated and brought joy to my mother, my father, and our family.
Things weren't always easy. My family experienced financial hardships throughout my childhood that might not have been issues had my mother elected to have an abortion. It also took the support of both of my parents' families to enable my parents to further their individual educations and careers to become professionals in their respective fields. Because my mother and father had a supportive familial network and truly desired to raise both their intended and unintended children, my younger brother and I were always loved and cared for. Some people respond to this by saying or thinking that my mother's story proves that having and raising unintended children is something that all women are able to do and that, for this reason, there is no need for abortion services to be legally, medically, locally, and affordably available. However, my mother was only able to successfully raise two children in a loving household because she wanted to and had support from her partner, her family, and her career. My mother made the decision based on her own abilities and desires, and I would have never wished for her to care, bear, or raise me if she would have felt that these duties were overwhelming. Access to comprehensive and medically-accurate sex education, contraceptive services, emergency contraception, abortion services, and comprehensive prenatal care, should be available to all women so that they can make empowered decisions concerning reproduction.
My mom has also helped to empower me to make my own decisions concerning my health and reproductive life by sharing knowledge with me and supporting my reproductive choices. Even before I got my first prescription for birth control, my mother did not shy away from explaining to me how one became pregnant. Though she didn't get into all the details, I knew from a young age that pregnancy occurred as a result of unprotected sex. Instead of discouraging me from premarital sexual activity like my school and my church, my mother urged me to use condoms and request medical contraception when I decided to become sexually active. My mother urged me to be healthy and smart no matter how she or others might feel about my sexuality. She also encouraged me to feel comfortable talking to her about any questions I had about sex and my sexuality. Though I never needed to ask my mom many questions thanks to our reliable internet connection, she supported my ability to make decisions for myself by trusting that I could make these decisions and by encouraging me to be comfortable asking her questions or looking things up on the internet. My mother also took me to her undeniably-feminist gynecologist for my first well woman exam. I wasn't sexually active at the time, but my mother wanted me to be comfortable talking with a gynecologist about my reproductive capabilities and undergoing the annual exam, breast exam, and PAP smear. She also wanted me to have the opportunity to inquire about and request a prescription for regular contraception from my gynecologist. Because of the conscious steps that my mother took to educate and empower me, I have been able to live a healthy sexual life and accomplish my educational and career goals without worrying about contracting HIV or STDs or having an unintended pregnancy. Though she would never describe herself as a feminist and no matter how our politics may differ, my mother's life experience and her strength, courage, and trust will always form the bedrock of my commitment to feminism and reproductive and sexual justice for all people.
– Amanda Reyes


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Note: This high-calorie recipe is especially for kids with cystic fibrosis (CF), who may need additional calories to meet their nutritional needs.
This is loaded with calories and fat, so don't forget to take your enzymes if you are pancreatic insufficient.
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4
Serving size: 1 chicken breast
Nutritional analysis (per serving):
772 calories
61 g protein
46 g fat
794 mg sodium
620 mg calcium
Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.
Variations and suggestions:
Serve this with your favorite pasta dish. Don't forget to add some veggies to your meal!
Reviewed by: Rupal Christine Gupta, MD
Date Reviewed: 04-11-2015


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1) n. A citizen of the United States who is of a wealthy background also being heir to a sizeable fortune, typically a trust fund or inheritance to which they are entitled only because of their family's success. 2) n. A United States citizen who has inherited said monies. 3) n. A little shit kid who never has to work for anything in his life.
See also: Yuppie, Richie, LaCoste, Paris Hilton
See also: Yuppie, Richie, LaCoste, Paris Hilton
George W. Bush is a classic example of what it means to be Amheirican.
by Don McCann May 12, 2007
buy the domain for your art blog


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This is part of a series of daily blogging prompts entitled Fearless Females created by Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog in honor of Women's History Month .
Catching up a bit:
* March 11 — Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?
I am not aware of nor can I document such an event. If the question were a little different, I would have a story.
The "other" story would be how my Grandmother's father was killed. The short of it, was that her father was killed by a run-away horse and buggy. That is a well documented event. The good news, is that her education was taken care of by the "driver" of the run-away horse and buggy. The interesting piece of the story is that he was learning to ride a bicycle.
But that's another story.
March 12 — Working girl:
Did your mother or grandmother work outside the home?
What did she do?
Describe her occupation.
Actually, my mother worked outside of the home. She started at a bank teller in Pennsylvania. Don't know a lot about that bank and her story at that bank. But, when our family moved to New Jersey in 1957, she again started to work on a bank again. Later, she helped start a small branch on a heavily traveled road. The bank was in a "house" trailer. I remember going to that bank from time to time while growing up.
She did retire from that bank, but that bank had grown up and, after a number of changes in ownership, the bank is still in existence today.
As mentioned in an earlier Blog entry, she was a leader in her local church and was treasurer and assistant treasurer.
The good news, is that she has a granddaughter who is following in her footsteps. It was talent that bypassed me.


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[Update 07/28/2009: For more detailed information, please look at the new post on this subject: New BoA Chests: Stats and Costs. And to save many of you some time, YES they stack.]
In my daily checks around the various WoW blogs that I visit, I stumbled onto an article that mentioned yet another change coming soon in Patch 3.2 – BoA Chests.
The new BoA Chests are going to offer a +10% Experience bonus just like the BoA Shoulders already do. The big kicker with this though, is that these two pieces of gear are going to stack. So you now have an opportunity to get +20% experience from your equipment alone. Of course you still have the option of Recruit A Friend for +300% experience, or the ever-useful +100% bonus you get from being rested. Note: As Brajana pointed out in the comments below, Rested and RAF bonuses do not stack, so +320% will be the highest bonus you can obtain.
So far we don't have any real detail on what the chest pieces are going to offer other than the bonus experience, but I would imagine they will provide similar benefits to the other heirloom items that already exist. From what I was able to find there has been no mention of prices for them either. I would assume that you will have the same options you do now with X Stonekeeper Shards and X Emblems to purchase them, but we have no details at this time.
Where Psynister Stands
I absolutely love this idea!
I have been putting off leveling my paladin because I am having so much fun with my other characters right now, notably Belgawrath (Orc Shaman 35). But, I might go ahead and get back to leveling Lexington and getting him up to 80 so that I can work on getting some of the heirloom gear for my characters. It will mean I have to leave my fun lower level toons alone for a while, but it will also mean getting to spend more time focusing on my leveling toons later on down the road.
While I love leveling up my characters, that doesn't mean I don't mind speeding up the process. The faster one character levels, the sooner I can move on to another one.
Where Others Stand
I know when the shoulders were introduced I heard several people pouring out the QQ that the Recruit A Friend benefit had been cheapened by them, so I'm sure there will be plenty of that to go around again.
On the flip side of that though, there are enough people who hate the process of leveling alts that they will probably rejoice at this idea almost as much as I do. With both BoA experience boosters and Rested status, you'll be able to run around with +120% experience gained while you do it. If you happen to participate in RAF already, then you're looking at
420% 320% experience. [Edit: no +100% rested when using RAF.] If that's the case, then you might as well roll a new toon and just consider yourself level 60 because you will be there in no time at all.
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Zarhym blue.mmo-champion.com


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Celebrate anything and everything with Party City in Greenbelt! Party City is America's favorite party store for birthday party supplies, baby shower favors, Halloween costumes, and more. Get your party goods for less — everything you need for theme parties, wedding receptions, retirement parties, and sporting events.
With over 850 stores in the United States, Party City is the nation's largest party retailer, offering a huge selection of general and seasonal party supplies. We've been in the party business for thirty years, growing from a single location to a well-known national chain. Our retail outlet in Greenbelt is a one-stop shop for birthdays, Halloween parties, baby showers, and holiday events.
Many stores offer a limited assortment of party ware, but at Party City Greenbelt, we specialize in party supplies. We sell costumes, decorations, and favors year round, and not just during the biggest holiday seasons. Aisles are organized by color, season, and party theme, so that everything is easy to find and within easy reach. There's no better selection of theme party supplies, boy's and girl's birthday themes and Halloween costumes anywhere — and at Party City, all products are tested for quality and safety before they ever reach our shelves.
Party City has several retail locations in the Baltimore metro area, with stores in Baltimore proper, Glen Burnie, Catonsville, White Marsh, and more. These party stores, only a short drive away, will keep you stocked for the Preakness Race Festival, the Original Fell's Point GhostWalk, or any other local event.
Party City carries themed supplies for all NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL teams, and merchandise for over sixty universities and colleges. Stores in the Crab Cake Capital offer complete party supplies for the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles.
So whether you're picnicking at Fort McHenry for the afternoon, tailgating Ravens-style with friends at M&T Bank Stadium, or simply celebrating the proud graduate or birthday boy or girl, Party City has you covered with the right tableware, decorations, and accessories for the occasion.
Below are just a few of the supplies we offer.
General party supplies are sold year round. These include:
Birthday supplies are also sold year round. They include:
These can be seasonal or perennial, depending on the occasion.
Halloween is our biggest season by far. From August through November, Party City Greenbelt is primarily a Halloween store, carrying all styles and sizes of costumes, a huge assortment of costume accessories, life size animated props, giant stretch cobwebs, and skull pitchers and mugs. Because we also manufacture Halloween merchandise, many of the products we sell are exclusive to Party City — you can't buy them anywhere else. Costumes, wigs, cream makeup, and vampire teeth are easy to find, thanks to the careful layout of our floor space, shelves, and aisles. Halloween store inventory includes:


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DNA tools for genealogists
5 June, 2012 at 11:22 pm 12 comments
DNA technology is advancing so rapidly that it is difficult to keep abreast of the advances and possibilities. Moreover rapidly falling prices make genetic testing more affordable and so more accessible. Here are some current options:
Test 1: Y-chromosome tests, for males to test DNA inherited from their father's fathers
It is now possible for under US$200 for males to test the DNA they have inherited from their father's father's fathers, with sufficient accuracy to determine whether two men likely share a common ancestor 'within a genealogical timeframe' and how many generations ago that common ancestor probably lived.
I have used this test to discern whether two families with the same surname were actually related to each other, in situations where I have not yet found documentary proof. I have also used this particular DNA test to check (and finally refute) a theory about who might have been the biological father of an adopted male. It was necessary to find a living male descendant (down an all-male line) from the adopted male and also to find a living male descendant (down an all-male line) from the hypothesised birth father, and then compare the DNA that each inherited from their father's fathers.
DNA is not related to surnames and so I am not restricted to testing two men with the same surname – the test is valid for any two men who might share a common male ancestor. However when I order this test, if I choose to use a commercial testing company like Family Tree DNA – which has a huge (and growing) database – I might find in their database a match with some living descendant who shares a common ancestor that I did not know about. This is especially useful for adoptees.
The above DNA test is only available to males (as only males have a Y-chromosome). Females like me need to ask a near male relative to be tested. I have asked my father and also my mother's brother to be tested – this opens up for examination my nearest male lines.
Test 2: Mitochondrial tests, for anyone to test DNA inherited from their mother's mothers
Useful DNA tests are no longer limited to males. We all have a different type of DNA (called mitochondria) that we inherit from our mother's mother's mothers. Mitochondria mutates so slowly that formerly the only conclusions we could draw from our maternal line was about ancient ancestors and their migratory patterns.
However that is no longer true. The company Family Tree DNA offers full sequence tests of all our mitochondria (DNA that is inherited from our mothers) that allow us to identify people who share an ancestor through our mother's mother's mothers, within about 200 years. [Thank you Bill Hurst for pointing out that while 23andMe also tests the 'coding region' of our mitochondria, they do not test or give results for all 16,571 locations, so theirs is not in fact a full sequence test.]
When the above matrilineal full sequence tests first became available, they cost close to $1,000. That price has dropped now to under US$300 (sometimes under $200).
Test 3: Autosomal tests, to test the DNA inherited half from each of our parents
We are not restricted to testing only the DNA of our father's fathers or our mother's mothers. Since 2010 it is possible to test the remaining nuclear DNA (that is, not the sex chromosomes). This DNA is called autosomal. Family Tree DNA calls their autosomal test Family Finder, while 23andMe calls a similar test Relative Finder. (Again these tests are under US$300 and sometimes under $200.)
These particular tests can check the DNA of our ancestors regardless of gender, because we inherit about half our autosomal DNA from each of our parents (and via them, from their ancestors) and this DNA can also be compared with the DNA of others. However as we inherit about one quarter of our DNA from each of our grandparents (and so about one eighth from each of our great grandparents) – eventually the inherited material from one particular ancestor becomes so small as to be difficult to identify definitively. Consequently, when comparing this autosomal DNA with someone else, our best conclusions are when the common ancestor lived no more than about 6 generations ago.
Use the tests in conjunction
While the above tests examine separate DNA, the tests can be used in conjunction. When looking at the summary of DNA results for people that 23andMe identified as likely to be my 3rd to 5th cousins (identified via the Relative Finder – or autosomal test), I noticed that one of the matches also seemed to have very similar Y-chromosome (father's fathers) DNA to my mother's brother. I sent an email and by swapping names of grandparents and their parents, we soon identified that this person was the son of a 3rd cousin to me (and so indeed within the range of 3rd to 5th cousins).
It is not necessary to understand how a car works in order to drive it, but it is necessary to know the functions of driving. In the same way it is unnecessary to understand much about the science of DNA in order to use it as a tool – but it is necessary to understand what sorts of questions can be answered by the different DNA tests so you know how to apply them as tools to aid your family history research.
This field is changing quickly
Because genetic tests available to the public are changing frequently (and certainly the prices are) readers need to beware of relying on conclusions written years ago or by someone who has not 'kept up' with tests currently available. This blog post is partly in response to an article I read this week entitled 'The DNA dilemma' – I do not agree with many of the conclusions in that piece.
It is no longer true to say that the only available information to be derived from maternal DNA (or mitochondria) is about ancient migrations of peoples – recent relatives can now be found by a full sequencing of the mitochondria (test available from Family Tree DNA for under $300).
It is no longer true that autosomal DNA can only make generalised indicators of race origins. (Autosomal DNA is sometimes referred to as 'nuclear DNA' but that is incorrect because the sex chromosomes are also inside the cell nucleus and the autosomes are the other pairs of chromosomes that are not the sex chromosomes.) Nor is it necessary to 'test each generation in turn'. Autosomal DNA can identify that two people shared common ancestors within 6 generations (and possibly beyond, but it is less accurate beyond 6 generations). Many genealogists will not know all of their ancestors back even 6 generations, and so this DNA test can predict likely distant cousins who may not have been found by a paper trail.
There are differences between the DNA tests used in forensic law enforcement compared to commercial tests. Without going into too much scientific detail, legal forensics examine repeating groups of DNA at certain points on the autosomes whereas commercial autosomal tests examine the autosomal SNPs (something like 'typo' mutations). The tests are entirely different. Be wary about confusing the markers referred to in tests of the Y-chromosome (the DNA inherited father-to-son) – which are entirely different to the markers of autosomal DNA examined by forensic law enforcement agents.
Some people have suggested that male DNA studies are only relevant between males who share surnames. That is not true. There are many examples where family trees show a son with a different surname to his father – whether the name was changed by deed poll, by adoption, by remarriage of the mother – or for many other reasons. It is not the same surname that defines two people as father and son. Likewise DNA tests do not take surnames into account, so the test result is just as accurate whether two men share a surname or not.
In my opinion, the most recent DNA tests available to genealogists offer precise information which can supplement traditional genealogical methods. Family trees are still needed to identify ancestors and draw conclusions, however DNA tests can supplement other genealogical research, filling in gaps left by paper trails. With such tools we can test our conclusions and assumptions in constructed family trees as DNA can confirm or disprove reputed relationships. As databases grow, commercial DNA tests are more likely to help us find relatives that we might not have found by 'traditional methods'.
Entry filed under: DNA, Research techniques. Tags: 23andMe, autosomal, chromosomes, DNA, FamilyTreeDNA, genes, mitochondria.
12 Comments Add your own
23andMe does not offer an mtDNA full sequence test. Their test includes about 17% of the mtDNA, I believe.
Thank you a very informative post on a very quickly changing area.
Thanks for such an informative post! I've decided to dip my toes in the waters of DNA research, and have been trying to decide on which method to use. I'm more or less stuck between asking my dad to take a Y-DNA test or taking an autosomal test myself. This post made the differences a little clearer (though I'm not sure I've been able to make a decision yet!)
Nice update Thanks Kerry
Thanks Kerry – that is a very helpful summary of the current situation. I had no idea that testing had progressed so much.
[…] new technology. DNA genealogy has made significant strides and it has become more affordable in recent years. It's now a viable option to learn more […]
Stay away from FAMILY TREE DNA
I ordered an online special offer for a 67ydna test from Family Tree DNA and got ripped off. I paid $205.00 including postage for the test which was actually, what they call, Family Finder test. I did not receive the results for the test I ordered but received a cheaper test instead.
I called their office but they did not want to even follow through with my complaint. I wasn't after a refund, just the results for what I paid for.
My advice: stay away from this company – they have no integrity!!
[…] new technology. DNA genealogy has made significant strides and it has become more affordable in recent years. It's now a viable option to learn more about […]
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Analysis & Opinions - New Straits Times
Gorbachev and the End of the Cold War
This op-ed was reprinted in Beirut, Lebanon's The Daily Star on April 25, 2006, as "The Man Who Preferred a Soviet Whimper to a Dying Bang".
The Soviet collapse was due to the decline of communist ideology and economic failure. This would have happened even without Gorbachev, writes JOSEPH S. NYE.
EARLIER this month, Mikhail Gorbachev celebrated his 75th birthday with a concert and conference at his foundation in Moscow. Unfortunately, he is not popular with the Russian people who blame him for the loss of Soviet power.
But, as Gorbachev has replied to those who shout abuse at him: "Remember, I am the one who gave you the right to shout."
When he came to power in 1985, Gorbachev tried to discipline the Soviet people as a way to overcome economic stagnation. When discipline failed to solve the problem, he launched perestroika ("restructuring"). And when bureaucrats continually thwarted his orders, he used glasnost, or open discussion and democratisation. But once glasnost let people say what they thought, many people said: "We want out."
By December 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
Gorbachev's foreign policy, which he called "new thinking", also contributed to the Cold War's end. Gorbachev said that security was a game from which all could benefit through co-operation. Rather than try to build as many nuclear weapons as possible, he proclaimed a doctrine of "sufficiency", holding only a minimal number for protection.
He also believed that Soviet control over an empire in Eastern Europe was costing too much and providing too little benefit and that the invasion of Afghanistan had been a costly disaster.
By the summer of 1989, East Europeans were given more freedom. Gorbachev refused to sanction the use of force to put down demonstrations. By November, the Berlin Wall had fallen.
Some of these events stemmed from Gorbachev's miscalculations. After all, he wanted to reform communism, not replace it. But his reforms snowballed into a revolution driven from below rather than controlled from above. In trying to repair communism, he punched a hole in it. Like a hole in a dam, once pent-up pressure began to escape, it widened the opening and tore apart the system.
By contrast, if the Communist Party's Politburo had chosen one of Gorbachev's hard-line competitors in 1985, it is plausible that the declining Soviet Union could have held on for another decade or so.
It did not have to collapse so quickly. Gorbachev's humanitarian tinkering contributed greatly to the timing.
But there were also deeper causes for the Soviet demise. One was the "soft" power of liberal ideas, whose spread was aided by the growth of transnational communications and contacts, while the demonstration effect of Western economic success gave them additional appeal.
In addition, the huge Soviet defence budget began to undermine other aspects of Soviet society. Healthcare deteriorated and the mortality rate increased (the only developed country where that occurred). Eventually, even the military became aware of the tremendous burden caused by imperial overstretch.
Ultimately, the deepest causes of the Soviet collapse were the decline of communist ideology and economic failure. This would have happened even without Gorbachev. In the early Cold War, communism and the Soviet Union had considerable soft power. Many communists led the resistance against fascism in Europe and many people believed that communism was the wave of the future.
But Soviet soft power was undercut by the exposure of Stalin's crimes in 1956 and by the repression in Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, and Poland in 1981.
Although in theory communism aimed to establish a system of class justice, Lenin's heirs maintained domestic power through a brutal security apparatus involving lethal purges, gulags, broad censorship and ubiquitous informants. The net effect of these brutal measures was a general loss of faith in the system.
The Soviet economy's decline, meanwhile, reflected the diminished ability of central planning to respond to global economic change. Stalin had created a command economy that emphasised heavy manufacturing and smokestack industries, making it highly inflexible—all thumbs and no fingers.
As the economist Joseph Schumpeter pointed out, capitalism is "creative destruction", a way of responding flexibly to major waves of technological change. At the end of the 20th century, the major technological change of the third industrial revolution was the growing role of information as the scarcest resource in an economy.
The Soviet system was particularly inept at handling information. The deep secrecy of its political system meant that the flow of information was slow and cumbersome.
Economic globalisation created turmoil throughout the world at the end of the 20th century, but the Western market economies were able to reallocate labour to services, restructure their heavy industries and switch to computers. The Soviet Union could not keep up.
Indeed, when Gorbachev came to power in 1985, there were 50,000 personal computers in the Soviet Union; in the United States, there were 30 million. Four years later, there were about 400,000 personal computers in the Soviet Union, and 40 million in the US.
According to one Soviet economist, by the late 1980s, only eight per cent of Soviet industry was globally competitive. It is difficult for a country to remain a superpower when the world doesn't want 92 per cent of what it produces.
The lessons for today are clear. While military power remains important, it is a mistake for any country to discount the role of economic power and soft power. But it is also a mistake to discount the importance of leaders with humanitarian values. The Soviet Union may have been doomed, but the world has Gorbachev to thank for the fact that the empire he oversaw ended without a bloody conflagration.
The writer is Distinguished Service Professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
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Lanvin Leather Bluchers
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Constructed in Portugal of brown smooth leather, Lanvin's four-eye bluchers are designed with a heavyweight rubber lug sole. These understated shoes are finished with a comfortable stacked heel.Style #505696483
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The oldest existing French couture house was founded in 1889 by designer Jeanne Lanvin after the birth of her daughter, whose likeness is featured in the label's emblem of a mother and child. Celebrated for a refined sense of Parisian elegance, the women's ready-to-wear and accessories lines focus on monochrome color choices, luxurious fabrics, and fluid silhouettes. For more than a decade, Lucas Ossendrijver has been designing the brand's menswear collection, bringing his sportswear sensibility to impeccably tailored suits and separates.
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Keyboard instruments > Piano solo
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata no. 14 c sharp minor op. 27 no. 2 (Moonlight)
編集者: Murray Perahia, Norbert Gertsch
指使い: Murray Perahia
7.00 €
Urtext Edition, paperbound
ページ: 28 (X, 18), 大きさ 23,5 x 31,0 cm
難易度 (Piano): 難しい (等級 7)
"Sonata quasi una fantasia" was the title given to it by Beethoven, and yet the world of music knows it as the "Moonlight Sonata" – an epithet that was already around during the composer's lifetime. "The lake rests quiet under the light of the moon at twilight; the wave thuds against the dark bank", wrote Ludwig Rellstab on the 1st movement in 1823. "It is as if we catch sight of a colossal grave in the middle of a lonely plain, palely lit by the sickle moon", was what Wilhelm von Lenz wrote. Beethoven might have been influenced by the sound of the Aeolian harp, as Murray Perahia and Norbert Gertsch explain in the introductory texts to this edition, referring to the latest research. Perahia also provided the fingerings.
The levels of difficulty of the
piano music published by G. Henle Publishers
The levels of difficulty of the piano music published by G. Henle Publishers
|Bach, Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, nos. 4 and 5
|Bach, Well-Tempered Clavier I, no. 1 Prelude C major
|Beethoven, Piano Sonatas op. 49,1 and 2
|Grieg, Lyric Pieces op. 12, no. 4
|Schumann, Fantasy Pieces op. 12, no. 1
|Chopin, Nocturnes op. 27, nos. 1 and 2
|Beethoven, Piano Sonata op. 10, no. 3
|Beethoven, Piano Sonata op. 81a
|Schumann, Toccata op. 7
Guide to the levels of difficulty
"I don't know what 'difficult' means. Either you can play or you can't" – this was the rather terse comment by the great violinist Nathan Milstein, on being asked about the unbelievable difficulty of Niccolo Paganini's Caprice no. 1.
The relativity of the evaluation of difficulty in music immediately becomes clear. Yet I gladly take up this great challenge, presented to me by G. Henle Publishers. For I am aware of how useful a guide like this can be, both from my own experience as well as that of many colleagues. In particular so as to be able to identify "appropriate" works. For example for music teachers, who teach at very different levels, from beginners to those preparing for music conservatories, but also for all those interested amateurs for whom this guide is intended.
After careful deliberation I have settled on nine levels of difficulty, which I have divided into three groups: 1–3 (easy), 4–6 (medium), 7–9 (difficult). A number of parameters have been considered when assessing the level of difficulty. I have not just looked at the number of fast or slow notes to be played, or the chord sequences; of central importance are also the complexity of the piece's composition, its rhythmic complexities, the difficulty of reading the text for the first time, and last but not least, how easy or difficult it is to understand its musical structure. I have defined "piece" as being the musical unit of a sonata, or a single piece in a cycle, which is why Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" Part I comprises a total of 48 levels of difficulty (each prelude and fugue is considered separately), Schumann's Sonata in f sharp minor op.11 only has a single number. My assessment is measured by the ability to prepare a piece for performance.
While assessing the pieces, it became clear that the medium level of difficulty (4–6) is the trickiest. Now and again this means that a piece is judged as a "3/4", even if it only deserved a "3" as far as piano technique is concerned. An example of such a "borderline" case (easy/medium) is Schumann's "Scenes from Childhood" op. 15 Von fremden Ländern und Menschen or at the other end "6/7" part of Bach's "English Suites". And of course within a main category there are also "from-to" evaluations (e.g. 7/8).
Any evaluation of art or music will always be subjective, even if the aim was to be objective. Despite the fact that I have endeavoured to be as careful as possible, I am all too aware that the results of my work can be called into question, and am therefore grateful for any suggestions you might have.
Prof. Rolf Koenen © 2010


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"Mrs. Meehan?"
"Hi. This is Mrs. M., Savannah's health teacher."
This is the part where I thought, well it's a good thing I'm in the hospital because I think I just went into cardiac arrest.
"Oh yes. Umm, about Savannah's menu... I really usually cook decent meals. Honestly. Other than those Cheez-Its I got Savannah and some flavored tea, I don't keep foods with artificial ingredients in the house. I make almost everything from scratch. Usually. Honestly. I know it seems like I'm a derelict and I only feed my kids Skittles, Dr. Pepper, and boxed, frozen nuggets made from 1% chicken parts and 99% sawdust, but I swear I only feed them that stuff on odd numbered days. The other days, I cook real meals containing actual food. I swear! The more I ramble, the more I notice the absolute silence on the other end. The more silence, the more I ramble. I'm just fun that way. I continued prattling, I mean, I don't make them eat liver or anything too gross, but I force feed them vegetables. Well, not Brussel sprouts because, well because they're icky and they look like little brains. I know I write about cookies a lot, but we really don't eat cookies for every meal. Well, sometimes I do, but I make sure the kids don't. Because I
Before her ears started bleeding, Mrs. M interrupted and said, "Mrs. Meehan, I was just calling to let you know that Savannah is a great kid."
I impressed her with my highly articulate reply, "Huh?"
"I was going to write you a note, but I decided to give you a call instead. I've paired the kids up to take notes and work together. Savannah's partner struggles a bit and Savannah has been really nice to her and has taken time to help her. I just wanted to let you know."
"Ohhh. Oh well, very good. Very well then. You can just ignore my inane ramblings."
Seriously though, I was so happy to hear that my daughter was being nice and helpful. It's always good to know that something has sunken in and the kids can behave in public. Sometimes I wonder if anything I say gets through to them, ya know? And how nice that her teacher took the time to call and let me know! And even better yet, she closed with this, "As far as the diet goes, believe me, I know what it's like to do the whole fast food drive-thru thing on the way to dropping my son off at his sporting event. I just want the kids to be aware of what they're eating and to think about the decisions they make when it comes to food. If they repeatedly make unhealthy choices,
And the kids' surgery went very well today. They were in and out in no time. Clay was loopy and goofy as they took him back to surgery. He was giggling so hysterically that the nurse asked, "Did anesthesia come and give him a shot?" Um, nope. He's just a goofball. As always, having surgery done in a children's hospital sure makes you thankful for healthy kids. Say a prayer for all those kiddos who are in the hospital for more than a simple ear tube surgery.
Edited to add the following:
I keep forgetting to mention this! If any fellow blogger out there in Blogland has a couple minutes to spare, go here and fill out this survey about mom bloggers. Bobbie Sue is trying to finish up her PhD and needs your help gathering information about how blogging might have helped you transition to motherhood. Please take a minute to help her out in her research.


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e, just maybe, there's a consideration to ponder here.
Fifty states have petitioned to secede from the union—only seven left! Seemingly as a preemptive strike, Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia ruled from the soapbox that the secession issue was unconstitutional, cemented in precedent by the Civil War. May I point out, however, that our original Constitution preempted the law of the land we were adhered to at one time: The United Kingdom.
The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings
Rush Limbaugh and Louis Farrakhan are so far apart ideologically that sometimes the circle comes close to connection. In 1997 Minister Farrakhan came up with a redistribution of wealth scheme that would award a current US state to black Americans--payback for "…400 years of our service and sweat and labor."
Limbaugh opined on his post-election radio monologue that since the popular vote was divided almost equally between Obama and Romney and the animosity between the parties so stark, we should divvy up the US geography to approximate a 51-49 divide. Let the Obamaites pick their half of the USA, east or west or north or south. Each is to be autonomous with separate governments, constitutions and legal systems. If trade or embassies are engaged between the countries, then so be it—but neither has the right to confiscate tax revenues from the other side.
We will each be responsible for our own domestic and foreign policy, including energy sources, and we would each live in separate and autonomous countries. The conservative half would agree to help train the other side as Farrakhan had opined--but after a pre-agreed upon period, Obama supporters would be left to survive by their own guile and effort.
As I often do, I tested this theory on social media. One liberal friend, Kevin, a frequent critic and caller to my radio show, was so ecstatic Obama won he called me on my iPhone. Kevin ridiculed me, twisting the knife of the all-too-fresh election wounds to elicit the most pain. He ended by loudly chanting, "Four more years, four more years!" I would have been fine with it, if it wasn't at 3:00 AM. Weasel that I am, I took the recording of this celebratory rant and opened my show with it.
On Facebook, Kevin opined that all the people who voted for Obama in the town he lived in had jobs. I responded that this was a good thing. As Barack supporters they would gleefully fork over as much of their hard-earned cash to support the massive entitlement to those who refused to work in the form of disability, food stamps, unemployment, free healthcare, green energy fiascos and whatever else an unrestricted Obama-run government could imagine. I opined that since the Obamaites could no longer rely on conservative support, he'd need an awful lot of supporters with jobs.
Today, as I was texting to my friend and fellow writer, Candice Lanier, I mentioned that I was writing this "spoof." I guess she misread it as being a serious piece, one that would actually be adopted.
Candice warned, "The left wouldn't go for that b/c they need our taxes to finance their never ending disasters."
Ah, from the mouths of innocents…


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From superheroes to super spies, from hobbits to bow-and-arrow wielding heroines, 2012 was quite an epic year at the box office. It's been a while since I remember so many good movies being packed into one year, and I had a difficult time narrowing down my list of favorites. Normally one film will rise to the top and emerge as my clear favorite (last year, Michael Fassbender's breakout performance as Magneto in "X-Men: First Class" pushed that film to the top of my list). But this year, I had to spend a long time deciding what films I liked the best.
In terms of ticket sales, superheroes were the clear winners at the box office, with Joss Whedon's epic mash-up "The Avengers" leading the pack. Arguably the most-hyped movie of the year, the film also was the biggest moneymaker, pulling in about $1.5 billion and ending up in the third slot on the list of all-time highest grossing films. It received a thumb's up from critics, as well, scoring 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Two other superhero flicks — "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Amazing Spider-Man" — also ranked in the top 10 on the list of highest-grossing movies of 2012 in the U.S. The year marked the return of two favorite film franchises, James Bond and "The Lord of the Rings," with "Skyfall" and the LOTR prequel, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." 2012 marked the final chapter in one young-adult-novel-to-film franchise, "Twilight," and the beginning of another, "The Hunger Games." It was a good year for smaller films, too, with "Moonrise Kingdom" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild" earning high praise from critics.
Some of the rising stars this year included Jeremy Renner ("The Avengers," "The Bourne Legacy") and Jennifer Lawrence ("The Hunger Games," "Silver Linings Playbook"). However, it wasn't such a good year for Taylor Kitsch, who had the misfortune of starring in not one but two of the biggest box office flops this year, "John Carter" and "Battleship." Another high-profile flop was the "Total Recall" remake, which scored only 30 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The following is a list of my top five favorite films of the year (it was an especially close race between the top three). The final movie I'm looking forward to this year is "Les Misérables." I won't be able to see it until early next month, or otherwise it might have made my list here.
5. The Hunger Games
"The Hunger Games" isn't an easy movie to watch. Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, the story takes place in a post-apocalyptic society called Panem that is controlled by an oppressive government. Every year, two young adults from each of Panem's districts are forced to fight in a horrific televised death match called the "Hunger Games," as punishment for the districts' failed rebellion years ago.
It's one of those movies that disturbs you on a deep emotional level and really makes you think. It touches on a variety of themes, from government control, to reality television, to the way it's easy to ignore the suffering and oppression of others, as long as we're not faced by hardship ourselves.
"The Hunger Games" is a grim and harrowing film, but it's not entirely without hope. Katniss, the film's bow-wielding heroine, isn't selected for the Hunger Games — she volunteers in her younger sister's place. Katniss' courage and self-sacrifice eventually give the people of Panem a flicker of hope that the darkness won't last forever. It's a message that seems particularly relevant this year, due to some of the dark times our culture has faced. "The Hunger Games" is a film that lingers with you a long time after you watch it, and in my opinion was one of the must-see films of 2012.
4. The Dark Knight Rises
"The Dark Knight Rises" brought to a close Christopher Nolan's "Batman" saga, arguably one of the best film trilogies of our generation. The film was a little more polarizing than I thought it would be — some fans loved it, while others thought it didn't quite live up to the expectations set by its predecessor, 2008's "The Dark Knight."
Personally, "The Dark Knight Rises" is my favorite of the three films in Nolan's "Batman" saga. It's dark and gritty, but still emotionally moving, and it did a nice job of bringing the trilogy full circle. I thought Nolan also made the plot both timely and timeless, touching on "Occupy" themes but also universal concepts such as sacrifice and hope.
The surprise highlight of the film for many fans was Anne Hathaway's performance as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. While many fans, myself included, were a little skeptical Hathaway could pull off the role, she brought humor and spirit to the film. Few films are deserving of the term "masterpiece," but I believe Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy has earned it.
3. Skyfall
Before this year, the James Bond franchise wasn't in the best shape. MGM's financial woes had put the series in jeopardy, and while I personally had enjoyed the most recent Bond film, "Quantum of Solace," it wasn't as strong a story as "Casino Royale" and took a hit from critics.
But this fall, Bond made a comeback, and Daniel Craig proved once again that he deserves a spot near the top of the list of best Bond portrayals. "Skyfall" is a film that's both elegant and gritty, and it manages to combine intense action sequences with relevant commentary on the changing role of espionage in the modern world.
Craig's Bond is a man of paradoxes: tough but vulnerable, charming but emotionally distant, and aloof but passionate about protecting his country and "M." Judi Dench's "M" bids farewell to the franchise in an emotional finale, and Javier Bardem impressed fans and critics with his dangerously unhinged villain Silva. It's a film I definitely plan to add to my DVD collection when it's released.
2. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Almost a decade after the conclusion of the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, Peter Jackson returned to Middle-earth with the first of three films based on the LOTR prequel novel, "The Hobbit."
Like "The Dark Knight Rises," this film was unexpectedly polarizing among fans and critics. Fans have debated issues such as whether the film was too light-hearted, or whether the story should have been split into just two parts instead of three. However, I personally loved it, and it was great to return to Middle-earth.
I liked how Jackson was able to capture the overall style and tone of his "Lord of the Rings" series but also give the new film a lighter touch, in keeping with the tone of the original novel, which was intended to be a children's book. Martin Freeman gives a strong performance as Bilbo, and it's good to see Ian McKellen take up Gandalf's staff again. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is a fun, rousing adventure film, and I wish we didn't have to wait a year for part two.
1. The Avengers
When I showed up at the theater on opening night to see "The Avengers" with some friends, we were surprised to see there was no line outside the theater. With all the buzz I'd been hearing about the film, I was expecting there would be a large crowd. We stepped inside the theater, and then I realized there was a line — it was just inside — and it started at the entrance to the IMAX screen and wrapped all the way around the inside of the 17-screen theater and was actually looping back around again. It's the biggest line I had ever seen at our local theater, and you could sense the excitement in the air.
"The Avengers" film was a gamble. Nobody had really done a film like this before. Marvel had spent years working on the project, including teasers in individual superhero films like "Iron Man" and "Thor." Trying to make a film with so many different superheroes with so many different personalities could have been a disaster, but it wasn't. Thanks to director Joss Whedon, "The Avengers" was a fun, exhilarating roller coaster ride with both humor and heart.
Each of the actors playing the individual superheroes were perfectly cast, and Tom Hiddleston's scheming but charming villain Loki steals just about every scene he's in. The film was a great way to kick off the summer blockbuster season, and it sets the bar pretty high for all the superhero films that will follow it.
Year in review: My favorite movies of 2012
From superheroes to super spies, from hobbits to bow-and-arrow wielding heroines, 2012 was quite an epic year at the box office. It's been a while since I remember so many good movies being packed into one year, and I had a difficult time narrowing down my list of favorites. Normally one film will rise to the top and emerge as my clear favorite (last year, Michael Fassbender's breakout performance as Magneto in "X-Men: First Class" pushed that film to the top of my list). But this year, I had to spend a long time deciding what films I liked the best.


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Police, community and calendar briefs for April 4, 2013 are featured.
Publix closes due to gas leak
A supermarket was temporarily closed Wednesday as county fire officials and gas company employees worked to determine the cause of a gas leak.
Jessica Greene, spokeswoman for Marion County Fire Rescue, said her agency was dispatched to Publix, 7578 SE Maricamp Road, shortly before noon. A customer told a manager about smelling gas in the building, and the manager called 911 and evacuated.
The leak was tracked to the bakery area and workers from TECO gas company made repairs.
Community center reports thefts
A former community center employee accused of stealing money and items from the venue was arrested Tuesday and charged with organized fraud.
Linda M. Huffman, 49, was arrested at her Fort McCoy residence by Deputy Daniel Miller.
According to Miller's report, money taken from the Fort McCoy Community Center at 1405 E. County Road 316 was used by Huffman to purchase alcohol and "take out others at the community center."
Huffman was employed there as a bartender.
An official at the center told the deputy that money from the juke box, cash from a bank bag and several items, such as a propane cylinder, were missing.
Huffman admitted selling the center's popcorn maker to a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Astor for $25.
Deputies charge man with robbery
Members of the Sheriff's Office Tactical Investigations Unit arrested a 23-year-old man Tuesday and charged him with two counts of robbery with a weapon.
Early Tuesday, deputies received a call about a man wrapping a chain around the neck of another man and holding him on the ground while a second man hit the victim in the head with a metal pipe while a third man searched his pockets.
The incident was reported at 1:45 a.m. The injured man was treated at the scene by paramedics.
The specialized unit got a tip that Michael Brett "Mike" McGirth Jr. was one of the men involved in the incident and they also had already identified him as a suspect. He was interviewed at the Sheriff's Office and arrested.
The investigation is continuing, officials said.
Anyone with information about the other two suspects can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.
Police say meth found at residence
A sheriff's deputy, with assistance from an official with the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, recovered 80.5 grams of methamphetamine from an Ocklawaha residence Tuesday.
The homeowner told Deputy Billy Burleson that when she arrived at her home in the 18000 block of Southeast 96th Place, she found a front window shattered. Inside, she found a plastic bottle with a hose coming from the lid and a hard material on the bottom, and four Ziploc bags containing a clear liquid, and called 911.
The deputy called the drug unit and an agent arrived and was given permission to search the home. The search revealed several other bottles officials said were used to cook meth. The investigation is ongoing, officials said Wednesday.
3 criminal cases get court dates
Court dates have been set in three significant criminal cases in Ocala.
Jamal "Diddy" Jefferson will have a hearing in July. His lawyer asked for more time to gather information. Jefferson, 39, was indicted in November in connection with the shooting death of Jeffery Todd Aaron, 41, of Ocala, whose body was found in Orlando in June. Authorities say the shooting occurred during a cocaine deal.
Ryan Blake McCullough, 22, will have a hearing in August. He is accused of being the so-called "Ninja robber" — a man who dressed in all black and robbed five local businesses between March 25 and May 15 last year.
In the meantime, the murder case against Ashley Brooke LeVelle will be back in court in August, with a possible trial date in September. LeVelle, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in the December 2011 shooting death of LaVar Watson, an Iraq War veteran. The two had met on an online dating site and had scheduled a date that night, officials said.
Stevin Roopnarine, 23, is also charged with first-degree murder in that case. Watson was robbed after the shooting, officials say. Authorities allege Roopnarine fired three shots at Watson, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, hitting him in the back of the head and shoulder. He has denied the accusation, saying LeVelle fired the shots and planned the entire incident. His trial is slated for mid-December.
Campfires banned for now in Forest
The Forest Service has issued a temporary ban on campfires in the Ocala National Forest because of wildfire concerns during drought conditions.
Stove fires are allowed in devices commercially designed for cooking, such as propane cook stoves and above-the-ground pedestal grills, according a USDA Forest Service news release.
Fires placed directly on the ground, even for cooking purposes, are considered campfires and are prohibited.
Extreme drought conditions "mean fires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely," the news release states. Violations are punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
The ban is in effect until further notice.
Ocala, CF to honor NJCAA champions
Ocala and the College of Central Florida will celebrate CF's NJCAA national champion men's basketball team with an event on the downtown square April 10. It starts at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
The event will include a ceremony honoring the team and coaches, comments by CF and community leaders, and performances by the Patriot Dancers.
Changes to gas tax allocations mulled
The five cities in Marion County will meet today to discuss the way gas taxes are divided up and how Marion County has proposed the possibility of cutting the amount each city receives.
At previous meetings, the cities have expressed concern that any cuts could result in reductions in staff and/or services offered.
The Ocala City Council, at its meeting Tuesday night, discussed the possibility the cities may be forced to raise taxes to make up for lost revenues should the county reduce the allocations, which have remained at the same percentage rates for 30 years.
The meeting, which involves officials from Ocala, Belleview, Dunnellon, McIntosh and Reddick, begins at 1 p.m. at the Ocala-Marion County Chamber Economic Partnership, 319 SE Third St., Ocala.
Dog training classes offered
The Professional Dog Training School will hold seven-week training courses beginning April 13 at 4260 SE 53rd Ave., Ocala, with novice and sub-novice categories.
The cost is $80 per course. For more information, call 732-8655 or email email@example.com.
America's Boating Course offered
The Harris Chain Sail and Power Squadron is offering the America's Boating Course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13 at the Captiva Recreation Center, 3095 Charlotte Court, The Villages.
The cost is $55 for the first family member and $25 for each additional family member. The minimum age is 12.
Attendees who pass the final exam will receive the FWC Boating Safety Education ID card, which is required for all boaters born after 1988.
For more information, call 615-2050 or visit www.harrischain.org.
Chef to cook at women's luncheon
The Ocala Christian Women's Connection will host a "Dishin' Out Spring Luncheon" from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 23 at the Ocala Hilton, 3600 SW College Road, Ocala.
Hilton Chef Randall will show how to prepare a special spring dish. The speaker will be Ruth Warnick.
The cost is $18. Reservations are needed by April 19. Childcare is available.
For more information, call 236-1982.
Run to benefit M.O.M.S Park
Memories of Missing Smiles Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to remembering the lives and smiles of children who have died, is hosting a 5K run/walk and kids fun run event beginning at 7:30 a.m. May 12 at Jervey Gantt Park, 2200 SE 36th Ave., Ocala, where the M.O.M.S. Park is located.
Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. The cost is $20 in advance or $25 at the event. There is no charge for children 7 and younger for the fun run. Entrants can register online at www.active.com or by mail to M.O.M.S, P.O. Box 684, Ocala, FL 34478.
For more information, call 690-1851 or 369-6667, or visit www.memoriesofmissingsmiles.org.
"SEX PLEASE WE'RE SIXTY": Comedy runs through April 12 Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Shows 2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 8 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. (236-2274 or ocalacivictheatre.com)
FESTIVAL AND CARNIVAL: Carnival 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, 325 Marion Oaks Lane. Spring Fling 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. (307-7353)
CIRQUE ITALIA: Aquatic performances at 7 p.m. Thursday though Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Trinity Catholic High School, 2600 SW 42nd St., Ocala. $10-$35. (www.cirqueitalia.com)
T.O.P.S.: Taking Off Pounds Sensibly: 9 a.m., Spring Lake Village, 2450 NE 146th Terrace, Silver Springs (625-3358); 10 a.m., Ocklawaha United Methodist Church, 13335 SE 123rd St., Ocklawaha (347-2841); 10 a.m., Grace Baptist Church, 10835 SE 70th Ave., Belleview (245-9593); 7 p.m., Dunnellon Women's Club, 11756 Cedar St., Dunnellon (489-1960) and 7 p.m. Belleview Christian Church, 7149 SE County Road 25A, Belleview. (245-2603)
OCALA CHESS CLUB: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. (812-4221)
ASK ARNOLD: Computer help, noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala. (438-2580)
OCALA LIONS CLUB: Noon Thursday, Elks Lodge, 702 NE 25th Ave., Ocala. (firstname.lastname@example.com)
KIWANIS: Silver Springs Shores Kiwanis Club, noon Thursday, Silver Springs Shores Presbyterian Church, 674 Silver Road, Ocala. (687-1119 or silverspringsshoreskiwanis.org)
BINGO: 6 p.m. Thursday, American Legion Post 58, 10730 US 41, Dunnellon. (489-4453)
ACOUSTIC JAM: Musicians of all levels welcome, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Forest Community Center, 777 S. County Road 314A, Ocklawaha. (438-2840)
QUILTING: Pine Needles quilt club, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Forest Community Center, 777 S. County Road 314A, Ocklawaha. (438-2840)
OPEN JAM: Musicians and singers welcome, 7 p.m. Thursday, Orange Blossom Opry, 13939 SE County Road 25, Weirsdale. (821-1201)
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: 6 p.m., Thursday, St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 1839 NE Eighth Ave. Road, Room 4, Ocala. (425-2339)
RAPE SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Ocala Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Center. Call for location. (622-8495 or 622-5919).
COMPUTER CLASS: Basics, 2 p.m. Thursday, Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95 St., Ocala. (438-2580)
PARENTS' NIGHT OUT: Discovery Center program for ages 6 to 12, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. $15 per child. Registration required. (401-3900 or mydiscoverycenter.org)
BOOK DISCUSSION: "Forgotten Country," 6 p.m. Friday, Hampton Center, 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. (854-2322 ext. 1680)
POETRY READING: Jennifer Key, 12:30 p.m. Friday, CF Ocala Campus, 3001 SW College Road, Building 8, Room 110, Ocala. (854-2322, ext. 1295 or email@example.com)
EXHIBIT OPENING: Reception for The Ocala Art Group Spring Exhibit "New Beginnings," 6 p.m. Friday, Brick City Center for the Arts, 23 SW Broadway St., Ocala. Exhibit runs through April 30 (369-1500)
VENDOR FAIR: Professional Connections Vendor Fair for agencies that provide services in Marion County, 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Marion County Jail Administration Building, 692 NW 30th Ave., Ocala. (firstname.lastname@example.com)
FISH FRY: Includes open house, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, St. George Anglican Church 5646 SE 28th St., Ocala. $7. (624-0112)
H2O ART: Juried art show based on the elements of water, earth, air and fire, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Hilton Ocala, 3600 SW 36 Ave., Ocala. (firstname.lastname@example.com)
MOVIE: For adults and teens, 1 p.m. Friday, Dunnellon Public Library, 20351 Robinson Road, Dunnellon. (438-2520)
COMPUTER CLASS: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dunnellon Public Library, 20351 Robinson Road, Dunnellon. (438-2520)
PET CARE TIPS: For seniors, 2 p.m. Friday, Marion Woods, 1661 SE 31 St., Ocala. (671-1700 or www.marion-woods.net)
DRAMA: "Souvenir: A Fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins," 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Insomniac Theater, 1 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. $12. (897-0477 or www.insomniactheatre.com)
To submit information for this list, send an e-mail to email@example.com or visit www.ocala.com, scroll down and click on EVENTS CALENDAR on the right.


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Calculators » Date & Time » World Time » Pakistan
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Current Time: 5:44 PM (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)
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