text:
Gabe Powers' 2006 DVD Awards
Gabe thought it was a pretty good year, and shares some of his favourites...
2006 saw the release of the next generation formats, Blu-ray and HD DVD. Some gadget nuts have jumped aboard the blue laser bandwagon, and already started rebuilding those mountainous film collections, while others (like myself) have decided to wait this battle out, and only begin reconstruction after a victor has been crowned. Personally I don't see a need to own more than half my collection in an HD format, though I suppose my collection has quite a few more B-Grade titles than most. Regardless, the introduction of the new media has made studios and consumers hesitant.
Then there's the new standard of the DVD double dip. These days buying a new DVD the week it's released is pretty much the same thing as renting it 10 years ago. With most major releases, and releases destined to cult status, you can pretty much bet that there will be a superior version on the shelves within the year. In the VHS days we had to wait on new releases, as there was almost always a sizeable schism between rental and purchase times (some countries still practice this). Though rental companies may be losing money on the new deal, the studios are making out like bandits, effectively selling the same movie to the same customer at least two times, sometimes more.
All these factor into the general dip in the 'quality' of DVD extras this year (it could also have something to do with the fact that almost every major motion picture has seen a DVD release by now), but none more than the fact that the DVD generation is jaded. Speaking for myself, I just don't care about the extra features the way I used to, and have a habit of sticking the disc on the shelf only after watching the film itself. I've even found myself buying extra free versions of films. I still revisit the great features of past releases, but fast-forwarding through the quantity over quality releases I've purchased this year is a sad sign of changing times indeed. There's something missing. Perhaps it's heart, as special edition releases like The Alien Quadrilogy (still not a word), Dawn of the Dead: Ultimate Edition, and of course The Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition were all hand crafted by the filmmakers or their fans. These days we get a little too much raw footage plopped onto the plastic by some uncaring studio machine.
Regardless the reason, or if this drop even really exists, 2006 was a year I found myself concerned with the movies far more than their DVDs. There are a few releases on my awards list below that do represent superior extra content, but for the most part these choices are devoted to the title, not the disc. For that I apologise to DVD fans everywhere, and please, no angry comments at the bottom of the page on this subject. Also, if I haven't included it, I probably haven't seen it, or maybe I just didn't like it.
On with the "Awards".
Best Reason to Own a DVD Player in 2006: Cartoons (R1)
I confessed in my review of Batman Beyond this year that if I'm watching TV, I'm most likely watching cartoons. I love cartoons, and thank God that there's oh so very many on the market right now. Thanks to full season DVD releases I can watch the same episodes over, and over, and over again.
Cartoon Network's late night Adult Swim line-up has always been hit or miss. Aqua Teen Hunger Force and early episodes of Sea Lab are always good for a laugh, but it was Home Movies that made the channel worth its salt in the ye olde days (about 5 years ago). This year marked the release of the last episodes of Home Movies, season four, and it was with an utter sense of the bittersweet that I watched them. I still say it's the best sitcom, animated or not, since Fawlty Towers. Only Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright's Spaced comes close to equalling it. Season 4 is a slight step down from Seasons 2 and 3, so perhaps it was best to end the series before it became the mediocre mess The Simpsons has become. The show's semi follow-up, Metalacolypse, is a fun time too, especially for all us recovering metal-heads.
Recent years have seen in increase in the number of original shows on Adult Swim, but the overall quality is still very inconsistent. For every Aqua Teen and Harvey Birdman there's a Tom Goes to Mayor and 12 Oz Mouse. Two shows that put themselves way ahead of the pack last year were The Boondocks and The Venture Bros.. Both series' complete first seasons were released on DVD in 2006.
The Boondocks is a politically motivated show, concerning the adventures of two black kids moved from a poor neighbourhood to a rich one by their well-to-do Grandfather. It's based on creator Aaron McGruder's morning paper comic strip, but is decidedly more adult in nature. Think of it as the Peanuts for the 2ist Century with a short fuse and violent mean streak. The abrasive social commentary within will rub some viewers the wrong way, but sometimes the truth can hurt. The duelling comedic and melancholy tones may also turn some viewers off, but it's what ultimately makes the series' lasting impression.
Venture Bros. is a show apparently made specifically for me, and is a kind of a spoof of Johnny Quest. Every reference, joke, and character is spot on for a pop-culture geek of my specific mindset. Where else could I find a David Bowie reference bookended by a Star Wars reference and a Clarissa Explains it All reference? Fabulous voice acting and beautiful animated style don't hurt either. Season 2 was even better than season 1, and a new DVD release can't come soon enough.
In the realms of less adult animated entertainment, 2006 saw the DVD release of both my favourite television drama, and my latest television obsession, Justice League and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Justice League is purely and simply a great show, coming from the creators of the Batman, Superman, and Batman Beyond animated series. Previously unavailable in entire season collections, I've now got all but the final season on my shelf, and I've watched them each more than once. The quality of the video transfers got better with each release, from full frame, to widescreen, to finally getting an anamorphic image on the latest release. I could do with a few more commentaries next time.
Avatar was a thrilling surprise when it was first aired last year–an American, Anime styled cartoon (never a good thing), released on the Nickelodeon network for kids, that mixes equal parts Miyazaki, Tolkien, Tsui Hark, and Kurusawa. It's a recipe for disaster, but some how it works. The show is at all times touching, funny, thrilling, and obscenely engaging. The DVD collection had a pretty sorry transfer, and little in the way of features, but was still worth the purchase. Anything to ensure the series has the money to finish up next year.
Best Film Hitchcock Never Made Staring Minors: Tie, Hard Candy (R1) and Brick (R1)
What if Alfred Hitchcock was still alive? Might he work for the Disney Channel? I'd like to think so, especially if the Disney Channel was into producing thoroughly 'R' rated thrillers like these. If you hadn't guessed by that weak introduction, this section of my awards has been concocted simply to bring attention to two of the finest films of 2006, neither of which has an impressive enough DVD release to make this list any other way.
Brick is a Dashiell Hammett/Raymond Chandler styled film Noir, with classically stylized dialogue and motivations. The only catch is that the story takes place at an American High School, and the characters are age appropriate. This absurd set-up works because the film's makers and actors take the story and method deathly serious about 90% of the time. Only when it serves the film, when humour or levity is absolutely necessary does anyone let on how silly the concept is. A good examples is a dialogue between the protagonist and a teenage drug lord who converse in the drug lord's kitchen as his mommy pours juice for everyone.
If meant to be taken seriously, Brick couldn't had it not been for the amazing efforts of its young actors. It is all stylized dialogue to be sure, hard-boiled, razor tongued, and unnatural, but I haven't seen any other film this year more deserving of the best ensemble-acting award.
The DVD is rather lacklustre, with a collection of deleted scenes and some screen tests, and I hope that a cult reputation leads to a more elaborate double-dip sometime in the near future. The transfer is gorgeous, every over saturated colour and light is beautifully rendered, and darker scenes are relatively free of noise. The Dolby Digital Surround track is the disc's finest feature, and is extremely aggressive at ideal points. Brick has a smashing soundtrack and some very imaginative sound design, both of which take it far beyond its rather meagre budget. The commentary track gives insight, but not quite enough.
Hard Candy was a film I looked forward to, but missed during its theatrical run. Negative reviews made me a bit hesitant, but when I finally got around to tossing the disc in my player I was instantly enthralled. The twisty-turny tale of a dame and a dude locked in an apartment, both of which are revealed to be a lot more than they seem on the surface would, I'd like to think, make Hitchcock proud. Like Brick, the hook here is the fact that the dame is a headstrong, under-age girl, and that she's the aggressor.
Some scenes in Hard Candy are so utterly uncomfortable that I felt nauseous by film's end, but it was the hard earned kind of nausea that comes with effective storytelling and imagination peeking, not the kind that comes with gross-out special effects. The film is one of the more beautiful of the year, and though it consists mainly of two people and one stage, it's constantly visually engaging, no small feet. The use of colour is brilliant.
I'm sure the one thing even the film's detractors will agree on is the performance of the under-age dame herself, Ellen Page. Page's performance is entirely menacing, especially considering her stature, but never did I lose my sense of sympathy for the little vigilante. Page's performance is so good, in fact, that I dislike X-Men 3 just a little bit more for hiring her as Kitty Pride, and then not utilising her to full potential. Props are also in order for antagonist (or protagonist, depending on your point of view) Patrick Wilson, who is also pretty damn sympathetic for a paedophile.
The DVD has a rather brief, but ultimately successful making of documentary, that most of all gets the viewer into the mind of the writer and the director. The actual filming process is lacking in the doc, but the post release stories are priceless. Not a great DVD (there are some minor noise issues with the video), but worth a look.
Biggest Surprise: Monster House (R1)
With the general quality of non-Pixar, computer animated features peaking somewhere between "worthless" and "painful", who'd have thought that this mo-cap horror flick for kids would mop the proverbial floor with Pixar's 2006 release, Cars? I didn't bother seeing Monster House in theatres, even though the 3-D possibilities were tempting, and assumed I wouldn't see it on DVD either - considering my general dislike of the film's trailer and concept. Monster House was also made by a bunch of nobodies, with executive producer credits that smacked of name recognition over quality. I was so very freaking wrong.
Monster House is easily the best mainstream animated films of 2006, and probably one of the top 10 films of any category released this year. The key here isn't the wondrous world of motion captured computer animation, but a solid story, a great script, and some of the best children's performances I've seen since The Sixth Sense. Without pandering to its audience, the film manages to settle itself well within the realms of children's entertainment, but also manages enough funny exchanges and one-liners to make the grown-ups in the audience laugh out loud.
"Are you guys like mentally challenged? Because if you are, I'm certified to teach you softball."
The DVD leaves a bit to be desired, as it's generally lacking in extra features, but the A/V quality of the direct to digital transfer is perfect. I can't even imagine how amazing the HD version must look. The behind the scenes featurette is informative and interesting enough, but I could see a larger set being released sometime in the near future. There's too much to this process to be covered in 30 minutes.
Best Reason to Double Dip*: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: Ultimate Edition (R1)
Sometimes we double dip because a previous version of a DVD are lacking in special features. Sometimes a previous release isn't anamorphically enhanced, or all that well digitally mastered. Some of us even freak out about new surround sound or packaging. This year's re-release of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was a worthy purchase for all these reason. I wrote a rather lengthy review here, and included some screen caps from the previous R1 and R2 special editions for reader comparison, check it out here.
Though R1 folks will be more excited about extra features than R2 folks (who already had most of the extras available to them on an earlier release), everyone can get excited about the new transfer, which is nothing short of amazing. There's something to be said for dirt and grain when it comes to such a raw film, but proper framing, anamorphic enhancement, and colour brightening are all most welcome additions. This set is a must own for all horror film fans.
*not including my top three
Best Per-Capita Extras: Clerks II (R1)
Kevin Smith's Clerks follow up was a contender for my 'Biggest Surprise' award, but Monster House was the better movie, and thus the bigger surprise. That said, I was still pleasantly surprised by Smith's latest offering, especially considering the declining quality, and my declining interest, in his more recent work. The film is worth a watch for old fans, but it is the DVD that makes my list.
Though Clerks II doesn't have the sheer amount of extra material some of the larger sets this year had, it makes up for this in quality. Pretty much every one of the two disc set's features (save a redundant commentary track or two) is pretty close to a gold standard. At the very least these extras entertain, and reveal a very personal director and crew willing to admit they've made mistakes.
See my full review here for more.
The Better Luck Next Time Award: Cemetery Man (R1)
One of my personal favourites, Michele Soavi's Cemetery Man was finally released on R1 by genre do-righters Anchor Bay Entertainment. The disc wasn't barebones, and there wasn't any overt issue with the transfer or sound, but all in all, the disc was lacking. Why Anchor Bay had taken so very long to release this disc, especially after a press release stating 'loads of extras' is a mystery when one is presented with the DVD.
The behind the scenes featurette offered a smidgen of insight, mostly into director Soavi's career, but the Cemetery Man himself, Rupert Everet is nowhere to be found. The guy can't be that busy, can he? A quick trip to any Internet fan site is honestly just as insightful. Considering the fact that Anchor Bay studios has released something like three different versions of The Evil Dead, five versions of Dawn of the Dead, and God only knows how many versions of Army of Darkness, I find the general lack of extras pretty suspect. Stay tuned, as I'm sure within a year or two I'll be singing a different tune.
Fortunately for all of us, the disc is very affordably priced (only $6.99 during Halloween this year in some places), so double-dipping won't be a complete tragedy. See my full write-up right here.
Honourable Mention: Lady Vengeance (R1)
Like Anchor Bay, Tartan USA can't be trusted to not double-dip a possible money maker. Why, just this year they re-released Old Boy in a deluxe 3-disc set. Being the thematic sequel to Old Boy, and a rather sought after release at that, one might want to assume that a better edition isn't too far off. The current release has a nice A/V presentation (though I unfortunately did not catch the fact that it was an interlaced transfer rather than a progressive one when I reviewed the disc), but basically no meaty extras, save a commentary track or two. Considering the monster amount of behind the scenes material made available for Old Boy, I for one find it hard to believe that director Park Chan-Wook doesn't have a similar amount of footage hanging around somewhere for the follow up.
See the whole story here.
Royal Screwed Award: The Woods (All Regions)
There are pah-lenty of films released every year that so sadly end up in this category. This year's choice is a particularly sad little tale.
Lucky McKee, writer/director of the critically acclaimed sophomore horror effort May announced the production of his follow up, The Woods, way back in 2003. The title and timing even forced heavyweight director M. Night Shyamalayn to change the title of his latest release (at the time), The Village. The Village came and went, as did another two years before it finally looked like eager fans would get a look at McKee's film.
In the mean time Sony acquires MGM, who was producing the film, and the little horror flick is lost in the shuffle. It finally sees a limited release three years after filming. And what happens next? Nobody seems to like it, not even the horror fans that get an early glimpse at a genre film festival. Sony dumps the film on DVD for the Halloween holiday, and the disc is entirely barebones.
The saddest part of this story is that it's not a bad film. I have no idea what anyone was expecting out of it, but it was exactly the film I wanted it to be, only with better performances. Basically the story boils down to Dario Argento's Suspiria with a plot. The only real difference is that this time it's a boarding school rather than a dance school, and the outside threat is a little less tangible. Suspiria is an acquired taste itself, but the beauty of The Woods is that McKee has actually crafted a fantasy with believable dialogue, and allows the drama and comedy overplay the terror. It's a pretty scary movie, but it really comes down to the look and the performances, which include Bruce Campbell at his most reserved. Give it a chance.
Best DVD Nobody Got to See: Munich: Collector's Edition (R1)
My pick for best film of 2005 was released in two versions in 2006 – a standard, movie only edition, and a two-disc collector's edition. I was lucky enough to get the collector's edition in the mail for my review, but apparently no one else in the entire world got their hands on this superior version. Apparently the "Limited Edition" tag wasn't just a marketing ploy. For my thoughts on the film I direct you to my review, and warn you that it's about a trillion words long.
The second disc of features isn't exactly to die for, but it still has some grand insight into master Steven Spielberg and company's process. Basically the whole disc is one long documentary cut into several smaller pieces, much like the DVD releases of Spielberg's Minority Report, A.I., and War of the Worlds (all available in barebones and 2 disc editions). Unfortunately for me, my special features disc came separate from my DVD, so I missed out on the classy box art, not to mention the fact that I have to see 'Property of Universal' burned into every frame of the doc. I do recall some kind of life lesson about not complaining about the teeth of free livestock though.
DVD of the Year: Seven Samurai: Criterion Collection (R1)
Seven Samurai could easily be considered one of the top ten films of all time. Some might even quite fairly place it as number one. I'm not sure if I think it's the best film ever made, but it's very, very high on my personal list. If you haven't seen it, you're missing out. It's probably the only 3 and 3/4 hour long, 50 year old motion picture even the most uncultured cineaste will ever sit through without squirming. Without Seven Samurai, modern epics and action films would be nothing. It's great, and that's that.
But here in the U.S. we've never had any juicy special features with our Seven Samurai DVDs. Special editions never seemed to have subtitles, and the available Criterion version was bare as fish-less sushi. After years and years of waiting, fans have finally received the integral English language DVD of this integral film. Criterion has pulled out all the stops by not only remastering the aged film to a previously unseen glory, but by spreading hours of extra features, documentaries, and a commentary across the set's three discs. It's like a mini film school in a box. There's even a pretty little booklet for light bedside reading. The price is rather steep, but worth the expenditure.
Runner Up: Tie, OldBoy: Collector's Edition (R1) and King Kong: Extended Edition (All Regions)
Tartan went all out for their Collector's Edition release of Oldboy. The new set contains almost every ounce of information, behind the scenes footage, and commentaries, not to mention a sturdy tin box that also houses the first issue of the original Oldboy comic and a film still. The film is a classic, I've said it time and again, but not every viewers taste. I don't recommend this massive collection to passing fans and the merely curious. Heck, I adore the film, and even I was overwhelmed. At times I'd even say I was bored.
Check out my full review here.
Peter Jackson's King Kong, released last Christmas, was a bloated, self-indulgent mess, but it still had several moments of genuine beauty, terror, and awe. If I had the scissors I'd have cut out about 30 minutes, especially that sub plot featuring Billy Elliot and Token Black Guy. Overall I loved the film, but recognized that it had its problems, especially in the runtime. So who'd have thought an extended version would be a good idea? Well, when the majority of the extended scenes feature computer generated prehistoric monsters, you really can't go wrong. Best of all the film now spans two discs, and we can skip the over-long boat trip all together without even going to the chapter selection menu.
As far as extras, I never got around to seeing the production diary releases, or the extras on the original release, but the all new stuff included here is up to Wingnut Film's usual standards. It's not quite LOTR level stuff, but I really enjoyed myself, and ended up watching everything in only two sittings. There's something about the way these people talk about their work that makes me love listening to them, a gift shared by only a few other film makers, like John Carpenter and Terry Gilliam. The deleted scenes that weren't reincorporated back into the film are pretty skipable, but the behind the scenes documentary, and Easter Egg production diary featurette are fabulous.
Check out Peter Martin's R2 review right here.
Other Honourable Mentions:
Slither (R1): A great little B-Movie throwback that didn't quite live up to my astronomical expectations, Slither is very rewatchable, and the disc makes up for its lack of time consuming extra features with some high quality short subjects. Also a great menu design.
Superman Returns: Special Edition (R1): It wasn't the movie fans wanted, but Bryan Singer's melancholy take on the Man of Steel was still a heartfelt and pretty motion picture. The slightly lacking extras, and sequel in the works points to a better release in the near future. My review.
Matador (R1): An utter surprise to me, Matador is a touching and colourful character study, featuring what may be a career best performance from Pierce Brosnan. It has a solid sense of quirk without ever coming off as trying too hard. My review.
The Long Good Friday (R1): Anchor Bay's release of The Long Good Friday has solid on the A/V, and features a great hour long documentary. This was the first time I was able to see the classic film, and am happy to have it in my collection. My review
Wolf Creek (R1): Horror films will always rub a lot of people the wrong way, but I thought this was one of the best throwbacks to the '70s era survival thrillers we've had during the recent resurgence. The R2 disc had some solid extras, and the filmed-in-HD video was amazing. My review.
Night Watch (R1): The R2 disc apparently has the better extras, but I'm happy enough just having the international release of the film, with its cool subtitles and extra bits. My Russian DVD was severely lacking. My R5 review.
A History of Violence (R1): David Cronenberg's latest masterwork is not a winner in the rewatchable category, but was one of the best theatrical releases of last year. Viggo Morteson was absolutely robbed of a deserving Oscar nomination. Featuring another grand commentary track from the always insightful Canadian director, and a decent behind the scenes doc, I can overlook the slight censorship between this and the international versions. Casimir Harlow's R2 review.
Uno Bianca (R1): What? You never heard of this one? Well neither had I until an impromptu trip to the store. Directed by Cemetery Man mastermind Michelle Soavi, Uno Bianca is a taught, two part cop thriller originally made for Italian TV that overcomes its tired plotline with sheer energy and visual style.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe: Extended Edition (R1): I'm still not very fond of the film, even in its extended version, but the fourth disc of this half double-dip set is great. It features the film set to visual commentary, behind the scenes footage, interviews, original art, and special effects comparison shots. Worth at least a rent to even non-fans. My full review here.
Dog Day Afternoon: Special Edition (R1): One of my top five favourite films finally got a special edition release. Unfortunately, the A/V quality really wasn't that much better, and the documentary wasn't quite as in depth as I may've liked, but it was still worth my double dip.
In 2007 I'll be looking forward to the DVD and theatrical release of Children of Men, The Fountain, Pan's Labyrinth, Venture Bros. and Justice League Unlimited Season Two, The Uncut release of From Beyond, 300, Grindhouse, a Special Edition release of Bladerunner, I'm a Cyborg, but That's OK, and of course, Spider-Man 3 (which will hopefully usher in that extended edition of Spider-Man 2). My hopes and wishes lie with an official Western World release of Night Watch's superior sequel Day Watch, my Russian DVD is very much lacking in extras. It would also be nice to get an official release of Dario Argento's third feature film, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, and the MTV animated series The Head and The Maxx. I wish for those every year, and still haven't given up.
I've still got a lot of catching up to do this year. There are plenty of solid releases I haven't had a chance to see, including United 93, Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut, Match Point, Thank You For Smoking, The Road To Guantanamo, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, This Film is Not Yet Rated, An Inconvenient Truth, and I still haven't finished Deadwood Season Two or The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.. The list goes on and on. We'll talk more next year.
Editorial by Gabriel Powers
Follow our updates
Thrilling Reviews
Death Smiles on a Murderer US - BD RA 24: Season One UK - DVD R2 Severin Films 'House' Double Feature US - BD RA Ocean's Thirteen UK - HD Die Hard 25th Anniversary Collection US - BD RA
Reviewer Agony
Wedding Planner, The US - DVD R1 Coneheads UK - DVD R2 WolfCop US - BD RA Meet the Spartans UK - BD RA/B Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) US - BD RA
Award Winning
Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Criterion Collection, The US - BD Creature Comforts: Series 2 Part 1 UK - DVD R2 Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol US - BD RA Zodiac: Director's Cut US - BD Blade II UK - BD RB
Most Talked About
Halloween (2018) US - DVD R1 | BD RA Venom US - DVD R1 | BD RA All the Colors of the Dark US - DVD R1 | BD RA Cloverfield Paradox, The US - DVD R1 | BD RA Night School US - DVD R1 | BD RA


text:
I met this girl about 3 or 4 years ago. We always kept in contact, nothing heavy at all. Well it started getting serious about january of this year, and i knew that she was a JW, and sometimes went to the Kingdom Hall. But NOW that we have been together since February, she seems HELLBENT on diving DEEP INTO this religion!! I was somewhat familiar with this religion before this, but now that she's jumped into it head first, and eyes closed, it is becoming an issue, and i am trying to get the FACTS across to her that the JW's and Watchtower society is PURE brainwashing!! HELP!! LOL!
Views: 1292
You will never get the facts across to her, not only is she not a run of the mill xian, she is Jehova - you cannot win.
She will not listen. She will try converting you. They believe the bible is the word of god, and will not listen to anything else. They believe secular society to be corrupt and are controlled by satan. They believe in Armageddon - they will not allow their children blood transfusions - they don't believe in birthdays, xmas, or easter - even I, as a fervent Atheist, love xmas and easter, any excuse for a party, presents and chocolate - the list goes on. They are homophobic. They like it if you are asexual.
They don't like everything in the bible, so they wrote their own - New World Translation.
They. like catholics and other xian organisatons, protect pedophiles. The same as catholics, if the pedophile repents, he is forgiven, and can go on his merry way.
If you don't get with the program, she will drop you anyway. They are a real worry - RUUUNNNN!!!!!!!!
And always remember, Atheists have better sex than xians.
Humanity will always find an excuse for a party!
Well, most of what you have here is kinda iffy, but the sex part is spot on.
I was a 'Jehova' as you mentioned above, lol, but I DID listen to something else. I didn't like trying to convert and hammer away at people consistently and being a pest. Blood transfusions are, believe it or not, up to the individual now. If someone REALLY wants to save their life, you can no longer be excommunicated for it. Xmas and Easter is obvious, but birthdays, I never understood. They actually DON'T like it if you're asexual, you should be married to a person, damnit. Homophobia is not rampant, and any kind of hate against such a person just because they are gay is considered a sin.
The protection of pedophiles is NOTHING like the catholic church. They do not 'protect' pedophiles, and the church does not house them. Regardless, situations did arise that should have been handled better.
I have seen relationships between a JW and a non JW, where the non JW doesn't 'get with the program', and nothing happens, they continue being in a relationship, marry and have kids.
The reason I bring this all up is that each situation is different. You should not push away, hate, or feel that people religious or not, could never love you just because they are from a different belief system. Sure it's not easy. But when we met, we knew it would work. A decade later, it still works, with kids.
I'd agree. Having married (now divorced from) a JW, they can go one of two ways. My wife chose me over her family, who are instructed to disassociate from their daughter as a result. Luckily, despite their attempts to convert me, they failed and my wife left "the truth" and her family did not disassociate her. (They were shunned by their assembly as a result, however)
But it seems your girlfriend is not making that choice, so I'd say I agree with Suzanne. Run. She has made her choice. You wouldn't want her disassociated from her family even if she did choose you, I'm sure. The ony option is for you to convert or walk/run. And I think you know which option you'd prefer.
Thank you for your input Suzzane, and thats EXACTLY what i have been contemplating. The thing is; EVERYTHING else seems to be exactly what i want and need; EXCEPT when this JW bullshit comes up, LOL! I feel like i can break it down, and destroy the brainwashing, 1 because i know more about the religion AND that "new world translation" non-sense, than her. YES nathan i KNOW which one i would prefer, because "conversion" is NOT in my brain ANYWHERE....It may just come down to that VERY SOON, because i have 2 kids from a previous relationship, and i REFUSE for her to try and indoctrinate them, DAMN that, SMH...Thank you both!
Yes, unfortunately, some JW's just choose to be very hard about it and start passing the 'disfellowshiped' word around.. Others are very easy going, and are ok with it, especially if you have grown up with them and know you and your family very well. While the JW society states that all of them follow strict guidelines, it's just not true. As with any religion, it's all different based on where you are at and who knows who.
i would suggest you run, but if you must try to stay, ask her these 3 questions and if she can provide answer to these, she is a much better JW than you should be messing with! the third question has NEVER been answered by the many elders i have had discussions with... but more later on that!
1) Ask her the verse that the JW religion is based on. - use her bible as it is a much deeper effect - she will say:
Isaiah 43:10 - "YOU are my witnesses," is the utterance of Jehovah, "even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none.
a very good start!
2) ask her what John 1:1 says... - In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
awesome! almost there.. here is the tricky one!!
3) ask her to which 'other' god john 1:1 refers to as isaiah 43:10 makes it very clear there was no other god formed before, or after Jehovah.
she will look blankly at you and run to her elders for an answer.... ANY answer that doesn't say the jw's have completely misinterpreted John 1:1 is a lie! by saying that the word was a god, they have denied the divinity of jesus, which they do in fact saying he was michael the angel until god baptized him and called him his son.. it gets worse... but if she is committed to this religion. RUN AWAY quickly!!!
EXCELLENT james!! I will be asking these questions ASAP...If she is so committed that i have ato RUN, then it is what it is...RIDICULOUS how alot of them will put the religion above ANYTHING else, SMH
To the strong-willed JW, this won't work. To them, it establishes that the Word comes from God, as in Jesus, a lesser being, but not a God. It conflicts with the Trinity, of course, so an interpretation of the bible is needed. JW's argue that this can be done due to the way the Greek scriptures are translated and used. Closer examination will indeed see conflicting issues, but not to a JW. How do I know this?
I was one.
Here's a good explanation with a pro argument: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100510135437AAnCRzg
.. and against: http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/bible-for-dummies/BD0805W3.htm
Of course, neither of the above show the continued conflicts with other scriptures, and how loosely the bible was interpreted in the first place. But to a JW, the scriptures are perfect, the rendering of the Watchtower society is without flaw. Unless, of course, you count the times where a flaw did indeed exist and was 'corrected'.
VERY interesting Garret, thank you. What is your advice on the situation?
Well, you asked for it, so get ready for some reading. in my situation, I was a JW, for a very, very long time, mind you. I fell in love and married someone who was not. To my surprise, many overlooked this about me, and as long as I banged away at coming to church and associating with them, it was OK. This is especially true if you have kids. Emotions change, the kids become very important. They knew my wife was from another Christian religion (she prefers a non-denominational church, one that won't hound her for marrying a crazy JW). So they preached to her, asked me to have her study, and bring the kids to the Kingdom Hall.
Well, I did all that, but my wife was pretty strong about her own beliefs.
And then it happened. It opened my eyes. It changed the way I thought. It clearly made be believe that the God of the bible... the one I have read for years Just. Couldn't. Exist.
It was my own wife who pointed out the flaws in the JW's, The funny thing is, is that while she was pointing these out, it expanded reasons as to why religion doesn't work, and how Abraham's God is a mess. She, still being a steadfast Christian, helped convert me into someone who I never thought I would be. I've always had questions that were never answered, and I always had doubts. I'm still in shock, but to me this can be no mistake, no error, no 'demon' trying to tempt me into making me think God doesn't exist.
So if you really love this girl, and she loves you, it's time to ask the hard questions. It CAN work, but how much are you willing to work for it? Is she worth it? Would she be willing to go to a science discussion about evolution or the origins of Earth? Can she be open-minded enough to read and talk about it?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Stoke chairman Peter Coates has revealed the club have rejected an offer from Chelsea for goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Coates insists the club have no intention of selling the 23-year-old Bosnian who reportedly refused to play in the Carling Cup match against Shrewsbury in midweek after being linked with the Premier League champions.
Stoke signed Begovic from Portsmouth and Coates said: "I felt huge disappointment. He's an exceptional young goalkeeper, one of the best in the country. Clubs like Chelsea make enquiries about them and their heads can get turned very easily. It's just bad advice they get given, they shouldn't listen to it but obviously they do."
When asked on BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme if Begovic might move to Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes, Coates added: "I know nothing about it. I would say the answer is no.
"We're in a difficult position here. We just can't go out and find a goalkeeper, they're very hard to find."
Reports have suggested Chelsea were prepared to bid £4.5million.
Coates said: "You may have heard a rumour and it may be pretty good information, but the fact is we've rejected any offer they've made. They made an enquiry and they did make an offer and it was rejected."
Asked if a bigger offer might tempt Stoke to sell, Coates said: "Silly offers do have an effect on you but nothing like that has happened and we're not expecting it to happen and our position is we see him remaining our goalkeeper."


text:
Using Freading eBooks
1) You need to have a valid library card from a library that has contracted the Freading eBook Service. Although www.freading.com is visible on the World Wide Web, you will be prompted for a valid library card before you can actually download a book. Only library cards from subscribing libraries will work. Valid users can enter the site either from the web or via their subscribing library web site.
2) You need to decide on what device that you will read the eBooks. The most popular devices that are compatible with Freading eBooks are:
- Any computer or laptop running a Windows or Mac platform with at least a modest hard drive, some free RAM, and a browser that has been updated in the past year or two. Major browsers such as IE, Safari, Firefox, and Chrome will show the site just fine.
- The nook family of devices from Barnes & Noble. We have specifically tested the nook Color and the Simple Touch Reader. The nook devices are not compatible with direct wireless downloading of Freading eBooks, but they accept transfers from your PC or Mac through a simple process.
- The Apple iPad® and iPhone®. The Freading eBook service has a free application in the Apple App Store which you can download. You must use the general browser to access your library's Freading site, then you download the eBook into the application. Direct downloading from within the application is not possible.
- Most Android™ based tablets and phones. We say "most" because some devices are Android based, but do not allow access to the full Android App Market, but a subset of that store. The Freading eBook Service has a free application in the Android app Market, and tablets that allow you to download the app include tablets from Motorola, Sony, Samsung and Acer, among others. Downloading is possible from within the Freading Android App.
- The Kobo Ereader and Vox tablet. The Freading App is in the Getjar App store.
- The Kindle Fire, but not other Kindle Devices. The Kindle Fire accepts 3rd party apps through a few extra steps as indicated below.
3) All mobile device users will need an Adobe ID in order to activate their Freading app for use. If users do not already have an Adobe ID, they can create an ID by visiting the Adobe website .
eReader users (Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo) will also need an Adobe ID in order to utilize the Adobe® Digital Editions software on their PC. Adobe Digital Editions is a software program similar to iTunes in that it manages downloads and stores the eBooks on your PC. The Freading eBook site can tell you whether the Adobe Digital Editions software is on your computer. You can follow the link on the Freading homepage to download the Adobe Digital Editions software for free.
If the eReading device is not compatible with the Freading app (Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo), then the eBooks will need to be transferred from their PC to their eReader through the Adobe Digital Editions software.
Freading on Kindle Fire
It takes a few extra steps to get the Freading application on the Kindle Fire, but once it is set up,most users report that it is easy to use. (Please note: on some versions of the Kindle Fire users are warned that loading applications this way is less private and there is a risk of "unexpected behavior".)
- Go to the settings on the Kindle Fire (it is the bicycle gear icon at the top) and go to "device". Turn on the switch for allowing unknown applications.
- Go to the browser on your Kindle Fire and type in m.getjar.com.
- You may be prompted to install the GetJar app at this point, tap 'download' if you are prompted. If not, search for 'getjar' on this site
- After you find the GetJar app, tap to download it to your Kindle Fire.
- A little number icon will appear in a circle next to the name of the Kindle at the top of the display when the download is complete. Tap the number and follow the on screen instructions to install it.
- Tap the back arrow on the screen to go back to browse the GetJar store.
- Search for and download the Freading app.
- As above, a number icon will appear by the name of the device to indicate the download is complete. Tap the number to find the file to install
- The Freading app will show up on the home page of the Fire now. The first time you turn the Kindle off after the install, you may need to press the sync/refresh button, which is in the first menu after pressing the settings gear icon.
- Use Freading through the browser (go back to your library's Freading site) and download into the Freading app, or from within the app itself by tapping the 'store' icon.
Note: If the popup does not appear automatically for the GetJar app when you first visit the website (m.getjar.com) you can manually download it by clicking any of the apps on the screen. After this, proceed with step 5.


text:
Add to Calendar
An ecumenical soup kitchen serving meals to families and those in need, at the St. Paul United Church of Christ at Old Monroe (Meier & Brevator roads) serves every Tuesday and Thursday from 11a.m. to 1p.m. For information call 636-665-5329 They will be running on the Winfield school schedule.


text:
www.cheaperthancars.com means what it says. You can search and compare the latest rental car rates in San Marino that can be even cheaper than what you might expect to pay directly. We do the searching to bring you the best car rental deals in San Marino. For the same brands you can pay less !
Rates are often fully inclusive ! No credit card fees and many deals with free cancellations and amendments*. Check the results and look at the notes against every deal in the summary listings. Also, when comparing , check all the extra's put on by other operators if you have time. We make it easy for you – our systems check all the deals and we present you with low prices on top brands, and latest car models, with more car rental pick up location depots, than anyone else around the world. We offer the best car rental pick up locations in San Marino and 30,000 depots worldwide.
For driving in San Marino : Looking for a business car rental in San Marino? Drive the latest models with the best Car Rental brands. We also offer discount car rentals across the World
For driving Worldwide and in San Marino: Looking for a business car rental in San Marino ? Drive the latest models with the best San Marino Car Rental brands available. Reliable names like Hertz, Avis , Europcar, Thrifty. Ideal for businessman , tourists , large or small vehicles, budget or family wagons, even luxury cars to.
Combine and compare your San Marino car hire deal with your favourite airline deals and hotel accommodation to give you the perfect trip. Book Cheaperthancars and check out our other site at Cheaperthanhotels for places to stay with your car rental in San Marino .
We are happy to help! If you have a question about your rental and you cannot find the answer in the FAQ section, please phone us directly :
Call us
*If you're calling from a mobile or from abroad
*If you're calling on a landline from one of the countries below
|United Kingdom
|+44 203 582 8218
|United States
|+1 6 468 451 888
|+61 280 144 590
|+34 931 815 659
|+33 170 613 014
|+39 051 054 5041
|0800 181 3949
|0800 221 961
|+46 840 309 978
Write to us
Cheaperthancars – Car Trawler
Classon House
Dundrum Business Park
Dublin 14
Republic of Ireland


text:
Marriage and Couples Counselling in Singapore
Couples, whether married or in a committed relationship, can benefit from marriage counselling with our experienced counsellor. Gain help that resolves relationship conflict, increases sexual intimacy, improves emotional intimacy and strengthens communication. Our long-term relationship and marital counselling service in Singapore is focused on helping you develop the skills to create a healthy, flourishing relationship. We integrate the theories and methodologies of Dr. Gottman with Choice Theory and Attachment Theory. Our marriage counselling encourages small yet effective change in a short period of time, tending to last only 4-6 sessions. However, occasionally further work may be required to increase the couple's functionality and to improve communication skills.
Meet Our Therapist: Video on How we help Couples
Video: How help couples with Conflict Avoiders
READ: Behaviors & Belief that will Kill your sex life and your relationship too
READ: First Time to Counselling: How to get the Most out of your session
Saving Your Marriage On Your Own
If you are desperate to save your marriage but your spouse doesn't want to attend counselling, you can do relationship counselling on your own. You have 100% control over your half of the relationship. By doing something different and probably more effective, you force a change in their reaction because you are behaving differently. This is often more effective than trying to force someone to attend counselling.
We can also help you understand what your partner is saying to you even if they don't attend. Don't make counselling another power struggle between you and your spouse in which you try and force someone to come when they don't want to. If you really want to make your relationship better, don't wait for your spouse to come around- we can help you.
Read: Should you force your spouse into Counselling?
Read our article: Marriage counselling- Going it solo
Also helpful to understand why you don't need your partner is: How you define the problem may ensure you don't solve it
Client Case Studies
Some of the most common reasons for couple counselling include:
- Emotional Unhappiness/lack of love in relationship
- Communication Issues
- Divorce/Separation Concerns
- Desire to Improve the Relationship
- Arguments/Anger Management Issues
- Sex/Physical Affection Differences
- Conflict escalation without resolution
- Lack of Emotional Intimacy
- Lack of Sexual Intimacy
- Conflict problems
Sex and Intimacy Help
Pre-marriage and Post-Marriage Counselling
Pre marital counselling service is for couples planning to get married, newlyweds or honeymoon couples looking to develop relationship skills that will nurture successful marriage. A strong marriage requires good relationship and communications skills, as well as a smooth and painless means of conflict resolution – we can help grow these.
When pre-marriage couples are in love it is very easy to overlook nascent issues that show signs of being problematic. While planning to get married no one wants to think about future problems in communication, sexual intimacy or conflict. However, a mature approach to marriage is to realize that love can only sustain a relationship so far and that the ability to have a successful marriage is dependent on a couple's ability to manage their differences successfully. Pre-marriage couples need effective communication skills to ensure a happy marriage, a good marriage counsellor can ensure these.
Research shows that the global divorce rate by the seventh year of a relationship is 50% and for second marriages the divorce rate is 70%. Clearly, couples can benefit from learning more effective relationship skills for a happy, long and successfully marriage. Don't become a statistic, work with our marriage counsellor to develop the skills for a successful marriage.
Our pre-marriage and post-marriage counselling by our counsellor will teach you how to satisfy the needs of each person in a relationship. Unlike most classes that just show you incompatibility, our pre-marriage counselling teaches you effective skills to manage expectations, conflict and communication.
Doubts about Marriage Increase Risk of Divorce at Year 4- Pre-Marriage Counselling a Good Idea
Topics typically covered include:
• Communication issues
• Expectations management
• Conflict management
• Problem solving skills enhancement
• Understanding the impact of perception of your partner
Pre-marriage counselling helps couples clarify and define a common relationship platform from which to make relationship goals and decisions. Pre- marriage counselling sessions teach clients marriage communication skills that will help them avoid common negative relationship traps. Our marital counselling service provider is a certified Choice Theory therapist and has completed marriage counselling training with Dr. Gottman, from the Gottman's Institute – renowned for its marriage counsellors and leading relationship researchers.
Surviving Infidelity Couple Counselling
Infertility Couple Counselling
Couple Counselling before starting infertility treatments has been found to be an effective measure against the ensuing stress and anxiety of treatments and can help protect and stabilize the marriage. In many countries it is mandatory part of infertility treatments. Our expat couple counsellor will help couples learn good communicaitons skills to resolve the many stressful and difficult issues they will face on the journey to having a baby.
Copyright @ 2015 All in the Family Counselling Centre Pte Ltd


text:
Israeli forces have placed a four-meter-high barbed wire fence in Ein Jwaizeh area to the northwest of al-Walaja village, completely encircling it, Hasan Brijiyeh from the committee against the Apartheid Wall and settlements in Bethlehem, told the official Palestinian news agency Wafa on Saturday.
"Construction of the barrier in the West Bank gravely violates the rights of Palestinians in the areas affected, restricting their access to their lands, crucial services and relatives on the other side of the barrier. The barrier also prevents any possibility of economic development," said Israeli rights group B'Tselem on its website.
Israel began building the barrier of walls and fences inside the occupied West Bank back in 2002. Tel Aviv argues that the project is aimed at preventing infiltration into the occupied territories, but Palestinians say the move is yet another violation of their rights and allows for further annexation of their land, Press TV reported.
If completed, the barrier will result in the isolation of 9.4 percent of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The International Court of Justice said in an advisory opinion issued in 2004 that the "apartheid wall" violates international law and urged Israel to remove it from the occupied territories.
In another development on Saturday, Tel Aviv announced a closure of the West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip ahead of the Israeli holidays of Memorial Day and Independence Day. The closure will last until Tuesday night.
Tel Aviv has accelerated its land grab and settlement construction activities in the occupied Palestinian territories after US President Donald Trump took office earlier this year.
The settlement activities are in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. The resolution, which was adopted in December 2016, condemned the settlements as a "flagrant violation of international law."
Earlier this week, Israel's Housing Ministry said it had been working for two years on the plan to build 25,000 units in Jerusalem al-Quds.


text:
Bell century leads England to consolation win
England 227 for 3 (Bell 113*) beat India 226 (Raina 83, Bresnan 4-45) by seven wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Ian Bell's third one-day century guided England to a consolation victory in the fifth and final ODI against India to bookend an ultimately disappointing tour with a second success. Although the series was already lost, a 3-2 defeat represents a marked improvement on recent efforts in the country, but Alastair Cook's chief regret will be that his side took so long to put in a second accomplished performance, after they had taken a 1-0 lead in Rajkot a little more than two weeks ago.
The bowlers, lead by Tim Bresnan, Steven Finn and James Tredwell, had made good use of Cook winning the toss to restrict India to 226, despite a fighting 83 from Suresh Raina, and England looked to have a modest hike ahead of them in order to secure only a third ODI win against India at home in 23 attempts. At times, the target seemed to loom higher than the Himalayas visible behind Dharamsala's multicoloured pavilion but Bell is an experienced climber these days and Eoin Morgan brought along his spare oxygen canister to ease the ascent at the end.
Like Raina, whose fourth half-century in as many innings helped drag India from a potentially disastrous 79 for 5 earlier in the day, Bell was not entirely secure at the crease, twice edging past his stumps early on and struggling to time the ball as the surface got slower. But he stuck around as England lost two wickets for 11 runs in 6.2 overs and after a diligent, restorative partnership with Joe Root, he began to look more imposing, stepping out of his crease to hit the disappointing R Ashwin for six and striking timely boundaries whenever the asking rate began to enquire a little more urgently.
Although Root was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, slogging across the line in ungainly fashion after another level-headed knock, Morgan buckled down before adding a few flourishes of his own to ease England past their target with 16 balls to spare. At 1317 metres above sea level, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is among the loftiest international grounds in the world and Morgan seemed keen to see just how far he could hit a six in the thin mountain air.
Despite being described as a match of "no consequence" in some local papers, India chose not to experiment with their line-up, again leaving Cheteshwar Pujara on the bench. They could perhaps have done with his monkish self-discipline, as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli departed to consecutive deliveries via loose drives outside off to trigger a top-order collapse. It was left to Raina, India's leading run-scorer in the series, and Jadeja, who has also toyed regularly with England over the last month, to pull things together with a spiky, 78-run partnership, before some late hitting from the tail, combined with a rash of dropped catches, helped the score towards respectability.
Before the match, Raina had expressed a desire to usurp one of his colleagues up the order and he made good use of a longer spell at the crease after coming in during the seventh over. A harsher judge, however, may conclude that he failed to construct the truly big innings that the situation provided an opportunity for.
England have been quiescent opponents in the past for Raina, who improved his average against them to 47.47 with his 11th fifty, but he was allowed let-offs on 5 and 61 before pulling idly to midwicket with a hundred in sight. The first was a difficult, diving chance that would have completed a hat-trick of slip catches for Tredwell but the latter opportunity, grassed by Cook at backward square leg, was much more straightforward.
Perhaps Raina was deserving of some benevolence after the fiery start England's bowlers made in chilly, if bright, conditions. The Dalai Lama is based in exile at nearby McLeodganj but the early exchanges were far from peaceable on a hard, fast surface with enough juice in it to make a Tibetan monk sit up and blink.
There was initial seam movement on offer for Finn but it was Bresnan who made the first incursion, removing ersatz opener Rohit. Having timed one exquisite square drive for four, Rohit attempted a reprise to a slightly wider delivery that drifted further away from his crease-bound push, the ball slicing off the outside edge to the right of Tredwell at second slip, where he took a tumbling catch. The very next ball produced a facsimile swish from Kohli, though Tredwell went in for a bit of variety on this occasion, juggling the ball three times in front of the kneeling Cook before grasping it for good with a giddy grin.
When Yuvraj got a thick edge to point trying to turn Finn through square leg, the match was beginning to resemble an early season encounter in England - at least in temperature and bowling conditions, if not the setting. It could have been even better for England had Raina's edge off Chris Woakes - replacing Jade Dernbach - stuck but he battled pugnaciously after being hit on the shoulder by his first ball, from Finn.
Tredwell has spent the one-day series doing a passable impression of Graeme Swann, particularly to left-handers, and he had Gautam Gambhir caught by the sprawling Bell at point. The wicket came from Tredwell's second ball, an immediate, Swann-esque intervention, and England's delight ratcheted up further when Finn won an lbw decision against MS Dhoni. Only during the spells of the part-time bowlers, Root and Samit Patel, did India's batsmen display any sense of comfort. Their combined 11 overs cost 80 runs as Raina gave India one last spin of the prayer wheel in pursuit of 4-1 - but he could not turn a molehill into a mountain.
Alan Gardner is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo


text:
Spring Hall of Fame Show Sees Strong Traffic
April 29, 2013 by Bruce Hampson · Comments Off on Spring Hall of Fame Show Sees Strong Traffic
An early morning rain shower may have dampened the grounds Sunday (April 28) at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind., but it apparently did little to stymie enthusiasm and turnout for the final day of the first-ever Spring Hall of Fame RV Show, hosted by the Indiana Manufactured Housing Association-Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council Inc. (IMHA-RVIC).
"The show's been going very well," noted Matt Rose, director of recreation vehicles for Indianapolis-based IMHA-RVIC. "Friday was a little slow, but Saturday's traffic was wonderful. And even with the rain today, there's been a steady stream of people coming in all day. The cloudy skies have not deterred the crowd at all. I don't have anything to compare it to because it's the first year, but the traffic has been surprisingly good."
According to Rose, the spring event grew out of a request from dealers familiar with other RVIC events.
"Four of the seven dealers showing here were with us in South Bend, and two of them were at our show in Fort Wayne," Rose pointed out. "They did so well in those locations that they asked the association to do a spring show to help kick off the summer selling season.
"The dealers are quite happy with the show," he added. "They are doing very, very well. One dealer reported selling two units just in the morning on Friday."
With an open, well-equipped display that ranged from Flagstaff SuperLite travel trailers by Forest River Inc. to Thor Industries Inc.'s Palazzo and Tuscany motorhomes, Elkhart-based Total Value RV of Indiana Inc. had what salesman Scott Moody termed a "fantastic" show.
"We've already sold five units – three motorhomes and two trailers," Moody told RVBUSINESS.com on Sunday morning. "It's been a real good show. Today we got a little rain, but the first two days the weather was perfect and we had great traffic."
Gary Miller, with Wana RV Center, also was pleasantly surprised by the amount of traffic.
"It's going good," Miller said. "There were quite a few people out yesterday; today, it's been slower, but there's still a lot of people out here — quite a few more people than I was expecting, actually."
According to Miller, Wana RV Center doesn't necessarily participate in RV shows to generate on-site sales, but to promote increased traffic through its Shipshewana, Ind., showroom.
"We don't really come to the shows to necessarily sell units – we're here mainly to display, and encourage interested people to visit our lot where we have a lot more units, different floorplans. This is mainly to introduce them what we have."
Based on dealer feedback and local turnout, Rose anticipates that the Spring Hall of Fame RV Show will become a regular event.
"We're planning to make it an annual event," Rose said. "And as well as the dealers are doing, I am confident that they will want to do it again next spring."


text:
John Cleese is on the phone from London, frightfully apologetic for being late for an interview. "My wife and I flew back from a little holiday today. We had a little problem with one of our bags."
Cleese, 73, who came to fame along with Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Eric Idle more than 40 years ago as the outrageously inventive comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus, rang up to talk about his latest gig: supplying the voice of an airplane called Bulldog in Disney's new 3-D movie, "Planes," which opens Friday.
John Cleese: An article about actor John Cleese in the Aug. 8 Calendar section said he lives off Stone Square in London. He lives off Sloane Square. —
The family comedy revolves around a plucky crop duster named Dusty (Dane Cook) who dreams of not only entering but winning a competitive race. Bulldog is a ramrod traditional British plane who has been racing longer than anyone on the circuit. And though Bulldog initially doesn't take Dusty seriously, he soon realizes the little plane is overflowing with courage and bravery.
So you are now living in London? You lived for years in Santa Barbara.
I moved back here the beginning of this year. I live off Stone Square in London. The weather is very nice at the moment. But I don't know how many English winters I will be able to survive at my age. English winters are a bit like the First World War. You really wonder if it's ever going to end.
What prompted the move?
For some strange reason, I started discovering I was getting so much work from the rest of the world, places outside of America. It wasn't necessary for me to be in America. It's also so I could spend a lot of time with my daughter [Cynthia]. It was a culmination of reasons.
Besides Bulldog, you have done voices for several animated films, including the king in the "Shrek" films and the narrator in the 2011 "Winnie the Pooh." Why do you like doing animated films?
I did a lot of radio at the start of my career. I think I did about 120 comedy radio shows back in the days when they did proper, scripted comedies.
So there are a lot of similarities between radio and animation?
It's all about the script and the performance. I have good verbal technique. If you want me to do a line a little bit fast or a little bit slower or higher or whatever, I can do it straight away. It seems to me American actors concentrate so much on the emotion part of acting — and they are very good at that — but their [vocal] technique is often not as good as the English actors. But English actors are not as good at expressing strong emotion.
But Bulldog, who is very stiff upper-wing, so to speak, becomes very emotional when Dusty saves his life.
The British obviously do feel, but they used to be taught to freeze their emotions early on because if you have an empire to run, you can't spend all of your time being depressed.
Very funny! Do animation directors give you full rein when you create a voice like Bulldog?
No, they are usually very specific about what they want. Of course, if they haven't worked with you — and 90% of the time they haven't — they want to hear if you can kind of approximate your voice to what they have got in their mind. So you spend the first hour trying to find the voice. They don't know exactly what they want, but they know it when they've heard it.
IMDB lists a movie called "Absolutely Anything," which is to be directed by Python Terry Jones and lists the rest of the gang as doing voices of extraterrestrials. What's the status on that?
The truth is, I don't think any one of us knows what's going on. Terry rang us about 18 months ago and said, "If we make this movie and I direct it, will you do a voice for it?" As far as I know, everyone said yes, and that's the last we heard about it.
Has there been any talk of a Python reunion?
It is too difficult geographically. Dear old Mickey Palin — as I call Michael Palin — is forever traveling. He is always away doing his travel programs. Gilliam is either racing around the world trying to raise money or at film festivals or shooting something. He loves directing films — it seems almost to be a perverse pleasure. Jonesie is always doing the most extraordinary mixture of things. I think a few years ago he was directing an opera in Lisbon about carpet cleaners. And Eric is very much based in L.A.
We only get together occasionally. It's fun when we do. We always say we laugh more when we are together than we really do any other time.


text:
Asexuality is not an orientation
For discussion of general issues pertaining to asexuality.
- Mega Member
- Posts: 547
- Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 12:02 pm
Re: Asexuality is not an orientation
I'd suggest we both have a "weakness" when it comes to responding to things better left ignored. But then that would cut down on the entertainment wouldn't it?
- Established Member
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2016 6:07 pm
Re: Asexuality is not an orientation
An orientation is based on sexual attraction. Straights are straight because they desire the opposite sex, gays and lesbians are so because they feel sexual attraction to the same sex. Asexuals would form their own orientation the asexual orientation if asexuals actually didn't feel attraction, arousal or desire sex, much like atheists who have the absence of religious belief. Thus the current most common definition of an asexual is too unrealistic and does not really explain what is going on well on an individual or sociological basis, creates too much conflict and extra explaining, loose ends, caveats, etc.


text:
Troy Loney wrote:Pavel Bure wrote:I just did my first mock draft of the season.
1. Trent Richardson
2. Drew Brees
3. Darren Sproles
4. Reggie Bush
5. Hakeem Nicks
6. Antonio Brown
7. Fred Jackson
8. Vomit
9. etc.
Then I left. I don't like it. Drafted 10th.
Who does Reggie Bush play for these days?
Signed in Detroit like a month ago or so.


text:
Skip to comments.Media Targets Evil Carnival Cruise Company Because They Must Politicize Everything
Posted on 02/15/2013 4:37:48 PM PST by Kaslin
RUSH: The cruise ship passengers are back. They finally made it back, and they're all pooped. It's exactly how I feel at the end of a busy broadcast week, ladies and gentlemen. He-he. Did you hear, these poor people, their towline broke late yesterday afternoon. They were towing that giant Carnival cruise ship and the towline broke so they got the towline fixed. They finally tow the thing back into port, they put these people on buses to take 'em back to New Orleans, and one of the buses broke down. One of the buses broke down on the way over to New Orleans.
I swear, can you imagine how much worse it would have been if we'd had the sequester happen? In fact, I am surprised, ladies and gentlemen, that the Drive-Bys are not reporting how much worse things would have been for those cruise ship passengers if the sequester cuts had kicked in, can you imagine? I mean, it would have been really bad then. Martin Savidge is a reporter for CNN. I wish they would have put Nic Robertson on this story. Nic Robertson is my all-time favorite CNN reporter.
I'm gonna get to that. I can't do it all here in the first ten minutes, gee whiz.
"Rush, did you know that they talked about your theory on Fox?"
Yeah, yeah, Fox. I got the sound bites coming up, but first I have to tell you about this cruise ship. I wish they'd put Nic Robertson on this. Nic Robertson is the guy during the first Arab Spring at Tahrir Square, which is actually a circle in Cairo. They sent him over there basically to ask the protestors, the rock throwers, the freedom fighters, the revolutionaries, if they were happy that what President Obama wanted was finally happening, and if they had any message for Obama.
(imitating Robertson) "Is there any message for President Obama, who's very much supportive of what you're doing. In fact, he thinks that he made it happen and is very much concerned with jobs for the youth and the young people." They all said, "Obama had nothing to do with any of this. I haven't seen him here. He's changing his mind." They didn't send Nic Robertson to greet the passengers of the cruise ship. They sent Martin Savidge, who's a CNN lifer. Martin's been there a long time. And, you know what?
He looks just like the Ken doll he did 25 years ago. It's really amazing, he still has that youthful TV anchor 14-inch part in his hair, same hair color, it's envious. Anyway, they sent Martin Savidge out there and he finds one of the first passengers, who admittedly was pooped, getting off the ship. Rob Kenny is the passenger's name. And Savidge couldn't wait, just couldn't wait to talk to one of these guys, and this is how it went.
SAVIDGE: The isolation factor you described, this is the same sort of thing many people went through in Katrina, New Orleans, those that were left behind. They never heard anything, either. And it's -- your mind begins to race. You wonder if anybody knows of the circumstance you're in, you think you're all alone, and of course any rumor becomes solid fact, and it spreads in a very closed environment. So I imagine it's something very similar.
KENNY: Yeah, but you know, let's put that in perspective. I mean, Katrina was a major devastation.
SAVIDGE: Sure.
KENNY: We're on a friggin' cruise ship, and we're just out having a good time. So, you know, from that angle -- and I get it, because it is an isolation of communication, but two different things, you know, two different things.
CNN Reporter Compares Disabled Carnival Cruise Ship to Hurricane Katrina,
RUSH: So Martin Savidge says it's just like Katrina. Now, why would they want to associate this with Katrina? Why? I'll tell you why. Because they want to associate this evil profit-making cruise line to George W. Bush, and you'll hear why when we get to the sound bites, not about the cruise ship, but about my theory explaining Obama. You're gonna hear some stuff that, well, I'm not gonna prejudge what you're gonna think of it, but mark my words, CNN had to try to equate this cruise ship experience with Hurricane Katrina because in their minds, Hurricane Katrina was the Republicans' fault. It was Bush's fault.
See, they have to politicize everything. Thankfully, this passenger, "Hey, wait a minute, pal, we're out here on a cruise ship. Yeah, things mighta gone wrong, there mighta been sewage on the walls but, for crying out loud, we're just out there having a good time." I mean, this is not like Hurricane Katrina. This is why I wish they had sent Nic Robertson. Nic Robertson would have asked them what they thought of Obama's efforts to save that ship and to save that cruise and to get it into port, but we'll never hear that. We will never know because they didn't send Nic Robertson.
Now, yesterday Snerdley was demanding to know what I would do if I were CEO. And the CEO, I think the company said they're gonna give everybody on this cruise refunds and then 15% discounts on a future cruise. And I said, "Were it me, I'd give 'em refunds and then I would comp them on a cruise on any ship in my fleet anytime they wanted, say in the next two to three years, and I'd pay for the whole thing." But that's just me. I'd go the whole boat, but as I say, that's just me. Well, of course the State-Controlled Media is trying now to kill the cruise industry. The evil Carnival corporation makes billions. They're already being talked about as this evil profit center and how the profit is not being properly put back to use in making sure these cruise ships operate safely and so forth. They don't have to abide by US labor laws. The passengers have no rights. Well, here we have a montage of media people, many of them on CNN talking about the evils of this cruise ship.
ERIN BURNETT: This company is not headquartered in the United States. They don't have to abide by US labor laws. They don't have to abide by US minimum wage.
DONNY DEUTSCH: They don't have to abide by US labor laws. They don't have to abide by US health rules.
JONATHAN SERRIE: Cruise lines face very little US regulation. Triumph is registered in the Bahamas.
JIM WALKER: Foreign-incorporated companies that are essentially registering their operations overseas to avoid US taxes.
CLARK HOWARD: The contract you enter into when you sign up for a cruise essentially takes away any rights you have.
NATASHA CURRY: If you're a cruise ship passenger, do you have any rights?
JENNIFER WESTHOVEN: You basically don't.
ERIN BURNETT: Americans account for about two thirds of the people who cruise around the world. This is an industry that's $35-plus billion a year.
RUSH: Yeah, but look at what they do. "They register these ships outside the US. They don't pay any US taxes. The cruise ship passengers have no rights. They're basically slaves -- and if there's sewage on the walls? Big whoop. We'll tow you in when we get a chance -- and after we get you, the bus that we transport you in will break down, and then for all your trouble we'll give you a refund and a 15% discount on the next cruise of your choice. What a bunch of rotten SOBs!" That's the way the news covers it. Then you got the question, "Did you feel like you were in Hurricane Katrina?"
Make no mistake. Make no mistake. The whole point of this was to impugn the entire cruise industry and this particular cruise line as having some linkage to Bush. That's the Hurricane Katrina business. Now, here. This is in the Mobile, Alabama, at the port where the cruise ship Triumph docked. The CEO, Jerry Cahill, held a press conference. You know, all day long the passengers were complimenting the crew for the great job they did, but once the ship docked the CEO had a press conference to apologize.
CAHILL: We pride ourselves in providing our guests with a great vacation experience, and clearly we failed in this particular case. Now, the most important thing for me at this point in time is to go on board and to apologize to our guests.
RUSH: Oh, no. This did not work. I heard that, and I said, "This isn't gonna go well." This sounds good. Maybe it's what the book would say to do, but this isn't gonna go well. Well, let's just go to the audio sound bites. Good Morning America today found a passenger. Veronica Arriaga said this about the apology that the passengers got from the CEO...
ARRIAGA: He can say, "Oh, yeah, we know how you feel." No, you don't. You were not there. You did not go many nights wondering what are you gonna eat when you wake up in the morning. What are you supposed to do? You can't contact your family. You can't do anything.
RUSH: It doesn't sound like the apology penetrated much. Here is another passenger, Tammy Hilly being interviewed by George "Stephy" Stephanopoulos who said to the passenger, Tammy Hilly, "We've heard Carnival's apology. They're gonna give everybody a refund, $500. Is that enough for you, or do you want more?"
HILLY: I want to really guard my heart from feeling greedy or exploiting the situation, but I feel like $500 gives you about a hundred dollars a day -- and for our jobs, that doesn't even cover that, and then you talk about the emotional trauma, and just last night feeling what we went through last night while we're on land with our families and our insides just trembling. I don't think it begins to even say what is needed here.
RUSH: Of course not. Of course. It's not even close to what is needed. In fact, let me get a news story. Wait 'til these people hear about this. Wait a second, now. Wait until the passengers hear about this. The Department of Agriculture secretary, Tom Vilsack, is featured in a radio ad urging Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who think the USDA discriminated against them to file claims for a piece of $1.3 billion in cash awards and tax relief payments and up to $160 million in farm debt relief set aside as Obama's part of a "new era of civil rights."
So somewhere it's been determined that the agriculture department discriminated against Hispanic and women farmers and Hispanic and women ranchers. All they have to do is think that they were discriminated against, and they can apply for their share of $1.3 billion in reparations. Can we just be honest about what this is? This $1.3 billion pool of money that these people are gonna make claims on, and then another $160 million in farm debt relief that Obama set aside from his stash as part of a "new era of civil rights."
So wait. Here you have the cruise ship passengers getting 500 bucks, and these discriminated-against Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers get to divvy up $1.3 billion? What are they gonna think is the place to go for prosperity? But this cruise ship business... Let's continue with the audio sound bites. Let's go to Obama reading from his own book, the audio book version of The Audacity of Hope. Here he is talking about a sermon by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, his Trinity United Church pastor, and the impact it had on him...
OBAMA 2007: "The painting depicts a harpist," Reverend Wright explained, "a woman who, at first glance, appears to be sitting atop a great mountain. Until you take a closer look and see that the woman is bruised and bloodied, dressed in tattered rags, the harp reduced to a single frayed string. Your eye is then drawn down to the scene below, down to the valley below, where everywhere are the ravages of famine, the drumbeat of war, a world groaning under strife and deprivation. It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere ... That's the world on which hope sits." And so it went, a meditation on a fallen world.
RUSH: That's Obama reading from his own book, and that was the sermon from Reverend Wright that inspired Obama to become a member at the Trinity United Church. "[A] world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need," and here's the Carnival cruise line and this devastating cruise and vacation. So this all can be tied together. Here is Reverend Wright from his greatest hits...
WRIGHT (screaming): Barack knows what it means to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people! [snip] Hillary ain't never been called a nigger! [snip] Bill did us just like he did Monica Lewinsky!
CONGREGATION: (cheers)
WRIGHT: He was riding dirty. [snip] In white America, US of KKKA: black men turning on black men. [snip] I am sick of Negroes who just do not get it. [snip] Not God bless America, God (bleep) America! It's in the Bible. For killing innocent people, God (bleep) America! [snip] (screaming) And now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yards!
CONGREGATION: (cheers)
WRIGHT: America's chickensssss are coming home to roost.
RUSH: "White folks' greed runs a world in need." Cruise ships throw away more food, and now they throw away more sewage, than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year.
Please pray for the victims of Carnival cruises who had to endure days of discomfort. LOL
Funny thing is that a good many of the people getting off the boat didn't seem nearly as upset as the mediots.
My wife and I probably watched more CNN last night than in the previous 5 years combined, because we go on cruises and wanted to see the ship coming in.
Erin Burnett kept trying to sell the premise that none of these problems would have happened if Carnival used highly paid unionized US employees instead of those dirt cheap foreigners.
It is not my idea of fun to hang out on a floating apartment complex. As big a con job to me as an amusement park and their hour long lines
Commercial fun is not all it's made out to be...IMHO only of course
...elderly people are more interesting anyway."
Thank you.
That word "elderly" is so subjective isn't it? When I was 40, I thought 60 was elderly, now that I'm 67.....and a half, not so much.
I completely agree, I went on a cruise with my dad and my daughter and it was fine, but I couldn't get over the creepy feeling of all those people in that one little spot on the ocean...........I won't ever go again.
Except, if you were doing Europe, you wouldn't ever have to unpack.
Well I'm nearly 50 so 80 is a good place to settle on elderly.
Last time I was in the upper peninsula we ended up next to a couple in their 70s in the campground. It was one of those good weeks with great company. The guy was a rebel and a rulebreaker. His dogs couldn't be off the leash in the campground so he had one of his dalmatians trained to walk the other on a leash.
Wait till expanded preschool. Kids who survive that plus 12 more years of public education won't be able to tie their shoes without government help.
For a person living in Haiti, they would have thought they died and went to Heaven.
Still, I wonder why the cruise lines are having so much trouble. What changed?
I've wondered why the cruise lines are having so much trouble these last few years. Sabotage? Deliberate malfeasance against the industry?
" Still, I wonder why the cruise lines are having so much trouble. What changed?"
The media. They have to perpetrate the argument that those big greedy corporations are evil. A story like this serves the agenda
Things could be a whole lot worse. Most of the people say the staff were great.
There was one off the coast of South Africa a few years ago and when the boat started to sink, most of the staff took the lifeboats and left. And obviously there's the recent case in the Mediterranean.
We're receiving sporadic reports of cannibalism. /s
on this cruise, "port-a-potty" meant pooping off the port side of the ship.
and don't get me started about the "poop deck", which basically was every deck of the ship.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
Lawyer For Accused: DDoS Is A Legal Form Of Protest
from the this-could-get-interesting dept
"There's no such thing as a DDoS 'attack'," Leiderman said. "A DDoS is a protest, it's a digital sit in. It is no different than physically occupying a space. It's not a crime, it's speech."In this case, the case has nothing to do with Anonymous, Lulzsec or any of those high profile groups, but they might want to pay attention to the case. It seems that some of those already arrested in various sweeps against Anonymous and Lulzsec have indicated that they're considering the same defense strategy. In that last one, involving Mercedes Haefer, who was charged with being a part of Anonymous, her lawyer is pointing out that President Obama has asked supporters to overload the switchboards of Congress -- and that's a form of a denial of service attack:
Leiderman said the crimes shouldn't be prosecuted at all. "Nothing was malicious, there was no malware, no Trojans. This was merely a digital sit in. It is no different from occupying the Woolworth's lunch counter in the civil rights era."
"I think this is a political persecution, end of story," Cohen said. "This administration wants to send a message to those who would register their opposition: 'you come after us, we're going to come after you.' That's what has happened in the Eric Holder Department of Justice."Not surprisingly, I'm sympathetic to this argument, though I do wonder how well it'll play in court. In both of these cases, I think a decent case can be made that the actions are a form of speech, in that they were both designed to protest certain actions. The question is whether or not the courts will recognize them as legitimate and protected protests. And that may very well come down to the judges in the cases.
"When Obama orders supporters to inundate the switchboards of Congress, that's good politics, when a bunch of kids decide to send a political message with roots going back to the civil rights movement and the revolution, it's something else," Cohen told TPM, stipulating that he was not indicating that his client was even involved. "Barack Obama urged people to shutdown the switchboard, he's not indicted."


text:
THQ is following popular independent developers behind games like Aquaria and Gish and packaging its games together for a name-your-price sale hosted by Humble Bundle Inc. Starting in 2010, Humble Bundle hosted sales clumping games together and letting customers pay whatever they like, to avoid piracy and ensure that the developers were compensated for their goods in addition to raising funds for charities like Child's Play. To date, though, the numerous bundles have been for games made by independently owned studios and solo developers. THQ, though, is a large, publicly traded company whose primary business is retail console video games.
What's THQ selling? Downloadable versions of its strongest games from recent years including Darksiders and Metro 2033 as well as the lame duck Red Faction: Armageddon and Company of Heroes (plus its expansions) are included in the package. Paying above the current average of $5.69 will also net you a copy of Saints Row the Third. As of this writing THQ has sold nearly 423,000 bundles, raising around $2 million. THQ CEO Jason Rubin even made a purchase, spending $1,050 on the bundle.
THQ's status as a large corporate entity isn't the only thing that makes this bundle an anomaly for Humble Bundle Inc. Only Windows editions of the games are available for download and all games are protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM) measures. Part of the original goal of Humble Bundle Inc. was to encourage commerce around DRM-free games, bracing for a certain level of piracy while also encouraging legitimate purchases.
There's more than one way to turn a buck in the video game business. THQ has tried them all in recent years. The MX vs. ATV series tried to bring mobily-style microtransactions to consoles in 2011, retailing for a below-average $39.99 and selling the rest of the game piecemeal. THQ's even resorted to giving games away alongside others to boost sales, packaging early copies of Darksiders with download codes for Red Faction: Guerilla which was at the time still a $60 game. All for not in THQ's case. The Red Faction and MX vs. ATV series are dead at this point, and the company is still in financial dire straits. No wonder THQ is trying something new and following the indies.
Editors' Recommendations
- Here are the best PlayStation 4 deals and bundles for December 2018
- The best Nintendo Switch deals and bundles for December 2018
- The best Nintendo Switch deals and bundles for December 2018
- Check out the best Xbox One deals and bundles for December 2018
- The best Nintendo Switch deals and bundles for December 2018


text:
State Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, held a news conference in Olympia today, Jan. 17, to address a leaked subcommittee report concerning her treatment of a staff member.
Roach said by phone following the press conference she wanted to introduce herself, outline what she has accomplished during her career in office and talk about the accusations.
The report Roach was addressing was leaked to Associated Press reporter Rachel La Corte and published Jan. 8.
La Corte's story, citing the leaked report, stated Roach violated a Senate policy in March 2012 by verbally attacking a Senate Republican staff member.
La Corte wrote the report was drafted by a subcommittee investigating Roach and the incident.
Roach said by phone she has not seen the report. She described the methods of the Senate accusing her of abusing staff members as a "star chamber. The method is wrong. We all have the right to face our accuser. That has not been afforded to me."
Roach said the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee will be conducting a limited investigation into the leak of the document.
"This thing (the report) was not finished but was sent out anyway," Roach said.
Roach said she wants her "name restored." The senator also said she believes the allegations from the Senate are sexist "in part and politically motivated to damage me."
The Senate placed sanctions on Roach in 2010 preventing her from having contact with caucus staff.
Roach said most of the problems she has had over the years come from the Senate and her own party.
Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, and Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, joined the Republican Caucus this session giving the Republicans a majority in the chamber. The Democrats had the majority prior to the move by the two Democrats.
Roach is now chair of the Governmental Operations Committee.
The Senate Facilities and Operations Committee lifted the 2010 sanctions on Roach this week.
Roach represents the 31st Legislative District, which includes all of the Enumclaw Plateau, Bonney Lake, Sumner and part of Auburn.


text:
Dear Mayor Johnson,
On Tuesday the 19th June this year, as you rode through the sunny morning peloton of Islington, I'm sure the conditions for cycling at a northerly crossing of the A406 were the last thing on your mind. That was certainly the case for me. All that changed when I found myself waiting at the lights with none other than the Chairman of TfL himself.
I would never normally trouble a public figure in the street as I consider it to be rude but in this case I had to make an exception. After all, I have been trying to get some issues flagged up with your office for some time now and the opportunity was too good to miss.
We had a short exchange at the lights, perhaps you remember…
Me: It seems churlish not to ask you a question as I find myself at the lights with you. Would that be ok?
You: Fire away!
Me: Would you be surprised to know that local cyclists and cycling groups are unhappy with the new Henlys Corner?
You: Oh fuck them! We have spent billions up there!
Me: I live up there and the money has been spent badly with respect cyclists…
The lights changed and off you went…
I will admit that I was shocked at your language… but in no way offended. I don't mind a bit of rude language. I am also certain that you have the needs of London's growing cycling community in your heart. Actually, you spoke from your heart and I have a lot of respect for that, despite disagreeing. I understand your remark to mean something along the lines of… those whinging cyclists are never happy! "Oh fuck them! We have spent billions up there!". I can quite understand that you could feel that way given the expense and endless planning process. As Mayor, you cannot be expected to know the fine details of every junction redesign. Your commitment to the "go Dutch" tests and to cycling, more widely, means that you will be able to see the problem if only I can get the message to you.
You were not to know…
– That I am one of those whinging cyclists so it was really me you were telling to get fucked. That felt great, cheers.
– That, as an experienced National Standard Cycling Instructor, who has to carry out risk assessments of roads and junctions for cyclists as a daily part of my job, I have the expertise to make the judgement. Safety and amenity are worse for people on bikes, who use the junction, post the redesign, despite major improvements for other modes.
– That it's not just folk like me who can see the problem… For example, Cllr Brian Coleman. Before the elections this year, I found myself on the phone with, the then, AM Coleman and took the opportunity of putting the same question to him. He was surprised, being under the impression that the new design was better for all. Like you he mentioned that loads had been spent… but without the swearing. After meeting me for 15 mins at Henlys corner one morning, he accepted that there, "is a problem" and showed willingness to work toward a solution. He gets it.
– That the plenary question put by AM Andrew Dismore about Henlys Corner, on the day after we met, was as a response to a meeting he had with me at Henlys Corner recently. He gets it too.
– That Phil Jones, who delivers training to TFL engineers, on cycling provision, has looked at the video I made about the new Henlys design. His verdict – "Excellent – clear, unemotional, irrefutable". He gets it so much that he has offered help getting whatever proposals are eventually made into a really useful and compliant form. – Gold dust… Cheers Phil!
– That I attended the Talk London event in Barnet earlier this year to try to raise the issue but was only able to talk to one of Isabel Dedring's team, a Mr. McGeevey. In any case, the GLA office has been aware of the issues at least since January 2012 when we began corresponding.
– That The Great Divide Ride took place in March to highlight the issue of poor provision for cyclists crossing the A406.
Please see this video:
When one really looks at what has happened to the cycling provision at this flagship scheme, "fuck them" may well have been key design guidance. There are many other issues too technical to go into in the video. I am really pleased that TfL is working with Barnet on the issue of Barnet's refusal to allow a Cycle Superhighway. Henlys Corner will need re-designing, in any case, should that ever change. The question remains; Why wasn't state of the art provision included in the original design, given the "cycling revolution" and this junction's planned inclusion in a CS? Seems like an own goal.
A positive result would be someone senior from each of TfL/GLA and Barnet coming to meet the local stakeholder group (www.barnetlcc.com) as a matter of urgency. We have a number of suggestions/solutions and a top transport consultant in Phil Jones to help present them in the most usefull way. (Note: since I began writing this last week, there has been a very positive contact with senior GLA people and I expect a constructive meeting to take place soon! Hurrah!)
Alternatively, you and I could enjoy some wonderful Salt Beef after a brief tour of Henlys Corner one afternoon… during the school run perhaps, when there are lots of children riding across. What do you say?
The new Henlys corner design lets cyclists down badly and fails to support your vision of cycling in our city. Local cyclists, transport consultants and two AMs have been able to see the problem. Can I get my message to you…?


text:
Delve into the dark side of famous American folk tales, exposing the horror at the root of these enduring mysteries. In this two-hour special, we visit five Haunted Houses, including the Donnelly Farm in Lucan, Ontario, once the blood soaked site of a massacre. Here an Irish immigrant family was burned alive when fear and ignorance led to revenge. Descendants of vigilantes who killed them are still haunted by what they did. Also, 170 years ago, illicit love flourished in the house on Rue Royale, New Orleans. Inside, a rich white man and a poor black woman fought odds to be together. Misunderstanding led to death, and today the young mistress is said to still haunt this place, trying to recapture her forbidden love.
Pin It


text:
|«home :: Extraordinary Beasts - The giraffe next »
Explorers sent living animals home for further study whenever they could, but it was extremely difficult to transport a live giraffe from Africa to Europe. Scientists had to content themselves with skins and partial skeletons.
There was much debate among naturalists attempting to accurately describe the giraffe, but there was also collaboration. In addition to physical specimens, descriptive notes and drawings were sent between explorers in the field and to scientists back home.
It was not uncommon in the 1700s for illustrations to reappear in different publications. The giraffe skin depicted in Buffon's illustration (seen here), which exaggerates the animal's size, appeared later, with alterations, in Brink's description of his travels.
From the book Nouvelle description du Cap de Bonne-Espérance.