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ASHEBORO | June Williamson Plott, 80, of Birdie Place, died peacefully at home and went to her place in heaven on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013.
ASHEBORO | June Williamson Plott, 80, of Birdie Place, died peacefully at home and went to her place in heaven on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013.
A service to celebrate her life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel by Dr. John Rogers of First Baptist Church. Later in the afternoon there will be a graveside service at Lexington City Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave.
June was born Sept. 22, 1932, in Davidson County to Ernest James Williamson and Toey Eller Williamson. She married James F. Plott in 1952, and they were blessed with three sons, Phil, Greg and Tim. She loved her husband, her boys, her grandchildren, her extended family and all her many friends.
She enjoyed playing golf, UNC sports, spending family time at Oak Island, playing bridge, worshiping at First Baptist Church and cooking and baking delicious meals and desserts for her family and friends. She retired from First Citizens Bank in Greensboro as a vice president.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Sarah Williamson; and her oldest grandson, Jonathan Plott.
Remembering her in love are her husband, Jim Plott; her sons and their wives, Phil and Sarah Plott of Charlotte, Greg and Leah Plott of Washington, D.C., and Tim and Shelley Plott of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren Dana, Maria, Samantha, Taylor, Colby, Drew, James and Hannah; and great-grandchild Jayden.
The family is grateful for the loving care provided by Kenita Matthews with Randolph Hospital and also the care provided by Wendy New.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Randolph Hospital Caregivers Support Group, Attn: Linda Crowshaw, P.O. Box 1048, Asheboro, NC 27204-1048.
Remembrances and online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.


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Page Title: Gift Box > Delivery Confirmation
What you can do on this page:
This page shows the completed gift delivery with a confirmation number, as well as updated security details. You should print this page for your records. An e-mail is sent to the gift recipient announcing the transaction.
HELPFUL HINT: You'll be given a confirmation number for each delivery. The first character will be "D" for Gift Delivery. Each confirmation number will be sequentially designated and never repeated for each account number. Increments build from letters AAAA to numbers 9999 for each confirmation number.

subset: commoncrawl


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Black Forest Imports, Inc. Wholesale Website
10 Melody Harmonic Rhythm Brand Quartz 7/8 inch i-shaft Quartz Movement Exclusively Available through Black Forest Imports, Inc! Click here for details.
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7/8 inch Handshaft made of brass, not plastic. Features 3 Christmas Songs, 6 Classic Songs and Westminster Chime. Order yours today.
RHYTHM Sound 10 Melody 1101 Series
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We have an extensive inventory of keys, pendulums, dials, clock hands, bezels, clock weights, chime rods, bells & gongs, clock chain & cable, cuckoo parts, clock hardware, clock bushings, verges & wheels, grandfather clock parts and movements, ultrasonic cleaners, mainsprings & barrels, quartz and mechanical clock movements & clockworks, tools, books, suspension springs, cleaning & rinsing solutions, oils & lubricants.
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Geil Ultra DDR3 2x1GB Review
Are you looking to build a new computer for gaming or maybe something else? There are quite a few motherboards out there that are using the latest and greatest chipsets but force you to use the DDR3 memory standard. Well, do you feel it's time to make the switch? For most people out there, the higher stock clocks, as well as the lower voltages that are required to run the memory at those speeds, of DDR3 memory modules make them look very attractive. Geil has released its Ultra series for the DDR3 type memory modules. The Geil Ultra DDR3 memory kit comes with two sticks at 1GB per stick. I am interested in seeing exactly how well the memory is going to be able to perform when it comes to the benchmarks as well as how far they can be overclocked.
Closer Look:
The packaging for the Geil Ultra DDR3 2x1GB memory kit looks very interesting as it is a very busy looking package that not only shows you what you need to know, but it is also very eye catching with its metallic/reflective front. Taking a look at the front of the package, you are able to see that there is a very interesting looking computer generated picture of a motorcycle with the DDR3 logo on the tailpipe that grabs your attention and makes you want to look more closely to see what exactly the product is. On the upper left hand corner of the package is where you are going to find the Intel Core 2 Extreme XMP Ready badge, letting you know that there are XMP profiles that can be enabled on an Intel based platform for easy one setting overclocking of the memory, very much like the EPP profiles for Nvidia chipset based motherboards. In the lower right hand corner is where you are going to find Geil's logo and above that is where the DDR3 Ultra Dual Channel Kit is going to be displayed. When you take a look at the back of the package, you are going to find all of the information that you are going to need to know about the memory. This is where you find that the kit is a 2x1GB kit operating at PC3 12800 (1600MHz) speeds with CAS7 latency. There are cut outs in the packaging that allow you to see the bar codes printed on the back of the sticks. When you pull the sticks out of the packaging you are going to see that they are placed in a molded plastic tray that will keep them from moving around during the shipping process to keep them safe from incurring any damage.
When you get the Geil Ultra DDR3 memory sticks out of the plastic molding, you are able to see exactly how they are constructed, which takes the most simplistic and effective design. They do not have any extra large heat spreaders installed on them, however they do actually have heat spreaders installed to help reduce the temperature at which they will be operating at. The front of the sticks is where you are going to find the Geil logo as well as the Intel Core 2 Extreme XMP ready badge that will help remind you that they are able to be set up with an XMP profile. The other side of the Geil Ultra DDR3 stick is where you are going to find the Ultra DDR3 logo from Geil. When you look at the back, the left hand corner is where the bar codes are located and the opposite side is where the information is going to be listed on the stick. 1.9V is what the sticks are rated at when operating at CAS7 1600MHz (7-7-7-24 timings). Of course, the JEDEC spec for these modules is CAS7 as well, just at 1333MHz (7-7-7-24) 1.5v.
The heatspreaders on the Geil Ultra DDR3 memory kit are nothing special, as they are the simple and very commonly used heatspreader design; however, you are able to tell that they are very light and thin, which will allow for the heat to be displaced through the material quickly, allowing for the heat to be displaced off of the sticks more quickly. The spreaders are attached very tightly and do not move or wiggle at all when an attempt is made to remove them.
After taking a look at how these Geil Ultra DDR3 sticks look, it's time to see exactly what they are made of and see how well they are going to perform.


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Former Whitesboro coach remembered Wednesday
WHITESBORO — Just after getting over one tragedy, Whitesboro Public Schools is now dealing with another one.Former Whitesboro Coach Steve Linker died Sunday at age 53. His services took place Wednesday at the high school auditorium.Last week, first-year boys basketball coach Wayne Tucker had his funeral at the same place after being killed in a one-car accident between Muse and Big Cedar on Oklahoma State Highway 63 on March 3."Coach Steve Linker was pretty much a legend around here", said Katie Blagg, Whitesboro School Superintendent.Coach Linker led the Whitesboro Bulldog basketball, baseball and softball teams to many awards and titles beginning in the 1986-1987 season. He retired from coaching for health reasons in 2000.After three years of retirement, Linker came back as a volunteer to coach both boys and girls for the senior season of his daughter, Ketra, for the 2003-2004 season.That spring, Steve was severely injured in an automobile accident and retired again from coaching to work more closely with his wife, Cheryl, in their businesses in Talihina and Clayton. "His greatest quality was motivating his players for each game," said Gene Hiatt, longtime friend, current teacher and also a former coach at Whitesboro. "He would do anything for his players, and they would do anything for him. He even learned to do algebra, or whatever his players struggled with, so he could take them home and tutor them.""Coach Linker loved this school, he loved the kids he coached and they loved him," said Tammy Smith Adams, a former player. Linker was a leader and an inspiration on and off the court. He forged a code of respect, loyalty and fierce determination among players and fans alike that stands as an example today. Whitesboro is overwhelmed with sadness at this latest loss of such an icon in the community.


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If I go to counseling does it mean that there is something wrong with me?
Of course not. For the most part, people who use our services are interested in their personal growth and adjustment to the world around them. Many students face normal developmental concerns and academic pressures, and at times, they may feel acute anxiety, sadness or depression.
What can I expect at my first session?
It is very common for students to be nervous when starting counseling, especially if it is the first time. After you arrive for your first appointment, you will check in with our Staff Assistant. You will be asked to fill out a brief background information sheet and will be given information about confidentiality. In the first session, your counselor will ask questions about your concerns, issues and goals you would like to focus on and together, you will set up a plan for beginning to work on these goals.
How much does it cost?
There is no charge for counseling and consultation. These costs are covered by student fees.
How long are the sessions?
Typical sessions last 45-60 minutes. Your first session may take a little longer depending on the time needed for paperwork and initial visit with the counselor.
Will my visit be confidential?All tests and records at our office are strictly confidential as protected by law and professional ethics. They are set apart from all other records at the University and are not released to any other person or agency within or outside the University without the client's written consent, except as described by law. In the rare event you or others are in real danger, police or medical staff may be contacted to keep you, your friends, and your family safe/alive.
All staff members subscribe to the ethical guidelines established by the Texas Board of Examiner's of Psychologists and Texas State Board of Examiner's of Professional Counselor's. As a client, you will be informed of the legal limits of confidentiality.
Student Counseling and Disability Services
Zaffirini Student Success Center 138
Phone: (956) 326-2230
Fax: (956) 326-2231


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When the mechanical curtain retracts some 30 feet above the 76ers' practice court at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on Wednesday, reporters, cameramen and other interested news gathers will hustle like Pavlovian dogs to the window for a glimpse of what the entire area has been dying to see.
Sixers center Andrew Bynum finally practicing with his mates.
The Sixers have targeted Wednesday, Oct. 24 as the day for Bynum to hit the floor and finally join the Sixers for a series of practices that hopefully leads to him being available for the team's season-opener Oct. 31 against beloved ex-Sixer Andre Iguoudala and his Denver Nuggets at Wells Fargo Center.
Bynum was scheduled for one more injection in his right knee on Oct. 22. From there, they wanted to give him 48 hours rest and then give it a go on Wednesday.
I'm excitedly looking forward to seeing Bynum in a Sixers uniform – who wouldn't want to see what his insertion into the lineup does to a team that already looks better than last year's team after a 6-1 preseason? – but I'm not going to be mad if he's not out there when the curtain comes up.
I don't see any reason to rush this. I'm not one of these people who ridiculously and without any logical reason connects the bad fortunes the Sixers had with Jeff Ruland more than a quarter of a century ago to what could happen with Bynum's knees. I don't believe in curses. Sorry.
However, knowing how vital Bynum's health is to the future of this franchise, the last thing you want to do is put him out there and have him not be ready. Or, even worse, have some type of setback. That simply can't be allowed to happen.
The Sixers have been honest, open and up front about this whole process. And I, like everyone else, hope he's ready to go on Wednesday. However, I'm not holding them to it. If he isn't ready, put him back on the shelf until he is. There's way too much at stake here.


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Sentey Aphelion Elite Gamer Series Mouse Review
Sentey Aphelion Elite Gamer Series Mouse Introduction:
Sentey is a US based company with regional sales offices worldwide, selling high quality gaming cases, power supplies, and now peripheral devices to gamers and elite users all over the world. You may be more familiar with Sentey's power supplies and cases; the mice and keyboards recently brought to market haven't even found their way to Newegg yet. It seems more and more companies are coming to where the "quick" money is made in the peripheral market of mice, keyboards, mouse pads, and other less component type devices. Looking at the Sentey page, or perhaps on their Facebook page, there seems to be quite the range of priced products. Today, we will be looking at what appears to be the lower tier mouse, the Sentey Aphelion Elite. Don't take the phrase "lower tier" to be so negative; I refer to it as such as it is the most affordable mouse Sentey currently offers. In this case it is an affordable $49.99 gamer mouse with on the fly DPI and additional programmable buttons.
Sentey Aphelion Elite Gamer Series Mouse Closer Look:
I have to admit, the box section of the review is usually my least favorite to write up; it usually get left for last and ramblings of the box is this and the box is that. I'm actually kind of excited about this box despite all the money that is clearly in it and not in the mouse. I honestly can't stand fancy boxes and prefer a simple black box to some gimmick, but this one really grabs my attention. I don't see a mouse or even a product when I see this box, I see an interesting space game or movie cover on the box..Oh and what is that, a mouse on the box. The back of the box shows off the mouse, the 3400 DPI capability, comforting shape, extra buttons, and of course the carrying case it comes with. As much as I like the box, I have to stick to my standard of the fact that there seems to be a little too much money in the box – hopefully the mouse doesn't reflect that too much.
Opening it up, another box reveals itself; the plain simple black box I wanted. We could throw away the outer sleeve and have MY ideal box! However, this isn't all about me. This inner box is quite neat with a nice little ribbon to pull it open the magnetic closure. The flap is padded with foam on the inside, appearing much like sound proofing. The mouse is well protected by this as it isn't really held down in the box by any annoying ties or cables to cut.
It seemed like quite a big box for just a mouse, and quite fancy packaging at that. Well, it turns out there is a bit more to offer besides the mouse itself. It seems to be a mini box of shwag. I won't lie, I'm a sucker for shwag – I love going to all the booths at CES for a silly stuffed penguin, a fancy branded pen, and of course stickers for the beer fridge. I love T-shirts the most, but those are rare to come about (and sure as hell don't expect to get with a mouse or keyboard). I'm stuck on a fence on how I feel about the shwag included – can't decide if they are trying to buy me or if I'm just getting cool stuff. After digging around a little, it turns out that all their products come with it, so I'm going to just call this one a WIN.
You get quite a bit more than just a couple of Sentey stickers in this box o' shwag with your mouse. You get a reasonable sized poster for your wall, a door hanger to tell everyone you are gaming, a VIP card to register your product, and a nifty carry bag for your mouse all along with the driver CD and manual/warranty pack. I'll admit, I'm quite enjoying the extra stuff, but it only holds my attention away from the mouse for a little bit. The mouse is what we're really here to talk about and decide whether or not it's worthy for your hand and desk. Let us continue on, but of course, flip the door tag to let everyone know we're not gaming at the moment.
Before we move on to the mouse, let's take a quick look at the little carry bag that was included. It's a neoprene material, like a wet-suit or laptop sleeve, that stretches just enough. The shape is pretty pre-formed to the shape of the mouse itself, giving it quite the funny look empty. The zipper is a rubber flap reading "SENTEY" making it easy to locate and unzip/zip. Getting the mouse in there takes a little effort with it being so pre-formed; the cable and USB dongle don't really want to go in. A little shoving goes a long way and it zips up ready to go in a bag. I can't say how often I'll use it, as I usually don't travel with a wired mouse (and LAN parties are far and few between these days), but I like the idea nonetheless.


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Filed under: Cameras, Advice, Editor's Picks, Reviews, Digital Camera, Summer Fun, Father's Day
Question: I'm planning a vacation with my wife and kids this summer, and I want one camera to cover it all. Something small enough to take around with us wherever we go, and most importantly, super durable and waterproof so we can take it to the beach without giving daddy a heart attack. Any suggestions?
Hey reader: "Tough" cameras have definitely been the rage lately, with several of the big manufacturers recently unleashing new models into the wild. Over the past few years, Olympus has definitely led the way in this category with its Stylus Tough series of nearly unbreakable cams.
But we aren't in love with the Olympus photo quality. So we were excited when Panasonic brought out the ultradurable DMC-TS1 earlier this year.
Continue reading Which Rugged Camera Should You Get?
Which Rugged Camera Should You Get? originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 May 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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Dialogue: 'Twilight' Stars Lutz, Greene, and Rathbone on 'Breaking Dawn Part 2's Fighting, Possible Reunion Show
It's Twilight's last appearance at Comic-Con, at least as far as anyone knows, so we sat down with several of the franchise's favorite actors - Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, and Ashley Greene - to talk about the final film in the franchise, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2.
Movies.com: We are currently at Comic Con, the home of western showdowns, superheroes, and action. The end of Breaking Dawn Part 2 is an epic superhero showdown. What superhero reminds you most of your character?
Kellan Lutz: Fighting technique I'd have to say Carnage from the Spider-Man series or Venom. When he gets unleashed, Emmett just tears it up.
Jackson Rathbone: Captain American because of the way he fights, only change it to Captain Texas since that's Jasper's roots. In a lot of ways Jasper's just very technically proficient because he's done it so many times for just so long. He has a warrior's mindset. He's very strong and silent. He's very quiet. There's not a lot of superheroes that are very quiet. A lot superheroes are very (in a deep booming voice) "Take that bad guy!" Being clever plays here (points to head) Jasper is much more get it done without the talk. He is a man of few words. You mentioned Westerns. Jasper is the ultimate Clint Eastwood he never blinks.
Ashley Greene: I don't know. Catwoman, maybe. Catherine Hardwicke made us all take cat lessons for Twilight. Alice is very stealth and nimble.
Movies.com: Jackson, one of the big themes of Breaking Dawn Part 2 is the protection of a child who is entirely innocent. Now that you are a new dad, does that theme resonate with you more so than when you were shooting the film?
Jackson: I think so. Instinct takes over. You have this little person and you hear that first cry and every little cell in my body suddenly turned over into being that protector. He's so small and it's all keep alive, keep alive at all costs. It's absolutely an amazing feeling.
Movies.com: Ashley, there is always talk about how physical this series is for the guys, and how much work they had to do to bulk up. However is seems to me that Alice doesn't get enough credit. Sure she's sweet and nice and everyone's best friend, but she does get to kick some serious butt this film. Can you talk about your prep for that?"
Ashley: She does kick-butt! Alice has gotten more and more active. Alice gets to do her fair share of action. It's always interesting training for that because the thing about her is that she can foresee everything before it happens. And so you're trying to make it look really easy because she knows what's happening. The stunt choreographer, Jack, and I was literally having me doing the wax-on wax-off stuff with me making me close my eyes. I was using all my senses. It was really interesting and so much fun. Hopefully you get that sense when you watch Alice. The women in the franchise definitely did our fair share of training. The girls all got pretty competitive with each other in a fun way.
Movies.com: Kellan you mentioned that you have been looking forward to the Bella and Emmett wrestling scene for four years. What was it about that scene that made you want to film it so badly?
Kellan: That scene just really jumped out at me when I was reading the books. It was special because Emmett doesn't really get one-on-one time with Bella. To have her be a vampire, that's always what Emmett has been rooting for. He's all "just change her already!" He's been rooting for that for so long and when she is, he gets a bit cocky thinking his strength is his strength and no one can top it. So now comes along Bella who was always the clumsy human, and now she has these heightened skills and senses to the nth degree. It was just a special scene. Kristen really got into it. Kristen Stewart is much stronger physically than anyone would think, a lot stronger than I thought, it was amazing.
Movies.com: "At the Breaking Dawn press conference you all talked a bit about Bill Condon being an actor's director and what a privilege it was to work with someone of his caliber. What was it specifically for you that you think Bill Condon did that make that kind of impact?
Kellan: For me personally, he took the time to ask us. He's the newbie. We've had years and ample time developing our characters and bringing them to life. At the time what I appreciated and really loved was that he took the time to sit us all down and ask us. He would say , "Tell me about your character. Tell me how he thinks, and why he does certain things,." And then after that we talked about the script. It was really nice to kick off that long process of the final movie in the right way like that. We were all on the same page. There wasn't anyone trying to hurry up and play catch up we were all on the same page.
Ashley: It was really, really nice to have such a positive person to end this whole saga, and make it such an enjoyable process. He's an incredible, award-winning director, but he came into this film and it was all about us, and all about how to make this the best film possible. Since he was so positive, he made it really fun to go to work. You could just see that he really loved this project, and that was a really nice feeling. He makes you smile, a big ray of sunshine.
Jackson: When we were in the Hall H panel and Bill was up there on a recording introducing the clip I was just smiling. He wasn't even there with us, but that's how much his presence does. I want a pocket-sized Bill Condon to just carry around---
Ashley: Exactly that's so it. Anything he would ask for we'd do it. We would have done anything he wanted, "I'll do more shoots, I'll come back for ADR, Anything!
Movies.com: Would you be up for the series continuing in some way? Where would your character go?
Kellan: If the time was right I guess, but I think we are all ready to graduate. We all love our characters, but we are ready to see what's next. It's the perfect time to close this series.
Ashley: A reunion show will definitely happen at some time, you know it will. We're all getting older, we can't keep playing these characters.
Kellan I'd do something fun like a reunion show.
Jackson: You know they should do next? A musical. Twilight the musical. It should happen, and Muse should write it. It would be epic.
Movies.com, the ultimate source for everything movies, is your destination for new movie trailers, reviews, photos, times, tickets + more! Stay in the know with the latest movie news and cast interviews at Movies.com.
Copyright © 2018 FANDANGO MOVIES.


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Beyond the Door (US - DVD)
Gabe revisits the most popular Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby rip-off ever...
Jessica Barrett (Juliet Mills) lives quietly with her eccentric family in San Francisco. As she falls pregnant with her third child, she begins to develop strange behaviours and appetites. As the strangeness intensifies, Jessica begins to display signs of demonic possession including spinning her head all the way around and projectile vomiting. Her husband is understandably distraught, but her creepy children begin acting even stranger than ever. A former lover comes to her, and informs her that it may not be her that is possessed, but the child within her.
It's easy to yearn for the 'good old days', but often such complaints are just the elderly refusing to admit they can't read modern art and entertainment. One thing missing in the modern era is the European horror market, and its perfect penchant for ripping off popular American blockbusters. These days Hollywood rips off their own work to the tune of millions of dollars, and the Italians languish in relative obscurity. But back in those good old days anything popular was ripe for an Italian redo, and often the results were fascinatingly singular, rather than lifelessly bombastic. Producer and occasional director Ovidio G. Assonitis made a career out of redoing Hollywood. His work includes the Jaws inspired Tentacles, the slasher inspired Madhouse, Piranha II: The Spawning (James Cameron's first film), and Beyond the Door (aka: [/i]Chi Sei[/i]), the most popular Exorcist clone ever made.
There are plenty of notable oddities throughout Beyond the Door, which pull it beyond it's relatively uneventful and overlong runtime. The weirdness starts with the opening narration from Satan directly to the audience, and moves quickly on to Jessica's kids, who curse like sailors, obsessively read multiple copies of the same book, and drink gallons of pea soup through a straw. Even stranger is the way their parents ignore them, as if only the audience is privy to the majority of their behaviour. Assonitis' abstract editing and camera placement, along with the apparently pointed use of still frames add a definitively Italian feel (whether he likes it or not). As in the case of Assontis' superior Madhouse, the director's best efforts to exact an American look are fortunately mostly unsuccessful, and visually speaking the film looks a lot like Lucio Fulci's era work. The strange pacing and lack of normal narrative flow support these comparisons, though Assontis doesn't push his film into the 'pure film' extremes of Fulci's City of the Living Dead and The Beyond. Assontis may have been trying to ride Friedkin's coattails, but his goals appear to move slightly beyond pure, goofy exploitation. It's interesting to note that some of his cheapo Italian rip-off work was itself 'borrowed' for big budget Exorcist follow-ups like Amityville Horror, The Omen and Poltergeist (as mentioned on this director's commentary).
The cast is actually quite impressive, from the standpoint of both their overall performances, and from the standpoint of their stature at the time and in the following years. Relatively prestigious television star Juliet Mills is joined by the likes of Gabriele Lavia ( Deep Rep, Inferno and Zeder), Richard Johnson ( The Haunting, Aces High and Zombie), Elizabeth Turner ( The Psychic and Cannibal Apocalypse), and Carla Mancini ( Sinful Nuns of St. Valentine, Che?, Flesh for Frankenstein, What Have You Done with Solange and The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe). It isn't any participant's best work for sure, and the characters are thinner than tissue paper, but everyone does pretty well with what they're given, often chewing the scenery to bits in the process.
Possibly the strangest, side note aspect of the definitively strange film is the presence of two in-name-only sequels. Despite the presence of several other Exorcist-inspired Euro-horror films like Alberto De Martino The Antichrist, Metin Erksan's Seytan, Jesus Franco's Exorcism, Juan Bosch and Paul Naschy's Exorcismo, and the re-edited version of Mario Bava's Lisa and the Devil, which was re-titled House of Exorcism, Beyond the Door was associated with Mario Bava's Shock, and Jeff Kwitny's Amok Train. Shock, which was Bava's final film, has a little in common with The Omen, and besides a character name has nothing in common with Beyond the Door. I've not seen Amok Train, but the film appears to have even less in common with it's supposed prequel except for producer Ovidio G Assonitis' name in the credits.
Beyond the Door isn't Code Red's best work, but there isn't a lot to complain about either. The print is pretty clean, featuring a share of minor print damage artefacts, some grain, and a few instances of flutter frames. Colours aren't as bright and full as they could be, but are low on compression noise. The overall contrast is lacking a bit, leading to some less effective black levels during darker scenes, and an overall lack of sharp edges. My only real problem is with the overall detail, which is definitely beyond those crummy VHS releases horror fans passed around for years, but less impressive than the format is often capable of achieving. The details are fine in close-ups and most middle shots, but wide shots are somewhat blurred and a little washed out. There is apparently some fan discussion concerning the appropriate framing of the film, but this 1.85:1 version doesn't appear to be missing anything on the edges. I suppose a tighter framing wouldn't hurt too much, but this seems accurate.
Had a studio with huge bucks gotten a hold of Beyond the Door, like Anchor Bay (circa 2000), or Blue Underground, the original mono soundtrack may have been mixed into something relatively immersive. The source material is pretty aggressive despite its lack of stereo encoding, utilizing some genuinely unsettling abstract noise to convey some surprising scares. The mix is effective enough to achieve a certain degree of dynamic range, but the mono base doesn't allow for any directional attack. The original material isn't in the best shape, but Code Red gives it a decent clean-up. The dubbing is all the hell over the place. The kids are obviously not voiced by actual children, and the lip-sync is never anywhere near adequate. The leads fair better, especially Mills, who dubs herself, and Gabriele Lavia, who appears to be dubbed by the same guy that dubbed Udo Kier in Suspiria. Dialogue is clear enough to make out at all points, but suffers distortion at high registers and s sounds, and is generally pretty muffled throughout the track. Sound effects could do with an increase in clarity and bass punch, but Franco Micalizzi's eerie and sometimes perfectly inappropriate score sounds pretty good throughout.
Extras start with two audio commentaries. The first commentary features the star Juliet Mills, Hostel and Evil Dead II producer Scott Spiegel, and exploitation experts Darren Gross and Lee Christian. The track is buoyant and brimming with good nature, mostly consisting of the moderators asking Mills basic questions about her career while bringing up fun factoids throughout. The second track features Christian again, this time with director/producer Ovidio G Assonitis, and Euro-horror historian Nathaniel Thompson. This track is more informative on a technical and historical level, but not quite as much fun, and with more silent spaces. There's a whole lot of overlap on the tracks, especially when it comes to the experts bringing up factoids concerning the cast and crew, along with some mention of differences between this uncut version and the US theatrical release. Special note: the shorter cut is better, frankly speaking.
Beyond the Door: 35 Years Later' (20:30) is the usual low-fidelity Code Red effort, made up of shot on video interviews and film footage, and it features a lot of overlap with the commentary tracks, but it gets the job done. Interview subjects include Assonitis, actors Mills and Richard Johnson, and co-writer Alex Rebber. Subject matter includes inspiration, casting, writing, filming in San Francisco (illegally, of course), Assonitis' work ethic, advertising, release, and Warner Bros' legal action. 'Richard Johnson: An Englishman in Italy' (07:00) is similar, and taken from the same interview session (though oddly anamorphically enhanced). Johnson is given a chance to briefly rundown his relatively impressive career in Italian movies, specifically horror movies, including his consistent re-writing of dialogue, working with Sergio Martino and Lucio Fulci, keeping a straight face on a silly horror set, and making zero dollars in the industry.
The extras are wrapped up with a slide show of promotional material set to the film's theme (03:45), the original American trailer, an American TV spot, and trailers for other Code Red DVD releases.
Beyond the Door is the Exorcist rip off it's accused of being, but it features a fascinating strange streak, and a better sense of real film art than most critics have credited it with over the years. I even dismissed it a bit myself in my semi-recent review of director Ovidio G Assonitis' Madhouse. It's an exceedingly weird film at the very least (though unfortunately not as gruesome as its reputation suggests). This, the first and only official US DVD release is about average from an audio/video standpoint (considering its age), but the extras are solid.
On a personal note it's kind of interesting to note that since I started with DVDActive in 2003 I've received and reviewed all five official Exorcist films, Paul Naschy's Exorcismo, Mario Bava's re-cut House of Exorcism, and Beyond the Door. Perhaps I should take some time to finish the set some day.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Existing Posts
Nice review dude. You should make a website just for these types of reviews.
i must say I do worry about you Mr. Powers. all these horror movies you love can't be good for your health or the misses. assuming there is one
i'll give this a rental just for Mr. Speigel's commentary
i'll give this a rental just for Mr. Speigel's commentary
Great review man, I always liked this one!
This product has not been rated
Disc Details
Release Date: 16th September 2008
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Single side, dual layer
RCE: No
Video: PAL
Aspect: 1.85:1
Anamorphic: Yes
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 English
Subtitles: None
Extras: Director Commentary, Actor Commentary, Beyond the Door: 35 Years Later, An Englishman in Italy, Trailers
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Ovidio G. Assonitis
Cast: Juliet Mills, Richard Johnson, Gabriele Lavia, Elizabeth Johnson
Genre: Horror
Length: 109 minutes
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McMurray Set to Visit Devastated Hometown
Jamie McMurray will get escorted into his hometown of Joplin, Mo., Thursday by the mayor and the chief of police.
But it won't exactly be a hero's return or any kind of a joyful event for McMurray -- a standout Sprint Cup driver and winner of the 2010 Daytona 500.
Joplin was probably best known as McMurray's hometown until a twister that to date accounts for around 140 lives lost struck on May 22.
On the eve of last Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, McMurray took stock of his feelings, where a lot of his attention had been and how the plan for Thursday's trip had come together.
"I probably had some friends ask [me] about coming -- but I wanted to go there," McMurray said. "It's really hard for me to explain. This doesn't happen to very many people. There's something special about your hometown. It's just hard to explain.
"I wanted to go there on my own and just see everything. I've been glued to the TV for the last six days [prior to last Sunday] just watching everything and trying to remember what things looked like before. So, I want to go there and see it for myself."
He'll take the opportunity on his way to this weekend's event at Kansas Speedway, in conjunction with an event at Bass Pro Shops, his car's primary sponsor, about 70 miles away from Joplin in Springfield, Mo.
McMurray's last visit to Joplin was "four or five years ago." He left the town at age 20 as his racing career developed and he's been joined in North Carolina by the remainder of his family that formerly lived in the community of about 50,000 people in southwest Missouri.
"I do have a lot of friends still there," McMurray said. "But like most of us, I probably haven't stayed as close to friends of my hometown as I would have liked to have."
McMurray, who for a time was an avid user of Twitter and who said he'd recently joined Facebook, said social media had connected him with some old friends.
The tragedy even caused an impromptu connection with a former sponsor from the time when he competed for Roush Fenway Racing.
"I don't know if you remember Irwin [Tools] or not; they were partnered with Roush," McMurray said. "They actually sent 250 pairs of gloves just the other day. I had a friend call and say what they needed immediately were gloves to help with the search and rescue. So Irwin was nice enough to send them some gloves.
"But all the sponsors: Coke, McDonald's and everybody has actually come to me. Initially I was like, 'Gosh, I'm going to call these people and see if they'll do something to help raise some money.' Everyone that's involved with our NASCAR program, whether it's sponsors or team owners or crew guys, all came to me before I could get to them asking for ways they could help.
"So I thought that was really cool for our community to try and give back to them."
Johnny Morris, the head of Bass Pro Shops, gave up part of the signage on McMurray's car last weekend at Charlotte to display a message for Convoy of Hope, a relief agency that is involved in helping those affected.
McMurray's first stop Thursday will be at Bass Pro's headquarters, where a daylong festival and fundraiser is scheduled, featuring food and musical entertainment.
From Springfield, McMurray will travel to Joplin where he'll be met at a local airstrip before heading to the Convoy of Hope distribution center. He'll spend some time there before being taken on a guided tour of the destroyed town, including his childhood home -- which was leveled -- as well as his high school and St. John's Regional Medical Center, which were both badly damaged.
"I was fortunate that the mayor and the chief of police -- you know, you can't get everywhere," McMurray said. "You can't just go back to your home, I don't believe, right now. So they're actually going to give me a tour of everything and let me look at all of it."
McMurray expects a stark view of his former home area.
"I had friends send me pictures of the neighborhood that I grew up in, and it's gone," McMurray said. "They sent me pictures and I had a friend actually send pictures of my house through text messages, and I didn't even know what he had sent me. I did figure it out because the only part left of my house was actually the address left on the front wall.
"But when you look at the pictures of the house, there's no background. There are no trees or homes or landmarks in the background to define what you're looking at. So, really, the tornado took the whole neighborhood out."
More than anything, McMurray said the recent event -- and everything he's witnessed from afar, since then -- will have a profound effect on him for some time.
"Joplin will always be my hometown and I've got, I don't know, maybe it's a different outlook now," McMurray said. "But when we go do fundraisers -- certainly I'm still going to do a lot with autism -- but I think for a long time it will be about Joplin and trying to get the city back where it was.
"I had a friend who lives there tell me that Joplin would recover; he just didn't know if it would recover in our lifetime. He said the trees that are down and the amount of building -- that it's just going to take a really long time to rebuild all this.
"So there will be a big effort on my part over the years to come to help with the hospital and school and the families that have lost everything. Joplin is just home to me. When I think about the school and racing at the go-kart track there in Joplin, I just can't imagine it any other way because that's the way it was."


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BOSTON -- Charles Murphy, the former chairman of House Ways and Means, will testify that Speaker Robert DeLeo told him "hands off" the probation department budget in the midst of a fiscal crisis, a federal prosecutor told the judge Wednesday afternoon in the ongoing case involving alleged patronage at the probation department.
With the jury out of the room, federal prosecutor Fred Wyshak also said Ed Ryan, the former legislative liaison for the probation department, will say DeLeo was given 10 hires by top probation brass in the new electronic monitoring department to "assist him in the speaker's race."
Wyshak said he plans to call six additional sitting state representatives about that aspect of the case, all of whom are Democrats with leadership positions or chairmanships. DeLeo in 2008 was involved a battle with Rep. John Rogers, of Norwood, for votes to succeed then House Speaker Sal DiMasi, who resigned in 2009 before being indicted and eventually convicted for selling his office for kickbacks and bribes.
Majority Whip Byron Rushing, of Boston; Public Safety and Homeland Security Chairman Harold Naughton, of Clinton; Housing Chairman Kevin Honan, of Boston; Post-Audit and Oversight Chairman David Linsky, of Natick; Elder Affairs Chairman James O'Day, of West Boylston; and Rep. Michael Moran, a division leader from Boston, will all be called about hiring for the electronic monitoring department, Wyshak said.
Former Probation Commissioner John O'Brien of Quincy and two of his former deputies, Elizabeth Tavares and William Burke III, are charged with rigging the hiring of probation officers and with handing out jobs in 2007 and 2008 like "lollipops" to staff the new ELMO facility in Clinton with the hopes of buying lawmakers' support.
Probation also gave at least one job in the electronic monitoring department to Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, according to Wyshak, though Judge William Young was skeptical of probation officials' motives to curry favor within that office, saying prosecutors will "need to prove this was bribery and gratuity to the lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth" to make it stick.
No elected officials are charged in the case, and DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray, two major figures in probation hiring according to the prosecution, were not among the lawmakers Wyshak said would be called to the stand.
Murphy, of Burlington, was ousted from his leadership position in late 2011 after discussing with members his desire to eventually succeed DeLeo as speaker. Though Murphy denied telling lawmakers he thought DeLeo could be indicted, he did admit to discussing the ongoing federal investigation as "the elephant in the living room" that was creating a sense of uncertainty in the House.
Robert Mulligan, the former chief justice of administration and management, will be called to testify after the Fourth of July, Wyshak said, and Young said his appearance could require the use of an overflow courtroom.
Mulligan could be a lynchpin for the prosecution as he was allegedly duped by fraudulent certifications into approving O'Brien's probation officer appointments. Mulligan could also be a rich source of material for the defense, which has tried to show similarities between the probation officer appointments made by O'Brien and the court officer hires made by Mulligan.
According to the prosecutor, Rep. Garrett Bradley, a Hingham Democrat, will testify about proposing legislation that would return more budgetary authority to Mulligan, who had been blocked by the Legislature from making transfers out of the probation budget. Wyshak said James Kennedy, DeLeo's former legal counsel who is now counsel for the whole House, will testify about O'Brien and Christopher Bulger proposing legislation that would take the probation department out from under the Trial Court.
Fight over speakership at core of bribery case at probation trial
BOSTON -- Charles Murphy, the former chairman of House Ways and Means, will testify that Speaker Robert DeLeo told him "hands off" the probation department budget in the midst of a fiscal crisis, a federal prosecutor told the judge Wednesday afternoon in the ongoing case involving alleged patronage at the probation department.


text: > we built a linux farm to do verilog simulations at the company I'm working > for. as far as I know, all HDL simulators are single threaded, I don't > know how would beowulf help you. ah. okay doesn't surprise me but bummer. > we are using a tool called LSF, from Platform Computing I think, which > can monitor all the machines in our server farm and automatically > dispatch simulation jobs to one of them when the job queues, server > load, memory and other constraints are met. yep lsf is one of the tools i've been pointed to by our developers. does it support transparent checkpointing and migration, that was one of the features of condor i really liked (though the requirement of relinking the apps makes it unfeasible). any comments on how it compares with other tools? > our experience shows that the limitation on 3GB memory is only > problematic if you are running gate level simulation of a very large > asic. but, in that case, you would have the same problem with any > 32bit processor anyways. yep that's exactly the problem we have is at the end of a project when we have to do gate level simulations. adam.


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'We are now positioned to continue to meet a city-wide goal of efficiency in our city facilities and services,' said Mari Macomber, city manager for Kirksville.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 27, 2014
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced the completion of a facility improvement project as part of an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with the city of Kirksville, Mo. With more than $4.7 million in renovations, the project is expected to provide the city more than $340,000 in annual savings, allowing the project to pay for itself within a 15-year period. The technological upgrades to the city facilities will dramatically improve energy efficiency, while improvements to the metering infrastructure will provide essential upgrades to billing and utility services of city government.
The most significant project component is the replacement of the city's aging water metering system. Schneider Electric worked with the city and its utility building staff to transition more than 7,000 new residential and commercial meters. The city of Kirksville historically had problems with water loss within the system; the new meters will allow the city to limit rate increases and make the billing process more accurate, which will directly benefit city residents. To help ensure long-term accuracy, Schneider Electric is also providing ongoing support via a Revenue Protection Plan, in which monthly billing data is being monitored to identify and report on alarming trends, and help prioritize the city's water meter and water distribution maintenance.
Additionally, Schneider Electric replaced the HVAC system in Kirksville City Hall. This aging system was the biggest energy and maintenance drain for the city, but prior to the ESPC with Schneider Electric, the city lacked the budgetary means to retrofit the outdated and failing equipment. The installation of the new HVAC system, which includes compressors, variable volume and temperature (VVT) boxes and ducts, will solve the comfort, maintenance and efficiency issues associated with the old system.
Other project elements include comprehensive renovations to the lighting systems across the city's facilities, as well as retrofitted building automation systems. In total, the more than $4.7 million in improvements will deliver annual savings in excess of $340,000. Schneider Electric worked with U.S. Bancorp to provide a local financing source for a rate below two percent over 10 years.
"Partnering with Schneider Electric on this project has allowed the city to directly address its most pressing energy efficiency problems, alleviating financial pressures on the city and its residents by ensuring accurate readings and elimination of lost revenues," said Mari Macomber, city manager for Kirksville. "We are now positioned to continue to meet a city-wide goal of efficiency in our city facilities and services."
"In addition to the physical improvements we've provided for Kirksville's facilities, we are proud of the economic impact the ESPC will have on the city and its residents," said Jordan Lerner, regional director, Schneider Electric. "We were glad to have the opportunity to help the city with these important HVAC and water metering retrofits, which will benefit the city of Kirksville for years to come."
In the past 20 years, Schneider Electric has successfully implemented over 530 energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) across the nation and helped clients around the world save close to $1 billion. ESPC helps publicly funded entities make capital improvements over longer payback periods. Funded by third-party financing, ESPC offers many long-term benefits such as improved facility efficiency, occupant comfort, financial management and environmental protection. Typically, new, more efficient equipment and upgraded facility automation systems maximize energy efficiency and generate utility savings.
About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructure, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Non-residential Buildings, Data Centers & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company's 150,000 plus employees achieved sales of 31 billion US dollars in 2013, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy.


text:
M-Audio Releases Three New World Class Software Titles
iZotope\'s Spectron, Ozone 3 and Trash deliver 64-bit audio processing for pristine audio quality unrivaled in hardware or software.
If you're looking for innovative world-class effects to inspire new directions for your sound, you owe it to yourself to check out the iZotope line of signal processing software. In addition to stunning new effects and an amazing integrated mastering suite, these incredible packages employ 64-bit internal processing for absolutely pristine fidelity.


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My Neighbor Totoro (US - BD RA)
Gabe recalls Miyazaki's classics and traces its weird US release history...
I was introduced to Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro under pretty unusual circumstance. At the age of about ten or eleven, I was watching The Shaggy Dog with a family friend/mother's co-worker/occasional babysitter from Japan named Yoko. When Yoko asked if I was enjoying the film, I said something about preferring cartoons, prompting her to ask if I'd ever seen Tonari no Totoro. Because the film wasn't officially released on US home video until 1993, I had to answer 'no.' In fact, I hadn't knowingly seen a Japanese animated motion picture. Yoko was excited and announced she had a copy on VHS that she was going to lend me. The tape in question was recorded from Japanese television, meaning it was not dubbed in English and didn't even include English subtitles (it also had '80s-laced Japanese commercial breaks, which was very entertaining). Despite dealing with what should've been an insurmountable language barrier on a ten or eleven-year-old attention span, I was able to follow the film and was completely enraptured. If memory serves, it took me several months to return the tape. The fact that I remember this random event in my life so vividly speaks to the intimate power of Miyazaki's unique universe.
My Neighbor Totoro is possibly Miyazaki's most universally accessible film. I can't say I consider it his best, but it was an American breakthrough for good reason. Despite being a period piece with definitively Japanese cultural touchstones, the movie captures the true essence of imagination and transcends cultural barriers. Miyazaki is constantly compared to the likes of Walt Disney, but films like My Neighbor Totoro and Laputa: Castle in the Sky aren't hindered by Disney's constant adherence to pre-existing material. In comparison, Miyazaki has more in common with mythmakers like Lewis Carroll and J. M. Barrie. His most personal directed work is largely divided into two camps: epic, story-driven Joseph Campbellian monomyths, like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Laputa, and Princess Mononoke, and dreamy, logic-evading parables, like Totoro and Ponyo. Some of his later films span both styles, but, at this early point in his career, he wasn't yet integrating too much of the monomyths' complexities with the parables' child-friendly anti-rationalism. This left many adult viewers confused by My Neighbor Totoro's popularity and acclaim. The film's worst reviews all complain that it doesn't really have a plot, which, frankly, it really doesn't. Like Ponyo (and sometimes Howl's Moving Castle), the point of the exercise is not the status of the story, conflict, or character arcs, but the experience of Miyazaki's immersive world. I admit that, as a theoretical adult, My Neighbor Totoro has lost some of its magic. Watching it for this Blu-ray review made me feel a bit like I'd left Neverland and was left looking back through a telescope.
And, just because it's interesting, I'd like to point out that My Neighbor Totoro also has one of the most surprising US distribution histories of any animated movie ever. Following the wholesale slaughter of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Roger Corman's New World Pictures, who released the film heavily re-cut under the title Warriors of the Wind, My Neighbor Totoro was released in the US largely unaltered at Miyazaki's insistence. The English dub was to follow the original text as closely as possible and none of the character names or locations were permitted to be anglicized. This was a very tall order back in the late '90s, before mainstream western audiences had any interest in Japanese animated property (Miramax famously dropped the ball releasing mega-hit Princess Mononoke in US theaters and even the box office takes of relative hits Spirited Away and Ponyo pale in comparison to their Pixar counterparts), but clearly someone saw potential money in the project and was willing to defer to Miyazaki's demands. But here's where it gets really weird – the first English dub of My Neighbor Totoro was co-produced by Academy Award winner John Daly. As if that was strange enough, Daly's involvement helped re-spark the connections from Miyazaki to the American exploitation market (which started when New World released Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind).
You see, before he was winning Oscars and making boffo box office with movies like The Terminator and Platoon, Daly co-huckstered the 1974 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, and co-produced Ozploitation classics Strange Behavior (directed by Michael Laughlin) and Escape 2000 (aka: Turkey Shoot, directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith). Once finished, the English version was distributed by 50th St. Films, or, as they're usually called, Troma Films. You read that right – Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz's Troma Films, the company behind such B-classics as The Toxic Avenger and Combat Shock, distributed Hayao Miyazaki's magical children's classic. Troma ended up co-owning the rights to the American release on VHS and Laserdisc until 2004 when their rights expired and Disney re-dubbed the film.
Miyazaki's movies are all a long time coming on Blu-ray, but the wait for My Neighbor Totoro has been especially frustrating, following yet another DVD release in 2010, alongside Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service (which still hasn't had an HD release). These SD versions were released around the same time Ponyo hit Blu-ray, scaring all of us negative nellies into thinking maybe Disney wasn't going to bother with any of the catalogue Ghibli releases. This film was made two years after Laputa: Castle in the Sky and, as I understand, had a bigger budget (not to mention more than 30 minutes less animation), so my expectations for this new HD transfer were spiked a bit higher than they were when Disney released Laputa last year. Totoro is a less epic film than Laputa, but it makes up for scope in concentrated detail. The detail allotted in these rich painted backgrounds helps makes the upgrade from standard definition to high definition here a small step above the Laputa disc. Otherwise, this is a very similar re-master. The complex painted elements are big, bright, and brimming with layers of texture. The detail increase doesn't do the cell animation as many favours, since it reveals minor imperfections in the ink outlines, but fine, intersecting lines are much sharper in HD, without the compression effects you see on the various DVD versions. Disney has a tendency to clean the negatives of their catalogue animated releases, erasing almost all signs of film-gain, but here, the organic grain structure is intact without overwhelming the image. A few odd shots appear dirtier than others and there are some jittering bits, but overall, this is a good HD cleansing that doesn't lose the integrity of the film-based image.
Like every one of Studio Ghibli's early efforts, My Neighbor Totoro has had a colourful dub history. The original English track (the one I discussed in the feature section) has been lost along with the analogue home video release's, replaced with Disney's 2005 (I believe, perhaps 2006) all-star re-dub. The re-dub was supervised by some big name ADR and sound editors, but was not a theatrical release, so it didn't get much of a sound design overhaul. This is mostly good news. This disc features dual original Japanese and Disney English dub 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks, rather than the 5.1 tracks that have accompanied most of the other Disney Ghibli Blu-rays ( Nausicaä was also 2.0). Again, based on the original material, this is mostly good news and means the original mixes haven't been altered all that much (aside from the new voice work, naturally).
Because I'd never seen the film with the newer English dub, I spent most of this viewing paying attention to the English track. This is certainly a well-produced track, but the direct translations kind of hamper memories of the original Japanese experience. Dakota and Elle Fanning's performances are pretty capable – they just don't feel like an original part of the puzzle, like some of the stronger English dubs. The volume of the vocal performances are also a bit louder than those of the Japanese track, which simply doesn't sound as organic. The overall aural landscape is more or less identical between the two dubs, but it does sound like more effort was put into re-mastering the effects and music for the re-dub, which only makes sense, given the time put into separating and reconstituting tracks. The effects are a little bit sharper and Joe Hisaishi's music is a bit louder. There's not a whole lot of directional movement or immersive ambience in the sound design, aside from choice sequences. The scenes involving King Totoro's magic are the obvious standouts, along with some scenes spiked with heavy nature noise (rain storms, cicadas, wind).
Note: The opening credits have been altered to change, based on which version of the film you are watching – if you're watching in English, the credits are in English with the new dub's cast; if you're watching in Japanese, the titles are entirely original images.
Another Note: Sadly, Tim Daly is not the son of original English dub producer John Daly. That's a different Tim Daly.
The brief extras begin with Creating My Neighbor Totoro (3:00, HD), an interview with Miyazaki about the film's inspiration and inception. Creating the Characters (4:20, HD) is an interview with producer Toshio Suzuki and Miyazaki on the design and introduction of the title character. The Totoro Experience (2:00, HD) features Suzuki and Miyazaki talking about the film's initial box office failure (apparently not a surprise), which was turned around with the introduction of plush toy versions of the title character. Producer's Perspective: Creating Ghibli (1:20, HD) covers the process of naming the studio. The extras end with vintage look at the real-life locations titled Locations of Totoro (28:40, SD), featuring actress Mayu Tsuruta talking to locals and nature park curators, Scoring Miyazaki (7:20, HD) with composer Joe Hissaishi, Behind the Microphone with the 2005 voice cast (5:40, SD), trailers, and an option to watch the film in original storyboard form. The Scoring Miyazaki piece features some nice HD footage from Kiki's Delivery Service, making me think it's on deck for the next round of Ghibli Blu-rays (perhaps alongside From Up on Poppy Hill?).
My Neighbor Totoro has lost some of its magic as I've aged, but it's still an amazing film and one future generations of children should absorb and adore, and this Blu-ray release is a great way to share. The new 1080p transfer is clean without losing grain or dynamic range, the DTS-HD MA 2.0 Japanese and English soundtracks are crisp without changing the structure of the sound design, and the extras, though short, have a nostalgic sweetness about them.
* Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray and original Disney DVD release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Existing Posts
That girl on the BD cover is still bugging me. She's like a fusion between the two main girls. Weird.
It was nice to read your history of discovering it and the history of the American distribution.
I didn't mean to imply that the film had aged badly, rather that *I* had aged badly. If that makes any sense.
And yeah, Frank Welkner's Totoro voice is a little too much like his generic creature voices throughout his career.
And yeah, Frank Welkner's Totoro voice is a little too much like his generic creature voices throughout his career.
I think if anything, this movie has aged well. My favourite Miyazaki film as a kid was Laputa: Castle in the Sky, but this has grown to be my all-time favourite Miyazaki film. It's got a childlike logic and simplicity to it that makes it stand out in his catalogue, imo.
Also, some of the magic you're talking about might have been missed due to your listening to the English track. I re-watched this with a friend who has a bit of an aversion to subtitles but the first time we heard the Totoro voice in the dub, I immediately pushed him to change the track to the subtitled Japanese version. They just didn't get the Totoro sounds right at all in the English dub and he even agreed as soon as he heard the Japanese version of Totoro.
Also, some of the magic you're talking about might have been missed due to your listening to the English track. I re-watched this with a friend who has a bit of an aversion to subtitles but the first time we heard the Totoro voice in the dub, I immediately pushed him to change the track to the subtitled Japanese version. They just didn't get the Totoro sounds right at all in the English dub and he even agreed as soon as he heard the Japanese version of Totoro.
All ages admitted
Disc Details
Release Date: 21st May 2013
Discs: 2
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 1.85:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Japanese, English, French
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Extras: Creating My Neighbor Totoro, The Totoro Experience, Producer's Perspective: Creating Ghibli, Locations of Totoro, Scoring Miyazaki, Behind the Microphone, Trailers, Original Storyboards, DVD Copy
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Chika Sakamoto, Noriko Hidaka, Hitoshi Takagi, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fannng, Tim Daly
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Family and Fantasy
Length: 86 minutes
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Bean, Clam & Corn Chowder
|Seafood, Vegetables, Beans, Dairy
|Day Part
|Lunch, Dinner
|Menu Part
|Cuisine Type
Clam meat, corn and white beans are paired with diced bacon sautéed with butter, onions, cumin and coriander in this decadently rich and creamy chowder.
8 oz. thick-cut bacon, diced
2 tbsp. butter
2 large onions, diced
1 tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground coriander
1⁄4 cup flour
30-oz. clam meat, drained, liquid reserved
1⁄2 cup bottled clam juice
4 cups canned white beans, drained
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
1⁄4 cup cilantro, chopped
1. In a large pot, fry bacon until slightly brown. Add butter, onions, cumin, coriander and cook, stirring, until onions are tender, approx. 10 min. Add flour and stir another 5 min.
2. Add reserved clam broth, clam juice and white beans. Simmer another 5 min. and season liberally with ground black pepper.
3. Add clams, simmer another 10-15 min. Add milk and cream and stir well over low heat until hot and thickened. Adjust seasonings and stir in cilantro.


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PORTSMOUTH — This year's Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll Gingerbread House Contest demonstrated the same positive progress in home construction as the rest of the Seacoast as 44 entrants crafted a sugary village of homes, a church, a lighthouse and other fanciful buildings.
The creations overflowed the museum Visitor Center and entranced the thousands of visitors who attended the 33rd Annual Candlelight Stroll at Strawbery Banke.
Museum special events designer Kathleen Churchill noted, "Our 21st annual Candlelight Stroll Gingerbread House Contest brought in so many wonderful and creative entries, it was very hard for our community panel of judges to pick winners. For us, the enthusiasm and hard work so evident in each creation make for a winning contest each year. Many thanks to everyone who participated and all who made the process and the display so enjoyable."
This category features houses by individual adults and adult groups. The winner receives a complimentary companion membership to Strawbery Banke Museum.
First Place: A Fall Snow by Andrew Thorne. A dusting of snow covers a farm still bringing in the harvest.
Second Place: O Tannenbaum by Amy Mastronardi and Carl Neunaber. Cookies create the tree, ornaments, and presents of this design.
Third Place: 9 Hollow Tree Lane — A Fairy's Winter Cottage at Strawbery Banke by Kate Gilbert and Beth Cavalier. A quaint little house tucked in by a tree stump.
Honorable Mentions:
Cozy Log Cabin by "The Maids" Gang! A nice little log cabin for spending a cozy night.
This category features entries constructed by children with or without family members help. The first place winner receives family memberships to Strawbery Banke Museum.
First Place: Back Channel Lobster Shack by Sophie, Olivia, Alice, Molly, Lucy, and Parents. A gingerbread man fishing off the dock while many gummy fish swim nearby.
Second Place: Peace on Earth by Jesse DeWeese-Boyd and Company. A VW bus has a Christmas tree ready for delivery.
Third Place: West Quoddy Lighthouse — Lubec, Maine by Dale and Kira McKibben. Mother and daughter turned to a local lighthouse as inspiration this year.
Third Place: Santa's Lunch Box by Iara, Linus, Augusta, and Val. Mrs. Claus worked hard so Santa and his reindeer have snacks for Christmas Eve.
Honorable Mentions:
Enchanted City by Aida DeWeese-Boyd and Company. Pegasus rests under a tower in this creative display.
Christmas at the Yellow Brick Road by Meghan Robichaud. An edible scene at the beginning of the Yellow Brick Road.
Santa's Cool Sleigh Car by Olivia, Isabel, and Henry. The version allows Santa to get around in all sorts of weather.
A Lemon Christmas by Victoria Robichaud. Animal crackers perform on a multi-tier stage of yellow.
Gumball Cottage by Tariku Neunaber. A bright creative little house that lives up to its name.
Christmas on the Farm by Emerald, Aavery and Brenda Mundt. A family of gingerbread men mind this farm.
My First Gingerbread House by Olivia Carter. A 3-year-old has fun with some seasonal creativity.
Santa's Vacation Home by Kerri, Shea and Paul Jenkins. Santa's warm weather beachside retreat.
The Sugar Plum Saltbox by Lindsay and Laura Paris. A modest but adorable little creation.
This category features house constructions by school and youth groups. The winning group receives a gift bag of items from the Strawbery Banke Museum Store and a free family admission to Strawbery Banke Museum.
First Place: the Polar Express By Girl Scout Troop #229: Kelly, Lindsey, Andrea and Alecia. A very full train is getting ready to deliver toys.
Second Place: Angels Playing in the Snow by Brownie Troop # 12985. Eleven girls are making snow angels around the fire at camp.
Third Place: Mr. Sprinkles' House by CJ Neunaber and Colin Moyer. Living up to its name the yard is full of sprinkles surrounding the pretzel log cabin.
Honorable Mentions:
Winter Wonderland by Kyla McLaughlin and Lindsey Reynolds. A house covered in red, green and white for the holidays.
Hansel and Gretel by Ava Van Scoy and Isaac Soucy. A lovely version of the house that drew the two children in.
Candy Valley by Katlyn Batchelder and Emma Chisholm. A nice bench sits out front of this house.
Winter Wonderland by Rachel Sanderson and Sydney Phifer. A pond, snowman and pen of geese surround this house.
Christmas Eve by Aimee Johnson and Zoey Larson. Marshmallows create the soft snow in the yard around this house.
Candy Land by Kenzie Casey and Riley Landry. A fire pit, pond, and a pile of snowballs await visitors.
Sprinkles' Farm by Lauren Sanderson and Anna Craig. A rainbow of colors covers this farmhouse.


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Georgia Southern tabs Byington as men's basketball coach
Statesboro, GA – Georgia Southern has hired Mark Byington to lead the men's basketball team, the school announced on Monday.
Byington spent nine seasons with fellow Southern Conference foe College of Charleston, including seven as the team's top assistant. The former UNC Wilmington 1,000-point scorer also took over as the interim coach for Charleston Southern from 2011-12 after coach Bobby Cremins took a leave of absence.
The Cougars went 7-4 in their final 11 contests of the season with Byington at the helm.
"Mark has the energy, the knowledge, the experience and the work ethic to elevate our men's basketball program to where we want it to be, which is competing for conference championships," director of athletics Tom Kleinlein said. "He rose to the top of a pool of a quality group of candidates as we conducted an exhaustive national search. What we found throughout the process is that Mark is the best fit for Georgia Southern University."
The Eagles finished 14-19 overall and went 7-11 in the SoCon this past season. The school fired former coach Charlton "C.Y." Young after four seasons after he compiled a 48-34 record with the Eagles, including a 26-46 mark in conference play.
Byington graduated from UNC Wilmington in 1998 and began his coaching career at Hargrave Military Academy in 2001-02 as an assistant. He then served as the director of basketball operations at Virginia two years later after holding the role of a graduate student manager with the Cavaliers the two years prior.


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Lake Regional Health System is now taking registrations for the Show-Me Better Health program in Richland.
Lake Regional Health System is now taking registrations for the Show-Me Better Health program in Richland.
The program, designed to help area residents manage ongoing health issues, like diabetes, heart disease and chronic pain, lasts seven weeks.
Participants meet the first week for orientation and an optional free health screening, then 2.5 hours weekly for six weeks to develop needed skills and receive support.
Sessions cover topics related to living with a chronic condition, including goal setting, exercise, nutrition, communicating with health professionals, managing emotions, medications and stress reduction.
The series of free workshops is scheduled every Tuesday, beginning at 6 p.m. April 1, at the MOCA Office, 306 S. Pine St., Richland.
Each week, participants will meet to set goals and share ideas.
During the second session, participants will receive a free book and DVD.
Participants each may bring one guest. A light meal will be provided at no cost to participants.
Previous Camden County Show-Me Better Health participants are encouraged to attend the April 1 session for a free follow-up health screening.
Space is limited, and registration is required. For information, including additional workshop dates, or to register, visit lakeregional.com/SMBH or call 573-348-8222.
Additional workshops will be offered on an ongoing basis, rotating among locations in Camden, Miller and Morgan counties.


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You are here
Mercedes S63 AMG vs classic 450SEL
Mercedes-Benz S-Class is, by tradition, the kind of car that wears its pearls of technological innovation and luxurious appointment beneath a handsome-but-bland shell of Mercedes-range hegemony. There are more arresting Benzes. Sportier, swoopier, grand-entrance Mercs. But the S-Class has always been the one that slides by, delivering on-board satisfaction before kerbside appeal.
The car that glories in a certain lack of attention, but never lacks for interior appointment. If you think about it, an S-Class has always been the equivalent of wearing a fur coat inside out.
The new S63 AMG continues that tradition, and then some. Because, for the moment, this is the quickest, most luxurious, newest S-Class you can buy, making it - supposedly - the apex predator in the fast and fabulous limousine market. And although the S63 might be slightly less discreet than one of its smaller-wheeled diesel brethren, it still doesn't loudhail its potential. Yes, there's largesse to its street presence (all the S63s we'll get in the UK are LWB), but unless you were in the know, you might miss the bi-turbo V8 badges on the wings and have no idea this monster limo could comfortably outpace all but the most modern Ferraris.
You did read that right, by the way. The S63 is capable of 0-62mph in a scant 4.4secs, and - with the appropriate limiter-extend option ticked - some 186mph. We won't be getting the four-wheel-drive variant in the UK (0-62mph in a much more acceptable four seconds), Merc quoting the cost-versus-sales benefit of redesigning the AWD system to convert to right-hand drive or some such paltry excuse, but it's probably enough for most.
Still. The S63 looks… meaningful. But not exactly pitbull aggressive. Certainly not the festival of chintz you might expect given the specification, which would shame a Russian oligarch. Because this thing - as standard, I hasten to add - is brimming with the kind of cutting-edge tech and pointless brilliance that would make most of California's high-end consumer geeks explode in a hipsterish, glitter-filled, early-adoptergasm. Usual for the S-Class, but worth mentioning all the same.
But, to misquote Buddha: "You can only really know where you are when you've worked out where you've been." Which is why there's a W116 Mercedes-Benz here, too. The first car officially called the Sonderklasse, or 'special class', when it was released in 1972. And, happily, this example is the 450SEL 6.9. The quickest, most luxurious, most technologically advanced S that Seventies money could buy. The S63 AMG before the S63 AMG even existed - the car chosen by Sophia Loren (who had hers converted to an estate to transport her dogs), Frank Sinatra and James Hunt for when they weren't being impossibly glamorous, to name but three. The vehicle chosen as the camera car in C'était un rendez-vous. The coolest S ever. So does the original imperious, fast S-Class take pride in its offspring, or has the family tree gone a bit… nouveau?
Comparisons seem a little fey at first. Mainly because the 450SEL is simply a gorgeous, clean-looking car, while the modern S63 looks a bit bloated by comparison. We'll forgive that, modern ideas of safety having legislated the absolute elegance out of lots of modern metal, and look instead at the confidence of the 6.9. The subtlety. The only difference between this and the smaller-engined V8 was the boot badge and slightly wider tyres, but under the bonnet is a 6.8-litre (yep, Merc was a bit free 'n' easy with rounding-up even then) V8 that puts out a reasonable 286bhp, and an astonishing 405lb ft. That amount of torque means it uses just three forward gears, and puts on speed like a hot hatch: 0-62mph in 7.5 and 140mph is respectable now; in 1979, it must have seemed ridiculous.
It has disc brakes all round, ABS, thermostatically controlled heating, aircon, central locking and a headlamp wash-wipe system. Airbags were even an option on some later versions. Sounds simplistic now, but when you remember coq au vin was considered cutting-edge gastronomy when this car was released, it really has a veritable feast of tech. In context, the 6.9 was the saloon equivalent of… well, of the S63 we have here.
The equipment list for the new S is literally too comprehensive to go into here, but even the highlights are numerous and startling, the best of what automotive has to offer. All the lights, including head and tail, are adaptive and super-bright, low-draw LED. The gearbox, exhaust, brake lights, bonnet, safety systems, stereo, braking system, cruise control, seats and myriad other functions are all adaptive or active, meaning the S63 probably thinks more than you do. Certainly more quickly. It has night vision, a rear seat that converts into a reasonable facsimile of an executive jet's bed, more music storage than the average home computer, three televisions, a 360° camera, a fridge, on-board internet and something called an Air Balance Package for "ionisation, filtration and scenting", with various smells available to suit your mood. It also has stretchy nets in the boot.
Which you will need. And that's just a small selection picked randomly from a spec sheet that unrolled onto the floor like a wayward till receipt roll. The tech-shock continues when you get into it, because the S63 feels like a spaceship. A tight, warm, clean pod of absolute isolation, black leather and metallised ash wood, a fortress of solitude from which to attack the vagaries of travel. The complete antithesis of the 6.9, which is a joyous festival of beige velour.
It's almost literally like night and day: the 6.9 is bright, light and simple, with dials that simply include water temperature, oil pressure and fuel level, a speedo, a rev-counter and a clock. The heater-controls range from hot to cold via a lever, with a rotary control for the fan speed. You adjust the seats by more levers - and there is simple joy in that. The S63 has two massive TFT screens in front, displaying a bewildering amount of information. The seats are infinitely adjustable, the huge central tunnel randomly decorated with cubbies and slots filled with technology nicked from the set of Starship Troopers.
But despite all the postgraduate-level technology - seriously, you'd be discovering new things about this S63 four years after you bought it, even if you dedicated a fortnight to actually reading the manual - the S63 drives like nothing else. Mercedes Magic Body Control is aptly named. It feels like witchcraft. Pick a gear (pretty much any one of the seven available will do, thanks to 664lb ft of torque) and drive around a corner. Cameras will look at the state of the road ahead, and tell the suspension what to do to soothe away the bumps. Of course, this has benefits for straight motorway ride, but the way the suspension breathes as you mount a spirited attack on a pimpled B-road makes for a car that feels like a massive, part-anaesthetised Lotus Evora. That might sound stupid, but it's true. And the grunt is simply huge. Not visceral like other AMG product - indeed the AMG badge is slightly disingenuous-feeling here - but thumping. It belts away from other traffic like it's just ingested a lungful of nitrous and brimstone.
Of course, the 6.9 has its own version of Magic Body Control in the form of full hydropneumatic suspension, a system invented by Citroen then made better by Mercedes. Another innovation of its day, and one that lends the 6.9 a better straight-line ride than three-quarters of the cars on sale in 2013. But tip the ancient and original S into a bend and it still requires settling and a decent amount of head-lean, even though the standard limited-slip differential will allow it to maintain an utterly surprising tightness of line - even on 14-inch wheels with 70-profile tyres that look like circular bouncy castles next to the painted-on 20-inch rubber attached to the S63. It's brilliantly amusing, but when you get into the new S, you realise just how far cars have come, and how good they really are today. Less mechanical, yes. Less connected, yes. But empirically better in almost ever other aspect.
But you know what? Despite the absolute differences created by 40 years of progress, the 450SEL 6.9 and the S63 definitely feel like cars from the same mould. A comfortingly distinct lineage between what was the best large luxury car in the Seventies, and the most astonishing fast limousine of 2013. They have a distinct character, one that takes slightly longer than usual to properly discover. But there's something more than that here, too. Something that sets the S-Class apart.
It's about confidence. It's about money versus power. The thing is, money likes to be noticed. Money travels in a supercar, a yellow Bentley or an enormous SUV filled with non-specific 'entourage'. Even when money thinks it is being subtle, it shouts in a stage whisper, unable to contain itself. Power, on the other hand, well, real power invariably travels in a fast Mercedes S-Class. And, given the choice, I know which one I'd rather hitch a lift in. Because power speaks softly. But always, always, carries the biggest stick.
Pictures: Rowan Horncastle
This feature first appeared in Top Gear magazine
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St. Clair Hospital CalendarOur calendar system requires you to have a St. Clair web account to register online for classes, workshops, special programs and other events. It takes one minute to create your own personal Web site account. Your existing event registrations have been affected. Create an Account
Tweens (ages 11 - 13) and Teens (ages 14-17) are confronted with many new experiences and life choices that create unique challenges during the transition from childhood to adolescence. This program helps equip young girls with the skills necessary to differentiate between accurate and inaccurate information. Teens and tweens wil explore sexuality from biological, psychological, and social perspectives and be encouraged to become aware of their own sexual values and future life goals. Topics addressed include: teenage sexuality, sexual myths, abstinence, pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted diseases, risks and prevention, sexual health care, and peer pressure.
For additional information, please call 412-942-5877.
Event Sessions


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Jacksonville City Council candidates were sent the following questions by The Daily News in advance of the Nov. 5 municipal election. Candidate profiles were edited for length in The Daily News� print edition. This is the full, unedited written response by one of five candidates: Three are vying for two at-large seats and two are pursuing one Ward 2 seat.
Jacksonville City Council candidates were sent the following questions by The Daily News in advance of the Nov. 5 municipal election. Candidate profiles were edited for length in The Daily News� print edition. This is the full, unedited written response by one of five candidates: Three are vying for two at-large seats and two are pursuing one Ward 2 seat.
Name: Bob Williams
Office you are seeking: Jacksonville City Council � Ward 2
Address: 929 Commons Dr. N, Jacksonville, NC 28546
Date of birth: February 6, 1950
City of birth: Muskegon, Michigan
County of birth: Muskegon
How voters can contact you: By Cell Phone at 910-750-1356; by email at firstname.lastname@example.com; or by mail at above address. Additional information about my candidacy can be found at www.bobsgraphics.org.
Occupation: Photographer and Retired Deputy Inspector General
Education: Associate of Criminal Justice, Los Angeles Community College - 1981; Bachelor of Social Sciences, University of the Philippines - 1983; and Master of Public Administration, Golden Gate University - 1985
Prior publicly elected, appointed or held positions: I was the Deputy Inspector General, Investigations, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Los Angeles Unified School District. The OIG worked directly for the seven elected School Board Members. The Inspector General was appointed to his position and I was the Acting Inspector General, in his absence. I was a Senior Investigator for the Airlines Reporting Corporation. I was a Special Agent, Criminal and Counterintelligence Investigator with the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations. I am a former President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists. I am a former Vice President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Inspectors General. I was a member of the U.S. Secret Service�s Los Angeles Electronic Crimes Task Force and the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney�s Office Regional Procurement Fraud Working Group.
Leadership experience: I have over thirty years managing criminal and fraud investigations and providing oversight for Government programs and private enterprises. I was responsible for oversight of a $19 Billion School Bond Construction Project in the Nation�s second largest School District. I managed criminal and fraud investigations in a School District with over seventy thousand employees and around seven hundred thousand students. I performed risk management over the School District�s $13 Billion annual budget; and developed and executed an annual office budget of $7 Million.
I established a West Coast office for the Airlines Reporting Corporation to conduct fraud investigations for the Airline Industry. I was responsible for fifteen Western States and conducted investigations to support 140 Airlines and 35,000 Travel Agencies. I chaired the West Coast Airline Fraud Prevention Program and worked with the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department to fight organized crime that targeted Travel Agencies and Airlines.
I was in the Air Force for twenty years and conducted high profile investigations for the Office of Special Investigations. I established a fraud investigation program at Defense Contractor Plants on the West Coast, who were involved in Classified Programs such as the development of the B2 Stealth Bomber. I conducted briefings for senior level executives, military commanders, United States Attorneys, and members of Congress.
The Cook County and Chicago Bar Associations recognized my leadership abilities and selected me as one of three finalists, from 325 candidates nationwide, for the Cook County Independent Inspector General.
How long have you lived in the municipality for which you seek office? I have lived in Jacksonville four years, after my wife and I moved here from Los Angeles. I grew up in a rural farming community, similar to Onslow County, before joining the Air Force.
Why are you running for office? I am running for office to provide the Citizens of Jacksonville a choice in candidates. I know when I go to vote, I like to have a choice of candidates. I waited for over a week, after candidate registration opened, to see if someone would challenge the City Council incumbents. When it appeared that no one else was going to challenge the incumbents, I made the decision to run. Our democracy is based on freedom of choice and when you have only one candidate on the ballot, you don�t get a choice.
What makes you the best candidate for the position? The City Manager runs the city with direction and oversight from the Mayor and City Council. I have over thirty years of experience in a variety of �Oversight� positions and this is the type of experience a City Councilman needs. I am a Fraud Investigator by trade and have substantial education and experience in contracts and procurement matters. I also have extensive experience in examining Government budgets and expenditures to find waste or abuse. My combined years of experience in Government and private industry jobs will help the City of Jacksonville develop sound business and economic principles that are essential for attracting businesses to the city.
What specific issue would you most like to address while in office? I will address the need for the Jacksonville City Council and other Onslow County Elected Officials to work together. The citizens of Jacksonville and Onslow County expect all elected officials to work together to keep taxes low, create a good business climate, and provide needed services.
What is your stance on raising property tax in the next fiscal year? I am not in favor of raising property taxes in any fiscal year. I expect the results of the 2014 Onslow County reevaluation of property to yield lower property values. The County Commissioners and the City Council will feel the need to raise the tax rates to make up for the shortfall of revenue, due to decreased property values. If tax rates are raised proportionately to the decrease in property values, there is no need for property owners to pay more taxes. If the School Construction Bond Referendum passes, there will definitely be an increase in property taxes. I am not in favor of the School Construction Bond because it will result in higher property taxes.
What would you like to see happen in downtown Jacksonville as far as revitalization? I would love to see the Citizens of Jacksonville and private developers take an active interest in the revitalization of the downtown area. The City of Jacksonville and Onslow County should work together to encourage the development of private and Government property in the downtown area. I would enjoy dining at small mom and pop restaurants along the shores of the New River or shopping in small businesses in the downtown area. The City also needs adequate parking facilities in the downtown area to accommodate any business redevelopment.


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Smoked Salmon Chowder
Probably five years ago on our way up to Vashon Island for an extended family reunion, we stopped in Seattle and had lunch at this hole-in-the-wall cafe. I don't even remember the name. But I do remember that I had the best smoked salmon chowder of my entire existence. Ok, so it was probably the first time I had ever had smoked salmon chowder but it was unreal, people!
And I have dreamed about it ever since.
Fast forward a few years later and I am checking out cookbooks from the library (NERD written across my forehead, yes, I get it), and happened to check out a random one with restaurants from the White Dog Cafe (not the place we ate in Seattle – I still can't recall that name).
I spied a recipe for smoked salmon chowder, copied it down and forgot about it. For another couple of years. Randomly I stumbled upon the recipe a few weeks ago and it called to me to make it.
So I did. And after that long and convoluted intro, all I can say is that this smoked salmon chowder completely and utterly lived up to my expectations and memory of my long-ago smoked salmon chowder experience.
In fact, my husband declared this the best soup he's ever eaten and I had to agree, although that may change the next time I make soup. I'm fickle like that.
I understand the unique (but oh, so tasty) flavor of the smoked salmon may not appeal to all but if you have a hankering for a fantastic, warm and hearty seafood chowder, this one's for you.
My only regret is that we didn't serve it in bread bowls which would have put it waaaay over the top.
Store bought or homemade bread bowls (for homemade I suggest these Bread Bowls)
A green salad like this Spinach Strawberry Salad
Sliced cheddar cheese
One Year Ago: Mexican Lasagna
Two Years Ago: Oatmeal Chocolate Caramel Bars
Three Years Ago: Lemon Cream Pasta with Chicken
Smoked Salmon Chowder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 strips smoked bacon, diced
- 1 large yellow onion, minced
- 1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced (or about 7 baby carrots)
- 1 celery rib, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 5 cups 1% or higher fat milk
- 12 ounces frozen sweet corn kernels
- 1 cup diced smoked salmon (about 6 ounces)
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon tobasco sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until it renders its fat and starts to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, garlic and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring the soup to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly to avoid scorching. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the corn kernels and smoked salmon. Heat through for about 5 minutes. Season with salt, Tabasco, pepper, lemon juice and dill. Taste a bit of the soup and add more salt and fresh dill as needed.
- Serve immediately. The soup can also be cooled to room temperature and then refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat slowly on the stove, stirring often. Add more milk gradually if the soup is too thick.
I found the smoked salmon next to the meat counter at one of the grocery stores in my area (Woodman's) in small 6-8 ounce packages. They were next to some other smoked and cured meats. If you can't find the smoked salmon, ask the employees at the meat counter for help locating it.
Follow @melskitchencafe on Instagram and show me the recipes you are making from my blog using the hashtag #melskitchencafe. I love seeing all the goodness you are whipping up in your kitchens!
Recipe Source: adapted from the White Dog Cafe Cookbook