text:
In alphabetical order by surname
Eric Jan Bakker, Head of Sales Asia Pacific, Marlink
Eric Jan Bakker is Head of Sales responsible for the development of business in the Asia-Pacific region for Marlink, the global innovative provider of satellite enabled solutions.
Eric Jan has over 15 years' experience in the satellite sector, starting his career with Station 12, the former mobile satellite operator based in The Hague, The Netherlands. During his time there, Eric Jan was responsible for sales of mobile satellite systems to the maritime industry in most of EMEA & Asia. Based out of The Hague & Singapore, Eric Jan helped introduce data communications technologies to the maritime industry, particularly the merchant shipping sector.
Eric Jan joined the company to head sales efforts with non-governmental organizations and United Nations accounts before moving on to become government sales director, a position he held for over two years. He accepted a role as Vice President, Sales for the Asia-Pacific region and where he has helped further establish Marlink's reputation in this core market.
Eric Jan has a Bachelor's degree in Electronics, and integrated several commercial topics into his technical studies at the University of Eindhoven (The Netherlands).
Arthur Bowring, Managing Director, Hong Kong Shipowners Association
Arthur Bowring has eight years seagoing experience during which time he commenced
his Degree studies. Armed with an honours degree from UWIST Cardiff, Arthur joined Lloyds Register of Shipping as a Ship Surveyor. While at Lloyds Register, Arthur took a three month sabbatical to upgrade and prepare a Polar Expedition ship for the three year Transglobe Expedition, led by Sir Ran Fiennes.
In 1980, Arthur joined Tradax Ocean Transportation, Geneva, which later became Cargill International SA, Geneva Branch, as Operations Superintendent. He moved on to be Owning broker, and then a Chartering broker, handling oil and dry bulk cargo requirements for various Cargill product lines. Arthur then took responsibility for Fleet Insurance and developed an internal consultancy role, which included the handling and resolution of various disputes arising through the oil and dry shipping activities of Cargill.
In 1994, Arthur transferred to Orient Ship Management, Hong Kong. On the closure of the company's business in 1995, Arthur became a Marine Consultant, handling Investigative work, Legal, Marine Claims and Project Management. In 1997, Arthur was appointed Managing Director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association. In this role, he has contributed many papers to general and industry media, regularly spoken at various conferences and championed the many issues that have given the Association a high international and regional profile. He is a part time Arbitrator for Shipping and Commercial disputes, and a member of the Panel of Arbitrators maintained by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre.
Arthur is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, the Nautical Institute, the Royal Institute of Navigation, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators, and a Member of the Hong Kong Mediation Council.
Drew Brandy, Senior Vice President, Maritime Market Strategy, Inmarsat
Drew Brandy was appointed Senior Vice President Market Strategy for Inmarsat Maritime in January 2015. He is currently responsible for setting the strategy for the business unit with regards to vertical segmentation, all marketing programmes, and the development of the partner channel.
Since joining Inmarsat in 2005, Drew has held a variety of positions, principally focused on delivery of the broadband portfolio across the Enterprise verticals while rolling out new products and services to drive significant growth across the land-based business.
Previously, he gained extensive experience working in both North America and Europe, holding positions with Bell Canada, British Telecom and Cable & Wireless ranging from business development to corporate strategy.
Drew holds an undergraduate degree in sociology and communications from York University in Canada and an MBA from Henley Management College.
Capt. Pradeep Chawla, Managing Director, Quality Assurance and Training, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Ltd
Capt. Pradeep Chawlajoined Sea, 1974 as Deck Cadet, he sailed on various ship types and attained the rank of Master in 1986. He started in a shore job in 1992 in Anglo-Eastern Ship Management.
Capt. Chawla is presently working as Managing Director, QHSE and Training for Anglo-Eastern Univan Group. Anglo-Eastern Group manages 700 ships and employs 27,000 staff at sea and over 1,700 people ashore.
In 1992 he authored and published a bookon'Safety at Sea' in Hindi and Tagalog.
He is serving as an invited member in the Shipping Consultative Committee to the Hong Kong Government and works as a "Competent Person" for IMO. He is the present Chairman of Global MET Association, and Ex-Vice-Presidentand Council member of Nautical Institute, UK.
Piers Cunningham, Vice President, Maritime Services, SpeedCast
Dr Ruanthi De Silva, Founder/Director, SCM PLUS (PVT) Limited
Founder/CEO of SCM PLUS (Pvt) Limited - Singapore, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, a Company focusing on OPEX efficiency. Ruanthi was the immediate past Group Corporate Director of Supply Chain Management at BSM Group which manages over 650 ships.
She carries over 40 years of senior management experience with international blue-chip Companies covering strategic planning, finance, business process reengineering, and operations.
Ruanthi holds a Doctorate from the University of Newcastle in Australia and an MBA from the University of Hull in UK. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants of UK.
Ruanthi was the 2015 recipient of the Personality of the year for International Contribution to the Maritime Industry awarded by WISTA Sri Lanka Brach.
Mark Haslett, Director, Procurement, Wallem Group
Thomas Heide, Sales Manager Asia, Dualog
Thomas Heide has professionally been involved with developing, supporting and selling Maritime software since 2008. His experience spans from working with regulatory authorities to develop applications for mandatory reporting, to system integration with major shipping companies.
Thomas worked in several European markets before relocating to Singapore in 2011, where he held a technical position before moving into sales. He likes to see the practical impact of software, and how well-designed solutions improves the working conditions of its users.
Thomas was educated at The Arctic University of Norway, and holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and Computer Science.
George J. Hoyt, FNI, IMO Maritime Ambassador
InterManager EXCOM & Vice President -Projects,
Was Chairman of InterManager's "KPI Committee".
Advisor to Board of Directors of "Seagull AS of Norway".
Was non-executive director of Seagull AS of Norway.
Founder "Face Of Shipping" & Founder "NewsLink Services" 2009- 2012 conducted/distributed video interviews of more than 100 shipping personalities via NewsLink DVDS and Face Of Shipping web site and to seafarers on more than 8,000 ships, plus seafarer centers around the world.
2010 awarded a Fellowship by the Nautical Institute.
2011 Life Time Achievement Award recipient from Lloyds List/Informa at Asia Pacific Manning & Training Conf.
Was a Director of Seafarers Emergency Fund Foundation.
Creator "Year Of The Seafarer" mosaic that is on permanent display in IMO headquarters.
Creator of the "I Am A Seafarer" on-line, electronic, video mosaic.
Chairs, moderates and speaks at many international conferences, seminars, exhibitions, workshops and forums every year, including Digital Ship, Maritime Cyprus, Informa/Lloyds List, Connecticut Maritime Association, ACI and many other conferences and events in London, Cyprus, Athens, Oslo, Manila, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Singapore, Poland, and other locations, several times.
Was keynote speaker at the Maritime stream at Satellite 2012 & 2014 conferences in Washington DC Participated in "Maritime Piracy, Humanitarian Response to Piracy" committee.
Patron to the Nautical Institutes' "ALERT!" project.
One of the prime initiators and participated in all 3 of 2010 "Year Of The Seafarer" conferences -Manila, Poland & Delhi.
Advisor to GlobalMET's board of directors.
Member of the GlobalMET Projects Committee.
Associate member AMMITEC - Association of Maritime Managers of Information Technology and Communication.
Was founder/CEO "CP3500 International", combustion catalyst
Was non-executive director- Rydex Industries, ship-shore communications
Dr Stephen Li, Principal Surveyor, Shipping Registry and Seafarers' Branch, Marine Department
Dr Stephen Li, currently the Principal Surveyor of the Shipping Registry and Seafarers' Branch of the Marine Department, has been working in the Marine Department for 29 years. With a wealth of experience in sailing as Deck Officer and Master, he joined the Marine Department in 1987. Through continuous working and learning, he rose through the ranks of the department after obtaining a bachelor's degree, a doctorate, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) from The University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Li has been working in various posts of the Marine Department as the examiner for Master and Mates, port state control surveyor, search and rescue coordinator and marine accident investigator. He is presently looking after the Hong Kong Shipping Registry, being the fourth largest ship registry in the world, the Hong Kong Shipping Registry now maintains a fleet of over 2300 seagoing vessels and about 50,000 seafarers.
Christopher Lim, Senior Key Account Director Mobility, Intelsat
Chris Lim is responsible for leading the Intelsat's mobility services in Asia Pacific.
Based in the Singapore Office, he is responsible for sales and market development of mobility services, supporting key distribution partners, in Asia Pacific.
With more than 12 years in the mobile satellite industry, Chris has been in sales and market development roles responsible for Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Intelsat, Chris was the Maritime Market Development lead in Inmarsat for Asia Pacific. Chris also had the privilege of working for other leading satellite communications company, SingTel, Thuraya and SpeedCast with responsibilities in sales and business development in the maritime sector.
Chris holds a Bachelors degree in Information Technology from the Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
Joey Long, Maritime Market Development Manager – Asia, Thuraya
Joey Long is responsible for developing the Maritime market in Asia for Thuraya, a leading Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator.
His role at Thuraya includes generating customer demand, identifying and cultivating new opportunities to sell Thuraya's maritime products and services through direct engagement with end-users and service partners in Asia.
Based in Singapore, Joey brings over 8 years of experience in the maritime business with expertise in sales and business development to his role at Thuraya.
Rob O'Dwyer, Editor, Digital Ship
Rob O'Dwyer, Editor of Digital Ship, has been a maritime IT journalist since 2005. He has a Master's degree in business and law from University College Dublin and was previously a commercial writing consultant in Seoul, South Korea.
Rob was also previously Editor of Port Finance International.
Alberto Perez-Espinosa, Business Development Manager, Marine Software & Analytics and Energy Efficiency, BU Marine and Ports, ABB
Alberto Perez has been working within the ABB Marine and Ports organization since 2007. He holds a Master degree in Electrical Engineering from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid and MBA from IE Business School in Madrid. He has been involved for last five years in helping marine customers to gain efficiencies and his current position is Global Sales and Business Development Manager, Marine Software and Analytics.


text:
Diane Ravitch: School privatization is a hoax, "reformers" aim to destroy public schools
They assert that the best way to save education is to hand it over to private management and let the market sort out the winners and the losers. They wish to substitute private choices for the public's responsibility to provide good schools for all children. They lack any understanding of the crucial role of public schools in a democracy.
The central premise of this movement is that our public schools are in decline. But this is not true. The public schools are working very well for most students. Contrary to popular myth, the scores on the no-stakes federal tests— the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — are at an all-time high for students who are white, black, Hispanic, and Asian. Graduation rates are also at an all-time high.
More young people than ever are entering college. Even more would go to college if the costs were not so high.
Of course some schools and districts have very low test scores and low graduation rates, and this has always been true. Most of these schools and districts have two features in common: poverty and high concentrations of racial minorities. The combination of these two factors is associated with low test scores. Children whose parents are poor and have low educational attainment tend to have lower test scores.
Children who are poor receive less medical attention and less nutrition and experience more stress, disruption, and crises in their lives. These factors have an ongoing and profound effect on academic performance.
That is why poor children need even more stability, more support, smaller class sizes, and more attention from their teachers and others in their schools, but often receive far less, due to underfunding.
Unfortunately, many people are unwilling to address the root causes of poor school outcomes, because doing so is either too politically difficult or too costly.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 293
Where I Got This Book: LibraryThing Early Reviewers (ARC)
Rating: 5 Stars
Goodreads Summary: When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She's not the person she's always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.
Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she'd ever admit. But it isn't long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he's come to take her home.
Now Wendy's about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that's both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she's meant to become…
My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I thought Wendy was a wonderful, strong character who was really able to handle all that was going on when placed in such a tough position. I loved all the scenes when she butted heads with Elora, the Queen of Trylle. She never became submissive to her but really held her own and spoke up for herself. I also loved the connection she had with her brother and I thought her conflictions about leaving home to go to Trylle where she "truly belonged" was nicely done. I read some reviews where people thought that this part was rushed and that not enough time was given to really show Wendy's struggles over leaving her aunt and brother, but I didn't feel that way. I was really able to feel Wendy's sadness about having to leave her family, presumably forever.
The world of Trylle was really well done and I loved learning about all of the different powers that the trolls had. This was a completely new concept for me and I was very fascinated by it. I'm excited to learn what powers Wendy may develop other than her power of persuasion, if in fact she does have another power. It seems to me she may have a power similar to the Queen's-there were a couple of scenes that hinted at that-but I won't say anymore about that in fear of spoiling it for others.
I thought the budding attraction between Wendy and Finn was a little disappointing and I wished that more had happened between them. Their relationship really didn't grow much and I don't think there were all that many scenes with just the two of them, but I thought the ending was amazing as well heartbreaking at the same time. I will definitely be buying the other two books in this trilogy. This book was a favorite of the year.


text:
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Art Club paper mache birds...2013
2 comments:
Can you share some info about what your Art club is and how it runs? (Or, perhaps you already have a link to a previous post I missed...) :) I'm working in getting some kind of after school Art club going at our school.ReplyDelete
Bre... I have 2 art clubs- Advanced and 1st year. First year is by lottery. Students, parents and the student's classroom teacher have to sign a from and then I put all the names in a bucket and draw out 15 names. The 1st year students touch on many areas of art that we just are not able to go into during regular class. I focus mostly on the principles and elements of art when creating the lesson plans. One of my first year students was in a juried show at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manasses, Virginia.ReplyDelete
Advanced art club is for students after they have been in the 1st year art club and they do not have to go through the lottery. Once you are in you can stay in advanced art club until you leave elementary school.
These students have to keep an art sketchbook/journal and have outside homework in their journals. We again focus on the principles and elements but dive into each topic in great detail. At the moment we are creating a stop motion animation video with characters they have each created. I will post the video when we finish. I hope this helps.


text:
Lamb's Ear After the Rain
Celebrating the amusing, curious, eccentric, eclectic, exotic, fantastical, quaint, unusual & whimsical.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
Posted by autena at 8:38 AM 3 comments
Friday, May 20, 2011
Victoria Day
The birthday of Queen Victoria is a federal holiday in Canada. Originally falling on May 24, which is her actual birthday, it is now celebrated every year on or before May 24.
In honor of this holiday, I decided to pretend I was in Portobello Road, the famous antique market in London, and do some window shopping.on Etsy.
For those who know not of Queen Victoria, here is the nutshell version of her history...
Monarch of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901 (over 63+ years), inheriting the throne at the age of 18
Was fifth in line for the succession and, due to unusual circumstances, became the Queen.
Married her first cousin, Prince Albert and had nine children
Great, great grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II
Great great great grandmother of Princes William and Harry
Here is a link to the amazing PORTOBELLO ROAD
Here is a link to the amazing PORTOBELLO ROAD
Posted by autena at 9:11 AM 3 comments
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wordless Wednesday...Cedar Falls
Posted by autena at 8:25 AM 3 comments
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
Posted by autena at 8:10 AM 4 comments
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sparkle Plenty
More variety than you can even imagine and so difficult to effectively photograph, especially when there have only been three days of sunshine here during the entire month of April. But I digress...
My dear friend, Kate, has consigned me to sell many wonderful things gleaned from a family-owned antique store that closed many years ago. Among the many treasures are a large group of retro earrings.
Both clip on and screwback, some signed and others not, some are in lovely condition and others not so much, but as a group, they are fascinating, at least to me. There is such a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and styles.
Both clip on and screwback, some signed and others not, some are in lovely condition and others not so much, but as a group, they are fascinating, at least to me. There is such a variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and styles.
In this era of pierced ears there do not seem to be a lot of women wearing these types of earrings. In any case, if there are, they have not found my stash. But I felt that these lovely ornamental accessories deserved to be shown off.
So I picked out my favorites, spruced them up to be their glittery best, and present them to you now.
I love these silver ones, because they are so very dramatic.
The pearly ones catch the light so well. The top pair, however, are actually a mix of pearls, most likely imitation, and plastic.
Does everyone love seeing royal blue as much as I?
The middle and bottom pair are stamped "Japan" on the back.
Moss green in the middle and creamy plastic "seeds" on the bottom.
Posted by autena at 1:02 PM 3 comments
Labels: accessories, Antique, clip on, collectibles, earrings, fashion, jewelry, retro, screwback, vintage
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
The one true consistency to horror has been it's ability to draw certain physical/emotional reactions from it's viewers. For the longest time, it lived specifically off of the "BOO! =AHH!" theory, which is obviously still it's bread and butter. But as time has gone on, we've calloused as a people and need a little more stank on our scares. Enter H.G. Lewis and the word gore into our everyday vocabulary. With the introduction of blood and guts, horror made some HUGE changes in it's approach to scares. Sure, there was gore, in one capacity or another, before H.G. Lewis's films, but never in such a visceral, colorful, and tasteless manner. For some folks, it was the end of a "classier" era. Regardless of which side of the argument you stand on, the entrance of true gross-out gore altered the course of horror's history (and it's many sub genres).
For me, I stand on the side of gore. I'd love to give you a long, arrogant dissertation as to how much gore has crippled the genre, but frankly, I love blood and guts. Being a voyeur as I am, there's something soooo exhilarating and titillating about watching any nameless victim disemboweled in the name of film. Gore introduces a different kind of fear. It plays on the physical rather than emotional, to draw it's reaction. That physical reaction being the gag reflex. Gore has been a source of contention for the better part of 40 years with film fans, but still is one of the largest draws to a box office. Classics like The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Dawn of the Dead as well as lesser known genre favorites like Snuff, Maniac, and Blood Feast had people clamoring for a chance to see what sent people "running from the theatres puking". Marketing gimmicks like barf bags and menacing pre-film disclaimers piqued curiosity and became a lucrative format to work within. And have we become snobbish sophisticates who are above such juvenile pratfalls? Hell no! Hostel, Hannibal-you name it, just a couple modern pop culture pieces that have banked and bled all over their audience (the latter of the two drawing a lot of heat due to it's Academy-award winning cast.). It's here to say, and has had a strong resurgence over the last 5 years, gaining a new moniker (gornography). This same pallet by which fans judge a classic or not (at least, nowadays) is the reason for this latest blog o' mine. This is a list of the grossest films I've encountered. Some are gross for strange reasons, some are obvious. Either way, over time I've experienced some sick shit and these are the standouts. Grab a garbage can and enjoy!
Baby Blood aka The Evil Within (1989)- The French have become some of my favorites when it comes to gore as of lately. Where there obsession with over-the-top effects started, one can only guess but I know where it started with me. This sick little bastard, which I first viewed on VHS under the title "The Evil Within", featured some repulsive action. The story is centered around a carnie of sorts (played way too strongly by Emmanuelle Escourrou) who becomes impregnated by a demon parasite from the dawn of civilization who needs to be reborn into a human body: the catch is, the demon needs to be nurtured into it's full bloom by human blood (duh). Against her will, our expectant mother goes on a killing spree to nurture her little evil seed to life and the blood is provided via loads of horny, greasy, sweaty Frenchmen. It's a hilarious ride through this sleazefest that comes with gallons of blood and for some reason, a lot of really unattractive actors and actresses who incessantly sweat. The first time I watched this, I was eating pizza (hand of god) and lost my appetite for it. I broke out the DVD a few months ago and it's still gross. Seek this one out for a good laugh. Imagine early Peter Jackson and Evil Dead tactics set in an angular French slum and you've got the trappings for a fun one.
Feed (2006)-Okay, so this is one of those gems that caught a buzz in internet horror circles and caught me, like a sucker, but paid itself in full. I'm not a big fan of director Brett Leonard but it made up for his track record of shitty movies with this puker. The film is a modern setting revolving around a detective from Australia (?) who investigates bogus/dangerous cyberporn. He stumbles upon a fetish known as "feeders/gainers", which involves VERY large women who are loved and adored by men. Loved and adored too much perhaps, as the film's antagonist streams a live feed to paying viewers who get to witness the fattening up and eventual death's of these women. As you would expect, the eerie anonymity of the web becomes the true bad guy in this flick as our cop hero is lead on a wild goose chase to find our modern day Buffalo Bill.
This film owes alot to flicks like Seven and Silence of the Lambs but unlike those two arrogant twats, is not afraid of being a balls out gross horror film. The "gore" in this film is not so much whats on the inside being ripped out as it is what's on the outside being forced in. Some of the force-feeding and visuals of food were almost too much for me to bear at points. I distinctly remember watching this film with my wife during her pregnancy and both of us being outright repulsed. Leonard was able to tap into a modern vein with the internet-driven story and do up some truly disgusting visuals. Definitely not for those of you with an easy gag reflex.
August Underground's Mordum (2004)-This film series has gained itself quite a lot of notoriety over the last few years in the underground (no pun intended) with good reason. It's arguably, some of the most shocking shit that's been made in ages. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with the idea Toe Tag Pictures and it's cash cow. For an independent company who has kicked decency in the nuts, there seems to be a lot of self-importance attached to these folks and their movies. But alas, this is not about them but rather about it-it, being their film. Mordum was the second in this series of "snuff" films which follows a serial killing duo on their exploits, and at times, lack thereof. Shot digitally and then degenerated to give you a truly, grainy, realistic experience, the film doesn't have a title sequence. It doesn't role credits or back itself with an atmospheric score. It just starts like a home video and doesn't let up. Some of these effects and set pieces were so fucking intense, I almost wanted to look away (almost). Writer/director/producer/founder/star Fred Vogel doesn't try to create atmosphere. There's not a plot line to follow (I mean that in a good way) nor any character development to emotionally attach yourself to. The movie just assaults your senses over and over and over again. Vomit, feces, penile removal ala medical scissors, entrail penetration, necrophiliac pedophilia-NOTHING is off limits. Toe Tag's background in effects proved what they are strongest at because if one didn't no any better, they'd think they were seeing reality play out on the screen.
I can't recommend this film in good conscious, because, quite frankly I don't watch it in that state. It's a crowning achievement for these guys and in my opinion for the genre ( I say this, because I can't stand what they've done post-Mordum). Vogel really outdid himself on this one and challenges the best of horror directors by not letting up through the entire film. Just a few personal notes: Not only have I told people who've asked to borrow it no, but I also had this film sober up an entire day's worth of drinking for me. Plenty of my friends thought they were tough guys who could handle this film and asked me to turn it off. At some point in horror history, the AU films will go down in it's history as being waaay ahead of it's time. Until then, I will honor this film a modern gore masterpiece. Don't seek it out...
The Girl Next Door (2007)-There's a lot of different pieces to this puzzle that I'm gonna sort out for you before I start up. This film is based on a Jack Ketchum novel, which is based on a true story about the torture of Sylvia Likens and her younger sibling (the actual aforementioned story was the basis for a film called "An American Crime"). Already a story with some strong history, the film is gross because it's so real and so depressive. The masochistic way in which and entire neighborhood gangs up on a preteen girl and makes her their pariah is utterly sickening. But what's worse is the attitude taken by the rest of the people in the neighborhood. The film is set in the 50's/60's middle America lifestyle where ignoring the problem worked as well as solving it. I'm fully aware that this film exaggerates how the world conducted itself, but there is some truth to the story and it's just plain sad.
At any rate, The Girl Next Door is a film that poetically dissects the torture of a child. A woman who plays the aunt, watching out for the girl allows her children and others to abuse the girl, be it sexually, violently or otherwise. By saying this film is a mood killer is understating each and every frame of it. There are so many moments where the violence feels so real and grimy that you feel your own body tensing up as you watch. I'm certain most folks wouldn't classify this film as horror but it is in every sense of the word. The film also has merit because we are comforted in the hopefulness of knowing bad guys never win, right? Not necessarily. It plays out as an endurance race and whether or not the girl in our story survives is irrelevant. the damage is done and one never truly recovers from such atrocities.
I'll be the first guy to blow the whistle as a film that doesn't want to call itself horror yet has all the makings and "no shit" factors that make it one. But I don't want to mislead you into believing this is a horror film in the conventional sense. It's realistic and dense but reaches a point of divinity that makes you glad it's over. The sensitive viewer will definitely not be able to sit through the whole thing and all you tough guy gorehounds may shed a couple sympathy tears. All around, it's grossness factor is summed up in it's reality.
Make Them Die Slowly aka Cannibal Ferox (1981)-As I was trying to narrow down what would make my list, I knew that I couldn't get through it without a cannibal flick but I didn't want to be too obvious. I've made no bones about the fact that I feel Cannibal Holocaust is not only one of my favorite films ever but one of the best horror films ever. So, as much gushing as I do over that, I thought I'd give her retarded kid brother the spot light for a few moments.
In the timeline of my horror love life, I actually watched MTDS before I saw a true copy of Cannibal Holocaust. This was due to the fact that I knew no one with a proper copy and couldn't find one myself yet. So, with my cannibal film needs needing to be met, I turned to my Italian friends who never disappoint. MTDS follows a group of greedy ne'erdowells into the jungle in search of whatever, and guess what? They stumble upon blood thirsty "savages". Cannibal flicks are often viewed as racist and exploitative in their very nature and often times hide behind a thin veil of social consciousness. But really they just boil down to being good old splatter fests meant to test your puke trigger. Umberto Lenzi directed a film that not only cast some of the who's who of Italian horror but pretty much apes Deodato's concept, just much less effectively and much MORE humorously. It's cut exactly the way all the Italian cannibal flicks are cut: Jungles of some exotic land (Brazil in this case), gratuitous nudity and sex, reprehensible jackassish characters with their own self-serving agenda, scenes of stock footage with animals being slaughtered and eaten in their raw state of death, lot's of disgusting dismemberment and gore, penis removal-wait?! Another penis removal?! Yep, another dick being discarded in the name of gore. And who better to lose his dignity but Italy's whipping boy, Giovanni Lombardo Radice? In another role where he's treated as garbage, Radice is destroyed and exploited all for our amusement. Oh, and the legendary Robert Kerman is along for the ride (yeah, THAT Robert Kerman)...another cannibal ride. Again.
As much as I'm making fun of it, I do love this movie. It's over the top and no, it's not as good as it's predecessor, but it's not trying to be. MTDS is gory, nasty fun with a beautiful South American backdrop. The acting is extremely overdone and it makes the experience all the better. There's lots of shoddy effects which, somehow, makes it more disgusting. And don't forget, a dick gets cut off...
Flower of Flesh and Blood (1985)-We're headed back to the "snuff" well with this one. It's one of the notorious Guinea Pig films from Japan and it's perhaps the most notorious of all of them. For those who aren't in the know, this film was seen by Charlie Sheen years back and he thought he was seeing an actual snuff film and made an international stink about it. From this situation two things arose: Everyone realized how big of a douchenozzle Charlie Sheen was, and the world became acquainted with Japanese hyper-violence.
As far as the film goes, it really isn't driven by characters or storyline per say, but rather it takes that snuff approach. You basically feel like you're privy to something you shouldn't be seeing (hence the purpose of a snuff film). The basis of the movie is watching a guy dressed like an old samurai ( yeah, I don't know either) dismember his captive with surgeon-like precision. The effects are truly incredible looking and it feels like you're watching it happen. The filmmakers even had the wherewithal to have appendages seem animated as they are being removed from the victim's body. It's actually very visually stunning if you consider this was shot on video and technically shouldn't be the slightest bit shocking. But if you combine the incredible effects (seriously, for the time they were great looking!) with the weird atmosphere created by the lack of dialogue and music, it becomes a very jarring movie going experience.
The reputation these films garnered were, for the most part, well deserved. They were banned in several places in the world for a long time. In fact, I never saw the movie until Unearthed Films released their beautifully packaged box set about 5 years ago. I've found that watching this movie you will catch yourself or others around you turning up their lips as they see limbs sloooowly cut off (accompanied by very realistic sounds). It has all the credentials of being a shocking film and lives up to it's notorious name.
Inside (2008)-Yes, a film this new has made that much of a lasting impression. As I stated previously, the french have a very sadistic outlook on film and are currently overthrowing the world horror market with their insidious and brutal films. Inside is definitely no exception to this new rule.
The film's premise is based on a photojournalist who loses her husband in a car crash. As if that memory weren't painful enough, she has a constant reminder in a child she's bearing that will be due on Christmas Eve. She heads home to be alone on Christmas Eve, essentially awaiting child labor, when she receives a very strange visitor. What follows is an explosion of violence unmatched by anything that came out last year. Insane violence takes place in the form of death by mirror shards, knitting needles (exceptionally gruesome), and the good ol' Lysol and lighter torch. Oh, and there's a little scene that involves a C-section via scissors. The amount of blood and gore that was shed in this film rivals Evil Dead.
I can't lie-I was genuinely shocked at how unrelenting the violence was. It starts with a first act that slowly develops characters then once the second act hits, everything goes shit house!!! Heads get blown apart, entrails pouring out of bodies, flying left and right, and a total malay ensues from each direction.
I've pointed some burgeoning horror fans in the direction of this film, all with positive results but one thing is constant in each reaction: shock at how disgusting the film is. Part of me wants to say "this is a great date movie" but I know that it probably won't get you laid. Sure she'll cling to you as the jump and scares start but a few moments later, she might be retching. It fires with both barrels and is generally unpleasant, but any gorehound looking for a newer flick to test their gag reflex, this one'll do it.
Pink Flamingos (1972)-Yeah, yeah, I know...it's not horror. But this early John Waters picture is from the Grindhouse era and is every bit an exploitation film as anything else you're gonna find. I'm assuming most folks know of Mr. Waters work (Hairspray, Cry Baby, Pecker, Female Trouble, etc.) and if you're anything like me, you adore what he puts out there into the world. The tight-knit crew known as the Dreamlanders have been churning out schlocky exploitation for a long time, lead by their fearless director. If the phrase "this is the one that started it all" had any relevancy, it would apply to this flick. My guess would be if you are reading this, then you know who "the filthiest people alive" are. So, I'll spare you a synopsis and get straight to the goods.
I'm not entirely sure what compelled me to see this. The first of his films that I saw was probably Cry Baby, followed by Serial Mom. From there, I looked to keep pursuing his work. I'd guess to a certain extent, I was far too young to see what I saw in Pink Flamingos, but no one was stopping young folks from renting VHS tapes, were they? Aside from general grossness of Divine's antics, we have chicken's being decapitated during sex/rape, shit eating (literal shit eating...no fake turds here!), a nude contortionist who bears too much of his backside, a giant old fat woman covered in eggs, Divine's character performing oral sex on her son...you get the general idea. Seriously, this movie rivals most of it's contemporaries with sheer shock value and general dirtiness.
As time has gone on, John Waters has ventured away from so much of the shock and awe but keeps his edge. His a pretty permanent fixture in our home and is beloved by my wife-beloved in the way Europeans used to react to Michael Jackson. Pink Flamingos doesn't push the envelope but rather wipes its ass with it. You'll laugh your ass off but there's a good chance you'll want to puke while your at it.
Dead Alive aka Braindead (1993)-Once upon a time, there was a director named Peter Jackson. He loved making really fucked up, gross out gore films. Then he made the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it was good. Then he followed that up with King Kong...that was not good
Look, if you don't know who Peter Fucking Jackson is and if you don't know his roots, then you probably shouldn't bother with reading any of this. Ever. It's a modern gore classic and it can be summed up to it followers in two words: Lawnmower Scene.
Emanuelle in America (1976)-Joe D'Amato is just as well known for this flick as he is for being one of those porn crossover directors. Emanuelle is a familiar name to any guy who's parents had Cinemax during his adolescence (my masturbating, red face included) but what Emanuelle became and what it was are two ENTIRELY different things.
Originally, Emanuelle was a series dedicated to the exploitation world. Played by the exotic and beautiful Laura Gemser, Emanuelle found herself in all the predicaments that grindhouse cinema could throw at her. She dealt with cannibals, nazis, evil nuns in convents, prison-the whole enchilada. Because it was a part of the beloved grindhouse era, it wasn't done for softcore romanticism, but balls-out sickness.
This particular film is the one that sticks out the most to me. Graphic, hardcore sex, Nazi prison camp sex torture machines, and a horse named Pedro...
Now do you see why it made the list? No one wanted to go there, D'Amato did go there, and I am a worse person for having witnessed it. I don't think I need to tell you what happened for you to know. It's disgusting and it's hilarious. This is one to whip out when you've got your dude's around and your drinking. I think the conversation usually starts with "You guys wanna see something really fucked up?"
Alright, so this may not be the most extensive list but it's one that tells you what's memorable to me. I chose these films because I like them. I didn't decide based on what some book or magazine may say, but I did decide based on having experienced these films and loving them. Check out the ones you haven't seen. Or don't...they're pretty fucking gross.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Vomit Factor: A list of the grossest films I've ever seen...
Posted by Wes, God of Anger at 9:01 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Active substance(s): BETAMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE / CALCIPOTRIOL MONOHYDRATE
PDF options: View Fullscreen Download PDF
PDF Transcript
By rajeevkumarj at 2:01 pm, Aug 10, 2016
Driving and using machines
This medicine should not have any effect on your ability to drive or use machines.
Xamiol® 50 micrograms/g + 0.5mg/g Gel
(calcipotriol / betamethasone dipropionate)
Important information about some of the ingredients of Xamiol
Xamiol contains butylhydroxytoluene (E321), which may cause local skin reactions (e.g.
contact dermatitis), or irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes.
Your medicine is available using the name Xamiol 50 micrograms/g + 0.5mg/g gel but will be
referred to as Xamiol throughout this leaflet.
Instructions for proper use
What is in this leaflet
1. What Xamiol is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Xamiol
3. How to use Xamiol
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Xamiol
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Xamiol is used as topical treatment of scalp psoriasis in adults. Psoriasis is caused by your skin
cells being produced too quickly. This causes redness, scaling and thickness of your skin.
Xamiol contains calcipotriol and betamethasone.
Calcipotriol helps to bring the rate of skin cell growth back to normal and betamethasone acts
to reduce inflammation.
Always use Xamiol exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or
pharmacist if you are not sure.
How to put on Xamiol: Cutaneous use. Medicine only to be used on scalp.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it
contains important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them,
even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any
possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See Section 4.
Use only on your psoriasis on the scalp and do not use on skin which does not have
Washing your hair before application of Xamiol is not necessary
Shake the bottle before use and remove the cap
Before applying Xamiol to the scalp, comb the hair to remove any loose scales. Tilt your
head to make sure Xamiol does not run onto your face. It may help to part your hair
before you use Xamiol. Apply Xamiol to the affected area with your fingertips, and rub it in
Usually an amount between 1 g and 4 g per day is sufficient for treatment of the scalp (4 g
corresponds to one teaspoon)
Do not bandage, tightly cover or wrap the treated skin area
Wash your hands well after using Xamiol. This will avoid accidentally spreading the gel to
other parts of your body (especially the face, mouth and eyes)
Do not worry if some gel accidentally gets on normal skin near your psoriasis, but wipe it
off if it spreads too far
In order to achieve optimal effect, it is recommended that the hair is not washed
immediately after application of Xamiol. Let Xamiol remain on the scalp during the night or
during the day
After applying the gel, avoid contact with textiles which are easily stained by grease (e.g.
Washing your hair before application of Xamiol is not necessary.
Do not use Xamiol
If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to calcipotriol, betamethasone or any of the other
ingredients of Xamiol (listed in section 6)
If you have problems with calcium levels in your body (ask your doctor)
If you have certain types of psoriasis: these are erythrodermic, exfoliative and pustular
(ask your doctor).
Xamiol contains a strong steroid do NOT use it on skin affected by
skin infections caused by viruses (e.g. cold sores or chicken pox)
skin infections caused by a fungus (e.g. athlete's foot or ringworm)
skin infections caused by bacteria
skin infections caused by parasites (e.g. scabies)
tuberculosis (TB) or syphilis
perioral dermatitis (red rash around the mouth)
thin skin, easily damaged veins, stretch marks
ichthyosis (dry skin with fish-like scales)
acne (pimples)
rosacea (severe flushing or redness of the skin on the face)
ulcers or broken skin.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor/nurse/pharmacist before using Xamiol if
• you are using other medicines that contain corticosteroids as you may get side effects
• you have used this medicine for a long time and plan to stop (as there is a risk your
psoriasis will get worse or 'flare up' when steroids are stopped suddenly)
• you have diabetes mellitus (diabetes) as your blood sugar/glucose level may be affected
by the steroid
• your skin becomes infected as you may need to stop your treatment
• you have a certain type of psoriasis called guttate psoriasis.
Shake bottle before use.
Apply a drop of Xamiol to
Apply directly to scalp areas
where you can feel the raised
plaque and rub the Xamiol
gel on to the skin.
Depending on the affected
area 1-4 g (up to 1 teaspoon)
is normally enough.
In order to achieve optimal effect, it is recommended that the hair is not washed
immediately after application of Xamiol. Let Xamiol remain on the scalp during the
night or during the day. When washing hair after application the following
instructions might be useful:
Special precautions
Avoid use on more than 30 % of your body or using more than 15 grams per day
Avoid using under a bathing cap, bandages or dressings as it increases the absorption of
the steroid
Avoid use on large areas of damaged skin, mucous membranes or in skin folds (groin,
armpits, under breasts) as it increases the absorption of the steroid
Avoid use on your face or genitals (sex organs) as they are very sensitive to steroids
Avoid excessive sunbathing, excessive use of solarium and other forms of light treatment.
Xamiol is not recommended for the use in children below the age of 18 years.
Other medicines and Xamiol
Please tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking or have recently taken any other
medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not use Xamiol if you are pregnant (or might be pregnant) or if you are breast-feeding,
unless you have agreed it with your doctor first. If your doctor has agreed that you can
breast-feed, take care.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Apply a mild shampoo to the
dry hair, especially to those
areas where the gel was
Leave the shampoo on the
scalp for a couple of minutes
before washing.
Wash your hair as usual.
If necessary, repeat steps 4-6 once or twice.
Duration of treatment
Use the gel once a day. It may be more convenient to use the gel in the evening
The normal initial treatment period is 4 weeks
Your doctor may decide on a different treatment period
Your doctor may decide on repeated treatment
Do not use more than 15 grams in one day.
All the affected areas may be treated with Xamiol. However, if you also use other calcipotriol
containing medicines, the total amount of calcipotriol medicines must not exceed 15 grams per
day and the area treated should not exceed 30% of the total body surface.
Page 1 of 2
Less serious side effects caused by using betamethasone, especially for a long time, include
the following. You should tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you notice any of
• Thinning of the skin
• Appearance of surface veins or stretch marks
• Changes in hair growth
• Red rash around the mouth (perioral dermatitis)
• Skin rash with inflammation or swelling (allergic contact dermatitis)
• Golden coloured gel-filled bumps (colloid milia)
• Lightening of skin colour (depigmentation)
• Inflammation or swelling of the hair root (folliculitis)
What should I expect when I use Xamiol?
Most patients see obvious results after 2 weeks, even if the psoriasis is not yet cleared at that
If you have used more Xamiol than you should
Contact your doctor if you have used more than 15 grams in one day.
Excessive use of Xamiol may also cause a problem with calcium in your blood, which usually
normalises when discontinuing treatment.
Your doctor may need to carry out blood tests to check that using too much gel has not
caused a problem with calcium in your blood.
Excessive prolonged use can also cause your adrenal glands to stop working properly (the
adrenal glands are found near the kidneys and produce hormones).
Less serious side effects known to be caused by calcipotriol include the following
• Dry skin
• Sensitivity of the skin to light resulting in a rash
• Eczema
• Itching
• Skin irritation
• Burning and stinging sensation
• Redness of the skin due to widening of the small blood vessels (erythema)
• Rash
• Rash with inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
• Worsening of psoriasis
If you forget to use Xamiol
Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten individual doses.
If you stop using Xamiol
The use of Xamiol should be stopped as indicated by your doctor. It may be necessary for you
to stop this medicine gradually, especially if you have used it for a long time.
If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or
Reporting of side effects
Like all medicines, Xamiol can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible
side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow
Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Tell your doctor/nurse immediately or as soon as possible if any of the following happens. You
may have to stop your treatment.
The following serious side effects have been reported for Xamiol
Worsening of your psoriasis. If your psoriasis gets worse, tell your doctor as soon as
Some serious side effects are known to be caused by betamethasone (a strong steroid), one of
the ingredients in Xamiol. You should tell your doctor as soon as possible if any of the serious
side effects occur. These side effects are more likely to happen after long-term use, use in skin
folds (e.g. groin, armpits or under breasts), use under occlusion or use on large areas of skin.
The side effects include the following:
• Your adrenal glands may stop working properly. Signs are tiredness, depression and
• Cataracts (signs are cloudy and foggy vision, difficulty seeing at night and sensitivity to
light) or an increase in pressure inside the eye (signs are eye pain, red eye, decreased or
cloudy vision)
• Infections (because your immune system, which fights infections, may be suppressed or
• Pustular psoriasis (a red area with yellowish pustules usually on the hands or feet). If you
notice this, stop using Xamiol and tell your doctor as soon as possible
• Impact on the metabolic control of diabetes mellitus (if you have diabetes you may
experience fluctuations in the blood glucose levels).
Keep out of the sight and reach of children
Do not use Xamiol after the expiry date, which is stated on the bottle after EXP. The expiry
date refers to the last day of that month
Do not refrigerate. Keep the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Discard the bottle with any remaining gel 3 months after first opening.
If your doctor stops your treatment, return unused medicine to a pharmacist.
If your medicine appears to be discoloured or show any other signs of deterioration, please
return it to your pharmacist who will advise you.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your
pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to
protect the environment.
What Xamiol contains
The active substances are calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate.
Each gram of gel contains 50 micrograms of calcipotriol (as monohydrate) and 0.5mg of
betamethasone (as dipropionate).
The other ingredients are:
• liquid paraffin
• polyoxypropylene-11 stearyl ether
• hydrogenated castor oil
• butylhydroxytoluene (E321)
• α-tocopherol.
Serious side effects known to be caused by calcipotriol
• Allergic reactions with deep swelling of the face or other parts of the body such as the
hands or feet. Swelling of the mouth/throat and trouble breathing may occur. If you have
an allergic reaction, stop using Xamiol, tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty
department at your nearest hospital
• Treatment with this gel may cause the level of calcium in your blood or urine to increase
(usually when too much gel has been used). Signs of increased calcium in blood are
excessive secretion of urine, constipation, muscle weakness, confusion and coma. This can
be serious, and you should contact your doctor immediately. However, when the treatment
is stopped, the levels return to normal.
Xamiol is an almost clear, colourless to slightly off-white gel filled in high-density polyethylene
bottles with low-density polyethylene nozzle and a high-density polyethylene screw cap.
The bottles are placed in cartons.
Less serious side effects
Xamiol comes in packs containing 30g or 60g (2 x 30g) of gel.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
The following less serious side effects have been reported for Xamiol
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Eye irritation
Burning sensation of the skin
Skin pain or irritation
Inflammation or swelling of the hair root (folliculitis)
Rash with inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
Redness of the skin due to widening of the small blood vessels (erythema)
Acne (pimples)
Dry skin
Pustular rash
Infection of the skin.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
What Xamiol looks like and the contents of the pack
Manufactured by:
LEO Pharma A/S, 55 Industriparken – 2750 Ballerup, Denmark.
LEO Laboratories Ltd. (LEO Pharma), 285 Cashel Road, Dublin 12, Ireland.
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by:
Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd., Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, DN3 1QR.
Product Licence holder:
Landmark Pharma Ltd., 7 Regents Drive, Prudhoe, Northumberland, NE42 6PX.
PL No: 21828/0476
Leaflet issue and revision date: 09.08.16
Xamiol® is a registered trademark of LEO Pharma A/S
Allergic reactions
Stretch marks
Skin exfoliation
Rebound effect: A worsening of symptoms/psoriasis after ended treatment.
Page 2 of 2
Source: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.


text:
Indian Express: Pune: Sunday, June 11, 2017.
Jaydeep Ghoghari (23), a resident of Surat, was elated when he received a communication from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), informing him that he had cleared the written test and auditions for admission in the institute's prestigious diploma course in acting. For Jaydeep, the son of a daily labourer at a diamond cutting factory, getting admission in FTII was a dream come true. But his joy was shortlived as on June 5, Jaydeep received another e-mail from FTII's Academic Office, informing him that the list of shortlisted candidates was being "redrawn in view of a calculation error". While the earlier e-mail had instructed him to visit Pune on June 12, the second one asked him not to do so, as his name "does not figure in the revised list".
"It was shocking! How can this happen at such a prestigious institute? The e-mail and calls didn't give any explanation about how the error occurred. I wasn't convinced. The next day, I sent them an e-mail demanding documentary proof, which showed my marks and the marks of the other candidate who pushed me out of the merit list. They didn't bother to respond," said Jaydeep, adding that he has been unable to eat or sleep since he received the 'rejection letter'. He also took to Twitter, raising the issue with Rajyavardhan Rathore, minister of state for Information and Broadcasting.
The admission process for the seven film courses and four television courses in FTII is currently underway. The institute had held a written test for admission to the various courses at 20 centres across India on March 26. As many as 3,572 candidates aspirants for the film courses, and 1,281 students interested in TV courses, took the test.
The FTII has already declared the test results for all seven film courses, and invited 220 to 240 shortlisted candidates for an interview and orientation session. Finally, 72 students will gain admission in the seven courses. Jaydeep's case is far from an one-off incident. Last year, several students had complained about the way the admission process was conducted in TV Direction, Film Cinematography and Film Direction courses. Many of them had resorted to RTI queries, seeking information about the process and marks obtained by them and other students.
Following the complaints, The Indian Express inspected documents pertaining to the 2016 admission process, using the Right to Information Act. The documents revealed that the doubts cast by the aspirants over the process weren't misplaced. For instance, last year, the FTII had admitted 13 students in the TV Direction course, which can accommodate only 12 students.
As per the documents, while admitting students for the TV Direction course, the institute left out a meritorious student from the final list in the OBC-NCL category, which has a quota of three seats, due to an "oversight of the admission cell" . The candidate, Debanjan Paul, later approached the institute, pointing out that he had more marks than all the three students selected in the OBC-NCL category. This led to a correction in the list, pushing one of the three 'selected candidates', Sanika Sonawane from Nashik, into the waiting list. Later, FTII decided to admit Sonawane "over and above" the sanctioned quota, citing principles of "natural justice".
However, FTII Director Bhupendra Kainthola insisted that the admission process was transparent and fair. He did not address specific questions on why such "errors" and "oversight" happen, what is being done to fix them and why the institute can't adopt a process where a provisional merit list is made public before publishing the final selection list. "The admission process to various FTII courses is completely fair, transparent and utmost diligence is exercised to ensure the integrity of the examination process.
The candidates go through a rigorous process in various stages before being selected. In the present case, there was a calculation error, which led to revision of the result as soon as the error was found. The list was revised to correct the mistake and to ensure that no injustice is done to any deserving candidate," said Kainthola, in an e-mail response.


text:
An ordinary man can... surround himself with two thousand books... and thenceforward have at least one place in the world in which it is possible to be happy. ~Augustine Birrell
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Pre-publication buzz
1 comment:
- Knopf Marketing said...
Dear fellow Stieg Larsson fan,
We're trying something new for the launch of the second book in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.
Run your own Stieg Larsson contest on your blog—for which we will provide the prizes (a free copy of The Girl Who Played with Fire, cool temporary dragon tattoos). The first thirty (30) entrants will get first dibs of the translated manuscript of book three. Below you'll find the complete rules and regulations.
Click here http://knopfdoubleday.com/blogger-contest-stieg-larsson for contest entry
Visit the Stieg Larsson site http://stieglarsson.net/ for more info
Friend http://www.facebook.com/salander1 Lisbeth on Facebook
Follow http://twitter.com/aaknopf us on Twitter
The first 250 bloggers to enter their information (name, blog name, blog URL mailing address, and daytime phone number) will obtain the giveaway material (one (1) copy of The Girl who Played with Fire and a batch of temporary tattoos) to host a sweepstakes on their blog. The first 30 bloggers to enter will also receive (1) copy of the manuscript of the third Stieg Larsson thriller at the time of its in-house release. All applications to participate will have to be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) on August 15, 2009. U.S. Residents only. Bloggers are solely responsible for the administration of the sweepstakes on their blogs.
The A.A. Knopf Marketing Team
- July 16, 2009 at 9:30 AM


text:
It would be dishonest for a shipowner not to disclose that his 25-year old vessel had just failed her 5th special survey. If the assured fails to make such disclosure, the insurer may avoid the contract.
What is an example of utmost good faith?
- Font Size
- Default
- Reading Mode


text:
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Will it ever stop???
DB retired to bed after supper, had a nap and then sat reading till I went to bed. I watched DIY SOS after bake off.......so pleased Frances won......it was so sad to hear at the end of DIY SOSthat the little boy only enjoyed his new room for such a short time before he died......so many people had worked so hard to build an extention and remodel the house so Josh could be with his family everywhere even in the garden where they had not been able to take him before.
I needed to take the books to the mobile library this morning and get new ones. DB gave me a list of authors he likes, Managed to get 2 for him. I got him up and washed when I got back. He has taken the stronger pain killers this morning as both feet are sore. He had a slight dizzy when he got downstairs but I put the chair back and he laid back, just could not face getting him up the stairs again. He went for a siesta after his lunch.
Trying to hold things together, very tired, but needs must. DD2 is coming on Friday while I go to see the consultant about my ear, so thats one thing off my mind. By the weekend I am hoping to get him to the car, might need a shoe horn.
Supper tonight turkey strips in cream sauce with pasta and garlic bread, OH can have a banana.
Brownies and a white loaf baked this afternoon.
4 comments:
The books will keep him busy when he's resting. And glad to hear he's moving around. Do you think the dizzy was due to the pain meds or one of his regular dizzies? If he can't get his shoes on maybe they will give him the walking shoes for sprains. Healing prayers for DB and strengthening prayers for you.ReplyDelete
- Halaulani23 October 2013 at 08:47
Is there any chance that DB could sleep downstairs? I would be worried for him struggling with the stairs in case he has one of his dizzies. Good that your daughter can stay with him whilst you have your consultation with the audiologist. Do take care of yourself. You need your strength to be able to cope with all your day to day things besides running after DB.ReplyDelete
Your supper sounds yummy, as always.
- Barbara Anne23 October 2013 at 09:09
I'm so sorry to hear you're so very tired but caregiving isn't a picnic even with your patient is mostly okay. Wishing DB speedy healing for his feet and an end to the dds.ReplyDelete
Take good care of you, too, and do please give yourself permission to rest as needed.
It was raining this morning but now we have chilly sunshine. I need to go to the library and take AMIL to get her hair trimmed.
Glad to read you again. I will be back again next week.ReplyDelete
Thank you for leaving your comment. I do read them all. I may choose not to publish them all however.


text:
Enola/Alone: How to cope as a recluse in Korean society.
Hey yourself! I'm not actually from the Midwest. I'm a Texan, and I guess we are meant to be quite sociable. I'm not really sure. All I know is that I am most definitely a grade A fucking recluse, even by American standards, with all kinds of deeply rooted psychological issues surrounding "MY FUCKING PRIVACY". So, regional classification aside, I do feel quite well-equipped to take this one.
Buddy, it's intense. Whatever you people do, do not allow whoever it is you're working for to wrangle you into sharing your living space with absolutely anyone else, because you're going to need it all to yourself. People are going to be minding your business in every which way possible, especially anything pertaining to your eating habits or your physical appearance. You'll get all kinds of dumbfounding questions along the lines of, who are you eating dinner with tonight? When did you last have a boyfriend? What was that text message you just got on your phone?
I am not a 'question' person. I am so not a question person that my mother actually apologizes after asking me more than three in a row on the phone ("How are you doing?"/"How is work going?"/"What did you do last night?") for fear that one of my infamous "STOP FUCKING ASKING ME FUCKING IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS" blowups is in the post.
Incidentally, as a side note, I just learned quite a useful phrase in Korean, especially with the students: 남이야 (nam-ee-ya). It literally means "other person", and is akin to saying, 'none of your business'. So pack that one away in the arsenal, just in case.
But the point is, "남이야!" is not an appropriate thing to say to your co-workers, right? Well. There are a few techniques I've developed for (somewhat) coping with the beehive quality of life here in the ROK.
1. Lying. Also known as, saving face.
This entry gets into this more in depth, and how it's not lying, exactly. It is lying to us, but that's beside the point, because you're not dealing with us. In Korean culture, it's socially acceptable to come out with a bit of a 'truth generosity' when you're not particularly inclined to engage in one or another social activity. In fact, it's considered good social graces. Being a foreigner in this situation is immensely helpful. I've had all kinds of imaginary foreign friends who have needed help with all kinds of imaginary foreign problems that absolutely cannot wait (since we don't have the ability to fall back on the tried-and-true Korean excuse of, 'my mother is sick'). It's nothing to feel guilty over -- it's just the way that things are done.
The biggest thing I've been having trouble with lately, for example, is people wanting to drive me all over god's green earth. And that's just... no. I like public transportation. I like walking. I like putting on my headphones and having an hour or so to decompress, people watch, and just let my thoughts wander. I need that time to unwind in between whatever other engagements I have throughout the day. I do not fancy spending those precious breaks in the car with someone awkwardly trying to make small talk in a language they don't really like speaking. Furthermore, I'm not a child. And that's exactly what being driven everywhere makes me feel like. Waiting for someone else to pick me up. Having them in control of when I arrive at my next engagement. Not being able to stop into a shop along the way, or grab a cup of coffee, or (and here's the big one) duck into a back alley and suck down a goddamn cigarette while I'm busy dashing from here to there. As kind as the offers are, I don't like being carted around and watched over all the time.
So I absolutely always have to go to the store first. Or pay a bill. Or change my clothes. Or meet a friend for dinner in between. So on and so forth.
2. Taking a cue from the students. Aka, The Bartleby.
Have you ever read Bartleby, the Scrivener? Welcome to Korea. You are now Bartleby. You would prefer not to.
One thing I've always been in awe of is my students' ability to stand in the office and be berated for half an hour straight and just let every last word roll right off their ever-broadening little backs. And also their ability, when confronted with a direct question that requires a response, to come out with something completely deadening to any further elaboration.
Learn the art of "smiling and nodding" and also the art of giving vague, conversation-ending answers to questions. "네.... 네....네...." is going to be perhaps the most useful Korean you can ever learn to speak. And it doesn't have to mean, "yes I'm listening and I'm going to do exactly what you're suggesting right this very minute". It can just mean, "yes I'm acknowledging the fact that you're speaking to a point that makes you feel sufficiently justified in having used up the oxygen it took to do so, and I'm not going to directly defy your suggestions right to your face". That's often good enough. Choose your battles. Don't engage in debate, unless with close friends and co-workers. And don't allow someone to bait you into having conversations you don't wish to have (this is a really good recent example of this).
It takes a little time to get it down, but passive aggression is generally the way to go. Smile, nod, disregard. Smile, nod, disregard....
3. Don't answer.
Just don't answer it. Don't answer the door. Don't answer the phone. They're not going to ask you about it later -- it goes against the rules of saving face.
I don't get it. I really don't. One of the things that will make me irrationally flip my shit the quickest is someone calling me over and over and over when I'm not answering. This is not the fucking olden days. I will see that I missed a call from you when I see that I missed a call from you, and I will call you back when I feel that it's appropriate for me to do so.
Koreans tend to be so fucking bad about this. It borders on insanity, in my opinion. 25 missed calls between 4:32 and 4:46? Really? Was that necessary? Also, my apartment is a fucking shoebox. If I didn't hear you screaming, ringing the bell and banging on the door the first five minutes, I'm not likely to hear it for the next five either. Or I'm clearly choosing to ignore it. What does that mean? It means you should fucking fuck off now.
It doesn't mean anything. There's nothing crucial going on that you need to know about right now. And they're not going to call you out on it later. Just ignore it and it will go away.
4. Have a set day/night every week that is your waegookin friend special meeting time.
Oh, I'd love to come to all thirteen of your family members' weddings on Saturday, but Saturdays are my knitting-while-speaking-Lebanese-Arabic meetings. Haven't you heard? I can never do anything on Saturday afternoon, because I'm the knitting-while-speaking-Lebanese-Arabic team captain. They depend on me to be there. Every Saturday from six am until sunset.
Tuesday night hwaeshik? Tuesdays are the day that all foreigners meet in Sinchon to practice eating spicy food and using chopsticks, though. It's of intrinsic value to my acclimation into Korean society that I attend.
Choose one day that's just off limits, no matter what. Word will spread (as it always does), and, no matter what invitations get passed around that week, you'll know you have at least one day to go home, put the chain lock on your door and just bask in the silence (minus the fruit trucks). Knowing you have that one day coming will make everything else endlessly easier to endure. Me, I need like three of these. But that's up to your own personal discretion.
5. Seriously, though. Take a day off.
I've found it so much easier to participate in all of the random social nonsense that goes down in my work place since I've stopped feeling the need to go out and run around every single weekend night. If I stay in on Friday or Saturday night (or both), I don't feel so fucking exhausted when the week hits, and I don't feel like I'm living one year-long week anymore.
My tolerance for social activity is a lot like a bank account -- I can only withdraw so much before I'm in the red. If I use up all of my social nonsense tolerance on the weekends, I have a lot less patience for it during the week at work. Taking at least one day off during the weekend helps with this a lot.
Of course you're not in the fucking mood to sit around and listen to everyone babble in Korean over coffee for three hours after work today. You spent the entire weekend sitting around and listening to everyone babble in English over beer. And then you spent all day listening to your students babble in god-only-knows-what. You can only take so much of that before you fucking snap. Give yourself some time off. The whole social world on the entire penisula is not going to march on and leave behind sad and lonely. They'll be there next weekend, largely doing exactly what they were doing last weekend. You're not going to miss anything crucial. Place an order with What the Book?, turn off your phone and just fucking take it easy every now and then.
10 comments:
- Whiskey Tango Foxtrot said...
Always reliable Tolkien. By the way it would probably take three hours to get to where you're from from where I'm from and I'm in the Midwest. Is Texas actually considered the south or is that just your Texan pride coming through? ^ ^
- 01:55
- PD said...
i don't want to speak for liz or anything, but even if she's "originally" from texas, i think that once you lived in new york for an extended period of time, and as long as your heart still lives there, you consider yourself a New Yorker. that's what i do. with pride. :)
- 17:58
- I'm no Picasso said...
Whiskey -- I don't fucking know. Are we the Midwest? People are always like, what is Texas? Is it the south? Is it the west? I don't know. It's Texas. There are still people down there who think it should be its own country....
PD -- I have friends who always try to introduce me as a New Yorker, but I always correct them. I think I'm pretty obviously Texan. There's nothing I can really do about that, one way or another. At least most of the accent is gone these days, unless I'm on the phone to my family.
- 18:56
- Gomushin Girl said...
Speaking as a quasi-Southerner, Texas ain't the South. Texas is its own entity, and Dixie does not hold itself responsible for the actions of that large block of land sitting right there by the Rio Grande. Most noteably, they use beef in their bbq instead of pork, which will strike most people from the South as a particularly dangerous kind of heresy.
- 15:33
- Noname said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- 12:40
- Noname said...
Great post.
Minor correction:
남이야 (x)
남이사 (o)
남이사 meaning "남의 사생활 (others' private matters)"
'남이야 뭘하든 무슨 상관이냐'는 뜻.
- 12:41
Hi. Your blog is very informative and funny..thanks for writing :)
I've been in Korea for a few months and unfortunately I'm sometimes a gullible and too-trusting person and I don't like to disappoint people, but I'm aware of it and working hard to correct this habit, have made progress but from time to time I still f**k up.
So one of the teachers at my school helped me out with stuff like internet and computer and invited me to her church (I just wanted to check it out, but then she has been trying to force her beliefs on me when I've been in her company) and I visited her home a couple times (on her invitation/making-me-feel-obligated, never voluntarily).
Sadly, she has shared too much of her personal problems/life with me, and sadly I was too easy and I shared too much personal stuff with her in the beginning. She is unfortunately chronically ill and a bit depressed and I have a very strong feeling that she tries to rely on me for comfort and company, since she can speak some English. She is reminding me to visit her home and almost making me feel bad for wanting to refuse. It's hell.
I am in a kind of delicate emotional state myself and I have to stay away from negativity and people who will drag me down with them (I've struggled with family issues and other things and I worked hard on my own to make it and to get here)...
Since you have talked about the stark contrast between western and Korean cultural context, even though I am bicultural and lived in America and the Middle East both, I am definitely uncomfortable with the level of "saving face/white lie/indirectness" here and generally prefer the openness of the west, and what is most frustrating is that everyone here seems so straight faced all the time and no matter what emotion they are going through they put on a smile, genuine or fake.
- 16:37
- Sandra said...
Thanks for the post. I feel a lot better now about brushing co-workers off for social babble.
- 12:53
- Justin said...
This was a VERY funny post. I appreciate your ability to keep humor about you in that crazy situation.
- 10:36
- Lane said...
YES!! I fucking love you for this article. I am an introvert, and I have a great time by myself. I was having a difficult time about a week ago because I kept thinking about how people must be judging me because I do some things with friends, but alot of things by myself. Yesterday, I did take-out Thai, and the owner asked me "where's your friend?". Hm I didn't know my friend and I always came together. I was startled. LOL. Thanks for your honesty and transparency.
- 21:27


text:
(PRWEB) December 10, 2012
Industry leaders have partnered with Authentic Brands Group to launch the first ever Marilyn Monroe™ Café flagship location next to Millionaires' Row (350 Lakeshore Rd. E.) along Toronto's affluent lakefront suburb of Oakville. Marilyn Monroe™ Café celebrated its grand opening during the November 9 – 11 weekend and has quickly become a staple in the heart of downtown Oakville.
Furnishing by prestigious designers like Philippe Starck with Dedon, Eero Saarinen with Knoll, Diesel with Foscarin, and Tom Dixon, inspires the interpretation of the clean aesthetic and sensual lines of the mid-century modern era. A luxurious choice of materials, modern furniture and subtle architectural detail culminate into an inviting space for all guests, whether on-the-go or casually snacking and sipping premium espressos.
Captivating international audiences with her charming personality and graceful cinematic performances, Marilyn Monroe's timeless beauty and charisma are the inspiration behind the chic and contemporary Marilyn Monroe Café. The café is designed by Mason Studio to be a place Marilyn would be comfortable in, not a shrine, featuring a relaxed but elevated design experience with lush menu options.
The Marilyn Monroe Café drink menu features smoothies ranging from flavours like Mango Tango to Mint Chocolate Chip and luscious hot drinks like Red Velvet and Crème Brule Lattes made with the Ferrari of modern espresso machines, the Adonis T3; custom designed in Italy providing the perfect cup of coffee.
Breakfast goers can pair lattes with hearty organic wholesome oatmeal, New York style bagels and French Flaked Croissants. Those with something sweeter in mind have a wide number of selections from the dessert menu like Gourmet Cupcakes and Artisan Cheesecakes.
Marilyn Monroe Café guests can use a sleek new Mobile App called "MM Café" to order ahead of time and skip the line. The app is available on Apple iTunes, where it can be downloaded for free.
In addition, café guests' experiences will be further enhanced by stunning JBL Audio, featuring 22 speakers of complete clarity. Music programming is selected digitally by the vibe of the songs' algorithms. The sound system automatically sets the volume level, based upon activity in the café, a very state of the art feature.
The café features Marilyn Monroe Photographer Milton Greene's exclusive photographs of the world's most legendary blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. The photos featured in the café are from Marilyn's Ballerina Series, Red Sweater Series, Tennis Sweater Series and more.
A wide array of merchandise will also be available at The Marilyn Monroe Café, included in this collection is a Marilyn Monroe tote, canvas sleeve for laptops and the very popular iPhone case, which is currently the hot, must-have accessory among young Hollywood celebrities.
Authentic Brands Group, in partnership with Leonard Green & Partners, is an intellectual property corporation with a mandate to acquire, manage and build long-term value in prominent consumer brands. With offices in New York and Toronto, ABG's mission is to acquire and manage iconic consumer brands in apparel, sporting goods, action sports, home, celebrity, entertainment and consumer electronics and enhance brand equity through best- in-class brand licensee and direct-to-retail partnerships. The brands ABG owns include Marilyn Monroe®, Prince®, Ektelon®, Viking®, TapouT®, Sportcraft®, Classic Sport®, Silver Star Casting Company®, Iron Star®, Hitman Fight Gear® and Sinister Brand®. http://www.authenticbrandsgroup.com


text:
UN Women is partnering with The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to analyze the representations of female characters in family films globally. This is the first time a study of this nature has been done.
They've commissioned the study from Stacy Smith of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California who has been a leading researcher on this issue. The study will look at top-grossing international movies in countries like Italy, Japan, Russia, China, Australia, France and others.
As we've talked about before, The Geena Davis Institute has been leading the way in this discussion. Only 28.3% of all speaking roles in family films were female–and many of them were shown as stereotypes or sexualized.
Lakshmi Puri, acting head of UN Women, released a statement about the importance of this study.
There is no doubt that gender stereotypes in the media are influential socio-psychological factors in how women and girls are perceived. They also
influence their self-esteem and relationships between the sexes. We cannot let the negative depiction of women and girls erode the hard gains that have
been made on gender equality and women's empowerment. We hope that the study will address factors that positively impact the perception of women in
society, positive role models of women and girls and men and boys, and the value of respectful relationships that can foster and benefit from women's
Davis also commented on the impact that this study will have on girls everywhere.
Media images have an enormous impact on children's self-esteem and aspirations. This is why we decided to launch a global gender in media study: if girls
see it, they can be it.
The results of the study will be released in Fall 2014 at the 2nd Global Symposium on Gender in Media.
UN Women Partners with Geena Davis on First-ever Global
Gender in Film Research Study (UN Women)
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.


text:
Letter from Joseph Smith to his Uncle Silas Smith
(Silas Smith is our Great Great Great Grandfather)
Kirtland Mills , Ohio , September 26, 1833.
Respected Uncle Silas: — It is with feelings of deep interest for the welfare of mankind, which fill my mind on the reflection that all were formed by the hand of Him who will call the same to give an impartial account of all their works on that great day to which you and myself, in common with them, are bound, that I take up my pen and seat myself in an attitude to address a few, though imperfect, lines to you for your perusal.
I have no doubt but that you will agree with me, that men will be held accountable for the things they have done, and not for the things they have not done. Or that all the light and intelligence communicated to them from their beneficent Creator, whether it is much or little, by the same they, in justice, will be judged. And that they are required to yield obedience, and improve upon that, and that only, which is given, for man is not to live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
Seeing that the Lord has never given the world to understand, by anything heretofore revealed, that he had ceased forever to speak to his creatures, when sought unto in a proper manner, why should it be thought a thing incredible that he should be pleased to speak again in these last days for their salvation? Perhaps you may be surprised at this assertion, that I should say for the salvation of his creatures in these last days, since we have already in our possession a vast volume of his word, which he has previously given. But you will admit that the word spoken to Noah was not sufficient for Abraham, or it was not required of Abraham to leave the land of his nativity, and seek an inheritance in a strange country upon the word spoken to Noah, but for himself he obtained promises at the hand of the Lord, and walked in that perfection, that he was called the friend of God. Isaac, the promised seed, was not required to rest his hope alone upon the promises made to his father Abraham, but was privileged with the assurance of his approbation, in the sight of Heaven, by the direct voice of the Lord to him. If one man can live upon the revelations given to another, might I not with propriety ask, why the necessity, then, of the Lord's speaking to Isaac as he did, as is recorded in the twenty-sixth chapter of Genesis? For the Lord there repeats, or rather, promises again to perform the oath which he had previously sworn to Abraham; and why this repetition to Isaac? Why was not the first promise as sure for Isaac as it was for Abraham? Was not Isaac Abraham's son? And could he not place implicit confidence in the veracity of his father as being a man of God? Perhaps you may say that he was a very peculiar man, and different from men in these last days, consequently, the Lord favored him with blessings, peculiar and different, as he was different from men of this age. I admit that he was a peculiar man, and was not only peculiarly blessed, but greatly blessed. But all the peculiarity that I can discover in the man, or all the difference between him and men in this age, is, that he was more holy and more perfect before God, and came to him with a purer heart, and more faith than men in this day.
This same might be said on the subject of Jacob's history. Why was it that the Lord spake to him concerning the same promise, after he had made it once to Abraham, and renewed it to Isaac? Why could not Jacob rest contented upon the word spoken to his fathers? When the time of the promise drew nigh for the deliverance of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt , why was it necessary that the Lord should begin to speak to them? The promise or word to Abraham, was, that his seed should serve in bondage, and be afflicted, four hundred years, and after that they should come out with great substance. Why did they not rely upon this promise, and when they had remained in Egypt , in bondage, four hundred years, come out, without waiting for further revelations, but act entirely upon the promise given to Abraham, that they should come out?
Paul said to his Hebrew brethren, that God being more abundantly willing to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, he confirmed it by an oath. He also exhorts them, who, through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Notwithstanding, we (said Paul) have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which entereth into that within the veil, yet he was careful to press upon them the necessity of continuing on until they, as well as those who then inherited the promises, might have the assurance of their salvation confirmed to them by an oath from the mouth of him who could not lie; for that seemed to be the example anciently, and Paul holds it out to his Hebrew brethren as an object attainable in his day. And why not? I admit that by reading the Scriptures of truth, the saints, in the days of Paul, could learn, beyond the power of contradiction, that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had the promise of eternal life confirmed to them by an oath of the Lord, but that promise or oath was no assurance to them of their salvation; but they could, by walking in the footsteps, continuing in the faith of their fathers, obtain, for themselves, an oath for confirmation that they were meet to be partakers of the inheritance with the saints in light.
If the saints, in the days of the apostles, were privileged to take the saints for example, and lay hold of the same promises, and attain to the same exalted privileges of knowing that their names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and that they were sealed there as a perpetual memorial before the face of the Most High, will not the same faithfulness, the same purity of heart, and the faith, bring the same assurance of eternal life, and that in the same manner to the children of men now, in this age of the world? I have no doubt, but that the holy prophets, and apostles, and saints in ancient days were saved in the kingdom of God; neither do I doubt but that they held converse and communion with him while they were in the flesh, as Paul said to his Corinthian brethren, that the Lord Jesus showed himself to above five hundred saints at one time after his resurrection. Job said that he knew that his Redeemer lived, and that he should see him in the flesh in the latter days. I may believe that Enoch walked with God, and by faith was translated. I may believe that Noah was a perfect man in his generation, and also walked with God. I may believe that Abraham communed with God, and conversed with angels. I may believe that Isaac obtained a renewal of the covenant made to Abraham by the direct voice of the Lord. I may believe that Jacob conversed with holy angels, and heard the word of his Maker, that he wrestled with the angel until he prevailed, and obtained a blessing. I may believe that Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire with fiery horses. I may believe that the saints saw the Lord, and conversed with him face to face after his resurrection. I may believe that the Hebrew church came to Mount Zion , and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem , and to an innumerable company of angels. I may believe that they looked into eternity, and saw the Judge of all, and Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant. But will all this purchase an assurance for me, and waft me to the regions of eternal day, with my garments spotless, pure and white? Or, must I not rather obtain for myself, by my own faith and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord, an assurance of salvation for myself? And have I not an equal privilege with the ancient saints? And will not the Lord hear my prayers, and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did theirs, if I come to him in the manner they did? Or, is he a respecter of persons?
I must now close this subject for the want of time; and, I may say, with propriety, at the beginning. We would be pleased to see you in Kirtland; and more pleased to have you embrace the New Covenant.
I remain, yours affectionately,
Joseph Smith, Jun.
Post note: Lucy Smith recorded in her Early Notebook that sometime in 1836 (after this letter from Joseph to Silas) "the Lord gave Hyrum Smith a revelation commanding him to visit his Uncle Silas, for he was ready to be baptized... When he found him he said, 'Uncle Silas... the Lord has sent me to baptize you, for the Lord has seen the integrity of your heart but knows your fears with regard to your family, but you need not suffer any anxiety about them, for if you embrace the gospel it will be the means of saving them.' He answered that he had no doubt of the truth of the work and the only thing that hindered him from embracing it was that he was afraid that his family would be so much opposed to it that it would ruin his peace. However, upon receiving this message he was baptized, but through much tribulation, being much opposed by his neighbors as well as his own family." (Early Notebook, pp. 41-42.)


text:
Ace Hardware will be moving into the dark store at the Wheatland Mall that Safeway left behind three years ago.
Welcome to Pullman, Ace!
Yet another business brought to Pullman by Wal-Mart.
Ace Hardware will be moving into the dark store at the Wheatland Mall that Safeway left behind three years ago.
Welcome to Pullman, Ace!
Yet another business brought to Pullman by Wal-Mart.
More news I just heard: Insty Prints out of Moscow is currently moving into the old UPS Store.
April, Are they closing the store in Moscow when the move is done??
Ray, I think they are expanding to Pullman. After a little internet research, I have learned that Insty Prints is a national franchise.
Ray and April -
They're going to be operating in both Moscow and Pullman. The owners are associates of mine and my business partner. We have them do all of our printing, and they do amazing work.
Thanks for the info. Where do they do their printing? Looking at the store, it is too small to have printing on site.
I haven't seen the new place, but we've been told that it will have capabilities to handle jobs that they used to outsource. For now, we have our work done at their Moscow location.
As one of the owners of the new Ace store, I am curious about Tom Forbes comment linking our move to Pullman with Wal-Mart????
We are very excited about joining your community.
Plan to open March 1, 2007.
Paul S.,
We are very excited about your business coming to Pullman. I look forward to shopping in your store very soon!
I can't speak directly for Tom, but as you are probably aware, a Wal-Mart Supercenter is going to be built next to the Wheatland Shopping Center. Wal-Mart Supercenters are a huge retail draw, especially this one because it will be the only one in the Quad-Cities, at least for awhile. Since the Wal-Mart was announced, Pullman has seen unprecendented retail growth along South Grand and Bishop Blvd. A small, but very vociferous group is trying to stop Wal-Mart from building, citing in part, a decline in overall retail, though the evidence is overwhelmingly against them. I think Tom was taking a jab at them.
Again, welcome to Pullman.


text:
|Doorbells Used in Pompeii and Herculaneum
I wanted to go to Naples for the pizza.
We're not the only people to make the trek to this unprepossessing pizza spot just a few blocks from the Napoli Centrale train station. Movie stills from Eat, Pray, Love of Julia Roberts, with slice in hand, decorate the walls, and diners have their photos taken with the owner. When we left, the line stretched across the street.
But it's not my favorite pizza. Liz Gilbert's preference is fine, but give me thick, Sicilian pizza that has some heft to it. It's weighty stuff with a thick, airy crust and a medley of tomatoes, spices, and cheese on top. The best, of course, is in Capri at the Salumeria Rosticeria. I first tasted it seven years ago and found it again on this trip. Pizza like this you don't forget.
I could have lingered at the restaurant, but David was anxious to see the Museum and it was immediately obvious why this place was so important to him. The mosaics and wall scenes are remarkably detailed and colorful. The sculptures and bronzes are impressive and varied with many of the gods and goddesses represented. I was in awe that people could have created such fragile, delicately hued glass vases and jars almost two thousand years ago, because many of the pieces are masterpieces of craftsmanship. But the area that really astonished me was the section devoted to erotic art.
Evidently, wealthy Romans of the time had to include some erotica to have a well-balanced collection but many homes, even the most humble, contained some ribald pieces. Oil lamps and door bells were often phallus-shaped to ward off evil spirits. When we toured Pompeii itself, we read that shopkeepers had an unusual way of ensuring prosperity. They depicted, near the shop entrance, the god of fertility, Priapus, resting his enormous member on the plate of a scale.
I hope all those genitalia brought the ancient Romans prosperity, but they did little to ward off destruction. These incredibly diverse, sophisticated people who created beautiful art and cities that thrived were destroyed by the now benign-looking Mt. Vesuvius. David and I left the Museum with a greater appreciation for their history and sadness at their terrible fate.
Practicalities -
Pizzeria da San Michele is a fifteen-minute walk from the train station. We Google-mapped walking directions and stopped frequently to ask passersby if we were on track. Get there before noon if you don't want to wait in line.
The National Museum is easily reached by taking the Metro from the Napoli Centrale train station. Get off one stop later at Piazza Cavour, go up to the street, turn right and walk a few blocks. Admission is 6.50 euros.