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At It Again: Rep. Michele Bachmann Warns Of Link Between Census, Japanese Internment
Thanks to TPM for the following report about the arch nemesis of the 2010 U.S. Census:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is taking her refusal to fully fill out her Census form, which is a crime punishable by a $5,000 fine, to a whole new level: Invoking the memory of the Japanese internment during World War II, and the evil role that the Census played in it!
During an interview this morning on Fox News, Bachmann mostly focused on the danger of her personal information falling into the hands of the dreaded menace ACORN. But at one point, she made a very interesting appeal to history:
"Take this into consideration. If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the Census Bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations at the request of President Roosevelt, and that's how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps," said Bachmann. "I'm not saying that that's what the Administration is planning to do, but I am saying that private personal information that was given to the Census Bureau in the 1940s was used against Americans to round them up, in a violation of their constitutional rights, and put the Japanese in internment camps."
Tags: ACORN, fine, FoxNews, Internment, Japan, Japanese, Michelle Bachmann, TPM


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KEXP Reviews
|Browse by one of the following:
- (Deltasonic/Columbia)
On their second album, this British band tones down the weirdness of their impressive debut, offering up a more streamlined version of their wildly eclectic, '60s-influenced sound. Gone are the sea chanteys and much of the Beefheartian quirkiness, replaced by an impressive evocation of expansive '60s folk-rock, garage and psychedelia. The album actually came out last year in England, and is just now being released in the US. The US edition comes with a bonus CD of the band's third album, the limited-edition Nightfreak & the Sons of Becker. It's a more ramshackle affair that was casually recorded in a week. While many of the songs are pretty sketchy, there are also some nice moments. 2/16/2004 - Don Yates
Other Coral album reviews:
The Invisible Invasion - 8/16/2005
The Coral - 3/15/2003

subset: commoncrawl


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BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity boys and girls cross-country teams wrapped up their seasons last week with a decent showing at the state Class 3A-East region meet at Centennial High School last Thursday.
The Decatur girls' cross country team finished second overall in the Bayside Conference championships and sent seven runners to the 3A-East regions last Thursday. The Seahawks finished eighth overall in the regional meet. Elizabeth Davidson was Decatur's top finisher, coming in 28th in the field of 64. Rayvn Saunders finished 30th, followed by Ciarra Thumma (44), Emmalee Murrell (55), Jenna Brower (56), Cori Thompson (58) and Robyn Bell (60).
Meanwhile, the Decatur boys' team finished with a similar result, coming in eighth overall in the field of 10 teams in the region. Cameron Campbell was the top boys' finisher, coming in 42nd, followed by Corey Zimmer (52), Garrett Mohammedioun (53), Andrew Murrell (54), Jason Wilder (55), Patrick McGean (58), and Christopher Hurley (60).


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Every now and then, I look at my stack of Xbox 360 games, and just don't see anything I'm in the mood to play. When this happens, it's time to dig through my rommate Russel's 'Harry Potter Closet,' (it's under a staircase) for my old original Xbox games. Once I've shaken off the spiderwebs and coughed out the dust (which may or may not be the remains of our cat, Barbara; I haven't seen her for a while) I come up with a stack of old favorites, games that got me through my admittedly difficult teenage years. Then, of course, the question becomes: What do I play? My Xbox finally gave up the ghost a few months ago, so I'm limited to games that will play on my 360 (sorry, 'Phantom Dust'), and obviously online multiplayer games are out, so I need something with a great campaign.
Since the title of this article already gave away what I chose, I'll stop stalling: I went with Ninja Gaiden: Black. This series has been on my mind lately, thanks to the release of Ninja Gaiden 3 (which it saddens me to say is terrible), so I thought I would relive the glory days of the Ninja Gaiden series with one of my favorite games of all time. I'm all about fast-paced slice-and-dice action games, like Bayonetta or Devil May Cry, and I've always felt that Ninja Gaiden is perhaps the best example of the genre. So let's all dig through our own Harry Potter Closets, find our copies, and remind ourselves of how good it feels to be a ninja, shall we? (Cue me beatboxing and rapping 'Damn it feels good to be a Ninja' alone in my room. Ah, the life of a game journalist.)
First of all, the game still looks pretty great. On the 360, its age barely shows, with the combat movement still feeling crazy smooth. The cutscenes are a bit dated looking, but I think I only feel that way because of how wildly different they look from the gameplay. There's a moment where you kill some bugs, and then suddenly there's rock music playing and it's like you're watching a cartoon for teens in the 90's, which now that I've said that, doesn't seem like such a bad thing.
Back when this game was out originally, I remember being really good at it, which explains my (in retrospect, poor) decision to choose the Master Ninja difficulty. The first few levels of this game, I got my ass kicked, hard. The thing I've always loved about the Ninja Gaiden games is how brutal the enemies are, attacking you any opportunity they get, rather than taking turns like the bad guys do in a lot of games. You have to be watching your back at all times, which encourages a defensive, ninja-like combat style. In fact, the whole game is geared towards just making you feel like a badass ninja, which is something that I feel all forms of media should put more effort towards.
A big complaint about the new game is that they removed the dismemberment. Well, if it's dismemberment you want, look no further than Ninja Gaiden: Black. (Or Ninja Gaiden II, which took it to a whole new level. Pretty much all I remember about that game is chopping limbs off of hundreds of werewolves for what felt like days at a time.) Enemy heads just pop off like nothing, which never really stops being satisfying. Like I said, damn it feels good to be a ninja. (A real gangsta-ass ninja plays his cards right…)
The other thing about this game that still stands out is the boss battles. As much as I enjoy Zelda-style boss battles where it's all about figuring out a system and exploiting it, I've always preferred the style of boss battle we get in this game, where it's just a really hard enemy that you have to beat, by figuring out the best ways to hit him without getting hit. Which brings me ,of course, to Alma. Notorious for being the hardest boss in the game, Alma took me about nine or ten tries this time, which I'm not proud to admit. It's mostly because that goddamn grab move that eats up two thirds of your life. If you're not at full health when she hits you with it, you're pretty much a goner. The thing is, though, the difficulty of these boss battles is what makes them so much FUN. Frustrating, yes, but also fun, in a masochistic sort of way. When you finally take a boss down in this game, it's satisfying in a way that many games don't accomplish.
The story in Ninja Gaiden: Black is nothing to write home about, but that's fine. (You've got to kill this giant Ninja Demon, but you may have been a bird the whole time? I dunno) It's perfectly acceptable for a game like this, and what it does well is jet you all over this crazy world, allowing you to see varying locales, from a small village, to an airship, to a demon realm. You certainly can't complain about lack of level variety.
In fact, the only missions that bug me are the military levels. After fighting demons, hacking your way through guys with guns is a bit dull. More than that, the Tank and Helicopter battles are frustrating in a not-fun way, mainly because you just have to shoot them with arrows, which feels tedious in a game that's all about swordplay. But fortunately, it returns you to demon-slicing action relatively quickly.
The other thing that doesn't really hold up is the platforming. It's finicky and difficult, but it doesn't feel like it's intentionally so. It's fine, though, because the real focus of the game is combat. Still, I can't help but think how the game could have been even greater if it had platforming on level of something like Prince of Persia.
Probably my favorite thing about this game, though, and the reason it has so much replay value for me, is the Mission Mode that was added specifically to Black. It puts a focus on what the game does really well, which is crazy-hard battles, against both hordes of enemies, and super-tough bosses. In fact, sometimes it pits you against two bosses at once, which is just nuts. I love playing the missions over and over on higher and higher difficulties, although I confess that I still haven't beaten them all. (How exactly am I supposed to beat Doku and Alma at the SAME TIME?) There's nothing more ninja-like than going up against insurmountable odds and coming out on top, right? Except for sneaking through shadows, which now that I think about it, this game doesn't really have any of.
So there you have it. My experience with Ninja Gaiden: Black, years after having played it last. So when you dig through your own cat-corpse infested closet and find your copy, remember these two things: 1) You're not as good at this game as you remember, and 2) Damn, it still feels good to be a ninja.


text:
From James Frey's Franchise Machine Comes "I Am Number Four" Trailer
Based on a novel from James Frey's "fiction factory," the story of a young teen on the run from alien assassins who tries to hide out on Earth. Stars Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer and Dianna Agron.
We don't waste our time on anything not worth your time. We celebrate the best of what's coming on film and TV. We cheer when our expectations are met and criticize when we're let down.


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Among individuals arrested for DWI offenses over the weekend included a 31-year-old Delaware man during a traffic stop Saturday morning at Bona Dea Sanctuary off of Lakefront Drive.
According to a report, a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test result was .09 percent. The man was cited for DWI (first offense), driving left of center, and no license plate light. Russellville Police officer David Bevis was the arresting officer.
-- A 20-year-old female was cited for DWI (first offense) and driving left of center during a traffic stop conducted by officer Jayson Crabb at the intersection of Third Street and Detroit Avenue, a report indicated.
The BAC test result on the female was .10 percent, a report said.
Controlled substances
A 22-year-old man picked up by Russellville police at the Dardanelle Police Department on Friday was cited for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) and served with three warrants, according to a report.
When the Dardanelle man was transported to the Pope County Detention Center in Russellville, a small plastic bag containing a green leafy substance was discovered during a search in a watch pocket on the individual. The bag was placed into evidence, the report indicated.
-- DARDANELLE -- A trustee working at the Police Department reported to officer Chris Thompson finding a bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in a roll of toilet paper in a holding cell.
According to a report, the plastic bag was placed into evidence after it was found Nov. 13.
Criminal mischief
A 26-year-old man told Russellville police approximately $1,500 in damage was done to his 1994 Mitsubishi and 1996 Ford Explorer vehicles Saturday night while they were parked at his residence on East 22nd Street.
A report indicated the complainant stated all the tires on both vehicles were cut and that there were scratches on both vehicle bodies and the seats slashed in the Mitsubishi. He stated he expected the damage was done between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.
-- The owner of Arkansas Candle on Highway 64 in London reported approximately $1,500 in damage was done when witnesses stated they heard gunshots that deflated a balloon outside the business Saturday.
According to a report, the complainant stated employees had heard five shots about 4 p.m. Saturday. He advised that he had to repair about 20 holes in the balloon. He stated the balloon was worth $1,000 and took about $150 in helium to inflate.
Neighbors interviewed by authorities stated they heard shots about the same time from an area that sounded like across Interstate 40.
Man with handgun
Six Russellville Police officers responded to a residence on South Hartford Avenue on Sunday night in reference to a 27-year-old man who allegedly locked himself in a bedroom with a handgun, fired the weapon and died Monday morning.
According to a report, the man's 26-year-old wife stated the man had said he didn't want to talk to anyone.
The report indicated the man stated he just wanted to go to sleep, then authorities heard a gunshot. Officers broke down the door to the bedroom after confirming the man was down, and found a single wound to the man's head and the weapon in his right hand.
The individual was taken by Pope County EMS to a local hospital. Authorities confirmed he died Monday morning. Assisting at the scene was Cross and Shield Ministries Senior Chaplain Paul Northcut.
Vehicle theft
ATKINS -- A 41-year-old female complainant told Lt. Scott Rentfro that her 1999 Saturn SL black 4-door sedan was taken from her residence on Highway 64 East between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday.
According to a report, drag marks were found in the yard of the residence, possibly indicating the vehicle was dragged or towed by another vehicle. The complainant advised there was a $100 satellite dish in the vehicle's trunk.
Terroristic threatening
DARDANELLE -- The vice principal of Dardanelle Elementary School reported alleged terroristic threatening of a 10-year-old male student Nov. 18 to Officer Chris Thompson.
A report indicated the student allegedly threatened to bring a bomb to school and threatened three Hispanic students with bodily harm.
The complainant stated the student told two female students and a male student that he would bring a bomb to school, blow them up and crush them because they were Mexican, according to the report.


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the dependent
MOVments: Being bronze & moving undergroundPosted by: Gala Milne on February 28, 2012 / 2:24 PM
You like us!
Thanks Vancouver – you've put us right up there with the VAG and the MOA for your top three public art gallery/museums in Vancouver, and we couldn't be happier. From exciting talks about city planning and food resiliency to the opening of our upcoming exhibit on Art Deco fashion from the 1920s and 1930s, things just keep rolling along over here in Vanier Park and we're so glad to be your museum for the curious.
As a special treat, some digging in our archives has revealed an interesting thread to Vancouver's past. Did you know Vancouver was once home to a Toy Library? A brave venture that was left out to dry as it was unsupported by city council in 1973… Likely if Jim Green had been on council at the time, he would have made sure a legacy project like a Toy Co-operative would have prospered in Vancouver. With regrets we acknowledge Jim's passing today, and recognize all the wonderful things he did for our city.
These days it seems our province is finding it very difficult to communicate with its people as negotiations with the BC Teacher's federation grow increasingly sticky. This might be a good time to announce the MOV is releasing applications for its second-ever Museum of Vancouver Youth Council this week!
Into the veins and arteries of city life, OpenFile Vancouver wonders if we can ever have a truly sustainable transit system at the same time as the Vancouver Sun questions the brilliance of people moving from rural countrysides en masse to metropolises! Perhaps we'd be best to move our dreams of lush green parks and walkways underground just like this proposal for a "Lowline" in NYC?
At the MOVeum: Food Resiliency talks tonight and the opening of Art Deco Chic next week!
MOVments: Bright Lights & Spider SilkPosted by: Gala Milne on January 24, 2012 / 2:14 AM
Take Down The Giant Sign Now – a demand, yes, but also the name of a very concerned group of residents urging for the removal of the bright and blaring 1500 sq foot signs outside newly minted BC place. At MOV, it sounds very reminiscent of the storyline of our current exhibit, Neon Vancouver Ugly Vancouver. Except we probably won't be celebrating the anniversary of digital signs in the same nostalgic way we look at Vancouver's chic old neon signage. Happy birthday, neon tube!
In other land-use matters, things are heating up in Mt Pleasant too. The Rize development is hearing a lot of negative feedback from neighborhood residents worried about the future of affordability in the eastside; a frustration which, apparently, dates back centuries in our fair city.
Token words? A small, yet audacious, mayor and council on Vancouver Island is challenging the current legislation and casting a broad political net for the decriminalization of marijuana. We'd love your thoughts on this! While you're debating the challenges and benefits, take a listen to up-and-coming, Pleasure Cruise, a brand new local indie-surf rock band. One thing's for sure, this city doesn't lack artistic merit.
And neither does this museum in London, which is unveiling the world's largest pieces of cloth made from spider silk.
MOVeum-related event: Re:generation – How we Move our City, Wednesday January 25.


text: At 08:58 PM 11/22/2005, Mark Hahn wrote: > > Honestly, I never knew that not using ECC RAM on anything besides a > > nonessential system like a standard desktop configuration was ever an > > option. > >I find that the use of "nonessential" often indicates rather poor reasoning >about the risks (and costs) involved. a statistically-grounded approach >would treat memory size and perhap activity more than whether something is >"desktop" or "server". Indeed.. the person who prepares the budgets for your paychecks probably does that on a desktop machine, likewise, the person who's dealing with your insurance claim, handling your tax return, etc. It's all a tradeoff between the liklihood of the "bad luck", the probability of detecting it, and the cost of either fixing it (if detected) or suffering the consequences of not fixing it. I work with systems for which, literally, "failure is not an option" (actually, we call that criticality=1.. loss of life or mission). ECC is sometimes a non-starter for this, amazingly, because it's not reliable enough... you want some other approach that cross checks and is "fail safe". I also work with systems where there's some sort of spec that says, you can screw up some fraction of the time, and for that, you make an analysis of whether the increased probability of total failure (because you have more parts in any sort of ECC, parity, or redundancy scheme) is traded off against the decreased probability of uncorrected errors. >that said, our servers all have ECC. on our current ~500 cpus and ~800GB, >I'd guess we see O(10) corruptions/year. going to 7500 cores and >14TB, >(all with ECC) I'm pretty happy not to be risking undetected corruptions. But how many of those corruptions would have resulted in an error had they not been caught? And, would you have been able to deal with the potential errors at a higher level of abstraction? Say you saved enough money by not buying those extra chips in the ECC memory, so you could buy more nodes AND you might run a bit faster (depending on the architecture), so you can run check cases (in mag tape terms: longitudinal parity as opposed to parallel parity checks). Is the cache in your processor ECC? What's the impact on your performance of cache hit/miss vis a vis ECC and/or bit flips. This is all really non-trivial.. >still, for some workloads, especially for leaner facilities (lower memory, >less budget spent on network and storage), I'd certainly want to consider >non-ECC. I only wish vendors would publish their FIT figures, so we could >crunch the numbers properly. But FIT numbers (failures per 1E9 hours of operation) usually only apply to total failures, not to bit error rates, which depend on a lot of environmental factors (not just altitude, but also surrounding geology, temperature). On a number of systems I've worked on, almost all the observed bit errors were eventually attributed to things like timing margins and electrical transients (ringing on bus lines, coupling from other signals, etc.), after extensive analysis of the predicted rate of radiation induced bit flips. >more to the point, if you're going to network $300 PCs, ECC should almost >certainly not be on your xmas list... Or, rather, you should do ECC by using 11 computers for $300 rather than 8 computers for $500. >__ James Lux, P.E. Spacecraft Radio Frequency Subsystems Group Flight Communications Systems Section Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 161-213 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109 tel: (818)354-2075 fax: (818)393-6875


text:
Have You Heard About… Sherlock
… the latest incarnation of Sherlock Holmes from the BBC? Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, is a marvelous adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works. Holmes and Watson are thoroughly modern characters – Sherlock uses nicotine patches rather than smoking a pipe, characters communicate by cell phone and text message, and John chronicles their adventures in his blog. However, Holmes' powers of deduction are as sharp as ever, and his personality is every bit as "quirky" (some might say, "difficult" or even "abrasive") as the original.
The only drawback I found to this series is that the first season had just three episodes. This is not uncommon for BBC productions, but it is highly frustrating to run out of new material so soon after getting wrapped up in these fascinating characters. The cliff-hanger ending of episode three does not help at all. Fortunately, the BBC has confirmed that a second series will come out in late 2011. I can't wait!
Reviewed by Fran (staff)


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|Allegro CL version 8.2
Unrevised from 8.1 to 8.2.
8.1 version
Arguments: widget &key bypass-cache bypass-proxy
Refetches the currently displayed page of the specified
html-widget from its web site or
file. The Reload button in an
html-browser dialog will call this function, or
you could make your own widget that calls it.
The keyword arguments are used on Linux only. They pass the flags such as GTK_MOZ_EMBED_FLAG_RELOADBYPASSCACHE, which are not described in the documentation for the Mozilla GTK widget on which the html-widget is based on Linux.
See the
Copyright (c) 1998-2016, Franz Inc. Oakland, CA., USA. All rights reserved.
This page was not revised from the 8.1 page.
Created 2010.1.21.
|Allegro CL version 8.2
Unrevised from 8.1 to 8.2.
8.1 version


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Leyland, Tigers prepare for noise level in Oakland
By Jason Beck and Paul Hagen / MLB.com
OAKLAND -- Decibel level has never been a problem at O.co Coliseum. The Tigers remember well how loud it was when they met the A's in the 2012 American League Division Series.
"This is one of the rowdiest baseball experiences I've ever been a part of. The fans here go absolutely nuts from the first pitch to the last, and that's just something you got to deal with," said Max Scherzer, Detroit's Game 1 starter.
For this series, the Athletics will open up an additional 12,000 seats, which will only make the atmosphere that much more electric.
"I guess that means it's just a little bit louder," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "This is obviously a very loud, energetic stadium. And the only thing you do when you come to a place like this is you try to live on that energy that the opposing teams fan's provide, thrive on it, live on it. Enjoy it.
"I love it at Detroit. We see the white towels, or whatever they are. I like it when the Oakland A's are waving the yellow towels and the fans are screaming. The acoustics are a little tough, they're a little loud. I like bars with music, but this is a little bit loud. So it does get in the ear drums. Thank God I don't hear that well. But it's a great atmosphere, it really is and there is no question about it. They're into it. They should be. They're proud of their team, they're here for the playoffs. I enjoy this experience, and that's what you ask your players to do, thrive on it."
Added third baseman Miguel Cabrera: "It's tough to play; people are very loud. Even if they lose, they're loud, too, doesn't matter. Nine innings in the game, that's very impressive. I don't know how you are going to prepare, but I think we're going to be ready for that. We know it's going to be loud, but we've got to focus and play our game."
Tigers aim to bounce back after last meeting with A's
OAKLAND -- The Tigers hosted the Athletics in a four-game series from Aug. 26-29, and it wasn't pretty for the home team.
Oakland won the first three by a combined score of 28-13 and had a three-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth, only to have the Tigers rally to pull one out. American League Division Series Game 1 starter Max Scherzer, who started the finale and gave up six runs (five earned) in five innings, shrugged off the notion that what happened then will have any carryover in the ALDS.
"They came into Comerica and whipped us. That shows you what a good team they are," Scherzer said. "They have a lot of different ways to beat you. They have good hitting, good pitching and they're a good ballclub. We know it's going to be a challenge for us offensively if we're going to go ahead and beat them this series."
The Tigers won two of three played in Oakland in April.
Roster finalized for ALDS; Peralta ready to contribute
OAKLAND -- The Tigers finalized their American League Division Series roster Thursday by opting to keep Jose Alvarez over Darin Downs as the second left-hander out of the bullpen, and Hernan Perez instead of Matt Tuiasosopo as a right-handed bat off the bench.
In addition, shortstop-turned-left fielder Jhonny Peralta will be available, although Andy Dirks will start in left for Game 1 against the Athletics on Friday night at O.co Coliseum.
The Tigers acquired Jose Iglesias to play short shortly before Peralta was suspended for 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy in August. When Peralta returned, the Tigers chose to keep Iglesias in the infield.
Asked how he plans to utilize Peralta as the series progresses, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he'd take it game by game.
"I'm just going to use some statistical analysis, some gut feeling, a combination of those things," Leyland said. "We'll play it by ear. Basically what you do is, like every other manager, you put out the lineup that gives you the best chance to win that particular game."
Peralta said he'll take extra fly balls in Oakland to familiarize himself with the backdrop.
"I need to take some [practice]. I'd like to see how the field looks and everything," Peralta said. "That's important.
Peralta added that his mindset won't change, regardless of his role with the Tigers.
"Not starting the ALDS opener won't matter one way or the other," Peralta said. "Starting [Friday], starting whatever day, it's going to be the same. Same game. I'll try to do the best I can and whatever happens will happen.
"When I came back, they [just] said they wanted to see me practice in the outfield. Nothing about playoffs. Just come here and practice and be ready for whenever we need you. They know what I can do. From the beginning of the season, I did pretty good hitting No. 6 in the lineup. They might need me to pinch-hit. Whatever they want to use me for."
And he never doubted he'd be on the playoff roster, even after missing almost two months.
"They didn't need to say I'm on the team," Peralta said. "I'm here."
Tigers shrug off earlier sign-stealing allegations
OAKLAND -- If the Tigers had any suspicions that A's hitters were picking up something from their pitchers during their four-game series in August, whether signs or pitch-tipping, they aren't talking about it.
Two days after manager Jim Leyland backed away from quotes at the end of August saying he was suspicious the A's were getting something, players showed no signs that they were being tapped.
"The thing is, every pitcher has different sets of signs and stuff like that," catcher Alex Avila said. "And most of the time, you're changing the signs every inning, so that's not something we're too concerned about.
"Obviously you look at it, because there are times teams will pick up signs, steal signs, stuff like that. We do the same thing. Every team does it. You have to make sure you have your bases covered and make sure you're prepared for that situation, but looking at that series, there wasn't anything glaring, or something that was like, 'Oh, that's why.' No, we didn't play as well that series."
Max Scherzer, chased after five innings with five earned runs on eight hits in the finale of that series, laughed when he was asked if A's hitters had a sense of what was coming.
"It sure felt like it," Scherzer said. "It's just one of those things. That's baseball. They're a quality team and they were hot, and they beat us."
Tuiasosopo accepts decision to leave him off roster
OAKLAND -- If someone had told Matt Tuiasosopo going into Spring Training, when he was sitting at a locker in a distant corner of the clubhouse at Joker Marchant Stadium, that he would spend the entire season in the big leagues with the Tigers, he would've been overjoyed. So there's that.
Still, if someone had told him that he would spend all year on a division winner and not make the postseason roster, the disappointment would've been natural.
That's what Tuiasosopo faces. He's still with the team in Oakland, working out and taking swings. But unless the Tigers sustain an injury, he won't be a part of this American League Division Series.
Tuiasosopo wasn't shocked.
"Obviously, I knew with Jhonny [Peralta] coming back, there was going to be someone that had to go," Tuiasosopo said Thursday. "They made a decision. I'm thankful to be here. I'm still here and able to work out with the guys and be ready if anything does happen."
He also knew Peralta's return wasn't the only factor. Tuiasosopo finished his regular season in an 0-for-22, 15-strikeout slump that lasted exactly a month, from August 29 to season's end. He struck out in his final five at-bats to end the regular season.
Tuiasosopo now admits the slump got to him.
"It was tough, frustrating," Tuiasosopo said. "I wish I would've played a lot better. I obviously know I could've done a lot better. I was trying to do too much. I remember coming back in the second half [thinking], 'Let's do more. Let's not have a dropoff. Let's go do more.' And then obviously as I went south, the next day I would try to recover what I lost. And then I had another bad day, and I'd think I need five hits today to recover. And it just started a downward spiral."
Contract talks yet to begin with Scherzer
OAKLAND -- Scott Boras, agent for Tigers Game 1 starter Max Scherzer, said Wednesday no talks have started yet on a potential contract extension. He expects that to be approached in the offseason as the Tigers figure out how to handle their trio of starters nearing free agency.
Scherzer could become a free agent as soon as the end of next season. If he does, he could end up as one of the biggest prizes on the market, especially if he follows up this year's success. Rick Porcello and Doug Fister are both eligible for free agency in two years, which is often the time when teams make decisions with starters about long-term contracts.
Avila lets hair grow for 2013 postseason
OAKLAND -- What had been a playoff beard at times last October is now playoff hair for catcher Alex Avila.
Avila spent most of the season's second half letting it grow, almost to the point of puffing out. The way he has hit since coming back from a concussion in August, he has no plans on cutting it.
By contrast, he walked into the clubhouse in Oakland clean-shaven.
"The beard is getting some gray," Avila admitted. "I'm only 26."
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. Paul Hagen is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Welcome to ChemTec Equipment Company
Monitoring Perfection Since 1968
Since 1968 our family has been engineering and manufacturing our patented line of flow meters, flow monitors, and excess flow valves. ChemTec is owned and operated in the United States. In fact, we build, assemble, and test all of our products right here in our factory located in Deerfield Beach, Florida allowing us to provide reliable, personalized service to all of our customers. We specialize in low flow applications (120 SCFM; 20 GPM or less) and currently are the only manufacturer of all-Teflon® Flow Switches and Flow Meters. Our low flow products are engineered and manufactured from raw materials in our factory to ensure superior product life-cycle.
Beneficial to a multitude of industries, our flow meters, flow monitors and excess flow valves are assisting in medical, biomedical, laser technology, wafer fabrication, clean rooms, cellular towers, petroleum, natural gas, semiconductor, hydrogen, cryogenics and so many more. The possibilities are endless!
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June 22, 2009
Ashley Greene Hanging Out in LA
Just Jared has pics of Ashley hanging out with her family on Saturday.
6 comments:
It is in these moments that I like Ashley the most. She can make a sack of potatoes look glamorous! Go Ash!ReplyDelete
i can't decide if i adore her so much because she's alice in my mind or if it's really her LOLReplyDelete
I adore her and when she plays Alice Cullen.Ashely Greene dresses anything up , she makes everything she wears look amazing on her.AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! Her doggie is soooooooooooo ADORABLE!Too cute !ReplyDelete
Oh!! Mamma Cass!!ReplyDelete
- thparkleJune 23, 2009 at 4:43 AM
I love Ashley almost as much as I love Rob! She's so cute and so sweet! And I know Renesmee, her doggie is the cutest!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 23, 2009 at 8:37 AM
She looks soo amazing! I love her so much<33ReplyDelete
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Dallas and reality TV have a big time date this weekend. Two shows are coming to town in search of their next big stars.
First, interior designers and decorators take note. HGTV's Design Star is having an open casting call on Sunday. They are looking for "someone with a creative point of view, the ability to execute under pressure and a sparkling personality. All level of expertise are welcome — from professional designers and architects to at home 'do-it yourselfers.'" If you have a portfolio,they recommend bringing it. Plus, a couple of photos of yourself. And if you do really well, then go on to win, be sure and grant us the first interview. The casting call will be held at Westin Park Central, 12720 Merit Dr. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, go here.
Second, for the non-chef chef, Fox brings its nationwide search "for the best home cooks in America" to Dallas casting for the next season of Master Chef. If you make a mean mac-and-cheese from scratch, you have two options: call me for dinner or head to the casting all weekend. If you make the show, Gordon Ramsay, above, might make you cry, but if you win, then it's all worth it. Just be prepared going in. The casting website says the following is required for open calls:
- • Your completed application• A current photo of yourself
• A photo of your plated dish
• Your one plated dish to impress us!
• Please plan to be at the auditions all day. We suggest bringing snacks and water. Be comfortable and be yourself!
Got it? Good. The casting call happens at Le Cordon Bleu, 11830 Webb Chapel Road. Saturday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
And if you make both casting calls, then we just don't like you for being so talented. But good luck anyway.


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Advocate editorial board opinion: Corpus Christi congressman may become ours
By the Advocate Editorial Board
Aug. 31, 2011 at 3:31 a.m.
We were pleased to have a good discussion this past week with a man who possibly could be our next U.S. representative in Congress - U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, District 27, based in Corpus Christi.
As many know, the lines for all congressional districts, including District 14, of which U.S. Rep. Ron Paul represents currently, have been redrawn and approved by the last state Legislature. What remains about those lines are any lawsuits and court decisions before they become official.
More importantly, the new lines give Farenthold, if nominated in the GOP primary and re-elected in the 2012 election, Victoria County and many of our surrounding counties in the new district.
Of course, Paul has announced he will not run again for U.S. representative. He instead is running for president.
Farenthold received his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of Texas-Austin, and he attended St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio. Farenthold practiced law seven years at the Kleberg Law Firm in Corpus Christi, and founded Farenthold Consulting LLC, a computer consulting and Web design firm. Before campaigning for Congress, he co-hosted Lago in the Morning, a top-rated conservative talk radio show.
Farenthold, a Republican who defeated longtime Congressman Solomon Ortiz by 799 votes, said he leans toward Libertarian philosophy.
In Congress, Farenthold sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the Government Oversight and Reform Committee.
Major issues for our region:
Water - Farenthold said desalinization plants, which are expensive because of the amount of energy they use, are becoming more feasible because of wind turbines. He supports investigating that as a possibility to solve the water needs along the Gulf Coast.
Nuclear Power Plants - "Any nuclear power plant built today will be safe. Technology has improved, but the public relations will be tough (because of Japan's nuclear plant fiasco)," he said.
Port of Victoria - Farenthold said all ports along the Texas Coast need diversification. He said Victoria's port and Corpus Christi's port are very different and would not be in conflict.
I-69 - "I'm working really hard on that." He said work to get parts of the existing highway up to interstate standards is under way. "My vision is not the Trans-Texas Corridor. And I don't see a lot of eminent domain," he added.
Polarization - "It's working the way our Founding Fathers envisioned. If government goes too far, be able to put the brakes on. I think we will take the Senate and the White House, but we will have to be careful not to go too far to the right."
Abortion - "I am strong pro-life," he said.
Tea party - "These are people who haven't been vocal before. They are becoming vocal," he said. Farenthold agreed that government is too big and taking too much.
Farenthold said he is in agreement with Paul's core beliefs that government is too big.
"If you elect me to bring home the pork, don't vote for me. It's about what's best for the country with the district as a strong second," Farenthold said.
But Farenthold added that he didn't think the word "compromise" was a bad word although he thought Republicans were compromising too much in recent past administrations.
Farenthold said he plans to stay in close communication with constituents and future constituents. His qualifications in communication, which he touted, will serve him to be accessible to all.
This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.


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Hello. I wanted to know if you still had that Kyle Van Noy Gold Topps Chrome card or not
Ahh, got it. Anybody else in the league I might know from USF? I like to do some freebies if I have anything lying around :)
Your inbox is full so I'll just post this on here:
No problem, thanks a lot for trying to send it out quickly.
I'm a USF fan so since JPP was our highest ever draft pick I'm trying to get as much of his stuff as possible.


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The Power Goes Out on the Twitterati
Picture Martha Stewart sitting in the dark, unable to get anything accomplished. It's like the perfect metaphor for how Twitter fails to illuminate the lives of media people!
Wired UK editor Ben Hammersley had a meltdown in Heathrow.
Time media critic James Poniewozik pointed out the obvious flaw in the great Kindle swindle.
Improbably named Chicago blogger Blagica Bottigliero flaunted her City Hall connections.
Martha Stewart had to call 911 when the power went out, and declared it not a good thing.
Insincerely sarcastic Guardian columnist Paul Carr put the "college" in "collegial" when he went off on colleague Seth Finkelstein.
Did you witness the media elite tweet something indiscreet? Please email us your favorite tweets — or send us more Twitter usernames. (Special thanks to Matt Cherette for today's picks!)


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Down by the Riversidearr. Valerie Stephenson - Lorenz Corporation
This arrangement has it all! ĀA fun, well known tune is presented in a clever scoring that includes stopped techniques, mallets, gyros, and shakes, along with woodblock and tambourine for added color. ĀWhether presented by a single ensemble or many ensembles in a massed-ringing event, the experience promises to be a rollicking good time for everyone.
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Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Candlelight, Feb 6, 2013.
I wasn't complaining.
Nor was I... And I, too, have always wondered about the stormtroopers and lasers thing... True, it's all about looking menacing and such, but still, when Ewoks can knock you out with a rock to the helmet, it's time to start thinking about the effectiveness of your PPE (firefighter speak for personal protective equipment)...
If Return of the Jedi were named In the Jungle of the Bloodthirsty Furry Cannibals like it should be, people may get the right perspective about Ewoks.
Here's the old stormtrooper armor thread. Some pretty cool ideas in there, such as Caliburn24's. Mine was actually dubbed "dorkiest", a little downthread!
This is true, and I'm almost certain he knows that, but for some reason he only acknowledges Episode I and May 19, 1999. I think it's because he, I and others were up to our eyeballs in Prequel countdown overload and all the things associated with it and it's always been a special time for him. I can't blame him, really. 1999 was like one giant nerdgasm for most sci-fi/fantasy fans that I knew and came into contact with.
That said, yeah. ROTS is clearly the superior film.
Since I don't want to resurrect an old thread...
I remember that oh so well. Thanks for posting it.
I love it. That is hilarious.
Butthurt counts as bodily harm, I guess.
It's a requirement for some folks who've posted in the forums over the years, that's for damn sure.
Yeah, it's just a movie. I don't get the hate associated with Episode I and haven't since Day One. Yes, I agree, it's not as good as most of us hoped it would be based on the track record of the Original Trilogy, but it's not a terrible movie by most respects either. There's a substantial difference between "not living up to expectations" and "homicidal levels of butthurt."
Tip to the hardcore Episode I haters: It's been almost 14 years. George made the movie he wanted to whether you like it or not. There are five other films (soon to be eight) in the Saga besides this one if you can't stand it. Jar Jar Binks didn't rape your childhood.
Seriously, the guy's a complete and bumbling idiot. He wouldn't know how.
The Rock wants to be in Star Wars, which would be amazing.
The People's Jedi Mind Trick?
Intriguing concept.
It would be another link between Wars and Trek too. I'm excited by his news that he's going to do a superhero film as well, although it's a shame the Captain Marvel movie isn't going to happen. Or that the Johnny Bravo one never worked out.
The more people forget about Johnson's role in Voyager, the better off the world will be.
He'd make a kick ass Bounty Hunter though.
Yeah, that particular episode of Voyager....
The less said about it the better.
In truth what I really want from a SW movie, tv show etc. is actual Star Wars, something which, despite being called Star Wars, SW has never really delivered.
I want lots of grand-fleet ship-to-ship space combat and all that.
The closest we ever got was the Trench Run and the ROTJ battle over Endor.
Even in ESB the Executor served as nothing more than window dressing - look how big and powerful my ship is! But it never actually did anything. I'd have loved to see it firing broadsides into an enemy fleet, but nope.
Take the recent animated series, The Clone Wars - in it, there are often brief space battles, but only as a means by which our heroes bypass an enemy fleet, and get on to a planet, so the ground action can commence, and then that's where the action stays focused.
I want capital ship space combat with strategy, maneuver, and the laws of physics reasonably well obeyed.
I don't want the antics of Jedi supermen hogging over half the screen time.
Doubtless i have more chance of winning the lottery.
I always thought that Star Wars was a war fought amongst the stars, as opposed to a war fought in the stars or by the stars or with the stars. Unless I'm mistaken, both trilogies deal with an actual war fought by the inhabitants of the galaxy, amongst the stars.
Its not like the Cold War was fought during a period of great climate depression on Earth...
It's like a famous general once said, and I paraphrase: war is long, boring stretches of tedium that are occasionally pierced by brief moments of sheer terror. That's how I've always seen the combat depicted in the Star Wars universe. I don't expect constant, up-close and personal warfare with nonstop blaster fire being exchanged.
Separate names with a comma.


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Long already hard at work with Yankees
Hitting coach puts time in with Swisher; Granderson on deck
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
Long is spending this week overseeing Alex Rodriguez's first swings of 2010 and has already spent a good chunk of the winter helping Nick Swisher. A visit with Curtis Granderson is also ahead, as Long sacrifices his down time in the hopes that New York's offense will be a dominant force as they defend the World Series title.
"Last year, I set out to bring guys together and get a real pulse of guys to see where they were," Long said. "I wanted to see if we could make this a more team-oriented group. [Manager] Joe Girardi did a terrific job, obviously, and it seemed like those efforts were well-spent. I don't have a problem doing it if guys come together. The team chemistry that I saw last year was a lot of fun."
One of the keys will undoubtedly be Rodriguez, who has already received good news from Dr. Marc Philippon, in that his surgically repaired right hip should hold up for 2010 without another procedure. Despite the injury, Rodriguez finished with a strong campaign, belting 30 homers and driving in 100 runs before conquering his postseason demons with an October to remember.
Long said there is no reason to expect that A-Rod won't hit the ground running in 2010, noting that the Yankees figured out how to tweak his rest regimen during a June series in Atlanta -- when he was hitting just .207 -- and reaped the rewards through the rest of the year.
"I would say his numbers from that point on and through the playoffs, I can't put a percent on it, but he certainly looks explosive and like the Alex Rodriguez that I've seen from the past," Long said.
"The key thing was his patience -- not expecting too much. Talking to him over and over again about how he's got to rely on teammates. He realized the big picture, which was October baseball. If he got close to healthy by then and not try to over-do it, then there was a big reward at the end, and it ended up working out perfectly."
Long's first stop was to meet with Swisher in December at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, where the switch-hitting outfielder continued adjustments that were sparked during the World Series against the Phillies, quieting his movements and allowing him to better respond on offspeed pitches.
"To Swish's credit, he wanted to get it right and he wanted to start early," Long said. "He's a man on a mission. I think the playoffs opened up his eyes to how pitchers can throw offspeed pitches over and over again to expose you. He was ready to take another step forward."
Swisher's postseason was one of frustration, best identified by his bases-loaded popup against the Angels' Brian Fuentes in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. But Swisher liked some new tweaks so much, he brought them into the World Series and was rewarded with a home run and a double in Game 3 against the Phillies.
|"Anytime you lose players off a championship team, as in [Hideki] Matsui or Melky Cabrera, there's going to be some feelings hurt. ... But we'll find ways to get it done without them. Our job is to make Curtis [Granderson] and Nick [Johnson] comfortable and get them going to work on 2010."
|-- Kevin Long
"We've got his hands closer to his body, and we've got to get him consistent with his lower half. If we do all of those things, you might see a guy who's able to react better to an offspeed pitch."
Next week, Long plans to meet with Granderson, who figures to be one of the hitting coach's main projects during the spring. An All-Star with the Tigers, Granderson hit .249 with 30 homers and 71 RBIs last year, but he batted just .183 in 180 at-bats against left-handed pitching. Long is interested in breaking down Granderson's swing to get a better feel for it.
"He's obviously more productive against right-handed pitching, but he's had productive years against left-handed pitching -- and a lot of non-productive years," Long said. "My job is to try to get him to feel as comfortable as possible, without forcing it. I don't know what he's done in the past, but I'd really like to get a sense of his mentality against left-handed pitching."
Long said that he has also met with Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, though that trio is not ready to begin hitting yet, since the season ended so late. New acquisition Nick Johnson has also expressed interest in meeting with Long in Arizona early next month.
In what down time he has, Long has wondered what the Yankees' lineup might look like, though he has not discussed it with Girardi. He believes Brett Gardner would be a "pretty good fit" as the No. 9 hitter, Johnson could play well as the No. 2 hitter, getting on base in front of Teixeira and A-Rod, though Granderson could do that against right-handers.
One question is who will bat fifth behind Rodriguez, and Long wonders if Robinson Cano could be ready. If not, Jorge Posada has done it and could slide into that job. While Long said he is still crossing his fingers that Johnny Damon will return, he said there will be some adjustments to make when Spring Training arrives and the lineup looks different than it did in Game 6 of the World Series.
"Anytime you lose players off a championship team, as in [Hideki] Matsui or Melky Cabrera, there's going to be some feelings hurt," Long said. "I mean, my feelings are hurt. Those guys are part of a championship family. There's a lot of guys that have strong feelings toward them, not just as baseball players, but as people.
"It's hard to move on from Hideki Matsui and maybe the loss of Johnny Damon. To lose three starters out of this lineup, they're going to be missed. But we'll find ways to get it done without them. Our job is to make Curtis and Nick comfortable and get them going to work on 2010."
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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|Best CPU Cooler Performance - Q2 2008
|Reviews - Featured Reviews: Cooling
|Written by Olin Coles
|Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Page 12 of 18
Thermal Interface Material Application
Over the past several months, I have read an unreasonable number of discussion forum posts which offer inaccurate and often times incorrect information. It's not really all that surprising to read poorly conceived information on the Internet, which seems to be a anonymous means of passing off opinion for fact. As a general rule we don't let too many things go untested, and the advice of wanna-be experts is not doing the hardware enthusiast and overclocker community any good. In this article, Benchmark Reviews dispels myth and establishes fact on the topic of proper application in our Best Thermal Paste Application Methods article.
After we wrote our 33-Way Thermal Interface Material Comparison article, many enthusiasts argued that by spreading out the TIM with a latex glove (or finger cover) was not the best way to distribute the interface material. Most answers from both the professional reviewer industry as well as enthusiast community claim that you should use a single drop "about the size of a pea". Well, we tried that advice, and it turns out that maybe the community isn't as keen as they thought. The example image below is of a few frozen peas beside a small BB size drop of OCZ Freeze TIM. The image beside it is of the same cooler two hours later after we completed testing. If there was ever any real advice that applies to every situation, it would be that thermal paste isn't meant to separate the two surfaces but rather fill the microscopic pits where metal to metal contact isn't possible.
After discussing this topic with real industry experts who are much more informed of the process, they offered some specific advice that didn't appear to be a "one size fits all" answer:
The more we researched this subject, the more we discovered that because there are so many different cooling solutions on the market it becomes impossible to give generalized advice to specific situations. Despite this, there is one single principle that holds true in every condition: Under perfect conditions the contact surfaces between the processor and cooler would be perfectly flat and not contain any microscopic pits, which would allow direct contact of metal on metal without any need for Thermal Interface Material. But since we don't have perfectly flat surfaces, Thermal Material must fill the tiny imperfections. Still, there's one rule to recognize: less is more.
Surface Finish Impact
Here's the part I've been waiting to reveal... the importance of surface finish in relation to the impact on thermal conductivity. CPU coolers primarily depend on two heat transfer methods: conduction and radiation (heat-pipes also add convection). This being the case, let's start with conduction as it related to the mating surface between a heat source and a cooler.
Because of their density, metals are the best conductors of thermal energy. As density decreases so does conduction (of heat), which relegates fluids to be naturally less conductive, and gases as virtually non-conductive. So ideally the less fluid between metals, the better heat will transfer between them. Ultimately though, this means that the perfectly flat and well-polished surface (Noctua NH-U12P) is going to be preferred over the rougher and less even surface which required more TIM to fill the gaps (Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme).
Heat radiation is different however, and requires exactly the opposite. Because gases (air) are naturally poor heat conductors, surface area of the heatsink is key to the cooling performance through convection. This type of cooling is what you commonly see in automobile radiators, which utilize large arrays of metal fins to radiate heat to be drawn away by a fan. The same is true for the CPU cooler, which needs as much surface area as possible to optimize it's radiative effects. OCZ and others have recognized that the surface of a heatsink does not have to be the sum of its overall size. By adding dimples and bends, the surface area is increased without growing the overall dimensions.
To sum it all up, science teaches us that a smooth flat mating surface is ideal for CPU coolers so that less Thermal Interface Material is used. Because these coolers are using fans to force air over the heatsinks fins, the overall surface area of those fins should be as large and uneven as possible. In the next section we'll find out just how well all of these principles worked for our collection of test products.


text: Marcus Mumford And Carey Mulligan Wed 4/23/2012 1:37 PM ET Carey Mulligan wed Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons at a weekend ceremony in England's West Country. The pair were engaged nine months ago.The wedding took place at a barn at Stream Farm in Bridgwater. Mumford's dad, a vicar, conducted the service.Other big names at the event included Colin Firth, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sienna Miller and Adele. The latter was expected to sing at the event but, in the end, music was performed by several people:"At the end of the night there were just the musicians, Jake, Carey and the Mumford boys. We had some pizza and just played music. Jake picked up a guitar and Carey joined in on 'Amazing Grace,'" a source told Us Weekly.Mulligan and Mumford met following a Mumford and Sons show in February 2011. by RTT Staff WriterFor comments and feedback: email@example.com News The 10 Highest Grossing Films: From Modern Classics To Jar Jar Binks


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Greek drama reaches horror denouement
Angela Merkel faces days of reckoning as taxpayer haircut looms.
GERMANY, Holland and the creditor states of northern Europe have not lost a single cent on eurozone rescue packages, so far. They have lent money, at a theoretical profit. They have issued a fistful of guarantees to Europe's twin bailout funds, covering Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and soon Cyprus. They have taken on opaque and potentially huge liabilities through the European Central Bank.
Yet remarkably little has disturbed the illusion that the euro is a free lunch for the surplus powers. An assumption persists that the creditors will - and should - be spared the consequences of flooding southern Europe with excess capital.
All the losses in Greece until now have been concentrated on those pension funds, insurers and banks that stayed to the bitter end, rewarded with 75 per cent haircuts for their loyalty.
We are at last nearing the awful moment when the curtain is ripped away. Greece's economy has contracted 7 per cent over the past year. Public debt will spiral to 190 per cent of GDP in 2013.
Leaving aside the Gothic horror of youth unemployment at 58 per cent, Greece's debt trajectory is simply out of control.
The IMF says the country cannot claw its way back to viability unless European Union governments and bodies take their punishment. The IMF's board and the powers behind it - the US, China, Japan, Brazil - will withdraw if the current farce goes on, taking their credibility with them.
Greece needs €100 billion of debt forgiveness to get back on its feet, according to Barclays Capital. A lot of this is coming Germany's way. The creditor states can mask the damage for a while - siphoning off ''frontloaded profits'' on the ECB's holding of Greek bonds, and so on - but the overall sums are too large to cover up altogether.
Der Spiegel says the looming cost for Germany is over €17 billion, enough to leave a big hole in the country's 2014 budget.
Chancellor Angela Merkel would have to explain to critics why her past assurances had come to nought, and why anybody should believe fresh assurances that Portugal - with a higher public and private debt level (370 per cent of GDP) - is a safer bet.
German taxpayers would at last discern - as some already suspect - that their elites have led them into a monetary Stalingrad.
Dr Merkel was still trying to duck the ghastly implications of this last week. There will be no taxpayer losses, she insisted after a meeting with the French. ''Of course we did not talk about debt haircuts: our view has not changed and nor should it.''
The fond hope of EU leaders and commissars is that the north-south chasm in competitiveness will be closed by ''internal devaluations'' in Club Med states before their democracies blow up. This morally indefensible policy relies on pushing unemployment to such traumatic levels that it breaks labour resistance to pay cuts.
As we can see from the youth jobless rates in Greece, Spain (55 per cent), Portugal (36 per cent) and Italy (35 per cent), it can take carpet-bombing to achieve effect.
In purely economic terms, it is an open question whether the long-term damage from this mass youth sacrifice outweighs - through skills wastage - all the alleged gains of EU-imposed reform.
The Left has been strangely willing to acquiesce, though the mood is changing. The European Trade Union Confederation awarded the EU a Nobel Austerity Prize last week, half in jest, half in bitter rebuke. Perhaps the policy will ''work'' in a clinical sense but advocates draw too much comfort from Ireland's success. Ireland never had an exchange rate problem. It is highly competitive, with a fat trade surplus.
Marco Buti, the Commission's economics tsar, says there is ''heartening evidence'' that the North-South wage gap is closing at last. Real unit labour costs have risen 2 per cent in Germany from 2010-2012 and have fallen 5 per cent in Spain and Portugal, 6 per cent in Ireland and 12 per cent in Greece.
What is certain is that EU authorities have made the task much harder by fixing all key policy settings on contraction. Fiscal policy is too tight. Monetary policy is too tight. Regulatory policy is also too tight since it is forcing banks to raise capital buffers even as the slump deepens.
The combined effect of this triple-barrelled ''pro-cyclical'' shock is to push the eurozone into a second downward leg of the Long Slump.
Last week's confirmation of a double-dip recession hardly does justice. Euroland is sliding into structural depression.
Professor Paul de Grauwe from the London School of Economics said the deepening crisis is ''entirely self-made'' and ''very dangerous'' as passions fly.
It would have been so much easier for Euroland, for the Project, for North-South comity, if the ECB had let rip a long time ago with quantitative easing to cushion the blow from fiscal tightening but that is to suppose a different Europe existed.
North European leaders will now have to live with the consequences of their scorched-earth errors, with destructive effects cascading through the rest of the decade. Haircuts in Greece are just the amuse-bouche.
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Proposition 37 on this year's ballot asks Californians to decide whether manufacturers should be required to label foods made with genetically engineered ingredients.
If the measure is approved, California would become the first state in the nation to label genetically modified foods. Similar laws have already been adopted by much of Europe and Japan.
Genetic engineering involves manipulating the genes of an organism to achieve a desired result. To a degree, it is like the long-time farming process of creating hybrid plants.
However, in the lab, scientists are able to do more than is generally thought of in creating hybrids, including using genes from bacteria and other organisms to make plants disease-resistent.
Opponents, including a number of major food producers, say the measure would make food more costly.
But those in favor, including several organic food companies, say it will allow consumers to make intelligent choices about what to buy.
"There are no long-term health studies that have proven that genetically engineered food is safe for humans," supporters said in their arguments in favor of the measure. "Whether you buy genetically engineered food or not, you have a right to know what you are buying and not gamble on your family's health."
It's estimated state enforcement of the proposition would cost taxpayers between a few hundred thousand dollars to more than $1 million annually, according to the LAO.
Food companies claim they would be buried by the extra costs of printing new labels, and would have to pass that cost on to the consumers. The No on Prop. 37 campaign says it could cost a family an extra $400 a year in grocery bills.
"Biotechnology, also called genetic engineering (GE), has been used for nearly two decades to grow varieties of corn, soybeans and other crops that resist diseases and insects and require fewer pesticides," opponents say in their ballot arguments. "Prop. 37 bans these perfectly safe foods in California unless they're specially re-labeled or remade with higher cost ingredients."
In 2011, 88 percent of all corn and 94 percent of all soybeans produced in the U.S. were grown from genetically-engineered seeds, according to the non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office.
Some of the most common genetically-engineered crops include alfalfa, canola, cotton, papaya, sugar beets, and zucchini. And are used to make food ingredients, such as high fructose corn syrup.
The LAO claims anywhere between 40 and 70 percent of food products sold in California grocery stores contain some genetically engineered ingredients.
Four years ago, then-candidate Barack Obama promised that if he was elected he would immediately require the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to label genetically modified food. This never happened, so now many view Proposition 37 as a baby step toward what some hope will become a national standard.
"California could lead the nation in this," said Bob Stern, a California campaign finance expert. "If it passes, it spreads. If it fails, it may be dead."
Initially, the concept to label these products was widely accepted by California consumers and celebrity chefs who want to know exactly what they're buying, eating and, in some cases, serving their customers.
In September, polls were showing more than 61 percent of likely voters were in favor of Prop. 37. But a month later, support has dropped by 17 points.
Stern said the NO on Prop. 37 campaign has been outspent the competition by some $37 million with much of the money financing television ads.
"When the public is confused, the public votes no," Stern said.
As it's written, Prop. 37 contains a number of exemptions, including foods made entirely from animals and certified organic food. Wine, which makes up a huge industry in California, would also be exempt from the proposed food labeling law.
Other exemptions include foods that are:
- certified organic;
- unintentionally produced with genetically engineered material;
- made from animals fed or injected with genetically engineered ingredients;
- processed with or containing only small amounts of genetically engineered ingredients;
- administered for treatment of medical conditions;
- sold for immediate consumption, such as in a restaurant;
- alcoholic beverages.
Most of the money against the proposition is coming from outside of California. Some 93 percent of the $44 million raised to defeat the proposition is from out-of-state, and most of it is from Washington, D.C.
The biggest donors to NO on Prop. 37 are chemical companies and food manufacturers. As of Tuesday, these are the top four contributors to the NO on 37 campaign:
- Monsanto: $8.1 million
- Dupont: $5.4 million
- Pepsico: $2.1 million
- Bayer Cropscience: $2.0 million
As for who is supporting the proposition, 28 percent of the $7 million raised came from the state of California.
Campaign records reveal the top donors are organic food growers, and health food advocates. As of Wednesday, these are the top four contributors to the YES on 37 campaign:
- Mercola.com: $1.1 million
- Kent Whealy: $1.0 million
- Nature's Path Foods: $610,000
- Mark Squire: $448,000


text:
Popular high-performance JSON framework for .NET
Product product = new Product(); product.Name = "Apple"; product.Expiry = new DateTime(2008, 12, 28); product.Sizes = new string[] { "Small" }; string json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(product); // { // "Name": "Apple", // "Expiry": "2008-12-28T00:00:00", // "Sizes": [ // "Small" // ] // }
string json = @"{ 'Name': 'Bad Boys', 'ReleaseDate': '1995-4-7T00:00:00', 'Genres': [ 'Action', 'Comedy' ] }"; Movie m = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Movie>(json); string name = m.Name; // Bad Boys
JArray array = new JArray(); array.Add("Manual text"); array.Add(new DateTime(2000, 5, 23)); JObject o = new JObject(); o["MyArray"] = array; string json = o.ToString(); // { // "MyArray": [ // "Manual text", // "2000-05-23T00:00:00" // ] // }
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|Supports JSON
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|Converts XML to JSON and JSON to XML
|Camel case JSON property names
|Non-default constructors support
|Serialization error handling
|Supports populating an existing object
|Efficiently serializes byte arrays as base64 text
|Handles NaN, Infinity, -Infinity and undefined
|Handles JavaScript constructors
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|Supports overriding a type's serialization
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|Supports serializing private properties
|DataMember attribute support
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|DefaultValue attribute support
|Serializes DataSets and DataTables
|Serailizes Entity Framework
|Serializes nHibernate
|Case-insensitive property deserialization
|Diagnostic tracing
|Serializes read-only and immutable collections
|Supports serialization extension data
|Serializes F# discriminated unions
|Serializes F# collections
|Supports merging JSON


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Moderator: bac
ShinyVolvoDriver wrote:Argh... is it too much to ask for a TwiCon to come to Australia?!!!
I feel so left out over here!
Alice_Cullen5 wrote:i wish they did it in Portland..that'll be cool for the actors to go back to portland again.......
but doesn't the east coast have a bunch of celebrity events already?
That would be great! Lol, I'm moving to Washington next year so it would be rather close!
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Exprolink is the world's leading manufacturer of the Madvac® Outdoor Litter Collection Product Line. We are unique among other vacuum manufacturers; we offer comprehensive range of machines to meet your specific application, lifetime warranty on our impeller fan since "no debris passes through the fan", vacuum compacts litter 2:1 ratio and all our models can operate in wet and dry conditions with zero dust emissions.
Madvac Compact Sweepers & Vaccums article featured in North American Sweeper Magazine


text: "The older brother of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who is mentioned only brieflyand dismissivelyin the French philosopher's Confessions, here embarks on an autobiography of his own, tracing his progress from a watchmaker's workshop in Geneva to a high-class bordello in Paris. He winds up making intricate sex toys, an activity that lands him in the Bastille, where he spends the next 27 years in relative comfort, allowed to go out on walks (and patronize whorehouses) and to import marshmallows for his fellow-prisoner the Marquis de Sade. Full of arch asidesthe hero notes that 'the French are readier to pardon a murderer than a man who attacks the dignity of money'the book strives to be both a critical gloss on the Revolution and a madcap romp, with more success, ultimately, at the latter."The New Yorker


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I ventured through the cutting for this quilt:
But now that I'm setting it up I don't like it. It's too busy, even if I saturate the star portion with solids. The shape is all wrong (unappealing to my eye).
I have 4.5" triangle-blocks, 4.5" blocks, 5" blocks, and 1.5" strips
I have lots of leftover from some of the fabrics. 8 light, 8 dark.
The colors are burg/blue/tan- Independence day themed.
Any thoughts for a new pattern for my cuts? Or should I just tuck them away to see if another pattern calls me later?
Thanks, I'm a new quilter and it just never occurred to me that this could happen. :-)


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"If you have an item you think is OK, but are unsure, you can contact your local thrift store and they can let you know if they have the capability to repair items."
Related quotes
"In late October we were informed that our local St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store would be closing."
"That was it. Suddenly you hit puberty, and it's like, you know, thrift stores! I just started deconstructing everything from thrift stores."


text: Snow Hill Elementary School last month hosted a "Donuts for Dad" event, which promotes the importance of a father's involvement in the education of their children. The event drew a record number of fathers and male relatives, with 149 attending. Pictured with his first grade daughter Kristen Riddleberger is dad Chris Riddleberger.


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Hawthorne Backstretch Update, Thursday, November 15 - Noon
Hawthorne Backstretch Update, Thursday, November 15 – Noon
First off is an update in regards to the horses within Barns 8, A and K2. These horses have been back in training for over a week now, the horses within Barn 8 have been longer than that. For Barn 8, which contains 37 horses which have tested negative for EHV-1, they will be tested again next week. If those results come back negative once again, those horses will be allowed to be reunited with the backstretch population, enter races, and train during regular training hours. The quarantine restrictions on that barn will be lifted.
Barn A now also currently houses only horses that have tested negative for EHV-1. These are horses that had originally tested positive but have since been retested and have come back negative. While they are also allowed to train, their timeframe for reintroduction into the horse population will be longer than those within Barn 8. That timeframe will be determined between the state veterinarian and Illinois Department of Agriculture veterinarian.
In Barn K2, there are two locations. The first location houses horses that have tested positive for EHV-1 but are also asymptomatic. Since these horses do not show symptoms nor have fevers, they are also allowed to trainer during the designated later morning hours. They will be tested again in the coming week.
On Wednesday, November 14, it was brought to the state and association veterinarian's attention by a practicing veterinarian that there were two horses within Barn E at Hawthorne that needed to be monitored. We have created a separate area within Barn K2 which is only for horses to be monitored for any concerns. We had two horses to be transferred to that location on Wednesday.
While the first horse transferred without issue, the second horse unfortunately collapsed on the walk over. After being examined by three veterinarians, it was determined that the horse should be euthanized. As is the protocol for any suspicious death, the horse was immediately transported to the University of Illinois for a necropsy to determine that cause of death.
As with everything, there are rumors that immediately are spread about. We ask that people do not spread rumors until they have the facts. Currently we do not know why this horse passed. The state and association veterinarians have the history on the horse which will help lead them to answers. Regarding the second horse which was moved, which currently is the only horse within the separate isolation area of K2, the vets also have a history on that horse.
This is the reason we have the isolation area though. In every case, if there is a concern, it is treated on a case by case basis. The horse is removed from their barn so they may be isolated and treated accordingly.
During the Thursday morning pre-race examinations by the two association veterinarians, they were in contact with the practicing veterinarians on the backstretch as they are daily. There were no new causes for concern from horses within Barn E, nor any other Barn according to the practicing vets and association vets.
With this virus, we are concerned and overly cautious any time any situation arises. At the same time, there is currently one horse of nearly 1,900 on our backstretch in the separate isolation area. Every other horse is allowed to train with many more nearing their reintroduction to the horse population. Please, before starting any rumor, contact your practicing veterinarian and have them contact the association or state veterinarian for full details.
Jim Miller – Assistant General Manager, Hawthorne Race Course
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Bridge worker presumed dead after fall into Columbia River
LONGVIEW, Wash. - A bridge worker who fell from the Lewis and Clark Bridge into the Columbia River is presumed dead, a spokesman with the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office said.
The man was identified as 40-year-old Charles William "Bill " Wiley, Jr. of Mississippi.
The company that employed the crew, Odyssey-Geronimo JV, released a statement saying they are cooperating with investigators and their hearts and prayers go out to Wiley's family.
A fellow construction worker called 9-1-1 at around 11:30 a.m. Sunday to report that Wiley fell from the bridge and was missing.
Wiley was part of a painting crew that was working on the bridge. He fell 210 feet into the river.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Cowlitz County sheriff's deputies began to search the river for his body. Local tug boat operators and recreational boaters also helped with the search.
Divers came to help, but said they could not go into the water because the section of the river was too dangerous. The river is more than 40 feet deep in that section, according to Chief Criminal Deputy Charlie Rozenzweit.
The search was suspended at 2:15 p.m. and Wiley was presumed drowned.
Bridge workers told deputies that Wiley was working on a platform directly under the bridge when he fell.
Deputies said there was nothing at the site where he fell from that gave any indication on how or why his safety equipment did not stop him from falling.
Fellow workers described Wiley as very safety-conscious and experienced at bridge work.
KATU's Dan Cassuto contributed to this story.


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New Pope could be picked soonerRome
Published: February 18 2013 - 3:00AM
THE Vatican says it could speed up the election of a new Pope as lobbying for Benedict XVI's job intensified.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, who earlier said the conclave would probably start on or after March 15, with the Pope scheduled to resign on February 28, said the issue of bringing forward the date ''has been raised by various cardinals''.
Pope Benedict's decision to step down for age reasons has revealed tensions at the heart of the church, emphasised by a battle between top cardinals over whose candidate should be appointed to head up the Vatican's scandal-hit bank.
The choice of German financier Ernst Von Freyberg on Friday was seen by some as a snub to the Vatican's powerful No. 2, Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who had backed another candidate.
''The appointment is fruit of a bitter compromise,'' the Italian daily Il Messaggero said.
It appeared to bring to the fore a power struggle between Cardinal Bertone's allies and his rivals - a bid to shape the hierarchy within the Vatican first revealed in a leaks scandal last year.
In an interview carried out 10 weeks ago but published on Saturday, Pope Benedict spoke about the scandal, which some believe was a factor in his resignation.
''I simply couldn't understand it,'' he told his biographer Peter Seewald in the interview published in Focus magazine, referring to his former butler Paolo Gabriele's decision to leak secret memos revealing intrigue at the Vatican.
''I don't know what he was expecting. I can't understand his thought process,'' said the 85-year-old, who pardoned Mr Gabriele just before Christmas.
Seewald had also asked Pope Benedict six months ago what people could expect from the rest of his papacy: ''From me? Not much. I am an old man, running out of energy. I also think what I have done is enough,'' he replied.
On Saturday, Father Lombardi said that once Pope Benedict stepped down, he would stay in the papal summer seat in Castel Gandolfo near Rome for about two months before moving to a monastery within the Vatican walls. He is expected to take some of his current household to the modern monastery, which is currently undergoing restoration.
Thousands of faithful were expected to flock to St Peter's Square on Sunday to pay tribute to the German pontiff in one of his last public appearances, for the Angelus prayer, traditionally delivered from the window of the Pope's study.
The conclave to select a new Pope could be brought forward as long as cardinals from around the world are in Rome.
Rules laid down by John Paul II stipulate that between 15 and 20 days must pass after the end of the pontificate before the conclave meets.
But a clause in the constitution allows exceptions in case of an agreement between the cardinals, who are already gathering at the Vatican. Most are expected at a final audience with Benedict on February 28.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/world/new-pope-could-be-picked-sooner-20130217-2el73.html


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Halloween Challenge 2011: Arkay's Asylum
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Chapter 05 - Energy Efficiency
Chapter 05 - Energy Efficiency
26.0501 Energy efficiency need and policy.
Because of the total dependence of the Territory of American Samoa on imported oil and the increasing cost-impact of this dependence, there exists a serious need to develop alternate energy sources and at the same time to embark upon a concerted effort to reduce waste in the consumption of energy. Major public and private facilities have been shown to have a significant-impact on our territory's consumption of energy. The cost of the energy consumed by such facilities has been substantial and is expected to continue its upward spiral. Therefore, energy conservation practices will be adopted for the design, construction, and utilization of such facilities to realize significant reduction in energy use and energy cost, while maintaining efficient operation and services.
The purpose of this chapter is to require the inclusion of energy efficiency standards in building codes.
26.0502 Authority.
The rules codified in this chapter are adopted under the authority of Section 6 of Article IV of the Revised Constitution of American Samoa.
26.0503 Federal mandate.
The rules codified in this chapter are adopted in order to comply with the Federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act, PL 94-163.
26.0504 ASHRAE efficiency standard adopted.
The lighting, equipment, and thermal efficiency standards developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc., known as ASHRAE standard 90-75, are adopted and shall be construed as part of the building code as adopted by 26.0501 A.S.C.A., and such other building codes as may be adopted in the territory. These lighting, equipment, and thermal efficiency standards shall be applied to the design and construction of new public buildings. Thermal efficiency standards shall be applied to any modifications of existing or new public buildings, except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter. These standards shall have the full force and effect of law.
26.0505 Exemptions – Lighting-efficiency applicability.
Exemptions to scope of the standards provided for in 26.0504 are as follows:
(a) New buildings and/or modifications there or whose peak design rate of energy usage is less than 1 watt per square foot of floor area for all purposes; and
(b) Those buildings which are not mechanically cooled;
(c) Requirements for heated buildings;
(d) Any historical building or property eligible for, nominated to, or entered on the national register of historical places pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, PL 89-665, or the American Samoa register of historic places; The lighting efficiency standards shall apply to all public buildings with over 10,000 square feet of floor space whose rate of energy usage is greater than 2.5 watts per square foot.
26.0506 Compliance of plans or specifications.
No official of the ASG who is charged with the enforcement of laws or ordinances relating to the construction or alteration of buildings or structures, shall approve any plans or specifications that incorporate design and construction details and standards for cooling systems for new construction, renovations, or additions to existing structures that are less stringent than the energy efficiency building standards adopted by this chapter.
26.0507 Certification of compliance.
When applications are made for building or construction permits, certification of compliance with the energy efficiency building standards where cooling systems are included shall be evidenced by the written statement, "These plans comply with current energy conservation standards for construction," placed on, or annexed to, all plans and specifications in connection therewith, together with the authorized seal of United States registered engineer holding an unexpired certificate indicating that he is qualified in the mechanical branch unless the building or structure for which the plans or specifications are submitted is under 26.0505.


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Better Drinking Through ChemistryMarch 19th, 2013
Hey, look what the American Chemical Society produced for St. Paddy's Day: it's a tutorial on the chemistry of alcohol, including its effects on your body and how your body attempts to rid itself of the poison.
Uh oh, but there's a WWWTP? in there. If you pause at the 2:45 mark, you can see that they flubbed the structure of "amyl alcohol":
While there are several isomers of amyl alcohol, instead of drawing one of those, the ACS has shown the structure for isoamyl acetate (commonly known as banana oil). When banana oil is dilute, it kind of smells like Juicy Fruit bubble gum. In concentrated form, it smells really gross. I know, because I made it in 6th period orgo lab in high school and the people around me in 7th period religion paid the price.
But good effort, ACS! This is exactly the sort of info we (as chemists) should be communicating to the People. It's news they can use. Of course, in the future, try to get the structures right! (And for the record, you also misspelled "judgment" at 0:49. Boo.)
H/T to Kim the Magnificent for the tip.


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The students told police they were mugged Monday evening by two men who stopped to supposedly help them near the Groves Apartments.
Jonesboro television station KAIT reports (http://is.gd/H1e2CT ) that police say 18-year-old Bryce Conway of Mountain Home said one of the suspects first demanded money from him. Then the other suspect started to hit him.
Conway's friend, 18-year-old Christopher Cruse of Maumelle, told police he pulled one of the suspects off Conway, only to have both try to attack him. Cruse ran off and called police.
The suspects fled into the apartment complex and investigators couldn't find them.


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Andrea Arnold, who won an Oscar for her short film Wasp, delivered my choice for the most disturbing film of the year – Red Road. Her direction shows a edgy new style rarely seen in cinema, and the final scenes linger long after the credits have rolled.
Samuel Barnett's portrayal of a sweet-natured gay boy struggling with himself in 1980s Sheffield was sweet, touching, funny, and the best male supporting turn of 2006. In the end, The History Boys (a film I loved, loved, loved), didn't pick up enough momentum in the Oscar race to secure him that much-deserved nomination, but Barnett will always have as very special place in my heart.
Emily Blunt gave two of the finest supporting turns, both on the big screen, and on the small. In Stephen Poliakoff's interesting political drama (which, incidentally, was on TV last night), she is brilliant and whilst blowing Bill Nighy and Robert Lindsay off the screen, also earnt herself a Golden Globe. And even though my endless campaigning for her incredible turn in The Devil Wears Prada somehow failed to earn her an Oscar nomination (losing out to Abigail Breslin, of all people *seethes*), but I will always look back on 2006 as the year that the world sharpened up to the brilliance of Miss Blunt.
Borat was not one of my favourite films of 2006, and nor did I particularly value Sacha Baran Cohen's performance in it, but I'm still mentioning him, because, watching his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, for some reason, I still felt a huge amount of pride for him. His performance wasn't great by any standards, but it was still unashamedly funny, and there's precious little humour in the world nowadays.
Judi Dench chilling performance in Notes on a Scandal is one of the best performances of her life. Having read the book last month, I had huge expectations for this film, and, whilst I felt slightly let down, I was completely blown away by Dench's performance. She brings levels of depth, sadness and wit to Barbara that no other actor could.
It's been over 10 years since Jennifer Ehle showed graced our TV screens as the wonderfully sweet Lizzie Bennet, and Alpha Male is probably her best performance since. Her portrayal of the put-upon mother who loses a husband and slowly loses her family is wonderfully realistic and sweet. She steals every scene she's in, and provides the basis for a potentially dull film, making it totally watchable.
The last time we saw Graham King, he was standing on the red carpet, saying "I think it's disgusting." He was speaking of Scorsese losing yet another Oscar (that time to Clint Eastwood). Two years before that? He was mourning the Scorsese's loss for Gangs of New York. All this time, he has stuck with Marty, and last year, he produced Scorsese's most commercially successful The Departed. It's not fixed whether or not The Departed will win Best Picture (I really, really, want it to, but something tells me it might lose to Sunshine), but this might finally be the year that Scorsese gets a Best Director Oscar, and I would love to hear King's interview on Oscar night when he does. He's stuck with the director for so long now, and they've produced some work of great, great quality.
James McAvoy is such a babe. I could just say that and leave it there, but I haven't yet touched on his wonderful acting ability, which would be rude of me to miss out. Firstly – he made Starter for 10, with his wonderfully alluring geekiness and sweet dopiness. His performance as Scottish medic in Kevin Macdonald's The Last King of Scotland is sublime – charismatic, deep, and completely believable. Forest Whitaker's been raking up the accolades, but I beseech you – give McAvoy's performance a look too; he's just as good. We'll next see him in Jane Austen story Becoming Jane, and then starring alongside Keira
Knightley in the film adaptation of one of my favourite books Atonement, and I'm practically soiling myself in anticipation of seeing more of the Scottish sexpot.
If there's a single one thing to be sure of come Oscar night, it will be that Helen Mirren will walk off, Queen of the night. (Okay, that was lame.) Being a Londonite, I was one of the first people in the oscar-buzzing blogring to get to see The Queen, and as soon as I'd finished watching it, I knew that this would be the film to earn Mirren her Oscar. And just about everyone agreed. But then, something very weird happened. People starting dropping out of the "Team Mirren" bandwagon as quickly as glory-hunters starting jumping into the Manchester United one. Momentarily, I myself was one of them, using phrases like "slightly overrated" and "not THAT amazing" about Mrs. Mirren. But thank the Lord for reappraisals, because, having watched the film again, I can see that Mirren is as wonderful that I had ever believed. I'm personally slightly (but only slightly) more partial to Ivana Baquero and Penélope Cruz, but I can fully recognise the wonders in Mirren's performance, and come Oscar night, I'll be delighted for her win.
Peter Morgan wrote a lot of TV stuff. But this year, he broke out in two of the best British films – The Last King of Scotland and The Queen, writing the scripts to both of them. For The Queen's witty Britishness, its intelligent depiction of the country in a difficult time and its impartial look at some people we thought we were past caring about, he received an Oscar nomination and won the Golden Globe for Best Script. But his writing in The Last King of Scotland is as commendable. Based on the novel by Giles Foden, he cleverly weaves a thriller-like film that works on a human level as well, the audience experiencing every emotion – including fear through Nick's eyes. And that's genius.
Venus, for all its chavviness, was not a film that I particularly cared for, but Peter O'Toole was near-flawless in it. In a hybrid of Humbert Humbert and OAP, he plays Maurice, a man who feels his time's ending. 40 years on from his master-performance in Lawrence of Arabia, he still bears the screen charisma he had then, playing a slightly creepy role with tenderness of spirit.
And finally… top 10 British films of 2006
01. The History Boys
02. The Last King of Scotland
03. Red Road
04. Severance
05. The Queen
06. Starter for 10
07. Sixty Six
08. Notes on a Scandal
09. Flushed Away
10. Casino Royale
Best Performances by Brits
01. Helen Mirren, The Queen
02. James McAvoy, The Last King of Scotland
03. Emily Blunt, The Devil Wears Prada
04. Jennifer Ehle, Alpha Male
05. Peter O'Toole, Venus
06. Samuel Barnett, The History Boys
07. Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
08. Danny Dyer, Severance
09. Michael Sheen, The Queen
10. James McAvoy, Starter for 10
So, that was me. Which Brits shone for you this year??