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Clinical Faculty IUPUI/Executive Director IUSAemail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Dr. Hardy Murphy holds a Clinical Faculty position at IUPUI School of Education. His work at Indiana University includes training and facilitation focused on culturally responsive practices and issues of disparities in discipline, teacher and principal evaluation and educational equity. Dr. Murphy has conducted large scale research projects on teacher evaluation, charter schools and the inclusion of students with disabilities. Additionally, he teaches courses in the Educational Leadership department at IUPUI. Prior to joining the university, Dr. Murphy spent 13 years as Superintendent of District 65 in Evanston, IL and 20 years with the Fort Worth Independent School District in Fort Worth, TX.
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX | Ph.D. Educational Psychology | 1979
- Southwest Texas State University, San Maroos, TX | M.Ed. Education, Special Education, School Psychology | 1975
- New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM | B.A. Sociology | 1971
- Loyola University | Superintendent's Certificate | 2000
Professional Experience
- Evanston/Skokie CC School District 65 Evanston, IL | Superintendent of Schools | 1999-Present
- Indiana University, Bloomington, IN | Consultant, Indiana Teacher Appraisal and Support System | 2010-2013
- Fort Worth Independent School District, Fort Worth, TX | Associate Superintendent | 1995-1999
- Fort Worth Independent School District, Fort Worth, TX | Assistant Superintendent | 1992-1995
- Fort Worth Independent School District, Fort Worth, TX | Director, Desegregation and Affirmative Action | 1985-1992
- Fort Worth Independent School District, Fort Worth, TX | School Psychologist | 1979-1985
Awards, Honors & Certifications
- Chairman of the Board of Directors - Tarrant County Hospital District 65
- President, Tarrant County Health Development Corporation
- Chairman, Metro-west Health Maintenance Organization
- Member, Texas Commission for a Representative Student Body
- Chairman, Community Leadership Collaboration
- President, Tarrant County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee
- Vice President, Board of Directors Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Tarrant County
- Board of Directors, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare
- Board of Directors, Evanston McGaw YMCA
- Fort Worth City Personnel Commission
- Downtown Rotary Club, Fort Worth, TX
- Phi Delta Kappa, University of Texas Chapter
- Fort Worth Tarrant County Black Adoption Council
- Fort Worth Tarrant County Black Adoption Council
- Board of Directors, LifeGift Organ Donation Center, Houston, TX
- Board of Directors, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Inc., Fort Worth, TX
- Board of Directors, Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County
- Board of Directors, Fort Worth Museum of Natural Science History
- Board of Directors, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
- Fort Worth Tarrant County United Negro College Fund Committee
Presentations & Publications
- Education W 505, IUPUI: Beyond Compliance: Ensuring Excellence and Equity in Teacher Appraisal Systems. | Summer 2013
- Guest Lecturer: A 735, Indiana University Bloomington. | Summer 2012, 2013
- Cole, C., Murphy, H., Rogan, P., and Eckes, S. (2013). Indiana's Teacher Evaluation Legislation: Implications and Challenges for Policy, Higher Education and Professional Development. Bloomington, IN: Center for Evaluation and Education Policy, in press. | 2013
- Murphy, H.R., and Cole, C.M. (2013). INTASS Teacher Appraisal Rubric. Bloomington, IN: Center on Education and Lifelong Learning. | 2013
- "Operationalizing High Expectations Through Teacher Appraisals: A New Era in School Reform and the Pursuit of Equal Opportunity". Indiana's First Annual Teacher Appraisal Conference, Indianapolis, IN. | April 2013
- "Student Achievement and Teacher Appraisal: Using Data to Compare Changes in Teacher Ratings and in Student Achievement. National School Board Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA. | April 2012
- "Creating a Culture of Success through Professional Appraisal". Bartholomew Consolidated School District Leadership Seminar, Columbus, IN. | June 2012
- "Putting Students First: A Presentation on the Use of Professional Appraisal to Improve Student Achievement". Triple I Conference, Chicago, IL. | November 2012
- "Evanston's Teacher Evaluation System". Panel presentation. The 45th Annual Education Leadership Summer Conference, Indiana University School Administrators Association and Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest. Bloomington, IN. | June 2011
- "Linking Student Achievement and Teacher Appraisal: Lessons Learned from Implementation". French Lick, IN., Indianapolis, IN., Kokomo, IN. | June 2010
- "District 65 Professional Appraisal". Consortium for Educational Change, Chicago, IL. | July 2010
- "District 65 Professional Appraisal" Minority Student Achievement Network Conference, Madison, WI. | August 2010
- "Educating Each Student to Success ". Triple I Conference, Chicago, IL. | November 2010
- "Professional Appraisals". National School Board Association Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA. | April 9, 2009
Areas of Expertise
- Issues of Equity, School Reform, Teacher Appraisal, Unified Systems
Additional Information
- Co-chaired the INTASS Leadership Cadre, a group of 21 Indiana educators who helped create the INTASS process for teacher appraisals.
- Co-developed the training curriculum to support Indiana districts to create their teacher appraisal plans.
- Met with Indiana Department of Education officials to ensure alignment of the INTASS process with Indiana legislation and IDOE guidance.
- Co-facilitated the INTASS Cohort 1 network, which consisted of the original 14 INTASS district Superintendents and district leadership.
- Co-facilitated a network of Superintendents using the RISE teacher appraisal model (Bloomfield, Linton Stockton, Vincennes, North Davies, Northeastern, and Barr Reeve).


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How to Tell When Your Infant Is Having an Allergic Reaction to a Food
The American Academy of Pediatrics points out that it doesn't matter in what order you introduce foods to your baby's diet, as long as you introduce one food at a time. The exceptions to this rule are cow's milk and honey, which you should not give until after your infant is at least 1 year old. As your baby tries new foods, watch for symptoms of allergies, which may vary depending on the type of allergy your baby may have.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
General Symptoms
Note any changes in the skin, the most common reactions to a food allergy. Skin reactions include hives, eczema, redness and swelling of the face, and itching and swelling of the lips, tongue and mouth.
Observe vomiting, diarrhea or signs that your infant has stomach pain.
Detect changes in the respiratory tract, such as wheezing, couching, shortness of breath, sneezing, and a runny or stuffy nose.
Note if your infant appears lightheaded or even faints.
Specific Reactions
Observe irritability, vomiting, wheezing, swelling, hives, any other itchy bumps on the skin, or bloody diarrhea immediately after giving your infant cow's milk. These symptoms signify a rapid-onset reaction to milk, which is not as common as a slower-onset reaction.
Witness irritability, colic, vomiting, gagging, skin rashes, or loose stools that may or may not contain blood, seven to 10 days after giving your infant cow's milk. Refusing food is another symptom of a slower-onset reaction to cow's milk.
Notice the signs of anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that usually occurs immediately after contact with the food culprit. These signs include trouble breathing, wheezing, coughing, vomiting, racing heartbeat, and skin redness or swelling. If your infant does not get enough oxygen, the skin may turn blue. Call 911 if you suspect anaphylaxis.
Get your pediatrician's OK before starting your infant on solid foods. If your child cannot hold her head in a steady, upright position and sit with support, she is not ready to try solid foods.
Seek emergency care if your baby has difficulty breathing or a swollen mouth. If you suspect a food allergy, stop giving that food and call the doctor.
- Get your pediatrician's OK before starting your infant on solid foods. If your child cannot hold her head in a steady, upright position and sit with support, she is not ready to try solid foods.
- Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images

subset: commoncrawl


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FontLab Studio 5 is our professional font editor next generation Mac and Windows. It used by Adobe, Apple, Bitstream, IBM, Linotype, Microsoft, Monotype, Morisawa and almost all other foundries main sources in the world, is the solution for foundries sources, designers of professional types, typographers and graphic design studios . Design typefaces and create or modify fonts. FontLab Studio 5 supports all major outline font formats, including Type 1, TrueType, Multiple Master and OpenType.
Some highlights of this release:
– Design glyph in context with neighborhood groups and form, points tangents true, custom window color and simplified glyphs
– Revolutionary new metrics and kerning editing: multiline preview, better kerning class, intelligent class autogeneration
– Pixelfont support: import BDF files and make pixelfonts, built-in autotracing
– Support Unicode 6.0: Points of SMP code, automatic generation of over 2,500 accented characters from embedded definitions, new images of templates Unicode glyphs (from Monotype Imaging)
– Improved OpenType support with better VOLT integration, roundtrip editing complex script font, font scheme, glyph suffix renaming
– Opens Mac fonts in Windows (Mac Type 1, TrueType GX / AAT) and Ikarus files
– Five new print modes, fonts rapid test system representation
– Open the installed fonts, generate multiple sources in one step
– Redesigned Preferences; Save, open and exchange preference profiles and workspaces UI
Changes and bug fixes in 5.1.5
Mac & Win double platform errors
The preview pane is not updated when navigating through source information sources (worked in 5.0.4)
.nam Unicodes generate a file fails in the last glyph font
The underscore is not supported in the name
Bug display numbering components
Generate instance it makes the character field PFM default font information is empty
MM paste to a single glyph master pasta all teachers, not only the active layer
[FATAL] Compiling Verdana Regular GPOS 'kern' function fails (I worked in 5.0.4)
Positions underline and strike (and thickness) are changed in export OTF
Subroutinización nesting problem CFF can cause rendering problems in some sources glyph
Schemes disappearance of a teacher MM sources
Hinting erroneous suggestions TT Options> Zones and the upper can not be changed after being set
Problems with the Windows context menu of indicators
Blue indicators kerning class not visible in the Kerning Table of Metrics window
Offsetting metric applies only to base component composite glyphs
The sections "Digital Signature" and "Tracking Options" box disappear "Preferences" dialog (Options) after performing "Reset
Options Defaults "
The inclination in the Actions dialog does not work with decimal (fractional values)
OTF only: the export of the "name" table loses ASCII characters, the table OS / 2 inserts default values for blanks,
Add -Regular auto-generated PS FontName and full name
Using the tab key between fields metric window disables editing glyphs later
Paste scales EPS inconsistently
Changing component does not work in the dialog box Generate glyphs
Attempt to generate a font that contains glyphs 65536 blockage causes rather than warning
Sometimes hidden classes are removed during rearrangement
Mac only problems
Create non-editable source auto-set date to current date / time in OS X 10.9+
Printing fails in OS X 10.9+ (memory error)
Copy dialog box information source: missing buttons Select All / None
Underlining and the digits are not allowed in the name PostScript
The menus disappear if the user chooses a workspace with a non-ASCII character; You must be restarted with Control pressed to fix
rasterizers wrong type of Hinting at Hinting
The application of any saved workspace using the Window> Workspace menu moves all toolbars
- CAN NOT DOWNLOAD: Some probably encounter the following error: This site can't be reached ...sundryfiles.com's server IP address could not be found. DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. In this case, please use Google DNS and you will get rid of trouble.
- If downloaded file can not be extracted (file corrupted...), please make sure you have downloaded the file completely and don't use Winzip, it sucks! We would recommend using The Unarchiver.
- By reason, the App does not work and can not be opened. Mostly, just Disable the Gatekeeper, and you get rid of troubles.


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Hearts & Roses Nightshade Velvet Evening Dress is classic vintage at its best. Beautiful black velvet fabric creates this long-sleeved dress with a unique black floral lace front detailing with a Victorian-inspired high collar and black shiny buttons. The neckline is trimmed with lace frills and back has corset-style lacing to cinch the waist. Dress zips up the side and skirt hits just below the knee.
Composition: 97% Polyester 3% Spandex
Care: Machine Washable
Style: 3256


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A Contested Day
"I'm trying in every possible way to prevent Mother's Day from being desecrated by the greed of individuals and organizations who see in it only a way to make money."
"Mother's Day," she sobbed "is being desecrated by the commercial racketeers. The telegraph companies with their ready-made greetings, the florists, the candy manufacturers and greeting card manufactures have made a lucrative racket out of my idea."
After Mother's Day gained official recognition as a United States holiday in 1914, Jarvis continued her efforts to keep the holiday as she intended it, a private and sentimental tribute to every mother. Anna recognized herself as the founder of Mother's Day, although others contested this claim. She battled for recognition as the founder of Mother's Day for the rest of life, and also battled various industries and organizations who sought to profit from the holiday. Floral, confection, and greeting card industries embraced Mother's Day. Jarvis' call for letter writing spurred greeting card sales, and the use of the carnation as the emblem of Mother's Day increased flower sales.


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Visiting campus is the best way to discover all that the College of Music has to offer
Tours offered weekdays at 9:30 am
Call or EMail us to book your appointment
850-644-6102 firstname.lastname@example.com
Observe a Rehearsal
Most choral, band, and orchestral rehearsals are open to visitors. Times vary.
Attend a Performance
With over 500 concerts a year, every day is a good day to visit.
Take a private Lesson
Contact one of our faculty directly to request a lesson. Availability and pricing vary.
Contact the FSU Visitor Center to schedule a 90-minute walking tour of the entire campus. If you wish to take both tours, we suggest scheduling your College of Music tour in the morning and campus tour in the afternoon
title-inside title-centered


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When our Head of Mission Development, Zoe Bunter visited a leprosy hospital in Nigeria last year, she wasn't prepared for the profound emotional effect the experience would have on her.
This little girl – just 10 years old – was being treated for leprosy.
I was in Nigeria and it was a scorching hot day. I was grateful for the shade as the nurse and I entered the hospital building. We began walking through the men's ward and then into the women's, but I was surprised to see a little girl sitting on one of the beds.
At first I thought she was with her mother, the patient, but then I realised I was wrong. It was the other way around. This little girl – just 10 years old – was being treated for leprosy. As I went back to my room that night I felt desperately sad for little Akifah and her family.
It is so desperately unfair and unjust!
After the pain of sadness, sitting there in my room, came anger. Why is this horrific disease still attacking innocent children? Why, when their young lives are already so hard, are they the victims? It is so desperately unfair and unjust!
As I watched Akifah in the ward, I started to think of my own daughter, Molly. She used to love to dress up in her sparkly dressing-up clothes, dancing with abandon in front of the TV when Strictly Come Dancing was on, in the run up to Christmas! Akifah has had this abandon stolen away from her by the effects of leprosy.
Help make Christmas a time to celebrate for all families
This Christmas, give one extra present to that little girl or little boy who will be told they have leprosy today. A generous offering of just £24 could cure a child of leprosy, please click here.


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Down On The Farm is a short documentary commission from North Devon Moving Image. With farming so little known and so integral to the region, the aim was to help emerging doc filmmakers create a unique collection of short films.[Read more…] about Down on the Farm: insights into farmers and farming
Search Results for: down on the farm
Window into different worlds: Florence Browne Down on the Farm
Florence Browne is a documentary filmmaker based in Cornwall whose films peer through 'a window into all sorts of different worlds'. We caught up with her about her Down on the Farm documentary and asked about her passion for exploring the emotional connections with farming[Read more…] about Window into different worlds: Florence Browne Down on the Farm
Down on the Farm documentary short film project puts focus on North Devon farmers
Down on the Farm is a short documentary commission run by the community filmmaking organisation North Devon Moving Image (NDMI). The aim is to help emerging documentary filmmakers create a unique collection of short films about farming in North Devon.[Read more…] about Down on the Farm documentary short film project puts focus on North Devon farmers
£1,000 Down on the Farm short documentary commission
The community filmmaking organisation North Devon Moving Image CIC (NDMI) is calling for filmmakers to apply for their inaugural £1,000 documentary short film commission, Down on the Farm.
[Read more…] about £1,000 Down on the Farm short documentary commission
Down on the Farm – A North Devon short film commission for emerging or experienced filmmakers
This is news about a short film commission in North Devon, it's been politely sitting in the corner of our inbox for a bit, so we could have been more urgent in getting it out. But if you're a filmmaking, potential volunteers, heritage organisations or part of the local community take a look and get involved in this new commission.
[Read more…] about Down on the Farm – A North Devon short film commission for emerging or experienced filmmakers
Farm doc filmmaker Michael Balsdon gets a new level of respect
The Down on the Farm documentary film commission project from North Devon Moving Image supports filmmakers and highlights the real stories of what it's like to be a farmer. We caught up with filmmaker Michael Balsdon, who is making a film about his family of farmers, and it's opened his eyes to the work they do.[Read more…] about Farm doc filmmaker Michael Balsdon gets a new level of respect
Sex, Leins & Videotape #164. Tom Leins reviews The Kings of Summer, No One Lives and Dead Man Down
Tom Leins casts a critical eye over a coming of age drama The Kings of Summer, a backwoods horror movie, No One Lives, and an enigmatic revenge thriller, Dead Man Down, in this week's DVD round-up.
[Read more…] about Sex, Leins & Videotape #164. Tom Leins reviews The Kings of Summer, No One Lives and Dead Man Down
Jo Ryan: Film has the power to key into emotions
Generations have been sheep farming on the edge of Taw Torridge Estuary. Jo Ryan has been exploring how connected a farming family is to the land and the way for life in her For Down On The Farm, for North Devon Moving Image. We caught up with her for ask about her experience of making the documentary[Read more…] about Jo Ryan: Film has the power to key into emotions
Linda Mason: documentary humanises and builds empathy
Linda Mason is capturing an intimate portrayal of British farming life in her film Lifelong Farmer, part of North Devon Moving Image's Down on the Farm commission. We caught up with her to find out about the importance of keeping a film record of life and how hard it is to make a film in the midst of cows[Read more…] about Linda Mason: documentary humanises and builds empathy
James Cox: 'Documentary storytelling relies on human emotion'
By exploring traditional, sustainable farming in his documentary, James Cox is also highlighting the challenges ahead for farmers. For his Down on the Farm commission from North Devon Moving Image (NDMI). James got in touch with a farming family of 5 generations. He tells us about what he's learned and how Brexit was broached.[Read more…] about James Cox: 'Documentary storytelling relies on human emotion'
Classic films support Co-operative push in Plymouth
Plymouth Arts Cinema is working with Plymouth City Council to present a series of films over the next 12 months to raise awareness of the great work that co-operatives do. Plymouth City Council wants to double the size of the co-operative economy in the city by 2025.[Read more…] about Classic films support Co-operative push in Plymouth
The 7 best movies featuring animals
The British public love animals and films, so combining the two means we're onto a winner, right? It doesn't matter what the animal is, we fall in love. However, for movie makers, getting a creature to play the lead role can prove a difficult task. While you can send a human away to learn their lines, it's not quite as simple with animals.[Read more…] about The 7 best movies featuring animals
The impact of blockbuster films and big budget shows on towns and cities
One of the many great thing's movies have the potential to do is place unknown gems on the global map, for good or for bad, transporting them to new settings and giving them the feeling of entering the movie itself. Quite often, movie producers scout real-world locations in an attempt to increase the authenticity of the motion picture, implementing the natural backdrops into scenes that can often be seen in action-adventure films.[Read more…] about The impact of blockbuster films and big budget shows on towns and cities
Propaganda, xenophobia and oppression, Hymn of Hate by Matt Kennard explores the tools of the elite from the perspective of WWI
With the title taken from the name of a jingoistic German hate poem, Hymn of Hate is the debut short film by Matt Kennard.[Read more…] about Propaganda, xenophobia and oppression, Hymn of Hate by Matt Kennard explores the tools of the elite from the perspective of WWI
Pop culture property: what does Ross Poldark's house cost?
Consider the value of pop culture property… how many of you watch TVs and films, see where the characters live and say to yourself 'how much would that be in today's money'? Well, now you don't have to ponder, because a new website can provide you with the answer.[Read more…] about Pop culture property: what does Ross Poldark's house cost?
Unrestricted View Film Festival expands to 3 N London venues
We're suckers for bigger-ers and better-ers, which is why when the Unrestricted View announcement of the 2018 programme for its North London Film Festival popped into our in-box we pricked up our ears… in the form of reading and reproducing it here for you.
[Read more…] about Unrestricted View Film Festival expands to 3 N London venues
The Last Fisherman and a Dying Breed – locally made films screening at Plymouth Arts Centre
Two films that chronicle the struggle to maintain traditional ways of life in Cornwall will screen at Plymouth Arts Centre in July.
The Last Fisherman + introduction and Q&A with producer Leo Kaserer
Wed 12 July, 2.30pm & 8.30pm (with intro + Q&A)
Dir. James Stier, Austria/UK, 2017, 76 mins.
A feature-length documentary made in Kingsand and Cawsand, Cornwall, Last Fisherman tells the story of the last traditional fisherman of Rame. Still fishing like generations of fishermen before him, Malcolm Baker relies on traditional tools, techniques and knowledge of the sea.
Malcolm is the last traditional fisherman in the Rame Peninsula, fishing with handmade pots, a wooden boat and nets, keeping a tradition alive with skills passed down from generations before. The world around him has changed and his occupation, his village and his community are evolving at a rapid pace. When an unlikely friendship with an Austrian youth worker begins it has unexpected results for both of them.
This lovely documentary is a celebration of one man's life and a poem to the strength of community.
Producer Leo Kaserer will provide an introduction to the evening screening of the film. Leo has a background in youth and social work. Leo and his partner moved to Britain as part of his work.
Through a chance meeting with the last traditional fisherman in the Rame Peninsula, he began to learn about traditional fishing methods and embraced a new, simpler way of life that relies on community spirit, hard work and determination.
Leo lives in Tirol, Austria with his family, but frequently can be found fishing of the coast of Cornwall, UK.
Dying Breed + Introduction and Q&A with director Mick Catmull
Tue 25 July, 8.30pm
Dir. Mick Catmull, UK, 2017
Dying Breed provides a graphic yet intimate record of a way of life once taken for granted but now in serious decline. The small farm has been a Cornish constant for countless generations. But for how much longer?
This is filmmaker Mick Catmull's love letter to a disappearing way of life. Mick spent a year filming three small cattle farms in west Cornwall. 100,000 small farms have disappeared from the UK in the past decade, unable to compete in a world dominated by retail giants and agribusiness.
This is a poignant and at times tragic portrait of a way of life in steep decline -the small farm has been part of the South West landscape since time immemorial.
Director Mick Catmull will be present at the screening to give an introduction and hold a Q&A with the audience.
Tickets are on sale from 22 June from Plymouth Arts Centre's website at www.plymouthartscentre.org
Plymouth Arts Centre | Facebook | Twitter:@PlymArtsCentre | Instagram
Interview: Billy O'Brien and William Todd-Jones
To celebrate the DVD release of the enjoyably twisted I Am Not A Serial Killer – starring Christopher Lloyd and Max Records – Tom Leins caught up with the film's Devon-based filmmakers: director Billy O'Brien and master puppeteer William Todd-Jones.
* Firstly, I believe that you both live in Chagford -how did you first cross paths, and how did this particular collaboration come about?
TODD: Billy called me in 1998 for a short film called 'The Tale Of The Rat That Wrote', he was writing and directing. He was looking for puppetry advice. It was a crazily ambitious project: Victorian London, puppet rats, big scale and fictional world. It's a good example of not being afraid to pick up the phone to the right people. The finished film went on to win festivals all over the world, as well as being BAFTA nominated, so a good call!
BILLY: That was a freezing cold shoot in December '98 at Chatham Docks in Kent so naturally I thought of Todd when we decided to make I Am Not A Serial Killer in the freezing cold of Minnesota in winter! Over the years we've worked on several projects together, we now live down the street from each other and so pop in to talk about the latest mad ideas!
* How has being based in Devon affected your respective careers -either positively or negatively?
TODD: Growing up in Wales, I found landscape and the secrets it has to tell inspirational and here on Dartmoor, it's clear that each tor might have a tale poetic and epic in scale, with nature as an ever present, hugely powerful character. In the projects I get involved with, often it's only the location that's changed -it's as much about people interacting with the environment, as it is about their personal stories they just happen to be set in Hogwarts, Narnia, Fantasia, or Outer Space.
BILLY: Coming from a farm in Cork I am well used to the rain here! And after ten years and my kids growing up here I love the wildness of Dartmoor and the community in Chagford. There is a great group of writers and artists living here, inspired I guess by the moor -Alan Lee, Brian and Wendy Froud and David Wyatt to shamelessly name drop a few amazing artists.
* I Am Not A Serial Killer is pure Americana. Have you considered working on a project closer to home, or have the number of lacklustre Dartmoor horror movies put you off that kind of endeavour?
BILLY: That's funny, as I'm in the middle of writing a pretty crazy folk horror musical set on Dartmoor. I follow story -I Am Not A Serial Killer was adapted from a book of the same name and set in the Mid-West. It was great to go over there and help make it come to life. Similarly ever since I moved to Dartmoor I've wanted to shoot something here but as you point out, it's pretty unforgiving on films. Somehow Dartmoor shows up the weakness in films shot here. I suppose what I mean is, it's hard to capture the magic and your story better be bloody good. This crazy one I'm working on does it for me.
TODD: As with Billy, it is characters and story that are key for me. When the right story emerges from the moor mists, I'll be there.
* Which films -if any -were an influence on the look and feel of I Am Not A Serial Killer?
BILLY: Well we spent six years getting this off the ground and over that time I scouted a lot of the Mid-West on various trips. In our van myself the producer and cameraman all old friends for whom this was a passion project, we must have discussed dozens of films driving around. Ones that stand out were Rivers Edge, Hitchcock's Rear Window, Let The Right One In, and anything from the 1970s really.
* What were the biggest challenges in getting the film made?
TODD: The appalling cold that made the black goo freeze onto Christopher Lloyd's glove-less hands, meaning that I had to chip his fingers out before we could go for another take.
BILLY: I didn't mind the cold because at long last we were making the film – all those days and nights waiting for finance to click, that was terrible. And hanging on there, hoping the money came, none of us giving up -including Todd -that was the biggest challenge. Being on location in this beautiful place, the Iron Ranges, about a hundred miles from the Canadian border in the middle of the continent and in blinding white snow with the temperatures about minus 20C, well that was fun. You don't get to experience that every day of the week. It is what we do this business for.
* Conversely, what were the high-points?
TODD: Becoming a fully endorsed member of The Wolf Club. (Maybe not.)
BILLY: That. is not even funny! Put it this way Rural Minnesota in the depths of winter has some scary clubs you do not want to get involved with. I think we all ran away fast!
TODD: Wheels of cheese.
BILLY: Oh yeah, I forgot them. On Sundays, nowhere was open except one Saloon where we'd play pool and watch the local drunk fights kick off. If peckish there was always the frozen pizza selection. Including the infamous Wheel of Cheese.
TODD: Being able to point a camera in any direction in Virginia Minnesota and have it be perfect. And when as Chris stand-in, I was driving Crowley's Cadillac for scenes for which Mr Lloyd didn't need to be visible, I had the local police wave me through stop lights when its brakes failed.
BILLY: The Caddy was like a large boat, swaying gently over the snow, and that first morning, when you pressed the brakes and it continued to sway gently straight through the red light
* Perhaps unfairly -I hadn't realised how active Christopher Lloyd was these days. How did he come to be involved with the film?
BILLY: He loved the script, said he hadn't been offered such an interesting role as Mr. Crowley before. Lovely man. Threw himself into it, never complained about the freezing conditions once.
TODD: I'd worked with Chris on Who Framed Roger Rabbit years ago and knew of his ability to create characters that were larger than life. We knew that for Crowley, Chris would need be much closer to himself than his usually asked for Back to the Future, Doc Brown-type performance. Billy kept pushing for the real Chris and I worked with him to keep the moments where the monster manifests as similarly real.
BILLY: Yes that's right, at the London Film Festival in October Chris on stage reminded me of this! I'd forgotten I kept telling him to 'Drain it out!'. In fairness to Chris, by day two of the shoot he'd completely clicked the realism we were after and loved that we didn't just want an echo of his earlier famous performances.
* I was very impressed with Max Records in the film -he seems like he has a bright future ahead of him. It is a pretty intense role for a young actor -how difficult was it to cast?
BILLY: Well we met Max when he was 13 and gave him the role then, even though he was too young. He's incredible and when we met him it was immediately obvious why Spike Jonze had plucked him from nowhere to play Max in Where The Wild Things Are.
TODD: To walk the line of a diagnosed sociopath, who also has normal levels of teenage angst, whilst dealing with the corpses coming through your single mum's mortuary, plus being conflicted about the attention you're having from girls, and withstanding the desire to react to the bullies could easily have gone into cliche. Instead Max found the centre of John Wayne Cleaver and held onto it even when (as has to happen) we shot out of order. This is why he was rightly nominated in the Best Actor category at this year's British Independent Film Awards. Max is a also a fan of Dartmoor, having stayed here a couple of times. The outdoors is a place where he can leave behind the characters he so deftly plays and explore the Wild Things in nature. He also rather likes the ale to be had in the local hostelry.
* What projects are you working on next? Are further collaborations on the cards?
BILLY: Yes, we're chatting all the time about quirky, odd ideas. Always great to brainstorm with Todd over a beer.
TODD: I think there's something in the beer!
* Finally, what advice would you give to other filmmakers based in the Westcountry?
BILLY: I think really there are few excuses today, you can shoot, record sound and edit to a professional level very cheaply. So the key is as ever, story. After that directing is two simple questions: where do I put the camera? And what do I say to the actors? That's your job. Just get out there and shoot. As Beckett said 'Try. Fail. Try again. Fail better.' You learn every time. Years ago, I guess you'd have had to go to London from Devon/Cornwall. I ended up there from Cork. But today you have it all at your fingertips via the internet. If you're a more experienced shooter then I would put in a plea to try shooting some film. It's special, and can make your film special. Digital is here to stay but it's worth experimenting with 16mm and 35mm, before it's all gone. Labs like iDailies near London will be pleased to help, I'm sure. Personally I love it.
TODD: The boundaries are only the ones you build.
The creature shots we needed for the conclusion of I Am Not A Serial Killer required a scale version of the mortuary set, so we built it in Billy's garage. I've built creatures and puppets that have been performed across the world, before millions of people, from materials supplied by the local hardware stores.
Put down the glass and get on with it.
I Am Not A Serial Killer is out now on DVD via Bulldog Film Distribution.
Dartmoor Ponies on the brink: documentary 'gets people talking' about their uncertain fate
The rounding up of Dartmoor ponies on horseback for what could be the last time is beautifully captured in a documentary by natural history filmmaker Kathy Stringer in her film Dartmoor Ponies: The Final Round Up. But as with all filmmaking, the evocative close to her movie on the plight of Dartmoor ponies was not without its problems.
[Read more…] about Dartmoor Ponies on the brink: documentary 'gets people talking' about their uncertain fate
Director Gareth Jones on his film Delight: a love story that breaks new ground
Writer/director Gareth Jones, talks about Delight, the second in his D-trilogy. Delight won Best Film at the Moscow International Film Festival 2013, and will be screened at the Exeter Phoenix. Take it away Gareth…
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Sex, Leins & Videotape #190. Tom Leins reviews The Killing, Mystery Road and Earth To Echo
Intrigue in Seattle, murder Down Under and a backwards-looking family movie -this week's best DVDs reviewed.
Based on the Danish crime drama of the same name (well, Forbrydelsen, technically), the US remake of The Killing first hit our screens in 2011, but enjoyed mixed fortunes, getting cancelled not once, but twice -only to be bailed out by Netflix on both occasions. With a fourth and final series now poised to air on the online streaming service, The Killing -The Complete First, Second and Third Seasons (MediumRare) is available to buy, with seasons two and three available on DVD for the first time.
[Read more…] about Sex, Leins & Videotape #190. Tom Leins reviews The Killing, Mystery Road and Earth To Echo
Sex, Leins & Videotape #171. Tom Leins reviews The Great Train Robbery, Vendetta and Lords of London.
Brit-grit is the order of the day in this week's DVD round-up.
Written by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, The Great Train Robbery (Acorn Media) is made up of two overlapping films: A Robber's Tale, which tells the story of the men behind the audacious 1963 heist led by Bruce Reynolds (Luke Evans, The Hobbit); and A Copper's Tale, which focuses on the team of detectives assembled by DCS Tommy Butler (Jim Broadbent, Moulin Rouge) to bring the criminals to justice.
Meticulously pieced together by Chibnall, The Great Train Robbery is an impressive undertaking, even if the dual narrative format does cause the pace to slacken as the exhaustive investigation takes hold. A Robber's Tale -directed by Julian Jarrold (Red Riding, The Girl) -is easily the most satisfying segment of the drama, with an ensemble cast led by the charismatic Evans delivering the goods as the cunning plan comes together. Opening with a gripping pre-heist robbery in which a scaled-down version of the crew bludgeon their way through Heathrow Airport wearing balaclavas and bowler hats to the sounds of Nina Simone's Sinnerman, the film gets off to a thrilling start, and the edgy mood prevails as the crime unfolds.
The second film, while no less impressive in terms of attention-to-detail, suffers in comparison to its glamorous, violent predecessor, with Butler's no-stone-unturned investigation feeling like a bit of a slog. The ever-impressive Broadbent exudes no-nonsense attitude, and he refuses to give up on the investigation until he tracks down the slippery Reynolds. As the film draws to a close, their climactic showdown -in Torquay of all places -crackles as their contrasting approaches are laid bare. What A Copper's Tale lacks in narrative flair it makes up for in arresting details, and the film will fascinate true-crime fans. Happily, The Great Train Robbery is enough to banish memories of Phil Collins in Buster once and for all!
In Vendetta (Anchor Bay) new Albert Square resident Danny Dyer (Football Factory) stars as Jimmy Vickers, a former Special Forces interrogator who goes AWOL from Afghanistan after discovering that his parents have been murdered by local criminals. Using his unique skill-set, Jimmy tracks down the culprits one by one and makes them pay for their actions. However, with the police closing in on his trail of mayhem and his commanding officer Colonel Leach (Vincent Regan, Strike Back, Lockout) desperate to track him down, Jimmy has to use all of his military training to evade capture long enough to complete his increasingly grisly mission.
As a regular visitor to Poundland, I am all too familiar with the downward spiral of Danny Dyer's career in recent years (Freerunner, Deviation, 7 Lives, Basement, Pimp, The Last Seven), so Vendetta is a refreshingly abrasive return to form. Interestingly, rather than produce a slick Taken-style thriller, the filmmakers have concocted a wilfully vicious revenge movie that cranks up the nastiness at every opportunity. Although Vendetta lapses into amateurishness too often for comfort, it is a step in the right direction for Dyer after years of unadulterated dross. The ending hints at a shoddy-looking US sequel, but whether Dyer will attempt to get his movie career back on track or realise that he is onto a good thing and churn out a series of Death Wish knock-offs is anyone's guess…
At the outset of Lords of London (Kaleidoscope) cockney gangster Tony Lord (Glen Murphy, London's Burning) wakes up in an abandoned farmhouse, splattered in blood, with no memory of how he got there. He stumbles towards civilisation, only to find himself in an Italian village that seems to be lost in time. Ignored by the villagers, Tony gravitates towards a kindly older man named Francesco -a man with a tale to tell. As Francesco's story unfolds Tony realises that his very existence is rooted in that village, and he has the opportunity to rewrite the course of history with his actions.
Previously titled 'Lost In Italy', Lords of London arrives on DVD with ludicrous photo-shopped artwork featuring a gun-toting Ray Winstone in a pose that has no connection to the film itself. Winstone and leading man Glen Murphy are childhood friends, and have worked together numerous times over the years, on the likes of Tank Malling and Robin of Sherwood. In Lords of London Winstone appears in an extended cameo as a young Tony's father, and although his presence is arguably integral to the film, his involvement has been grossly exaggerated in an effort to shift DVDs.
The movie itself is a clumsy -ultimately forgettable -fusion of Nil By Mouth and the Butterfly Effect and ranks as a bizarre footnote in Winstone's career at best. Aside from an unwatchable scene of teeth-ripping gangland torture, Lords of London is a strangely forgettable film.
Sex, Leins & Videotape #167. Tom Leins reviews Snitch and The Bling Ring.
Tom Leins reviews a pair of true-crime inspired DVD releases.
Based on an audacious true story, The Bling Ring (StudioCanal) depicts what happened in 2008/09 when a group of celebrity-fixated LA teenagers embarked on a crime spree in the Hollywood Hills. After tracking the whereabouts of their idols online, Rebecca (newcomer Katie Chang) and Marc (Israel Broussard) targeted the homes of a series of careless celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Orlando Bloom and Lindsay Lohan. Accompanied by their friends Chloe (Claire Julien), Sam (Taissa Farmiga) and Nicki (Emma Watson), the self-styled Bling Ring went on to steal more than $3 million worth of clothing, jewellery and luxury goods before their shameless scheme eventually caught up with them.
[Read more…] about Sex, Leins & Videotape #167. Tom Leins reviews Snitch and The Bling Ring.
Sex, Leins & Videotape #149. Tom Leins reviews End of Watch, The Bay and Small Town Murder Songs
Law and disorder dominate this week's DVD round-up.
End of Watch (StudioCanal) tells the story of Officer Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal, Source Code) and Officer Miguel 'Mike' Zavala (Michael Pena, Observe & Report), two cops who patrol the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles. Caught up in the middle of a gang war between the Bloods and an unhinged posse of Latino gangbangers, Taylor and Zavala are keen to earn the respect of South Central's criminal fraternity, even if it means taking off their badges and going toe-to-toe with the bad guys. Their fearless, occasionally downright reckless, behaviour means that they get results, but it also succeeds in putting some of their colleagues' noses out of joint back at the station house. Determined to make a name for themselves, the duo go above and beyond the call of duty after following up a drug-bust, and quickly discover a dark secret that makes them the target of Mexico's notorious Sinaloa Cartel.
Over the last decade writer/director David Ayer has explored LA's grubby underbelly on numerous occasions, whether as a writer (Training Day), a director (Street Kings), or as in the case of End of Watch, both. Happily, in many ways, End of Watch is his best movie yet. The stodgy Street Kings failed to deliver on the promise of his directorial debut Harsh Times, but End of Watch strips away the earlier movie's clichés for something far more involving. The always-impressive Jake Gyllenhaal has never been better, and the perennially underrated Michael Pena offers top-notch support as his fearless partner. As much a film about friendship as a film about cops, End of Watch is utterly compelling and entirely convincing.
However, considering how integral it is to the film's aesthetic, the found-footage aspect of the film strikes a weirdly hollow note. The technique may be a well-established horror movie trick, but it is rarely used in crime filmmaking, with good reason. A mumbled, unconvincing aside that Taylor (an ex-Marine) is working on a 'film project' is deemed justification enough for his omnipresent camera, but it seems churlish to complain too hard, given the overall quality of the film. Heavily recommended.
The events depicted in The Bay (Momentum) unfold in the quaint coastal town of Claridge, Maryland, which is situated on the shore of Chesapeake Bay. When two scientific researchers discover a staggering level of toxicity in the water, their attempts to alert the mayor to the possible dangers fall on deaf ears, and he refuses to create a panic, lest his dirty little secret involving undiluted chicken excrement being pumped directly into the bay from a nearby battery farm be discovered. As a result, during the town's annual Independence Day celebrations, a gruesome waterborne plague is unleashed, quickly infecting the residents and plunging the idyllic small town into abject terror.
Presented as a series of excerpts from CCTV, camera phones, TV reports, web-cam transmission and 911 recordings, The Bay is ostensibly helmed by Donna Thompson (Kether Donohue), a novice TV journalist who unwittingly finds herself in the thick of the action as the virus breaks. Improbably directed by Hollywood veteran Barry Levinson (Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man), The Bay is a genuinely creepy little movie, full of nervy edge-of-seat moments, and its bedrock of disturbingly plausible science gives the film a strangely prophetic quality. As unpalatable as the thought of a big-name director slumming it with a found-footage horror movie is, Levinson has delivered his best work in over a decade, and saved himself from TV movie purgatory in the process.
In Small Town Murder Songs (Soda Pictures) the quiet pace of life in a rural Mennonite community is ruptured when the body of a young, unidentified woman is found dead by the lake. The investigation falls to Walter (Peter Stormare, Fargo, Prison Break), an aging cop with a violent past. Tormented by his ambiguous history and finding his investigation thwarted by the mistrust of the community at large, Walter begins to suspect the involvement of his ex-partner Rita (Jill Hennessey, Law & Order) and her scumbag boyfriend Steve (Stephen Eric McIntyre). Under the watchful eye of state police officer Washington, Walter is at pains to prevent the investigation from spilling over into his carefully constructed new life, but finds himself on a violent collision course with the culprit.
Canadian director Ed Gass-Donnelly has long been tipped as 'one to watch', after carving himself a niche as a director of intriguing short films, and Small Town Murder Songs arguably represents his largest canvas to date. Not that it is an epic: with a brisk 75-minute run-time, Small Town Murder Songs trims the flab off its deceptively simple storyline, filling in the blanks with the rousing soundtrack by Canadian indie band Bruce Peninsula. With his next feature -The Last Exorcism Part2 -already in the bag, Gass-Donnelly looks set to go onto bigger (if not necessarily better) things. Powered by a quietly intense central performance from the always-watchable Stormare, this is an unsettling art-house cop-drama that lingers in the memory.
Sex, Leins & Videotape #139: Halloween horror DVD special: American Horror Story, Chernobyl Diaries, Cockneys Vs Zombies and Dark Tide.
Trick or treat? Tom Leins reviews a disturbing selection of Halloween horror DVDs.
Created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, who previously collaborated on hit shows such as Nip/Tuck and Glee, American Horror Story: The Complete First Season (20th Century Fox) tells the story of the Harmon family, who move into a restored mansion in Los Angeles, unaware that their new home is haunted by its numerous former inhabitants.
After suffering a miscarriage and nearly breaking up, Ben and Vivien Harmon (Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton) move from Boston to LA with their daughter Violet (Taissa Farmiga) to start a new life. While adulterous psychiatrist Ben and long-suffering Vivien struggle to rekindle their relationship, tormented Violet finds solace with enigmatic neighbour Tate (Evan Peters), much to Ben's chagrin. Meanwhile, as the house starts to show its true colours, over-sexed next door neighbour Constance (Jessica Lange) and deformed Larry Harvey (Denis O'Hare) preside over the whole twisted circus, with a suspicious amount of inside knowledge.
After a deliciously twisted pilot episode -arguably one of the finest series openers in recent memory -American Horror Story wastes no time in cranking up the sleaze, intrigue and, importantly, horror -delivering some of the freakiest TV moments of the year in the process. With dark sub-plots galore bubbling under the surface, AHS boasts an embarrassment of riches, although the writers struggle to keep all of the balls in the air as the series progresses, and the cast end up jostling for screen-time.
Although it loses its way during the second half of the series -when the ensemble cast congeals into an incestuous dramatic mess -American Horror Story is easily one of the most striking TV shows of recent times. With top-notch support from the likes of Jessica Lange -who snagged a deserved Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy for her first regular TV role -American Horror Story is a skilfully made, addictively creepy series. A second series, American Horror Story: Asylum has just started airing on FX, and if the writers can manage to iron out the smattering of flaws in this first outing then it could be pretty special
After scoring a big hit with his 2007 debut feature Paranormal Activity, Israeli filmmaker Oren Peli has seen a number of projects given the green-light, including hastily cancelled supernatural series The River, and Chernobyl Diaries (StudioCanal). The film, co-written by Peli follows a group of six intrepid travellers who decide to head off the beaten track while in Eastern Europe, and hire an ex-military 'extreme tour guide' to take them to Pripyat, the ghost town which had previously housed workers from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, which was abandoned in 1986 following the notorious nuclear disaster. Although security personnel guarding the exclusion zone refuse to grant the tourists access, resourceful guide Yuri navigates a route through the surrounding forest to give his guests what they paid for. However, after a brief exploration of the abandoned city, the group's van breaks down, and they find themselves stranded -and far from alone…
After an identikit horror movie opening in which Chernobyl Diaries introduces its reliably tiresome cast, the movie hits its stride as the crew arrive at Pripyat. The ravaged backdrop, which was understandably filmed in Hungary and Serbia, bears a striking resemblance to the ill-fated Ukrainian town, and is arguably the film's most compelling presence. Unfortunately, Chernobyl Diaries falls into the same trap that so many films of its ilk have fallen into before it, by frittering away the kudos earned from its ominous opening and degenerating into a by-numbers slasher-esque chase thriller. In conclusion: great set-up, shame about the derivative ending. Approach with caution -Pripyat style!
Cockneys Vs Zombies (StudioCanal) commences with contractors at an East London building site unlocking a 350-year old vault full of ravenous zombies. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the East End a posse of well-intentioned but decidedly inept would-be bank-robbers sees their plans to make away with the swag from a local bank and save their granddad's retirement home backfire. Armed to the teeth, and confronted with London's zombie hordes, the gang decide to take matters into their own hands and save their manor from the flesh-eating undead.
The daft-but-appealing title paves the way for a silly -but sporadically charming -zom-com romp, and Cockneys Vs Zombies plays out exactly how a seasoned genre fan might anticipate. The well-judged young cast (including Michelle Ryan [Bionic Woman], Rasmus Hardiker [Saxondale] and Harry Treadaway [The Disappeared]) elevates the proceedings above cheesy nonsense, but the old–timers (including Alan Ford [Snatch], Honor Blackman [The Avengers] and Dudley Sutton [Lovejoy]) give the film its heartbeat. Even doddering Richard Briers from Ever Decreasing Circles pops up for a surreal zimmer-frame-based sight-gag! Despite an engaging mixture of gore and gags, Cockneys Vs Zombies never really comes close to Shaun of the Dead territory, and feels too lightweight to achieve true cult status. Fun, but utterly disposable.
In Dark Tide (Revolver) Kate Mathieson (Halle Berry, Die Another Day) is a shark expert whose tour business went into terminal decline after her mentor was killed in a shark attack. Once dubbed 'the shark whisperer', South Africa-based Kate is haunted by the memory of the incident and unable to get back into the water. With bills piling up, Kate's estranged husband Jeff (Olivier Martinez, SWAT) presents her with a lucrative opportunity to lead a thrill-seeking millionaire and his son on a dangerous shark dive -outside of the cage. Against her better instincts, Kate accepts the proposal, and after a tumultuous day on the water sets course for the notorious 'Shark Alley' in search of the ultimate thrill for her obnoxious pay-master.
Director John Stockwell (Blue Crush, Into The Blue) is never happier than when frolicking in the water, and Dark Tide sees him splash down in his cinematic comfort zone once again. Unfortunately, unlike nail-biting shark movies like Open Water and The Reef, both of which see their characters plunged into the deep blue sea almost straight away, Dark Tide wastes far too much time on the build-up, and only really comes into its own during the nervy final third. The chemistry between real-life couple Berry and Martinez is similarly lukewarm, and Brit actor Ralph Brown (still best known to viewers of a certain age as Danny the Dealer in Withnail & I) delivers the movie's most memorable performance as the morally repugnant tycoon Brady Ross. Unfortunately, despite an engaging premise and a decent cast, Dark Tide is dangerously dull, and seems destined to end up in a watery grave, along with most of Stockwell's other B-movies!


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Last weekend over dinner at one of my friend's place, who isa Mergers & Acquisitions "M&A" Partner with a consulting firm; asked mehow would I assess the cyber security related risk of a target acquisition? Thequestion is very relevant in this day and age that we live in, wherecyber attacks are a daily occurrence. Corporations with deep pockets and robustIT Security programs have also not been immune to attacks, if not directly thenthrough a third party. I am no M&A expert in commenting about differenttypes of organizational risks that a purchasing company assesses about itstarget to make an informed decision, but if they are not assessing the cybersecurity related risks of the target company then I can with utmost certaintysay they are speculating, and not making an informed decision!
The Basics…
So what should a purchaser look for? To start with, Isuggest a basic sanitation check; get the target company's information securitypolicies and plans to get more details about their information securityprograms, policies, and procedures. Evidence of them having followed thesepolicies and procedures will provide the acquirer with some comfort that thetarget did not just have these documents to check boxes to fulfill somecompliance needs, but that they actually believe in cyber security and followit diligently.
A quick review of just these documents and supportingevidence will provide initial insight to a CISO/CIO as regards to what they aregetting into. A target having asound configuration and vulnerability management policy in place is also a goodsign. Another would be their cyber security training program, up to date programwith information on common security practices, current threats, and tools,techniques and procedures (TTPs) for attacks which shows maturity of theinformation security organization of the target.
Digging Deeper…
I would not just stop there but go further; I would look attheir data retention, protection, and privacy policies also to see whether theenabling systems are adequately designed and implemented. This can give betterconfidence that the "Intellectual Property" you are acquiring of the target isprotected (but don't be too sure) and also potentially minimize the risk of anyPII data loss post purchase.
Their access control policies and the robustness of theiraccess control logs will give an indication of how vulnerable they might be toinsider threats. If they have multifactor authentication put into place andfollow it as a practice then they are better off than many of theircompetitors. Scrutinize the implementation of physical controls around keyservers and adherence to proper ingress-egress policies to minimize data theft.M&A's are susceptible to insider trading risks so access control strategieslike "need to know" and "segregation of duties" are good practices, whichshould have been put in place by the target.
The Safest Bets fornow…
To me, the best is that target organization which has a veryclear understanding of all their physical, hardware and software assets, whichwill help them differentiate between their critical and noncritical assets.They should have classified their assets on the basis of the three key securityfactors of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) and put securitycontrols in place based on those. They should understand the impact ofdifferent type of the breaches or attacks and have clear measures of the CIAimpact of those breaches. In addition to this, they should be firms who just donot focus on information security compliance but are focused on activelymonitoring their cyber security assets and improving their cyber securityprograms by interacting with external threat intelligence sources tocontinuously apply safeguards on their networks. They continuously improvetheir training programs to enlighten their employees about the latest threatsand how these can impact their systems. Their employees understand theimportance of "data hygiene" and such practices are ingrained in their dailyoperations.
And as Steve Jobswould say, "One Last Thing"
Don't underestimate the risks from a third party! Thepurchasing company should also check out the third party relations andcontracts that the target company has, especially in terms of the IT operationsthey have subcontracted/outsourced out to both onshore, offshore, or cloud. Also,the access they have granted to their third party personnel or companies, thedata they have shared with them, and the security policies of the third partyas regards to the systems they operate on behalf of the target and the datathey hold with them should be assessed. Small businesses are typically slow inadopting latest IT technologies, so they may not be sophisticated enough inprotecting their cyber assets, leaving them very vulnerable to breaches.
I also have "OneFinal Thing"
As part of the contract, the purchasing company should havean option to bring in experts to run forensics on the targets systems in order tohave an independent assessment of the target's information resources and toanalyze their logs and identify instances of any breaches. This practice willdefinitely provide maximum confidence to the cyber security risks that thepurchaser is ready to take on with regards to the potential benefits of theM&A decision.
Are you stillprotected…?
Well, this is where I am not sure; try as best as it can toprotect itself from the cyber security risks of the target and taking all steps,including running forensics on the target systems, the purchaser can still notbe 100% safe, because deep inside the targets network, or even the purchaser's ownnetwork, may be lurking an advanced persistent attack "APT" launched by amotivated and persistent adversary that is waiting for just such an opportunityto launch an attack for political gain, financial gain, revenge, or hacktivism.Timing in cyber security attack is very important like in other aspects oflife, and M&A activity may just provide that opportunity to an adversary.
So, in summary, the purchaser needs to be careful of cyberrelated risks of the targets and follow as stringent measures as they can tounderstand those risks and to accept, reject or transfer them before they makethe deal. However, in the end, it is alla business decision!
Posted on 8/10/2015 at 11:08 AM Permalink | Share This Post | Comments (0) | Leave a Comment
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The number of unique, exciting and surprisingly well-liked YouTube video niches are increasing, and one that has grow to be very compelling over the last numerous years has been these generally identified as Brain Wave videos. Billboard announced in response to pressure that, beginning in 2018, it will devalue YouTube streams in its algorithms for calculating chart placement. Sesuai dengan namanya, channel ini memproduksi berbagai musik 'free copyright' yang dapat dinikmati untuk dipakai sebagai backsound pada video anda. It turns out that Google Play Music subscribers will get access to YouTube Music Crucial for free of charge. This study compares ratings of a YouTube music therapy session video by viewers with distinct levels of music therapy experience to decide video components associated to perceptions of representational high quality.
To date the organization has recovered millions of dollars in royalties earned through YouTube, Spotify Apple Music and other streaming services. You don't have to have any expertise in creating music, becoming able to read music, or being in a position to use any kind of music software program to be able to develop your personal music tracks. As YouTube continues to transform from a niche on-line marketplace to a severe entertainment market, far more men and women will take notice of these e-celebs. There is that little bit added permanently to your ability at understanding music.
You can't add your own music or audio tracks simply because of attainable copyright infringements. I discovered a distinct video of it that I'd like to use but there is no way to contact the person that I can find. The quantity of parodies for this song on YouTube had to be earth shattering, but the music video currently looks like a parody of itself. It is a lot less complicated with Chill-out and ambient music even though, as it is quite a lot across the board designed to be relaxing. Kedua sobat hanya bisa mendownload music yang gratis saja, katanya Totally free Sound tapi didalemnya dijual juga bukan berarti tidak ada yang gratis ya sob.
Whilst it originally started out as a basic YouTube clone, it now has differentiated itself with a quantity of unique attributes. You may think you just created the most remarkable, original video and that there is no way for it to trip up on the Content ID program. I first discovered Tracy Campoli's YouTube channel three years ago, in the midst of moving. YouTube is investing millions of dollars into more Red originals, which signifies there are tons of films and shows just over the horizon.
But YouTube is not backing down, stressing the benefits to musicians of promotion on a single of the web's most popular sites – which allows ordinary users to integrate music into their uploads. This song has beautiful female vocals, and this artist is featured on the 2002 compilation, The Greatest Celtic Music. She has also provided a series of videos on her YouTube channel to help music teachers plan lessons and courses. Wake up music nerd land – DISCOVERY MOMENT MONETIZATION can provide $100B just from Radio and streaming by 2020 – this would be only the starting.


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Willing to make money in no time with less possible capital, just think about starting your small business unit associated with delivering cleaning solutions. The best thing about start own cleaning business is that you only have to do only a few things to move ahead, as we have outlined in our blog post.
Determine Your Specific Need
You have to start with determining your specific need to start own cleaning business. For this, you have to make proper plans, so that you may get work easily. Especially, if you stay in a small town, you may easily get work based on mouth publicity the residential cleaning done by your friends and neighbors.
One of the best ways to put your first step is to focus on part-time jobs to check out the viability of your new business. For instance, you may start with delivering your services to various independent convenience stores and small banquet halls, both of which may easily use your cleaning services.
Selection of Niche is Essential if you live in a Big Town
If you are living in any big town, you have to decide about the places, where you may deliver cleaning solutions. If you want to avail few of the helpers, you may even opt for commercial cleaning, which incorporates schools and banks both. Even while deciding to start own cleaning business, you may engage into specialty cleaning to clean sports-related goods.
Check the Required License
You have to check the operating license and other important documents and/or things to start with your business in your local municipality. Once you set your state and local regulations properly, you may check the required federal guidelines to get your operating license.
Go with Affordable Advertisement Medium
Lastly, as you just start own cleaning business, you should opt for affordable advertisement medium. For this, you should choose creating your website and avail the benefits of social media platforms. Alternatively, you may go with local newspapers' advertisements and flyers to boost your online presence.


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OtherLevels offers dynamic A/B split message testing, targeting and re-targeting capabilities by linking individual message copy to user behavior with a real-time app and mobile web analytics engine.
MitchelLake Executive was engaged to recruit OtherLevels' Vice President of Sales and the first sales person in the U.S.
The assignment involved an executive search covering talent across the U.S. with a deep look in Digital Marketing, EDM, Web Optimization and Mobile.
The role pivoted during the search and was completed as a VP of Business Development and Director of Sales.


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Encore Boston Harbor Water Shuttle
The water shuttle ferry will run daily from the Everett Encore gaming resort to stops in Boston's Seaport and Financial districts, through specific locations.
By doing so, the Encore Resort Shuttle becomes only the second or third ferry service in Boston Harbor history connecting north and south in the past 300 years.
Wynn Resorts, LTD has tapped a Charlestown boat builder to construct three water shuttles, sleek but sturdy ferries to move casino goers and anyone else who
whishes to explore the distance between the Boston waterfront and Evertt once the casino is up and running.


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Developing Learning That Lasts
Knowing the answer isn't all there is to learning, and challenges come in all shapes and forms. That's why at Mead, we foster profound learning by guiding students along several paths toward knowledge and discovery; paths that encourage them to evaluate the importance of what they've learned and then apply it to their own lives.
Traditional education focuses on telling children what they should know. At Mead, we create a sensory-rich environment that engages children's passions for learning and encourages risk-taking, reflection, and the freedom to go beyond the parameters.
Students develop their skills in critical thinking, and oral and written expression, but not at the expense of cultivating intuition, imagination and creativity.
Students develop their skills in critical thinking, and oral and written expression, but not at the expense of cultivating intuition, imagination and creativity.
Our Approach
Our approach guarantees that children's needs are addressed. Children have a Home Center Director, who is responsible for their students' physical, social, and emotional well-being. The Curriculum Directors are teachers dedicated to instruction in all content areas.
Home Center Directors
At Mead, we believe that social and emotional development are as vital to children's future success as their academic pursuits. Our commitment to teaching, challenging and nurturing the whole child is realized throughout our approach, but most uniquely through our Home Center Directors.
Each class has a Home Center that is led by a Home Center Director (HCD) — a teacher who is dedicated to the academic, emotional and social development of each child. The role of the HCD is to continually assess each student's physical, social and emotional well-being and to guide students through challenges and opportunities as they arise.
The HCD serves as the common thread to the students and gives support and guidance as needed. HCDs connect with students on a personal level, cultivating open conversations and building trusting relationships. HCDs serve as the bridge between students, parents, and others in the educational process, ensuring that children's specific needs are addressed.
Curriculum Directors
Simply put, our Curriculum Directors (CDs) are our teachers. They are experts in academic and expressive arts subjects, including language arts, math, Spanish, science, music and drama.
CDs take an innovative, personalized approach to teaching. They design their curriculum to engage students on a more meaningful level by presenting the material in fresh and interesting ways. Mead students don't simply learn facts and figures, they are challenged to think deeply about a subject and understand it from many different perspectives. The result is motivated students who love to learn.
While the CDs expect students to meet high academic standards, they also encourage them to be curious and think creatively and independently. By promoting self direction, our teachers guide children toward independence and the development of personal responsibility. The Mead approach encourages student's abilities and ensures children are actively involved in their own learning process.


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Wake Up!
The alarm sounds 6:00 AM, 6:00 AM, 6:00AM. Wake up! It's time to get ready for work.
Stop. Just for one moment, stop.
Right in this instance and in this second, stop for a moment and listen. It's right here where we give ourselves powerful feedback regarding our work.
Sometimes, at the sound of the alarm, we throw back the covers and we spring to the floor. We lift the blinds and cheerfully greet the day. When we are thriving in our work, this is what mornings feel like. We feel vibrant and connected. This is the energy that makes our work worth doing.
However, it's not always like that, is it? Occasionally, the alarm wants thrown out the window and sometimes, the pillow has more stories to tell. When we're disengaged, this is what mornings feel like. It's the energy that sends people in pursuit of a career change.
Follow Along
Has it been a while since work caused you to spring to your feet in anticipation of the day? If you're a project manager who's in a professional rut, this post is dedicated to you.
Join us as we poke, prod and nudge our way towards a dream project type. Follow along and identify the project types that really engage you. Discover what energizes you and makes your work worth doing.
Examine Your Interests
Every project manager has some untapped passion. Everyone has something that peaks his or her interests. Let's start with the obvious. What are your areas of expertise?
Were you an engineering major? Is math your passion? What about science? Are you interested in geology, chemistry or biology? Ahh, technology you say. Software? Hardware? Is it innovation you admire?
List a few areas of knowledge that interest you. They might not all involve areas of special study. Perhaps you're a weekend paddler and the rivers rule your heart. If there's something that makes you feel invigorated or engaged, write it down.
I'll Examine My Interests
For me, if there's a discussion that involves real property, I'm interested. Why? I'm a former real estate attorney. Perhaps my command of the subject makes it more accessible and digestible, thereby increasing my interests. Perhaps it captures my attention because I love being outdoors and hugging the trees. For many reasons, I am deeply attracted to the land and I would be doing myself a disservice to not list that here.
"Real Property" is a huge topic though, isn't it? If your first topic of interest is overly broad, see if you can narrow the focus. For example, within the topic of real property, I could examine conveyancing, construction and a host of other subtopics. If I really examine my interests though, I notice I'm most interested in public use. That helps narrow the topic a bit, but let's push further.
Would I be interested in a public use of land that causes a complete erosion of its topsoil or the loss of its lateral support? Absolutely not. I am recharged by the outdoors. Note the tree hugging comment, above. I'm more interested in being a caretaker of the land. I'm interested in public use that protects the land and its supported ecologies or at least leads to a sustainable use of the land.
Lastly, I can't ignore my creative side. I'm I lover of the arts and an admirer of innovative technologies. My dream projects might produce a creative product or result. They would demand some creative expenditure on my part and require project teams to think outside of the can.
The Project Management Profession
What about the project management profession? Are there areas or topics within the field of project management that you find engaging?
For example, I find myself day dreaming about projects where entire communities are the stakeholders. I dream of engagement plans that provide for capturing the insight of everyone and building community consensus. My dream projects would require substantial outreach efforts that test my mass communication skills.
Make Your List
By now, you may have listed a subject matter that interests you, but what else did you come up with? Take a moment to select a topic or two, drill down into subtopics and really examine your interests. Create a list of four to five items.
My list looks like this:
- Real property / land
- Public use
- Community engagement
- Creativity
Apply Your Interests to Project Types
This is the fun part. Based on our list of interests, let's consider related project types.
My dream projects might involve development of parks or green spaces for the purpose of effecting climate change. The American Planning Association illustrates how cities use parks for climate change management. Managing the development of a city park would certainly fit every interest I identified above.
My dream projects might also involve re-use of built environments that add green space and foster the improved health of a community. For example, consider Amanda Burden's High Line Project in New York City. Look also at the six freeway removal projects that changed their cities forever.
My dream projects might involve the rebuilding of a community in a way that greatly reduces or eliminates its reliance on fossil fuels. The Rebuilding Greensburg project comes to mind.
How do I know I'm on the right path? When I think of these projects, my energy rises. They tap into my interests. These are the projects that make me feel engaged and connected to something larger than myself. These are the projects that leave me feeling excited about project management.
What Are Your Dream Projects?
When you're really thriving, what projects do you see yourself managing? What projects lift your energy and make you feel engaged? What are your dream projects?
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(610) 520-1500 x120
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, Accredited Investment Fiduciary
Doug is a Partner with the Philadelphia Group and has been with the firm since 2010. He is a graduate of Villanova University and has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Doug began his career with the Vanguard Group and later joined Morgan Stanley in Philadelphia. He spent 8 years with PNC Investments and 5 years with Wells Fargo Advisors. In addition, Doug has been recognized in Philadelphia Magazine as one of the top wealth managers in Philadelphia.
Doug is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®). His securities registrations including Series 7, 63, and 65 all held with LPL Financial, as well as licenses for life, health, disability, and long term care insurance. Doug's practice focuses on comprehensive wealth management planning for affluent and emerging affluent individuals as well as 401k and Pension Plan Due Diligence. He brings clients unbiased advice and the ability to act as a stated ERISA 3(21) fiduciary to plan sponsor clients.
Doug is very active in the Philadelphia Irish Community. His wife Sheila is the owner of The McDade School of Irish Dance. The Sweeneys reside in Malvern, Pennsylvania with their three children and are parishioners of St. Patrick's.


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You have been directed to this site because you are an owner or co-owner of a policy or contract issued by MONY Life Insurance Company or MONY Life Insurance Company of America.
Effective October 1, 2013, Protective Life Insurance Company purchased MONY Life Insurance Company (MONY) and reinsured certain policies and contracts issued by MONY Life Insurance Company of America (MLOA). As a part of this transition, online service support for your policy or contract has been transferred to this site.
This site is for policy contract owners and joint owners. To ensure proper access and security is established, you will be asked to complete a two-step process:
Registration and adding a policy only has to be completed once.
More information on how to file a claim


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|Date of Registration : Mar 19, 2014
Date of Revision : Mar 19, 2014
|Country / Area
|Tokyo, Japan
|Proposal Category
|0900 Fur and fur products
|Target Country / Area
|JAPAN, People's Republic of China
*Attention: JETRO shall not take any responsibility for the contents provided by users. Please take note of the fact that JETRO leaves the exactness and reliability of the contents to users' judgment.
Fur Products Made-to-Order (For Japan/China only)
We produce fur products for Chinese customers.
Japanese designer complete fur products from desgine for the each customer.
We look forward to receiving orders from dealers, sales agents, individuals dealing with Chinese wealthy class regardless business category.
Every design of jacket, coat, shawl, even for men available.
*Approximate sale price
-Mink liner fabric short coat : from JPY700,000.- (customer price)
-Mink short coat (about 80cm length and best quality) : from JPY1,2000,000.-
-Mink long coat : from JPY1,8000,000.-
Other products such as bed cover, sofa cover, car sheet cover, rug, and so on also available.
1. Design
2. fitting with fabric
3. Finished product
*Production/Service system
Desginer goes to China for each customer, and do desgine and fitting.
Select furs and sew in Japan
*Production days : about a month after fitting
*Business Results : 25 years in Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, JapanJun 02, 2010 RegistrationJun 02, 2010 Revision
Total Sum of CONTACT Received : 3


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Greater Sydney Regional Housing activityThis dataset contains the latest available numbers of dwelling approvals by District from July 1991; the latest available numbers of net dwelling completions by District from...10
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From SEED Water Quality - Murray Darling BasinWater quality data collected monthly from 115 sites in the Murray-Darling Basin in NSW, between 2007 and 2012. Parameters include: Turbidity –lab; Turbidity –field; Total...0
Coordinate level data for non-domestic assaults and robberies occurring in Sy...The data file contains incidents reported between January 2013 and March 2016 where the incident occurred at an outdoor or public place (including parks, streets, footpaths)...0
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A new ResultsCRM for 2018 to help you meet your business goals
- ResultsCRM is the foundation with all of the features you need to start seeing real results immediately. Build relationships, organize documents, automate processes, master marketing, and grow sales.
- ... and now "Business Suite" is fully included in the latest version of ResultsCRM as well! Schedule and deliver services, approve timesheets, manage projects and resources, and get better control of billing and receivables too.
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Select Your ResultsCRM Product
|Field Service add-on
|Contact Management
|Activity & Task Management
|Email Tracking & History
|Create & Manage Quotes
|Sales Opportunity & Pipeline Management
|Create & Manage Sales Orders
|Document Management
|Shared Group Calendar
|Process Management
|QuickBooks Integration
|Outlook Integration
|Constant Contact Integration
|TSheets Integration
|SmartVault Integration
|SharePoint Integration
|ShareFile Integration
|Resource & Team Management
|Create & Manage Service/Work Orders
|Convert quote line items into tasks & materials
|Project Management
|Create & Manage Purchase Orders
|Automate Service Billing
|Create & Manage Invoices
|Payment Management
|Inventory Control
|Receivables Management
|Credit Card Processing Integration
|Support for Tablets / Mobile Devices
|Mobile Interface
|Automatic Device-sensing Technology
|Stay connected using any browser-based device
|Supports I.E., Firefox, Chrome & Safari
|Web leads automatically added as contacts
|Picture and Signature Capture
|Field Service Automation & Management
|Start workday in the field using any device
|Use checklists, schematics & Instructions
|View materials needed & add what is used
|Create quotes & invoices with signatures
|Bi-directional real-time update from office or field of work orders, materials and schedules
|Search for tasks based on GPS location
|Map Customers or Vendors based on proximity to current or entered address
|Field Service Portal — provides access to assignments and timesheets for sub-contractors and field staff only.
Note: Published prices are for Named-User licenses.


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Ambercon 7 (March 28-31, 1996), as always, was held near Detroit. This time it was at the Embassy Suites in Livonia, to the west of Detroit. This was my second one. I attended #5 two years ago, when it was near the airport. I liked this hotel better, partly because of the open atrium with waterfalls, etc. Pretty cool.
During the con, I met only a few people that I knew from before: Wayne Goodwine, who organized the costume ball; Terry O'Brien and Jennifer Jerlstrom from my inherited online Amber game, "Cat & Mouse", and Linda Cottrel. The first and last I went to college with. This is of course not mentioning people like Erick Wujcik or Carol Dodd, whom I know =of=, but haven't really spoken to.
I guess that I won't get as much into the scenarios as I want to. I want to talk a bit about them because they were really good, but I know that several of the designers want to run them again.
I rushed there Friday about 5:45, expecting the next game to start at 6:00. Well, the slot was late. It started around 7:00 or so. This gave me a chance to eat some supper (most of the meals were provided; it was pasta this time) and rummage through the library. This was a good idea in which people could type up their player diaries for other people to read. (A note: if you were there and read Princess Mirandel's story, that's mine. Comments welcome!) The first thing that I read was ramblings of one Prince Stefan, mentioning other characters like Mythew and Ivar the Timewalker. Interestingly enough, I got to play with people from this group a couple times. Fun people. Another tidbit from the library was some photocopies of a couple issues of the "Guns of Avalon" comic adaptation. DC is starting publication of the 4-issue "Nine Princes in Amber" series in May, and the artist was trying to drum up support for scheduling the next series, as it's all done but not committed to publication.
Friday night's game was "The Kashfa Incident," run by Andy Ransom of Britain. I played my original "Cat & Mouse" character, Mirandel. Despite being a redhead, she exhibits little magical skill, and is more of a sailor at heart. This was an investigation of a disappearance in Kashfa just before the 10-year anniversary of Random's reign.. (Kashfa and Begma were at each others' throats, so Random sent in his top negotiator, William Bale... who disappears.) We were sent in with Caine to find out what happened. Unfortunately, Mirandel is not that much of an investigator, so this was not the best event I've played. Probably the high point for her was searching a Begman warship, but that didn't help to solve the mystery much. :)
The next morning, I volunteered to help out at the art show. Nothing much to say, except that most of the pieces were really quite good. While sitting there, I was watching the game in the room, called "Everything Else is Negotiable." Basically, the players were at the kiddie table of an official function with Martin and Merlin. Over the next few hours, they planned out and executed a drinking contest with a lot of rather interesting wagers and drinks. (I think that one of the wagers involved having to sleep with Merlin.) It lasted over a dozen rounds, and I think that Martin just barely won. But I didn't quite catch what wagers had to be paid off. A very fun game to watch.
Next was the banquet. I was at a table farthest from the buffet table, with a few people that I got to play with later. We got to eat almost last. :( Hearing Erick speak is always a delight, though he stuck this time to mainly awards and administration details. He started out by talking about Roger Zelazny, however. Issue 10 of Amberzine (a tribute to him) should be rather interesting. Also, these little brass business card holders with the usual unicorn symbol were handed out. This was relevant because of the business cards (for our characters) that everyone got with their registration fee. In all the games I played, we exchanged whole bunches of cards. It's a very good idea, actually. The only thing is, I still have a whole stack of mine. It looked like everyone got a couple hundred cards. Oh well, I can drop them in business card giveaway things.
Next was "The Children's Hour II: Mob the Mega-Mall" with Jennifer Jerlstrom. Terry also was in this event. Basically, we all had kid characters, and Flora took us to the Mall of America in Minnesota. Rather an interesting event, but my character was unsuited for it. (Oh well, Toby was created for this, so I guess it's my own fault, like my mistaken belief I couldn't have any primal powers. I later realized just how much Trump artistry would have been...) Toby was pretty good, mainly sticking to buying more stuffed animals (some, he didn't get a chance to buy at all, due to an interruption), a wagon to carry stuff in (abandoned) and a bunch of comics. Other players included Terry's Rowan, the daughter of his Brigid character (didn't really get into trouble either), Jacob with shapeshifting, a couple named Josh and Joshua (serendipity got them the same name), and Jason Fox and Marcus (from the Fox Trot comic strip). Flora turned most of us loose with wads of cash, but kept her grandson Jacob close to buy some nice clothes for. He started the festivities by ditching her after accidentally spraying some cheapo perfume on her. He was on the run most of the event, finally being caught by the mall cops, and dumped in Flora's Earth mansion. Actually, by that time it was the police. You see, Jason and Marcus were being Jason and Marcus and were sowing mayhem with suction cup guns, walkie-talkies, and the like. Marcus managed to get the police called by shooting a mall cop in the eye with his gun. He never did get caught, due to his obscene Warfare. Jason never really had a chance to do anything to get chased, as Jacob and Marcus were doing it all for him. Marcus ended up the day with a viewing of "Rumble in the Bronx." Rowan and Josh sedately shopped most of the time, but started off by consuming $60 worth of Cinnabons and milk. Joshua began by buying a box of Legos from the Lego center as large as he was, and then built some Lego grenades that didn't get actually used. There was something better, though, at the end.
Toby's sole special item was a bunch of animate stuffed animals, which was a big mistake as Flora didn't let him take them. (They were Teddy the bear, Stripe the tiger, Brittany the cheetah, Asrial the skunk, Genma the panda, and Ryouga/P-Chan the pig, if you recognize the references; for a hint, the first is just generic, and the others are from comics) So his first stop was at a make-to-order teddy bear factory, to see if he could at least have one animate animal. No dice. He was later accosted by Jacob up on the third floor, and used as diversion to escape from the mall cops. He was getting too much attention from one of the cops, and he had to use his obscene Psyche to convince him that one of the large stuffed bears in the store was Toby's parent. This cop was later thought to be using drugs. :) Toby slipped out, but he had to leave the wagon there. He hid out at the comic store, L.L. Bean for a backpack, and a jewelry store for something nice for Flora the rest of the day.
Other highlights were Joshua's release of wind-up pigs all over the mall, Jacob's calling Flora "Graaannd-mmmaaaa!" a couple times, and finally, the crowning achievement: cutting the cables holding up the Lego space shuttle. Shuttle go boom. :) Unfortunately, Toby wasn't anywhere near it to watch.
Next up was "Much Ado About Nothing." This was put on by Jennifer Rayser and Matthew Sharpe, "Rayser-Sharpe Productions." (groan) This was one of the two best events (along with "My Favorite Things," on Sunday), because my character was actually partly suited for it! This was also an investigation, but this was 300-point Mirandel, with some other tricks up her sleeve, and the mayhem was hitting a little closer to home than "Oh, no, some negotiator is missing." Mirandel had a pretty interesting in-character thing to do most of the time. The backdrop was the Royal Kashfan Acting Troupe's opening night in the new Amber theater. Let's just say that Mirandel was... sorting her Trump deck a bit.
Part of the entertainment was playing with Prince Wakko (as in Warner), who had many good lines that night. Ivar the Timewalker was there, and at one point was going into a long monologue about what responsibility he has not to let things get out and change the future. He's (well, the player's female) really getting into it, when Wakko tremulously asks, "Do I get a pony for Christmas?" Despite the frame of mind I was in [Mirandel getting all worked up from events :), as were the others], that just brought us all down laughing. There was at least one other time that this happened, but darned if I can remember the line. There were a few other interesting characters roaming around, apparently from the Port Huron area group that Rayser and Sharpe (and Jo Ann Clute, Ivar's player, and others) are part of. There was Dave Spivey, who seemed to be based on The Mask, and then there was the Mystic Chihuahua.
That game lasted until 2 AM, but I didn't mind because it was so good, and I didn't need to get up early for the next day's events, which for some reason started at 2 PM. This one was Jo Ann "Ivar" Clute's "My Favorite Things." This was a blast, because it was so strange. We played the intelligent artifacts of Amberites. You see, they all disappeared, and we needed to find out what happened. I was playing Morthantomilistimus (Morthant), the very small dragon companion of Mirandel. (I have a stuffed version of him that I picked up at GenCon a couple years ago, that I used throughout the convention.) Other characters included a set of four ferrets, the One Ring, another ring of power, a shapeshifting crystal ball, Fiona's walking crucible, and Castle Amber itself. There were a bunch of other artifacts from the Port Huron group, including the animated luggage, the obnoxious intelligent rapier Perry, lots of Pernese Fire Lizards, Tik Tok from "Return to Oz" and the Happy Fun Balls. (Do not taunt the Happy Fun Balls!) Oh, and Greyswandir, Frakir, Werewindle and Morganstern put in appearances.
Through much of the game, the One Ring was thwarted in its attempts to corrupt anyone by being trapped inside the crucible. There was also sort of an ongoing feud between the crucible and myself, which was sort of precipitated by myself stringing up Fiona's bloomers and dress on the flagpole. :) (Fiona and Mirandel/Morthant don't get along, and this was too good of a chance to pass up.) I ended up trapped in Fiona's laboratory by the crucible, while I was distracted in catching Fiona's two loose lab mice, Pinky and the Brain. I set them up to work at finding a way out in return for not eating them, but I got out through other means. All in all, a lot of fun, especially with the ferrets dragging one of Flora's hand grenades around. :)
All in all, it was probably worth the (substantial, partly because food was included) money, even though I could only attend about half of it. I can't wait until next year.


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Nike Basketball unveiled the Elite Series Team Collection: KD7, KOBE X and LEBRON 12.
The collection is a focused look at premium performance and design:
Direct insights from Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James have helped Nike fundamentally evolve basketball shoes, leading to new construction methods, state-of-the-art materials and technical innovations. The athletes spend countless hours with the Nike design team to brainstorm, test and modify their signature shoes, resulting in the best shoe possible for each elite athlete.
More information here: