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Blogging on bureaucracy, organizations, USDA, agriculture programs, American history, the food movement, and other interests. Often contrarian, usually optimistic, sometimes didactic, occasionally funny, rarely wrong, always a nitpicker.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Pigford and Black Farmers
I'm not familiar with Colorlines but Jessica Hoffman has an article on black farmers and Pigford. It doesn't break new ground for those who have been following the subject. Via EWG Pipes
2 comments:
- Sara DownToEarth said...
I was completely unaware of this issue, and I thought I knew something about the USDA! What is reported by EWG is appalling.
Thanks for bringing into consciousness. - 1/10/2009 8:11 PM
- Bill Harshaw said...
I didn't intend my post to be an endorsement of the article. It's a complex subject, as is shown by some of the other posts tagged "Pigford".
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By Theatre 'd Art, opens Friday, 6:30 p.m. Fridays-Sundays, through March 23, Subterranean Nightclub, 128 1/2 E. Kiowa St., $15, $5 students with ID, pay-what-you-can on Sunday; 357-8321, theatredart.org
Theatre 'd Art director Michael Lee is interested in plays with strong messages and ideas.
He's met his match in Anthony Burgess' 1962 novel "A Clockwork Orange," which Stanley Kubrick turned into a film in 1971. After the film was released, Burgess wrote a stage version of his book. The show opens Friday.
"It has a lot to say about the nature of free will and trying to find morality in a world where we don't have such clear-cut right and wrong," Lee says. "It's a literary classic."
The novel is set in a dystopian future in which youth gang violence prevails: Kids plot and attack people on a nightly basis. Alex (played by Christian O'Shaughnessy), the main character, goes to prison and takes part in an experimental treatment in which he's conditioned against violence. After his release, he encounters society in a very different and unsettling way.
"It is a strange future, though not too hard to imagine - a confluence of Cold War powers, youth culture uninhibited, an all-consuming state and an apathetic populace," Lee writes in the show's press release.
The novel and film differ, Lee says. The play is much closer to the novel, which included a 21st chapter in British editions of the book, Lee says. That chapter wasn't included in the Kubrick film.
"There's an epilogue in the story, so it goes full circle and gives Alex a decent arc of the character," Lee says.
Earlier this year, Theatre 'd Art lost their performance space at 128 N. Nevada Ave., due, in part, to noise complaints from other building tenants, Lee says. For the run of "A Clockwork Orange," they'll perfom at the Subterranean Nightclub downtown.
It will once again be an immersive show, much like last summer's "Paradise Lost," where the audience moves to follow the action. There are 22 scenes in the play, Lee says, and they'll be done in different parts of the nightclub. Some seating will be available.
Jennifer Mulson, The Gazette, 636-0270, firstname.lastname@example.com
Free Scout Day at Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center - 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, 201 S. Fairview St., Woodland Park, free for Boy Scouts and their leaders in uniform; 686-1820, rmdrc.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Michael Hills: rode his first winner at Nottingham in 1979
PICTURE: Mark CranhamMichael Hills: time is right to retire from riding
DERBY-WINNING jockey Michael Hills, whose riding career has spanned four decades and yielded a total of 2,085 winners, is set to retire at the end of the turf season.
Hills, 49, whose twin-brother Richard retired at the Dubai World Cup meeting in March, feels the time is now right for him to follow suit.
He said on Monday: "I've been thinking about it since Royal Ascot. It's not a decision I've taken lightly, because once it's made there's no going back. I have had a great career, riding at the top level for many years.
"There's nothing quite like riding winners, especially big winners. It's just you and the horse, and the thrill and the buzz you get from that is something special, and it always will be. But nothing lasts forever and every jockey knows when it is time to move on. For me, that time has now come."
Hills's announcement arrives hot on the heels of a big day at Newmarket last Saturday when, having just missed out on Red Jazz in the Challenge Stakes he won the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes for his trainer/brother Charlie on Just The Judge, who earned quotes of 16-1 for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas.
"She's as good a filly as I've ridden in a long time," he said. "Of course, there is the temptation to stick around for next season, when she'll be even better. But there will always be one good horse coming through and I think in these situations you've just got to be strong and do what you believe is right.
"I have made my decision, but when I'm in the stands on Guineas day next spring I will be hollering for her louder than anyone."
Hills, whose first winner was the Charlie Nelson-trained Sky Thief at Nottingham in August 1979, was champion apprentice in 1983 and has enjoyed a career laced with quality rides at home and abroad.
He has ridden 148 Group winners, 32 at Group 1 level, a mighty haul achieved in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Hong Kong and the UAE.
"I have been lucky enough to be associated with some very good horses," said Hills, who won the 1996 Derby on the William Haggas-trained Shaamit.
"Shaamit was a fantastic horse who broke the track record at Doncaster as a two-year-old," he said
"It was an exceptional piece of training by William to win a Derby with him on his first run that season. He gave his absolute all that day and was very special to me."
So too was Pentire, on whom Hills won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes that same season, having also won the previous year's Irish Champion Stakes.
"He was the best horse I've ever ridden," said Hills, who will ride out this winter for Haggas and John Ferguson.
"He was pure class. He was only a pony, but he had such a high cruising speed and his acceleration for about 100 yards was unbelievable. He came from nowhere to win the Irish Champion and I should have won two King Georges on him, only I came too soon the first year when Lammtarra beat us."


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PORTSMOUTH — The Passion Positive Project, a partnership first forged in March between Arts In Reach (AIR), an organization committed to empowering teenage girls through mentoring and the arts, and janegee bath and body shop, Portsmouth, announced the continuation of the partnership and joint efforts to give women a voice and highlight those organizations which work to empower women.
"When developing the Passion Positive concept, we wanted to do more than raise money for an organization that shares our mission. We found a great partner in AIR, and so it just makes sense to continue our work together. Our ultimate goal is to create a piece that celebrates how women everywhere are having a positive impact on our community and the world," explained Jane Gee, owner of the Portsmouth-based bath and body shop.
AIR and janegee continue encouraging social media users to upload images of someone, somewhere or something that inspires them through janegee's Facebook page -- www.Facebook.com/janegeellc. They also plan to gather hundreds of photos that will be used by artists and teens from Arts In Reach to design a photo mosaic that will be displayed in galleries and at community events in 2013.
For every photo that is uploaded, janegee will donate 10 cents per picture to AIR. The money raised through this effort will help support the organizations ability to offer its year-round visual and performance arts programs to teenage girls
"We are thrilled to continue our role with Jane and Passion Positive. The movement creates a platform to elevate and promote girls and women, and this time, the entire community can help. It's as simple as a few computer clicks!" said Virginia Skevington, Executive Director of Arts In Reach.
To learn more about Arts In Reach or janegee, please visit them online at artsinreach.org or janegee.com.
Passion Positive continues to empower women of Arts In Reach
Sep 6, 2012 at 3:15 AM


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Nuevo Hispania – The new general market
You may wonder what Nuevo Hispania means. According to the article Nuevo Hispania by Jon Garrido, it is a substantial segment of the United States population. Though it´s not its own country, Nuevo Hispania is the 27th largest nation on Earth, and fourth in the Western Hemisphere, possessing a $1 trillion USD buying power in the marketplace. Even during the economic recession, Nuevo Hispania continues to thrive, and according to the article, is surprisingly booming.
Garrido says that in this Nuevo Hispania, being known as "Hispanics" seems to be misleading, as Hispanic is not a race, but more like an umbrella collecting people of Salvadorean, Mexican, Guatemalan and any other Spanish or Latino cultural origin. Quoted in the article, Jeffrey M. Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, claims that Hispanics are not united by culture or history, rather simply the Spanish language.
Many companies and industries have turned their focus toward Hispanics, as they have realized their huge buying power. Some examples are AARP, which began reaching Hispanics seven years ago; today the organization has 1.2 million Hispanic members. Another is Coke, or how we "Hispanics" call it, Coca Cola. Coke has been a focus in the Hispanic community since the 1980s—it has been a worldwide sponsor of soccer's World Cup since 1978, and frequently features Latino players in its ads, therefore has pushed to have a strong presence in Latin America.
I can speak all day as to why industries should focus in the Hispanic market, but I believe that if any corporation wants to grow even more, it should spend those extra dollars on the Nuevo Hispania.
Related Posts
This post is also available in: Spanish
Tags: coca cola and hispanics, hispanic buying power, nuevo hispania, us hispanics, warp and hispanics


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This is your resource to discuss support topics with your peers, and learn from each other.
Definitely something that's been very frustrating to me and intended small business usage for the Z10. My expectation compared to my old BlackBerry setup was an improved connectivity between my new mobile and my desktop Outlook calendar especially! But instead I now have nothing to link my desktop appointments with Z10 - its not a sensible decision and like others I don't want to end up on a cloud based setup. As with any new OS I expected a few delays to some apps but I did expect improved Outlook connectivity to be a Core component.
Picked up the Z10 today and am somewhat horrified reading thru this string to discover that contacts/calendar syncing is not an option. HOW COULD THIS BE TRUE? Blackberry please help - it is insufficient to say the least to "not mention it" in Blackberry Link. What was your expectation for contact management ???????
Am in the same boat, greatly disappointed in losing the sync function.
Am currently awaiting to see when Companionlink software becomes available, it seems they are waiting on their Dejaoffice being approved in App World. They are offering a $12 discount till 12/2/13 thus making the cost more bearable.
It looks like will have to go down this route as Blackberry dont seem to be offering anything soon or ever,
I did look at other SMART phones but none I liked so waited on the new Z10, didnt expect it not to have this sync function missing.
I did previous try using the cloud on a previous BB, but it is fraught with danger being a security risk, and yes my account was hacked and all my contacts who had email addresses got spammed.
02-06-2013 09:42 AM - edited 02-06-2013 09:43 AM
This is insane !!!!!!!!!!!! I have been loyal to Blackberry since Day 1 and to have this happen. I too am a small business owner that uses Outlook for everything. My business is centered around it. I am not interested in going to a web based Cloud like Outlook.,com etc becuase of privacy reasons and space limitations. I have years worth of valuabel information in my Outlook.
I have purchased the Companion Link and they do not support the z10 yet. $50.00 .
On another note, I cannot believe the voice control feature. The femail voice sounds so cold an robotic like out of the 70's . You cannot even ask it to navigate for you.
I have had my phone for 18 hours and spent all my awake time setting it up. I am asking for a refund as soon as Telus opens this morning.
I have been let down. I am a small Business owner and have always tried to support Candian COmpanies like Rim but I have found my line in the sand
andrew21212 wrote:
I have been loyal to Blackberry since Day 1 and to have this happen. I too am a small business owner that uses Outlook for everything. My business is centered around it. I am not interested in going to a web based Cloud like Outlook.,com etc becuase of privacy reasons and space limitations. I have years worth of valuabel information in my Outlook.
Hey! That's my story!
But I am not aware of any space limitation. For now, it is what it is, for me.
PIN: C0001B7B4 Display/Scan Bar Code | PIN: C0005A9AA Display/Scan Bar Code |
Couldn't agree more. Our businesses sound similar and no doubt we are representative of hundreds of thousands just like us. Telus is hosting a Google+ hangout today (Feb 6th) about how to use the Z10. There will be the opportunity to ask questions. I defo signed up. Telus is not my provider, but I am grateful to them for the chance to get to the bottom of this insane issue - as you so aptly call it.
02-06-2013 10:35 AM - edited 02-06-2013 10:43 AM
I was a BB user from day one. I switched to the S3 about six months ago because I wanted an all touch screen phone and the 9860 was doing for me. I was excited about the Z10 coming out and getting back to Blackberry...as I had one for so many years. Then I find out one of the main reasons I loved blackberry which is... simply plug in the usb and transfer everything, with a touch of a button feature is GONE??? What??? I still have the S3 and may be taking the Z10 back if this issue isn't fixed! What an absolute deal breaker!!
02-06-2013 10:36 AM - edited 02-06-2013 10:38 AM
As a long time, loud, proud supporter of RIM, & now BB, I just had to sign up on this forum to add my voice of discontent with the lack of sync ability between my laptop & the Z10. I actually went to my local store early so that there would be a lineup of at least one looking for the new BB phone & was delighted to find 3 others ahead of me. All small business owners like me. I knew there would not be any TV cameras in my outlying store but thought it was important to show, even if it was just to the kids selling phones in the store, that it's not only Apple that can get people out of bed early!
I'm not overly concerned with security but cloud based email functionality does add a little extra cost & management overhead that I'd rather avoid. Aside from having to live on a 3G network while awaiting the new Z10, my 15 month old Torch worked & the Outlook sync worked, it wasn't broke & I didn't have to fix it. I am now really frustrated that I've got this fantastic LTE speed, a great new predictive keyboard, a very nice handset, but no idea what my next appointment is while on the road. If this is Flow, it's all uphill!
I am still a little dumbfounded by this turn of events & I have no idea what I can try next. I probably won't be rushing over to the store today to replace the remaining 6 phones in our place & I would really like some official feedback from BlackBerry on the future of this valued feature. I don't mind waiting 'til the post-launch trauma is past but is this functionality something we can expect to have returned in a future release of BlackBerry Link? Or is it gone & banished forever?
A word of additional warning for anyone else about to get into the Z10, the BlackBerry Link software backed up all the information from my Torch & went through all the steps of restoring it to my new Z10 but nothing appeared to come across. Unfortunately, I'd already wiped & traded in the Torch so there was no going back for a 2nd shot. I'm not sure if I made an error in the process or if the process doesn't work but right now I'm out 5000+ contacts, my calendar, tasks, etc! Might be worth double checking with the support folk, in advance, if you plan a data transfer from your old phone to the new.
I current own a 9850. This is what I'm looking for in my next device:
A bigger screen.
The ability to deposit a check with my phone, so I don't have to drive to an ATM.
The ability to sync to Outlook like the Desktop Manager Allows.
While there are add-ons for the Android products, I have not seen anything that sounds like it will be as seamless as what the current Blackberry Desktop Manager allows.
I'm fascinated that a company that states that it is concentrating on business would abandon the functionality that separated it from the other phones and has prevented me from moving to them.
I wonder if this is so because Microsoft will be moving all of their applications into the cloud? But it doesn't sound like the cloud applications are working that well either? Can anyone speak to this?


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It's absurd that in a huge country like America that a Bush or a Clinton has been on every national ticket since 1980. I viewed Obama's victory over the Clinton dynasty as a defeat for the forces of dynasticism, but now I realize I was being naive, that has brilliantly tapped into the public's dynastic logic, just on a larger and subtler scale.
Here's an excerpt, but you'll have to read the whole article to see how.
How to Think About Race — and Barack Obama
By Steve Sailer
A new but characteristically confused debate over whether race is a biological reality reminds me of the value of having a simple definition of "race" in mind.
Left-leaning British-Indian science journalist Kenan Malik's latest book, Strange Fruit: Why Both Sides are Wrong in the Race Debate, has so far only gone on sale in the U.K. But he argues online: "Race is not a real biological entity."
In a hostile review of Malik's book in Prospect, the fine British intellectual magazine, Mark Pagel, a British evolutionary biologist, lands a flurry of blows:
"Malik knows these facts about our genetics, but wants to insist that, unless 'race' corresponds to absolute boundaries, it is a useless and damaging concept. But to deny what everybody knows and to swap the word race for something less politically charged like 'group' is just an act of self-denial and certainly no more accurate than the dreaded 'r' word. It is also patronising—I would like to think we are all grown up enough to accept the facts and ready ourselves for the deluge to come. I say deluge because the more we measure, the more genetic differences we find among populations …"
Unfortunately, Pagel doesn't deliver a knockout punch because he lacks a definition of race. Like Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart wrote in his famous opinion in a pornography case, Pagel can't define race, but he knows it when he sees it.
Malik responded in Prospect by noting, with some justice, "The debate over race has moved on. To judge from his review of my book, Mark Pagel hasn't noticed."
To illustrate the state of the art thinking among the race realists he opposes, Malik writes:
"In the 19th and early 20th centuries, races were viewed as fixed groups, each with its own distinct behaviour patterns and physical characteristics. They could be ranked on an evolutionary hierarchy, with whites at the top and blacks at the bottom. Today, with a few exceptions, race realists reject the idea that there are essential, unbridgeable differences between human populations, or that differences signify inferiority or superiority. So how do they define a race? Usually as 'an extended family that is inbred to some degree' in the words of Steve Sailer of the Human Biodiversity Institute. ... But once everything from the British royal family to the entire human population can be considered a race (because each is an "extended family inbred to some degree"), then the category has little value."
Along these lines, here's an update of an update of Richmond's speech concluding Shakespeare's Richard III about the dynastic marriage to end the War of the Roses between the Yorks and Lancasters:
We will unite the white rose and the black:
Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,
That long have frown'd upon their enmity!
What extremist hears me, and says not amen?
America hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself;
The rev'rend shouted his congregation's ire,
The consultant plotteth Will Horton ads
The undiverse fleeeth to the exurbs
All this divided White and Black
Divided in their dire division,
But then Barack Sr. and Stanley Ann
The true succeeders of each racial house,
By God's fair ordinance conjoin together!
And let their heir, God, if thy will be so.
Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace,
With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days!
Abate the edge of racists, gracious Lord,
That would demand both parties make borders secure,
And make America less inclusive
Let them not live to taste this land's increase
That would with insensitivity wound this fair land's peace!
Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again:
That she may long live here, God say amen!
My published articles are archived at iSteve.com -- Steve Sailer


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Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2007 Article IV Consultation with Montenegro
January 22, 2008
Public Information Notices (PINs) form part of the IMF's efforts to promote transparency of the IMF's views and analysis of economic developments and policies. With the consent of the country (or countries) concerned, PINs are issued after Executive Board discussions of Article IV consultations with member countries, of its surveillance of developments at the regional level, of post-program monitoring, and of ex post assessments of member countries with longer-term program engagements. PINs are also issued after Executive Board discussions of general policy matters, unless otherwise decided by the Executive Board in a particular case.
January 22, 2008
On January 16, 2008, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Montenegro.1
Independence and significant tourism potential have generated impressive investor interest in Montenegro and started a recovery with growth expected to reach 7½ percent in 2007. But strong growth, and the exuberance it has generated, has brought its own problems. There are signs of overheating, with inflation and wages picking up, and the current account deficit soaring. Vulnerabilities are also building up with rapid credit growth weakening private sector balance sheets, an expansive fiscal stance, and an asset price boom.
The current account deficit is expected to widen further in 2007 to 37 percent of GDP driven by high investment (spurred by foreign direct investment, which has hovered around 24 percent of GDP in the past few years) and low savings associated with wealth effects and galloping credit expansion. The share of foreign credits in the financing of the current account deficit has risen. Rising labor costs have been eroding competitiveness.
Rapid credit growth is testing the capacity of the young banking system to prudently assess and manage credit risks. Capital injections have kept the capital adequacy ratio at 18.7 percent of risk weighted assets, which is high by international standards. Banking regulation and supervision is relatively strong, but very fast credit expansion tests the capacity of the banks and has been taking its toll on banks' financial indicators.
Fiscal policy is adding to demand pressures. Strong revenue performance has boosted the fiscal surplus, but tax cuts have weakened the impact of automatic stabilizers. A general public sector wage increase of 30 percent, which is implemented in steps starting from October 2007, has added to demand pressures providing an unhelpful fiscal stimulus.
Executive Board Assessment
Executive Directors welcomed the bright prospects for the Montenegrin economy, and praised the authorities for their sound macroeconomic management and bold structural reforms over the past few years. These efforts have helped Montenegro attract substantial foreign direct investment. At the same time, the increased confidence related to independence and the fast growth of tourism and real estate-related investments is generating strong demand pressures, and raising vulnerabilities.
Directors considered that the economy may now be operating above capacity, with inflation picking up and large wage increases weakening competitiveness. Rapid credit growth is overstretching banks' risk assessment capabilities, and has contributed to ballooning asset prices. The quickly increasing level of private debt could lead to solvency problems, especially if eroding competitiveness dampens the potential for the further development of tourism.
Against this background, Directors observed that the key policy challenge will be to prevent overheating and ensure that the current boom unwinds smoothly. Given the limits on using monetary policy with the adoption of the euro, fiscal policy will need to play a prominent role in this regard. Directors recommended a combination of measures aimed at withdrawing fiscal stimulus, reining in credit growth, and bolstering structural reforms to boost competitiveness and improve the economy's resilience to shocks.
While recognizing the need to allocate resources to strengthen infrastructure and the institutional foundations of a new state, Directors counseled that, at a minimum, fiscal policy should avoid adding to private sector demand pressures at the current juncture. The temporary surge in tax revenues should not be seen as providing scope for tax cuts and higher current spending. Directors underscored the need to contain fiscal risks from large restitution claims and the assumption of contingent liabilities, including from private-public partnerships. They recommended the development of a strong medium-term fiscal framework.
Directors commended the Central Bank of Montenegro for recent steps to stem the very rapid growth of credit, including the broadening of reserve requirements and tightening of prudential regulations. They encouraged early passage of the Banking Law to provide for stronger supervisory powers for the banking sector regulatory authorities. Directors welcomed the authorities' commitment to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and their intention to upgrade the current AML/CFT framework.
Directors encouraged the authorities to persist in implementing key structural reforms. They welcomed the authorities' efforts to reform labor legislation to improve economic flexibility and facilitate job mobility. At the same time, wage discipline should be strengthened, and a better link established between job performance and compensation. Directors called for further efforts to improve the business environment, especially by limiting the scope for discretion on the part of officials and regulators, completing zoning regulations, and strengthening corporate governance. They noted the importance of reforms in the energy sector, in particular to ensure adequate electricity supplies for the growing economy. They looked forward to the opening up of the electricity sector to private investment and the phasing out of subsidies.
Directors noted that economic statistics need to be improved considerably in order to lay a sound basis for economic analysis. They encouraged the authorities to strengthen the organization of the statistical agency.
Montenegro: Selected Economic Indicators, 2003-07 | ||||||
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | ||
Est. | Proj. | |||||
Real economy |
(Percent change; unless otherwise noted) | |||||
1,392 | 1,651 | 1,785 | 1,979 | 2,204 | |
22.9 | 22.3 | 19.7 | 13.5 | 11.8a/ | |
2.4 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 7.5 | |
10.7 | 17.4 | 16.6 | 16.3 | 19.0b/ | |
7.8 | 14.7 | 14.3 | 13.9 | 22.4c/ | |
7.5 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 3.5 | |
Money and credit (end of period, 12-month) |
(Percent change) | |||||
... | 43.2 | 33.2 | 138.9 | 191.3a/ | |
... | 40.6 | 30.2 | 112.2 | 198.4 | |
... | 49.4 | 39.7 | 193.0 | 180.7 | |
... | 23.0 | 84.2 | 119.5 | 129.4a/ | |
General government finances (cash) |
(In percent of GDP) | |||||
41.8 | 37.8 | 37.4 | 44.9 | 50.7 | |
46.6 | 40.5 | 39.1 | 42.5 | 45.2 | |
-4.8 | -2.7 | -1.8 | 2.4 | 5.4 | |
-3.7 | -1.1 | -0.6 | 3.6 | 6.6 | |
51.8 | 45.9 | 41.6 | 37.7 | 40.5 | |
Balance of payments |
(In percent of GDP) | |||||
-11.1 | -10.1 | -8.9 | -30.7 | -37.0 | |
2.8 | 3.4 | 21.4 | 23.6 | 24.4 | |
Exchange rate regime |
The euro is the legal tender | |||||
Exchange rate, U.S. $/€ (period average) |
1.13 | 1.24 | 1.25 | 1.26 | ... | |
REER (wage-based; annual average change, in percent; - indicates depreciation) |
4.4 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 3.6c/ | |
Sources: Montenegrin authorities; and Fund staff estimates and projections. a/ As of September 2007. b/ As of August 2007. c/ As of June 2007. |
1 Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country's authorities.
Public Affairs | Media Relations | |||
E-mail: | email@example.com | E-mail: | email@example.com | |
Fax: | 202-623-6220 | Phone: | 202-623-7100 |


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I'm a new mom—and the step-mother of a 6-year old from my husband's previous marriage. I try to pay as much attention to my step-daughter as I can, but the minute I turn to my newborn son, she runs off in a fit. I don't want to hurt my step-daughter's feelings, but I want to feel free to enjoy my baby as well. What can I do?
Dealing with a stepchild's jealousy may seem like it should be the same as dealing with any jealous older sibling, but there are other issues–particularly if the child doesn't live in your house all the time. In cases like that, the stepchild may feel very upset that the new baby gets to be with you and daddy all the time while she can see her dad only part of the time. She may also be worried that her dad won't love her as much as the new baby. After all, people are always fussing and cooing over infants and tend to ignore bigger kids.
It's really important right now to make sure that your step-daughter understands that you love her just as much as before. Remind her often that she's now a big sister and that you're really proud at how big and mature she is and that you really need her help. Give her small tasks to do that are baby related–bringing you a bottle of milk from the fridge, helping change the baby, picking out the baby's clothes, pushing the stroller, etc-anything to get her to feel less left out and more part of the process.
Also try to set aside some time where you and your step-daughter can be alone together doing an activity of her choice. This will reinforce idea that you're not forgetting about her. But be careful not to rely too much on your step-daughter–you don't want her to feel that the only reason you had this baby was to make her into a slave (which is exactly what she'll tell you when she turns 13).
Finally, talk to your step-daughter and explain the reality of the situation-that babies take a lot of work and that you need to spend time doing that. Be sure to encourage the big kid to talk about what she's feeling-let her say whatever she wants, even if it's threatening or hateful-you want her to know that it's okay to have strong feelings. You might even encourage her to draw how she feels or write a story about it. Be sure to help her understand the difference between having violent thoughts and actually doing anything about it.


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FRITZ!Box 7490 Serwis - Baza wiedzy
AVM Content
Configuring FRITZ!Box for use with an SDSL/SHDSL line
With an additional SDSL or SHDSL modem, you can also use your FRITZ!Box on an SDSL line. Since the FRITZ!Box establishes and controls its own Internet connection over the modem, all FRITZ!Box functions (such as Internet telephony, firewall) are also available without restriction in this operating mode.
Note:The standards SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and SHDSL (Single-Pair Highspeed Digital Subscriber Line) allow data to be transmitted at the same speed in both directions.
Important:Some of the settings described here are only displayed if the advanced view is enabled in the user interface. The configuration procedure and notes on functions given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS.
1 Connecting the FRITZ!Box with the modem and computer
- Connect the modem to your Internet connection according to the instructions provided by your Internet service provider.
- Use a network cable to connect the LAN port on the modem to the "LAN 1" port on the FRITZ!Box.
- Connect a computer to the FRITZ!Box over wireless LAN or use a network cable to connect it to an available LAN port on the FRITZ!Box.
2 Configuring the Internet connection
- Click "Internet" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
- Click "Account Information" in the "Internet" menu.
- Check whether your Internet service provider is displayed in the drop-down list. With some regional settings, not all of the preconfigured Internet providers are displayed until you select "More Internet service providers".
- If your Internet service provider is displayed in the drop-down list:
- Select your Internet service provider and enter the account information you received from your Internet service provider in the corresponding fields.
- Click on "Change connection settings".
- Enable the option "Via an external modem" in the "Internet Connection" section.
- If your Internet service provider is not displayed in the drop-down list:
- Select "Other Internet service provider".
- Enable the option "External modem or router" in the "Connect via" or "Connection" section.
- Enable the option "Establish own connection to the Internet" in the "Operating Mode" section.
- If account information is required for Internet access, enter the account information you received from your Internet service provider in the "Account Information" section,
- or, if account information is not required for Internet access:
- Enable the option "No" in the "Account Information" section.
- or, if account information is not required for Internet access:
- If a particular VLAN ID is required for Internet access, click on "Change connection settings", enable the option "Use VLAN for Internet access" in the "VLAN Settings" section, and enter the VLAN ID you received from your Internet service provider in the "VLAN ID" field.
- If your Internet service provider is displayed in the drop-down list:
- Enter the relevant speeds of your Internet connection in the "Downstream" and "Upstream" fields.
- Click "Apply" to save your settings.
Now the FRITZ!Box uses the account information you entered to establish the Internet connection. Configuration is concluded when the message "The Internet connection check was successful" is displayed.
3 Configuring telephony
The following step is only necessary if you received login data for Internet telephony from a provider and would like to use telephones with the FRITZ!Box:
- Configure your Internet telephone numbers in the FRITZ!Box.
AVM Section Navigation


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After the 2013 TCA panel for "The League," Zap2it spoke with Jackie Marcus Schaffer, one half of the creative team behind the FX comedy, who told us that the writers have definitely talked about adding another female to the fantasy football mix besides Jenny.
"We've talked about a few different things," says Schaffer. "We've talked about Jenny getting
into a girls league, where she starts a second league, where she brings
in a lot of other — like the moms and other characters. It's never quite
made it into an episode yet, but we've certainly talked about it."
some point in time as we go over the next few seasons, it would be nice
to see, whether it's one of their girlfriends or wives, maybe somebody
we haven't met yet, get involved [in the league]," Schaffer adds.
We wonder if the resident female fantasy player, Jenny, would see another woman as a "sister" in fantasy football or more as "Hey, I'm the football-loving woman here." And Schaffer teases that we'll see a bit of that competitive nature in the season premiere.
"You'll see a little bit of
competition between Jenny and [Andre's fiancee] Trixie in the season premiere, where Andre
keeps telling Trixie that she's gonna be the cool one, she's the girl
who can hang, but it's like — we already have that," says Schaffer.
Other highlights from the "League" panel include:
- "We are picking up … with a wedding. Andre and Trixie are preparing the most labor-intensive, guest-unfriendly wedding on the planet. … They're
trying so hard to make things different that they're making it terrible.
For example, their registry is a series of anagrams and riddles." — Jeff Schaffer, creator - Jeff: "There's a little 'Game of Thrones' thrown in."
Paul Scheer: "[But] no major characters will be killed at this wedding." - "We will be doing a Rafi-Dirty Randy adventure. We start at the bar with Rafi, leave with Rafi and watch Rafi and Dirty Randy and all their friends." — Jeff
- "If you had access to what actual fantasy football message boards or
email chains are like, it would make our show look like 'Little House on
the Prairie.'" — Nick Kroll - In case you've wondered, there is a "League" fantasy league. Creator Jackie Marcus Schaffer has won twice, Katie Aselton, who plays Jenny, has won once and Nick Kroll (Ruxin) has won once. The trophy is called the Aselton Cup because Katie won the inaugural year.
- Jackie: "You do talk about [your weight] on set more than most men."
Steve Rannazzisi: "If you looked like John Goodman in the pilot, you'd talk about it too." - In terms of guest stars, Glenne Headly ("ER") and Griffin Dunne ("House of Lies") will be playing Andre's parents, and we will also get to meet Ruxin's sister, though no casting was announced yet.
"The League" premieres Wednesday, Sept. 4 on FXX, the new channel that the FX family of networks is launching with moves from "The League" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."


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Toledo police are seeking information through the Crime Stopper program about a robbery in January in East Toledo in which a convenience store manager was assaulted in the parking lot as he was on his way to make a bank deposit.
The manager of the East Side Mini Mart, 615 Oak St., was walking toward his vehicle about 2:45 p.m. Jan. 22 when he was attacked and struck in the head several times with a ratchet handle.
The robber demanded money and tried to grab the bank deposit bag. Some money spilled out, but was recovered. The tussle moved in front of the store, where about a half-dozen people thwarted the robber, police said.
The robber was described as black, in his 30s, about 6 feet, 1 inch tall, and weighing more than 300 pounds.
He was wearing a half ski mask on his face, a beige coat, and black pants. He got into a maroon car that was parked on Church Street behind the carryout with a driver. The car fled on Church from Oak, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stopper program. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.


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But if Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley wasn't exactly working Monday night, neither was he taking it easy. Instead, he and defensive tackle
All three spoke to the audience at Flagler Palm Coast High School, and Bradley – in his first season as the Jaguars' head coach – called the event an important connection for fans and team.
"It's great," Bradley said. "I think anytime you can go out and touch the people that are so important to you as an organization, it's critical.
"Anytime you can get out and touch the community, it's a great thing. It's one of our responsibilities and something we really enjoy doing."
Bradley, Scobee, Alualu, Anger and members of the ROAR were introduced to the crowd by former Jaguars All-Pro left tackle and Pride of the Jaguars member Tony Boselli.
"We're getting to engage the fans," Boselli said. "This is a chance for us to get to areas outside our five-county area. That's our core fan base, but we also want to expand. That's important to us, and these events are a way to do that."
Said Alualu, "It's great to meet the fans and show our appreciation for them – show that we care. They come out and support us. Sometimes, you expect it, but sometimes you're amazed by the people we get to meet and the fans that have been here since Day One, since the Jaguars came.
"That's always a great thing for us to experience."
Bradley, Scobee, Alualu, Anger and the members of the ROAR also signed autographs for more than an hour, as did Boselli. Jaxson de Ville also entertained at the event, with Bradley speaking to the crowd for several minutes upon his arrival.
"We've got a real simple mentality," Bradley said. "I just felt like in the NFL, in my time with the Buccaneers and the Seahawks, there are a lot of distractions in the NFL. All of us have distractions in life, but it was our objective to try to eliminate as many of those distractions as we could so we could get guys to just play ball, to just play football.
"That's what we're trying to get done here. We want something that you're really proud of, where the organization is guys where you look out there on Sunday and say, 'That's a team I'm proud of. They represent what we're all about one hundred percent.'
"That's what we're going to get accomplished here by getting better every day."
Scobee said that whenever he speaks at an event, he is struck by the enthusiasm of fans in and out of Jacksonville.
"It's great," Scobee said. "The enthusiasm the fans have, even outside Jacksonville, for the Jaguars – it's there. That makes it that much more important for us to put a good product on the field – so that they can be excited for the right reasons.
"It's fun to be a part of this and see fans everywhere – even an hour away in Palm Coast."
The caravan continues Tuesday at the Governor's Square Mall (1500 Apalachee Parkway) in Tallahassee from 6-8 p.m., with stops also scheduled this week in Gainesville Wednesday (Oaks Mall, 6419 Newberry Road, 6-8 p.m.; Savannah, Ga., Thursday (Charles H. Morris Center, 10 E. Broad St., 6-8 p.m.) and Brunswick, Ga., Saturday (Glynn Place Mall, 200 Mall Blvd., 12-2 p.m.).


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If nothing else, Fishtown resident Joe Quigley is a man who speaks his mind.
It's something the 27-year-old does regularly with a sort of crass clarity on his blog, www.PhillyNeighbor.com. And now, he's launched a new endeavor — his own horror novel, Holdout.
Quigley said the site started as something of an inside joke, but has grown steadily in popularity. He believes the site is gaining traction because it addresses issues that confront river wards residents every day.
"I basically write what I'm thinking," he said. "It's just how me and my buddies talk."
Quigley, who posts under the pseudonym "Chip" on PhillyNeighbor, said the blog is an attempt to show solidarity with other residents and that with the site — where he posts derogatively about "Kenzos" and "junkies" — he hopes to show that not every Kensington resident fits the community stereotype.
"It's a 'we are all in it together' type of deal," he said.
He draws a clear line, noting that, when he talks about "Kenzos," he doesn't simply mean people from Kensington.
Instead, he writes, it's "The guy with the yellow stains on his remaining teeth (tooth?). Those dudes at the bar the other night wearing identical collared polo shirts who kept playing "Diamond Girl" on the jukebox. Your friend from the neighborhood with shamrock tats on his neck …"
"Anybody from Kensington knows people like that," Quigley said. "Heck, I'm kind of like that."
But, Quigley said, his comments come from a very real place.
When he makes fun of drug addicts and people selling prescription pills, Quigley said, he knows people in the neighborhood whose lives are impacted every day by those issues. It's a problem so evident that in some local circles, people see it as an "accepted thing," he said.
"I've had friends die from overdoses and who have been locked up for selling prescription pills," said Quigley. "It's almost an accepted thing, not to most people in the 'hood, but, to some people for sure."
He also takes aim at "hipsters" — what he stereotypes as affluent young people moving into the community that have an affinity for fixed-gear bicycles and skin-tight jeans.
"They can take a punch," he joked.
The whole site is a tongue-in-cheek endeavor that, Quigley said, now receives hundreds of visits a day, and it all started as a joke with friends.
Yet, success with the website has been tricky, he said, because often, readers protest the insults and jokes.
Indeed, the profane rants are far from politically correct, bordering on juvenile street talk. Quigley, for example, has not taken note of the public service announcement decrying the use of "retard" as a distasteful insult.
But Quigley said he believes the crass, dirty humor of the site also helps him deliver a message to readers who connect with that type of humor.
"It gives me a chance to inject an idea to people who wouldn't think about it otherwise," he said. "I would love if everybody read it. But, when I'm writing, I write for the people I know."
With a successful web venture under his belt, the graduate of Northeast Catholic has tapped into his knowledge of the community with Holdout, which tells the tale of a zombie attack in the neighborhood.
"I'm a zombie fan," said a grinning Quigley. "People are badasses around here. If that really happened, I really think some of the knuckleheads around here would be able to hold their own."
The self-published novel follows a family on Dauphin Street as the members try to survive the zombie apocalypse. Quigley said that, through the course of the novel, a father and son who own a warehouse on the Delaware River in Fishtown find a commune of survivors and hole up in the warehouse to survive the zombie onslaught.
"It's not really written in the same voice as PhillyNeighbor," said Quigley. "But, if you're from around here, you'd recognize a lot of stuff [in the book] from around the neighborhood."
He said it would be a good read for the chilly nights to prepare for this year's Halloween, because, while he hopes it's scary, it isn't simply a gory tale of disgusting zombies making meals out of friendly Philadelphians.
"It's more about a family than just the monsters popping out at you," Quigley said. "But, there's that, too."
The book, he said, suffered a more than yearlong road to publication as a deal he had fell through and Quigley eventually decided to simply take the reins and print the book himself.
The book is available in print or as an E-Book, with links for purchase on Quigley's PhillyNeighbor.com.
Also, for anyone concerned, there is something of a happy outcome to Quigley's book.
"There's a rainbow, it's a small rainbow, but there is one," he said.
Reporter Hayden Mitman can be reached at 215-354-3124 or email@example.com
You can reach Hayden Mitman at email@example.com.


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Photos: 'Blood Moon' lunar eclipse
Parts of the world saw a rare celestial event Tuesday when the Earth's shadow fell across the moon, turning it orange. The lunar eclipse unfolded over three hours beginning at about 1 a.m. CT, when the moon began moving into the Earth's shadow.
© 2017, Daily Press


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Gorilla Glue toxicity is a very serious problem, and can rapidly end your companion's life. Many people are not aware that this common household item could pose a health risk for their pets.
Gorilla Glue toxicity is a very serious problem, and can rapidly end your companion's life. Many people are not aware that this common household item could pose a health risk for their pets.
Gorilla Glue is a polyurethane material that is activated with moisture. Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) is the active ingredient. When triggered, the foaming action allows this product to expand as needed to fill empty space as it cures. This is wonderful if you are using it for the intended purpose of holding items together; however, the results are hugely detrimental when Gorilla Glue is accidentally ingested by a curious canine.
As the sweet material is ingested and activated, it rapidly grows into a large mass, often expanding to the borders of the stomach. The acidity and warmth of this environment make this happen very quickly, and heat is produced during the reaction. The hardened material prevents food from entering or exiting the stomach. It typically can't be vomited because it is too big to pass through the esophagus. As little as 2 ounces can cause a blockage in a medium-size dog.
Symptoms can occur shortly after ingestion but may take up to 24 hours to develop depending on how much product was consumed. Poor appetite and vomiting are the most typical signs. Canines may also show low energy and appear restless.
This toxicity is diagnosed based on the history of potential exposure, symptoms, and radiographs. Abdominal films can indicate a large space occupying mass in the stomach. Sometimes barium is needed to highlight the foreign body.
Surgery is the only treatment, and it should be done as soon as possible. The glue is not digestible and vomiting can't and shouldn't be induced at any time because it is worse to have this expanding material trapped in the esophagus or accidentally aspirated into the airways. The longer it is present, the more irritation that occurs along the stomach lining. Ulceration is a possibility, as are thermal burns. A ruptured stomach is also a potential if a large quantity of glue is consumed.
If you suspect your pet has ingested Gorilla Glue or another type of rapidly expanding adhesive, take him or her to your veterinarian or emergency clinic as soon as possible.
Julie Damron is a veterinarian at Sierra Veterinary Clinic in Stockton. Contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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from tennis-x: In typical Williams sister fashion, Venus attributed the loss to poor play on her part and "treeing" on the part of her opponent.[/i]
Treeing is when one is playing way above their normal level of play, like playing in the zone. Of course, every time one of the Williams loses there is always an excuse. There opponent is always treeing or they are always hurt. Why can't they just admit that players are just as good as they are or better.
Serena said in a post match interview once that the only reason she could possibly lose would be if she played poorly that day. The Williams sisters never give ANY credit to their opponents..that's pretty bad IMO. So Richard taught them to have no respect for their opponents...what a guy. Ed
No need to watch post match press conference when a Williams loses. Always the same. Please note Williams was down a set (and I think a break) when she got injured. After the injury she started winning. Prior to injury she was losing.
Treeing is a term used for beating a Williams. I really hate Richard Williams, he is one of the weirdest, most c0cky ****** bags in tennis IMO.
Awright I have to disagree. It is not Richard, but their trashy, slutty, lard-assed, mother that needs to be blamed. Venus is actually more humble than Serena. Venus takes after her dad and Serena takes after her mom. Their mom is just a fame grabbing, money hungry, ****. I mean look at Serena's fashion sense and outfits, spitting image of what her mother tries to be, a hooker.
So I'm guessing you're not a huge Oracene fan...BTW does the name Oracene sound like a medicine for anal itch?
Sartorial criticisms aside, I thought Oracene was "more cool" than Richard Williams. She always doesn't get emotional when watching the daughters play, just sits there and enjoy the game, even applauds after a good point no matter who wins it. Then again, that's all I know of her so far.
From all the quotes I have heard from Richard Williams over the years, its pretty obvious where the sisters have received their class etiquette training. I respect Venus the most for overcoming lots of this handicap, unlike Serena.
I just want to say I love the handle Emma Knightly. Emma is one of my favorite books, and definitely my fave Jane Austen book. Although Pride & Prejudice is a close second. I'm so glad Emma ended up with Mr. Knightly in the end, and not Frank. He deserved Jane. :wink: Susan
does anyone know how this usage of "tree" came about? to credit venus, she did refuse to blame her loss on her ankle/leg/whatever ... she just blamed it on her play. i certainly don't watch as much tennis as you guys, but i think it's pretty harsh to call someone a hooker based on her appearance. i don't like richard williams either, but personally i have no problem with the sisters' press conferences. call it arrogance, or call it the confidence of champions. sure, it's PC nowadays to give "credit" to your opponent, but if serena truly believes that no one can really beat her, then more power to her. maybe as she ages she'll learn that there are reasons people boo her, and she'll soften up. ---- thank you susan! pride and prejudice is actually my favorite


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Featured DVD / Blu-ray Review: Take Shelter
March 11th, 2012
Take Shelter - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Before Take Shelter opened, there was significant Awards Season buzz surrounding the film. However, it was a much smaller film than a lot of other Oscar bait, so it was mostly lost in the crowd. It did pick up a number of smaller award nominations and earned more than $1 million at the box office, but it wasn't a major player in either regard. Did it deserve to find a more receptive audience in theaters? Did it deserve to win more awards? Or was it lucky to get where it did?
The film begins with Curtis LaForche dreaming about a storm, and not just any storm, but a storm where yellowish, oily liquid falls from the sky. This dream will be a recurring theme. This could be because the stress Curtis has been under. He's married to a great woman, Samantha, and has a wonderful daughter, Hannah; however, Hannah is deaf and the costs of her schooling has put a strain on their finances. Worries about finances could easily manifest as dreams about bad weather. Maybe it is as simple as that, or maybe there's more to it.
After some more troubling dreams, he starts to act strange. He dreams of another storm where his dog is spooked and bites him, so he makes his dog sleep outside. The lack of sleep starts to take its toil and he snaps at his wife. After more dreams, he begins to build a storm shelter. They do live in tornado country, so this doesn't seem too out of place. But as these dreams intensify, he begins to worry the dreams mean more. There is a history of mental illness in his family, as his mom developed paranoid schizophrenia at roughly the same age he is now. He begins taking medicine to help him sleep and begins therapy as well, but nothing he does can shake his obsession with a massive storm that he thinks is coming. He takes out a risky loan and even 'borrows' equipment from work to build his storm shelter, but is this obsession a sign of mental illness, or something more?
This film has amazing performances from Michael Shannon, as well as Jessica Chastain in a supporting role. Both actors have earned Oscar nominations for other films and both actors earned Independent Spirit Award nominations for this film, and it is easy to see why. The film has good writing and directing, both supplied by Jeff Nichols. He created a story dealing with mental illness, and how stability can be taken away so suddenly, and connected that with the financial state that a lot of people find themselves in today. He managed to fill this film with tension, by never allowing the audience to fully settle on the nature of Curtis's dreams. However, as strong as the script is, it is the incredible central performance that carries the film.
On the other hand, I've heard complaints by some that the film is too long, too drawn out, too many scenes linger a little too long, etc. In short, overall it has general pacing issues. I'm not to going to dismiss these criticisms, as there is some validity to them, but in my opinion they are not damaging enough to hurt the quality of the movie.
The extras on the DVD begin with an audio commentary with Jeff Nichols and Michael Shannon. It's not the most energetic track I've listened to, but the two have good chemistry together and provide a lot of information. Up next is an 11-minute behind-the-scenes featurette. There is also a 20-minute Q&A session with Michael Shannon and Shea Whigham, who played Curtis's best friend in the movie. Finally, there are two deleted scenes with a combined running time of 6 minutes. This is better than most limited releases have and adds significant value to the DVD.
I don't have the Blu-ray to compare, but it only costs $4 more, or about 20% more, so it is worth paying extra for.
Both A HREF=http://www.the-numbers.com/people/0MSHN.php>Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain are actors who, simply by signing up for a film, raise my interest in that film significantly. Because of this, Take Shelter was a movie I was looking forward to seeing for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. There are more than enough extras on the DVD to make it worth picking up, while paying just 20% more for the Blu-ray is a bargain.
The Movie
The Extras
The Verdict
- Submitted by: C.S.Strowbridge
Filed under: Video Review, Take Shelter


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41 hours ago
Titans NYC side scores big win over Cowboys
The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans NYC (under-20s) side has continued its brilliant early season form with a 48-16 demolition of North Queensland at Dairy Farmers Stadium tonight.
The Titans scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to runaway with the match and register their fourth win from five matches this season.
Halfback Cody Walker scored two second half tries to put the result beyond doubt while winger Lachlan Creighton also crossed for a double.
The win ensures the Steve Murphy-coached Titans side will remain in the top-four of the NYC under-20s competition heading into next Friday night


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Social media was all a-twitter the other day (see what I did there?) over news that England and Chelsea footballer, Frank Lampard, is to write a series of five books for children, to be published by Little, Brown later this year.
Based on my observation and a highly unscientific survey I conducted on my Facebook page, suggests reaction to the news has been fairly negative – particularly among children's authors. There have been a lot of "he's nicking our jobs" comments flying around, and I can absolutely see why. I mean, you don't see Philip Ardagh playing left back for Arsenal (at least, not any more), so why should Frank Lampard be writing children's books?
There has been outrage that yet another "celebrity" has been given a pile of money to put their name on a book they'll likely play very little part in writing, while genuinely talented yet struggling mid-list authors produce quality book after quality book, but can only dream of seeing their name in a national newspaper.
Some commentators – again, many of whom are authors – have already decided the books are going to be laughably awful – lowest common denominator guff without an ounce of literary merit.
And hey, maybe they're right, but then literary merit often isn't enough to convince a reluctant reader to pick up a book. In fact, it can be the very thing that puts them off in the first place. I also don't think it's productive when us booky people come over all snobbish and uppity, sneering down at celeb-written and TV tie-in titles as not worth the paper they're printed on.
Barring the odd terrorist manual and the like, there are very few genuinely "bad" books out there. Beast Quest, for example, reads like a pile of old guff to me, and yet they introduced millions of children to the joys of reading.
These are books about football for five-year-olds, written by a big-name football star. Whether he writes them himself or they're ghost-written by someone not being paid nearly enough, his name will be there on the front cover, and for some boys that might be enough for them to give it a go. From there those kids might go on to read other football books by the likes of Alan Gibbons, Helena Pielichaty or Tom Palmer. From there they may go on to read other books about something other than football, or they might only read about football, or they might never read another book again in their entire lives.
But they'll have read something. And that's important.
At school I was a booky kid. I read lots, and actively went out of my way to avoid football in all its forms. These books would not have appealed to me. Some of the other boys in my class were football kids. They could reel off every statistic from the past ten seasons, but steered clear of books wherever possible. Would these books have appealed to all of those kids? Probably not. Would they have appealed to some of them? Definitely.
Whether we like it or not, footballers are role models for vast numbers of boys across the UK and around the world. The success of the National Literacy Trust's brilliant Premier League Reading Stars programme shows the impressive results that can be achieved by combining football and reading. Frank Lampard's book deal may help further that good work, and I fail to see what's bad about that. No, he'll almost certainly never win the Carnegie (although you never know) but Carnegie winners rarely draw in the sports mad non-readers.
And let's not forget about the effect all this may have on the perception of writing among boys of a certain age. So many schools I go to are full of boys who think writing is something girls and geeks do, so having a proper footballer who has scored goals and everything talking about his love of making up stories may help to chip away at those particular misconceptions
Yes, I'm insanely jealous of the money he will no doubt earn from this, and of the wall to wall coverage his books have already had this week a lone, but do I resent the fact it has happened? Not at all. New readers brought in by Lampard means more readers in general and I for one welcome that.
What do you think? Is all this idealist claptrap or do you agree with my thoughts on it? Will you be buying Lampard's books, or avoiding them like the plague? Let me know in the comments below.