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Framed Original Figurative Dancer Painting entitled "Raise to the Sky", acrylic on canvas, created by northern California artist Marques Vickers in 2018. The dimensions are 20 x 16". Vickers' works have been exhibited internationally in art galleries, exhibitions and are part of numerous public and private collections. Most of his art is available for 100% BizX at MarquesV.com.
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Angy Rivera, a formerly undocumented immigrant, knew which words she wanted to let out when she was invited to take the stage at Flushing Town Hall last month.
In her original poem, "Community Not Condominiums," the 23-year-old Flushing resident describes in detail the communities of Jackson Heights, Flushing and Corona through following a food vendor named "Doña María."
Doña María is up before the sun rises
Moon shining on her face she gets ready for the morning commute
It's her job to feed others
Moon shining on her face ella empieza a cocinar arepas, tamales, café y chocolate
Arepas made with corn and cheese
They start to melt as soon as they touch your mouth.
"At first I thought, 'Oh wait, what if someone doesn't understand that," Rivera said about writing the poem in both Spanish and English. "But that's how it is here in Queens."
The college junior, who is studying culture and deviance with a minor in human services at John Jay College, said she felt pride when writing the poem for being part of "such a beautiful community" and remembering all the great details of each neighborhood. Yet, she said she also felt sadness when thinking about the idea of growing up and facing changes.
How will Doña María sell her tamales, arepas, café y chocolate
When the streets becomes businesses she cannot pronounce
Will her café con leche compete with Starbucks?
These signs of a cleaner and safer Queens erase the resiliency already here
We weren't dirty to begin with
Will her house stand untouched during gentrification?
"That's what I wanted to make sure came across, as much as it's a celebration of Queens, on the flipside it's about things we can lose," she said.
This wasn't the first time Rivera's words reached a much larger audience. In 2009 she joined the nonprofit New York State Youth Leadership Council, the first volunteer undocumented youth and membership led organization started in 2007, as an intern.
The Colombian-native, who was undocumented for 19 years and has recently obtained a visa, went on to create a national undocumented youth advice column in 2010 called "Ask Angy."
"It was the first time I met with other immigrant young people that wanted to change things that they saw unjust," said Rivera, who immigrated with her family to the United States just one week shy of her fourth birthday. "Through them I grew as a person."
Now as a core member of the organization, she helps out in the media/outreach and arts/self-expression programs. Through her weekly column, she said she gets people writing to her from all around the nation about different subjects undocumented youths face, such as driving without a license and deferred action.
Although she said it is tricky at times because she doesn't always have answers, especially when it comes to legal topics, she said the column has helped her learn different laws depending on states.
"Being involved helped me become more open about a lot of things and helped me learn a lot of new stuff," she said. "It's been very healing to meet other people in the same situation as you. It's always been nice to have a group to understand."
Continuing her involvement in activism, Rivera has also become part of Queens Neighborhoods United, a coalition created to build power and develop leadership in Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. The group recently has gone around cleaning the streets down Roosevelt Avenue.
Rivera now plans to recite "Community Not Condominiums" at a new quarterly series called "Queens Documented," which launches on July 20 at Terraza 7 located at 40-19 Gleane St. in Elmhurst and features stories and music from people who migrated to Queens.
To read Rivera's full poem, click here.
- Influx of hipsters revives 90 year-old Ridgewood German bar
- Mini-documentary features 'remarkable stories' from Queens magic shop
- Activist dishes dirt on Jamaica garbage

subset: commoncrawl


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We have the utmost respect for professional and amateur athletes alike. We love the dogged determination that sees people finish marathons, shave seconds off their personal best or kick a winning goal. We admire the combination of physical and mental strength that helps them do it over and over again.
This is what drives us to spend so much time on research and development, to seek out the latest and the best fabric technologies to ensure that athletes and amateur sportspeople the world over reap the benefits.


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Beijing artist Wang Ruilin dreams of animal/nature hybrids, surreal and beautiful, influenced by fine art techniques and aesthetics. In his ongoing series, "Pursuit of Dreams," these unreal images come to life as large copper sculptures.
Some of the animals carry landscapes: cloud lined mountains rest on deer-like antlers; a relief map spreads across the back of a yak; the backs of a crocodile and a whale hold mountain ranges. In Ark, another whale serves as vessel, holding an ocean and icebergs on its back. The play of scale in familiar forms makes these sculptures somewhat whimsical, despite their literal interpretation. The integration of living creature with land mass and body of water lends an added dimension to the idea of "nature."
"The Ark series is the result of my most recent efforts. Infused with my true feelings and emotions, they send the message that life sustains nature. As I grew older with more life experience, I started to doubt what I used to learn. These works are the denial of our current world and a depiction of an ideal one. I oppose the self-centeredness of human beings and the ruthless exploitation of other species and natural resources. I seek harmony with the nature. Nature's greatness lies in her inclusion of everything on earth, while man's greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness."
Some of the "Pursuit of Dreams" sculptures are more streamlined versions of actual animals. With their smooth surfaces and self-contained air, the Horse, Rhino and Bird sculptures reveal Ruilin's life-long interest in animals. His art influences are also long-standing:
"Eastern classical art also gives me inspiration. I like deep and pure Chinese flowers and bright and cool verdigris with rich colors and full of profoundness and uniqueness."
(via This is Colossal)


text:
Alan Moore necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 14 diseños de 10 diseñadores freelance.
A front end user interface design mockup is required for a community based climbing social media/networking website. The front page will be rich in features, however we are looking for a very clean, uncluttered design. Just one page needs to be designed, no coding and no additional pages! Full details in brief.
A front end user interface design (one page only) is required for bigvertical.com, a community based climbing/mountaineering website. The front page will be rich in features, however we are looking for a very clean, uncluttered design. The design must have a visually attractive and coherent colour scheme. It also must be scaleable.
The type of site we want to create is premium, cool, neat, easy, and social. It should like it is the premium site for climbers and mountaineers. And we would like to stress again that we would like a design that is very nicely spaced out and appears uncluttered.
We can make payment via Moneybookers (this is our preferred method), credit card or paypal. Western Union is too expensive, sorry! Please note: We have done contests on here before (namely a tshirt design contest) where we paid out to more than one user, so we are more than happy to pay if some really gets our vision. There will be a heap more work for the candidate who really helps us to nail our vision, including logos, marketing materials and further site designs.
Our Mission
The site is intended as an online social media/networking destination for the global climbing/mountaineering community.
- Item 1...site name / logo (yet to design a logo)
- prominent search field
- a video player
- featured blog post, plus links/excerpts from further blog posts / news items
- event calendar with add event now field below, with the ability to add comments
- A 'news feed' of latest activity on the site (latest activity would be a recently joined member, recent blog post, recent forum post, recently listed item in the shop, recently listed event, recently listed podcast, recently added photo, recently added group). This feature should be reasonably prominent, and each item should have icons or a subtley different colour scheme to define the different activities
- a section showing thumbnails of featured items in the shop, with a little line detailing how many new products added in the past week
- a horizontal menu featuring Home, Knowledge, News, Groups, Video, Podcast, Forum, Gallery, Calendar, Join Us, Login.
- Down the very bottom would be an about, contact us, advertising, site map, privacy policy
- Designs that aren't well thought out or spaced out nicely. Feel free to use up lots of room, the site can scroll down lots.


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Christian music fans have an interesting dilemma tonight. See Building 429 at Denver First Church in Englewood or Sanctus Real, The Afters and Stephanie Smith at Southeast Christian Church in Parker. Which ever way you pick– you win. (Not like a Charlie Sheen win.) It's also K-LOVE vs. WAY-FM. It's too bad these are on the same day.
And since I'm into recycling, here's a like to a story I did a while back on Building 429.
I have no dilemma, I'm still recovering from the crud that is going around, so my choice is the sofa. 🙁 Please send in your observations of the concerts if you do go. I would love to hear them.


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House and Senate negotiators, defying a White House demand they pass a one-year extension of the farm bill, appear to have reached agreement on a spending framework for a new five-year farm law.
Late Friday afternoon (April 25), Sen. Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the farm bill conference committee, announced that a "core farm bill utilizing the $10 billion above baseline" criteria had been worked out among key farm bill negotiators.
Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, said he planned to present details of "the balanced agreement" to members of the full House and Senate farm bill conference committee at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning (April 29).
Although details were sketchy, sources said the agreement includes $3.85 billion for a permanent agricultural disaster program; an additional $861 million for spending on nutrition programs; $4 billion for conservation programs, including $1.1 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program; and $1.35 billion for specialty crops.
Offsets would come mostly through extending customs user fees, which under congressional budget rules do not count as taxes. President Bush has repeatedly said he would veto any bill that contained increased taxes.
Other funds would come from generous scoring of the new average crop revenue or ACRE counter-cyclical revenue program. Sources said the agreement includes a $400-million cut in direct payments, but much of that would be accomplished by requiring farmers who enroll in ACRE to give up a portion of their direct payment.
"Today the principal farm bill negotiators came together on a bipartisan level to reach a tentative agreement on the agriculture policy that will make the final farm bill a strong one," Harkin said in a statement released by the Senate Agriculture Committee staff.
While the tentative agreement maintains strong farm income security, Harkin said it would also "solidify the future of the Conservation Security Program, which has been renamed the Conservation Stewardship Program, returning it to the program it was intended to be when first enacted in the 2002 farm bill."
The new farm bill invests in renewable energy and will provide grants and loans to help advance the development of cellulosic biofuels. It also will provide more fresh fruits and vegetables in elementary schools and stronger assistance to low-income Americans through federal nutrition programs.
A spokesman for the White House declined comment on Harkin's announcement — saying administration officials had not yet had time to properly review the agreement worked out by House and Senate negotiators.
A few days earlier, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer had said he was not optimistic Congress could pass a new farm bill in 2008 because "the House and Senate can't agree on funding, can't agree on the method of funding and can't agree on reforms."
Secretary Schafer's negative assessment seemed to be borne out when the House-Senate farm bill conference committee failed to conduct any meetings in the two or three days before Sen. Harkin's announcement.
Sources said committee members were simply too busy hammering out the details of the agreement to schedule any meetings.
Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and a key farm bill negotiator, called the agreement "the best farm bill we've ever had for North Dakota.
"It's completely paid for, without tax increases. It deserves the support of the entire Congress and certainly the support of the president."
Farm groups were also throwing their support behind the budget framework, including the National Corn Growers Association, which applauded congressional negotiators for achieving a funding agreement.
"NCGA realizes this has been a difficult process for members of Congress, and we thank them for their hard work," said NCGA President Ron Litterer of Greene, Iowa.
"As a producer, I understand that recent market conditions highlight the need for a viable revenue option - one that addresses the increasing levels of risk farmers are facing today. We strongly believe this final package needs to include such an option."


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-- It's worth noting that no exercises or diets specifically target belly fat—despite the promises of many infomercials. As Dr. Samuel Klein, professor of medicine and nutritional science at Washington University School of Medicine, explains, you can't shed any fat from your mid-section unless your entire body is losing weight.
Aerobic exercise can remove fat from your belly and elsewhere, he says, but sit ups and crunches will only build up abdominal muscles, not remove fat. Toned abs are fine, of course, but they won't do a person much good if they're covered in fat, he says.
-- However, in the future, it might be possible to trim visceral fat with the help of a pill. The drug Egrifta is already FDA approved to remove fat in people infected with HIV. (A bulging stomach is one of the side effects of anti-HIV medications.)
In February, Dr. Steven Grinspoon, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the program in nutritional metabolism at Massachusetts General Hospital, reported that the drug, which promotes human growth hormone, also seems to work on people without HIV. In a study of 60 overweight subjects, the drug reduced waist sizes by about 1 inch in six months. "That may not sound impressive, but it was all visceral fat," he says.


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By facilitating mutually beneficial community-wide partnerships, Community Central serves as a springboard from which community and University members are encouraged and empowered to work, learn, and grow together. This space, located at 117 West Main St., New Britain, CT can be utilized by classes, student clubs or individual students who wish to pursue service learning or volunteer opportunties through the Office of Community Engagement. It is the location at which many of the ideas and activities from the Office of Community Engagement are carried out.
Our goal is for every CCSU student to engage in his or her community in meaningful way by graduation time, while simultaneously making an undeniable and measurable positive impact on our community.


text: About 5 percent of children under the age of 6 have a vision problem. But if a child has never had correct eyesight, he or she won't know it."A lot of times, they don't realize they have it, and their parents don't realize they have it," said Russell Morgan, a member of the Bowling Green Evening Lions Club. Morgan helped screen children for eyesight problems Wednesday at Broadway United Methodist Church's Early Learning Center as part of the KidSight program. The Evening Lions Club brought the nationwide program to Bowling Green six years ago, and club members have tested hundreds of local children each school year for vision problems such as lazy eye, astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness and improper alignment. Last year, the Evening Lions Club raised $10,000 for a Photoscreener, which captures an image of the light reflecting off a child's eyes to identify whether he or she has eyesight problems. Before the Lions Club bought the Photoscreener, several Polaroid photos had to be taken of each child's eyes and the process took three or four volunteers, said Paul Young, KidSight chairman for the Evening Lions Club. With the Photoscreener, only one picture is necessary and the device takes it automatically when the child looks directly into the lens. Now, just two volunteers are needed at each school. "It's just so much easier," Young said. Early detection is key to correcting eyesight problems, because some conditions can lead to permanent loss of vision if not treated in time, said Ken Chapman of Bowling Green, a member of the Evening Lions Club who helped screen children along with Morgan. "If it's not caught by age 6, they will always have a problem because it can't be corrected (after that age)," Chapman said. The images taken with the Photoscreener are examined by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation in Louisville, he said. If professionals there determine a child has a vision problem, the child is referred to an ophthalmologist or optometrist. About 5 percent of children who are screened end up being identified for referral, Young said. The most common eye conditions discovered are strabismus and nearsightedness. The Evening Lions Club expects to have screened more than 700 local children by the end of this school year, Young said. In addition to checking the children, club members hope to make parents and teachers aware of the eye problems children can have, he said. "We are trying to raise awareness about the prevalence of visual problems in children," Young said. This is the fourth year the Evening Lions Club has brought KidSight to the Early Learning Center, said Tonya Simpson, director of the center. "It's huge, it's free, it's painless," she said. The service is offered to all children at the center ages 2 and up, and about 90 percent of parents choose to take advantage of it, Simpson said. "If we can alleviate any problem, that's what we like to do," she said. ©2013 the Daily News (Bowling Green, Ky.) Visit the Daily News (Bowling Green, Ky.) at www.bgdailynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services


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Novell and JBoss Expand Partnership to Accelerate the Adoption of Open Source in the Enterprise
- Combination of Products Delivers Powerful Application Platform for
J2EE and Linux Developers - Strategy of Embracing Open Source Enables Novell to Deliver More
Value to Customers SAN FRANCISCO, LinuxWorld Conference & Expo 2004, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) and JBoss, Inc. today announced a new licensing and joint support agreement whereby Novell will bundle and support the open source JBoss(R) Application Server with SUSE(R) LINUX Enterprise Server and Novell(R) exteNd(TM). The widely deployed JBoss application server is the first open source application server to achieve J2EE* 1.4 compliance, a significant milestone for JBoss and the open source and J2EE communities. Together, Novell and JBoss will deliver the powerful combination of open source, Linux* and J2EE to the enterprise.
"Service-oriented architecture has become the foundation for delivering the flexible business applications that modern businesses require," said Chris Stone, Novell vice chairman -- Office of the CEO. "Linux is quickly becoming the de facto operating system for cost-effective computing. Building and deploying J2EE applications to open source platforms like JBoss and SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server provides organizations with the dual benefits of openness and power to deliver a huge competitive advantage."
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, also announced and shipping today, is the first Novell product to include the JBoss Application Server, which provides customers with a proven application development platform for Linux. The combined solution is complemented by a robust software development kit (SDK) with a wealth of documentation, tools and examples that make Linux developers more productive. Technical support for customers will be provided by Novell, with backing from JBoss.
Martin Fink, HP vice president, Linux, said, "HP applauds the inclusion of an established, J2EE-compliant application server with SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server. This supports HP's ongoing efforts to bring Linux, J2EE and open source, in general, to the enterprise market."
The next major release of Novell exteNd, planned for late 2005, will include JBoss Application Server 4.x in place of the Novell exteNd Application Server. Novell will continue to provide support for the Novell exteNd Application Server, as well as JBoss, IBM WebSphere*, BEA WebLogic* and Jakarta Tomcat*, but will no longer provide new releases of the exteNd Application Server.
As both the JBoss and Novell application servers are J2EE compliant, migration in most cases will simply involve redeploying applications to a new server. Novell will also provide a series of white papers and technical guides to assist customers. For additional guidance, Novell Worldwide Services can help with the development and execution of a migration plan to JBoss and assist in testing.
Marc Fleury, president and CEO of JBoss, Inc., said, "As Linux moves from the workgroup to the data center, businesses will increasingly rely upon open source to power mission-critical applications. Novell is one of the pioneers in the J2EE space, and the combination of JBoss, SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server and Novell exteNd provides IT administrators with the most mature environment for delivering enterprise applications on Linux." About JBoss, Inc.
Through its Professional Open Source model, JBoss, Inc. is making open source a safe choice for the enterprise. The JBoss team of technical experts drives core development of freely distributed open source software products and stands behind them with 24x7 production support, development support, training, consulting and documentation. The company's federation of open source middleware now includes Tomcat, Hibernate, JGroups, JBossCache, Nukes on JBoss and the JBoss Application Server, the industry's fastest growing J2EE application server in use, with over five million downloads. Corporate Express, La Quinta and Nielsen Media Research, among others, rely on JBoss products for mission-critical enterprise applications. Partners who embed or bundle JBoss products and resell JBoss services include Apple, Computer Associates, HP, Novell and Unisys. JBoss has headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., and Neuchatel, Switzerland. For additional information, please visit http://www.jboss.com. About Novell
Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell Nsure(TM)), Web application development (Novell exteNd) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise(TM)), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell Ngage(SM)). Active in the open source community with its Ximian(R) and SUSE LINUX brands, Novell provides a full range of Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net -- a world without information boundaries -- helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at 888-321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com . Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom . NOTE: Novell and Ximian are registered trademarks; Nsure, exteNd and Nterprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE LINUX AG, a Novell business. JBoss is a registered trademark of JBoss, Inc. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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text:
Quick links
Additional Links
- Strategic Growth Plan
- Divisions
- Outside Agencies
- Early Education Center - The Center offers spacious rooms for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers and is open to the public.
- As part of a new freeway project
- As a part of a freeway widening project
- Under the Community Noise Abatement Program
The immediate key questions that need to be answered are:
1. Does the area qualify? If yes...
In order for the area to qualify, it must meet all of the following criteria:
- Residential property built prior to the freeway or prior to a major widening.
- Has hourly noise levels that exceed the 67-decibel (Leg) threshold
- Must be able to achieve at least a 5-decibel reduction
- Cost does not exceed $35,000 per residential unit (1987 dollars)
2. When will it be built? If not soon...
Normally, engineering and construction scheduling are not a problem. However, the availability of funds is usually the major stumbling block, which generally means waiting.
3. Where does it stand on the waiting list?
Because the demand for soundwalls has far exceeded the funding to build them, a priority waiting list has been developed. This waiting list is based on a formula, which combines noise levels, number of living units and cost effectiveness to produce a ranking.
Cost and Design Features
- Total Cost: Averages about $450 per lineal foot or $2.4 million per mile.
- Type of Wall: Usually reinforced concrete, reinforced concrete block or combination earth mound/wall.
- Footings: Trench, spread or pile footings are used as appropriate.
- Typical Height: 8 to 16 feet, depending on specific design needs.
- Aesthetic Treatment: Decorative concrete block, e.g. color split face, slumpstone, fluted is used.
- Engineering of Plans: Typically 12 months.
- Construction Project: Typically 12 months


text: Hi, I have latest ISPConfig 22.214.171.124 installed with PHP Version 5.3.2-1ubuntu4.14. PHP is protected with the Suhosin Patch 0.9.9.1, and it is running as Fast-CGI on all websites. I have some problems understanding, how to properly configure PHP, PEAR and SMTP. First, I have SOME of 50 web sites running WITHOUT below problems, but the rest are having problems I describe below. I canot fugure out, where is the catch. 1.) ERROR when sending mail using PEAR: Failed opening required 'Mail.php' (include_path='.:/usr/share/php') in /var/www/clients/client1/web11/web/index.php The PHP script is exact copy of working script from another domain on the same server, but it does not work. PATH /usr/share/php is correct, permissions are 644 on all files. Any idea? 2.) SMTP proxy I have a special SMTP Antispam and antivirus proxy server, setup only for my web servers to send mail through it. On my Windows servers I have PHP.INI configured: Code: [mail functions] SMTP = 18.104.22.168 smtp_port = 587 And it works fine. But not on this Linux server - from mail.info log, that server is trying to contact destination SMTP directly. I have edited PHP.INI in both locations: /etc/php5/cgi/php.ini /etc/php5/apache2/php.ini Weird is, that when I print phpinfo(), I see only user-specific PHP is loaded: Configuration File (php.ini) Path /etc/php5/cgi Loaded Configuration File /var/www/conf/web11/php.ini Any idea what I am doing wrong?


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Welcome to the fifth edition of Editor's Pick Of The Week. This week Abhishek Baxi talks about the very popular note-taking application, Evernote, that he uses everyday – on phone, on PC, and on a tablet.
The leading text would irk the folks at Evernote since they insist to call it a memory tool than a note-taking application to broaden the horizon. Last year when I interviewed Phil Libin, the CEO of Evernote, he mentioned that their competition is pen-and-paper, not other note-taking apps or utilities. Evernote allows you to save your ideas, things you like, things you hear, and things you see.
Evernote allows you to create text notes as well as add voice memos, snapshots, files and web clips. All the notes you create are synced across all devices that you own as well as to the cloud. You can also sync individual notebooks (container of these notes) with your friends or colleagues to collaborate. You can of course email a note or post it to your social network. The powerful search feature allows you to search within your notes by keyword, tag or even printed and handwritten text inside images.
I use Evernote for diverse scenarios. Sometimes, I plan and my trips by keeping all the itineraries, confirmations, and plans in Evernote. My fascination for Evernote had me using it to plan my wedding ceremonies and manage the guests, which became a case study for a feature on Evernote in a business magazine.
Apart from the user experience and the feature-set of Evernote apps, there are a couple of reasons for which I'm a big fan of Evernote. Evernote is available on all devices, and the company strives to make it available on every platform that comes about. As an early adopter of Windows Phone last year I was glad when it arrived on Windows Phone Marketplace in a great avatar. Similarly, the app is already available on Windows Store with the new Windows design style. Also, there is a huge app ecosystem integrating with Evernote. There are several apps and services that allow you file the output as a note in Evernote. I use Evernote in conjunction with several apps on my phone to manage my to-dos, scan documents, file payment receipts, record meeting minutes, et al.
There is a cheeky sticker on my laptop lid. It says – "I'm not being rude. I'm taking notes in Evernote." :)


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Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi, Sevendust offer fans VIP experiences
Rewind a decade or two, and the opportunity for a fan to meet their favorite musician or artist seemed to be but a passing daydream pondered while reading an album's liner notes.
The dream was further romanticized by reading music magazines, listening to the radio or watching MTV, all while waiting for that special summer concert date at the local amphitheater. But in order to actually meet their musical idol, one would likely have to resort to either tomfoolery or rely on happenstance — waiting at baggage claim at the local airport, sneaking in the windows of hotel rooms, hanging out next to the band tour bus, or asking the cousin of a friend of the sound engineer to go backstage.
In recent years, such opportunities have become a reality with everyone from Lady Gaga to Clay Walker offering their fans officially sanctioned VIP experiences. But they come with a price. Ranging anywhere from $50 to more than $1,000, these packages are not only attractive to fans but are helping musicians increase their revenue in an era of dwindling album sales.
What's included? Lady Gaga's $400 package on her 2009 tour included a premium reserved seat within the first two rows, a meet and greet with photo opportunity, and a limited-edition deluxe CD. Sheryl Crow's VIP experience comes with front-row concert tickets, merchandise and a photo for $335. The Shakira meet-and-greet experience includes one premium ticket in the first five rows, a chance to meet the Latin songstress and take a group photograph. Bon Jovi's current VIP experience runs a lofty $1,750 and includes a front-row seat, a photo op with Jon Bon Jovi's mic stand and maracas, and maybe the chance to press flesh with Mr. Bon Jovi himself.
When Joe Satriani's manager Mick Brigden approached the guitarist about the concept of a meet and greet, he could not fathom why anyone would "want to spend an hour with me before a show." But they developed a concept of a pre-paid ticket package for up to 60 people involving an intimate question-and-answer session, merchandise and autograph session.
Encouraged by the initial positive reaction, they continued offering them during Satriani's solo tours. "People get to walk in and hang around and pick up the instruments and take pictures," explains Satriani. "As long as they don't squeeze my left hand I'm okay."
"We really want to have the chance to meet fans, which we would do regardless, but putting these packages together is a way to support your band for the loss that you incur on the album sales," says Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery of their VIP offering. "It's a good way to encourage people to buy the CD, and then we actually get to thank them for buying it."
Sevendust charged approximately $50 in the past for a package including "sticks, tixs, [photos], and maybe a shirt. It was a pretty hefty package."
Indie artists are also benefitting from the concept, enabling them to establish a stronger connection with their fan base. When underground Goth artist Emilie Autumn did her first U.S. tour last year, she offered a $50 VIP package that included her poetry book The Asylum For Wayward Victorian Girls, the chance to see her read from it and the opportunity to meet her and take photos.
"Everyone talks about how MySpace and Facebook bring fans a lot closer to artists because it gets rid of that buffer between them," says Autumn's publicist Rey Roldan. "This [experience] brings them even closer because now they have the face time. Granted they have to pay for it, but it still has that same effect."
What could possibly be better than meeting your favorite artist? How about the opportunity to actually jam with them?
That's where Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp comes in. Founded in 1997 by former sports agent David Fishof, who also reunited the Monkees in 1986 and produced and co-created Ringo Starr's All Starr Band tours, the popular event has been held in New York and Los Angeles. Currently running in London through May 30, attendees spend anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 for the five-day "rock 'n' roll boot camp," which includes master classes, a professional recording session, jamming with famous rock musicians, and the chance to perform at a name venue.
For singer/actress Lisa Margaroli, her L.A. experience last year was a "Sunset Strip dream" that included recording at Capitol Records with legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer, singing with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and performing at the Whiskey A Go-Go.
Margaroli found the experience to be worth the money.
"[I] decided to change my whole life and move to L.A.," she says. "I took six months to save money, then moved out here to try to live the rock and roll dream.
"I ended up getting involved with rock camp as an employee [part-time], so for the last two rock camps I was one of the band managers, which is basically an assistant for four of the bands. As a result, I now have relationships with the counselors."
Fishof asserts that Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp is as beneficial to the stars as the people they are mentoring. Past participants range from Tyler to the Who's Roger Daltrey, Kiss' Paul Stanley, Journey's Neal Schon, Slash, and Pink Floyd's Nick Mason.
"They've been able to meet a whole new breed of people, people who don't hang out at concerts or backstage," Fishof says. "They've been able to meet people who are presidents of companies and Iraqi war veterans. They have been able to jam with a woman who survived breast cancer. All of these people have great stories."
Given the potential financial gains for artists and positive fan experiences, it would seem that VIP experiences are likely here to stay. Gary Bongiovanni, editor-in-chief of Pollstar, draws a parallel between VIP ticket packages and the boom of concert T-shirts in the '70s and '80s. "Three decades ago, they were introduced as a new way to make money off of touring and still, for a lot of artists today, they make as much in merchandise as they do in ticket sales. So, VIP packages are an excellent way for a band to make additional cash."
And the fans? They walk away with the memory of a lifetime.
(Bryan Reesman is a New York-based freelance writer.)


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Back in February, the thought of wide receiver Ramses Barden remaining with the New York Giants appeared to be a long-shot. Barden, a third-round pick of the Giants in 2009, was vocal about his desire to find a different opportunity after four years in New York and still struggling to find a role.
However, the open market appears to have not been as kind to Barden as he may have hoped.
According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, Barden is scheduled to undergo a physical with the Giants on Thursday. If all goes the plan, he could re-sign with the team by the end of the day.
Barden said "it's probably best for me to start looking other places" during an interview with Sirius XM Radio in late-February. After limited interest, discussions with the Giants picked up again within the last week, per Vacchiano. Barden has struggled to find playing time with the Giants. He's managed to catch just 29 passes for 394 yards in four seasons with the team.


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California Department of Transportation
Date: December 7, 2012
District: 6 - Fresno
Contact: Jose Camarena
Phone: (559) 488-4067
FRESNO - The California Transportation Commission today allocated $306 million to 44 projects that will help ease traffic congestion, improve safety, and support economic growth.
"From one end of the state to the other, transportation projects are providing jobs and improving roads, bridges, and transit for people and businesses in California," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.
The allocations include $114 million from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. In total, $14.7 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been distributed statewide.
The remaining $192 million in allocations came from assorted transportation accounts funded by state and federal dollars.
Among the projects that received funding today were:
- An allocation of more than $1.4 million towards the construction phase of the Avenue 12 Interchange project on State Route 99 in Madera County
Please see the attached file for information about all projects that received allocations
# # # #


text: Oakley was created for world-class athletes, those who see the limits of possibility as just another challenge. Our designs bridge the gap between style and performance because our athletes wouldn't have it any other way. From the mountain to the ocean, Oakley offers innovation that raises the bar of performance.


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B.Tech Electronics & Communication Engineering
- B.Tech Electronics & Communication Engineering
About the Programme
Electronics and Communication Engineering at HITS has a long standing tradition of excellence. The programme provides a sound foundation for people wishing to pursue a career in electrical engineering, communications, control systems, robotics or sensor systems through a diverse range of theoretical skills and practical experience, presented in the context of real applications and design experience.
Electronic systems have made deep inroads into every aspect of daily life. One need only look around homes, offices & industrial plants to see that they feature almost everywhere.
Indeed, it is practically impossible to name any appliances, tools or instruments that do not contain electronic components. In order to compete with rival companies or just remain a step ahead of them, the designers of technical systems & innovative products must be fully aware of both the usage & the limitations of electronic components & systems.
Users of electronic systems also need to have a basic knowledge of electronic principles. In order to fully exploit an instrumentations potential, to be aware of its limitations, to correctly interpret the measurement results & to be able to arrive at well-balanced, decisions relating to the purchasing, repairing, expansion or replacement of electronic equipment, all users of such systems need to have a basic knowledge of electronic principles.
Instrumentation is the heart of any industry and sophisticated process control and guidance techniques are essential in modern days.
This program enriches students with theoretical and practical skills that are required in different spheres of instrumentation and control industries. It enables students to pursue a career in the measurement and control of complex industrial & electrical process. Modules of this program train the student to plan, design, install, operate, control and maintain complex systems that produce materials.
To offer holistic education in diverse spheres of Electronics and Communication Engineeringto transform students as job aspirants and entrepreneurs.
The Mechanical Engineering program continuously strives,
- To impart knowledge to transform students into professional engineers.
- To develop their interdisciplinary skills as per the need of the society.
- To inculcate Entrepreneurship skills among the students.
Collaboration with Industries
Solo Automations: VLSI Design & Microcontroller based drives
Inspirerz: Helping the students to secure final year projects in leading industries, organization workshop on personality development.
NCCT: System design using embedded designs and simulation using software.
Q-flex Cables Pvt. Ltd.: Special techniques of testing, HV and EHV cables and conductors.
VI Microsystems: Simulation using software & system design using VLSI designs.
Duration : 4 Years


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"What needs to stop is the boy's club, in which women are only featured as sex objects. Forget being offended by it; I'm just sick of it -- if I want titillation, I'll go to porn or, you know, an actual woman. Maybe I'll read Esquire, where they at least pretend to respect an actress's work before showing off her calves. See, it's not just that gaming journalism is obsessed with sexy women, it's that the obsession takes such an awkward form. The practice is found all over the industry. Some examples:Anyone who's spent five minutes at Kotaku knows it hardly "goes out of its way to stop boy's-club coverage". In reality, it's one of the most popular and unapologetic offenders, down to the very commenters themselves. Shame on Nick Douglas for just taking that claim from Brian at face value, instead of actually fact-checking to see if it was true.
The industry is addicted. Like a GOP presidential candidate, they're too afraid of losing the base to appeal to normal people with reasonable options. No wonder they're losing attention to mainstream coverage (who says GQ can't review video games?) and sites like Penny Arcade, a biting comic and review site in which a pre-teen girl -- the niece of one of the authors -- is the maturest, most capable gamer. Gawker Media's gaming site Kotaku, says editor Brian Crecente, goes out of its way to stop boy's-club coverage. Both sites have enjoyed years of rising traffic."
- Porn Stars Love Video Games! Popular site GameDaily interviews porn stars about whether their boyfriends can play video games, and which game characters they'd like to get with. In the interest of service journalism, each micro-interview is smaller than the photo of the porn star above it. (No male stars, natch, but then again who ever wanted to hear something from the mouth of a male porn actor?) GameDaily also wants you to read "Babe of the Week" and "The Most Outrageous Boobs in Gaming."
- Strip Halo 3: Porn stars get naked on video while playing a shoot-em-up with ugly guys.
- Shooting Range: Industry leader Electronic Gaming Monthly sent a team of girl gamers to a shooting range to test their real-life skills. Am I picky for being annoyed that they were chosen for hotness?
- Digital Lust: Now folded, Gamestar Magazine was an unapologetic tits-and-games mag. These "behind the scenes" photos from a holiday gift guide shoot looked so much like the start of a soft porn gallery, I felt surprised when I scrolled to the bottom and saw the model still had some lingerie on.
- Gaming's kinkiest costumes: "Got a fantasy? Chances are there's a game to match," promises this gallery from Games Radar. The copy is full of "then go talk to a real girl" asides, which only make it sadder that the site is so desperately reaching for the never-touched-a-girl audience.
Feb 6, 2008
[Kotaku vs. the Boy's Club?! LOL]
From an otherwise halfway decent article on gaming journalism's need to grow up, in which, Brian Crescente shows that he's either completely in denial, or confused as to what the term 'sexist' even means:
1 comment:
- Pai said...
Kotaku's latest blow against the 'Boy's Club' atmosphere is available here.
Way to go, Brian! Keep up the good fight! =P
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I'm not an old gamer. Raised in the 90's in a lower middle class family, gaming consoles weren't of the highest priority to my parents. I would sometimes head to my neighbors house and play on their Nintendo 64 or their Xbox (you know, after the 90's of course), but I could never save my games or play them alone at night, mere inches away from a fuzzy television screen. I had gameboys, though. They were cheap and the games were, too. I remember the first game I ever owned being Pokémon Yellow with the limited edition Pokémon themed Gameboy Color. Other fantastic Gameboy Color games like The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons came into my possession over the years of Christmases and birthdays. It was because of this that I harbor a deep love for RPG and Adventure games, as well as handheld games. After finally getting an Xbox 360 as my first gaming console back in what I believe to be 2007, I continued to buy games that featured grand stories and elements of exploration and wonder; Mass Effect, Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls IV and V. Not exactly a list of favorites for the retro-aligned gamer that chooses to put Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64 as their favorites, but they always brought me back to my days of foraging through the Safari Zone to catch a Kanghaskhan and crawling through dungeons to slay the bastard at the end, drinking in his defeat as well as increasing my heart count.
That longing for my limited gaming nostalgia, rife with adventure and cartoony fun, is what led me to discover the fantastic cartoon Adventure Time, created by Pendleton Ward for Frederator Studios, featured on Cartoon Network. A friend of mine showed it to me. I had heard of the show before and even watched a few disturbing Youtube Poops involving it. It seemed too strange and a bit stupid for my tastes at the time, and I was currently disenfranchised with the likes of Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon for featuring third-rate live-action shows constantly.
But, oh man, when I sat down and watched that episode of Adventure Time (the episode was "The Enchiridion" for those of you who were wondering), my god damned jaw dropped. It was the greatest cartoon I had ever watched. The flood of euphoria from the show's nostalgia-scented universe, one that makes me want to be a kid again as well as features a post-apocalyptic Earth (a clever metaphor for nostalgia if you think about it correctly), is what kept me hooked on the show.
So, when I heard that Wayforward Technologies and Pendleton Ward were teaming up to develop an Adventure Time game for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, I felt ambivalence. For one, I was stoked that such a thing was being developed, but at the same time I didn't own one of those magical devices called a DS or a 3DS.
I then did what any sane human being would do in that situation. I dropped the $200+ dollars necessary to purchase the 3DS ("midnight purple" because fuck yeah) and Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd you steal our garbage?!! all in one fell swoop. Thankfully I had $200 in store credit at best buy. After playing it, I can definitely say that it reminded me of the classic games that I dumped hundreds of hours into, day and night, playing over and over ad nauseam.
Adventure Time: Hey, Ice King! Why'd you steal our garbage?!!
Wayforward Technologies
Nintendo DS & Nintendo 3DS
Adventure Time: HIKWYSOG is not a particularly long game. During your first run you'll most likely clock in at around six hours or so. I remember checking in on the progress meter at one time during my play and being shocked to discover that I had completed 61% of the game already. To call a short game a bad game, though, is to call games like Portal (a three-hour game itself) cheap and shoddy. It ends when it's supposed to and I felt satisfied with what I got by the game's conclusion, enough to go for seconds.
AT: HIKWYSOG's story is vibrant with the atmosphere and humor of Adventure Time.The Ice King has stolen Finn and Jake's garbage in the middle of the night and the duo are now on a quest to get their trash back. It's not revenge or anger driven by any stretch; the guys just want their stuff back from the loony ice-themed wizard. It turns out that the Ice King stole the garbage in order to try and build himself a princess to marry, which is both hilarious in its delivery and sad when you get to thinking about just how crazy and lonely one man has to be to do such a thing. They track him across Ooo, helping other character with their problems before they confront their wily arch-nemesis.
The dialogue is simply fantastic; it's goofy and chocked full of made-up words, as is the show. Although it's not fully voiced, with snippets of the show's audible dialogue playing when a character shouts a known line or catchphrase, the writing really captures each character's personality. Finn acts manic and excitable, Jake is relaxed and lazy, the Ice King is tragically insane, and Lumpy Space Princess, my personal favorite, is narcissistic and rude in a valley girl sort of way.
The gameplay resembles what slightly older gamers have come to know as Zelda II. There's an overworld in which you walk (overhead camera. Think Pokémon) from destination to destination across the Land of Ooo. Along the way, you'll come across monster encounters,black ghost-shaped sprites that wander around the overworld. Touching these monster encounters, as well as any village, staircase, or forest icons on the overworld, enters you into a flat, side-scrolling perspective. In this mode you're able to fight monsters and talk to NPCs.
Fighting handles with Finn making quick, short-ranged strikes and Jake throwing slower, longer ranged punches. There are a variety of other attacks that Jake can learn by finding them within chests inside of dungeons that are also useful in overcoming obstacles. Being a talking dog that can shape shift his body like Mr. Fantastic, Jake can learn to smash a giant fist on the ground, crushing enemies as well as destroying rock barriers. He can also turn into an umbrella when Finn's in the air, elongating the distance he jumps while slowing his descent. Eventually, Jake can also learn (well, I say learn, but it's more about him being inspired to become less lazy) to form himself into a wheel with Finn inside and glide across bodies of water, ramming into any enemy unfortunate enough to be in their path. The downside is that since defeating enemies offers no rewards besides the occasional item drop, you may prefer to just jump over your foes and make your way to the next area without conflict, effectively taking some of the challenge out of the game.
When it comes to boss battles, most of them can be quite easy if not entertaining. Bears with chainsaws tied to their backs, a hundred penguins (Gunter!), and vampire half-demon Marceline herself make appearances as bosses. They all have very predictable patterns (except the Gunters, who waddle and slide around randomly) and can be defeated with enough patience and timing, but when it comes to the last two boss fights at the end the difficulty ramps up as you have to spend your time equally between dodging projectiles and double tapping your healing items on the touch screen. Speaking of that, this game definitely loses points for making it difficult for me to choose my items in the heat of battle. Having to stretch my thumb precisely over which item I want to use and then needing to double tap it can be highly frustrating sometimes.
In the overworld, Jake can also employ his body shaping abilities to cross bridge gaps and lakes as well as crush barriers and rise to mountaintops. These are restricted until one of the NPCs convinces Jake to stop being lazy, which acts as a way for the game to restrict access to areas until you complete certain objectives.
Any game worth its salt these days includes a way to level up your character. It's not an RPG mechanic, though, because you can easily level up all your attributes in a single playthrough. Leveling up your Hearts and Attack stats, two of the three attributes Finn possesses, will lend you more hardiness in combat, while leveling up Speed gets Finn and Jake to their destinations a lot quicker. If I had to give a piece of advice, though, I'd say to stick with leveling up Hearts and Attack all the way before you even think of dropping anything into Speed.
Another interesting mechanic is the item-combining system. When you kill an enemy, they sometimes drop items that you can pick up and store in BMO's STUFF inventory. These items come in three flavors: Buff, Food, and Condiment.
Buffs are items, usually references to the show (Billy Sword, Businessman Briefcase, etc.), that can give Finn special abilities or enhance his own. Food heals Finn with varying degrees of potency. Condiments, though, really mix a few things up. Items like Ketchup, Sea Salt, Bug Milk, and Jam can be dragged and dropped on top of food in order to either increase their healing properties or give Finn different abilities while healing him. I discovered that adding salt onto a milkshake will let Finn shoot Ice Shurikens, another reference to the show. A big problem, though, is that you could possibly play the entire game without ever knowing you could combine condiments and food. A single, small and irrelevant text bubble will mention this aspect of the game and it's hard to miss if you don't talk to the right character.
As for the music, I am completely in love with this game's theme song. If you took the original ukelele-driven theme song of the show, sprinkled extra awesome on top of it, mixed in some chiptunes, and topped it with some god damned rock and roll, you'll have the awesomeness that is this theme song. I'll frequently find myself leaving my 3DS open in my guardshack at my day job blasting the main menu for my personal enjoyment (unfortunately, I work alone. I can't share it with anyone!). The rest of the music is entirely chiptuned and thoroughly enjoyable. Each environment has it's own special melody that speaks to the atmosphere. The music is simply a masterpiece.
This game features a rather boastful amount of talent for it's art and animation department. Paul Robertson, Joakim Sandberg, and Shiho Tsutsuji joined their incredible forces to create an overall beautiful and fluid design. Animations are smooth and quick, owing their polish to Paul Robertson. It's a very colorful game and simply enjoyable to just look at. Everything really feels like an episode of Adventure Time.
Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd you steal our garbage?!! Is a great game for those of us who want to reminisce back on the glory days of handheld gaming as well as a fantastic entry for younger gamers. It has a few flaws here and there, mainly in its length and lack of difficulty, but none of them are a deal breaker in the least bit. Adventure, exploration, and humor are a trademark of both the show and this game. I'd definitely recommend playing it, even if it means you have to buy and entirely new Nintendo 3DS.


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Memorial Magic, Again!Posted by rtmsf on February 27th, 2008
Well, if you didn't see last night's Vandy win 72-69 over newly-minted #1 Tennessee coming, then you probably didn't know that #1 teams simply don't make it out of the strange and unusual venue known as Memorial Gymnasium alive. Vandy is now 6-3 all-time against #1 teams in the gym, and have won the last four, including an equally impressive 83-70 win last year over then #1 and defending national champion Florida.
Another #1 Goes Down at Vandy
But for some reason, last night's win just seemed more impressive. Maybe it was because Vandy fans clutch a particular ire for their neighbors in puke orange. Maybe it was because we had just witnessed the Vols do likewise to #1 Memphis three nights earlier. Or maybe it was simply that we got wrapped up in the Memorial Magic like so many teams before, as the arena rocked and rolled for most of the night (no country for old men in Nashville last night). In any case, it was yet another impressive victory for Vandy at home, and one sure to propel them into the national top ten. Shan Foster made his case for SEC POY over rival Chris Lofton (25 pts on 7-18 shooting) by dropping 32 huge points on 9-13 shooting.
Why RTC When You Always Beat #1?
As for Tennessee, to come out of these two close road tests 1-1 is probably considered a victory for Bruce Pearl. The Vols have been more impressive than its teams of recent vintage in the sense that they are less perimeter-happy than they once were, thanks to Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism inside. Still, their toughness with the bullseye directly on their backs leaves questions for national prospects in March. As an underdog, Pearl's teams excel – it's only when great things are expected (see: Sweet 16 second half game against Ohio St. last year) do the Vols tend to become gunshy. This is worth keeping an eye on during the next few weeks, as Pearl will likely use this as motivation for the Vols to keep their underdog status.
Thing is, Florida used to be the same way, and we saw what happened with the Gators the last two seasons.
Final thought. Tennessee essentially held its first #1 ranking ever for about 28 hrs before losing it, which is one of the quickest reigns you'll ever see. We remember a newly-minted #1 Florida getting run out of the gym at Kentucky in 2003 after a similar amount of time; and first-time #1 Wake Forest likewise getting destroyed at Illinois in 2004 after a day at the helm. Maybe there's something to the idea of uneasy is the head that carries the crown, eh? '
Photo Credits: Sammy8146 at Flickr.com


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10.21.09: What a glorious feeling (if done right).
When I first started running, I did it all on the treadmill. In my basement gym, I learned to love the pounding of my feet on the padded surface, the loud music piped in through the gym's loudspeaker (for days when I forgot my iPod) and only the mirror and the image of myself slogging out the miles to entertain me.
In the gym, the weather is always the same—60 degrees and slightly humid with a light smell of BO (at least in my cheap-o gym anyway). For about a year, I never faced the elements, never ran up a hill that was not approximated by using the treadmill's incline and never exposed my shoes to harsher elements than whatever the world could throw me during the ¼ mile walk from my front door to the gym entrance.
But then I took to the pavement and it was a whole new world.
I looked forward to the summer with added gusto because more daylight and better temperatures meant I could run any time during the day. I dreaded snow on days when I had long runs scheduled. I learned to love the rain and to embrace a good soaking wet run. I bought Yak Trax and slogged miles through several blizzards, the ice pellets stinging my skin and snow packed in my hair.
Sure, three feet of snow would slow me down, but it never stopped me. But somehow during my marathon training, I lost sight of these facts. Maybe I was spoiled because it was summertime and most of my training was in nice weather. My only training runs in the rain were my final 8-miler a week before the race and the 2 mile jog I did the day before. Or maybe I was already so scared of 26.2 miles, that rain seemed almost too much to bear.
Regardless of the reason, I spent the last couple weeks before the big day obsessively watching the Weather Channel, weather.com and whatever 10-day forecasts I could find that would tell me what Oct. 4 might bring in terms of weather. And for the last few days, the predictions were all the same: rain.
I have always found running in the rain to be cleansing, a baptism of sorts. There is a level of surrender that comes to offering oneself to the elements, listening to pounding music and stomping in puddles one normally avoids. I have come home so wet I have literally had to wring my clothing into the bathtub. But I never minded. Somehow this was different. Somehow 26.2 miles—and the chafing and the blisters and the bone chilling wetness—would be the death of me.
And so I researched. I ran my last two rain-filled runs in the Nike Distance Storm Fit Jacket, which is unlined and practically weightless and was great as an outer layer in the cooler weather, but tended to be a bit hot in warmer weather. In addition, I rotated three Storm-fit hats, which are absolutely a must for running in wet weather. They kept the rain out of my eyes, but did not retain the water that my cotton Red Sox hat would have.
Other rain must-haves included:
Body glide A lubricating stick that helps reduce chafing. I applied this liberally.
Throwaway poncho Two miles (and many degrees of warmth) into the race, this 99-cent poncho can be chucked, unlike a $200 rain jacket.
Wright Double Layer Anti-Blister Socks I cannot say enough good things about these socks. They helped keep my feet (semi) dry on runs where the rest of me was thoroughly soaked. If possible, it would be nice to have a second pair to change into around the 20-mile mark.
A second pair of shoes One of the little known facts about running shoes is that they have to be replaced every 250-300 miles. I went through two pairs in my training for this past marathon. And there is no quicker way to destroy a new pair than to run in them. It takes at least 24 hours for shoes to regain their shock absorbency after being soaked. So keep one old pair in rotation for the crap weather. Believe me, you will thank me.
In the end, my marathon day dawned overcast, but dry. Perfect, in fact. I lucked out.
This past weekend a few of my friends had to run their marathons in a good old-fashioned Nor-Easter, replete with ripping winds, driving rain and yes, even snow at times (got to love fall in New England). Although I said a little prayer of gratitude that my own race had worked out as well as it had, I was also pleased to see that Mother Nature's insane unpredictability had little bearing on their outcomes. They all took it in stride and ended their days with cozy sweatpants, hot toddies and the same feeling of accomplishment all we marathoners have.
Sasha Brown-Worsham is a writer, a mother and an unabashed, unashamed runaholic. Check her progress each week as she trains to qualify for the Boston Marathon.


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The long arm of the Google
Is Google becoming a key arm of the law-enforcement complex? It certainly seems to be so with respect to art thefts. I first came across this idea back in November, when Bloomberg Markets profiled Jeff Gundlach, who was hit by art thieves in September:
The cerebral Gundlach also gave investigators a tip for solving the crime. He says that while he was at home in his family room, it dawned on him that thieves would do a Google search using his grandmother's name to find out more about the paintings and how much they might be worth.
Gundlach told the authorities that they should check the Internet to see who might have googled the name Helen Fuchs. He says exactly two such searches were executed: one by him and one by the thieves.
Now, another man has been arrested for art theft, and was found in much the same way:
In their investigation into the art theft, [officials] found that Mr. Istavrioglou had searched the Internet for reports about the robbery after it took place but before the story became news.
Law enforcement officials, it seems, have pretty easy and routine access to Google's search-history database, and this is surely only the beginning when it comes to sifting through huge amounts of data to find evidence of crimes. The SEC, for one, has had a large data-mining team in place for a good five years now, going through enormous quantities of data to look for signs of suspicious activity.
Even journalists are getting in on the act of using data to uncover criminal activity. The Sun Sentinel, in Florida, managed to obtain a year's worth of SunPass toll records for cop cars. That meant that they had data on the amount of time it took cops to drive from one toll plaza to the next. All they needed to do then was measure those distances, divide the distances by the time taken to drive that length of road, and come up with an average speed, for cops who were often just commuting to or from their houses, out of their jurisdiction. The result? The Sun Sentinel found "almost 800 cops from a dozen agencies driving 90 to 130 mph on our highways" — in a state where speeding cops have caused at least 320 crashes and 19 deaths since 2004.
Part of the reason why it has taken so long to bring Libor prosecutions is that going through millions of email and IM records, looking for smoking guns, is still a laborious and time-consuming process. But as data mining techniques continue to evolve, and as databases become increasingly unified and tractable, and our lives are lived almost entirely online, it's going to be harder and harder for criminals not to leave a discoverable data trail — especially opportunistic criminals, who break the law when they're given a chance, as opposed to more considered criminals, who spend a lot of time plotting a crime before committing it.
It stands to reason, given advances in computer power and given the size of the networks that we all involve ourselves in every day, that the kind of data crunching that used to be solely the domain of places like the NSA and GCHQ is now going to be available to local police forces and even ordinary citizens, including journalists. The privacy implications are profound, of course: millions of innocent people are going to have their personal data combed on a real-time basis, every day. But that seems to be inevitable, insofar as it isn't already a reality.


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Carl Lehmann
Bingo Beagle
Sunnyside Up
I don't want to sound ungrateful. However even the best life gets boring. I don't think to many homeless dogs make out better than I did when Carl brought me home to meet The Beloved. Both of them smothered me with love, care, good food and adventures.
Of course, a new house, a comfortable bed, a new backyard with woods in then rear all made just looking out of the window an adventure. That was especially true when I saw my very first real live rabbit. Walking on the leash was new so it was an adventure, too. I imagined seeing a rabbit and jerking my leash loose to go hunting. That didn't happen, but a couple of times I scooted out of the house when someone left the front or garage door open.
Carl had to chase me through the woods and he didn't like it. When he caught up with me I knew I was in trouble. What made me mad was that the only reason he caught me was that I stopped at a small stream not knowing how to cross. I had never seen a stream and thought it might be dangerous. While I thought about what to do, he grabbed me, and carried me back to the house.
As punishment I was confined to my crate which Carl had dubbed "juvie-hall." Again I had no idea what it meant, except that I would be confined in a small space and could not run around the house. I bugled as loud as I could but there was no reprieve. It seemed I spent an entire day in juvie-hall. Anyway I learned that any prohibited adventure would have to be big and important to make it worth be sentenced to the crate.
When Carl became ill I had great adventures with Skip and neighbor Ray. I even got to visit Carl in rehab and people loved seeing me there. I think I made sick people feel better. I know Carl really perked up during my visits.
However since Carl came home my world is boring. There have been no special adventures and I don't want to create one because I might end up in juvie-hall again.
Bingo is ungrateful. Isn't he? Yes, I enjoyed his visits to rehab. His time in juvie-hall was exactly 10 minutes, not a whole day. The Beloved felt sorry for him and he was pardoned. I must say Bingo sure has learned a lot during these past few months. He still chews on many things he is not supposed to, like the two TV remotes, at $13 each. We had bought a book about beagles. Bingo "read" it as soon as he could get his paws on it. After that it was virtually useless. The cover was ripped and pages torn out.
Bingo doesn't race out the door any longer as soon as it is opened. He learned to ride in the golf cart by sitting quietly between myself and The Beloved.
With so many different things to learn keeping him busy his life may indeed now be a little boring, although he goes to the dog park almost every day. There he makes his own adventures chasing friends or squirrels and just racing around.


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Thursday, 15 November 2018
In this video we can see that Shankar BC threaten the Journalist . Shankar BC is an award-winning tap dancer and choreographer of Nepali Music and film industries.Shankar BC (born 1979) is a Nepali Dance director, instructor, actress and choreographer. Shankar BC is best known for His choreographic work in numerous Nepali music videos. Shankar BC has choreographed dance routines for more than a sixteen hundred songs in nepali music.
Guide of the month: January 2018
Traveling gives us the opportunity to disconnect from our regular life. You get to forget your problems/issues for a few weeks, it can also help you figure things out that you would not have understood without the distance traveling can give you. We all have crazy schedules, work and a family to take care of, going away alone or with some friends can give you distance and perhaps even make you realize how important these people are for you. Like the saying says: we never know what we have until we lose it.
Another great benefit is the relaxation you get to do. It's nice to live life to its fullest and enjoy a stress free time with yourself. Going on vacation lets us recharge our "batteries" by disconnecting us from our regular life. When we come back we feel invigorated and we are happy to be back in our day to day routine. It's a very good stress remover that has a lot more to give than most people are willing to accept.
Traveling increases our knowledge and widens our perspective. To view new customs, different ways of living is fantastic for the mind. It gives us a new perspective about life and especially our life, it can help us change some of our habits or even create new ones. When I travel I usually make it a point to try new food, some cultures don't have fries in their diet and they are all skinny, others use spices to give taste and not oils or fats. Discovering different values and ways to get by in life is really interesting. You also need to visit exotic new places and discover what this wonderful world has to offer.


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When Phillip Mickles left South Middle School to become the A.R. Rucker Middle principal, he knew he was moving to a good situation in education, which included a top-notch media specialist.
How good?
Now she's the best in the state.
A.R. Rucker media specialist Leigh Jordan was recently named Media Specialist of the Year by the S.C. Association of School Librarians.
"She is the best," Mickles said. "Our media center is the hub of the school and she is a major reason our school is so successful."
There's plenty of reason for an upbeat attitude at the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office these days. The sheriff's office recently received its accreditation.
The achievement earned Lancaster County the distinction of being the 44th state law enforcement agency of 290 statewide to earn its accreditation and the only the 11th state sheriff's office to reach the elite status.
The accreditation means the sheriff's office is a more professional agency, increasing officer morale and providing better service for county residents.
When your children improve their grades on their report card, you praise them. You may even reward them. Likewise, when our schools and school district improve their grades on their report cards, they deserve our praise.
Lancaster County School District and its four high schools recently received their report cards from the state. Three of the high schools and the district overall showed improvement in both of the state's ratings. Six of the district's elementary and middle schools also showed improvement in their ratings, which were announced in November.
There was a story about the unemployment rate in Lancaster County dropping from 15.6 percent in December 2010 to 14.6 percent in January in the March 20 edition of The Lancaster News.
Statistically, that appears to be good news – that our county's jobless rate dropped 1 percent. But those statistics mean nothing to those who've lost their jobs, exhausted their unemployment benefits and drained their 401k and bank accounts.
A fixture in Lancaster County government is now in a well-deserved retirement.
Irene Plyler, Lancaster County Council's first clerk, has retired after 33 years at the job assisting council and the county administrator.
Plyler recently was honored with a retirement party which drew family, friends and co-workers.
Plyler, during her time as council's clerk, served under three different administrators, including Carroll Huffman, Chap Hurst and Steve Willis.
Indian Land Middle School has character and it has the awards to prove it.
IL Middle School was recently selected as a S.C. School of Character for the second consecutive year.
The School of Character designation is presented by the S.C. Department of Education for outstanding school climate and academic performance.
The school's latest award is special in that Indian Land Middle was the only state school to earn the prestigious honor.
The School of Character designation is good for three years before the school must reapply.
The Lancaster County TEA Party is one of four recipients of the 2010 Ronald Reagan Award, which is given at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
The TEA Party is an American populist political movement, generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, that has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009.
Five Lancaster County schools have earned recognition as recipients of the Palmetto and Silver awards for academic excellence.
The quality quintet includes the Discovery Charter School of Lancaster, which won the Gold Award for general performance.
The Silver award winners for general performance are McDonald Green Elementary and A.R. Rucker Middle schools, along with Indian Land Elementary and Middle schools.
McDonald Green Elementary also garnered a second Silver Award for its success in closing the achievement gap.
The Lancaster County chapter of Habitat for Humanity's goal for 2011 is to build a home for a local family.
That task became easier with the donation of a Penny Street home in the area of Springs Memorial Hospital. The welcomed donation was made by Wells Fargo.
The brick home was given through Wells Fargo's Real Estate Owned (REO) Property Donation program.
Those who make a difference in Lancaster County drew the bulk of the spotlight during the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce's 55th annual meeting at the Lancaster Golf Club's Fairway Room.
The Volunteer of the Year was presented to Dream Team Foundation founders Diana Knight and Julie Barton.
Knight and Barton were surprised to receive the coveted honor, but they shouldn't have been stunned in the least bit.
Copyright © 2019
The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..


text: well ive had many cycles under my belt with great success and good pct regimines but now after being off for well over a year my doc has put me on 1cc of test cyp every 2 weeks. I split it so I could stay level by taking half dose every week. after about 3 months I developed small gyno lump on my left nipple. sore to the touch but not visible. ive had it before but had good RC's to combat it. doc said to use warm compresses to aliviate soreness and lump will subside. im trying to stay legal and hoped he would give me something for it but he hasn't. what yall say I should do. im kinda wanting to say screw it and add some anavar and AI"s to blast and cruise just not real sure how I want to handle it yet. 38yrs old.6'0, 200lbs, healthy, and around 18% bf.


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Ubuntu 9.10 Software Store Video
I've posted a short video walk-through of the new Ubuntu 9.10 Software Center. The Software Center will replace Add/Remove applications in the final release of Ubuntu 9.10.
Inside the Ubuntu Software Center users will see Get Free Software and Installed Software options. If Get Free Software is selected users can choose from packages broken down into categories or departments for ease of use. A filter field is also available in the top right corner. After packages are selected details about the package and expandable screenshots for each package is shown. This is in my opinion on of the biggest advantages of the Software Center over Add/Remove applications setup. If Installed Software is selected from the column on the left users will see an alphabetical list of software packages installed. Selecting a package wil result in details, screenshot and a button to remove the package.
After packages have been either added or removed the In Progress selection appears along with Get Free Software and Installed Software options on the left. With In Progress selected on the left users can see the current status of packages whether they are downloading, being installed or removed. I was skeptical of the Software Center at first but it does have some bright spots that, I think, make it worth the change. What do you think? Ubuntu Software Center or Add/Remove Applications.
October 20, 2009 at 9:17 pm
As I'm used to the add/remove software way of using Ubuntu, it'll take some time to get used to the Software Center.
I like the way you can install something in the background whilst searching or looking trough other apps.
That's what I've missed in the add/remove menu.
But I don't want to click trough to each single app to click the install button.
If there were some easy check boxes next to them in the list overview, this would make things much easier.
October 10, 2009 at 9:06 am
October 22, 2009 at 6:11 pm


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Cub Scout Tennis
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
(Difference between revisions)
m (Cub Scout Sports: Tennis moved to Cub Scout Tennis: rename for {{Worksheet}})
Revision as of 18:50, March 19, 2008
| Tennis
Belt Loop and Pin
Tennis Sports Belt Loop
Belt Loop Requirements
Complete these three requirements:
- 1. Explain the rules of tennis to your leader or adult partner.
- 2. Spend at least 30 minutes practicing tennis skills.
- 3. Participate in a tennis game.
Sports Pin Requirements
Earn the Tennis belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements:
- 1. Compete in a pack or community tennis tournament.
- 2. Demonstrate your knowledge of the use and care of the equipment needed to play tennis (rackets, balls, shoes, clothing, and court).
- 3. Practice for 30 minutes developing forehand techniques through forehand bump-ups with a bounce, partner bump-ups with a target, forehand alley rally, forehand alley rally over a "net," drop-hit forehand bumps, drop-hit catch in pairs, and toss-hit catch in pairs.
- 4. Practice developing serving skills for 30 minutes.
- 5. Explain to your leader or adult partner how to score in tennis.
- 6. Accurately draw, label, and explain a tennis court layout.
- 7. Play five games of tennis using U.S. Tennis Association rules.
- 8. Participate in a tennis skills development clinic.
- 9. Attend a high school, college, or professional tennis meet.
- 10. Present to your den or family a report on the history of tennis.
- Earning the Cub Scout Tennis Belt Loop while a Webelos Scout is an option for requirement 3 of the Webelos Sportsman Activity Badge.
- Details on earning a Cub Scout Sports or Academic pin or belt loop multiple times
Related achievements, electives, or other awards
- Tiger Cub Scout
- Wolf Cub Scout
- Bear Cub Scout
- Webelos Scout
- Webelos Sportsman Activity Badge requirement 3
- Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program
- Awards


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Happy Martin Luther King Day! I hope you are going to do something special in his memory.
I am going out for boozy margarita lunch with my neighbors. What? What's that you say? Not very MLK Day appropriate? I disagree. MLK was all about fostering community and good neighborly relations, right? Right?
As for the past few days ...
On Friday, I was supposed to meet Eric Not From Baltimore for happy hour. However, he called and said that he had to work late (we've rescheduled for this evening, actually). I was bummed. Luckily, my co-worker said she was willing to have a couple of happy hours with me. We ended up at Austin Grill in Downtown Silver Spring.
Then, I staggered home and watched a movie - "Attack the Block." It was really good. B grade alien invasion movie, but made one provocatively question their ideas about race, poverty, and community.
On Saturday, I went for a 6.2 mile run. Later that evening, I had a date with R. We went to Pizzeria Paradiso. The food was good. He's a nice guy, but really no chemistry. I think we could be friends though. After I got home, I was texting with V and he asked, "Would you like some company?"
Of course, I would like some company.
He came over and we had fun times on the sofa. Yay!
Sunday morning, I was slow to wake up. I did some house-cleaning, and, then, I wandered up to Adega for Boozy Lunch.
I wore some socks that I knitted awhile back and had never worn before:
Cute, no? Unfortunately, Very Itchy. I am a bit sensitive to wool, it seems. *ugh*
After lunch, I wandered down the street to CitySports, where I dropped about $200 on cold weather running clothes. See, I have decided to cancel my gym membership (which I hardly ever use), thus saving $61/month (which can then be spent on expensive running gear). Yay!
Here I am modeling the supertight Under Armour compression shirt:
After shopping, I came home, put in a DVD, and ironed a metric shit ton of shirts for work. Then, I set about making a (quite delicious, if I do say so myself) Thai-inspired Butternut Squash Soup. See:
This morning, I tried out the new cold weather running gear. 3.51 miles in 32 minutes. Not too shabby. And the Brooks Utopia Thermal Pants are friggin' amazing. Yay!
Have a great day!


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Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
An Israeli cabinet minister last week publicly stated that perhaps the time has come to rebuild the biblical Temple on Jerusalem's Temple Mount.
Most Israelis has no aspirations of rebuilding the Temple. Even among those who would like to see the Temple restored, most do not believe Israel can undertake something so controversial absent a direct act of God.
But that didn't stop Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home) from stating that "we need to build a real Temple on the Temple Mount."
Ariel was speaking at a press event in the Samarian community of Shilo, where archaeologists have uncovered remains of the biblical Tabernacle that was located there for hundreds of years before King David's conquest of Jerusalem.
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
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Materials Undergrad Wins Conference Award For Research
SOCORRO, N.M. October 31, 2012 – Materials Engineering student Max Holliday earned second place for his research poster dealing with the testing of solder at the 24th Rio Grande Symposium on Advanced Materials in Albuquerque in October.
Max Holliday, a junior in the Materials Engineering Department, with his winning poster at a recent conference in Albuquerque.
Max Holliday, a junior in the Materials Engineering Department, with his winning poster at a recent conference in Albuquerque.
"The opportunity to speak in front of many people was good practice for my technical career," Holliday said. "It would be great for New Mexico Tech to have a bigger presence at the symposium next year. It was kind of intimidating, since the conference was full of industry leaders. But as long as you're confident in your research and you know what you've done and how to do it, you can defend your research effectively."
In addition to the award and peer recognition, Holliday won $100 for his efforts. He has been working at Sandia for 2½ years – ever since graduating from Sandia High School. Holliday said co-author Vianco is an idol of his and a recognized expert in the research and engineering of soldering materials. Regent is Holliday's mentor and advisor on his research project.
Max Holliday in the materials engineering lab at New Mexico Tech. Photos courtesy of Terry Lowe/New Mexico Tech
Max Holliday in the materials engineering lab at New Mexico Tech.
Photos courtesy of Terry Lowe/New Mexico Tech
Holliday and the Sandia scientists have proved that the bond between lead-free solder and gold is weaker than with traditional solder. How do materials engineers approach that problem?
"That's future research," Holliday said. "Now we can tweak our solder alloys so they better interact with gold surfaces."
He said he intends to continue his research and he hopes to find more opportunities to present his work at future conferences.
New Tech faculty member Dr. Terry Lowe said he is impressed with Holliday's presentation at the conference.
"With the momentum we are building by adding new research in our department, we are sure to make a strong showing at next year's symposium and in other similar venues," he said.
The symposium is hosted by the New Mexico chapters of the American Ceramic Society, Materials Research Society, ASM International, American Vacuum Society, and the American Chemical Society. The event brought together New Mexico materials scientists and engineers to exchange their most recent technical achievements at the Hotel Albuquerque in the historic Old Town district of Albuquerque.
By Thomas Guengerich/New Mexico Tech


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Defense contracts awarded in August reflect the varied work ongoing at Newport News Shipbuilding and its sister shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.
Parent company Huntington Ingalls Industries received defense funds for work on six projects, from modernizing existing ships to planning for those on the drawing board. The six were split between HII's two divisions, Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding on the Gulf Coast. In all but one case, the money represented add-ons to previously awarded contracts.
The information comes from the Defense Department, which lists contract awards of $7 million or greater on its website every business day.
At Newport News, HII...


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|Version 6 (modified by 7 years ago) (diff),
Graphs tables and other data using Google Visualization API
Notice: This plugin is unmaintained and available for adoption.
This plugin adds Google Visualization graphs and charts to Trac pages. The most basic usage is graphing an existing report:
See more examples below.
- Install the plugin (after downloading and unzipping):
cd visualizationplugin/0.12 sudo python setup.py bdist_egg sudo cp dist/TracVisualization*.egg /your/trac/location/plugins/
See TracPlugins for more installation details and options. You'll likely need to restart Trac's web server after installation.
- Enable the plugin:
[components] viz.* = enabled
You can alternatively use the Trac Web Admin GUI to enable any or all rules.
- Configure which pages to include graphs - example:
[viz] reports = 21
The above example will populate an area chart from the table of data found in report 21 and display the chart above that table - see screenshot above. The examples section below shows additional ways to include graphs and charts on Trac pages.
Bugs/Feature Requests
Existing bugs and feature requests for VisualizationPlugin are here.
If you have any issues, create a new ticket.
Download the zipped source from [download:visualizationplugin here].
You can check out VisualizationPlugin from here using Subversion, or browse the source with Trac.
- table
- remote
Recent Changes
Author: robguttman
Maintainer: robguttman
Attachments (3)
- effort.png (36.0 KB) - added by 7 years ago.
- whistle.png (12.9 KB) - added by 7 years ago.
- burndown.png (22.9 KB) - added by 7 years ago.
Download all attachments as: .zip


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In my last post I wrote about a movie that made seemingly impossible promises with its title and then went on to fulfill those promises beyond any sane person's expectations, much to the admiration and horror of the viewer. It was like Babe Ruth pointing arrogantly to the fence and then proceeding to blast the horsehide into the outer stratosphere. A truly amazing feat, and worthy of the legend that grew up around it.
The title of Pete Walker's groovy 1971 feature, Die Screaming, Marianne, calls a similar shot. Not many movies boast titles as evocative and full of horrific promise as that--the images it conjures, the dramatic expectations it creates in the mind! Again, the viewer has to wonder, how can the film possibly live up to that title?
Well, in this case, it can't. And what's more, it doesn't seem very interested in even trying. Instead of the grainy, frenetic 70s sickie that title should be attached to, Walker delivers a deliberately paced, gorgeously shot dramatic thriller with no nudity, almost no gore, and just a smidgen of sleaze. The kiss of death for a cinematic deviant like me, right? Well, read on...
Susan George plays Marianne MacDonald, a British go-go dancer on the run from some shadowy, gangster-looking types in Portugal. When a greasy, balding strongman tracks her down to an out-of-the-way club and surprises her post-tryst with an AWOL sailor, Marianne takes it on the lam and is immediately nearly run down by a very unattractive 70s stud (played by the skeletal Christopher Sandford). He offers her a lift in his cherry-red convertible, and off they go, leaving the mysterious greaseball in the dust.
fantastically groovy title sequence, as George shakes it like a polaroid in front of a solid red background while the credits roll in bright yellow athwart her hips. The music and dance style scream "shagadelic!" and will be sure to bring a smile to the face of any red-blooded male in attendance. Sock it to me, Susie!
Then we're in swingin' 70s London, where Marianne and Bony Boy (aka Sebastian) have been shacked up for two weeks. Seeking to solidify his amazing good fortune, Sebastian tries to strong-arm Marianne into a surprise wedding. They meet up with Sebastian's friend, the allusively named Eli Frome (played by likeable babyface Barry Evans) and rush through the courthouse service so quickly they forget to fill out the license. Showing her spunkiness as well as good sense, Marianne fudges the license so that it she's legally married to Eli, not Sebastian. This leads to many recriminations from Bony Boy and the dissolution of the now-extramarital relationship.
Eli is smitten with the enigmatic Marianne, however, and offers her his pad until she finds a place to stay. Over the course of the next few weeks Marianne and her new "husband" develop a genuine fondness for each other amid Marianne's frequent and confusing flashbacks featuring a sinister figure known only as "The Judge." I wasn't quite sure what was going on at this point, but I was still digging it.
Rodriguez, the Judge's manservant, who is a strong silent presence throughout.
Marianne's half-sister Hildegard also lives at the villa, is almost as bony as Sebastian and is absolutely brimful of CRAZY. She and Sebastian have a history, apparently, and after a strange interlude with her father (during which she basically BEGS the old man to commit incest with her, or at least give her a right good spanking), she settles for Sebastian's emaciated manliness. The Judge listens from his study as Hildegard whinnies like a horse upstairs, a strange and sinister smile on his face.
Leo Genn) is superb as the decadent aristocrat with the profundo basso voice and gift for wry shocking dialog (as when he nonchalantly asks Sebastian over drinks, "Do tell me...did you fornicate with Marianne?"). And Judy Huxtable as the completely psychotic sister Hildegard is really something to watch--totally committed to her snake-like, sinister role.
At the Judge's behest Sebastian flies back to London to bring Marianne and Eli back to the villa. At the same time a couple of bounty hunters, also working on the Judge's orders (one presumes) kidnap Eli and nearly assassinate him in a wonderfully tense scene. Eli escapes by stabbing one of the flabby assassins with a penknife. When Marianne learns of this she leaves him for his own good, and Sebastian looks up his old friend in hopes of tracking her down. After a disastrous go-go dancing interview (Marianne does NOT interview well), she goes back to Eli, finds him with Sebastian, and more details come out of the completely convoluted plot.
Tired of running from her past, Marianne decides to go back and confront her dysfunctional family, Eli along for the ride. We get some leisurely but still effective scenes building up to some somewhat surprising twists, culminating in the deaths of a couple of characters and Hildegard's show-stealing "crazy speech" that lets everyone know all bets are off. A few more twists spiral in before the understated and strangely moving end scene, where an unlikely hero steps forward and claims our affections and admiration.
Die Screaming, Marianne has some really cool things about it that might be enough to recommend it to fans of guess-what's-coming thrillers of the sub-Hitchcockian mode.
Just as the convoluted plot (revealed in a much slower and more fragmentary way in the film than in this post) keeps the viewer from ever being quite sure what's going on, the characters also all seem to have ulterior motives for every move they make, every word they say--villains and heroes included. Their motivations are always open to two or three interpretations, and thus you are never quite sure how a character will react to a given dramatic development--which enables them to surprise you without doing anything obviously out of character. This is why the ending scene--and a wonderful last line from one of the characters--resonated so strongly with me and sent me out of the film smiling.
Other things to recommend this film are its completely gorgeous cinematography, the lovely Portuguese scenery, the appalling Austin Powers fashions, and the overbearing jazz score that seems to follow Marianne exclusively (it cuts out noticeably when she's off screen). Plus Susan George is wonderful to look at in her skimpy mod outfits and spangled bikinis, it has to be said. And the plaintively hilarious theme song "Marianne" is just icing on the cake.
So if you can get past the empty promise of the movie's tantalizing title, there's actually a fairly entertaining little thriller here with some fine acting and cool twists. I give it 2 thumbs. Check it out--believe me, you could do a lot worse.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Die Screaming, Marianne (1971): or, What's in a Name?
Posted by The Vicar of VHS at 10:58 AM
Labels: '70s, 2-3 thumbs, Groovy, Pete Walker, Thriller
3 comments:
- brainbug said...
Perfect review!
Like you, I watched this movie in two parts and probably enjoyed it more because of it.
Best scene: the sauna! Susan + steam = a happy viewer.
- April 30, 2008 at 7:49 AM
- The Vicar of VHS said...
Yeah, I'm turning into a bit of a Pete Walker fan--I've seen this one and The Flesh and Blood Show, both of which I enjoyed. I'm definitely going to have to pick up the quadruple feature Shriek Show (I think) is putting out.
- May 1, 2008 at 8:38 AM
Here's the intro Gogo Dance
- November 9, 2009 at 12:15 PM
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