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Book Review – Michael Crichton's "Timeline"
Around a month ago I finished reading Timeline, a thrilling time-travel adventure story written by Michael Crichton.
This was my second time reading this book as I once read it about ten years ago. I remembered it being interesting, but forgetting the details about how things worked in the story. After reading it again, I can certainly say that, along with Jurassic Park, Timeline might be one of Crichton's *best* stories.
Set in modern time (1999), Timeline begins with a couple traveling through the Southwest and discovering a man wandering around in a desert. There's no explanation for him being there, and he's dressed in Medieval clothes. The man is rambling and obviously injured, so the couple drives him to a nearby clinic. Unfortunately, he soon coughs up blood, goes into cardiac arrest, and then dies. What's even more puzzling to the doctors is that the x-ray and CT scan show that basically all of the man's organs, bones and blood vessels are slightly offset within his body.
It's soon revealed that the man is an engineer for ITC, a high-tech company located in an isolated part of New Mexico. To make matters more interesting, the man had a diagram for an ancient French monastery that was destroyed hundreds of years ago.
Over in Dordogne, France, American professor Edward Johnson is leading a small team of archaeologists and historians in an excavation of two towns separated by a river — Castelgard and La Roque. The area being studied was known for being a battleground between English and French forces. Read more…
Categories: book reviews Tags: book review, Michael Crichton, sci-fi
Book Review – Stephen Baxter's "Ark"
Recently I finished reading Ark, an interesting science-fiction / space travel book written by Stephen Baxter. The book is a direct sequel to Flood.
In Flood, readers were introduced to a frightening vision of a near-future scenario where vast underground chambers of water stored in the Earth's mantle were released, unleashing an unending surge of water that, over the course of many years, flooded the entire planet. As the waters continued to rise, countries were destroyed and people were forced to keep moving to higher ground and fighting to survive.
At one point in Flood, some of the characters witness a rocket launching into the sky, carrying what's rumored to be the fate of humanity in search of a new home. That's what brings us here today.
Ark begins with rising flood waters and a partially flooded planet. There's no end to the flooding in sight, and scientists are tasked with finding a way to ensure that at least part of Earth's humanity will survive, should there be a worst-case scenario of the planet being completely submerged.
Ships and rafts are easy solutions, but maintaining them (and their occupants) years later could be a challenge. It's not a permanent answer to humanity's survival.
In Ark, it's decided that humanity will have to find a new home in outer space. The only catch is that the closest planet that might be able to sustain human life is several light years away, a distance far too great for today's conventional rockets.
Regardless, plans begin immediately for a rocket, an ark, to carry a small part of humanity off this planet and to a new home somewhere in the stars. Children of the scientists and engineers are selected to become part of a rigorous training program to prepare them for their destiny in space. These children are known as Candidates. Read more…
Categories: book reviews Tags: book review, sci-fi, Stephen Baxter
Mandela Effect – False Memory or Shift in the Multiverse?
Have you ever come to realize that something you've always believed to have been true is actually false, like a verse in a song or the spelling of a name or product?
There's a popular theory going around the Internet that when these realizations happen, it's not because your memory is off, but that it's the universe instead. Every once in a while there are these shifts in the universe where alternate versions are split apart or combined with one another, creating these situations where people seem to have incorrect memories of past events.
The Mandela Effect is the term given to this alleged shifting and realigning of the universe, or rather, this plane of existence in the universe. The multiverse theory argues that there are an infinite number of universes out there, all stacked next to each other. Each time a decision is made, then a new universe is created for the opposite side of the decision. This pattern goes on infinitely until the end of time.
What the Mandela Effect argues is that every once in a while these universes merge with each other, and people who may have been living in one universe are suddenly living in an alternate universe, a nearly identical universe where everything is almost exactly the same except for a minor detail that gives away the shift. Nobody can feel the shift, nor does anybody know exactly when it takes place. All people can do is take a look at their current world and see if anything is "off" or just not right according to their memory.
The Mandela Effect is named after Nelson Mandela, a member of the African National Congress who was arrested for being a terrorist back in 1962, he was released from prison in 1990, and then he became president of South Africa in 1994.
According to some people, it was impossible for Nelson Mandela to have become president as they are positive that they remember seeing news stories about how Mandela actually died in prison. How can somebody who had allegedly died later become the president of a country?
Enter the Mandela Effect. Read more…
Categories: unexplained Tags: sci-fi, society
What would you do if an Asteroid was about to hit Earth?
Recently there have been some conspiracy theory news stories about how asteroid 2016 WF9 (or possibly a comet, astrologists are still trying to determine exactly *what* is flying through the solar system right now) may strike the Earth sometime in the next few weeks.
Thankfully, an Earth impact will not happen (this time) as the asteroid's orbit is only going to bring it to around 32 million miles from the Earth on February 25, 2017. A distance of 32 million miles is nothing to worry about. That's roughly the same distance as the Earth to Mars when the two planets are at their closest (a term known as "opposition").
But what about 2016 WF9's return visit in 4.9 Earth years? What about the asteroid's orbit after that? How about its path after that? And after that?
It stands to reason that if 2016 WF9's orbit remains perfectly stable and consistent, then at some point in the future it'll have an extremely close call or possibly impact with Earth, causing catastrophic damage. It's just a question of when such an event occurs.
The million dollar question is, What would you do if you knew that an asteroid was going to strike the Earth in a couple of weeks? Read more…
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: sci-fi, society
Movie Review – Fantastic Voyage (1966)
Imagine if medical science advanced to the point where surgeons could operate on a person from *inside* of their body.
That's basically the premise behind 1966's hit science-fiction film, Fantastic Voyage.
In Fantastic Voyage, a team of surgeons is miniaturized inside of a special submersible that is sent inside of a scientist's body. It's a race against time to not only battle the hostile environment of the human body, but to also reach the critical injury and repair it, all while racing a clock as well as dealing with somebody sabotaging the mission.
Directed by Richard Fleischer, Fantastic Voyage stars Stephen Boyd as Charles Grant. Supporting him in the film are Raquel Welch as Cora Peterson and Donald Pleasence as Dr. Michaels.
Fantastic Voyage begins with scientist Dr. Jan Benes (Jean Del Val) fleeing from the Soviets and eventually reaching the United States. However, just after he arrives in the U.S, Benes's car is attacked by assassins, and Benes is critically injured. He quickly develops a dangerous blood clot inside of his brain, and the condition will kill him if it's left untreated. The only problem is that the type of surgery required to remove the clot is incredibly dangerous. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: miniaturization, movie review, sci-fi
Movie Review – Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014)
In honor of tomorrow night's premier of Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! on Syfy, today we're taking a look at the second film in the series, Sharknado 2: The Second One.
Back in 2013, the made for television film Sharknado created a media frenzy with its completely ridiculous plot of deadly tornadoes filled with killer sharks. The film was aired for three nights in a row on the SyFy Channel, with each night having a larger number of viewers. This was a film that was so bad and corny that you just had to watch it not just once but several times.
So what do you do when a low-budget film is a hit?
You make a sequel! You strike quickly while the iron is hot!
Sharknado 2: The Second One premiered on July 30, 2014 on the SyFy Channel. The sequel returned some of the original cast and transferred the action from Los Angeles to New York City. Another superstorm filled with sharks strikes, and it's up to a small group of people to figure out a way to stop the deadly storm and save an entire city.
Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, Sharknado 2: The Second One returns Ian Ziering and Tara Reid in the lead roles of Finley Shepard and April Wexler. Supporting them is Vivica A. Fox as Skye, Fin's childhood friend, Judd Hirsch as Ben, a taxi driver, and about a dozen cameos featuring a variety of celebrities.
Sharknado 2: The Second One begins with Finley "Fin" Shepard (Ian Ziering) and his ex-wife, April Wexler (Tara Reid) flying to New York City to visit some old friends as well as promote April's book covering the events from last year's sharknado in Los Angeles. A flight attendant (Kelly Osbourne) is a fan of April's and gladly accepts an invitation to join her at an event in New York City.
When the airliner begins its approach into New York City, the plane flies right through a strong storm filled with airborne sharks. The sharks repeatedly attack the airliner and break into the aircraft, killing the pilot (Robert Hayes) and co-pilot (Rachel True). The flight attendant is also killed by a shark along with a passenger (Wil Wheaton).
Fin makes his way to the cockpit and takes control of the doomed airliner. While he's trying to bring it down for a landing, one of the aircraft's doors is ripped open and April is nearly sucked out into the storm. She uses an air marshal's (Austin Priester) pistol to shoot at a flying shark, but the shark reaches her and bites off half of her arm. Somehow Fin is able to land the damaged airliner at the airport (nowhere was it mentioned in Sharknado of Fin having *any* flying experience), saving the lives of the remaining passengers. April is then whisked away to a hospital to be treated for her amputated arm. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: movie review, sci-fi, shark
Movie Review – Terminator Genisys (2015)
Released to theaters this weekend is Terminator Genisys, the latest film in the Terminator franchise and (hopefully) the beginning of a new Terminator series of films.
Terminator Genisys returns to the origins of the Terminator story, but it's not what you're expecting. This isn't simply a reboot of the original film. Instead, Terminator Genisys pays homage to the original film while also offering people a new story as part of an alternative timeline.
Directed by Alan Taylor, Terminator Genisys returns Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger in the role of the T-800 (Model 101) / Guardian. Co-starring in the film are Jason Clarke as John Connor, Emilia Clarke as Sarah Connor, and Jai Courtney as Kyle Reese. Also in the film are J.K. Simmons as Detective O'Brien and Courtney B. Vance as Miles Dyson.
Terminator Genisys begins with a voiceover of Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) explaining how life has changed drastically since Judgment Day, the moment when the machines declared war against humanity and launched a surprise nuclear attack, wiping out most of humanity. The survivors were forced to band together and fight for their lives. The leader of the Resistance is a soldier named John Connor (Jason Clarke).
In the year 2029, John Connor leads the Resistance in a final assault in the Los Angeles offensive. The attack, coordinated with an attack in the Colorado offensive, is aimed at striking at Skynet's secret new weapon, a weapon that could change the outcome of the war. Hidden underneath a remote storage facility is Skynet's ultimate weapon — a time machine.
The final attacks are launched against Skynet. The Colorado offensive is successful at stopping Skynet's main defense grid, but Connor's Los Angeles offensive is unable to stop Skynet before it sends a lone T-800 cyborg back in time to 1984 to kill John Connor's mother. If the cyborg is successful in its mission then Sarah Connor will die and John Connor, the leader of the Resistance, will never be born.
In order to stop the cyborg and save the future, then somebody from the Resistance will have to travel back in time to save Sarah Connor. Several soldiers volunteer for the dangerous mission, and John Connor selects Kyle Reese. The Resistance gets the time machine operating and they send Reese back in time. Just before he travels through time, Reese notices one of the soldiers (a Terminator in disguise) grabbing and attacking John Connor. Reese then travels through time and has flashbacks to an alternative version of his younger self. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, movie review, sci-fi, Terminator
Movie Review – Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
Back in 1968, the film Planet of the Apes introduced people to a concept of a world where apes rule society and human beings are feral creatures.
Planet of the Apes followed along as astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) was forced to deal with being on a strange and hostile planet. He was ultimately successful in proving to the apes that human beings are smarter and more resourceful than the apes gave them credit. Planet of the Apes had a shock ending where Taylor discovered that he was really on planet Earth the whole time. At some point in the past humanity destroyed itself in warfare, and apes evolved to become the dominant species on the planet.
We know that there's more to the story of what really happened on planet Earth. We know that there must be more human artifacts out there. And we know that there's more to be discovered.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes was released two years later in 1970.
In Beneath the Planet of the Apes, a second spacecraft (one that was sent to search for Taylor's spacecraft) travels through a time warp and crash lands on the same planet that's now ruled by apes. Astronaut Brent meets Nova, he is shocked to witness the ape's society, and he ultimately discovers a hidden underground city inhabited with mutant human beings, descendants from the war that destroyed humanity. It's a race against time as an army of apes advances and aims to crush the underground city once and for all.
Directed by Ted Post, Beneath the Planet of the Apes stars James Franciscus as Brent, an astronaut who accidentally travels through time while he's sent on a mission to rescue George Taylor. Charlton Heston reprises his role of George Taylor, and so does Linda Harrison as Nova, Kim Hunter as Zira, and Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius. This time around David Watson plays the role of Cornelius.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes begins at the ending of Planet of the Apes. George Taylor (Charlton Heston) and Nova (Linda Harrison) find the remains of the Statue of Liberty, and Taylor realizes that he's been on Earth the whole time, just several thousand years into the future. Humanity is virtually extinct and apes are in control of society. Depressed, he and Nova ride on horseback further into the Forbidden Zone, hoping to find other signs of life.
A short while later, Taylor and Nova discover a wall of flames that appears and just as quickly disappears. This is followed by a few quick bolts of lightning. Taylor suspects that there's more to the story of these phenomena, so he grabs a rifle and takes a closer look. Just as it looks like Taylor discovers the secret behind the apparitions, he suddenly disappears into a rocky wall. Nova is terrified by the sight, and she flees on Taylor's horse. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: Charlton Heston, movie review, Planet of the Apes, sci-fi
Movie Review – Planet of the Apes (1968)
Imagine suddenly being placed in a world where things were the opposite, where human beings were running wild and apes were in control of society.
That's the premise for 1968's hit science-fiction film, Planet of the Apes.
In Planet of the Apes, George Taylor and two other astronauts crash land on an alien planet where human beings are wild with no permanent homes, no form of communication, and no real society. They live in packs and stay on the run from the apes, advanced creatures that can speak, they have clothing and weapons, and they have a functioning society complete with their own city. When Taylor is captured by the apes, the apes are shocked to see that he's very different from the other human beings. Some apes believe that Taylor is a missing link that explains their society, while other apes believe that Taylor is a mutation that must be destroyed.
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, Planet of the Apes stars Hollywood legend Charlton Heston in the lead role of astronaut George Taylor. Co-starring in the film are Roddy McDowall as Cornelius, Kim Hunter as Zira, Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius, and Linda Harrison as Nova, one of the human beings.
Planet of the Apes begins out in space as astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) readies their spaceship for their trip back home to Earth. Joining him are astronauts Landon (Robert Gunner), Dodge (Jeff Burton), as well as a female astronaut already asleep and in stasis. Although there's no mention of the spaceship's name in the 1968 version of the film, a 2008 Blu-ray edition of the film includes a short film where it's mentioned that the ship is called Liberty 1.
Liberty 1's mission left Earth in 1972, and it travelled faster-than-light through a wormhole to distant galaxies. As a result, while the mission itself has only lasted for six months, it's theorized that 700 years have passed back on Earth.
Taylor is the last astronaut still awake before going into stasis. He records his thoughts into the ship's recorder before climbing into his sleep chamber and entering a form of hibernation. The Liberty 1 continues on autopilot and continues its journey back to Earth. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: Charlton Heston, movie review, Planet of the Apes, sci-fi
Movie Review – Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Back in 1975, the movie Jaws proved that not only are sharks fearsome creatures, but they can also prove to be formidable monsters in Hollywood.
Jaws was so successful that not only did it spawn its own series of films, but for the most part, Hollywood didn't use sharks as villains. Other sea creatures have attempted to terrify the audiences, but sharks were overlooked. It was almost like nobody wanted to make a shark movie because everybody would keep comparing it to 1975's Jaws.
That notion changed with the release of 1999's killer shark movie, Deep Blue Sea. In Deep Blue Sea, research scientists increase the size of sharks' brains in an effort to study diseases. However, this increase in brainpower makes the sharks smarter, and they use their sharpened thinking skills to attack the researchers.
Directed by Renny Harlin, Deep Blue Sea stars Thomas Jane and Saffron Burrows in the lead roles of Carter Blake and Dr. Susan McAlester. Supporting them is a cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Jacqueline McKenzie, Stellan Skarsgard, and LL Cool J.
Deep Blue Sea begins with four teenagers having fun on a boat while out at sea. Suddenly the boat is attacked by a shark, and the teenagers are knocked into the water. Just before the shark can attack and kill them, the predator fish is captured by a mysterious man.
In Los Angeles, California, Dr. Susan McAlester (Saffron Burrows) is called to an emergency meeting at Chimera. The company's leaders are upset that one of Susan's test sharks had escaped from the research facility and attacked a small group of teenagers. None of them were killed or seriously injured, but the incident is still bad news for the company.
It turns out that Susan is using three genetically modified mako sharks in an attempt to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. These three sharks have larger brains (the brain fluid is used in the research) than their counterparts in the wild, and it's made these particular sharks smarter and more aggressive. The recently escaped and recaptured shark is a sign that perhaps the researchers don't have everything under control at their research station. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: movie review, sci-fi, shark
Movie Review – Jurassic World (2015)
Released to the theaters this weekend is Jurassic World, the fourth movie in the Jurassic Park franchise.
Back in 1993, Jurassic Park ruled the theaters with its story involving a high-tech theme park filled with dinosaurs brought back to life through advanced technology. This was followed by The Lost World: Jurassic Park in 1997, and then Jurassic Park III in 2001.
And now, after waiting fourteen years, the next Jurassic Park film has finally been released.
Enter Jurassic World.
Directed by Colin Trevorrow and starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Vincent D'Onofrio, Jurassic World goes back to the franchise's roots and returns us to the original ideas set in Jurassic Park. A new team has taken over John Hammond's operations and the theme park (now named Jurassic World) is open to the public. New dinosaur attractions have been added over the years, and now it's time to open another one. The latest creation, a hybrid dinosaur named Indominus rex, is guaranteed to terrify the visitors and boost the audiences at the theme park. Of course, you know what happens next . . .
Jurassic World begins with two brothers, Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gray Mitchell (Ty Simpkins) at their home. Although Gary is still young, he has a keen interest in dinosaurs and science. His older brother Zach is more interested in girls, and he's practically counting down the days until he can move out of his parents' house and live on his own. Their parents need some time alone to sort out their own problems, so they send the boys on a vacation to Jurassic World. The boys' Aunt Claire happens to work at the dinosaur theme park, and she's going to look after them and give them a personal tour of the place.
Zach and Gray catch an international flight to Costa Rica, and then they board a high-speed ferry with other guests bound for Isla Nublar, a.k.a. Jurassic World. After that they board a monorail that takes them through the famous Jurassic Park gate and ultimately to the visitors' complex. While Gray is excited to see the dinosaurs, Zach is more interested in looking at the young ladies. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: dinosaur, Jurassic Park, movie review, sci-fi
Book Review – Larry Niven's "Lucifer's Hammer"
Today I finished reading Larry Nivven's post-apocalyptic novel, Lucifer's Hammer.
Co-written by Jerry Pournelle, Lucifer's Hammer is a haunting tale of survival after the Earth is hit by a comet. Billions of people are killed instantly, and the survivors are forced to fight for their own survival in ways that they never imagined.
Lucifer's Hammer begins with the discovery of the Hamner-Brown Comet, named after an amateur astronomer and a kid who was using a telescope and looking at the right place at the right time. The comet is approaching the inner part of our solar system. According to astronomers, the Hamner-Brown Comet is going to pass by the inner planets, swing around the sun, and head back out into space. The odds of the comet striking the Earth are so small that it's not even worth mentioning.
Life continues as the comet continues on its path. But when scientists continue to monitor it, and when a TV documentary gives it more attention, people can't help but wonder just how close the comet will be when it passes the Earth a second time when heading back out into space. It's not going to hit, right?
As the days pass, more and more people believe that the comet is really going to impact the Earth and wipe out everybody, just as an asteroid ended up killing off the dinosaurs. Some people see this as a sign from above. Others begin to stockpile supplies to help ride out whatever happens. A smaller percentage think that since everybody is going to be killed, then nothing at this point matters, and it's okay to commit crimes. And still other people believe that nothing will happen and that everybody else is crazy. Those people cannot wait for the comet to pass so that life will get back to normal again. Read more…
Categories: book reviews Tags: book review, sci-fi
Movie Review – Waterworld (1995)
Continuing with the theme of a flooded Earth (like in the book Flood and the movie The Day After Tomorrow), today we're taking a look at the 1995 post-apocalyptic science-fiction film Waterworld.
Set several hundred years in the future, Waterworld takes place on a version of planet Earth that is almost entirely covered by water. It's mentioned that the polar ice caps have melted and flooded the planet, creating one massive ocean. The people simply call the world Waterworld, and everybody uses boats and lives on large crescent-shaped barges called atolls. The plot of the movie focuses on a mysterious sailer called "The Mariner," and a strange map on the back of a young child. It's believed that the map leads to a place called Dryland, and people will kill for that information.
Directed by Kevin Reynolds, Waterworld stars Kevin Costner as The Mariner. Dennis Hopper plays the role of The Deacon, the leader of the villains. Supporting them are Jeanne Tripplehorn as Helen, and Tina Majorino as Enola, the young girl with a precious map on her back.
Waterworld begins with a brief animation of planet Earth and how the polar ice caps melted and flooded most of the surface of the planet. We then meet a drifter called the Mariner (Kevin Costner) as he's alone while sailing his boat, a trimaran. After meeting another sailor in the open water, the two of them are ambushed by "Smokers," a.k.a. pirates. The Mariner uses the sails on his trimaran and makes a clean getaway while the other sailor is caught by the Smokers and brutally killed. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: global warming, Kevin Costner, movie review, sci-fi
Movie Review – The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
What if the world was to suddenly have a radical climate shift, one that would wreck havoc on life as we know it?
On top of that, what if this climate change was something that we could have prevented?
That's basically the premise for The Day After Tomorrow, a 2004 science-fiction doomsday film. In The Day After Tomorrow we see what planet Earth could be like should there be a sudden and radical shift in the climate, a shift caused by man-made global warming. Coastal areas are flooded by a sudden rise in sea level, ocean currents are disrupted, and ferocious weather systems blast frigid weather across North America, creating a new Ice Age.
Directed by Roland Emmerich, The Day After Tomorrow stars Dennis Quaid as paleoclimatologist Jack Hall. Co-starring in the film is Jake Gyllenhaal in the role of Sam Hall, Jack's son. Other actors in the movie include Ian Holm as Professor Terry Rapson, Kenneth Welsh as Vice President Raymond Becker, and Emmy Rossum as Laura Chapman.
The Day After Tomorrow begins in Antarctica as paleoclimatologist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid) and his team are drilling for ice-core samples on the Larsen Ice Shelf. Suddenly there's a fracture in the ice that crates a deep crevice. Hall's team barely escapes falling to their doom.
Later, at a United Nations conference in New Delhi, India, Jack presents his findings on global warming and how it's significantly worse than anybody had expected. Unfortunately, his research fails to convince the diplomats or Vice President Raymond Becker (Kenneth Welsh). They're set on maintaining their current ways when it comes to using fossil fuels and the Earth's natural resources as they see fit, rather than considering its effects on the environment. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: climate, global warming, movie review, sci-fi
Book Review – Stephen Baxter's "Flood"
What if one day the Earth's oceans all began to rise?
Not because of man-made global warming or climate change melting the polar ice caps, but from an entirely different source, something completely out of our hands.
What if this rise in ocean level continued over the years, slowly flooding the planet and making high ground the most precious type of land?
What would you do? How would you survive? Could you find a way to keep living knowing that unless the flooding stops, eventually every piece of land will eventually disappear under the water?
That's basically the premise for Stephen Baxter's Flood, a 2008 science-fiction novel dealing with the slow flooding of planet Earth. As the sea level continues to rise and flood the continents, humanity struggles to find a way to survive. The balance of power shifts as people fight for high ground and deal with the reality of their situation. Billions of people eventually die over the years as the sea level continues to rise, dry land slowly vanishes, food becomes more scarce, wars are waged between organizations and countries, and survivors are forced to build ships and rafts as a final way to survive . . . for at least a little while longer.
Flood begins in 2016 as a small group of people are being held hostage in Europe by an organization of extremists. The hostages are former US Air Force helicopter pilot Lily Brooke, British military officer Piers Michaelmas, English tourist Helen Gray, and NASA scientist Gary Boyle. All of them were in Europe at one point or another when they were each captured and taken hostage. The experience was particularly tough on Helen Gray as she was the youngest female in the group and had gained unwanted attention from the guards. She was abused and eventually gave birth to a daughter, Grace, by one of the guards.
After being held hostage for five years and eventually transported to Barcelona, Spain the group is suddenly liberated by a private megacorporation called AxysCorp. A fifth hostage, John Foreshaw, was executed by the terrorists moments before the rest of them were rescued.
Immediately after being rescued, the gang notices that their world is a little bit different than when they last saw it. Now England and the rest of Europe are plagued by a nearly endless number of rainy days which have been sparking localized flooding. When Lily reconnects with her sister Amanda, and her two children Benji and Kristie, she learns that the sea level itself has actually risen about a meter. It may not seem like much, but low-lying areas are being threatened by the rise and a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean has been reclaimed by the sea. Naturally, the constant rainfall and the slow rise in sea level is being blamed on man-made global warming. Read more…
Categories: book reviews Tags: book review, sci-fi, Stephen Baxter
Movie Review – When Worlds Collide (1951)
Try to imagine, just for a moment, that a star is racing across the galaxy and heading straight for Earth.
You only have eight months until the star arrives and destroys the planet. If any part of humanity is to survive, then it's going to require building rockets and trying to find a new home somewhere in space.
That's basically the premise for When Worlds Collide, a classic 1950s science-fiction film depicting the end of the Earth and the struggle to try to save a small group of humans, plants and animals. As the engineers build a rocket, they have to compete against not only the imminent destruction of Earth, but the catastrophic disasters caused by the arrival of the star as well as the anarchy and breakdown of civilization.
Directed by Rudolph Mate and produced by George Pal, When Worlds Collide stars Richard Derr as David Randall, a pilot caught in the middle of the chaos. Co-starring in the film are Larry Keating as Dr. Cole Hendron, Barbara Rush as Joyce Hendron, the professor's daughter, John Hoyt as Sydney Stanton, and Peter Hansen as Dr. Tony Drake, a physician in love with Joyce.
When Worlds Collide begins in South Africa as pilot David Randall (Richard Derr) arrives at an observatory. Astronomer Dr. Emery Bronson (Hayden Rorke) has made a horrifying discovery, something that he simply doesn't want to believe. Dr. Bronson assigns Randall the task of carrying the information to Dr. Cole Hendron, his colleague and fellow astronomer living in the United States. Randall doesn't care about the task or the secret information, just how much he's going to be paid to be a courier. When talking about Randall's pay for the task, Dr. Bronson hints that money really isn't a concern any longer.
A briefcase containing the information is secured to Randall's wrist, and he's off on a series of connecting flights from South Africa to the United States. A reporter has gotten word of Randall carrying secret information, and he tries several times to bribe Randall so that he can learn the information. Randall refuses and he faithfully keeps the information locked in the briefcase. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: movie review, sci-fi, space
Movie Review – Interstellar (2014)
Imagine a world in the not-too-distant future where mankind itself was faced with its own extinction.
We're not talking about a killer asteroid, a global nuclear holocaust, or a massive attack by extraterrestrial aliens, but from a different threat instead. In this case it's a world where a giant dust storm is threatening to destroy the last of the farmland, eliminating a major source of food for the human race. On top of that, other plants are also dying, and the oxygen in the atmosphere is going to be depleted.
In order for humans to survive, they're going to have to find a new home in outer space. Of course, none of the planets in our solar system are capable of handling human civilization. In order to survive, mankind is going to have to reach new worlds in distant galaxies.
That's the premise for Interstellar, a science-fiction adventure film created by Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan. In Interstellar, a small team of astronaut explorers uses a wormhole to reach another galaxy and determine if any of the planets are suitable for human life. It's a race against time as the astronauts make the incredible journey and try to find a new home for humanity. While they're away on their mission, scientists back on Earth try to research a way to transport the masses off the dying planet and into outer space.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, written by Jonathan and Christopher Nolan, and with music by Hans Zimmer, Interstellar stars Matthew McConaughey as Cooper, a former NASA pilot and a widowed father of two children. Supporting him are Anne Hathaway as astronaut / scientist Amelia Brand, Michael Caine as Professor Brand, Amelia's father, Casey Affleck as Tom, Cooper's grown son, John Lithgow as Donald, Cooper's father-in-law, and Matt Damon as astronaut / scientist Dr. Mann.
Interstellar begins on Earth in the near future. The planet is dying. Crops have slowly been failing, reducing the diversity of crops available for human consumption, and dust storms continue to plague the farmland. It's implied that the Earth's population has been greatly reduced as part of the aftermath involving a world war, but those details aren't discussed. What we do know is that the future is looking extremely bleak for humanity as a whole.
One such farmer is Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former NASA test pilot and engineer. At night he's haunted by nightmares of a failed test flight. Living with him on the farm are his two children, teenager Tom (Timothee Chalamet) and 10-year-old daughter, Murphy (Mackenzie Foy), better known as "Murph". Although Cooper's wife has died, his father-in-law, Donald (John Lithgow), lives with the family and helps keep an eye on the kids. Donald also watches over Cooper's farm vehicles, most of which have been enhanced through Cooper's engineering skills. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: Matthew McConaughey, movie review, sci-fi, space
Movie Review – Alien vs. Predator (2004)
It can be argued that the Alien creatures from the Alien films, and the Predator hunter/ warriors from the Predator films are not only the most horrific, but also the most fierce and lethal creatures in the world of science fiction.
But which creature is the best in the galaxy?
That's a question that sci-fi fans have been debating since the late 1980s and the emergence of the Aliens Versus Predator comic books. In 1986 the movie Aliens showed us how a squad of Colonial Marines and all of their firepower was wiped out by a nest of Aliens and the Queen Alien. In 1987 the movie Predator showed us how an intergalactic Predator easily killed most of a group of commandos. But what would happen if a Predator or a small team of Predators took on a group of Aliens? Who would emerge as the victor?
The 2004 film Alien vs. Predator attempted to answer that question. In Alien vs. Predator, a small group of humans are used as pawns so that the Predators can fight the Aliens in an ancient ritual as a rite of passage. The only catch is that if the Predators lose, then *everybody* will lose.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, Alien vs. Predator stars Sanaa Lathan as Alexa Woods and Lance Henriksen as Charles Bishop Weyland. For the rest of the cast, you might recognize a face or two, but it's doubtful. Virtually all of the secondary characters are nobodies in Hollywood. But that's not necessarily a negative on the film itself.
Alien vs. Predator begins on October 10, 1904, at a whaling station in Antarctica. We see as one of the workers runs in terror and tries to hide in a building. He thinks that he's safe until a Predator extends its razor claws and approaches. Just as the Predator is about to kill the man, suddenly an Alien jumps out and attacks the Predator.
Fast forward to today (2004).
When the low Earth orbit Weyland Corporation Satellite PS12 passes over Antarctica and detects an unknown heat bloom on an island just off the coast of Antarctica. The information is passed through Weyland Corporation and the company's founder and CEO, Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen), organizes a team of people to investigate it. He uses his extensive reach (and funds) to recruit a team of specialists including an experienced ice explorer named Alexa Woods (Sanaa Lathan), an Italian archaeologist named Sebastian De Rosa (Raoul Bova), and Dr. Graeme Miller (Ewen Bremner), a chemical engineer. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: Alien series, movie review, Predator, sci-fi
Movie Review – Aliens (1986)
"This Time It's War"
Back in 1979, the sci-fi / horror movie Alien gave audiences a new perspective on how a terrifying film should look. Alien was dark, it was terrifying, it had an impressive spaceship, it had a great cast, and it was just an all-around outstanding sci-fi movie. On top of that it had one creepy monster that was also a killing machine.
At the end of Alien we knew that Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) survived after she set the self-destruct mechanism on the Nostromo and then escaped in the ship's escape pod. She then blew the Alien out the airlock and roasted it in one of the ship's engines. Last we saw, Ripley was settled into the escape pod's hypersleep chamber and cruising towards an unknown destination.
But what happened after that? What if there were more Alien creatures out there? What would happen if advanced soldiers were to face off against the Alien monsters?
Those questions and more were answered in the 1986 film Aliens, the first sequel to Alien. In Aliens, we learn that planet LV-426 has now been settled by colonists, and apparently things have been going well. That is, until one day when the colonists stop transmitting messages back to Earth. A squad of marines are sent to investigate what happened to the colonists, and Ellen Ripley volunteers to go with them as a consultant. When the team arrives on LV-426, they discover an Alien nest and that there are now over a hundred of the creatures. It's a battle of the heavily armed marines against a horde of vicious Alien monsters, a battle that will push Ripley and the marines to their limits of survival.
Directed by James Cameron and with music composed by James Horner, Aliens stars Sigourney Weaver in the role of Ellen Ripley. Co-starring in the film are Michael Biehn as Corporal Dwayne Hicks, Paul Reiser as Carter Burke, Bill Paxton as Private William Hudson, Lance Henriksen as Bishop, and Carrie Henn as Rebecca "Newt" Jorden.
Aliens begins some time after the events in Alien. Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is in a hypersleep chamber as the escape pod from the Nostromo continues to drift through space. The pod is recovered by a salvage crew. When it's discovered that Ripley is still alive, she's returned back to Earth.
On an orbiting space station, Ellen Ripley awakens from her sleep and meets Carter J. Burke (Paul Reiser), a representative of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, a mega-corporation that controls many deep-space operations, including the operation of the Nostromo from the first film. In that movie, Weyland-Yutani Corporation was simply referred to as "The Company." Burke reunites Ripley with Jones, the cat from the Nostromo. Ripley is then informed that she was actually in hypersleep for 57 years. Her escape pod drifted through the common space traffic routes, and it was simply luck that a salvage crew found her.
Suddenly Ripley has tremendous pains inside of her body. As Burke and a nurse try to help her, Ripley looks down and sees an Alien about to pop out of her stomach. Just as it's about to happen, Ripley wakes from her nightmare. The Alien inside of her was just a nightmare, but being out in space for 57 years was very much real. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: Alien series, James Cameron, movie review, sci-fi
Movie Review – Predator 2 (1990)
In 1987, the world was blown away by Predator, an action / sci-fi film that introduced us to the Predator, a space alien who came to Earth to hunt the deadliest of all species — human beings. In this case, the Predator battled against a team of special forces soldiers led by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger).
The end of the film had Dutch defeating the Predator and living to tell about it. But we know that the Predator creature was not the only one of its species. It's part of a race of creatures that routinely visit the Earth for the purpose of hunting. Since the first film was so successful, it was just a matter of time before we would see the Predator creature returning in a sequel. The biggest question was where in the world would the creature strike?
Released in 1990, Predator 2 returned the deadly Predator creature to Earth. Instead of fighting its prey in a dense jungle, this Predator chose to strike in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Set several years ahead in time, this version of Los Angeles is overpopulated, overrun with drug gangs, and it's one of the hottest and most violent places on Earth. It's a hunting ground just ripe for the Predator.
Directed by Stephen Hopkins and with music composed by Alan Silvestri, Predator 2 stars Danny Glover in the lead role as L.A.P.D. Lieutenant Mike Harrigan. Supporting him in the film are Gary Busey as Special Agent Peter Keyes, and Bill Paxton as Detective Jerry Lambert. Kevin Peter Hall reprises his role as the Predator warrior.
Predator 2 begins in downtown Los Angeles. The year is 1997 and crime is rampant. Columbian and Jamaican drug cartels own the streets and have frequent gun battles with one another.
The film opens with the Columbian and Jamaicans having yet another shooting war on the streets of Los Angeles. The L.A.P.D. cops are merely bystanders at this point as they're easily outgunned by the two drug gangs. Police Detective Lieutenant Roger Murtaugh, errrr, Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) arrives on scene and helps coordinate a daring rescue of two heavily wounded officers. His brave technique works and several gang members are killed. The rest of the Columbians retreat into their hideout and rearm themselves, waiting for the police.
While this is happening, a Predator (Kevin Peter Hall) is in the area and watching the fighting below him. The Predator finally makes his move and attacks the Columbians inside of their hideout, easily killing most of them. By the time the LAPD infiltrates the building, most of the Columbians are dead. Harrigan reaches the building's roof and shoots the Columbian leader, causing him to fall off the building to his death. After killing the gang leader, Harrigan sees the camouflaged form of the Predator, but he shakes it off as just heat waves. It's summertime and the city's streets are baking with heat. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: movie review, Predator, sci-fi


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[The following letter from Donna was recently written on a strabismus support group, and is used here with permission from Donna.]
My mother is 70 years young and had surgery for strabismus at age 18. She has had double vision that can no longer be corrected by prisms (she already has 12.) Sadly, she has had to curtail her driving.
I am looking for advice – How to support her emotionally, especially. Are there any seniors who can share their stories and coping strategies?
I wrote back:
I'm one of the boomers that will turn 60 this year. My children have been wonderful to help. Just knowing you are there and that you care will mean a lot to your mom.
The things I've always enjoyed and planned to take into retirement with me some day are mostly things that involve detailed work with my eyes. I am now coming to grips with the fact that there will likely be limits to this. There are probably some things your mother can still see and enjoy though. Photos are easier to see than printed material. Even if you can't see it well, nature can still be beautiful…a walk in the park, or a trip to the beach may help.
The thing I've found most helpful through my life, though, is to use my problems to help others. Here is an excellent example of how one 80 year old woman used her failing vision to help others:
Pointed Patterns
I like the part that says she still made some pillows even though it took her longer. For those with limited vision it may take longer but retired persons have more time so can afford to spend longer to accomplish things. It works out.
Please share your stories and coping strategies, especially you seniors!
Photo credit: Ana Labate

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rules of Kabaddi
Kabaddi is a contact sport that originated in Ancient India. Kabaddi is an umbrella term.
Downloads: 65
Updated: 23-Jan-18
Application description
Kabaddi is a contact sport that originated in Ancient India. Kabaddi is an umbrella term which encompasses various forms of the game including International rules Kabaddi, and the Indian Kabaddi styles Sanjeevani, Gaminee, Amar and Punjabi.Kabaddi also encompasses similar sports known by their regional names, such as hadudu in Bangladesh, baibalaa in Maldives, chedugudu in Andhra Pradesh, sadugudu in Tamil Nadu and hututu in Maharashtra.
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The Cricket is a bat and ball game played between two teams of 11 players each on a field
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Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards is the family of cue sports.
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Kabaddi is a contact sport based on wrestling that originated in early India
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March 24, 2016
Even More Scientific Breakthroughs
By Chelsea German
Continuing our series on the nearly constant stream of scientific advancements that are improving lives, here are some more breakthroughs reported recently.
New technology can use changes in gravity to "see" underground
New technology can use changes in gravity to "see" underground
Scientists developed a way to map underground structures in three dimensions. By observing small changes in the gravitational field, a new device can create an accurate picture of a city's subterranean network of pipes and tunnels. The technology is much more reliable than older devices. It could be highly beneficial for civilian use as well as for national security interests.
New HIV treatment eradicates disease in two weeks
New antibody-based treatments for HIV were shown to have been extremely effective in two monkeys. After two weeks of treatment, the virus was eradicated. Normally HIV spreads rapidly, inhibiting important bodily functions in a person about one week after being exposed to the virus. The treatment could be highly effective in human infants who are exposed to the virus and could save thousands of lives.
Affordable Alzheimer's drink stops the brain from shrinking
A manufacturer in the United Kingdom created a drink that can slow the effects of Alzheimer's disease. After clinical trials were conducted, the results showed that the nutrient-rich beverage reduced brain shrinkage by 38 percent over two years. For other diseases like dementia, the drink improved memory function in the patients. More results will be published in the future that will help researchers gain a better understanding of the product's benefits.
New therapy kills breast cancer tumors in 11 days
New intensive breast cancer therapies showed amazing results when tumors in patients were destroyed in just 11 days. Researchers were blown away at the effectiveness of the treatment. The trials took place in the United Kingdom and involved women who had one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. About nine in 10 women showed a positive response to the treatment, making the treatment a major breakthrough in cancer treatment therapies.
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- Education
- Energy
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- Gender Equality
- Global Competitiveness
- Good Government
- Happiness
- Health
- Housing
- Human Development Index
- Immigration
- Labor
- Natural Resources
- Population
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- Technology
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- Violence
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The Australian Cattle Dog (ACD or Cattle Dog), is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia for droving cattle over long distances across rough terrain. In the 19th century, New South Wales cattle farmer Thomas Hall crossed the dogs used by drovers in his parents' home county, Northumberland, with dingoes he had tamed. The resulting dogs were known as Halls Heelers. After Hall's death in 1870, the dogs became available beyond the Hall family and their associates, and were subsequently developed into two modern breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. Robert Kaleski was influential in the Cattle Dog's early development, and wrote the first standard for the breed.
The Australian Cattle Dog is a medium-sized, short-coated dog that occurs in two main colour forms. It has either brown or black hair distributed fairly evenly through a white coat, which gives the appearance of a "red" or "blue" dog. It has been nicknamed a "Red Heeler" or "Blue Heeler" on the basis of this colouring and its practice of moving reluctant cattle by nipping at their heels. Dogs from a line bred in Queensland, Australia, which were successful at shows and at stud in the 1940s, were called "Queensland Heelers" to differentiate them from lines bred in New South Wales; this nickname is now occasionally applied to any Australian Cattle Dog.
As with dogs from other working breeds, the Australian Cattle Dog has a high level of energy, a quick intelligence, and an independent streak. It responds well to structured training, particularly if it is interesting and challenging. Although not aggressive it was bred to bite, and owing to the strong attachment it forms to its owners can be protective of them and their possessions. It is easy to groom and maintain, requiring little more than brushing during the shedding period. The most common health problems are deafness and progressive blindness (both hereditary conditions) and accidental injury; otherwise, it is a robust breed with a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Australian Cattle Dogs now participate in a range of activities beyond the herding they were bred for, including competing with their owners in sporting events and working as assistance dogs.
Coat and Colour
There are two accepted coat colours, red and blue, though chocolate and cream do occur. Blue dogs can be blue, blue mottled, or blue speckled with or without black, tan, or white markings. Red dogs are evenly speckled with solid red markings. Both red dogs and blue dogs are born white (except for any solid-coloured body or face markings) and the red or black hairs grow in as they mature. The distinctive adult colouration is the result of black or red hairs closely interspersed through a predominantly white coat. This is not merle colouration (a speckled effect that has associated health issues), but rather the result of the ticking gene. A number of breeds show ticking, which is the presence of colour through white areas, though the overall effect depends on other genes that will modify the size, shape and density of the ticking.[3]
In addition to the primary colouration, an Australian Cattle Dog displays some patches of solid or near-solid colour. In both red and blue dogs, the most common are masks over one or both eyes, a white tip to the tail, a solid spot at the base of the tail, and sometimes solid spots on the body, though these are not desirable in dogs bred for conformation shows. Blue dogs can have tan midway up the legs and extending up the front to breast and throat, with tan on jaws, and tan eyebrows.[1] Both colour forms can have a white "star" on the forehead called the "Bentley Mark", after a legendary dog owned by Tom Bentley.[4] Common miscolours in the Australian Cattle Dog are black hairs in a red-coated dog, including the extreme of a black saddle on a red dog, and extensive tan on the face and body on a blue dog, called creeping tan.[5] The Cattle Dog has a double coat—the short, straight outer guard hairs are protective in nature, keeping the elements from the dog's skin while the undercoat is short, fine and dense.[4]
The mask consists of a black patch over one or both eyes (for the blue coat colour) or a red patch over one or both eyes (for the red coat colour). Depending on whether one or both eyes have a patch, these are called, respectively, "single" (or "half") mask and "double" (or "full") mask. Dogs without a mask are called plain-faced. Any of these are acceptable according to the breed standard. In conformation shows, even markings are preferred over uneven markings.[1]
The breed standards of the Australian, American and Canadian kennel clubs specify that the Australian Cattle Dog should have a natural, long, un-docked tail. There will often be a solid colour spot at the base of the tail and a white tip. The tail should be set moderately low, following the slope of the back. It should hang in a slight curve at rest, though an excited dog may carry its tail higher. The tail should feature a reasonable level of brush.[1]
In the US, tails are sometimes docked on working stock. The tail is not docked in Australia, and serves a useful purpose in increasing agility and the ability to turn quickly.[6] The Australian Cattle Dog is a breed distinct from the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog, a square-bodied dog born with a naturally "bobbed" tail. The Stumpy Tail resembles the Australian Cattle Dog, but has a taller, leaner conformation. It occasionally has a natural long thin tail, but most are born without tails.[7]
Like many working dogs, the Australian Cattle Dog has high energy levels, an active mind, and a level of independence.[8] The breed ranks 10th in Stanley Coren'sThe Intelligence of Dogs, rated as one of the most intelligent dogs ranked by obedience command trainability.[9] The Cattle Dog needs plenty of exercise, companionship and a job to do, so a non-working dog might participate in dog sports, learning tricks, or other activities that engage its body and mind.[8]
When on home ground, the Australian Cattle Dog is a happy, affectionate, and playful pet.[8] However, it is reserved with people it does not know and naturally cautious in new situations. Its attitude to strangers makes it an excellent guard dog when trained for this task, however it can be socialised to become accustomed to a variety of people from an early age as a family pet. It is good with older, considerate children, but will herd people by nipping at their heels, particularly younger children who run and squeal.[10] By the time puppies are weaned, they should have learned that the company of people is pleasurable, and that responding to cues from a person is rewarding.[11] The bond that this breed can create with its owner is strong and will leave the dog feeling protective towards the owner, typically resulting in the dog's never being too far from the owner's side. Aggression in an Australian Cattle Dog is more likely to be directed at strangers than owners or other dogs,[12] though it will bite if treated harshly.[10]
While an Australian Cattle Dog generally works silently, it will bark in alarm or to attract attention. It has a distinctive intense, high-pitched bark. Barking can be a sign of boredom or frustration; however, research has shown that pet dogs increase their vocalisation when raised in a noisy environment.[13] It responds well to familiar dogs. However, when multiple dogs are present, establishing a pecking order can trigger aggression. It is not a breed that lives in a pack with other dogs.[10
Dixie - Proudly Owned By: Rhiannon Snipes
Dear Mrs.Brenda,
I love Dixie and she is one of the smartest puppies I have ever had! I'm so lucky to be able to own such a wonderful dog. Thanks so much for giving me the chance to own her!!!!
Rhiannon & Dixie
Tank - Parents: Reba & Coty
Purchased by Robert Hart
Of Smithfield NC
I am definitely not good with names, so my graditute is to whom help Tank come into this world. I came to your ranch on Saturday and purchased Tank, blue heeler puppy from you. Tank rides great in my van and he loves my other dogs. We want to thank you.SicerelyRob
Proudly Owned by Aidan Wilson & Family
Waylon - Parents: Reba & Coty
Proudly Owned by Bobby & Virginia Patterson


text: hi all just installed xp home on a friends pc it all went on fine then i went to install virtual java machine and a box keeps coming up saying the following : extracting file failed. it is most likely caused by low memory (low disk space for swapping file) or corrupted cabinet file. i have checked the files and they are ok , the hdd has 22 gb free ! and it has 512 of ram . all the drivers that are in use were put on by xp i have not had to put any third party drivers in. also i get the odd blue screen of death of which i have never seen on xp before in over 1 year of use ? any help would be great many thanks.


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Natural Hazards Preparedness McCall Talk with author Bonnie Henderson
Victoria Lim, an intern from Duke University, visited the Oregon Coast for the first time on a service project in July 2014. She shares her reaction in this reflection:
Fog. Chilly Winds. Rain.
We're continuing our tour of our Land Use Trail. Today, April 17: The lily fields of Curry County, where much of the nation's supply of a unique but valuable crop is grown.
We're continuing our tour of our Land Use Trail. Today, January 3: Oswald West State Park, an emblem of Oregon's century-long protections for its incomparable coast.
Throughout the year, we'll be featuring stops on our Land Use Trail. Today, November 12: Astoria, a city with deep history and a bright future.
It's sometimes hard to keep up with all the news in land use and livability. On Twitter and Facebook, 1000 Friends strives to keep you informed about what matters. But don't worry if you miss something along the way--our Livability List recaps some of our recent social media highlights.
We were pleased to go to Lincoln City August 8 to hear from Matt Love, an author, educator, and passionate defender of the Oregon Coast. Love gave us a clear message about our duties as Oregonians to keep protecting the Coast.
Throughout the summer, we'll be featuring stops on our new Land Use Trail. Today, July 23: Nye Beach in Newport. Nye Beach has been enjoyed by Oregonians since the 1890s. In the same decade it was conjoined to the city of Newport by a wood plank road. The area continues to thrive with a distinct culture.
We are pleased to share these events on behalf of our friends at Oregon Shores Coastal Coalition:
Those who would like to learn more about coastal natural history have an extraordinary opportunity this summer. CoastWatch is offering three intensive training workshops, led by ecologist Stewart Schultz, an authority on the Northwest's coastal region. He will be joined by Fawn Custer, CoastWatch's volunteer coordinator.
1000 Friends of Oregon | 133 SW Second Ave., Suite 201, Portland, OR 97204 | 503-497-1000 | firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2014, 1000 Friends of Oregon, All Rights Reserved


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Transaero reported (17-Sep-2013) the following financial highlights for 1H2013, according to International Financial Reporting Standards:
- Revenue: RUB45,512 million (EUR1117 million), +18% year-on-year;
- Operating profit: RUB4144 million (EUR101.7 million), +14%;
- Net profit: RUB464 million (EUR11.4 million), +69%;
- Passenger numbers: 5.5 million, +26%;
- Passenger load factor: 83.5%. [more - original PR - Russian]
Transaero: "The increase in operating performance "Transaero" far exceeds the industry average , while revenues and net income demonstrate financial stability of the company," Olga Pleshakova, Director General. Source: Company statement, 17-Sep-2013.


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Sunderland host a free falling Crystal Palace in mid-week, hoping to climb out of the relegation zone.
A missed opportunity
Sunderland have to come into this game feeling a bit deflated because they really should have claimed at least a draw in their last match on Saturday at high flying West Ham United. Sam Allardyce's team were better on the day against his former club, but were left to regret missed clear-cut chances from the likes of Jermain Defoe and Jack Rodwell.
Manager's stubbornness
However despite his side playing well at Upton Park on Saturday, Sam Allardyce's team didn't take anything from the game and the head coach maybe has to take some of the blame because he didn't use his squad properly by only making one substitution. There were attacking options on the bench to get an equalizer in the likes of Fabio Borini but they were ignored.
Sorting out the home form
Sunderland's stats at home are pretty woeful over the last couple of years as they've really struggled to get the crucial wins they need in their constant fights against relegation. They did win their last home game 2-1 against Manchester United, but it's been nearly two years since they won back to back league games as the hosts.
Opponents' view
What makes this game even more important for Sunderland is the fact their playing the worst form team in the top flight right now. Alan Pardew's Palace haven't won a league game in 2016 and we're now starting march.
However they put in a spirited performance last time out to only lose 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion after being 3-0 down and they'll be targeting this game as much as their hosts are to break the winning drought.
Team news
Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns following their last game so will pick the same squad, which travelled to West Ham.
Yanick Bolasie is in line to make his first league start since December for Palace after recovering from a hip injury.
Also left back Pape Souare serves the last game of his three match suspension.
The last three Premier League meetings between these two have been won by the away team.
Crystal Palace have collected the fewest points out of any Premier League team over the past 10 games (3).
No side in the top flight has kept fewer clean sheets at home this season than Sunderland (2).


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Hi Baby: Nas And Kelis Spotted Out On A Dinner Date In L.A.
Nas And Kelis Spotted Out At Dinner In L.A.
Despite their bitter divorce and infamous child support arrangement, Nas and Kelis are trying to keep it cordial for their son.
via TMZ
Nas & Kelis are desperately trying to bury the hatchet after their famously bitter divorce war — in fact, they're even trying to forge a FRIENDSHIP — and Nas tells TMZ, it's all for their son.
You'll recall, Kelis filed for divorce from Nas in April 2009 and the split was nuclear. The two warred non-stop over custody of their son and money. Kelis said when she was 7 months pregnant she was broke yet Nas refused to give her a penny — even for medical expenses.
Now, Nas tells TMZ, the two are trying to put the past behind them in order to develop a healthy relationship for the benefit of their 3-year-old son Knight — but they are NOT reuniting romantically.
The rapper says they've been on good terms for a while now and he hopes it will continue. Nas and Kelis even grabbed dinner last night in L.A. together.
Good for them.
More Stories From Bossip


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Ah, the DCEU. It's a slow news day if the DCEU hasn't been sparking some kind of controversy or announcing new movies — and there haven't been many slow news days lately. Recently, it was revealed that Justice League 2 has been pushed back, ostensibly for two reasons: Director Zack Snyder wants to pursue a solo project, and Warner Bros. want to make room in their schedule for The Batman. Except, that doesn't make any kind of sense.
Or at least, the second reason doesn't. Snyder's desire to do something that isn't a superhero movie, after seven years making three superhero flicks back-to-back, is totally understandable. But there's something off about The Hollywood Reporter's claim about delaying Justice League 2 so that #TheBatman could take its May 2019 release date.
This is because #Aquaman was already pushed back, apparently for the same reason: Making room for The Batman. And judging by these glorious new photos of Aquaman in #JusticeLeague — featuring Jason Momoa's rippling muscles rising from the ocean in much the same way Honey Ryder did in Dr No — it's a goddamn shame we won't get two hours of just Arthur Curry for like, bunches of months.
The upshot of this is — The Batman will probably take Aquaman's July 2018 release date, a whole year before Justice League 2's old May 2019 slot. So why delay Justice League 2?
DC Dislikes Sequels
Or at least, this is the theory that many fans and publications have landed on. So far, Warner Bros. have been favoring spin-offs over straight up sequels — after all, Batman v Superman happened before Man of Steel 2, a movie which is still only tentatively part of the DCEU schedule, with no release date or director attached.
Similarly, Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn movie, Gotham City Sirens, is very much in development — co-produced by Robbie's own studio, LuckyChap, the script for #GothamCitySirens is being written by Geneva Robertson-Dworet, with David Ayer directing (ugh). Meanwhile, #SuicideSquad2 hasn't got so much as a writer, though apparently it's still going to be released. Maybe.
It seems that Warner Bros. are taking a much more reactionary approach to their schedule, green-lighting productions based on which characters audiences respond well to. That would explain both Gotham City Sirens and The Batman getting so much press lately, despite the fact that neither were in the DCEU's original schedule.
While this is quite clearly a strategy based solely on marketing — which isn't necessarily a bad thing, considering how badly sequels did this year — it also means we may finally see comic-book style storytelling on the big screen.
Chapters In A Wider Story
Comics don't tend to run in sequels, as DC's continuity is vast and often a tad incomprehensible. Instead, you get follow-up stories and tie-ins to wider arcs, that focus on different characters from the main story — like the Citizen Cold tie-in to Flashpoint, or Gotham City Sirens following on from Hush.
With Harley Quinn's movie continuing her story from Suicide Squad, this feels a lot more like a comic structure, as this is exactly what Harley did after appearing in the New 52 Suicide Squad comics: After proving to be the most popular character in the lineup, Harley got her insanely popular solo comic, which is still ongoing as one of DC Comics' biggest sellers.
The DC Comics universe (or multiverse, technically) might be a bit convoluted, but it's also fascinating because of its vast complexity. You can pick up a comic on most any character that takes your fancy, exploring weird and wonderful stories that break conventions (the Power Girl & Harley Quinn one-off is one of our favorites for this exact reason).
Instead of solo movies and endless sequels culminating in team up movies, like the MCU structure, it would be far more interesting in this stage of the superhero movie boom to see what the DCEU are apparently planning: A broader network of movies that are their own entities, spin-offs that are really chapters in a wider story.
Batman v Superman may have been a divisive movie, but it took the DCEU franchise in a bold new direction, building a wide universe for many more films to play in. Instead of a direct sequel, we get a Wonder Woman origin story, then a team up movie in Justice League — while on the flip side Harley Quinn is wrecking havoc in Gotham City Sirens, and a new, darker team is formed in Dark Universe.
Of course, it may just be that WB are still finalizing their slate of DC movies, and that Justice League 2's delay is because of Snyder's departure — and the fact that it isn't a Part 2 to the first Justice League movie. But we'd like to think that this is all just part of a grander plan to emulate comic book storytelling on the silver screen... even though we know that this is probably just because the DCEU is a bit of a mess.


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Swimming Can Help Improve Behavioural Symptoms in Children with ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a mental health condition that primarily affects behaviour, and symptoms usually appear during a child's infant years.
Studies have shown that children with ADHD can benefit from regular exercise, as it helps to improve cognitive functioning. Activities such as swimming can help focus the attention of children who have ADHD while providing structure and an outlet for releasing excess energy.
The Swim-With-Me Story
Swim-With-Me is a family business that has been helping children and adults to learn to swim for over 10 years. Owner Tracie Jack's goal is to teach as many children as possible to swim and be safe in water.
"I didn't learn to swim until I was eight-years-old, so I wanted to make sure that my children learnt as early as they could. While attending their lessons, I realised that I wanted to get involved and from there I became a qualified swimming instructor.
"Teaching children to swim and making sure that they respect, love and enjoy being in water is so important to me. I am transferring my knowledge to the next generation and contributing to saving their lives."
Swimming with ADHD
Swim-With-Me offers various swimming classes, and the instructors are experienced with teaching children who have been diagnosed with conditions such as ADHD.
Restlessness, impulsivity, lack of concentration and trouble with social interaction are some of the symptoms of ADHD. These symptoms can make it difficult for children with ADHD to participate in sports, especially if they require teamwork. Individual sports like swimming can be beneficial, as having the focus and attention needed to interact with other players in team sports can often prove challenging.
"Swimming can help boost self-esteem and encourages children with ADHD to interact with others as they're in a class environment. We always find that children with ADHD love to be in the water, and swimming often becomes a hobby."
Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD can excel at swimming. A great example is Olympic athlete Michael Phelps, who believes that starting swimming at a young age helped to keep him focused and disciplined.
How Swimming Can Improve ADHD Symptoms
Swimming is beneficial because it allows children to develop their abilities at their own pace, and set goals without being in direct competition with others. Swimmers also have the benefit of regular and dedicated interaction with their instructor, which can help to improve social skills and concentration levels.
"I believe that any sporting activity can help a child with ADHD. The relationship that's created between teacher and learner helps the children to concentrate and achieve goals.
"During each lesson, we work at minimising triggers which may make the children feel uncomfortable, or that could increase the loss of concentration."
The repetition involved in learning a new activity can help to improve attention and focus. Tracie has witnessed the benefits of swimming for children with ADHD first hand and believes it can have a positive impact on their behavioural symptoms.
"We see a great change when students have been with us for a while. They learn to respect water and work extremely well with the repetition that is necessary for learning to swim."


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I talk music and beer. Great Music. Great Beer. Bottled vs. Canned beer. Brown bottle, Green bottle, Clear bottle. Music that runs through two generations. All under the influence of my Russian River Redemption Blonde Ale. Am I going to remember what I talked about on the show tomorrow?
Featured Tracks:
Temptations Wings: Liar Of The Gorgon Queen (Skulthor Ebonblade – 2017)
Dokken: Unchain The Night (Under Lock and Key – 1985)
Ambush – Natural Born Killers (Firestorm -2014)
Patron:Hiroshi Tanida ($5), Chris Hays ($5), Michael Street ($5)
Support the show by becoming a member of the Metal Moment Podcast & the Japanese Metal Head Show community member on Patreon!
Gears used today:
– Adobe Audition CC
– Heil PR-40
– Roland UA-55 Quad Capture USB 2.0 Audio Interface
– Pop Filter
– Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
– Russian River Redemption Blonde Ale
Let Your Voice Be Heard on the Show!
Email: email@example.com
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This latest CADOS production, 'Natural Causes' by Eric Chappell (perhaps best-known for his 'Rising Damp' TV script), drew large audiences to the Little Theatre last week.
They could not have been disappointed as an excellent cast delivered what has long been the hallmark of CADOS – a thoroughly professional performance.
The play is a dark comedy with an arranged 'suicide' as its theme and much of the humour centres on the fact that husband Wayne understood it was his wife Celia who intended to depart this life, only to discover (painfully) that under the terms of a nuptial suicide pact he was expected to go too!
Waiting in ultimate frustration to enjoy the fruits of his freedom is his amorous young secretary, Angie, who can barely contain her eagerness for the love-making to begin.
Manipulating these three characters is Vincent, the representative of an aptly-named company 'Exodus' which assists (at appropriate – and escalating - cost !) those preparing for suicide.
David Walker is wonderfully cast as Vincent, a dapper individual combining the lugubriousness of his trade with apparent gentle concern for the agitated Wayne, splendidly played by Andy Burke.
Walker delivers the wittiest lines with superb timing and his interplay with the twitchy, angst-ridden Burke is a delight.
Rachel Brennan's Angie is a forward young madam anxious to banish Wayne's dithering over the formalities of his wife's demise, while Moira Cook as the doomed Celia adeptly transforms an understated early role into one of understandable final fury.
Completing a fine quintet of performers, John Stevenson as Withers the Samaritan keeps the laughter coming through repeated failure to retain anonymity and conceal his own name, while seeking to counsel the troubled Wayne.
Much of the comic business concerns the method of dispatch – poisoned drink.
To the viewer, it's like watching the three-card trick, as glasses are surreptitiously switched and interchanged, held to the lips and then at the crucial moment put down.
All this is achieved with aplomb, so much so that it requires concentration on the part of the audience to be sure whose drink has actually been spiked.
In the end, Celia survives, reviving unexpectedly after appearing to be dead and gone; not so Vincent, who fatally picks up the wrong glass in the final scene.
The production was enhanced by a superbly-designed set (how often do we say this of CADOS?) and also by well-chosen atmospheric music between scenes. Tuesday's audience, audibly involving themselves with gasps at the cliff-hanger moments, loved it.


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Aging is accompanied by large-scale changes in gene expression. Interestingly, environmental interventions that delay aging, such as dietary restriction (DR), can reverse age-associated changes in gene expression. The mechanisms by which DR induces such large-scale changes in gene expression are unclear, although epigenetic control is likely required. Chromatin modification by histone 3 trimethylation at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) is linked with active transcription, whereas trimethylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) is associated with repression of transcription. However, there is little known concerning the role of histone methylation with respect to aging. Using a directed RNAi screen in C. elegans to ascertain proteins important for longevity, we recently identified members of a multi-protein complex responsible for the trimethylation of H3K4, including the trimethyltransferase SET-2. Furthermore, we found that the knock-down of the H3K27me3 demethylase UTX- 1 prolonged worm lifespan. Our results support the possibility of an orchestrated mechanism of gene regulation critical to organismal lifespan, whereby activating marks (H3K4me3) are simultaneously added to chromatin, as repressive marks (H3K27me3) are removed, to allow coordinate changes in gene expression. Importantly, we have found that at least one member of the H3K4me3 methyltransferase complex, ash-2, functions in the same genetic pathway as one method of DR in C. elegans, raising the intriguing possibility that this particular process of histone methylation may play an important role in longevity in response to DR. To test whether the SET-2 H3K4 trimethyltransferase complex and UTX-1 function coordinately in modulating worm lifespan and to determine the requirement of these proteins for longevity induced by DR, I propose the following specific aims:
Aim 1. To determine whether the SET-2 H3K4 trimethyltransferase complex and UTX-1 play complementary or independent roles in modulating lifespan.
Aim 2. To explore how SET-2 and UTX-1 regulate lifespan in response to DR. Worm genetics and lifespan assays will be used to place utx-1 relative to members of the H3K4 trimethyltransferase complex in longevity and to test the importance of both SET-2 and UTX-1 in longevity induced by different methods of DR in worms. These results will be complemented by an analysis of the levels of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in whole worms and in specific tissues. Finally, the generation of fluorescently tagged transgenic lines for SET-2 and UTX-1 will be used for localization in specific tissues and biochemical purification of protein complexes. Long-term goals will be to explore the importance of SET-2 and UTX-1 in the regulation of gene expression during aging. These studies will offer key insight into a conserved mechanism by which aging is regulated, and may ultimately suggest ways to slow aging and prevent age-related diseases.
We recently identified several proteins that are responsible for an important chromatin modification, called histone methylation, also regulate lifespan in C. elegans. These proteins and their functions are highly conserved in more complex animals, including humans. Thus our continued research may ultimately uncover ways to slow aging and/or prevent age related diseases, such as diabetes and cancer.
|Maures, Travis J; Booth, Lauren N; Benayoun, Berenice A et al. (2014) Males shorten the life span of C. elegans hermaphrodites via secreted compounds. Science 343:541-4
|Greer, Eric L; Maures, Travis J; Ucar, Duygu et al. (2011) Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 479:365-71
|Maures, Travis J; Greer, Eric L; Hauswirth, Anna G et al. (2011) The H3K27 demethylase UTX-1 regulates C. elegans lifespan in a germline-independent, insulin-dependent manner. Aging Cell 10:980-90


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The driver accused of killing a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident in Easton may have been sending a text message on his cell phone while behind the wheel, according to police reports.
The driver accused of killing a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident in Easton may have been sending a text message on his cell phone while behind the wheel, according to police reports.
Michael Faria, 33, of 99 Canton St., Stoughton, was arraigned Wednesday in Taunton District Court, where Judge Kevan J. Cunningham ordered him held on $50,000 cash bail. He is accused of driving the SUV that struck and killed John McCarthy of Brockton early Saturday morning on Route 138
Faria — who is charged with motor vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury or death and negligent operation of a motor vehicle — turned himself in to Easton police Tuesday afternoon, after officers applied for an arrest warrant that morning.
Police got an anonymous tip Monday from a woman who claimed her daughter was at a party on Central Street in Easton and overheard a someone talking on the phone to "this other kid… I guess who killed this guy."
"She went on to explain, as she began to cry, that the party was texting on his phone when he ran into this guy," Detective Sgt. John Lynn's incident report states.
Police then questioned the man, Daniel Anagnoston, who admitted to having the phone conversation with Faria. He told police that after Faria left his house early Saturday morning, he called him, saying he hit a pedestrian and didn't stop. Faria also allegedly told Anagnoston that he was texting while driving.
Another police report said Faria may have taken his black Infiniti SUV to Maine for repairs.
The accident took place at 4:49 a.m. Saturday, near the intersection of Meredith Drive and Washington Street.
Faria is due back in court Aug. 12.
This is the region's second recent hit-and-run accident involving a driver who may have been sending text messages behind the wheel.
In December, 13-year-old Earman Machado was killed in Taunton when a car driven by Craig Bigos struck him. Bigos, who admitted to police that he was texting while driving, claimed he was unaware he hit the boy until several hours later.


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Father of My Children (12A)
This remarkable film by Mia Hansen-Løve is so deceptively quiet you could miss the dreadful anguish at its heart.
It begins as a low-key portrait of an independent film producer, Gregoire (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing), whose life revolves around his office in Paris, his mobile phone, and the wife and family he doesn't quite see enough of.
The camera, as stealthy as an eavesdropper, engagingly monitors his daily routines and shows us a man who is madly busy yet contented. The only problem, glimpsed almost in passing, is that he seems to be going bankrupt, but he claims a wealthy family he can apply to in case of a crisis. A shocking event halfway through the story completely sabotages our assumptions, and the writer-director Hansen-Løve brings a sudden cold clarity to bear in the manner of an Alice Munro short story – I can think of no higher praise – obliging us to rethink the entire drift of the film. The second half shifts the perspective to Gregoire's wife Sylvia (Chiara Caselli) and his eldest daughter Clemence (Alice de Lencquesaing) as they try to understand his motivation and at the same time uphold the integrity of his work. It becomes moving as much for what it doesn't say as what it does; buried beneath its magnificently composed surface is a poignant sense of self-sacrifice to a business where money will always trump art.
Belfast Telegraph


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The AWARE program aims to enhance WA's emergency management arrangements by investing in planning and human capacity building at a local or district level. The program is financed and managed by the Office of Emergency Management, and in 2017-18 has $202,000 available to distribute.
The 2017-18 AWARE grants round attracted 36 applications, requesting over $487,000. The applications were assessed by the relevant District Emergency Management Committees and the Assessment Panel before being endorsed by the Office of Emergency Management.
The Office of Emergency Management wishes to congratulate all applicants successful in obtaining funding in the 2017-18 AWARE grants round:
The AWARE Program aims to enhance Western Australia's emergency management (EM) arrangements by investing in planning and human capacity building at a local or district level. In 2017-18 projects had to align with one of the following categories:
AWARE recipients
AWARE recipients
AWARE recipients
2014-2015AWARE recipients
2015-2016AWARE recipients 2016-2017
For more information on the AWARE program please contact the Grants Manager on 08 6551 4036.
Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick Eligibility CheckGuidelines for ApplicantsSample Grant Agreement2017-2018 AWARE Application form


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What are key examples of prejudice in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?
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I think that the most demonstrative examples of prejudice that are the most present are the ones that create the reality to which Bruno becomes aware as the novel develops. Bruno does not understand how "Out- With" is created or structured, yet he realizes that there are people who live in a different reality of the camp. Over the course of the novel, he understands that these people's reality is not a good one and this becomes the basic tenet of prejudice that Bruno stands up against, without even knowing it. For example, Bruno becomes aware that prejudice can lock people into stratified roles when he realizes that Pavel used to be a doctor. He naturally assumes that he was a servant of some kind, but when he realizes that Pavel is a doctor and has the knowledge of a doctor, Bruno begins to recognize that judging people prematurely carries with it negative consequences. His entire interaction with Shmuel is one that transcends prejudice and Bruno understands that treating people as ends in of themselves as opposed to means to ends is the only moral and ethical course of action. Bruno does not set out to be a champion against prejudice and prejudicial attitudes that stratify society. Yet, as the novel develops towards its inevitable climax, that what he ends up becoming.


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Kristie McCracken @ The Biltmore Cabaret
Kristie McCracken is one of Vancouver's most promising young vocal talents. Kristie spends much of her time as Songwriter, Singer and Guitarist for local R&B/Pop group The Ponderosas, whose world music and reggae infused sound has gained them quite a following in the local Vancouver music scene. Kristie was a part of the Sarah McLaughlin Music Outreach Program as a teenager and has gone on to study music at UBC. She is also a member in Vancouver based reggae band Natural Flavas, and has performed alongside legends such as Ken Boothe, Leroy Sibbles, Taj Weekes and Adowa, Kae Sun, Steele, and Toots and the Maytals.Read More
^^^ From Kristie's facwbook page
^^^ From Kristie's facwbook page


text:
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler
Becky of Book Club B apologized for recommending the Calvino book, but after her intelligent leading of our discussion we all agreed it was a creative and thought-provoking addition to our book list.
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino, written in Italian in 1979, is ten novels in one. The protagonist of these ten novels (and the only apparent thing they have in common) is the reader. Yes, "you," as you interact with the author, are the main character.
You begin one of the novels, get interested in the setting, the characters, the plot, and then just at the point of suspense, the story is cut off and another begins. Frustrating? Another character says to you:
You have only this beginning and would like to find the continuation, is that true? The trouble is that once upon a time they all began like that, all novels. There was somebody who went along a lonely street and saw something that attracted his attention, something that seemed to conceal a mystery, or a premonition; then he asked for explanations and they told him a long story… Do you believe that every story must have a beginning and an end? (258-259)
You keep reading, simultaneously hating the author for "committing serious imprudences" (66) in throwing off the conventions of storytelling, and finding yourself compelled to "read between the lines of things the evasive meaning of what is in store" (66). Your efforts are rewarded; it turns out that the ten novels are one, a decagonal storyline demonstrating that life, the universe, existence, is one story with infinite permutations.
This is experimental fiction, emphasis on the experimental. Calvino is clearly concerned with saving the novel form from "being an assembly-line product" (128) and drawing distinctions between "those who make books" and "those who read them" (93).
And he has a lot to say about those who make them. He describes both precision and confusion in the publishing house. He makes a showdown of the "productive writer" vs. the "tormented writer" (173). He comments on the trend of the plural author, jabbing at husband and wife pairs, "as if the shared life of a couple had no greater consolation than the production of manuscripts" (96). (That one smarts!)
A beautiful analogy of the craft of writing comes from a character in one of the novels monitoring an observatory:
From my position up there I felt as if I had the storms and the clear skies in my hand, the thunderbolts and the mists: not like a god, no, do not believe me mad, I did not feel I was Zeus the Thunderer, but a bit like a conductor who has before him a score already written and who knows that the sounds rising from the instruments correspond to a pattern of which he is the principle curator and possessor (67).
The writer is not an inventor but a skilled conduit of the pre-existing story, ultimate truth revealed in glimpses. Therefore, the ideal novel has "as its driving source only the desire to narrate, to pile stories upon stories, without trying to impose a philosophy of life on you, simply allowing you to observe its own growth, like a tree, an entangling, as if of branches and leaves" (92).
I believe that. The problem, of course, is that Calvino's statement appears in this novel, the one with the anarchist agenda, the one that argues for purity in storytelling and the necessity of throwing off preconceptions—in other words, a novel that imposes a philosophy of life rather than allowing you to observe its growth.
It's a brain teaser, this one. Worth the effort—but successful in providing a great deal of frustration along the way!
Comments (2)
I still haven't finished this one, but plan to. It did not intrigue me as much as it did you.
I had the opposite reaction to a number of the stories within the story — I wanted them to stop. Maybe that will diminish when I get through the final third.
Keep reading, D–I didn't appreciate it until I had processed the work as a whole. Let me know if you change your mind!


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There is a tradition, and a community, that is growing in westside Costa Mesa, CA. My good friends at Generic Youth open up their doors every hump day in order to host BURGER WEDNESDAY!
The crowd that assembles on this substantially slanted parking lot every week is an eclectic mix of people. However, the binding characteristics that you find amongst everyone are a love for burgers and conversation. And let me tell you… grill master Scott Andrews makes the best burger in Orange County.
If you're in the neighborhood any Wednesday feel free to stop by…
1609 Pomona Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92627


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Deals of the Day: Bear Stearns Accord Turns Page
Deals of the Day compiles this morning's biggest news about mergers and acquisitions, banking, bankruptcy and more. Catch us on Twitter, @WSJDealJournal.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Yahoo: Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma said China's biggest e-commerce provider is prepared to sell a stake to sovereign wealth firms to fund its buyback of shares from Yahoo. [Bloomberg]
Chesapeake Energy's largest shareholders, who are set to take control of its board after the annual meeting Friday, want the company to stop spending billions more than it makes selling natural gas and oil. [WSJ]
Related: Chesapeake Energy said it would sell another $4 billion of assets Friday morning, this time shedding its pipeline operations in three separate deals. [Deal Journal]
DenizBank: Russia's Sberbank clinched the purchase of Turkey's DenizBank for up to 3.09 billion euros ($3.9 billion) as the former Soviet savings bank seeks to grow in emerging Europe and diversify out of a home market it already dominates. [Reuters]
Genivar: The Canadian engineering company said it is offering to acquire British consulting firm WSP Group in a cash deal valued at approximately C$442 million ($431.54 million). [Reuters]


text: 2008/6/26 Darren New <>: > Ulf Wiger wrote: >> >> I think we can stipulate that when serializing a pid, perhaps storing it >> on disk, then re-creating it and trying to use it, all bets are off >> anyway.* > > I would certainly hope not. One has to serialize a pid to send it to a > different node. I would hope that creating a process on my node and then > sending you the only copy of the pid returned by spawn() doesn't cause the > process to exit if it's waiting for your node to send it a message. In that case, the remote holder of the pid cannot rely on the pid referring to the same process if it's used some time later. It should monitor the process in order to detect whether it dies. The process doesn't exit just because there are no known references to it, but once a process /has/ died, and all known (local) references are gone, some other process may reuse that pid. This is why storing pids persistently is a very bad idea. BR, Ulf W


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Inexact title. See the list below. We don't have an article named Analysis/TheHauntedHathaways, exactly. We do have:
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If you meant one of those, just click and go. If you want to start a Analysis/TheHauntedHathaways page, just click the edit button above. Be careful, though, the only things that go in the Main namespace are tropes and should be created through the YKTTW system. Don't put in redirects for shows, books, etc.. Use the right namespace for those.