text:
Historical Breeders
Mt. Paul Norfolk
Anne Winston
In 1974 (when the Norwich and Norfolk Terrier Club Maplehurst cup was first awarded for most POINTS from Bred-by
in a club year) the winner was Anne Winston with Mt. Paul Tulip. That in no way suggests the dog finished all from
Bred-by, just that the dog earned the most points.
A quote from Anne Winston, Mt. Paul Norfolk:
"Good ears are inherited by breeding to those who have them. If they are placed properly, as in the standard, they
will drop properly. I never had any problem luckily. They must be set on the side of the head a bit below the dome. If
set too high, they tulip. There is no other way out."
By Sue Ely
My introduction to what is now known as the Norfolk Terrier came as the result of a perfect storm in Norwich
Terriers, D.E., and a dinner party at Anne Winston's in 1963. The storm had been building since 1951 with the
descendants of Mary Baird's Snuff and Sneeze at her Castle Point Kennels, in Bernardsville, NJ. Upon the untimely
death of Josephine Spencer in that year, Mary was able to buy Partree Cobbler and breed him to her best bitches,
descendants of Snuff and Sneeze. There on the Bernardsville Mountain their get and progeny flourished in kennels
built amid the specimen trees and generous paddocks of Castle Point under the watchful eye of Mary's indispensable
kennel man, Robert Young.
The storm gained strength in 1953 when Anne Winston bought a bitch, Castle Point Trivet, from Mary Baird. The
Winston farm included a nice portion of the valley of the Raritan River's north branch and extensive woods along the
flank of a gentle hill, Mt. Paul, between Peapack and Mendham. By 1954, the Mt. Paul kennel was a force to be
reckoned with among the ranks of drop-eared Norwich Terriers. Mt. Paul Anderson, the first champion Anne
produced, was the result of Castle Point Trivet bred to George Pinch. Descended from imported English stock and
owned by Louis Murdock, George was a game dog to ground, and many of his get excelled at earthwork. Several were
used to bolt foxes by Buster Chadwell, longtime huntsman of the Essex, NJ, Foxhounds.
The third thrust of the storm formed in 1956 when Priscilla Mallory, who lived on a working farm between Gladstone
and Mendham, halfway between Anne and Mary, bought a bitch, Mt Paul Bridget, from the next litter of the same
breeding as Mt. Paul Anderson. While Anne and Mary explored and enjoyed all the talents their terriers had, Priscilla's
focus in the next years at Wendover was predominantly on conformation. Although she valued the breed's natural
talents, she worked carefully on the genetics of each generation, seeking to produce the finest specimens. She was a
fixture at the local match shows, and, as a good friend to both Anne and Mary, often had an opinion about a litter or
new import that was taken very seriously.
For the next 20 years these three ladies were the prevailing winds of the Somerset Hills and of the widening world of
the Norfolk Terrier. Not only did they expand their breeding programs by using each other's dogs, but they widened
and deepened the Norfolk gene pool by continuing to import dogs from English kennels, notably Nanfan, Ickworth,
Ragus, and Colonsay. They competed joyfully, critically, and not just in the show ring. Anne Winston was the first
person to win an American Working Terrier Association certificate; and Mary Baird hosted many AWTA meets at
Castle Point, complete with a rushing stream and a raccoon in a cage!!! Priscilla Mallory produced some extremely
influential and versatile dogs as a result of her sharp eye for selecting good stock both at home and in England.
News and Views
A Synching Feeling
Alarm Barking
Balking On Lead
Dog Aggression
Leap First, Look Later
Male Aggression
Potty Mistakes
Puppies Chewing Wires
Vacuum Or Broom Aggression
Walk With Confidence
Honor Roll
Honor Roll Page Two
Honor Roll Page Three
Honor Roll Page Four
Living With Norfolk Terriers
Fun With Your Norfolk
Fun Page One
Blanket Hurdles
Scent Work
Educational Toys
Running With Your Norfolk
Fun Page Two
Activity Toys
Miscellaneous Fun
Go Find
Fun Page Three
Bobbing For Treats
Enthusiastic Fetching
Dock Diving
Muffin Tin Game
More Jumping
Backyard Tunneling
Fun Page Four
Jump, Sit, Stay
Fun Agility
Hula Hoop
Keep Away
Fun Page Five
Get It!
Dock Jumping
Dock Dog Training
Simon Says
Fun Page Six
Sit And Shake Hands
The Find It Game
Wobble Wobble
Clean Up Your Toys
Follow The Leader
Nose Ball
Fun Page Seven
Hide and Seek
Flying Disc Game
Bone Hunt
Treasure Hunt
What To Wear
Egg Race
Musical Chairs
Water Race
Sock Race
Blind Man's Bluff
Tip Of The Week
Tips Page One
Submissive Urination
Car Ride Safety
Cold Weather Tips
Holiday Tips
Grooming Guide
Chagas Disease
Using Probiotics
Tips Page Two
Stop & Smell The Roses
More Holiday Tips
Norwich Color
Train Your Puppy To Ring A Bell
Oral Med Tips
Feeding Puppies
Fly Control
About Behavior Medications
Spring Warm Up
Acorns Are Dangerous
Storm Phobias
Cold Weather
Dog Food Analysis
Tips Page Three
Housebreaking Tips
Safe Travel
Foods To Avoid Feeding
Cheyletiella Mite
Holiday Hazards
Winter zzzz's
Rock Salt
Tips Page Four
Doggie Etiquette At Work
Yard-Bound Dogs
Cocoa Mulch
Summer Heat Waves
July 4th
Spring Rains
Easter Hazards
Walking Your Dog
Tips Page Five
Dangers Of Xylitol
Living With Cataracts
Valentine's Day
New Year's Eve
Travel With Your Pet
Winter Warning
Grieving The Loss Of Your Pet
Benefits Of Walking Your Dog
Nicotine Is Toxic
Tips Page Six
Danger In Thorns
Hot Pavement Warning
Fresh Water In Summer
Fireworks Awareness
Beware Scents
Over The Counter Medications
Winter Illness Susceptibility
Emergency Insulating Tips
Supplemental Heat Warning
Winter Emergencies
"Listen" To Your Dog In Winter
Winter Safety Reminders
Tips Page Seven
Bread Dough
Severe Storms
Separation Anxiety
Harmful Fruits
Caught In A Thunderstorm?
Fire Safety
Beware Batteries
Tips Page Eight
Potty Training Routine
Chocolate & Caffeine
Training Your Puppy
Tips Page Nine
Pet Disaster Needs
Bringing Puppy Home
Trick Or Treating
Emergency Contacts
Puppy Proofing Your Home
Electrical Cord Dangers
Tips Page Ten
Chocolate Toxins
Winter Travel
Winter Feeding
Regular Grooming
Walking Near Frozen Ponds
Winter Precautions
Venomous Spiders
Onions Are Ominous
Tips Page Eleven
Reverse Sneezing
Pool Safety
Nail Trimming
ID Your Pet
Major Storm Aftermath
Hurricane Preparations
Car & RV Accidents
Hot Weather & Digestion
Registering Your Pet
Pet Alert
Tips Page Twelve
Heat Stroke
Blister Beetles
Tips Page Thirteen
Choking Hazard
Swimmer's Ear
Seasonal Allergies
Antifreeze and Wiper Fluids
Dry Skin
Anal Glands
Toy Hazards
Soft Sided Crates
Tips Page Fourteen
First Aid Kit
Puppy Teeth Awareness
Dental Disease
Clean Feet
Car Safety
Books Page One
Dictionary Of Names
An Eye For A Dog
Camping & RVing With Dogs
Canine Reproduction & Whelping
Clicker Training
Diary Of A Dotty Dog Doctor
Power Of Positive Dog Training
The Norfolk Terrier
The Dog Listener
Books Page Two
Dr. Pitcairn's Guide To Natural Health
First Aid For Pets
Getting In Touch With Your Dog
Give Your Dog A Bone
Happy Housetraining
Holistic Guide For A Healthy Dog
Complete Book Of Dog Breeding
Smoke Alarm Training For Your Dog
Books Page Three
How To Love Your Dog
K-9 Structure & Terminology
My Puppy Is Born
New Knowledge Of Dog Behavior
Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier USA 1936-1966
Puppy Love
The Norwich Terrier by Marjorie Bunting
General Publications
Canine Chronicle
Dog News
Canine Cineradiography
Disaster Planning
Introducing New Pets
When Not To Get A Dog
Whole Dog Journal
Pet Evacuation Kit
Dog Activities And Training
Training Tips For The New Puppy
Therapy and Service Dogs
Health & Nutrition
Health & Nutrition Page One
Poison Control
Antifreeze Anecdote
Poisonous Plants
Health & Nutrition Page Two
VetGo Cardiology
Mitral Valve Dysplasia Update
Birth Defects
Viruses & Vaccines
Canine Herpes Warning
Fort Dodge Heartworm Recall
Health Organization
Health & Nutrition Page Three
Food Hazards
Holiday Hazards
Pet Safety
Pet Education
Christmas Is A'Coming'
Winter Safety
Emergency Evacuation List
Frostbite Warning
Preparedness Lowers Risk
Infection From Dog Chews
Health & Nutrition Page Four
Pet First Aid
Fevers In Pets
Signs Of Canine Illness
Dog Treats
Dog Treat Recipes
Just Pet Recipes
Food & Water
Special Medical Problems
Hip Dysplasia In Dogs
Stress, Infertility & Herpes Infection
Fading Puppies
Infant Mortality
Health & Nutrition Page Five
General Health
Cheyletiella Mite In Norfolk Terriers
Dandruff In Puppies
Cheyletiella Dermatitis
Veterinary Encyclopedia
Vaccination Protocols
Health & Nutrition Page Six
Canine Color Genetics
Birth Defects: Cleft Palate
Breeders Toolbox Library
DNA Testing
How Are Defects Inherited
Title Statistics
Canine Chronicle
Dog News
Professional Handlers Assn.
AKC Conformation
A Beginners Guide To Dog Shows
Grooming Demonstration
AKC Obedience
The Norfolk Terrier
Secrets Of Obedience Training
Rally and Rally-O
Getting Started In Rally
Teach Your Dog Obedience & Rally-O
Rally-O Guide
Canine Freestyle
Canine Freestyle Federation
World Canine Freestyle Org., Inc.
North American Flyball Assn., Inc.
Agility Resources
Agility Forum
AKC Agility
Agility Events Online
Clean Run Magazine
Fun Agility Videos
About Earthdog Tests
Earthdog Club Search
Tips For Tunnel Training Terriers
Lure Coursing
Lure Coursing Club Search
Fun Coursing Videos
Barn Hunt
Barn Hunt Association
Barn Hunt Titles
Dock Diving
A Title In Dock Diving
North America Diving Dogs
Ultimate Air Dogs
Heart Of Texas DockDogs
K9 Country Club Diving Classes
Dock Diving Slide Show
Page One
American Kennel Club
The Norfolk Terrier Club
The Norfolk Terrier Club Of Great Britain
Companion Animal Recovery
Home Again
AKC Companion Animal Recovery Program
Search Dog Foundation
Page Two
Dog Show Superintendents
BaRay Event Services
Moss Bow Dog Shows
Jack Onofrio Dog Shows
Foy Trent Dog Shows
Roy Jones Dog Shows
Rau Dog Shows
Canine Compulsive Disorder
Canine Inherited Disorders Database
DDC Veterinary
FAQ for Frequently Used Sires Program
The Four Steps To Breeding Success
VetGen's Canine Research
Veterinary Genetics Lab
Page Three
Collectibles, Gifts & Fun Activities
In The Company Of Dogs
Fun Dog Activities
Corsini: English Limited Edition Prints
Norfolk Jewelry
Joybies Piddle Pants
Page Four
Health Related Sites
Canine Health Links
Vaccination Protocols
Animal Health Trust
Online Mendelian Inheritance In Animals
Univ. Of Cambridge Vet. School
Canine Inherited Disorders Database
All Creatures Veterinary Hospital
A First Aid Kit
Veterinary Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Health Plan
Cornell Univ. College of Vet. Medicine
Page Five
More Health Related Sites
Canine Herpes Virus
Dog Symptoms Sorter
Pet Orthodontics
Hip & Elbow Dysplasia Resources
Iint. Vet. Information Service
Morris Animal Foundation
Page Six
More Health Related Sites
Orthopedic Foundation For Animals
Page Seven
Independent Sites
Ventlock Tailgate Locks
Dog Informant
Kids and Dogs
Training Your Puppy
Dr. P's Dog Training
Positive, Effective Dog Training
Page Eight
Pet Travel
Best Airports For Pets
Bentsen Palm Village
Four Paws Kingdom
Pets On The Go
Pet Travel Store
Page Nine
Dictionary Of Unusual Names
An Eye For A Dog
Camping & RVing With Dogs
Canine Reproduction & Whelping
Clicker Training
Diary Of A Dotty Dog Doctor
Page Ten
Dr. Pitcairn's Guide To Natural Health
First Aid For Pets
Getting In Touch With Your Dog
Give Your Dog A Bone
Happy Housetraining
Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog
Page Eleven
Historical Norfolks
Historical Tail Male/Female Lines
Historical Pedigrees A-B
A Binder Of Colonsay
Airmans Brown Betty
Airmans Brown Budge
Airmans Brown Eyes
Airmans Brown Sarah
Airmans Brown Smudge
Airmans Brown Sugar
Airmans Sam Browne
Airman's Storm
Allercombe Escort Of Goldencross
Allercombe Filbert
And Harry Of Titanium
Short Story
Angels Whisper Of Colonsay
Apple Jack
Babbling Binks
Badgewood Blakeney
Badgewood Bonnie
Badgewood Miss Alice
Badgewood Monty Collins
Badgewood The Huntress
Bethway John
Bethway Little Tinker Bell
Bethway The Duchess
Bethway's John Boy
Bethway's Pound
Bethway's Ringo
Bethway's Tony
Bethway's Willow
Biddy Pinch Of Ways End
Biffin Of Beaufin
Bigger Banger
Brown Jug
Brownie - A Short Story
Whinlatter Allercombe Have-A-Go
Historical Pedigrees C-F
Castle Point Simon
Chalkyfield Badger
Cinnamon Of Nanfan
Cobbler Of Boxted
Colonsay Attaboy
Colonsay Allcando
Ch. Colonsay All Kiff
Colonsay Banjo
Colonsay Berry
Colonsay Bimp
Colonsay Bluemarking Lady Jane
Colonsay Canary
Colonsay Dabster
Colonsay Dicky Flutter
Colonsay Dimback
Colonsay Dixy
Colonsay Flaming Onion
Colonsay Flap
Colonsay Flip
Colonsay Full Con
Colonsay Gibby
Colonsay Gloom Chaser
Colonsay Hudson
Colonsay Junior
Colonsay Kelly's Eye
Colonsay Orderly Dog
Colonsay Red Tabs
Colonsay Sky Rocket
Colonsay We Three
Copper Coin
Cracknor Candidate
Cracknor Capricorn
Dinah Of Goldencross
Dusty Of Goldencross
Elel Spice
Elel Spruce
Elve Pure Magic
Farndon Randolph
Farndon Red Dog
Farndon Romeo
Fluellen Lucy Glitters
Foxybrook Gene
Historical Pedigrees G-L
Ginger Dick of Ways End
Ginger of Boxted
Gold Dust
Gotoground Cuckoo
Gotoground Foxhunter
Gotoground Gunner
Gotoground Moley
Gotoground Widgeon Bunny
Hard Cider
Harold of Groton
Heathjul Christmas Cracker
Horstead Mick
Humbug Of Down East
Hunston Ha'Penny
Hunston Hedge Betty
Hunston Heralda
Hunston High Flier
Hunston Holy Smoke
Ickworth Nimrod
Ickworth Peter's Pence
Ickworth Pretty Piece
Ickworth Proper Pretty
Ickworth Ready
Ickworth Red Fox Phillip
Jaeva Bluebeard
Jaeva Brown Button
Jaeva Matti Brown
Jake Of Down East
Jemma Black Bird
King's Prevention Ahoy
King's Prevention Belinda
King's Prevention Jolly Roger
Kinmount Dumpty
Kinmount Pip
Knipton Rusty
Knipton Stumpy
Lee's Sweet Briar
Little Jane
Historical Pedigrees M-
March Hare
Mark of Beaufin
Max-Well's Cyclone
Max-Well Liberty Bell
Max-Well O'Henry
Max-Wells Weatherman
Max-Well's William Penn
Merry Of Beaufin
Miss Manette
Mollycoddle Of Down East
Historical Breeders
Historical Breeders: A-Ba
Historical Breeders: Be
Historical Breeders: Bi-Ce
Castle Point
Historical Breeders: Ch
Historical Breeders: Co
Colonsay Page One
Colonsay Page Two
Historical Breeders: Cr
Cracknor Page One
Cracknor Page Two
Historical Breeders: E
Historical Breeders: F-Gol
Historical Breeders: Got-Hu
Historical Breeders: I-J
Historical Breeders: Ki
King's Prevention
Historical Breeders: Ki-L
King's Prevention Page Two
Lewis Podge Low
Historical Breeders: Ma
Historical Breeders: Mo
Mt. Paul Page One
Mt. Paul Page Two
Historical Breeders: Na
Nanfan Page Two
Nanfan Page Three
Nanfan Page Four
Gallery Of Nanfan Memories
Historical Breeders: Oa
Historical Breeders: Pa-Po
Port Fortune
Historical Breeders: Ra
Ragus Gallery
Historical Breeders: Ri
River Bend/Maplehurst
River Bend/Maplehuerst Page Two
Historical Breeders: Wa
Waveney Valley
Historical Breeders: Wh-Wi
Historical Breeders: Wy
Historical Publications


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Widespread and common inland gull in the U.S. and Canada. Forages along lakes, rivers, and ponds, as well as, plowed fields, mall parking lots, and parks. Often in flocks sitting on ground or flying between roosting and foraging sites. Smaller and more slender than Herring Gull with thinner bill. Compared with California Gull, adults are lighter gray on back, thinner billed, and lack red spot on bill.
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Your Online Guide To Birds And Bird Watching
Comprehensive life histories of North American breeding birds
Life histories of all species breeding in Mexico, Central America, and South America


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S864 Baby Pink
Make Up For Ever Artist Color Shadow
Make Up For Ever S864 Baby Pink is a slightly cool-toned, dark pink with a pearl finish. It is a permanent eyeshadow that retails for $17.00 and contains 0.08 oz. Read review...
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text:
Epoisode 83: Co-hosts B.L. Ochman & David Erickson discussed the many marketers who are culturejacking the 50 Shades of Grey movie release; Jon Stewart's exit from The Daily Show; the best and the worst of the Taylor Swift marketing machine; Google shutting down Helpouts; Facebook's Legacy pages; plus great new apps and important stats and a lot of stuff in between.
Home » Google Helpouts


text: The National Museum in Liechtenstein houses a permanent exhibition focusing on the history, culture and landscape of the Principality of Liechtenstein. It also hosts special exhibitions. Visitors to the three main buildings will find 42 exhibit rooms spread across almost 2000 square metres. Opening hours Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. Wednesday 10 a.m. - 8.00 pm Monday closed


text:
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Wednesday, October 31, 2007
'Alien' Trailer Shows Us How to Create Our Own
I think it's pretty safe to say that Ridley Scott's Alien belongs on just about everyone's top ten list of horror films. The 'haunted house in space' story of a rag-tag group of blue collar space truckers who unknowingly bring aboard a hostile organism has been imitated countless times since its release date in 1979. I actually prefer James Cameron's space-action sequel, but there's no denying the power and authenticity the original had to scare the crap out of you.
It also had some very effective marketing in the form of one of the greatest movie trailers of all time. I remembered it was pretty good, but finding it again on YouTube allowed me to study it, and realize that it has become what all action/horror trailers follow today. Even on our smaller level, crafting a great trailer can be the viral push you need to attract a lot of attention, and the Alien trailer is a good template. For example:
The Use of Elements Not in the Film
One thing that everyone seems to remember is the cracking egg. While there were alien eggs in the film, they looked nothing like the chicken egg featured in the trailer. Oddly textured and sitting on a strange landscape, this was a bizarre image (also featured on the movie poster) that seemed to contain something terrible waiting to emerge. The light coming out of the inevitable crack helped cement this notion. We also get music that is creepy and haunting, again something found nowhere in the actual film.
Build Up to an Explosion
When the egg cracks, the imagery changes (notice the visual link between the lights) and we get that distress signal wail sound that immediately gets under your skin. Random shots from the movie are flung at us, which don't really tell us anything, but do convey a lot of dread. We see closeups of faces, space explorers searching a foreign environment, and Sigourney Weaver running for her life. Just when things build to a head, all hell breaks loose and we get faster cutting, apparent violence, and alarming screeches of what we assume is the terrible Alien of the title. It's incredibly effective.
Silence and a Great Tagline
Then all goes quiet and we get a extreme wide shot of space centered on a tiny ship with the unforgettable line "In space no one can hear you scream." Wow.
And there you have it, the perfect recipe for the horror-thriller trailer. Remember to pick the most visual elements of your movie, create some new ones, slap them all together with an overpowering score and nail the coffin shut with some great writing. And don't go over two minutes. You don't need to.
Happy Halloween...
Friday, October 26, 2007
Blog Salad Friday on Mock-tober 27, 2007
A few weeks back I posted about a great editorial from Microfilmmaker concerning criticism and how to learn from it. Gregory Conley over at Your Video Store Shelf has a running "conversation" with an emailer who ain't too thrilled about some of his video reviews. After responding once, the perturbed dude came at him again, so Greg posted again. It's more good evidence that you better develop a thick skin if you want to release your work to public scrutiny. There will always be bad reviews (no matter what the budget), so get used to it, and respect the opinions of others. Just because they may not like your stuff doesn't mean they're brainless clods.
Fangs for Everything
With Halloween upon us, I thought you might like a couple of links to cover a very popular appliance that don't cost much, but can have a striking cinematic effect: Fangs. Make Magazine has a video or text tutorial on creating some tooth fakery that is matched to your very own choppers. If you don't have the time to go the DIY route, check out the inexpensive Scarecrow Tooth Caps. They look pretty good and will only set you back fifteen bones, er dollars.
The Close Up Blog-a-thon Comes to a Close
The House Next Door's excellent blog frenzy is over, and there is now a wealth of great film analysis to pore over. The theme was the close up, and so many folks responded, you could construct a textbook out of all the great contributions (here's mine). If you haven't checked it out yet, please do. You can only grow as a filmmaker by reading about this very personal camera angle.
Tiffany Shlain on "This Conference is Being Recorded"
Lance Weiler interviews filmmaker Shlain who has the breakthrough honor of getting her indie short The Tribe on iTunes as a paid download (which is the number one downloaded short right now). iTunes has been resistant to do this in the past, so this is great news for all you content creators out there. Shlain talks about her successful short, how she got it on iTunes, and her plans for the future. I love her positive attitude and consistent energy. A good listen.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
How the Netflix Eight Rules for Success Can Help You Become a Better Filmmaker
The following is my own take on how we can use the "Netflix Eight" to make our productions even better.
1. Netflix Delights People
Surround your project with quality talent, who are better at their given job than you are. This will discourage micromanaging (which keeps your crew happy), and allow you to focus more on directing. The ultimate delight will come from your audience when they see, and are impressed by, the final product.
2. We're democratizing movie distribution
Think about new ways to get your work out there. Create an online serial that will keep viewers returning to your site for weekly or daily updates. Make your creations available for download to various devices and portable platforms.
3. Values Matter
Whatever films you make, don't compromise your own ideals (say, for the quick buck) because at the end of the day, you are the one who has to live with yourself. Don't expect those you work with to live up to your standard if you can't--so don't be hypocritical. Have standards of respect on the set to create a creatively beneficial environment and everyone will work harder for you.
4. Rules annoy us
"Think outside the box" is a tired expression, but don't be afraid to try new things. It's the revolutionaries that break down barriers and open new avenues. Leaders and pioneers have more clout (which translates to more opportunities) than fans than followers.
5. We pay well
Even if you are working with no budget, remember that the volunteers on your movie have great worth. Feed them, praise them, and enthusiastically help them when they ask for it. When the money does finally come in, reward them for their years of dedication by hiring them at a generous rate.
6. Consistently outstanding people
Hold auditions for actors, and seek out the best technicians. Your film is only as good as its weakest link. Don't let that weak link be in a position that you were too lazy to fill with the best person available.
7. We love movies
You gotta love this work. It is so hard, and takes such a toll, your passion has to be greater than the adversity that will be heaped upon you. Keep pressing forward and remember that these things have been done by lesser individuals than you. When you're done, the satisfaction you feel will be so much greater than the struggles to achieve it.
8. We're creating an amazing future
With the revolution in internet distribution upon us, we are all at the cusp of something really amazing. Create the best work you have within you, and market the hell out of it. Get thousands of eyes to view your stuff, and get them to talk about it. You will guarantee that you will be doing this for many, many years to come. And that's the dream, isn't it?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
YouTube Drops Bomb, Renders Account 'Permanently Disabled'
What bugs me about this whole process is how everyone who "offends" gets lumped into the same category. If anyone is falling into "fair use", it's me. I don't alter the clips in any way, showing them in their entirety for the purpose of comment and criticism. The law is supposed to allow me to do that. Unfortunately, I'd have to go to court to prove it, and in this case, that would just be a waste of time and money. This blog did get traffic from those clips (which will be missed), but it ain't worth a court battle.
I have already setup another account, but I will no longer be putting anything remotely copyrighted in it. I will probably continue to post Scene Gems (I think they are valuable, and they get me thinking as well), but will host them somewhere else, like dailymotion. When posting my original stuff, I'll still go with The Tube. You can't ignore the potential millions of eyeballs that site can bring you. That would just be bad business.
I do wish that the folks at Google would review "offenses" on a case-by-case basis, and not just treat everyone with the same swift justice. I know they are just covering their butts and avoiding a lawsuit from the studios, but it's too bad that copyright law can't be used by the little guy the way it was intended. And I'm not the only one who thinks so.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Exporting Torture
It's Oscar season. That time toward the end of the year when the studios roll out their "serious" films that have a better chance at snagging a gold statuette than pure popcorn fare. These often include movies with a political bend, which will hopefully strike a chord and get people talking. Rendition is a film that perfectly fits into the "Hey Academy--look at me!" category. It's got big stars and a political axe to grind. The good news is that it's effective and well made without targeting a specific individual or party. The bad news is it could have been fantastic.
After a suicide bomber kills an American field operative in North Africa, authorities scramble to find those responsible. Egyptian-born U.S. resident Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) is detained and questioned after flying home from overseas. Despite his having no knowledge of the events in question, he is still suspected by government official Corrine Whitman (Meryl Streep). She enacts "Extraordinary Rendition" which allows terror suspects to be sent out of the country for more persuasive information extraction, sans their human rights. When Anwar never shows up at the airport his American wife Isabella (Reese Witherspoon) becomes very concerned, especially when his name is missing from the passenger manifest.
Rendition has several different storylines that run concurrently, but to it's credit, doesn't confuse (think Syriana-lite). The script by Kelley Sane is concise and efficient, suspenseful and informative. Things move along at a good clip and are never boring. The film contains many interesting characters, but none are fully developed the way they should be. They are all passengers on this train that never stops, but keeps chugging on to its conclusion.
There are a lot of good actors involved here, and they all do well, despite being given fairly little to work with. Besides those mentioned, we get Jake Gyllenhaal (Zodiac) as the one who chooses himself to replace his murdered colleague and supervise the torture of El-Ibrahimi. Peter Sarsgaard (Year of the Dog) is his usually excellent self as aide Alan Smith who wants to help old friend Isabella without jeopardizing his political career. There is a great exchange at a party between Whitman and Smith, where Streep and Sarsgaard go at each other with restrained intensity. It's a great actors moment, and they both make the most of it.
The story itself is very disturbing (torture under the guise of Homeland Security), but it doesn't repel. These scenes are powerful, but this isn't Schindler's List. This is a movie that wants to express it's message without forcing you to close your eyes. Some may call this a cop out, but I think it's better to make a movie that can reach more audience members than one that only a few will see due to the hardcore violence.
Rendition is a sound movie that really pushes no envelopes to make it great. It tells a solid story of wrongs and those who think they are right, no matter what the impact on a select few. One theme in the film is that no amount of political clout has more power than that of an individual on the inside who can save the day with personal sacrifice. It's a good message, and this is a good movie.
The Comebacks
Should've Stayed Home
Hoo boy. When I first saw the trailer for the new sports parody, The Comebacks, I laughed. What is more ripe for spoofing than the sports film? It's a great idea, but my heart sank when I found out the film wasn't being screened for critics. It's not that I wasn't allowed to see it that bugged me, but that I knew I still had to. Then there was the lack of TV advertising, another giant red flag and proof that distributor Fox Atomic had little faith in it. While the movie isn't quite the turd I was expecting, it still stinks pretty bad.
Coach Lambeau Fields (David Koechner) is terrible at what he does. No matter what team he takes the helm of, they always lose. Still wanting to be a winner, he gets one last try as coach of the Heartland State University Misfits, er Comebacks. Will he be able to finally prove to his dutiful wife (Melora Hardin) and rebellious daughter (Brooke Nevin) that he has what it takes?
The Comebacks wants to lampoon every sports film of late, and so we get references to (in no particlular order) Rocky, Radio, Rudy, Varsity Blues, Coach Carter, Gridiron Gang, Invincible, Blue Crush, Stick It, Dodgeball, Miracle and Hoosiers to name a few. All the cliches are there: The coach coming out of retirement, the troubled player, the big game, the inspirational speech. It follows the Airplane! style of rapid-fire (sometimes crude) slapstick, throwing a gag at you with relentless determination to make you laugh. This is harder than it sounds, because things get tiresome fast if the jokes aren't hitting.
Sometimes the movie is funny, but it often feels like a redundant high school play. Jokes are executed, but instead of moving on, keep repeating themselves. An example: the quarterback Lance Truman (Matthew Lawrence) can't seem to hold onto the ball. To help him out, love interest Michelle Fields (Nevin) offers up her body wrapped in a bra with football-shaped cups. He tries to grab it, but misses. That's funny. The fact that he keeps trying and missing isn't. The whole movies is like this--it doesn't know when to stop.
Another problem is that many of the actors seem to know they're in a "funny" movie. Koechner (Balls of Fury) is waaaaay over the top, chewing scenery like he hasn't eaten for a week. Most of the actors are the same way, including Carl Weathers (who played Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films), who really embarrasses himself here. The exception seems to be Brooke Nevin (TV's The 4400) as Michelle, who plays it straight, and is a pretty good actress. It'd be nice to see her in a film that doesn't require her to take her shirt off to get screen time.
While The Comebacks does have its moments of stupid charm, it ain't very good. I went in with zero expectations and was mildly amused, but that's not what I'd call high praise--just high tolerance.
Blog Salad Friday on Rock-tober 19, 2007
TK Kenyon has written a guest post over at Read/Write Web for indie novelists, but movie makers can benefit from it also. Kenyon states: "To sell your book, (1) inform people that you and the novel exist, (2) interest readers enough to buy your book, and (3) build a relationship to keep them coming back for more." There is no reason we can't replace the word "book" with "film", and run with it. So read, and start running!
The Future of Independent Digital Distribution
Alex Afterman (co-founder of indie DVD label Heretic) has written a great article for The Workbook Project concerning the potential of digital downloading and its relationship to smaller-time filmmakers. He makes the excellent point that retail space for indies is shrinking as studios lower their prices to edge the little guy out. The internet is the great equalizer, of course, and Alex intuits that he could charge $5 per movie download and still do very well, as there is no overhead. It doesn't matter what the studios do, it's completely up to you.
Why You Should Consider an Episodal Strategy
Usertainment Watch reemphasizes a common theme found here at Film Flap: the webisode model. Here is just more evidence that the thing can work if done right (and in conjunction with marketing). UW refers to a New York Times article that covers the guys who created the "Chad Vader" series on YouTube, and how we can learn from their success. It's very exciting to see how far others have gone with this, and can inspire to do the same thing yourself.
Even Cheaper and Cooler DIY Lighting
Recently discovered filmmaker tech video blog Creativity to Spare is out with episode ten, which covers inexpensive lighting setups. Most of this is already common knowledge (foam core reflectors, Graff lights), but there is a neat bit about $12 LED lighting you can get at Costco. Not only is it affordable, but matches the light temperature of daylight, and can be used as fill in a natural light situation. Good stuff.
MobMov Harvests Field of Screens
Variety has an article from CinemaTech's Scott Kirsner that shares a new type of underground distribution that could appeal not only those who love to make films, but miss or missed the drive-in experience. MobMov is basically the organization of those who are willing to go watch an indie film projected against an outside wall somewhere. The soundtrack is transmitted over an FM frequency, and viewers can come park their car, tune in the sound and watch the movie. A complete list of cities where this is going on are listed, and if not, full instructions are provided on how to get your own outlet going. I like this idea, and wish there was one in Salt Lake City. Now if I just had a projector...
Some Bloody Links for the Horror Minded
There's always a bit of a surge this time of year for some creepy and gory effects knowledge. A couple have popped up recently that I hadn't seen before, that might get some use from you Flappers out there. First up is an alternative to the blood-squirting knife trick that is done with a chemical reaction instead of the traditional way. Nasty and neat (be sure to watch the video example--ewww!). The second is a how-to on creating a charred corpse. Every movie needs at least one of those, right?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Scene Gems: Victor Discovers the One Way to Kill a 'Were-Rabbit'
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) is a wonderfully wacky film starring Nick Park's popular claymation creations. Previously featured in three short films (two of which won Oscars), Curse was their major motion picture debut. This time the duo of nutty inventor and trusty sidekick dog get involved in their biggest adventure yet when they go against a supernatural bunny and the swath of destruction he creates in a small town.
There is so much to love about this movie that was one of my favorites from two years ago. The characters are great and well-drawn, the animation is crisp and the script is very funny. Directors Park and Steve Box also take pride in their directing as well, with carefully placed camera angles, effective dolly shots, and really good action sequences. The film is essentially a parody of classic horror movies, and not only pokes fun, but shows obvious affection as well.
Ironically, the clip I have chosen from the film is a scene with two of the sub-characters, with neither Wallace or Gromit to be found. It really doesn't matter, as it is a perfect example of the many things the movie does right. The cinematography, the humor, and the great voice work (by Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Smith) is all there. Watching this clip doesn't give any of the surprises away, but watching it made me want to see the whole thing again.
Pay attention to the level of detail that Park and Box go after. Notice the rain splashing on Victor's coat, or the burning candle (which is probably digital), or the jokes on the "Nun Wrestling" magazine. I also liked the tracking shot that follows the Reverend to the window. Despite being animated frame-by-frame, it still looks like a smooth tracking shot! Amazing.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Creator/Director Joshua Sikora Talks about Webserials.com and 'Project X'
When compiling material for my original review, I emailed one of the Webserials guys who originally contacted me. He is Joshua Sikora, and Project X was his baby. I had a series of questions for Joshua, and he gave me some great, detailed answers. Very little of that exchange made it into the final product, so I thought I'd share it here. There is some great info that we can all benefit from, and I always like giving some attention to other filmmakers that are finding some success.
Film Flap: What was the genesis of Project X?
Joshua Sikora: Project X was conceived and produced as a feature film. It was my first feature and it was meant as a learning experience as much as anything else. It was a pet project of mine that I'd been working on for several years. We chose to do a creature film for a variety of reasons, but I think the main reason was simply that we had access to a power plant and it just seemed like the perfect location to stage a film of this sort. While I love suspense, horror and creature flicks aren't high on my favorites, and I think if I had to do it over again, I'd approach the story a lot differently.
My goal with the film was to produce a independent film that we could distribute directly to our audience using the web. This was back around 2004 and 2005, and at the time a lot of people were downloading films over Bittorrent and the studios hadn't really begun to start offering their films to online audiences in any legitimate ways. At the time, we felt that if we worked hard and made the best film we could, we could take advantage of that and give people a free alternative.
Film Flap: Is that what inspired you to serialize it and put it on the web?
Joshua Sikora: Well, time passed--we spent a long time in post-production and I focused a lot of time on other projects. YouTube came out around this time and very quickly we saw a shift towards short content. At first, I was disappointed that YouTube limited videos to ten minutes, but in retrospect I think that's how they beat their competition.
I think we consume media like we consume food--we have our meals, which are scheduled, and filling, and take time to sit down and eat. That's how TV and films have always been for us. We have our weekly diet of Lost or Battlestar Galactica or Grey's Anatomy and we look forward to those filling shows each week. Sometimes, we go out to eat for a nice meal--we catch a new film on Friday night. But there's also snack food in our diet. I think the web is still the place for "bite-size entertainment," which is ultimately what led us to WebSerials.com.
Our serials are snacks. Hopefully, they're tasty and addicting. But ultimately, I think they may serve a very different purpose than the traditional entertainment that we get from our TV or theaters. I see all of this coming together in five years, ten at the latest--TV streaming in over our internet, HD movies that you buy and download straight to your computer. I want WebSerials.com to adapt with those changes and always find ways to bring fresh content to audiences.
Film Flap: What do you see happening in the future?
Johsua Sikora: For me, the vision I have for the future is one where a lot more people will have the opportunity to make films and have them seen. I live in L.A. and I hate that people feel like they have to move here and work in Hollywood to make movies. L.A. isn't all that great, and when everyone who makes movies lives here, all the movies look and feel the same. I'm excited that the web offers people around the country and around the world the chance to make their own films, their own way, and have them seen. That's ultimately our goal--making it easier and easier for us and others to create new films for the world.
It's very exciting, as an independent filmmaker, to get the kind of response we've had with our web serials. Our audiences have really fallen in love with these stories and these characters. We have people counting down the days until the next episode. If we're even an hour or two late in posting an episode, we start getting complaints. And I can't believe how many people are watching! We haven't spent any money on marketing yet, but in the first twelve weeks of release, our videos have been watched more than 325,000 times! That's incredibly rewarding.
One of the best highlights was when YouTube listed our two shows alongside Michael Eisner's Prom Queen and Satacracy88, which one the Emmy for broadband entertainment last year--YouTube called our four shows "some of the best dramas the web has to offer." We took that as a pretty high compliment.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Windows to the Soul: The Eyes of 'Saving Private Ryan'
My entry comes from Steven Spielberg's war epic Saving Private Ryan. While there could be many selections from this great and powerful film, I chose two shots that are linked, but not in the way a first time viewer might suspect. If you have not seen this movie (what?), I suggest you stop reading as this post contains a major spoiler. Watch it first!
The first shot is at the very beginning of the film when we see an older gentlemen walking with his family toward the graves of fallen war vets in France. We see both American and French flags, so it's safe to assume this is Normandy, the site of the D-day invasion of 1944.
The old man (Harrison Young), walks through many headstones until he comes across one, then falls to his knees, weeping. His family rushes to his side.
The camera slowly pushes in...
The old man looks up, and the camera continues to creep closer...
Finally stopping on an extreme close up of his eyes, which fill the frame.
This is our intro to a flashback to some of the most harrowing images captured on film, a reenactment of the D-day Invasion on what the Americans called Omaha Beach. This is the sequence this film is most remembered for, and you won't soon forget it, either.
It's here we are introduced to our core group of solidiers, led by Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks).
Once they have completed their mission and regroup on the beach head, Miller stops to take a drink from his canteen...
The camera again pushes in...
Right into Miller's eyes.
It's clear from these matching shots that Spielberg wants us to assume the two men are the same person. Not only is the camera move identical, but the final close up is almost a carbon copy. As those of you who have seen this film know, this is a cinematic deception. The old man is not Miller, but the Private Ryan (Matt Damon) of the title.
Why does he do this? The reason is clear, and just more evidence of Speilberg's genius behind the lens (I'm not sure if screenwriter Robert Rodat had a hand in this, but I should give him credit anyway). When we assume Miller is the old man, we attach to him, thinking that he has already survived this grueling tale of combat and sacrifice. When he is killed in the final battle, we are shocked. How can he die? He's the old man! As Private Ryan comes to his aid, Miller's final poignant line is uttered--"Earn this", and Ryan morphs into the old man, back at the grave he first knelt at. It's the grave of Capt. John Miller.
What's really interesting is that we also assume the old man was at Omaha Beach, since he seems to be flashing back to it. We learn later he was a paratrooper dropped behind enemy lines, and never even saw Omaha. When the beach has been captured, we see a long shot ending in a close up a fallen soldier with the name Ryan inscribed on his backpack. Could this be the old man imagining how his brothers died? We know Miller and crew are real, since they rescue Ryan and he survives, but what about everything else?
Whatever the reason, it's a pair of very effective close ups in a very effective (and affecting) film.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Blog Salad Friday on October 12, 2 double-aught 7
This may not seem filmmaking related, but after hearing about it, I knew I had to share. In Google's quest to take over the earth with free services, they now have a phone number that anyone can use for information. Just give the city and state you need, and what you're looking for and presto! No more charges to find the nearest store to get batteries, food, etc. It's a great freebie and you can even speak a keyword and get a list of results to choose from. Not only that, but they will connect you for free! The number is 800-GOOG-411. Put it in your cell phone now, because you will need it.
Halloween Scene Contest at Rouge Wave
Here's a friendly writing competition that can sharpen your brain. Julie Gray is challenging her readers to submit a one page scene that is Halloween themed and uses the words pumpkin, periwinkle, and paradox. The prizes are modest, but that's not really the point. It's a good way to interact with other writers (and Julie, who is very cool) and hone your skills. It's only one page, so do it! The deadline is October 28th.
FreshDV Sports Gaggle of Good Content
These guys have been really busy this week. First they give two great links in the form of a depth of field video tutorial, and a really cool instructional about using anamorphic projector lenses on your DV camera for Uber-Widescreen. Then, they go and start their own live podcast call-in show dubbed FreshTV. It debuted this past week and will air every Tuesday at 9:30pm Central time. Like the website, FreshTV is gear oriented, so tech-heads rejoice! You now have a weekly show you can participate in, and get a lot out of.
Viral Blitz Arrives before Show it Promotes
Here's a great article in Wired that spotlights some more viral buzz creation. The difference here is that the show, Alive, doesn't even have a pilot episode yet. The producers are subversively trying to ignite a fan base with info, video clips, and websites that they are spreading around the net. Information is then "leaked", and away we go. With so much attention, people will want to see the actual show, right? That's the hope, and the creators are hoping to get some backing this way. It reminded me of past schlockmeisters like Samuel Z. Arkoff, who would pre-sell their exploitation fare to the drive-in circuit with only poster art. That money would then be used to make the movie that filled the orders. Genius.
Soundsnap Lets You Share Audio Samples
Editblog has clued me into this new site with a great idea. Have a great sound effect? Share it! Soundsnap lets you do this, placing the entire library up for others to benefit from. I still use Findsounds, but I can see how Soundsnap could really go huge. We are all encouraged to upload original material which would free us from potential copyright infringement that is a possibility with Findsounds.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Comedy and a Creature from Webserials.com
Last week I received an email from one Joshua Sikora who told me about a couple of new serialized movies he was producing on the aptly named webserials.com. He mentioned that he got some good press from YouTube, and was excited to compete with the larger-budgeted fare being released by those with bigger pockets. Interested, I gave Joshua's movies a look-see, and was nicely surprised.
The two films are of different genres, namely horror and sci-fi/comedy. The first is entitled Project X (not to be confused with the Matthew Broderick monkey movie), and is a modern day creature feature set in a power plant. The second is the very serially-named Cataclysmo and the Time Boys, where two very different soldiers of the future go back in time to stop whatever screwed it up. Both are right in the middle of their 24 episode run, with new episodes released every Tuesday or Friday depending on the show.
Project X (subtitled The True Story of Power Plant 67) is your basic monster movie modeled after Ridley Scott's classic, Alien (1979). Something horrible is loose in the plant, feeding on electric power and killing anything that gets in its way. The cast is good and there is real character development before the monster shows up! I also liked director Sikora's directing choices. He knows how to point a camera and move it, as well as get some good performances out of his actors. The set looks authentic (shot in a real power plant), and the monster moves too quickly to be seen, or spends a lot of time in the shadows for a "less is more" approach, which works well.
The movie is scary at times, creating genuine suspense despite some typical horror film trappings. The best episodes so far are 6 and 7 ("In the Dark" and "Dead End") where the people get their first close encounter. Sikora uses the dark and audio stingers for some good gotcha! moments. I had to snicker when the one poor sap sent to investigate the phone outage is whistling (what could that mean?), or when the group locks themselves in the control room and none of the men advise one girl to get away from the door. Despite a few eyebrow-raisers, I look forward to see how Project X resolves itself.
Cataclysmo and the Time Boys is an over-the-top comedy about how our future is overrun by gun-toting gorillas, and how two men are sent back in time to stop the mysterious Cataclysmo, which apparently brought about the whole mess. These two men are super soldier Johnny Zanzibar and plucky sidekick Bucky Stallion. Both actors (Brian Walton and Chris Hartwell) seem to be having a great time chewing the scenery and hamming it up. Hartwell especially plays his goofy role to the hilt, stealing almost every scene he's in. Walton does his best Snake Plissken impression, and is a good tough guy.
The good news that Cataclysmo is funny, and I did laugh. The chemistry between the two leads is solid, and I loved the gorillas. In fact, I got the impression that when the plot was lagging, the gorillas would show up to the save the scene. When in doubt, more gorillas I always say!
The bad news is that once our heroes hook up with the cute Samantha (Erin Sullivan) in Episode 6, there seems to be a conflict of acting styles. The two guys are way out there, and Sam is very down to earth and real (and why she doesn't kick their butt when they grab her iPod, I'll never know). Perhaps in the future we all act zany? Whatever the reason, it doesn't derail the show, but seems curious nonetheless.
Both shows have one thing in common: slick production values. They both have custom opening sequences which are excellent and scored just right, setting the mood perfectly (I really liked the Cataclysmo open). The video is shot well, and the effects work is top notch for a low budget and small screen. The audio is professional, and everything is lit well. Kudos to all involved.
So check out webserials.com and the two shows currently featured. They are an entertaining snack that will get you addicted and eagerly awaiting the next installment. Here's hoping Sikora and company continue with this obvious labor of love, with more episodes and new movies in the future. And more cliffhangers, please!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Where, Oh Where, Has the Mic Input Gone?
I've also been intrigued by the idea of the "fast-cam", which is something small enough to fit in your pocket, encodes video to an SD card (which keeps it compact) and is simple to operate. I think cell phone cameras will eventually fill this need, but right now the video is compressed so horribly (in the .3gp format) that I'd be embarrassed to even put it on YouTube. Not to mention that you'd have to convert it if you wanted to edit, then render it out to something else. Not worth it.
There are quite a few neat little cameras out there that fit this bill, even spilling over into the hard drive camera market (despite them not really fitting into a pocket all that well), with one problem--mic inputs are becoming scarce on entry level models. I went into Best Buy a few days ago and asked an employee which models had mic jacks and snickered when they pointed to the A/V port.
It used to be that every camcorder had a way in for external audio (which migrated over from Super 8 sound cameras), but no longer is this true. If you want to open up your sound world to an external mic, you're going to have to spend at least $600. This may "sound" silly to some ("just get a real camera!"), but there is nothing wrong with learning how to make movies on a cheap camera. What is wrong is not to learn the importance of audio by using the built-in camera mic. It will set a bad precedent, and when you do want to graduate to audible sound, you may be stuck with a camera that won't let you.
This recent development leads me to a bit of a rant. Why has the mic input (and its brother the headphone jack) become scarce? How much money and camera size is really saved by eliminating these very useful connections? Could it be a steady diet of crappy clips has desensitized the public to quality? My guess is that most people don't care. Joe Six Pack never used that little hole anyway, so why start now?
So, when looking for a camera to buy or borrow, make sure you get a mic input. The "fast-cam" is great for shooting spontaneous stuff, but would be even better if you could interview someone without having to jam the camera up their nose so you can understand what they are saying. A cheap external mic is better than the most expensive built-in one.
Monday, October 8, 2007
The Kingdom
Comes with a Hail of Bullets
There has been a lot of gunplay in movies during September 2007. Clive Owen, Russell Crowe, and even Jodie Foster have all had their hand in the armory and come out shooting. Now we get The Kingdom, Peter Berg's story about a team of FBI agents who go to Saudi Arabia to solve a terrorist bombing. What starts out as a crime procedural, ends like a war movie. There's some shoehorning of important themes and modest character development, but at it's core this is a tense, violent action picture, and on that level it works.
There has been a terrorist attack at an American compound of oil workers in Saudia Arabia that has killed over one hundred people. Being the duty of the FBI to investigate these kinds of crimes perpetrated on U.S. citizens abroad, Special Agent Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx) wants to take his specialists and go in. They are forbidden, however, when deemed they'd be just the target that terrorists would zero in on. Fleury balks and goes in anyway, teaming with the Saudi Government and Chief of Police Faris Al Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom), who seems to be blocking their investigation of the crime. Can the agents solve the crime in the five days allotted, or are they just being set up themselves?
The nicest surprise about this film is the relationship between the American agent and the Saudi cop. Like the Foxx character, we are suspicious of Al Ghazi's motives (some American bias in me, perhaps?), but the two men become friends and really bond. Faris is by far the most complex character in the story, and he is given a lot of screen time. Newcomer Barhom plays him extremely well, and like Fleury, we grow to like him and trust him.
Foxx (Dreamgirls) is serviceable in his leader role, and the rest of the cast is fine, if underdeveloped. The team consists of some one dimensional types all played by good actors. There is the Crusty Vet (Chris Cooper), the Wiseguy (Jason Bateman), the Hot Girl (Jennifer Garner), and the Sweaty Ambassador (Jeremy Piven). All work well together, but their portrayals are subverted by the plot machinations that move so fast there is little time to get to know these people.
As mentioned, this is an action movie, and Berg (Friday Night Lights) keeps things ticking, especially in the last act. When the bullets fly, The Kingdom is at its best, creating real suspense that I haven't felt since The Descent. Some things transpire that create real urgency for our heroes, and we are right there with them, on the edge of our seat. This portion is directed with head-spinning camera work that emphasizes the disorientation of combat--it's visual adrenaline.
The problem is, the rest of the film is directed this way also, with what looks like an epileptic cameraman. This "style" is all the rage these days (see The Bourne Ultimatum, Gridiron Gang), with hyperactive panning, quick zooming, and jumpy handheld photography being the norm. It works when portraying action, but it's really distracting the rest of the time. Where is the contrast of styles? Where is the tripod?
The Kingdom is an effective visceral rollercoaster. What it lacks in restraint and depth, it makes up for in sheer thrills. The relationship of the two leads is great, and that Barhom guy is perfect. While the movie tries to be more self-important than it really is (Munich it's not), it is still worth seeing. Just take it for what it is, and don't look too hard for enlightenment.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Blog Salad Friday on October Fifth, Two-Thousand Seven
Eric over at Camera Stilo had a great post yesterday about how you can still participate in making movies even without what is normally considered the most important element: a camera. His gave up the ghost, and he has come up with a great list of what he (and you) can do in the meantime while it's being repaired. It's a great example of how you can still maximize your time even when you appear to have been dealt a severe setback. I like Eric's thinking and optimistic approach. His entire blog is like this and deserves a read. Check it out.
MicroFilmmaker #24 is Out
The online low budget mag MicroFilmmaker has just released their lastest issue. There are lots of good articles (as usual, but what caught my eye was the feature on lighting with no budget and a great editorial called "The Wounds of a Friend", written by editor Jeremy Hanke. It it, he mentions the people who submit their films for review in MF then whine when they don't get their ego stroked. I liked his analogy to American Idol's Simon Cowell, who is the most brutal of the judges, but also helps artists (or would-be artists) grow the most. I know the feeling.
New Blog Creativity to Spare Worth Watching
While prowling on the forums of DV Magazine, I came across a post that spoke of a video blog concerning building your own lavalier microphone for $20. Intrigued, I watched it and was pleasantly surprised. It was part of blog with video episodes that detail some really great low budget tips. The most recent episode feature making your own Fig Rig camera stabilizer, and while not that original (like the mic building show), is still very welcome. I'm all about supporting others who are trying to make the best movies they can and share their experiences in the process. It's a way we can all succeed together.
FreshDV's Three Parter on Follow Focus Wraps Up
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the Fresh guys had a great interview with First AC (Assistant Cameraman) Bob Sanchez. Somehow I missed the second episode, but now there is a third and all three are now available for your enjoyment in one post. There is also a link to more information about five follow focus systems available and a review of each. It's a ton of good stuff and if you are technically highbrow enough to have a rig that supports this kind of gear, then you owe it yourself (or your DP) to process all of this info and use it accordingly.
Podcast Roundup
"Your Video Store Shelf" - Gregory Conley interviews director Dave Payne who cut his teeth on low budget fare in the 90's with Roger Corman's New Concorde Pictures. Dave is a fast talker and has a lot to say, and makes for a very entertaining interview. A great story he tells is after selling a script to his bosses, he had to prove he could direct a movie, since he was employed in Craft Services. He was told to take existing sets, props, and actors and write a script around them--in three days. He did it, and worked for free on his first feature, Alien Terminator (in which he notes, "There is no alien, and nothing gets terminated.").
"This Conference is Being Recorded" - Lance Weiler interviews entertainment lawyer Dan Satorius about the digital future of online media. While Satorius is mostly focused on music industry, Lance points out that film has followed music in many ways web-wise (such as iTunes). While a relatively short chat, there's some good info if your future involves internet distribution (and it probably will). Dan's best advice concerning monetizing your content: "I would jump in."
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
First Impressions Matter: Crafting a Great Opening Credits Sequence
Well, time's have changed, and for good reason. Since the first thing you are going to see in a film is the credits, why not make them the best thing possible? If you are going to be immediately judged, you had better do something great right off top, or you risk your viewer tuning out. Some movies do away with these entirely, but they can still be a great hook to precede a great hook. I say don't make the credits the last thing you think about, but one of the first.
I think a good credit roll has three things in common:
1. The right font
2. The right music
3. The right visual
All modern Non Linear Editors allow you to use system fonts, and there are a ton on the web available for free. I've found a great selection at FontReactor that cover just about every kind of mood. Download, install, and use! It's that easy.
Music and visuals are paramount in any movie, and it is no different here. Get a composer to tailor something to your credits and shoot something specifically for them. Make them their own "mini movie", and you'll set a good precedent for the rest of your film. Hopefully your titles aren't the best thing you have to show, so be careful about where you set the bar.
The following are five examples of really great opening credits. There are many more that you or I could cite, but I've tried to focus on those that could easily be duplicated by us film jockeys with little or no money to spare. RSS readers can click on the movie title to access the YouTube video directly.
Seconds (1966)
This film centers around a guy who "trades in" his old body for a younger model. The open definitely creates a weird, disturbing vibe with the warping facial images and creepy music. The font is normal, but the images (created in-camera with something akin to a fun house mirror) and the music are surreal and set the tone that something uneasy is approaching. Created by the late, great, Saul Bass.
Napolean Dynamite (2004)
Here's a nifty departure that perfectly captures the whimsical lighthearted feel of this quirky flick. There are no fonts at all, only credits written in various condiments, drawings, and product labels. The colors are bright and fun, and remind me of the very first credit sequence you'd try as a kid. The music fits right in, becoming a nice frosting to this yummy cake.
Memento (2000)
This example is about a simple as you can get, and employs a very easy post production trick--the backwards shot. In the movie, the protagonist has memory problems so he takes Polaroid pictures of everything he wants to remember. The movie also has a timeline that moves in reverse, which keeps the audience in the same mindset as our poor hero. These credits perfectly embody both of these plot elements, and the sad music wraps it together in a very melancholy package. Hang around after the titles for more backwards weirdness.
Enemy of the State (1998)
This film deals with the invasion of privacy from snooping government goons on wrongly accused Will Smith. This sequence really hits home by mashing up footage we've all seen on the news. Sure, there are custom helicopter aerials, but most of this is just tinkered with public domain footage. Any of us could find a ton of this stuff on YouTube and do the very same thing. The fast cutting and sped up nature of this clip also prepares you for the kinetic action that is to come. Well done, and very Orwellian.
Sex Machine (2005)
Here's a great example of doing a lot with a little. This sequence uses the "hook within a hook" method by interspersing story with every title featured. While our hero runs away from a massacre he apparently caused, we see animated titles (created in After Effects) in between his sprint to safety. What makes this even better is the credits are made up to look like the tattoos that we later see cover one of our hero's arms. Excellent implementation, especially for an $8000 movie.
Any of you have a credit sequence favorite? Tell me which one and why by leaving a comment below!
Monday, October 1, 2007
The Tapless Camera and the Portable Production House
Pogue makes a lot of good points, mainly that tape is an instant archive where flash/hard drive formats are more compressed, harder to edit, and have to be burned to a disc, making them less convenient than first thought. While true, I also have to contend that tapeless has its place just like any other format, it's just a matter of selecting your tools for a specific task.
Where I see tapeless most useful is when your output needs to be quick, handy, and portable. I like the idea of having a camera small enough to carry in a pocket (ready at a moment's notice), able to record to cheap SD cards, and ready to edit on a laptop. Granted you're going to have to deal with MPEG-2 or MPEG-4, but if you're just cutting and need little effect work--who cares? I see this being very useful for a run-and-gun shoot/edit/upload scenario when time is of the essence and you have to carry all your gear on your back.
There are all kinds of these camcorders, but only one that I've found with a mic input. This is disappointing, as a mic input and headphone jack (invaluable in an interview situation) used to be standard equipment on even the cheapest of camcorders. Now it seems to be luxury, with only the in-camera mic to depend on. And you just can't. I hate distant, echoing sound from someone on camera, and recording double-system is just too much to ask--a mic input is not.
Time will most likely heal these wounds. The formats will get better, or software will emerge that can better handle them. Cameras will improve and you will get better and better video recorded in a solid state format (Panasonic's P2 cards are evidence of this now) at an affordable price. Every piece of tech can't be everything to everybody. For some somebody's however, it can be just what you need.


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TGC 13 is in full swing and publishers have some great deals on the speakers (and friends of the speakers) eBooks including:
Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City by Tim Keller—$5.99.
Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church by Matt Chandler, Eric Geiger, Josh Patterson—$3.49
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Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved by J. D. Greear—$4.39
Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry by John Piper—$4.39
Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way by J. I. Packer and Gary Parrett. $1.99
Leadership as an Identity: The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting Influence by Crawford Loritts—$4.99
The Hardest Sermons You'll Ever Have to Preach: Help from Trusted Preachers for Tragic Times by Bryan Chapell—$3.99
Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will or How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Impressions, Open Doors, Random … Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc. by Kevin DeYoung—$4.99
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Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck—$4.99
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How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture by Michael Williams—$3.99
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Counterfeit Gospels by Trevin Wax—$4.99
For more titles, be sure to check out Gospel eBooks here or by clicking the ad at the top of the page.


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Homemade Watermelon Blueberry Popsicles
This was THE easiest thing I've ever done. They are delicious, beautiful, healthy, inexpensive... did I mention easy? And beautiful!?
This is as 'real food' as it gets - cubes of watermelon blended, poured into a glass and topped with fresh blueberries. No added sugar, no other ingredients. Pure watermelon. It is so refreshing - the watermelon, when frozen, has the most amazing texture. Perfect for kids and adults alike.
But... if you really want to please the adults, add a squeeze of lime and a shot of tequila - Watermelon Margarita Pops! Who needs jello shots...
Watermelon Popsicle Recipe :
1/2 large seedless watermelon or 1 small
1 cup of blueberries
Popsicle Sticks
Cut watermelon into cubes - Read my Watermelon Cutting Tutorial to make it eso easy! Puree in the blender. Pour into small glasses. Freeze for 30 minutes. Place the popsicle sticks into the soft frozen watermelon. Put blueberries on top of watermelon and press it into the top. Freeze for 3-4 hours. To remove from the glass, dip the glass into hot water for 5-10 seconds, then twist out with the stick.


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With the general election matchup against President Obama beginning to take shape, Mitt Romney swept a trio of Republican primaries in Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.
Romney strengthened his grip on the GOP nomination by virtue of winning the three states, the most competitive of which was in Wisconsin, a state seen as necessary for Rick Santorum, the chief conservative rival to Romney, to retaining viable hopes of winning the nomination.Video: Is Romney too 'normal' to make it through political grind?
But Santorum vowed to press forward with his campaign, characterizing the primary as only having reached "halftime," while Romney kept his focus squarely on Obama in his victory party remarks Tuesday night.
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
Watch Santorum's speech on msnbc.com
"The president has pledged to 'transform America,' and he has spent the last four years laying the foundation for a new government-centered society," Romney said in Wisconsin. "I will spend the next four years rebuilding the foundation of our Opportunity Society, led by free people and free enterprises."
The former Massachusetts governor had looked to move closer to putting the drawn-out Republican primary behind him, and beginning a new chapter – the general election campaign versus Obama.
Watch Romney's speech on msnbc.com
Nonetheless, Romney had battled fiercely in Wisconsin against Santorum, who needed a win there to sustain his campaign heading into the next group of contests on April 24, which includes his native Pennsylvania.
Romney's victories came at a point when the Republican Party has shown signs of rallying behind Romney, and a general election that has shown increasing signs of shifting into gear.
Related: Romney cruises to big win in Maryland
That sentiment was reflected in Romney's celebratory remarks, where he made no mention at all of his Republican rivals, and rolled out a new refrain decrying "Barack Obama's government-centered society."
That came after an especially political speech this afternoon by the president, which featured pointed criticism of both Romney and the House Republican budget in anticipation of the general election.
"One of my potential opponents, Governor Romney, has said that he hoped a similar version of this plan from last year would be introduced as a bill on day one of his presidency," he said of the GOP budget blueprint recently approved by the House. "He said that he's 'very supportive' of this new budget, and he even called it 'marvelous' -- which is a word you don't often hear when it comes to describing a budget."
Related: Romney wins Wisconsin, moves one step closer to nomination
"It's a word you don't often hear generally," Obama added, to laughter, in a thinly-veiled swipe at Romney's personality.
Obama's campaign has also ramped up its attacks against Romney, portraying him as an ally of oil companies in a new television ad airing in key swing states.
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman who emerged as one of Romney's most effective surrogate for Romney in the past few days, and a favorite among conservatives to round out Romney's ticket, fired back at Obama at Romney's victory event.
"We found out today that he's going to divide us in order to distract us," he said.
But there's still the unresolved matter of concluding the Republican primary. Both Santorum and Gingrich have defiantly vowed to continue forward with their campaigns, though their strategies of winning the nomination hinge on wresting the GOP nod away from Romney at the August convention. Both candidates have events on their schedules in the next few days, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul added new events on Tuesday in Texas and California.
Santorum emerged at his election night event to declare the GOP primary at its halfway point.
"This is why we came back to southwestern Pennsylvania: to kick off the second half," he said in a speech leveling sharp criticism of Romney. "Ladies and gentlemen, Pennsylvania and half the other people in this country have yet to be heard."
A total of 92 delegates are at stake in Tuesday's three contests, with 1,144 needed to secure the Republican nomination. Romney entered Tuesday having accrued 490 total delegates through March 24, and his margin over other candidates will grow as a result of tonight's wins.
But more powerful than the widening delegate margin has been the growing cavalry of Republican figures who had previously remained neutral in the primary -- among them, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, among others -- have gotten off the fence and endorse Romney in hopes of hastening the end of the primary campaign.
That group could swell in the three-week period before primary voting resumes in five Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states -- contests where Romney is favored, aside for a more competitive showdown versus Santorum in Pennsylvania.
© 2013 msnbc.com Reprints


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Obama: Research gas-free cars with oil revenue
While lauding America's newfound energy production, President Obama proposed diverting some oil revenues into a fund to find ways to move the U.S. away from petroleum-powered vehicles.
Obama, in his State of the Union address, noted that with much of the nation's oil boom coming from public lands, there's an opportunity to create a Energy Security Trust that will look into ways of coming up with alternatively powered vehicles.
"If a nonpartisan coalition of CEOs and retired generals and admirals can get behind this idea, then so can we," Obama said. "Let's take their advice and free our families and businesses from the painful spikes in gas prices that we have put up with far too long."
At present, the two principal ways of powering cars without oil are electricity and hydrogen fuel-cells. More cars are getting lithium-ion batteries that boost their mileage with electricity. Most have backup gas engines and some, like the sedans from startup Tesla Motors, have all-electric power. And recently, several automakers have shown a renewed interest in hydrogen power, with some import brands saying they hope to sell cars by 2015.
But both power sources still mostly still depend on oil and natural gas. Many power plants are fueled by it. And most hydrogen is produced through conversion from natural gas.
Just as he did during the campaign, Obama laced his address with references to the U.S. auto industry. He said more American cars are being sold now than five years ago. Although true, the auto industry was reeling in 2008, with Chrysler and General Motors headed to bankruptcy reorganizations in the face of reeling sales.
And he also pointed to Ford Motor as an example, along with companies in other fields like Apple, of how jobs can be brought back to the U.S. Obama said Ford is moving auto workers jobs from Mexico back to America.


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Difference between revisions of "Thomas Paine"
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Revision as of 18:55, 8 August 2013
Thomas Paine (Thetford, England, 1737 - New York City, 1809) was a political and religious writer born in Thetford, England, who came to America in 1774. His pamphlet "Common Sense" in 1776 was a major cause of the American decision to declare independence in July 1776. It explained republicanism and the evils of having a king in very clear language. Selling over 100,000 copies and read aloud in taverns and churches, it reached most of the attentive public in all 13 colonies.
Late in 1776 when the war was going poorly for the Patriots, General George Washington ordered that Paine's inspirational "American Crisis" (1776) be read to his troops before the Battle of Trenton. Paine supported the Revolution, although he believed it did not go far enough. He briefly lived in the rebelling colonies before returning to Europe in time to take part in the French Revolution. There he wrote "The Rights of Man" (1791).
Paine remained in France until 1802 when he returned to America on an invitation from Thomas Jefferson. Paine discovered that his contributions to the American Revolution had been all but eradicated due to his religious views. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends, he died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City. [1]
Paine was a devout Deist, and slammed Christianity on many occasions. He authored a vulgar and blasphemous pamphlet "The Age of Reason" in which he goes on to describe Christianity a mere fraud and cult. This led to his public disownment, despite being one of the key founders of the United States of America.
- "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value." from The Crisis (1776)
- "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." from The American Crisis (1776)
- "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." from The American Crisis (1776)
- "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." (1795)[2]
- "To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not." (1792)[3]
- "Those words, "temperate and moderate," are words either of political cowardice, or of cunning, or seduction. A thing, moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper, is always a virtue; but moderation in principle, is a species of vice."[4](1895).
- "The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case." (1795)[5]
- "I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes." December 23, 1776
- "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." Dissertation on First Principles of Government, December 23, 1791.
His works include:
- Common Sense - published in 1776, which challenged British authority over the colonies and spoke to the common people[6]
- The Crisis - a series of articles published 1776-77 during the American Revolution[7]
- The Rights of Man - published in 1792 in support of the French Revolution[8]
- Agrarian Justice - (1795)
- The Age of Reason - published in three parts (1794, 1795 and 1807), an anti-religious text[9]
Volumes have been written on the subject of the struggle between England and America. Men of all ranks have embarked in the controversy, from different motives, and with various designs; but all have been ineffectual, and the period of debate is closed. Arms as the last resource decide the contest; the appeal was the choice of the King, and the Continent has accepted the challenge. (Common Sense:Thoughts on the Present State of American Affairs.)
See also
- Foner, Eric. Tom Paine and Revolutionary America (1976). ISBN 978-0195174854
- Kaye, Harvey J. Thomas Paine and the Promise of America (2005). excerpt and text search
- Philp, Mark. "Paine, Thomas (1737–1809)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,online edn, May 2007
- Wood, Gordon S. Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different (2006). ISBN 978-0143112082 by a leading conservative historian excerpt and text search
Primary sources
- Paine, Thomas. Common Sense (1776; 1817 edition) 56 pages complete text online
- Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis (1777; 1819 edition) 196 pages complete text online
- Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man, Common Sense and Other Political Writings ed. by Mark Philp - (1995), 510pp online edition
- "Thomas Paine and America, 1776–1809" 6 volumes of primary sources in response to Paine
- ↑ Thomas Paine.
- ↑ Paine, "Dissertation on First Principles of Government," The Writings of Thomas Paine, ed. Moncure D. Conway, vol. 3, p. 277 (1895).
- ↑ Rights of Man online
- ↑ Paine, "Letter to the addressers on the late proclamation against seditious writings." in The Writings of Thomas Paine, ed. Moncure D. Conway, vol. 3, pp. 94–95
- ↑ Paine, "Dissertation on First Principles of Government," in The Writings of Thomas Paine, ed. Moncure D. Conway, vol. 3, p. 267 (1895).
- ↑ http://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/index.htm
- ↑ http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/index.htm
- ↑ http://www.ushistory.org/paine/rights/index.htm
- ↑ http://www.ushistory.org/paine/reason/index.htm


text: I getting this error when downloading some themes OTA. I've looked around and cant find an answer. Other people are able to download ok, just not me. I am able to download certian things OTA but not others which leads me to believe it the file, however other people download the same file fine. Any ideas?


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Iowa Lakes Laker Hall of Fame Class Announced for 2014
Thu 2-27-2014
The honorees for the second annual Laker Athletics Hall of Fame have been announced.
All inductees were selected because of their outstanding performance on and off the 'court' as well as the fact that they continued on to a four-year college before pursuing their career.
Honorees will be recognized at a public banquet on Friday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Max O Pelzer Student Center on the Estherville campus of Iowa Lakes. Those who would like to meet the inductees of the Laker Athletics Hall of Fame and share in the memories of the past are encouraged to attend. Banquet tickets may be purchased for $20 by contacting Jessica VanLoy at 800-242-5106 ext. 7928; or, 712-362-7928; or by email at email@example.com.
One baseball and one softball player will be inducted into the 2014 Hall of Fame Class. Tom Quastad, baseball, played from 1988-1990 and Samantha Rohr, softball, from 2004-2006.
Golfers include Jeff Soper and Rachel Maruno. Soper was on the men's team from 2002-2004; and Maruno was on the women's team from 1999-2000.
Men's basketball will induct one man into the Hall of Fame. He is Tory Meiborg who played from 1993-1995.
The Laker Hall of Fame will also be honoring three athletes from Estherville Junior College who competed in all three sports while attending: football, basketball and baseball: Tom Elliot played from 1966-1968, Harry 'Bill' Holsclaw from 1949-1951, and the late George Hess who played from 1948-1950.
The last induction will be presented to members of the 1991-92 Men's Basketball team who were national runner-ups in Div. II NJCAA.
The awards will be presented annually to outstanding Lakers by the Alumni & Friends Association. Each honoree will receive an acrylic award and also be honored at halftime of the men's basketball game against Southwestern Community College on Saturday, March 1.


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Antarctica New Zealand, New Zealand Antarctic Institute, New Zealand
Service Provider DescriptionThe New Zealand Antarctic Institute is responsible for
developing, managing and administering New Zealand activities in
Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, in particular the Ross Sea
Dependency. They are responsible for maintaining and enhancing
the quality of New Zealand scientific research, and we take an
active role in environmental stewardship through special
projects and ongoing management.
Website: http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/
[Summary provided by Antarctica New Zealand, The New Zealand
Antarctica Institute.]


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ameriballoon necesitaba un nuevo diseño de camiseta y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 492 diseños de 89 diseñadores freelance.
We are a hospital gift shop supply company that services accounts through out the US - Our main focus is Baby & Get Well products - we have a small presence online - but most of our sales comes from direct sale rep. to customer relations & catalog publications.
We are in hospital giftshops, catering to the exciting arrival of newborns: Parents, Friends, & Family love to visit the shops and purchase keepsakes and other interesting novelty products. So our target is anyone with potential to by a Baby T Shirt (Newborns is the main focus, but other design are ok too)
Requirement We need Baby Tee Shirt images '& or' text to be designed in Illustrator. The designs need to be original - We know the market, so don't rip other folks off... Varations to existing 'well done shirts' is ok, you guys are the pros & should know the rules. The product lines vary from 'Funny to Elegant' so it is a fairly open ended project - Designs can be full color with gradations - you can visit our website americhoicegifts.com to see a few of these (not everything is posted & we need to update very soon) DON'T get stuck on our styled designs - as we want to upgrade in several different directions.
-Also we do have the capability to produce custom T's on demand - so shirt designs with an opening for their 'hospital name' is OK too - though we will only award 1 of these (must contain both Boy & Girl Varations)
Ex.) I was Born at 'SOUTHSIDE MEDICAL CENTER'
Also helpful is non-hospital custom 'BOY & GIRL' variations of the same design - this type product is very strong for us.
Another Option - Sayings Tee: (no boy & girl varations needed on this one)
Things we have used in the past like;
'If you think i'm cute you should see my mommy'
'Grandma Rock' - Monkey See Monkey Do - Waring No Instructions Included etc....
-Bouquet style printed T's will also be seriously considered
Do some research on the web & get the creative juices flowing...
Zazzle.com & search baby tee to start!
We look forward to a broad range of styles - Thanks in advance for you hard work,


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I love that you started the list with "Integrity". To me, if that rock isn't in place, the rest don't matter. Thanks for posting these important reminders.
One of the intriguing factors in the matchup of today's Super Bowl XLVII is that the coaches of each team are brothers. John Harbaugh coaches the Baltimore Ravens and his younger brother, Jim, is coach of the San Francisco 49ers. It's the first time in Super Bowl history that siblings have coached against each other. The chances are slim that a coach will reach the Super Bowl during his career, and it's even crazier that in this case we have two brothers achieving this career goal simultaneously.
The coaching profession provides many wonderful examples of what it takes to be a successful leader in the workplace. If there was a "leadership" Super Bowl, what would it take for a leader to make it to that game? What characteristics, traits, or behaviors would transform an average leader into a Super Bowl-caliber leader? I thought of five important keys:
1. Integrity – Success starts on the inside by being a leader of integrity. We've seen numerous examples of people who have cheated their way to temporary fame, but lasting success comes from living according to a set of honorable values. Integrity displays itself when you make ethical decisions, follow through on commitments, treat people with respect, and are honest and trustworthy in your dealings with people.
2. A commitment to help others achieve their goals – The most successful leaders understand that their personal goals get fulfilled when they help their people achieve their goals. People don't want to follow self-serving leaders. They want to follow leaders who empower them to achieve their own goals and the goals of the team. As one of my favorite coaches, Bo Schembechler said, it's all about "the team, the team, the team."
3. Communicate effectively – You can be an intellectually brilliant leader, but if you can't communicate effectively with your team, your success will be limited. Great leaders share information about themselves and the organization on a frequent basis. They share information broadly and expect people to handle it responsibly, whereas insecure leaders hoard information in an effort to retain control.
4. Smart and disciplined – Super Bowl-caliber leaders are smart – they're good at what they do. They constantly work to improve their craft and they take a disciplined, focus approach to applying their knowledge to their work (that's wisdom – applied knowledge). You can't reach the Super Bowl being content to rest on your laurels. You have to keep learning, adapting, and striving to be your best.
5. Rally people around a common goal – You've probably heard the saying that if you think you're leading but no one is following, then you're simply out for a walk. At its core, leading is about getting a group of people to move in a common direction to achieve a goal. It doesn't really matter what the goal is – winning a football game, providing excellent customer service, or manufacturing cars on an assembly line – leaders have to channel the collective talents and energy of their team members into a common purpose.
Those are my five keys to being a Super Bowl-caliber leader. I'm sure there are many more that could be added to the list. What are your thoughts? Feel free to leave a comment with you suggestions.
Enjoy the game!
I love that you started the list with "Integrity". To me, if that rock isn't in place, the rest don't matter. Thanks for posting these important reminders.
Agree with Scott. Fantastic reminder post
Simple truth posted in proper order…..Thanks
Pingback: 5 claves para ser un líder del tamaño del Super Bowl | RicardoMorell
2 things occurred to me about this story: Has anyone considered asking the coach(es) what leadership qualities they think it takes to be a Super Bowl winning leader? Did anyone notice that it was the career coach that won the game and not the former pro-player, turned coach. It makes one wonder why we, in many cases, consider that a great leader in one milieu can be great in another.
Hi Randy! Fantastic post and I think your "five keys" are spot on! I particularly liked, "At its core, leading is about getting a group of people to move in a common direction to achieve a goal. "
I am now running my own small business and I try to only exemplify traits that will motivate and encourage my staff! I think your five keys really coincide with a book I just read by author Bill Sims Jr., "Green Beans & Ice Cream" (http://greenbeanleadership.com/). The books main objective is to teach positive reinforcement in any leadership role. His book examines different kinds of positive reinforcements that have been used, sometimes successfully and sometimes drastically at other times, and explains why proper positive reinforcements work to increase productivity, decrease costs, and enhance employee satisfaction. Each of his chapters contain a relevant story that is informative and interesting, and memorable. I can now also easily fit in your five keys into my new positive reinforcement practices. Perhaps you can fit positive reinforcement into your next SIX key model 🙂 THANK YOU!


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Hey hab ein Problem mich mit meinen Konto in der mobilen Version von dragon of atlantis erben anzumelden
I hope this game gets taken down very soon by google. But let it be known I won't simply stop with kingdoms of Camelot. Ignoring racism and customers is no way to run a business. 12 complaints with the bbb and never answered 1 by your headquarters in California. App is already flagged for removal.... If nobody believes me, feel free to contact google and ask..
Buenos d?as, tengo bug "cofre valiente" por favor, necesito ayuda con eso. El personaje se llama Batto en el ser ver 76 US.
No se mandar ticket
SuperD, can you shed light on the process to be a fellowship member? I know they once had voting elections then i heard Mirkwood was simply added. I can bring valuable experience to the team and would like to know how exactly to go about it.
Btw, i play EvD.
Will there be new servers coming ? To evd?
Hey moderator, im relativly new to the forum and to ace of arenas! I posted a thread from my experience with the queue issues people are having, and would like you to take a look so that maybe the details i left might give you more information that can be used to possibly fix whats wrong in the future.
How does someone become a moderator? I really am interested in trying to help save KOC. Maybe if you have someone that really plays 8-10 hrs a day we can fix the player issues.
Добрый день!Почему нету информации и новостей на форуме?
What Code Below event..??
Hello there i am Mike, my in game name is Seine and i play for world 179. I have worked four years for Feelingtouch, Hackerz inc., Elex Games, and Tap4Fun games and also some other websites as site administrator, forum moderator, in game moderator, and GM of Help And Support. I am messaging you to apply for any moderator positions open in game or in forums or if any case both if possible more than likely in game moderator as i have connected more with people better in my proffession as it is a main standard to be a peoples person while working under these circumstances and standards. Please do consider my request.
With regards,