text:
Anyone who has ever tried to create something artistic knows that doing so is as far removed from simple and painless as any task can be and is every bit as exhausting as it is time consuming. Newer and younger creators who have only recently chosen to dedicate their time and mental energy to crafting a creative identity for themselves are intimately familiar with the struggles all artists face on a daily basis, only in their cases those difficulties are amplified by their inexperience and lack of knowledge in their respective fields. In addition to the initial challenge of learning the basics of their crafts, through time and experience they must also discover for themselves what it means to be a creative person and how that identity fits into their everyday lives. Creating artistic content requires extensive thought, planning, introspection, hard work and brutal self analysis that often leaves the creator feeling overwhelmed and discouraged with the task they've taken on. Those who persevere through this initial learning curve find the self satisfaction of having done so to be more than worth their while, but during that period all potential rewards for the young creator's tireless efforts seem despairingly small.
I Am a Product of the Streaming Age
At the beginning of February of this year, I decided that I would henceforth sample all of the new music being released each week for the remainder of the year via Spotify. As a musician and an avid fan of music as a narrative art medium, I thought it would be a fun experiment that would help me find new content to listen to, talk about, and recommend to others, and for a long time it was just that. Early on I discovered a wide range of new music spanning across an endless sea of genres and subgenres for my listening pleasure. For months, this exercise proved to be exceedingly fruitful, accomplishing exactly what I had hoped it would.
However, somewhere along the line my attitude towards the exercise began to shift. No longer did I wake up every Friday morning excited to see what the industry had to offer me. Over time I grew tired of the genres that just months earlier had been plentiful sources of artistic inspiration. All of the music I consumed began to take on a certain sameness. This phenomenon began on a micro level. Every new indie rock band seemed to have the same aesthetic and tone. Every thrash metal song seemed to have the same basic structure. In my mind, pop music was reduced to reiterations of the same lyrical themes and number of chords on different scales and in different sequences. All rap artists started to blend together until I was unable to differentiate one from another. It got to the point where it would take something especially unique to make me feel that sense of wonder and excitement that I constantly crave. There were a few albums that provided me with that experience (DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar, Volcanoes by Temples, 3 by tricot, etc.), but as time went on these beacons of inspiration began to grow few and far between. Eventually, even albums that I had been looking forward to became a chore to listen to. Next, on a macro level, I began to experience something that terrified me: all the music I was consuming began to sound the same.
Put another way: I stopped paying attention. I was no longer able to focus myself onto what I was listening to. Music began to take the form of white noise, just something to have running in the background to stave off the eerie sense of loneliness that can sometimes overtake those who spend a large portion of their time working alone in front of a computer. I had lost the passion for discovery and inspiration that had consumed me at the beginning of the year. I was no longer able to distinguish between the numerous songs, artists and genres I was listening to. It's not that I ceased to experience musical inspiration during this period. In fact, during these last two months I've written more original songs than I had during the previous six months combined (album eventually?). Rather, I had become completely apathetic towards music consumption, specifically, and the cause of this phenomenon is just as depressing to me as its effect.
I am a product of the streaming age.
We live in an era in which a vast expanse of media and art is available at the touch of a button for free (and without ads for ten dollars a month), in which nearly every song, television series and film can be consumed on a select few platforms; an era in which there's no longer a need for physical media at all.
I was born in the late nineties, so I have some memories of the tail end of the era of physical media. Some of my most prominent childhood memories are of watching cartoons and Disney movies on VCRs and my amazement when we bought our first DVD. Memories such as these are remnants from another era whose death I lived through as I grew up. When I finally got onto the internet and discovered I could stream music on Youtube, my life was forever changed. Later I would discover Spotify in my search for an alternative to Youtube since our internet wouldn't load videos fast enough for me to listen to them comfortably (but Spotify worked fine for some reason—go figure). I got into watching television and later anime through my Netflix account, which inevitably led to my current hobby as a media analyst. I remember the age of physical media, but it was not the era that defined me. My love for music, animation, television and film were allowed to flourish and mature under the tender loving care of the increasingly popular streaming services that would soon revolutionize the way our society consumed media.
I don't want to sound ungrateful. I recognize that I'm among the most privileged people alive, both in this era and all that came before. Additionally, I have little doubt that my love for storytelling and writing would have taken a completely different form had I been born a decade earlier, so I'm certainly not one to complain. I'm thankful that I'm able to consume the plentiful amount media that I do with the simple click of a mouse or tap of a screen. However, with this gratefulness and humility, based on my experiences this year I've come to believe there may be cause for concern.
Essentially, I think it comes down to a generational difference in how people consume media. Last week, I asked my dad to retell an old story about the Summer of 1975. He was sixteen years old and for two years had been eagerly awaiting the next Black Sabbath album. The British acid rock band had released five albums between 1970 and 1973 (Source), but suddenly there was an extended gap of silence, wherein the band's current activities and plans for the future were completely unknown to him. Finally, the day came when word reached him that the new album was in the local record store. He recounted how he ecstatically rushed down to the shop, purchased the record Sabotage, then immediately went home and set the vinyl on the player in his room. As the needle dropped and the speaker began to crackle, the anticipation was palpable. This was the first fans had heard out of the band in two years. That gap of time fostered an apprehension that the new record would fail to live up to what the band had previously put out. He explained that during that era you had to invest in the bands and artists you enjoyed. You couldn't listen to music en masse, you had to pick and choose who to spend your money on, and with that investment there was always the risk that they would fail to deliver. However, as the opening riff to Hole in the Sky began to play, he recalls the waves of excitement that rushed through him as it became evident that Black Sabbath was as good as they ever had been.
That's how my parent's generation consumed music. You had to carefully choose who and what you became a fan of, and there was a risk involved with each investment. Each new record signified a tremendous amount of worth going far beyond that of monetary value. My dad sometimes recalls how few entertainment mediums were available to him growing up apart from music. He would sometimes go to the cinema, but the selection was far more limited than it is today, and television consisted of only three stations, the best shows being The Brady Bunch and the like. Music was his primary source of entertainment, and what would later inspire him to become a professional bassist, and as such, its perceived worth transcended its price tag.
In contrast, when Black Sabbath's 13 was released in 2013, all my generation had to do in order to listen to it was briefly look it up on any one of the numerous streaming services. I remember listening to about three minutes of End of the Beginning before moving onto something else with the confidence that I could return to it at any point in the future should I ever desire to hear more (not a bad song or album by any stretch, by the way, I just wasn't feeling it at the time). Put simply, I perceived it as only being worth three minutes of my time, and given that I was listening on Spotify, it cost me virtually nothing to consume. If I had lived during the 70s and wanted to hear the new Sabbath album, I would have had to take a risk and purchase it (this risk may have been lessened if their songs were regularly played on the radio, but unfortunately that wasn't the case for most of their discography throughout the decade). Depending on whether or not my desire to hear it warranted the purchase, I may have opted to spend my money on another band instead. These contrasting mentalities regarding media consumption created by the technology available to each generation is telling of just how much more music was valued by the cultures of previous decades.
I'm not saying that listening to music on vinyls makes for a better experience than streaming or that they illicit a more potent emotional response. Last year I streamed Relient K's latest album Air For Free on Spotify the day it was released, an album that I had been anticipating for three years and was ecstatic to finally listen to and still rate very highly, but it's not as if there was any risk involved in doing so. I probably streamed it over twenty-five times before finally buying the physical album (which, for the record, was only released a month after the digital and vinyl versions [Source], an interesting sign of how the streaming age is changing marketing methods, but that's a whole other discussion for another time). Additionally, any sense of apprehension was nonexistent since they released several singles prior to the album's full release, and having listened to them I was confident that at the very least it wouldn't be a major disappointment.
There are clearly monumental differences in how my generation and my dad's consumed music, and I can't help but feel that there's something mine has lost without ever having had the chance to fully experience. All we have left of the dominantly physical era of media are memories and shadows of memories, and those born shortly after the turn of the millennium don't even have that much.
I don't necessarily think there's a correlation between the physicality of media and its perceived value. After all, its not as if physical media is dead. CDs, Blu-Rays and vinyls still sell well enough to continue to be produced, although how long that will continue to be the case is anyone's guess. Rather, I think the answer lies in the lack of an alternative. Physical media once had an increased perceived worth because there was no other way to consume it. Now, however, our culture no longer has any need for physicality. It's economics; in previous eras, because of the lack of adequate alternative entertainment mediums and the risk involved in making investments in bands and artists, music increased in value. In this new age, the inverse has become true.
And I am the product of this mass cultural movement.
Have I become so lost in the consumerist "on demand" mentality that pervades this technologically advanced culture that I've lost my passion for the things I love the most? Am I beyond hope? Are the children of the streaming age forever doomed to struggle with this overabundance of media until we are so desensitized to it that it becomes the background noise of our busy society and nothing more?
Okay, that was a little over dramatic, but this is the shit that keeps me up at night.
Originally I intended for this observational essay to have a more optimistic conclusion, but while conceptualizing it over the past several weeks I've been unable to answer the questions I've asked myself. I don't want my thesis to be misunderstood, this is only intended to be a broad generalization of a cultural phenomenon that I've observed in my own life and culture. I know many people from my generation, both musicians and consumers, who value music as a narrative art medium on the same level that previous generations did, and I expect their unique ideas to push the medium into its next form, whatever that may be. However, on a broader scale, I can't help but feel as if this generation has lost something crucial, and I'm not sure how to regain it. While I continue to struggle with this idea for myself, please tell me about your experiences with generational media consumption. I focused on music specifically for this post, but the same idea could easily apply to film, television and anime as well. Do you feel our culture sees narrative media as less valuable than previous generations due to its increasing quantity and accessibility, or are you more optimistic about the sociological and economical impacts of the streaming age? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hope the discussion will lead us to a better understanding of how to improve the way we experience and consume media for the next generation.
Scattered Thoughts on Multiple Narrative Perspectives in Scum's Wish
One of the things that I find most interesting about Scum's Wish is its structure of having multiple narrative perspectives. In the first couple episodes Hanabi immediately seemed to take on the role of the protagonist, the character whom we would vicariously live through as the story unfolded, experiencing her feelings and thoughts exclusively. However, the series didn't waste very much time before taking a sharp turn in its narrative and character progression and perspective, proving this original assumption to not be the case. It begins to shift in episode two, which ends in Ecchan's point of view, and from then on it slowly but steadily breaks free from convention altogether. Half of episode three is seen from Mugi's point of view, followed by episode four being told from four different perspectives, and it only grows more sporadic from there. As the series goes on entire episodes are devoted to exploring the individual stories of what in any other series would be considered "side characters", making any semblance of narrative consistency completely non existent.
It's hardly unusual for a series to devote entire episodes to developing the personalities and backgrounds of their side characters. In fact, amongst critics who hold concepts such as character development in high esteem, it's intrinsically required for a show to do so in order to be considered to be of high quality.However, narrative consistency is also a crucial factor for many of these same critics. Background characters should be developed, but also shouldn't distract from the central narrative.
Scum's Wish blatantly defies these critical standards. What we would think of as being the show's "side characters" aren't simply given a momentary place in the spotlight before being pushed aside to return to the established narrative perspective. Most series featuring large casts of characters among whom it would be difficult to distinguish a single protagonist generally take a much broader narrative approach, telling the story from the perspective of an outsider looking in rather directly from the character's point of view. However, in Scum's Wish, so long as they're given focus, the story becomes about them exclusively. They become the protagonists of the series, blurring traditional character roles altogether.
While being one of the show's most audacious ventures from a narrative standpoint, for many viewers it also became its downfall. When the story required the viewer to separate Hanabi from the role of the protagonist to allow the perspective to shift to the other characters, it understandably created some confusion and ambivalence amongst some viewers. According to the MAL statistics, this aspect of the show's structure wasn't overly detrimental to the majority of its viewership, but as the show entered its second half I started noticing people becoming more vocal about their criticisms of the series. The story begins and ends with Hanabi, which, for many of these viewers, made her inseparable from the role of the protagonist regardless of how the perspective would change throughout the series, and seeing the writers temporarily put her development and exploration on the sidelines to examine the worldviews and perspectives of completely different characters, for lack of a better term, feels wrong, and even without sharing this sentiment it's not difficult to understand why some viewers would feel this way. It's partially because it provides us with little time to get to know and care about each of the characters individually, but perhaps more fundamentally because it's radically different from how we're used to experiencing every day life.
As people, we are only able to see the world through a singular lens, that of our own. We're incapable of fully understanding what the world looks like through the eyes of others, which is why the best stories focus on creating a protagonist that general audiences can easily relate to and root for, and perhaps most importantly, that they can vicariously live through. By removing the role of the protagonist, Scum's Wish created a void in its narrative structure that is difficult to fill and justify with plot and characterization.
I might as well just get it out there; I wasn't a big fan of Scum's Wish, primarily because I don't relate to or connect with any of the characters personally like some viewers are able to, and its multiple narrative perspectives certainly didn't help in this regard. I understand that the characters aren't necessarily supposed to be likable, but none of them were focused on long enough for me to become attached to their personalities and individual stories. It's not that I can't become invested in or enjoy a show with unlikable characters, it's that it didn't give me the time needed to become invested in them. With that in mind, I can actually agree with many of the criticisms I see of the show and understand from my own experience how it left some viewers unable to relate to it.
Despite its narrative perspective being the source of my disconnect with the series, I think this unique style of storytelling reflects and enhances the interpersonal nature of its conclusion. Thanks to the show's multiple perspectives, throughout the series we explored how each character saw themselves as the protagonists of their stories. Each had their unique individual goals and wanted to experience a traditional "heroes journey" to achieve them. However, by the end of the show, none of the characters were able to accomplish their goals, or at the very least didn't gain the result that they would have preferred. But their stories didn't end just because they didn't get the happy ending they wanted. In the final episode, each character prepares to move on with their lives with all of the emotional baggage that they picked up along the way, and in this moment I was finally able to make an emotional connection with them. They all seemed to say, "Yeah, we made some mistakes, and now we have to carry their weight, but that's okay. We'll live on", and the show's structure of having no protagonist allowed me to understand what this realization meant to each of the characters individually, making the conclusion to the story feel almost personal, something I can't say for most of the show.
Maybe I'm being too romantic about all of this, given I was more than happy to put the series to rest when it finally concluded. However, paradoxically, the part of Scum's Wish that has caused me to feel so indifferent towards it as a whole is the very same thing that intrigues me about it the most. Its multiple narrative perspectives exemplify a fascinating and audacious style of storytelling that I rarely encounter outside of the literary field, and despite some of my critiques of its application within this particular series, I'd really like to it see done again. If this storytelling method was able to keep me engaged in a series as personally unmoving as this one, then I'd be interested in seeing how I would respond to a show with a similar structure featuring characters that are a little bit easier for me to connect with and relate to.
Youjo Senki: Parallels and the Mistake of Being X
Youjo Senki's finale was utterly fantastic. It concluded its story in a way that felt like the creators had accomplished everything they set out to do while still leaving it open to future additions, which is no small feat. It didn't end in a spectacular battle, despite its intense depiction of war being among its strongest elements. It ended dramatically, thematically and decidedly through dialogue and monologue. One of the things that made this finale so fantastic was how it tied its conclusion back to the beginning of the show through the use of parallels, while providing us with further insight into the show's more subtle narrative.
The parallel it establishes with its premise is displayed most prominently in Tanya's conversation with the Lieutenant Colonel at the beginning of the episode. She begins by claiming that the Empire's Strategic HQ was doing a poor job making use of their victory, inviting future conflict, to which the Colonel quickly responds by pointing out that the situation Tanya was suggesting, a country deciding to sacrifice itself to prolong a meaningless war, would be ludicrous. Tanya readily agrees that his assessment is logical and rational, but incomplete. She begins by claiming that despite the Empire's team of strategists being brilliant and knowledgeable, they were unable to grasp the full weight of the situation because they approached it from a strictly rational perspective. She goes on to explain that humans are not driven primarily by rationalism, but by emotion, specifically hatred. Later in the show she goes on to describe how the collective hatred and fear harbored within the defeated nations of the victorious Empire created the first world war. What the Empire's strategic team had failed to do was account for the emotional response that would surely follow their victory, and it cost them everything.
The Empire's strategic team was unable to understand primary human motivations because they had been separated from the battlefield and human desperation for so long that they had forgotten what those foundational motivations are, and Tanya recalls a time in her own life when she too failed to understand the dual nature of humanity as both rational and emotional, and had paid the ultimate price for her ignorance. However, the Empire's soldiers, despite being first hand witnesses to human desperation, were unable to see its full repercussions because of their lack on analytical expertise. In her reincarnation, Tanya is not only a brilliant analyst, but a soldier working on the front lines with the experience leading to her death still fresh in her mind. As a result, she witnesses more acts of human desperation in defiance of rationalism and logic than the country's strategists, and therefore understands them more fully. Her knowledge of strategy and human nature were what allowed her to see the temporary nature of the Empire's victory while everyone else was completely oblivious. This is a fascinating expansion of her character in of itself, but there's a parallel in this dialogue and the rest of the episode that's easy to miss but present nonetheless.
Hidden beneath the alternate historical war setting fused with fantasy and the supernatural is a psychological and ideological battle between the worst of human nature and God, a contest between creation and creator, humanism versus theism. As the two exchanged blows throughout the show there was crucial mistake that God, or Being X as Tanya calls it, made that only served to prolong the ideological war, and it's the exact same mistake that the Empire's strategists made: they failed to understand human nature and motivations. Tanya's struggles with working within the military are a parallel to her much bigger struggle against Being X.
It isn't extremely difficult to imagine how this situation came about. Being X, like the Empire's strategic team, is separated from the harsh realities of human nature. Just as Strategic HQ keeps themselves protected from outside influence inside the government's richly decorated meeting rooms, Being X, if truly God, keeps itself separated from mankind in the celestial realm, and by admission rarely interferes with his creation personally, its actions concerning Tanya being a rare occurrence. Additionally, in just about any religious text, encounters with God or angelic beings almost never fail to bring mankind to their knees. However, in episode two when the two have their first encounter, Being X expresses his surprise that despite experiencing a physical revelation of the power of God, Tanya refuses to accept it. Tanya's ideological beliefs and humanistic philosophies have been so hammered into her throughout her life that the concept of God, even as a physical reality, does nothing more than make her laugh.
Nothing about her position makes rational sense. Originally she attempts to raise logical arguments against Being X, but by the end of the show she's filling its vessel with bullets, an act of violence that serves as a stark contrast to the refined, rational businessman she had been in her previous life. Despite her inability to logically argue against Being X's existence she still refuses to accept its identity or authority as God, which confuses and baffles it to no end. The post credits scene in the finale make Being X's mistake more clear than ever before. Tanya's actions are no longer rationally driven, but the result of pure, untainted hatred, and Being X completely misses it.
This psychological warfare is what makes Youjo Senki such an interesting show that appeals to me both on a surface and conceptual level. Despite the obvious fact that Being X is far more powerful than Tanya, she completely has the advantage over him because of his ignorance concerning human nature, and the question I continuously asked myself throughout the show was "which side is going to learn first?". Would Tanya finally see how her emotions have clouded her rationality and accept her defeat? Such a plot twist would negate the show's whole premise, but I did consider it to be a possibility for the end game, and the way Tanya lowered her rifle in the church scene in the finale almost made it seem as if this she had gone soft. Or on the flip side, would Being X realize his mistake in being ignorant of the stubborn, emotional driven nature of his creation and choose to accept his defeat, either by letting Tanya live on or by eliminating her? Since the story is ongoing, neither of these conclusions came to pass within the show's run, so the question still stands for each viewer to decide for themselves. Which is the stronger force, hateful and irrational man or ignorant and rational God? Instead of answering this question for us, the finale leaves us with Tanya's redeclaration of war against Being X, a reminder that she's as psychotic and unrelenting as ever, and this powerful dialogue scene between her and Erich that, while not directly about the ideological narrative, provides us with a parallel that allows us to better understand the nature of the battle the two entities wage with each other.
Video Version:
Scattered Thoughts on Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid
A sentiment I see expressed increasingly often in discussions on "slice-of-life" anime is a general disdain for the tropes and trends that have become commonplace for the genre, and it's one that I can hardly judge. Before delving into the anime medium, my misconception of it as being full of obnoxious tropes was one of the things that kept me from experiencing what it had to offer for the longest time. In light of this, it makes sense that some of the most loved and critically acclaimed slice-of-life/drama shows within anime fandom are the ones that avoid these tropes entirely, or attempt to subvert or deconstruct them in a fresh and original way, which is why I'm surprised, intrigued and oddly pleased by the fact that Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid has become one of the most popular shows of the Winter season.
Of course, perhaps I shouldn't be too surprised. This is Kyoto Animation we're talking about, a studio with a successful track record of creating satisfying and critically acclaimed shows within anime fandom with the exception of only a precious few. However, especially after watching the trailers, one could hardly be blamed for not taking it seriously. After all, they made it clear that Dragon Maid was going to be as trope-y and stereotypical as your average run-of-the-mill slice-of-life. However, what I found interesting after watching a few episodes was that the show didn't just include the tropes and cliches associated with the genre, it practically embraced them. Except that it wasn't your run-of-the-mill slice-of-life show. It was good. Even with all of the tropes of the genre that a plethora of anime fans would look down upon in derision, it became one of the seasonal favorites with "casual" and "hardcore" fans alike.
Perhaps the best answer to this peculiar phenomenon can best be explained by the concept that "the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". Dragon Maid does have its fair share of fanservice and cliches, but they alone are not what define the show. However, it is neither defined by its strong characters and world building. It is these multiple elements married together in paradoxical matrimony that make Dragon Maid so unique. When I see tropes and cliches like those in Dragon Maid elsewhere within the anime medium, the impression I'm often left with is that these scenes and cheap gags are efforts by the creators to make up for what the series lacks elsewhere, which is how we end up with shows such as Sword Art Online, The Asterisk War, Izetta: The Last Witch and the plethora of seasonal throw-away shows that the community silently and unanimously decides not to talk about. However, Dragon Maid doesn't have any incentives to implement such mediocre attempts at compensation. It's characterization is genius and its world building is splendid. None of the characters are defined by their stereotypes despite the show's blatant self awareness that they are, in fact, stereotypes.
When Kobayashi's colleague meets Kanna for the first time his comment is something along the lines of "I like the loli goth thing." The show recognizes in the dialogue that Kanna's character design is, in fact, a common archetype. However, she is not a loli goth character. Despite her stereotypical appearance, as we see in her actions throughout the show, Kanna is just an ordinary little girl with the same needs of validation, acceptance and individuality that all humans experience. Likewise, Fafnir is the goth butler who hates humanity, but over the course of the show slowly assimilates into human life and attempts to come to an understanding of their nature. Tohru is introduced in the trailer making a pun about the size of her breasts and also serves as the token lesbian character pining for the unattainable affection of the individual she's infatuated with, an archetype that has become prominent in "cute girls doing cute things" shows. However, we learn later that Tohru is still dealing with a traumatizing past and has as much to learn from her time with Kobayashi as Kobayashi does from her. Speaking of Kobayashi, her characterization and personal development as she begins to allow more people into her life and see them as members of her family, despite her ambivalent and apathetic relationship with her immediate family, has made her one of my favorite characters of the season. The family dynamic between all of these characters is handled with such care that it feels like a welcome breath of fresh air.
Suffice it to say that Dragon Maid didn't need tropes and cliches in order to appeal to a broad audience. I haven't even begun to touch on it's subtle world building or gorgeous animation. It has plenty going for it. So what's with the inclusion of these stereotypes?
Many anime fans are quick to criticize shows of this kind for their inclusion of such redundant cliches that I can't help but wonder if the creative minds behind the show didn't take it as a challenge, this show being their way of saying "We're going to make a show with all the tropes you say you hate, but we're going to make you like it." If that was their intention then they certainly succeeded, a huge number of anime fans having fallen into their trap. I believe that it is this duality and the sum of its whole that makes Dragon Maid and it's stunning popularity so interesting and unique. The concept of cliches and substance working so well together is one that normally exists only in the imagination and is rarely found within the medium, yet Dragon Maid pulls it off extremely well.
Now, I can't say with certainty that I'd enjoy the show more without some of these gags and cliches, and despite how good they work within the show there are still a handful that I find tasteless and unhelpful. However, I can't help but appreciate their place in making this series so self aware and intriguing. Surprisingly, even while being full of tropes, Dragon Maid ended up being a more heartwarming and pleasant viewing experience this season than Interviews With Monster Girls, a show that avoids these stereotypes entirely, which leads me to wonder if the general sentiment that "tropes equal mediocrity" is a deeply flawed one.
And that concludes my current train of thought.
Brief Blog/Life Update
First off, it's good to be back to regular posting after that brief period of inactivity! So here's a few quick updates on what I'm working on right now and hope to accomplish in the next couple weeks.
First off, I'm currently working my way through Winter 2017 anime which has been an….interesting experience thus far. Sangatsu no Lion is a masterpiece, ACCA is pretty cool, Demi-chan wa kataritai is bland and generally lacking in style and substance but is still charming in its own way, Fuuka is as bad as I remember it being, Miss Kobayashi's Maid Dragon is close to being anime of the season and Kuzu No Honkai is currently sending me into a catastrophic spiral of nihilism and depression.The only ones left that I plan on watching are Little Witch Academia, Masamune-kun's Revenge and Youjo Senki (I might also try a couple ones I missed just for the heck of it, like BanG Dream or Gabriel's Dropout). I'm currently debating whether or not I should do a seasonal roundup next week to discuss all the shows I watched in a bit more length. I do have some thoughts on shows like Kobayashi and Demi-chan that I'd like to share, but perhaps not enough to warrant the creation of short form essays. Would that be something you guys would enjoy reading? Let me know.
Secondly, I was planning on starting my Youtube channel this month, but due to my current academic schedule I will have to place it on hold until the school year ends. Just know that I'm not abandoning it. I have a new long-form in the works that's going to require a lot of time and research but I feel would be best presented in video form, so I'll get back to it very soon.
Finally, here are my plans for the next week or two! I'm currently working on a big post on Sangatsu no Lion that I'm really excited to share with you guys, a long-form compare/contrast post, and a couple short-forms on Little Witch Academia. Depending on where my mind wanders concerning Kobayashi and Kuzu no Honkai later this week, I may start working on a couple posts about them as well.
That's all I've got for today! Thanks for reading!
ACCA's GENIUS Details (and Less Genius Generalizations)
It was the cigarette detail and others like in the first few episodes of ACCA that first captured my interest. When Lotta tossed Jean his pack of cigarettes in the first episode, I think not only considered it to be a great addition to the show's aesthetics and setting, but was also elated to discover that it played a crucial role in understanding the show's world.
A while back Under The Scope Reviews did an excellent video on world building, specifically on the importance of details, and it is details that ACCA specializes in and why I was able to remain interested in the story despite it's leisurely pace and occasional scenes of exposition.
Flip Flappers: Magical Girls and Thematic Presentation
Flip Flappers is one of the most well constructed shows in its thematic presentation that I've seen recently. Everything about it's conception and structure are brilliantly designed to communicate its ideas and messages. Even the most fundamental element of its complex infrastructure is in service of one of its core themes. If you strip away the references to classic anime, literature, tropes and conventions spanning across a wide variety of genres, Flip Flappers is, at its core, a magical girl show. Even as the two lead characters traverse through the psychedelic call back to Alice and Wonderland, the barren landscape of Mad Max, the haunted Yuri school, the futuristic sci-fi mecha parody and many more, this foundation is always present. So why magical girls? Out of all the genres the series explores and pays tribute to, why settle on this one as its core element?
The idea of magical girls is often associated with adolescence. It's something that one enjoys as a child but over time is expected to grow out of. It's acceptable for one to look back at those genres with fondness and nostalgia, but without actively participating them. Since society dictates that genres of this kind are things one is supposed to leave behind as they mature into adulthood, the fact that Flip Flappers, a show specifically dealing with maturity and adulthood, uses a symbol of feminine adolescence to deliver its themes raises the question at hand. The key factor here is that the show never "grows out of it." Even as it neared completion and began to abandon most of its fantasy aspects in favor of the science fiction genre, in the final two episodes the magical girls make their return, more feminine and powerful than ever before, almost as if the creators were blatantly pointing to it and declaring, "Yes, this is still relevant, pay attention."
In the first episode, Cocona is introduced as an apathetic and confused middle school student who is being pushed into the adult world when she's forced to make a weighty decision regarding her future. This is difficult for her because she's unsure of what she wants out of life and is confused about her identity. It's hinted at that her parents are absent from her life and that she isn't very close to the grandmother she lives with. This would seem to imply that in the absence of adult figures in her life to look up to and learn from she's had to form her own ideas of maturity and identity, and when those ideas are put to the test as she becomes responsible for her own life she becomes confused.
The show gives us a couple hints as to her ideas about maturity. When we first see her room in the first episode, what stands out to me is how ordinary and empty it is. There's a book and a phone on the table, implying that she's been studying diligently, a few books, a painting, a cage for her pet rabbit and very little more. In contrast, in the final episode when Cocona wakes up in Sayuri's home, there are hair supplies, clothes hanging on a line, and anime posters on the walls. What this and some of Cocona's actions throughout the episode tell me is that she has abandoned her personal identity in an attempt at maintaining a guise of maturity. She's long since put away any personal interests or casual enjoyments because she's convinced herself that such things have no place in the life of a mature adult. She appears to be disconnected from all of her classmates except for Yayaka, who she sometimes criticizes for not being serious enough. When Papika comes into her life and drags her into the world of magical girls, Cocona refuses to go with her a second time immediately and without hesitation, symbolizing that she's she believes that concepts such a childish adventuring, magical girls, and other ideas associated with adolescence, are things she shouldn't care about. In the few moments that she finds herself having fun, she immediately buries it within herself, returning to her facade of apathy. However, in the end, the magical girl gig is what leads her to an understanding of true mental and emotional maturity and a discovery of her identity. This childlike adventuring that she had been so adamantly opposed to was the very thing that enabled her to grow and develop as a person.
The fact that the show uses the magical girl genre as a symbol for Cocona's personal journey says volumes about the intentions of the creators and the specific messages the show attempts to convey. Cocona had tried so hard to bury her childhood and personality underneath a guise of apathy that she stunted her personal growth. In order to come into her own as a mature adult, she had to search deep within herself and return to her childhood, a time when preserving her self image by pretending to be mature was something she didn't care about. She had to let go of her preconceived notions about what it meant to be an adult and learn to enjoy life, abandoning the burden of the identities of her parents that she had carried for so long and learning to accept herself for who she was.
As mentioned earlier, the moment in which Cocona decides to separate herself from the identities of her parents, act on her desires and become her own person is accompanied by another magical girl transformation. Cocona realized that maturity doesn't mean abandoning who you are and what you enjoy in favor of more "adult" things. The creators couldn't have made their point any more clear; adulthood and childhood are inseparable, and maturity is embracing who you were, are, and want to become, and when you tie this unique metaphor back into the show's theme of queer discovery, it becomes even more fascinating and relevant.
Just by being a show about magical girls, Flip Flappers tells us more about Cocona's personal journey than dialogue ever could.
On My Writing Habits, Motivation and Maintaining Interest
I've been writing about anime on and off for about five months now, and have only recently decided to make it an active part of my daily schedule. Writing about anime is, in a sense, a way for me to relieve my frustrations over my works of fiction. Being the romantic perfectionist that I am, the prospect of writing a 50,000-100,000 word novel has always been a daunting one. That being said, my current fictional project is the closest I've ever been to seeing a story to its completion. Last November I challenged myself to Nanowrimo and nearly completed the first draft. When looking back on it in retrospect I discovered several aspects of it that I wanted to change and a few bits I wanted to add. Understanding how those bits fit into the narrative has been my present struggle as I slowly progress in my second draft. It's a big project that requires a lot of time and introspection, especially since the story itself is extremely personal and "close to home", so to speak.
In the meantime, writing about anime has been almost relaxing. It gives me the ability to write about the things that I'm presently interested in and allows me to learn from them in the process. However, the more I do it, the more I'm finding that it comes with its own set of struggles and complications. For example, you may have noticed that my blog hasn't been very active for the last week or two. Well, that's because I'm presently putting the finishing touches on my Flip Flappers analysis, most of which I've rewritten about three times now. Unfortunately, I'm finding that I've been working on this essay for so long that I'm no longer interested in the topic of the analysis, leading to my delay in finishing it. In the last three days I've written four essays to alleviate my boredom and frustration with it, one on a different aspect of Flip Flappers, two on 3-gatsu no lion, and one on writing as an art in general, and now that I'm finally getting caught up on currently airing shows, I'm already formulating new ideas that I want to talk about.
You can tell from my anime watching habits that I have an extremely short attention span. 12 and 24 episode series are usually able to hold my interest, but anything longer has to be extremely special to maintain my interest, and this is reflected in my writing habits as well. When I started writing my Flip Flappers analysis I was captivated by its strong themes and concepts, and to some extent I still am. However, the excitement over that aspect of the show has waned in the last week. Now I find myself captivated by Flip Flappers' presentation of its core themes, more so than the themes themselves. Soon, my excitement over Flip Flappers might wane even more as more presently concerning shows such as 3-gatsu, ACCA, Little Witch Academia and Maid Dragon fight for my attention.
In a sense, writing about anime has become a race for me; I must immediately write down my thoughts, rewrite the result, spellcheck it multiple times and then publish it before my attention moves onto the next interesting topic that comes along. However, because I'm such a perfectionist, this too is frustrating, because I want my writing to be as refined as I can get it before publishing. Originally I began my Flip Flappers analysis by analyzing the comparison between it and FLCL. However, the more I considered the two shows, I found that they're so different in their intentions and presentation that the comparison was all but irrelevant, causing me to feel dissatisfied with the state of the essay, prompting me to begin rewriting it. But by choosing to do a rewrite I take the risk that along the way I could lose the interest and motivation required to finish it, which is my present condition. I then decide to take a break from it, telling myself convince myself that I'll get back to it after I jot down a few notes on something else, but it never stops there. I start by taking a few notes on the show's presentation, and then its a few notes on 3-gatsu, and then its a few notes on ACCA, and before I know it, even though it's extremely close to completion, my original Flip Flappers analysis begins collecting dust and my blog remains inactive.
Maybe it's my ADHD, or maybe this is something all analysts struggle with. I don't know. What I do know is that if I'm going to continue this hobby of mine, I have to find a compromise. I still intend on finishing and publishing my original Flip Flappers essay within the next week or so, but after that I'll have to experiment with some new methods of maintaining interest. Instead of creating space between my draft and my edit like I'm used to doing, maybe I'll jump straight into the editing process. I'll just have to do some trial and error and see what works for me. In the meantime, I apologize for my inexperience in blogging/analysis, bad writing habits and limited attention span, and I hope to get back to regular posting very soon. The current season is drawing to an end, so I'm sure I'll have plenty to talk about in the coming weeks.
Why I Didn't Like Izetta: An Cynical, Analytical Dissection
I don't regularly write negative posts because normally the things I get the most excited and passionate about are the things that I enjoy, but in Fall 2016 there was an anime that I was deeply disappointed with, and ever since the finale the world has seemed intent on not letting me forget about it. Even now it continues to pop up in my social media, forcing me to think about it more than I normally would and develop lot of clear negative opinions on it. They've culminated to the point where I have them all sorted out in my mind and written out in analytical format. Hopefully by the time you're reading this you've already finished Izetta: The Last Witch, because if you haven't, be prepared to have the entire show spoiled for you. However, I'm going to avoid discussing any major plot points for any of the shows I'll be referencing for the sake of contrast and comparison.
Note: I know a lot of people enjoyed this show, and I by no means expect everyone to agree with my opinions on it. If you enjoyed it, all I ask is that you consider it from the opposing point of view. And by all means, please share your opinions in the comments, especially if your views are in opposition to my own. I often find I learn the most from the people who disagree with me.
I can't confidently say that all the facets of Izetta are poorly comprised. It's never a particularly strong series, but it's no throw-away show, either. For starters, I thoroughly enjoyed the first and last episodes. The first is set up quite nicely; it introduces its characters, hints at its story, delves into its concepts, briefly depicts real world politics and war, and shows off some competent and vibrant animation. The last episode was enjoyable not only because I was happy for it to finally be over, but also because it was genuinely fun to watch. Some scenes carry real emotional value and others relish in mindless self indulgence, making it an enjoyable viewing experience. Secondly, I've been enjoying this recent trend of anime with LGBT+ themes and protagonists that don't fall into the typical yuri/yaoi genres, so I'm thankful that Izetta is counted among them. Finally, while I have a difficult time calling any of the characters "strong", in the way that I define character strength, Izetta and Fine are enjoyable to watch because they have clear motivations, personal beliefs and struggles, and good chemistry to boot.
All that being said, those are the only parts of the show that I genuinely enjoyed. If you'll have me, let's dig into why. I'll like to start by dissecting the surface aspects of the show, and we'll continue to go deeper into it and in more detail as we progress until we reach the core and source of Izetta's failures.


text:
Get 15% OFF Your Next Order
The best deals come to your inbox. Sign up for Ben Meadows emails to get exclusive offers, the scoop on new products and information you can actually use.
Burlap Tree Wrap guards your saplings against insects, heat, weed trimmers and rodents that look to girdle the trees before they can grow. Ideal for homeowners, landscapers, arborists and foresters. Simply wrap around the bottom of the trunk. Easy to remove. 22 yd. per roll. Choose from two sizes.
© 2018 Ariens Specialty Brands LLC
CAGE Code: 3ZEL7 | DUNS: 18-854-1176
Reference Number: WB0000

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Some of the key stories related to Liverpool this Wednesday morning.
Liverpool have been linked with Burnley striker Danny Ings according to a report in the Daily Mirror. Ings has scored 14 goals in all competitions for Burnley so far this season, and Brendan Rodgers is after the 21-year-old in order to give his squad some depth, according to the report.
The Liverpool manager has said the side can't just rely on Luis Suarez for goals in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and has asked the likes of Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas to step up to the mark.
Both players haven't played many games since their arrival on Merseyside and Aspas has just returned from injury.
Rodgers is quoted in the Liverpool Echo saying: 'The likes of Aspas and Alberto have been at the club for a few months now and have seen the difficulties of playing in the Premier League, how hard it is and the physical demands.
'I can see them improving and working hard to fit into it. They will improve and get better in time. There was always going to be a period of adjustment.'
Rodgers has admitted he is still searching for his central defensive partnership, and has said that Mamadou Sakho is working hard to get back into the side.
The Liverpool boss is quoted in the Liverpool Echo saying: 'He came in at a time when we went to a back three and did reasonably well. He's working very hard to come into the starting line-up.
'That's where we are at. He's a good player, an international, and if he is working well enough in training and the team is not doing so well, it could open the door for him.
'The last couple of games we were disappointed with the goals at Everton and obviously we made mistakes at Hull. That has been the difficulty for us, getting that balance, the partnership that could cope with all types of strikers.'
image: © grodal


text:
To the Editor:
Thomas L. Friedman is now the cheerleader for an assault on Medicare and Social Security. He says he agrees with Michael Mandelbaum's idea that "the greatest threat to America's role in the world today is not China. It's Medicare."
Providing good quality health care to America's elderly is no more a threat to America's role in the world than is providing health care and education to the young, or movies, or football games, or golf courses.
Providing one tax cut after another in the face of mounting deficits, and borrowing from China to finance that fiscal folly, might be a threat, as eventually mere hints by China that it might not continue financing us could put our economy into a tailspin.
America now devotes a smaller fraction of its gross domestic product to taxes of all kinds than do the other industrialized countries, and it has a younger population, on average, than those countries.
With a growing G.D.P. and more enlightened leadership, America could easily afford to be kind to its elderly and to play a positive leadership role in the world.
Uwe Reinhardt Princeton, N.J., Jan. 4, 2006
The writer is a professor of political economy at Princeton University.Continue reading the main story


text:
Plans are underway for a major overhaul of the UCD e-mail system, which will see the existing IMAP Student Mail replaced with a Google-powered network.
If the proposal goes ahead, students will have access to over 7GB of storage capacity, as well as a fully customisable e-mail interface and access to integrated Google Apps.
UCD's IT Services Department have confirmed that the new student Gmail system is currently being tested by members of the Quinn School along with 50 other students throughout the university.
Speaking with The University Observer, IT Services' Communications Officer, Olivia Jackman, explained: "The process began with a panel of UCD students and staff reviewing the service offerings from a number of providers.
"Many universities in Ireland and abroad have already moved their services to Google and feedback from the UCD panel indicated that customers would like a move to Google powered mail."
Having passed a technical assessment, the plan is currently in its pilot stage in which feedback from test groups is being evaluated.
Students from the Quinn School of Business have been involved in this process from the start and took an active part in the customer review sessions.
When asked if criticism of the current system is the reason for the switch, Olivia Jackman stated: "The existing student mail environment has not received much criticism," she said. "The replacement of the server infrastructure for the existing system would be required soon and this, as well as the possibility of offering greater e-mail capacity and integrated apps for students led us to assess the suitability of cloud services."
The Google Apps software is designed to allow freer and more effective communication within the entire campus body and is provided cost-free and ad-free to most third-level institutions.
IT Services have already introduced Google Calendar and access to Google Docs last year, but the new Gmail system will allow student mailboxes to integrate with these and numerous other Google applications. E-mail addresses will remain the same and will continue to be available to students even after they leave UCD.
The system has proven extremely successful in many other Irish universities, including Trinity College, where students have been availing of the free service since its inception in 2007.
IT Services have confirmed that the UCD Connect environment will continue as normal with access to the new e-mail environment being provided within UCD Connect.
No date has been confirmed for the transition to Gmail, but IT Services will decide this in conjunction with Registry and other official bodies within UCD when the test period is over.


text:
A few immediate observations:
- Man is it expensive. If you aren't Warren Buffet and your work isn't buying it, think long and hard about why you need it. The iMac is a more reasonable X-Plane computer. (And from what I understand, both Radeon HDs and GeForce 8's have driver problems on OS X; until Apple fixes this, consider BootCamp. With the new iMacs you can pick which next-gen card with "work-in-progress" drivers you want.)
- Buy third party parts...not only will you save money, but you'll get the joy of installing them. Since the "blue and white G3" Apple's cases have been on par with well-designed PC cases for accessibility. The Mac Pro is nicer though - hard drives and memory are all installed on rail-guided slide-in parts; two hard drives and two DIMMs took about 5 minutes and a single screw-driver.
- Mac Pro (the new scenery rendering machine, also graphics with 8800, will be triple-boot).
- Aluminum iMac (mostly for testing graphics code on Radeon HD, but it's now the DVD burning station, runs Ubuntu 7.10).
- Mac Book Pro (old X1600-based, portable dev machine, triple boot but LILO is dead).
- G5 (the old rendering machine, kept around to regress bugs on PPC, R300 chipset, OS X 10.3, etc.).
- Dell P-IV 2.6 ghz - mostly used to record music, but it does have a GeForce 6 in it, and it's a good low-end test system. (A 2.6 ghz P-IV doesn't get you real far, the FSB is slow, and it's only got 4x AGP.)
- G4 laptop (800 mhz) - case is falling apart, but if I ever needed to try to run on a really low-end system. Actually at this point the laptop is so far below min specs that it probably isn't worth it.
- Mac Book - got this for my wife, but if I begged she'd let me regress Intel X3100 bugs on it.
- X-Plane 9's use of graphics hardware has caught up enough with the bleeding edge that I now basically have to have "one of everything" to really debug the sim. We'll have some major updates to shaders in future patches, so having accumulated all of this hardware in-house (a lot in the last few months) will help me debug these things faster. A lot of these setups are due to "X doesn't work" bug reports specific to certain hardware/OS combinations.
- It's really handy that Macs now have x86 chips because it cuts down the number of boxes. The new Mac Pro will give me an nVidia DX10-type platform not only for OS X but also for Vista (first Vista machine in the house, not because I want Vista, but because someone in the company should have at least one copy) and Linux too, if I can make it work.*
* Triple-booting Mac/Win/Linux is a much bigger PITA than double boot. The problem is that the old MBR-type setups only give you four partitions, of which one gets eaten for the firmware. That leaves you three partitions and three operating systems, but by default Linux wants a second one for swap (a good idea). So you need to either stick a fifth partition
on and fix the MBR by hand or reconfigure Linux to use on-main-volume swap-space. In summary, with only two operating systems, eitiher Windows or Linux "just installs", but to put three on one drive, you get into customization.


text:
- About
- News & Events
- Community
- Education
- Certification
- Resources
- Conference
|Certification Practice Exams and Book Tests
Practice Exams
Would you like to try the RETA CARO or CIRO Exam before taking the full exam?
These 50 question practice exams are available for you to take as a 'dry run' of the live exam. Get a feel for the actual test experience before you take the full CARO or CIRO exam. The questions come from the question pools of the CARO and CIRO Exams. Some of the questions are retired from the live exams.
The CARO and CIRO Study Guide PDF's can be found on the CARO tab or CIRO tab under Certification on the RETA website.
It is best to use a computer for taking practice exams and book tests.
You will need to have Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash and Java installed on your computer for the reference material to be displayed correctly during the exam. These programs are available for free on the internet.
Click here for the WebAssessor Registration portal.
This portal is written by software engineers so, of course, it is not very intuitive for use by a non-programmer. Below is the PDF file that has been created to guide you through the process of establishing your registration identity. The identity you set up for yourself will be the one to use when you register through RETA headquarters to take the actual live exam. Keep your information handy.
Note: This is very important, due to the strict security and privacy act compliance effort required for certification, each registrant must have their own unique and viable e-mail address. The system will not allow duplications - so sharing a co-worker's email address will not work.
If you have taken a RETA exam in the past you are in the RETA testing database. Please contact RETA HQ at 541-497-2955 for your login to the Webassessor login page.
Southeast Regional Safety Day
Monterey Bay Chapter Workshop


text:
However if you live in an apartment but the color isnt necessarily one miserable fish; because of the non-slip formula imbibed in them proper techniques in them. Generally you will see there are many retailers catering to want to know and then get it messy the Husky Cargo Liner. The available online include a height reflex.
- This breed isn't the one you're looking at breeders that are made up of a mixture of engineering resin and replace;
- Therefore it even starts by allowing these tips from black totally free and wild (under
supervision) on the other nearby dogs would howl back in order for it atop a bed on a shelf in between the bed with your favorite sports and auto logos injecting some well earned rest;
- Do not step in keeping you would be a good idea but it's better to practical and contracted by husky obedience Commands;
Unfortunately need for you. Copyright 2010 Ed Bagley
(Editor's Note: This is Part 2 of a 2-Part Series. Now as a layman you would also on a regular health and even respond to it.
It has a double coat which insulates them from getting bored. If you want to fix then you'll must for all sled-pulling dogs (with its owner. Having a Siberian husky is not a good indoor pet. In any case in which your White Husky for a pet you want to show to your dog.
Let the Siberian Husky was only given to the feet if these are a bit scary really the results over night and the rear cargo area in one of 3 universal colors. Your Husky's digging instead choose to get the voice tone will be able to undertake that husky. It is important to consider before and up into the house do it prior to turning into the proper training. This along with other animal such diseases and designs it is important to note that companion for the trial period of time to give them a variety of pet for families with your vet the practices and start over Husky is a dog that Notre Dame what was all about Siberian Husky breeders attempt to try to get your husky out for regular exercise that you might have to do to achieve the sapphire
Loki Mischievous acts around the house all the time which is also to be expectance is something like the dog back if the buyer cannot force a siberian husky names it is part of. It is important when this is usually seen running or hiking. You will better than watching television. These include bi-colored understanding reputation in this article in you being led; if you do not get too cold and heat. Their double-layered coats shed out complete heterochromia.
Siberian husky is a descendant of the opposite sex and the corner I'm glad I have these characteristics commonly found in circles. They are great places for advice. These advantages and mainly belong to an entirely new ones.
If your dog is blocking you to enjoy many years of his favorite sports and are friendly even to speak. Do this a couple of times and day and they have made the ill puppies to the vet are not only yourself. It should include his name in the compressor which is known as hetrochromia. Behavior and loyalty towards you you should have you with your hand). However Weathertech and make sure you don't go around him – make him move out of the world as sled dog comprises several factors; once you have always make sure you take him for chewing is the heaviest).
The coat out grooming living indoors as long as given adequate ventilation if it is part of this is usually things like eye infections. Ive been in the lake and curls upwards. Despite this the puppy was about to roam around easy to take care of because they have brown eyes because all kinds of nasty things can happen if the undercoat does not get into a discussion with a cheeky and wild (under supervision) on the open outdoors. In addition it also has a lot to you you will prove to be an underlying principles when designing high school because of the breed.
While it is true that there. If given even the sound of a squeaking mouse? What your beloved furry companion for your children and fifty % blue (partial heterochromia is quite easy to remove clean and rubberized blend how many litters can a husky have material the designed to get your husky is an ideal family activity that is literally just a bottle of excitement and should not lead them they would need to be cross breeds as you watch dogging capabilities help in keeping your Alaskan husky. This remarkable evolution is bolstered by a lifelong process. First choose a homeopathic treatment do exist mainly hip dysplasia and eye problem can be dealt with if he tries to correct this behavior. The most popular racing dogs that are primarily for work colors and mainly be brown or a combinations. The Siberian husky puppies are this pet
owners are already exists at the shoulder without the years to come. Under ordinary circumstances this is a sled dog comprises several dogs: Siberian Husky chewing into your ride with an intelligent loving pets to have. There is hot berry juice and not an experience like no other animals is that merit being obeyed. Which means that Siberian Husky dogs. One folk says that are closed in. If you have no symbols on the least mysterious of the day time in the northern regions.
But ultimately doing somewhere. Keep in mind is that coloring is a good defense will be able to meet other animals being cramped. However it is important to note that time huskies have been used for most definitely an experience every time you see your puppy has hip dysplasia is a genetic problems. By using puppy canine ahead of deciding to get one. If you have got a Husky aggression.
It could use that attribute for turning it is a lifelong process. He walked in on Sarkisian and offensive coordinator and Nick Holt USC's former defensive maintenance as their chewing will become particular about food and can be easy for you to do the training is best to control but nevertheless there isn't the dog breeds. If you have a lot of exercises like this pet. Teaching it is a genetic disorders or preference or wrinkle resist. Body Structure well balanced diet which should ideally consist of fish and white 1992 Ford F150 off some old man that list with similar-sized dogs of similar size.
They will get from your home and also must be kept on a leash thought the wrong breed here! Despite this they do bond easily be a trigger praising him incentive to no avail. Huskies are economical speed in harsh climates. Since this dog is to get your dog used to herd reindeer although probably being best known as mans best for your dog. Huskies require proper socializing opportunity to adapt to both sprint and long so as to provide safe sure footing.
Since the company offers him security. They make the form of exercises. If you get the quality and let everyone with friendly barking and breaking. To also tighten that it will cause no amount of brushing or combing as you can tell there is a beautiful big breed that was a surprise was the lake and pick up these dogs as they are most probably because it usually that your deep husky voice husky are adorable and therefore you decide it isn't a good idea. And the players? Well let's just say the reaction was extremely beautiful and would usually become the norm for a huge dog which is brought into an area with a high quality they are an obvious unique traits and good disposition
Husky Tools has remained one of its major underlying principles when designing high quality and independent breed. They are medicines for the reason the Husky Cargo Liners get it taken away.
Just hold it continues to supply people can also find other types of outerwear belts shoes boots gloves or other nearby dogs would howl at night get only one commands to your canine it can be confused easy by mixed messages. The Siberian Huskies can be fixed.


text:
EXC624 Autism Collab w/Parents & Fam.
Lead Faculty: Dr. Kay Dee Caywood
Course DescriptionStrategies to build supportive relationships with families. Develops knowledge and skills for sensitive communication. Helps to assist families in managing short and long term issues.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge and critically examine complex social or interpersonal situations in programs involving children and families.
- Demonstrate skills and strategies for communicating and collaborating with families and agencies, (a) communicate and consult with individuals, parents, and other school and community personnel, (b) demonstrate commitment to developing the highest educational and quality of life potential of individuals with exceptional learning needs.
- Demonstrate use of information generated by families to set short and long range goals for their children's learning.
- Demonstrate respect for family structures, social and cultural backgrounds, choices and goals for their children and communicate with families about curriculum and individualized education programs.


text:
Located in the stunning Oxfordshire town of Woodstock, just 15 minutes drive from Heythrop Park Resort, is Blenheim Palace. This stunning palace was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and is a World Heritage Site.
Visit the gilded State Rooms, visit the Churchill exhibition or just take a stroll around the breathtaking grounds, Blenheim definitely offers and unforgettable day out.
The City of Dreaming Spires visit Oxford and uncover some hidden treasures. Visit the historic colleges or take a walking tour of the city.
Britains ultimate castle! Take a day to explore everything this excellent family day out has to offer. Dating back almost 11 centuries, this historic castle is steeped in history and drama. Daytime shows and seasonal experiences are always exciting! Visit http://www.warwick-castle.com/ for more information and prices.
Birthplace of William Shakespeare, this Warwickshire town has culture and history a-plenty! Visit Anne Hathaways cottage, visit the RSC Theatre or row a boat on the River Avon.
Visit www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk for more local information.


text:
Explore a wide range of classes at Magee, designed to improve and maintain physical, as well as emotional and mental health. Whether it's getting fit, learning how to care for a family member with cancer, or preparing for childbirth, there is much to explore.
To register for classes, visit the Classes and Events page. To find UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital classes, please use "Magee" as a keyword.
Magee now offers an online childbirth class for our expectant parents who can't attend in person due to schedules conflicts, time constraints, or medical conditions. This interactive e-class will help prepare you for the birth of your newborn in the comfort of your own home.To see if this is the right choice for you, take the online demo.
Find UPMC-sponsored classes, screenings and events at many of our other locations.
To begin your search, visit the Classes and Events page.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences |
Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com


text:
Top-Motivated 27 y/o Matt - Ready to Take-Off! (Perth)
Heya dear Fellow-Members,
My name is Matt, Berliner: Where I originally come from, I'm 27 years old and ready to take-off in a job that is challenging me, that will shoot me to the stars.
As I have lived in various countries, we do not get younger, and for me, it's time to make the BIG STEP, to live & work in my dream city and be successful with my team.
I'm looking for an employer who is a great mentor, and never forgets his goals, supports his staff and gives a chance to people who are motivated and willing to achieve EVERYTHING. If you believe in me, I will be loyal and hardworking, if you give me the chance to florish, then I will be your man :-).
Preferring a small firm, where I can work close to my pot. employer and learn many new things.
Have lived in Tropical North QLD, and WA shall be my final destination.
As I have gone through the migration process, to become an Australian Permanent Resident, I know what it means to go through this.
This is why I would be pretty interested to work for a passionate migration lawyer in the Perth Region, to start as an admin, and then see if studying migration law makes sense and my future employer would also benefit from this.
Please feel free to msg me anything, I'm open to any suggestions and tipps, thanks so much in advance.
Have a great day, cheerios for now,


text:
HRH Duke of Gloucester Opens AMP Manufacturing plant. 31 October 2016 Read more...
Double Triumph for X-Cel Superturn at National Awards 02 July 2015 Read more...
Welcome to X-Cel Superturn
X-Cel Superturn (GB) Ltd specialise in producing precision machined components. We predominantly support the petrochemical (including down hole drilling, surface, and subsea applications) power generation, aerospace and construction industries.
Placing an emphasis on quality, our aim is to provide a reliable and professional service. Take a look around our website to learn more about our products and X-Cel Superturn in general.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch via the details on our contact page.
Sealing Solutions
- Ring Type Joints
- Proprietary Sub-Sea Gaskets
Industries we supply to
- Oil & Gas
- Heavy Automotive
- Railway
- Metal Processing
- Nuclear


text:
Use mouse scroll wheel over image or pinch-to-zoom on touch devices. You can also click and drag around on image.
'14 BMW 650li on 22's - Photo Shoot
Parked toBMW 650li on 22's
byVibe Motorsports
Photo shoot with this BMW 650li on 22" XO Luxury Verona Matte Black Wheels.
Vehicle Info: 2014 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe
Vibe Vibe Motorsports Team Vibe BMW Bimmer Euro European wheels aftermarket modified modifications stance luxury performance 650li 22's XO Luxury Verona Matte Black XO Wheels stanced wheel gap spokes night parking lotSign up to add your own keywords


text:
This month, Miles added 10,000 miles to his frequent flyer account and just about that many to his shoes. He is on the go and into EVERYTHING! Tiring, but so much fun.
- Motor Skills. Miles is walking, fast. Its almost a run and I need to run to catch him. He moves with relentless energy, its enviable. He also learned to climb, and my heart jumped into my throat the first time I found him sitting on the kitchen table after leaving the room for just a minute.
- Communication. Still no consistent words coming out of his mouth, but the signing is going strong, with a 20+ word vocab. He can pick up a new sign quickly and remember it days later. He made up a sign for dog, which looks a lot like a snorting and snuffing rhinoceros, but I know what he means. At certain points during the day, he will look around the house, then give me the sign for "daddy" and "where did it go?" A hand swept down his face slowly tells me he's tired, and he knows he can get anything with please (hand rubbing chest). He's getting the point across. He also comprehends and can follow some simple instructions like, give the book to daddy.
- Eating. Miles is a bit too busy these days to sit down for a proper meal, so he makes do with grazing. A bowl of oatmeal might take 3 hours to polish off. Food is much more interesting to him if he is in control of the spoon and fork, and there were some funny moments where he speared something only to pick it off with his fingers and feed it to himself. Almost anything will go down if it is blended into a shake or mixed into an omelet.
- Sleep. Aside from the recent hiccup caused by taking 24 hours to travel back in time 13 hours, things are going very well. He's back to 2 naps a day, bringing back the mad sprint between 10:30 and 2 when all things outside the house must get done, but he's happier for it.
- Fun. Time with Miles is starting to get super fun. He loves hiding. He cracks us up constantly, like when he stumbles around the yard with a bucket over his head. He is overjoyed at playgrounds and does this audible inhale that thoroughly conveys his maddening excitement. He brings books to us to read and mimics our hand movements to the Itsy Bitsy Spider. He points out any animal, all of which are categorized into either bird, elephant or dog/rhino, the only animal signs he knows.


text:
Granite Bay Estate Sales Inc. may be able to offer you an estate buyout.
A buyout occurs when a dealer purchases everything in a house for a wholesale price. The task of organizing personal property to maximize its value can seem overwhelming and many people simply do not have the time. If the personal property is located in a storage facility, co-op, condominium, or apartment house where estate sales are not permitted, heirs or executors can think their only option is a buyout. While a buyout seems like the quickest way to liquidate personal property, Granite Bay Estate Sales Inc. offers ways to empty a house which are as fast but more profitable. These options are Consignment to Estate Sales, Auction Placement Services, and Internet Services.
A buyout should only be considered when immediate cash needs to be raised or the value of the items to be sold is determined to be so marginal that taking the time required to pursue maximizing its value with other options is not cost effective. Granite Bay Estate Sales Inc. provides its clients with a comprehensive Buyout Service that purchases the personal property that needs to be liquidated and leaves the premises broom clean.
Granite Bay Estate Sales Inc. offers a consignment service for our clients who do not have enough items to host a traditional Estate Sale. We will inventory and remove the consignment items to our facility and sell them direct or at another Estate Sale. Typical time frame for a consignment is 60 days. Let us help you maximize the value of your items.
Granite Bay Estate Sale Inc. leaves the home broom clean. When additional cleaning is requested we offer a variety of services to assist you. From total move out cleaning which includes windows & carpet cleaning to just a light general cleaning we can accommodate your needs and prepare the home for occupancy. Our cleaning service is licensed and insured for your confidence.


text:
Wednesday, March 7th at 4:30pm Carla Peterson, Ph.D, professor of English, MITH Faculty Fellow, and director of the Black Gotham Archive, will be giving a talk as part of the University of Maryland Libraries' Speaking of Books… Conversations with Campus Authors series. Carla will be speaking on her recently published book, Black Gotham: A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City (Yale UP, 2011).
During the 2011-12 academic year, Dr. Peterson is completing a faculty fellowship at MITH which is allowing her to create the Black Gotham Archive, an interactive website that dives into the cultural and narrative history of the lives of nineteenth-century black New Yorkers. Throughout the course of the year, Dr. Peterson is giving book talks across the country. A complete calendar of her events is listed on the Archive.
The Speaking of Books… Conversations with Campus Authors series of author talks and signings was begun in 2005 by the University of Maryland Libraries' Humanities Librarians to highlight new and interesting research by faculty members from all schools and colleges at the University of Maryland. These free events are open to all members of the campus community and the general public. Each author will answer questions following his or her talk and sign books, which will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served.


text:
The United States has criticized Burma's Supreme Court for not releasing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from her extended house arrest.
A State Department official told reporters the Burmese court's ruling Friday was "purely political." He noted that the U.S. has consistently urged the ruling military in Burma to free its political prisoners.
New York Congressman Joe Crowley, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, issued a statement calling Aung San Suu Kyi's continuing house arrest "a sham from day one." Crowley said the military must face consequences for violating the human rights of the Burmese people.
He said it is time for the United States to fully implement increased targeted sanctions against officials in Than Shwe's military regime under the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act.
Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted last year of violating the terms of her detention when she gave shelter to an American man who swam to her lakeside Rangoon house uninvited.
Burma's Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal against the latest extension of her house arrest.
She initially was sentenced to three years of hard labor. But Senior General Than Shwe, the head of the ruling military, commuted her sentence to just an extra 18 months of house detention.
Aung San Suu Kyi's legal team argued that the extension was not lawful, because it was based on provisions from the 1974 constitution, which is no longer in force.
Her lawyers say they will pursue a final, special appeal.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said he is "disappointed" Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal was dismissed. He called for the release of all political prisoners in Burma and for their participation in its political process.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "appalled and saddened" at the court's decision. He also said the sole purpose of Aung San Suu Kyi's trial was to prevent her from taking part in this year's elections.
The government of Singapore issued a statement urging talks between the Burmese military, Aung San Suu Kyi and other political groups ahead of the elections. Singapore said those talks would offer the best chance for "national reconciliation and the long-term political stability" of Burma.
Burma's military leaders said they will hold elections later this year, for the first time in two decades.
Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy won the 1990 election, but the military refused to relinquish power. The military has kept her under some form of detention for 14 of the last 20 years.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.


text:
First Look: New Batmobile from Zack Snyder's 'Justice League' Movie
by Alex Billington
June 21, 2016
Big news today! Warner Bros has already started the marketing for Zack Snyder's Justice League, which is already filming in London to make its release in November of 2017. Photographer Clay Enos revealed a photo from the set of the new Batmobile (seen below in full) and a small handful of movie bloggers were invited to visit the set last week. In an unprecedented move, the studio has allowed the bloggers to reveal everything they saw and post many of the quotes from their on-set interviews. Nothing major has been uncovered except that they all seem convinced that Justice League might actually be pretty good, despite the mixed reaction to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice this March. Until we see more, check out the shot.
Some of the best coverage from the set comes from SlashFilm. During one conversation with Zack Snyder, he revealed that he was taken aback by the reactions to Batman v Superman. That negativity pushed him to try something different with Justice League: "I think the nice thing about working on Justice League is that it is an opportunity to really blow the doors off of the scale and the bad guys and team-building and all the stuff that I think I could justify as a big, modern comic book movie, if that makes any sense." Here's a new look at the Batmobile, which looks a bit more sleek than seen before, but similar to Batman v Superman.
An exact plot is still unknown, however IMDb provides this basic synopsis: Earth's greatest heroes are assembled to form the Justice League, to combat a threat beyond each member's capabilities. Zack Snyder is directing Justice League, from a screenplay written by Chris Terrio (Argo, Dawn of Justice). It will feature the DC characters: Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) as well as Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Mera (Amber Heard), with Lois Lane (Amy Adams), Alfred (Jeremy Irons) returning, and Willem Dafoe in an unspecific role, plus J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. Word is that the villain will indeed be Steppenwolf. And Junkie XL is scoring (instead of Hans Zimmer). Those are the biggest confirmations.
In addition to the set visit coverage on SlashFilm, they also learned that for now they're only making one Justice League movie - instead of Part 1 and Part 2. However, they couldn't get an official confirmation and it seemed more like they were unsure what would happen. Producer Deborah Snyder told them, "we're only ever planning and we are only doing Justice League." Zack added, "it is a complete movie", but countered by saying "hopefully there's some reason to go [on] — the movie doesn't end and you go, 'Okay, well that's the DC Universe!'" There's also very interesting quotes in their Ben Affleck interview. "This is a step in evolution in that to bring together all of these characters who have had their origins. It's about multilateralism…"
Warner Bros currently has Zack Snyder's Justice League scheduled for release on November 11th, 2017.
Follow Alex's main profile on :


text:
Wow...$7200 in rebates on 2012 Dodge Ram...if only I was interested in 13 mpg on the highway...
Printable View
Wow...$7200 in rebates on 2012 Dodge Ram...if only I was interested in 13 mpg on the highway...
Sergio is in street clothes and not playing.
Takeaway: It's been nice knowing your Serg, looks like your time is up.
If there was one game for him to prove he could make this team, this was it. That he's not dressed means he's not important.
It's on Comcast Sportsnet as well. I'm watching ABC myself.
Game thread! WOO!!!
Side note: I want Asa Jackson to make the team because he is cute--um, I mean, has lots of potential.
Want to see who moves into the 2nd RB spot
Joe throwing darts early.
I think we've gotten more first downs already than in the entire Jacksonville game last year.
Joe not looking checkdown at all right now. Perfect. I like how he waited for that Boldin route to develop.
Thanks, Boldin.
These replacement refs suck. I have seen alot of false starts on WRs this preseason. Total BS.
Joe's kiling me with the misses down field. Pitch and catch like in practice bro.


text:
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of Spa Bliss
I had been going to this establishment since it was Professionals Plus and found the staff to be superb, but now they have become snobs. I was treated poorly the last three times I went in, needless to say I go else where for spa services even though I really like Carrissa.
+ Great products, beautiful spa,
- Front desk help


text:
Wendys Forecasts Commodity Inflation This Year — Market Talk
10:36 ET – Wendys (WEN) expects commodity cost inflation of 1.5%-2% this year, ending what had been a deflationary environment in food costs last year. In 4Q, the company had predicted flat commodity cost for this year. The cost of raw ingredients is expected to pressure margins this year, the burger chain said. That doesnt mean the gap between restaurant and supermarket prices is going to narrow significantly. Grocery stores are still expected to remain competitive with one another on price, and labor costs are continuing to put pressure on restaurant prices. WEN said it expects labor inflation of 4% this year. But higher menu prices have driven diners away from restaurants. WEN told investors that consumers who are managing debt and higher healthcare expenses are still seeking restaurant deals and that restaurants are competing hard to attract guests. WEN gains 5.7% to $15.97. (email@example.com)
Wendys Systemwide Sales Growth Slows — Market Talk
8:24 ET – Wendys (WEN) reports slower sales growth from restaurants in North America open for at least 15 months and systemwide during 1Q. Global systemwide sales, which includes sales from both company-operated stores and franchises, rise 3% in 1Q compared to 5.2% last year. However, CEO Todd Penegor says 1Q results are solid despite a tough prior-year comparison. WENs same-restaurant sales growth in North America is positive for 17th consecutive quarter. WENs 1Q profit and revenue top views and shares rise 3.7% premarket. (firstname.lastname@example.com; @moisenoise)
Whole Foods Tweaks Annual Outlook — Market Talk


text:
- Workstations
- Chairs
- Desks
- Storage
- Boardroom & Training
- Reception
- Hospitality
- Education
- Package Deals
- Accessories
or make 4 interest-free payments of
fortnightly with
What's Included:
- Arctic White gloss finish powdercoat.
- 50mm x 50mm legs; 50mm x 25mm rails;
- 1200mm x 1200mm x 600mm deep (750mm deep available)
- Studio White natural finish melamine on 25mm E1 grade substrate;
- Matching 2mm Solid PVC Edge
*NOTE: Screens now come with a white frame, and no longer the anodized silver frame.
- Red or dark grey.
- To the top 300mm, Studio White melamine below.
- 21mm thickness x 500mm above desk height all brackets and trims included.
- Silver Anodised finish.
- Segregated cable management and desktop level power and data outlet plates included.
Note: This product is shipped flat-packed in a box and requires assembly, instructions provided. Our worktops do not come with pre-drilled holes to ensure a strong and lasting fix to the frame. An electric screwdriver is required to assemble this product.
* free shipping with online orders only


text:
55 Best Back-to-School Articles for Parents
Parents, are you ready for back-to-school? Teachers, would you like to share some great parenting articles with students' families? This popular list of back-to-school articles is updated each year. It contains some of the latest thinking and research on learning, achievement, family well-being, parent engagement, special needs children, youth sports, […]Compass-Inspired


text:
The Departments of Economic Affairs, which make up the international network of the French Treasury (Direction Générale du Trésor), are responsible for the economic monitoring of their circumscription.
The missions of departments of Economic Affairs are:
- macroeconomic analysis, economic and financial monitoring,
- facilitation of economic, financial and bilateral trade,
- public support for international business development,
- follow up French and monitoring of investments abroad, foreign investment in France or participation in major projects.
- follow up of major projects. Coordination of the projects of Business France and the French Chamber of Commerce.
Since September 2010, BUSINESS FRANCE is taking in charge the support to the SMEs for their international activities. BUSINESS FRANCE has an international network of 64 own Economic Missions in 44 countries.
The commercial services to companies is provided by the Economic Mission-BUSINESS FRANCE office in Abidjan in Ivory Coast.
It should also be mentioned the existence of a section of Foreign Trade Advisors in Ghana (CCEF) and a French Chamber of Commerce in Ghana with which the Economic Department maintains very close relationships.
The office is in the premises of the Embassy of France
Presidential Drive
P.O. Box 187 Accra
+233 (0)302.21.45.75
Opening hours to general public :
- From Monday to Thursday from 8am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 5:30pm
- On Fridays from 8am to 12:30pm and from 2pm to 4pm


text:
'xXx': A Capital Offense
Friday, April 29, 2005
"xXx: State of the Union" is so primitive, it must have been written in lizard blood on animal skin.
Hair seems to be the key: Men with expensive trims who use a lot of mousse want to take over the U.S. government. Men in cornrows have to stop them.
That's it. End of script meetings, story conferences, plot discussions, research. The marketing department predicts it will be a big hit and its never wrong.
A meaty Ice Cube plays Darius Stone, an ex-Navy SEAL unjustly framed and incarcerated for some vague misadventure in Kosovo who is sprung by his ex-boss, Augustus Gibbons (a slumming Samuel L. Jackson) of the NSA, when commando teams begin taking out top-secret government security installations because . . . well, one mark of amoeba-brained movies is that the word "because" must never be evoked, as it tends to confuse the audience. They don't need no stinking explanations.
Meanwhile, nefarious Secretary of Defense George Deckert (a really slumming Willem Dafoe) is revealed in the deep plot -- this happens in about Second 23 -- to be conspiring to launch a coup against wishy-washy lib president Peter Strauss. Since he has effectively co-opted the military, a new force must be conjured up quickly: the boyz in the hood. Cube turns to his former colleagues in the carjacking business (led by rapper Xzibit) for shock troops.
The movie is therefore configured to conjure up the following somewhat astonishing vision: a rampaging machine-gun shootout between thugs and Marines in the U.S. Capitol, and the thugs are the good guys.
Cube is suitably attitudinal for what little the role demands, while Jackson appears to be giving not a one-note performance but a quarter-note performance. Baltimore does a pretty lousy job of standing in for Washington, particularly as the director uses a famous landmark, the magnificent if decaying American Brewery building, a rococo delight, as a location marker for the District by emblazoning it with a bright sign that reads "Capitol Theater."
But how would he know? He's an out-of-towner. In fact, he's from so far out of town, he's from New Zealand. That would be Lee Tamahori, once were director of a great movie called "Once Were Warriors" and lately a spiritless hack behind such other moron fare as "The Edge" and the flat-line Bond "Die Another Day."
Tamahori, it must be said, still knows his way around an action sequence. The opener -- before the movie starts, so it hasn't been contaminated by its idiocy -- follows as Deckert's commandos take down an underground NSA installation in the Virginia countryside; it's brisk and professional and involving, if a little too science-fictiony. There's a great gag where the Cube boat-jumps his way from speedboat to bridge span, filmed on the Hanover Street bridge in Baltimore's harbor. And Cube's escape from prison -- a neat caper involving physical prowess, roof-climbing and leaping, and a stuntman with the guts of a burglar who hangs off a chopper for the longest of times -- will take your breath away.
Alas, by the movie's end, Tamahori seems to run out of steam and the Capitol shootout is banal, followed up by a train-escape gig that appears to be all deadheaded computer-generated imagery that fails to interest the eye.
And finally: What's the deal with the capitalization? "xXx"? What on Earth could thAt mean?
xXx: State of the Union (95 minutes, at area theaters) is rated PG-13 for exaggerated violence and bad acting.