text:
LIFE: Up Close With Apollo 11
NOTE: Neil Armstrong died on August 25, 2012. Read Jeffrey Kluger's TIME.com appreciation of the Apollo 11 commander, "A Man of Profound Skill and Preternatural Calm," here.
No photographer spent more time with the Apollo 11 astronauts — especially in the months leading up to the history-making, world-changing July 1969 mission to the moon — than LIFE magazine's Ralph Morse, who chronicled the crew's public and private lives as rigorously as he'd done for earlier NASA programs. (Morse spent so much time in the early '60s with the Mercury 7, for example, that John Glenn dubbed him "the eighth astronaut.")
Four decades after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface (while Michael Collins orbited above), Morse spoke with LIFE.com about the Apollo 11 astronauts; their families; and the photographs in this gallery — none of them published in LIFE — that capture, at least in part, the mood and the look of a singular era.
[Pre-order the LIFE Book, Neil Armstrong 1930-2012.]
"They all started out as pilots, of course," Morse said of Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin, Command Module pilot Michael Collins and mission commander Neil Armstrong, "and they decided that they wanted to do something better, something more exciting. They had the desire and the vision to look further. To go beyond."
Morse stressed, though, that the moon landing was the result not supermen or a few geniuses, but by a huge team of smart, imaginative people working incredibly hard.
"It's tough to remember that the goal of going to the moon was set by JFK less than ten years before [the Apollo 11 mission]. We had rocket technology at that point, of course, but really no technology to get up there, land and then get back. We had to dream it up, and then build it. NASA, in just a few years, made a spacecraft that could do that. When you think of it, of how talented and dedicated all of these guys were … it's all just so incredible."
As for photographing the families of the men who would, ultimately, put all that technology to the test, Morse recalled that, for a photojournalist just doing his job it wasn't all that different, at its most elemental level, than other assignments he'd worked over his long, celebrated career.
"Right away," he said, laughing, "the kids got used to me being around. You know how kids are; they adapt to things so much better than adults do. After a while, spending so much time with them, it wasn't awkward or forced having me there. I was the guy who was always there, and always with a camera.
"We were with them all the time," Morse continued. "Everywhere they went, we went. There was no such thing as Neil, Mike and Buzz going any place, or doing something, where we weren't there, too."
Looking at pictures that he took decades before — and that he hadn't seen in the decades since — brought back vivid memories for Morse.
"The shot of Mike lying on the beach reading," Morse noted of slide 16, "with a stack of paperbacks under his head really sort of captures him. It made sense that he'd be the Command Module pilot, orbiting alone above the moon while Neil and Buzz were on the surface. Mike was an extremely capable guy, obviously, and yet he was also very comfortable when he was by himself.
"Mike had lots of interests. He painted, took care of the garden, was reading all the time. A perfectly engaging guy, but also the sort of man who could clearly spend time by himself, working, and be satisfied."
The risks of the venture that Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins eagerly embarked upon are almost unfathomable now — and went largely unspoken then. For instance, as Morse pointed out, "no one knew whether or not they'd come back from the moon mission unable to have kids. Sterile."
While there's absolutely no doubt that the three crew members earned that so-often overused designation, "heroes," for what they accomplished, and the manner in which they accomplished it, Morse stressed that it was in fact the down-to-earth attitude these astronauts brought to their task, and to their lives, that so impressed him.
"These were family guys, working guys," Morse said. "You could pass them on the street and not give them a second glance. But they were remarkable, remarkable men. Their IQs, all of them, were damn high. They worked their tails off to make sure everything was checked and double-checked and triple-checked. They were flying to the moon, for chrissakes! But they all led pretty normal lives, for people in such extraordinary circumstances. I was damn lucky to know them, and their families."
NOTE: This story and some of the images in the gallery originally appeared, in substantially different form, on an earlier incarnation of LIFE.com.


text:
Even though in my heart I'm a PC gamer I was never without a console growing up. For the most part I was a Nintendo kid, seeing every console from the NES upwards making its way into my family's living room. That changed when I had my own job and enough money to buy a PlayStation 2, secluding myself away in my room to play Gran Turismo for hours on end trying to justify the $700 odd sum I had spent on this magnificent piece of hardware. Nowadays you'll find every major console lining up beside my TV so that I can indulge myself in any title regardless of its platform.
The past couple decades has been quite an interesting time for consoles. They really came into prominence after the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1985 (2 years later for us Australians) and Nintendo continued to be highly successful with it's successor. Their reign as the king of consoles came to an end with the release of the original PlayStation back in 1994 which saw Sony catapulted to the top of the console kingdom. Microsoft, seeing a great opportunity to compete in the gaming market, released the Xbox back in 2001 and whilst it didn't dethrone Nintendo or Sony it enjoyed some mild success in the market, even if it wasn't a success financially. The release of the PlayStation 2 kept Sony at the top for quite a while as neither the Xbox nor Nintendo's GameCube could hold a candle to it.
The current generation of consoles saw another shift in the king of consoles crown, but not for the traditional reasons that gamers had come to expected. Whilst the PlayStation 3 was a technical marvel the Xbox360 hit the trifecta of price, performance and catalogue of good platform exclusives that helped build it up to the success it is today. Neither of them however could hold a candle to the success that is the Nintendo Wii. Aiming at their largest untapped market Nintendo created a console that appealed to non-gamers and gamers alike. The result being that they couldn't manufacture the things fast enough, seeing wide spread shortages for the console that only helped to sustain the fever pitch surrounding it. With a grand total of 90 million consoles sold to date it's well on its way to be the most successful console ever released, although it still has a long way to go to match the PlayStation 2 (coming in at a whopping 153 million).
The next generation of consoles is still some ways off however. Traditionally you'd see a new console generation every 5 years but the only ones with any official plans so far are Nintendo with their Wii U console which isn't slated for release until sometime next year. Granted the current generation of consoles has aged far better than any of their previous generations what with developers finding all sorts of optimizations to squeeze extra performance out of them but even the best programming can't hide the aging hardware that's running in these consoles. It is then up for debate as to what the next generation of consoles will look like and there's speculation that it may be the last.
Richard Garriott AKA Lord British, games industry celebrity and space tourist, has gone on record that he believes that the next generation of consoles will be the last:
IG: It's always tough to completely change the way you look at things. The bigger the company, the more conservative they tend to be. Do you think consoles as we know them are doomed, or are we going to get a new generation, or is it just becoming irrelevant?
RGC: I think we might get one more generation, might, but I think fundamentally they're doomed. I think fundamentally the power that you can carry with you in a portable is really swamping what we've thought of as a console.
IG: If we've got a smartphone that can do Xbox level graphics, which we've almost got, and I can hook that up to a TV and use a controller, what's the difference between that and a console? It's just whatever games are available.
RGC: Yes, exactly. That's why I think there may be one more round of consoles left, but not many.
The idea of consoles going away isn't a new one, hell there was a time when everyone thought the PC would be the dominant platform for all time, but them being replaced outright by mobile devices is a new one on me. For starters whilst you can get current Xbox level graphics on a handheld it's always going to be a game of cat and mouse as to how far ahead the consoles are. Realistically current smart phones capabilities are only catching up to what was possible 5 years ago, not what's possible today. Indeed once the next generation of consoles is released the smart phones (and other portable entertainment systems) will again be behind in terms of technology. The fact of the matter is you can't shoe horn current generation technology into a portable form factor so I doubt we'll see the loss of consoles after the next generation.
Although there is potential for the console market to be shaken up somewhat by the portable industry. The Wii showed that a console can succeed without having cutting edge technology in it (the Wii is basically a GameCube on the inside) and it's that same market that gobbled up the Wii that will turn to other places for their gaming fix. Whether this will make the transition into some form of home based entertainment like consoles currently do remains to be seen however, but there's definitely potential for it to happen.
As for the the future of console gaming? More of the same I believe. Whilst we may have seen some technical marvels in the form of the Wii, PlayStation Move and Kinect the bread and butter of these consoles doesn't appear to be going anywhere, even in the face of challengers like the iPhone. For the non-gamer market however there's a strong possibility that they'll shift away from their Wiis in favour of their smart phones or tablets but there's still a massive market that will crave the better graphics and performance that can only come from a console.
I've been a Nintendo fan for well over 2 decades now, my first experiences with them dating all the way back to the original Nintendo Entertainment System which I believe is still in a functioning state in a closet out at my parent's place. I have to admit though they kind of lost me when they released the Game Cube as by then I was hooked on my shiny new PlayStation and there weren't any games on the Game Cube that appealed to me as a burgeoning hardcore gamer. That trend continued for a long time until my then housemate bought a Wii on the release date but even then I didn't really play it that much, instead favoring my PS3 and Xbox360. Indeed the Wii I got using some credit card reward points has been mostly unused since we got it, even though I thought there were a couple games on it I was "dying" to try.
For what its worth it's not really Nintendo's fault that I haven't really been a massive user of their last 2 generations of platforms, they made it clear that they were hunting for a different market and I wasn't in it. Sure there were some nostalgia titles that tugged on my heart and wallet (Zelda and Mario, of course) but they weren't enough for me to make the leap and I've stuck to my other staples ever since. Nintendo had firmly cemented themselves as the game console for people who don't identify as gamers, broadening their market to unprecedented levels but also alienating the crowd who grew up with them to become today's grown up gamers. At the time it was a trade off Nintendo appeared happy to make but recent announcements show that they may be thinking otherwise.
Nintendo recently announced the console that is to be the successor to the Wii which has been worked on under the title of Project Cafe and will be officially known as the Wii U. The console itself looks very similar to its predecessor, sporting the same overall layout whilst being a little bit bigger and preferring a rounder shape to the Wii's highly angular design. Nintendo is also pairing the new console with another new accessory, a controller that comes with an embedded touch screen. At first it looks completely ludicrous, especially if you take into consideration that the Wii's trademark was motion controlled games. After reading a bit more about it however it appears that this tablet-esque controller will function more like an augmentation to games rather than being the primary method of control, with the Wii nun-chucks still being used for games that rely on motion control.
The console itself is shaping up to be no slouch either, eschewing Nintendo's trend of making under powered consoles in favor of one that is capable of producing full 1080p HD content. Whilst the official specifications for the Wii U aren't released yet the demonstrations of the release titles for the console do not suffer from the low polygon counts of previous Wii titles with the demos looking quite stunning. With enough grunt under the hood of the Wii U Nintendo could also be making a play for the media extender market as well, something Microsoft and Sony have covered off well in the past. Couple that with a controller that would make one nice HTPC remote and I'm almost sold on the idea, but that's not the reason why I'm tentatively excited about what the Wii U signals for Nintendo.
Nintendo has said during the E3 conference that they believe their new console will target a much broader audience than that of the Xbox or PlayStation, which taken on face value doesn't mean a whole lot. The Wii sales numbers speak for themselves as both gamers and non-gamers alike bought the Wii and it outsold its competitors by a large margin, so if Nintendo can continue the trend with the Wii U it will be obvious that they'll hit a broader market. However the announcement of the Wii U also came a video showing launch titles, many of which would have never previously made it to Nintendo's console. It looks like Nintendo is trying to lure back the hardcore gaming crowd that it shunned when it re-imagined itself and that makes a long time fan like myself very happy indeed.
Of course the proof will be in the putting for the Nintendo Wii U and with the console not scheduled for release until sometime in 2012 we'll be waiting a while before we can judge their attempt to claw back that niche that has slipped away from them. Whilst my Wii may sit next to my TV feeling woefully underused I get the feeling that its successor might not suffer the same fate and I'm excited at the possibility of Nintendo coming full circle and embracing those gamers who grew up with them. The possibility of it being a little media power house is just the icing on the cake, even if I might only end up using the controller through Bluetooth on my media PC.
I've been gaming since I was able to summon up the hand-eye coordination required to mash the keyboard on my parent's computers. Still it wasn't until the original Nintendo Entertainment System came along circa 1987, although I think I got mine sometime in 1989, that I had my first experience with console games. My very first game on this new platform was of course Mario Brothers (combined with Duck Hunt, yeah!) and it provided many a good hour glued to the TV usually with my brother or friends from the neighbour close by. It would seem that the success of the Mario franchise made Nintendo drunk with power and every platform since the NES has had at least one Mario game amongst its launch titles. This wouldn't really be a problem since they've done the same with their other lines of IP (the Link¹ series jumps to mind) but apart from graphics upgrades they've basically made the same gear for over 20 years.
At its heart the original Mario was just a generic platformer with an interesting set of characters that appealed to the demographic of the time. Indeed it still targets the younger demographic with its relatively fast paced gameplay, bright colour palette and little to no dialogue between the characters. The first few iterations of the Mario IP didn't vary much from this baseline with the only things being changed were a few game mechanics (such as the Cape, the introduction of Yoshi, etc) and the addition of a world map. The Nintendo64 however mixed things up significantly.
Before the introduction of the N64 the only attempt at 3D graphics that had been made on previous Nintendo consoles was the StarFox IP and StuntraceFX (there might be others, but these are the only 2 I can remember). They were extremely simple and used little to no texturing at all. Primarily this was because the Super Nintendo really wasn't designed to do 3D graphics at all, and as such all the rendering had to be done in software. The N64 on the other hand was built from the ground up to handle 3D, and the controller showed this proudly with its 360 degrees of motion joystick slapped right in the center of it. It would then follow that their flagship character would be redesigned to suit.
And, to be honest, he was. Despite the fact that the core game mechanic was essentially unchanged (an extra dimension doesn't stop a jump puzzle from being a jump puzzle) the addition of the 3rd dimension was the first big change that Mario had seen since his first release almost a decade before. Super Mario 64 demonstrated quite aptly that Nintendo was quite capable of revamping old IP to take advantage of the latest technology. Well it at least seemed that way at the time.
The next few releases of Mario began to show some extremely strange behaviour from Nintendo. It would seem that there's a strong desire to milk the Mario IP for all its worth whilst still trying to maintain a level credibility amongst the gaming community as revolutionary game designers. The next Mario game, released on the Nintendo DS, could be written off as a victim of the platform it was designed for. Super Mario Galaxy broke new ground with the gravity mechanic that lead to some amazing emergent gameplay and would've made a good game without the Mario IP backing it. New Super Mario Bros. Wii has no excuse however, and is a straight up rehash of Super Mario World with prettier graphics and some new mini-games. I played it for a good hour the other day and swore that one of the levels we were on was a direct rip from one of the older games, the level just had more pixels.
What is Nintendo playing at here? I can understand that using a popular IP is a sure fire way to make a popular game but save for technology changes that have forced Nintendo's hand (and, to their credit, they stepped up to the challenge) they are quite happy to make the same game several times over. Had I not seen the blatant rip off that was the New Super Mario Bros Wii this post would've had a completely different tune to it, hailing the triumphs of Nintendo to progress significantly with the times. However releasing something that is comparable to a 20 year old platformer seems cheap and uninspired. If the rumours are anything to go by they're going to do the same with Super Mario Galaxy 2, with the new additions including Yoshi (surprise surprise).
Despite all this angst I can't deny the success that the Mario franchise has had. Their initial demographic has grown up and out of the genre and yet are still drawn to the Mario series. Still Nintendo is the only company to get away with this sort of invention for so long, with any competitor who attempts the same shot down as trite and un-original. Perhaps I don't give them enough credit, it's quite possible they've done the numbers on completely reinventing the Mario IP and the best scenario is to do exactly what they're doing. The money trail certaintly agrees with them.
I guess in this world of almost infinite choice when it comes to games Mario becomes an easy target to harp on about being un-original, but that ignores that they've been doing this for so long. Whilst I don't currently own a Nintendo console it doesn't stop me from wanting one, even if just for the brief moments where I might slip back for a quick level or two with my old friend the Italian plumber.
¹After finishing this article I realised that if I replace all the Mario references to their Link counterparts the story still makes sense. In reality I could've harped on about both of them for much longer but the point is basically the same 🙂

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The recently expanded Palmetto Bluff Resort in Bluffton, South Carolina, now boasts a new 74-room inn designed by Dallas-based HKS Architects. The new Inn at Palmetto Bluff sits alongside an expanded lagoon waterway and was inspired by the R.T. Wilson Jr. mansion built on the property in the early 1900s. Located in the Low Country between Charleston and Savannah, Palmetto Bluff is one of the largest waterfront properties on the East Coast. The resort is set within the 20,000-acre Palmetto Bluff community and conservation preserve that features an array of Southern-style residential neighborhoods ranging from multi-million-dollar legacy family compounds to more traditionally sized single-family homes.
The inn is finished with artisan James Hardie siding on the exterior façade, and a Petersen standing seam metal roof was chosen to complement the classic Low Country architecture. The roof features PAC-CLAD Snap-Clad panels finished in custom color Patrician Bronze. Approximately 75,000 square feet of the 24-gauge Galvalume panels were installed on a tight deadline.
Don Harrier, principal at HKS, said one of the greatest challenges was complying with a long list of restrictions designed to keep additions within the scope of the original buildings, such as a mandated three-story height limit and rules regarding waterways.
"It's easy to get into a site like this for construction, but in our world we have staging areas for materials, contractor trailers, etc., and because of the environment, we had to build another building first to house back-of-the-house areas, maintenance, administration and parking," Harrier says. "There were a lot of logistics involved as far as taking care of the site."
Installation of the Snap-Clad panels on the 154,000-square-foot luxury inn was done by Southern Roof & Wood Care in Hardeeville, South Carolina. "It was a complicated job with three adjoining sections of the roof and lots of different elevations and planes and dormers. The flashing details were complex," says David Swanson, president of SRWC.
Southern Roof & Wood Care has considerable experience with Petersen's PAC-CLAD profiles. "We like Snap-Clad because it doesn't require mechanical seaming. We use it whenever we can and when it meets the wind uplift requirements," Swanson notes. "Of course, we also install a lot of Tite-Loc and Tite-Loc Plus, too. We like using the PAC-CLAD products and we can be competitive in the marketplace. We're really happy with the Petersen relationship. They stand behind their products."
The Snap-Clad panels were manufactured at Petersen's plant in Acworth, Georgia. The general contractor was Choate Construction in Savannah, Georgia. The Petersen distributor was Commercial Roofing Specialties in Savannah, Georgia.
Architect: HKS Architects, Dallas, Texas, www.hksinc.com
General Contractor: Choate Construction, Savannah, www.choateco.com
Roofing Contractor: Southern Roof & Wood Care, Hardeeville, South Carolina, www.southernroof.com
Distributor: Commercial Roofing Specialties, Savannah, Georgia, www.crssupply.com
Roof Panels: PAC-CLAD Snap-Clad panels in Patrician Bronze, Petersen, www.pac-clad.com


text:
Officially, the final reward of the Kings' Stanley Cup championship comes tomorrow, when the team raises its first championship banner before the season opener at STAPLES Center. For President/General Manger Dean Lombardi, President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille, and Head Coach Darryl Sutter, however, the riches came a day early as the three were rewarded with multi-year contract extensions.
Lombardi said his four-year extension was a reflection of the entire organization.
"First of all, you got to thank your owners, Mr. (Philip) Anschutz and Tim (Leiweke)," Lombardi said. "It's a tribute to the staff. But most of all, like I have always said, a GM. is only as good as his players. In this instance, I really got to thank my players. Generals manage, soldiers win. They are the guys who got it done. A longtime (football) G.M. told me, 'Never forget, you are only as good as your players.' I guess getting four years of security is a reflection on them."
When Lombardi arrived in Los Angeles in 2006, he spoke of a five-year plan. Now that his plan has been successful, the goal is not only to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, but also to become a franchise that competes for titles on an annual basis.
"This is a new challenge," he said. "I think this is ultimately what teams strive for – to be the Detroit Red Wings, or the New England Patriots."
Sutter pointed to Lombardi as the architect of the Kings' success.
"The best part of this," Sutter said, "is Dean's, not Darryl's. He's the guy that put all this in place, so that's what's more important."
Sutter made it clear that he has reached a point in his career where he can be selective about when and where he works. He believes coaching the Kings is one of hockey's choice gigs.
"I'm not a starting coach," he said. "I'm an older coach. I will be 55 this year, so don't have to coach to coach. I want to coach good people and good players. That's why I came in December last year. It didn't matter if they won the Cup or not. You see the young players that they have and you want to be a part of it."
Twenty-four hours before the Kings see their championship banner unfurled in the STAPLES Center rafters, Sutter talked about the challenge his team faces in staying focused.
"They are not machines, they are players," Sutter said. "They have to go through the ceremony tomorrow and, at the same time, be ready to play the game. As awesome as it is that we get to raise the banner, being a noon start, it's not easy for the players."
Sutter said it is safe to assume Anze Kopitar, still on the mend after suffering a knee injury while playing in Sweden, would not be available for the opener.
Asked if anything concerned him as is team enters the season, Sutter responded with a deadpan: "Chicago tomorrow," Sutter said. "That would be a big one for me."
For the first time since the Kings' shortened camp opened, Willie Mitchell was able skate, spending about a half-hour alone on the ice after practice. Mitchell said he felt no pain in his surgically repaired knee, but said he was merely taking "baby steps." He downplayed his injury, calling it a "wear and tear thing," and said his surgery was nothing major. "They just went in and cleaned it up. Not a big procedure. A lot of guys have this all the time. No ligaments, no nothing like that." Mitchell declined to assess his health on a percentage basis. "I can't say that," he said. "I just twirled around."
While speaking to the media for the first time this year, Mitchell said winning the Stanley Cup has left him hungry for more.
"I get it now, why guys want to repeat so bad," he said. "You get a taste of that, a taste of what it all feels like, a taste of what your summer feel like and I absolutely get why guys want to do it so bad again."
Tomorrow's opener vs. Chicago will be televised to 55 percent of the country by NBC, with former King Eddie Olczyk joining Dave Strater in the broadcast booth. Olczyk, who scored 21 goals for the 1996-97 Kings, was at practice today. He talked about how far the organization has come since he played here, and said that even in the late '90s, there was a sense something was building.
"When you have outstanding people that are hungry to do what is right," Olczyk said, "at some point you are going to be rewarded. You look at STAPLES Center, at the outstanding work in the community. Being part of the Kings family for a short time, you knew the leadership was in place. There was no doubt the foundation was there. It was just matter of building on it."
Olczyk offered a one-word description of the Kings' run to the Stanley Cup last spring.
"Domination," Olczyk said.
He believes the Kings and Blues are the early favorites in the West, and likes the fact that the Kings have been able to retain, essentially, their entire team.
"Familiarity is an important part of the game and if you can have it, it's going to bode very well for you in a lot of situations."
Olczyk knows a thing or two about wearing a target on his back. He was part of the 1984 United States Olympic team that failed to medal four years after the Miracle on Ice, and also played for the Rangers' 1994 Cup team. He and the Rangers were ousted from the playoffs in the second round in '95.
"Everybody knew who we were," Olczyk said of his Olympic experience. "We didn't take anyone by surprise. It's a little different in an Olympic era than it is in the NHL, but I know exactly what it is like. We won the Cup (with the Rangers) in '94, and then we had the work stoppage so I know what these guys are going through. But it is a different animal in that they got a lot of rest and are, for the most part, healthy. The Kings can play any way you want; that's what makes them so dangerous."
Olczyk stressed that getting out of the gate fast is imperative in a 48-game season.
"The first 14 games to me are key," he said. "I don't think you can make the playoffs in the first 14, but I think you can miss the playoffs in the first 14."
Jarret Stoll's overtime goal to close out Vancouver in the opening round of last spring's Stanley Cup Playoffs was one of the many memorable moments in the Kings' run to the Stanley Cup. Just as important to the Kings is Stoll's penchant for playing a tough brand of hockey, night in and night out, while providing veteran leadership. The 30-year-old Stoll, who centers the Kings' third line between Dwight King and Trevor Lewis, sat down for a short Q&A after today's practice.
Q: What was it like taking the Stanley Cup to your hometown of Yorkton, Sask.?
A: It's a small town, (surrounded by) farming communities. Everybody knows everybody. When you grow in a small town like that, there is a big emphasis on hockey. In the winter, you play hockey. In the summer, you play baseball. You go to church, you go to school, and that's your life. It's fun. It's good to go back and see people that have supported me for so many years and helped to get me to where I am today. A lot of them have never seen the Stanley Cup in person, so to see all the kids who came out was special. I think it was the first time it was in Yorkton, so that was pretty cool. It was a quick day, but it was pretty special.
Q: Does it feel any different now when you step on the ice as a Stanley Cup champion?
A: That's over with, now. You look back on memories and how much fun it was, but it's over with. It's a new season. Everyone has a chance to win it, and that's how you have to look at it. Teams are going to prepare for you no matter what. I don't think it really matters that there is target on our back. We have not used that word in here. We have not used the "R" word once. We are just going about our business and trying to win our first game. The focus is on the Chicago Blackhawks, and then go from there.
Q: You had a huge overtime goal to close out the Vancouver series. That was early in your playoff run. It looked to be one of the bigger goals of your playoff run. Did it feel that way to you?
A: Yeah, for sure. Any time you score a goal in overtime in the playoffs to win a series it's big. I am a Canadian guy and obviously in Vancouver, they love their hockey. They had a big year and deserved to go farther, but we caught them at the right time and played well. It was a big goal, but there were a lot of big goals. You don't just look at one or two. In playoffs, every goal is huge. You look at Kopitar's goal in Game 1 (of the Final), Carter's goal in Game 2 (of the Final). Those are huge goals. But, at the same time, we needed to get over that hump of winning a playoff series, and that was the first series win for a lot of these guys.
Q: You mentioned that you are a Canadian guy. You seem to play what we would consider a Canadian style of hockey. Is there any truth to that?
A: Yeah, I just like a simple game, nothing fancy. Play both ends of the rink and chip in when I can offensively. I hope to have a better year offensively than last year. The little things are important – be a good teammate, be a good professional. All those things go into being a good player.
Q: How do you explain your uncanny success on shootouts?
A: I just try to find openings. I look at video, watch goalies on shootouts to see what their tendencies are, what holes you can find, and try to hit your shot. You have to be confident going in. Don't be wavering; be confident. I have had some luck, too. I have hit some posts and had it go in. You need those bounces.
Q: When you take the puck and skate in on the goalie, do you feel like you are going to score?
A: That's what I feel. Maybe that helps going in. I just want to hit my shot and go from there. We have a lot of great shooters and we also have Quickie back there and Bernie back there. It helps having two great goaltenders at your end.
Tomorrow's festivities will begin at 9:30 a.m., with a special pre-game Fan Fest presented by Bud Light outside STAPLES Center. Among the attractions will be the LA Kings Holiday Ice at LA LIVE, with ice skating beginning at 11:00 am. The Stanley Cup will be located at center ice from 9:30-10 a.m.
Former Kings Marcel Dionne and Daryl Evans will sign autographs at the Toyota display on Chick Hearn Court from 10:15-11:15 a.m. Rogie Vachon will also be apart of Opening Day festivities.
"I think we are excited," Dustin Brown said, the day before the season. "With everything that's gone on, we are excited to play hockey."


text:
HOUSTON – February 18, 2019 – The 182-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Houston, Texas is now open with its upscale, stylish décor that offers flexibility, while creating a unique environment. Located at 7807 Kirby Drive, the all-suite Residence Inn Houston Medical Center/NRG Park will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Moody National Companies.
The Residence Inn Houston Medical Center/NRG Park is within walking distance to NRG Park, where you can experience all of the sports and entertainment happening in Houston. The 16-story property offers guests convenient access to the Houston Medical Center, the Houston Zoo, Discovery Green and the Houston Museum District.
"We are pleased with the continued growth of Residence Inn hotels in the Houston area," said Diane Mayer, vice president and global brand manager, Residence Inn. "When on the road for an extended period, our guests need space to spread out, maintain their life's pace and restore their energy to help them maintain a healthy balance and routine while traveling. This new hotel offers them a seamless blend of modern style and functionality that allows them to settle in and thrive."
Residence Inn properties are designed as all-suite hotels that offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Guests looking for a revitalizing sleep experience will enjoy the hotel's plush mattresses and crisp linens, while guests focused on being productive will value their suite's large, well-lit work desk, ergonomic chair and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Designed for stays of five nights or more, each suite also has a fully-equipped kitchen with a coffeemaker, microwave oven and residential-sized appliances.
With the maximizer in mind, Residence Inn has created a décor with a "home plus" feel that is warm, optimistic and flexible. The long-stay guest will experience a livable, uplifting environment based on honest materials, organic forms, warm colors and natural light. The new design incorporates a transitional inviting style, crisp details and signature residential textiles. Each property will offer geographically tailored options.
The Residence Inn Houston Medical Center/NRG Park rotates a wide selection of healthy choices at our free hot breakfast every day. Start with favorites like bacon and eggs, Greek yogurt, cut fruit or waffles and make it yours with our extensive toppings, ranging from fresh spinach and cheese to sliced almonds and strawberries. Enjoy all the options you need to start your morning with endless possibilities.
Extending the feeling of comfortable living on the road, the Residence Inn Houston Medical Center/NRG Park offers guests inviting and functional public spaces to relax or collaborate. Road warriors and families alike enjoy the hotel's grocery delivery service, complimentary Wi-Fi, 24-hour onsite food and beverage market, a full-service lobby bar and restaurant, dry cleaning services, and onsite guest laundry room. The hotel also maintains a business library where guests can fax, copy and print materials, and provides guests with an indoor swimming pool, a large fitness center, a complimentary shuttle and 4,100 square feet of functional meeting space.


text:
Welcome to my second round. The second round is on me! That way I can buy all cheaper/low-shelf swill and not look like a cheapskate [underutilized word]. Seriously, try that next time you're out. Well, to be honest it only really works on the 8th or 9th round. "What is in this snake juice?!" "It's basically rat poison!" "Baba Booey!"
So these guys are all still elite talents, just have those lingering question marks that would have me passing on them. I know you're all gonna yell at Paul George being a second rounder for me, I have comment ESP! Here's how I see the remainder of the top 20 with off-season adjustments (previous ranks from my Off-Season Rankings are in parentheses before this re-rank):
(11) 11. Kevin Love – Not much has changed for me with Love through the offseason, he has first-round ability but the long line of injury question marks keeps him in the 2nd-round for me. As I said in the previous rankings early in Summer, if Love has a healthy preseason, he may hopscotch his way into the bottom end of the first round.
(12) 12. Derrick Rose – Copy-cat analysis from above, MVP talent but we haven't seen him on the court except shoot arounds in his sweats since 2011-12. I'm just thankful that there won't be any requests for my projection when I think Rose will be back. He better not get hurt again this year!
(14) ↑ 13. Paul George – Yup. Go ahead. I know it's coming. Listen, I don't dislike Paul George all that much, I just still maintain he will be overrated and another owner will pull the trigger before I will. It was an outstanding 2012-13 season, but for those of you that live and die on Basketball Monster's rankings he was 18th in per-game value, narrowly below Russell Westbrook. Boom – roasted! He hops up to 12th in overall value, but that's about right to me and where he is in my rankings. There's also the lingering questions around Danny Granger, who I have no faith in as a fantasy contributor individually, but he will be out there and siphon a smidgen of production as well. Don't overpay for the emerging star.
(9) ↓ 14. Deron Williams – With the huge Celtics deal bringing in Paul Pierce and KG, it's as crowded an offense as we'll see in the East. Williams was brutal early last year, and still ended the season averaging only 7.7 Asts, the lowest since his rookie season and a full assist fewer a game than 2012-13. I see that number plunging even deeper with all the playmakers on that team. Sure he set a career-high in 3's a game (2.2/per) as a positive takeaway from the plummeting assist figure, but there's no way I see him making over 2 a game this year with Pierce and Garnett added to that lineup.
(16) ↑ 15. Ricky Rubio – Reports from Eurobasket 2013 are that Rubio's jumper looks vastly improved and I think we're going to see a breakout season from the Spaniard. I already had him ranked pretty high, so not much has changed.
(21) ↑ 16. Al Horford – J Smoove moving to Detroit opens up even more scoring upside for Horford, who I think becomes an elite center this year. He was already on that cusp after 17.4/10.2 last year – and you can easily argue he already is elite depending on your definition parameters – but what really impresses me is he took 2.3 more shots a game than his previous career high and his FG% remained nearly 55%. Really excited for the Jeff Teague/Horford two-headed monster in ATL, with Paul Millsap helping more down low as opposed to Josh Smith's frequent departures to the perimeter. Smith is still the better fantasy asset, but I think Millsap will better fit the Hawks system.
(17) 17. Dwayne Wade – Not much changing on Wade, but as I mentioned in my original ranks, he set a career-high FG% and despite other categories sinking a tad, great mid-2nd value.
(26) ↑ 18. Al Jefferson – I was slightly down on Jefferson in my previous rankings, but the move the Charlotte was probably the best fantasy destination he could land. The Bobcats have absolutely nothing else down low unless Cody Zeller can emerge in a big way (read: very unlikely), so I'm seeing hoards of boards and interior opportunities. As I stated in the Central Division's Movers & Shakers, I expect Big Al to get closer to his 2011-12 19.2/9.6 a game than his slightly down 2012-13 17.8/9.2.
(18) ↓ 19. Damian Lillard – Still a late 2nd-rounder, I think Lillard improves his FG% in his sophomore campaign and having another ball-handler on the court with him at times with the acquisition of Mo Williams will only help his offensive output. Another big year is coming.
(19) ↓ 20. Carmelo Anthony – While his per-game numbers were first-round valuable, nagging injuries kept Carmelo to only 67 games dropping his overall value. Sure he was the NBA's leading scorer, but he just doesn't do enough of anything else (6.9 Rebs 2.6 Asts 0.8 Stls 0.5 Blks) for me to rank him higher than the last 2nd-rounder off the board.
Dropped Out: Brook Lopez, Josh Smith
I'll be rounding out the top 50 by mid-week, so feel free to give suggestions, comments, hate mail my way until then!


text:
43rd UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board Meeting
UNAIDS is guided by a Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) with representatives of 22 governments from all geographic regions, the UNAIDS Cosponsors, and five representatives of nongovernmental organizations, including associations of people living with HIV.
43rd PCB meeting agenda and backrounders are available at www.unaids.org/en/whoweare/pcb/43
Ferenc Bagyinszky, on behalf of AIDS Action Eurpe, Germany, is the delegate for Europe of the UNAIDS NGO Delegation Board. The civil society on the UNAIDS PCB is critical for the effective inclusion of community voices in the key global policy forum for AIDS.
The Programme Coordinating Board has the following broad functions:
To establish broad policies and priorities for the Joint Programme, taking into account the provisions of General Assembly resolution 47/199;
To review and decide upon the planning and execution of the Joint Programme. For this purpose it is kept informed of all aspects of the development of the Joint Programme and considers reports and recommendations submitted to it by the Executive Director, and the Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO)
To review and approve the plan of action and budget for each financial period, prepared by the Executive Director and reviewed by the CCO;
To review proposals of the Executive Director and approve arrangements for the financing of the Joint Programme;
To review longer term plans of action and their financial implications;
To review audited financial statements submitted by the Joint Programme;
To make recommendations to the Cosponsoring Organizations regarding their activities in support of the Joint Programme, including those of mainstreaming;
To review periodic reports that evaluate the progress of the Joint Programme towards the achievement of its goals.
Follow the meeting via #PCB43 and via @aidsactioneurop


text:
Proofs For Pretribulation Rapture Theology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=TL7o ... gUWGNXz0_g
Rapture Ready News
Rapture Watch.net
Is pretribulation rapture theology a new Church doctrine?
Some say there is no rapture of the Church prior to the tribulation and point out that it was not even taught to the Church until the 1800's.
In Grant Jeffrey's book "Triumphant Return", he writes that about 373 AD Ephraem taught in a sermon that there was a pre-tribulation rapture. This writing can be found in Ephraem's sermon "On the Last Times, the Antichrist, and the End of the World.", Ephraem said in this sermon, "For the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins".
Is there a pretribulation rapture?
In the rapture, the true Church of God is removed so they will not go through the trial that will come upon all the earth to try men's souls (they have no need to). Christ does not come back to take possession of the earth at that time. The rapture is just another phase of the first Resurrection that began with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the body of Christ and the true Church is also the body of Christ. The total membership making up the body of Christ must arise like Jesus to unite with Jesus. We must go before the bema seat judgment to be given the crowns that will allow us to rule and reign with Jesus when we return. If the rapture and second coming were at the same time you would have to make this judgment and the giving of the crowns an instantaneous event in the clouds at the second coming of Jesus. In the Jewish harvest, you have the first fruits, the general harvest and the gleaning. The harvest is not one event and neither is the resurrection of the saints. Revelation makes it clear that the 144,000 Israelites who have a ministry in the tribulation are still first fruits, so this would indicate that those in the true Church before the tribulation are also first fruits of this harvest.
There are well over a score of biblical passages that indicate that the return of Jesus for the Church is imminent. An imminent return is quite impossible if the tribulation has to happen first. Why would Jesus direct his people to be always ready and watching for His coming if they were meant to go through the tribulation and thus would be aware of His coming as much as seven years before He actually came?
The rapture of the faithful in contrast to the Revelation of Jesus at His coming
Rapture > Christ comes for His own 1Th 4:13-18
Jesus' Return > Christ returns with His own Rev 19:14
Rapture > Believers taken to Father's House Joh 14:3
Jesus' Return > Believers come with Jesus to Earth Mat 24:30
Rapture > He is seen only by believers 1Co 15:52
Jesus' Return > Every eye will see Him Mat 24:30
Rapture > Earth not judged
Jesus' Return > Earth judged Rev 20:4-5
Rapture > A Mystery - 1 Co 15:51
Jesus' Return > Foretold in OT Zech 12:10
Rapture > Christians taken first 1Th 4:13-18 3 Mat 13:28-30
Jesus' Return > Wicked are taken first Mat 25:1-13; Rev 3:8-10; Rev 4:1
Rapture > He comes to present the Church to Himself 2 Co 11:2 ---
Jesus' Return > He comes with His Church for judgement and to set up his Kingdom Rev 19:6-9, Zec 14:3-4; Jud 1:14-15; Rev 19:11-21
Rapture > Casts Satan out of heaven to earth Rev 12
Jesus' Return > Binds Satan for a thousand years Rev 20
Rapture > Occurs in the twinkling of an eye 1Co 15:52
Jesus' Return > Comes to earth to do battle at specific locations Isa 63:1-3, Rev 16:16, Zec 12:9-10
Rapture > Jesus descends with a shout. 1Th 4:16 8
Jesus' Return > No shout mentioned Rev 19:11-21
Scriptural proofs that the rapture is pre-tribulation *
Proof #1: Revelation 19:11-21 doesn't mention a resurrection.
The rapture is a resurrection of those "in Christ" (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Isn't it a little bit odd that in Rev. 19:11-21, which is the clearest picture of the second coming of Christ, there is no mention of a resurrection? The rapture will be the biggest event since the resurrection of Jesus where hundreds of millions of Christians will be resurrected and translated, yet there isn't any mention here. Don't you think it deserves at least one verse? The rapture isn't mentioned because it doesn't happen at the second coming.
Proof #2: Zechariah 14:1-15 doesn't mention a resurrection.
This is an Old Testament picture of Jesus returning to earth at the second coming. Again, no mention of a resurrection.\
Proof #3: Two different pictures are painted.
In the Old Testament, there were two different pictures painted of the Messiah—one suffering (Isa. 53:2-10, Ps. 22:6-8, 11-18) and one reigning as King (Ps. 2:6-12, Zech. 14:9,16). As we look back on these scriptures, we see they predicted two separate comings of the Messiah—the 1st coming as a suffering Messiah and the 2nd coming (still future) as a reigning King.
In the New Testament, we have another picture added. Again, we have two pictures painted which don't look the same. These two different descriptions of Jesus' coming point to two separate events we call "the rapture" and "the second coming."
Proof #4: The Known Day and the Unknown Day.
Concerning the return of Jesus, the Bible presents a day we can't know and a day we can know. Matthew 25:13 says Jesus will return at an unknown time, while Revelation 12:6 says the Jews will have to wait 1,260 days for the Lord to return. The 1,260 days begins when the Antichrist stands in the Temple and declares himself to be God (Matt. 24:15-21, 2 Thess. 2:4) This event will take place at the mid-point of the seven year Tribulation (Dan 9:27). The Antichrist has authority to rule for 42 months, which is 1,260 days (Rev. 13:4) and will be destroyed by Jesus at His second coming (Rev. 19:20, 2 Thess. 2:8). The known and unknown days must happen at different times, meaning they are two separate events.
Proof #5: Holy ones are already with Jesus in heaven (Zech. 14:5, Rev. 19:14).
The armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, follow Jesus out of heaven at His second coming (Rev. 19:14, Zech. 14:5, Col. 3:4). These are not angels because Rev. 19:8 tells us the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. In order to come out of heaven we first have to go in, indicating a previous rapture.
Proof #6: Kept from the hour of testing (Rev. 3:10).
Revelation 3:10 says we will be kept out of the hour of testing which will come upon the whole earth (the Tribulation). Some have wrongly believed "keep" means to keep through, or protect through the Tribulation. Suppose you approach a high voltage area with a sign that says, "Keep Out." Does that mean you can enter and be protected? No, it means you are forbidden from entering the area. But this verse also says He will keep us from the hour of testing. It is not just the testing, but the time period. If a student is excused from a test, he still may have to sit in the class while others take the test. But if he is excused from the hour of testing, he can go home. The Church will be called home before the hour of testing.
Proof #7: Angels don't resurrect people when they gather them for judgment.
When the angels are sent forth to gather the elect at the second coming (Matt. 24:29-31), some have wrongly interpreted this as the rapture. There is one huge problem with this interpretation. If we are resurrected at this time, why would we need angels to gather us? In the resurrection, we will be like the angels (Matt. 22:30), able to travel in the air at will. Obviously, these people who are gathered are not resurrected, therefore it can't be the rapture. No one would claim the wicked are raptured at this time, yet Matthew 13:39-41, 49 says the angels will not only gather the elect, but also the wicked. This gathering is not a resurrection.
Proof #8: Both wicked and righteous both can't be taken first.
First Thessalonians 4:13-17 says the righteous are taken and the wicked are left behind. Matthew 13:30, 49 says the wicked are taken first and righteous are left behind. This points to two separate events, the rapture and the second coming.
Proof #9: Jesus returns from the wedding.
When Jesus returns to earth at the second coming, He will return from a wedding (Luke 12:36). At the rapture, Jesus is married to His bride, the Church. After the wedding, He will return to earth.
Proof #10: Jesus will receive us to Himself, not us to receive Him (John 14:2-3).
Jesus said He would prepare a place for the Church in heaven, then He would come again to receive us to Himself. Why would Jesus prepare a place for us in heaven and then not take us there? At the rapture, He will come to receive us to Himself, "that where I am (heaven), there you may be also." If the rapture occurred at the same time as the second coming, we would go up to the clouds and then immediately come back to earth. That would contradict John 14:2-3.
Proof #11: The one who restrains is taken out of the way.
In 2 Thess. 2:6-7, Paul says "the one who restrains will be taken out of the way" before the Antichrist can be revealed. We believe this refers to the rapture because the Church is clearly the biggest obstacle to the Antichrist becoming a world ruler. This does not mean the Holy Spirit is completely gone from the earth, just the church, as it presents the biggest obstacle.
Proof #12: The separation of the sheep and goats (Matt. 25:31-46).
If the rapture occurred at the second coming, why would the sheep and the goats need to be separated immediately after the second coming? A rapture at the second coming would have already separated the sheep and the goats. With a Pre-Tribulation rapture, the people saved after the rapture will need to be separated after the second coming.
Proof #13: Who will populate the Millennium?
If the rapture occurs at the second coming and the wicked are cast into hell at that time, who will be left to populate the millennium? Only people in their natural (non-resurrected) bodies will be able to have children (Matt. 22:30). With a Pre-Tribulation rapture, the people saved after the rapture who are alive at the second coming will populate the earth during the Millennium
There are seven supernatural translation events in God's plan:
(God does many things in sevens - the number of completion.)
The seven supernatural translation events:
The translation of Enoch before the flood
The taking of Elijah in a whirlwind in the early times of Israel
The resurrection and ascension of Jesus
The rapture of the true Church
The resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses
The resurrection of the saints at the end of the great tribulation
The final resurrection and judgment after the thousand year reign
The ancient Jewish marriage ceremony proclaims a pretribulation rapture picture.
The groom goes to the bride's house and is betrothed to the bride (the faithful on the earth)
He pays the purchase price (his blood)
He returns to his father to prepare a place for the bride ("I go to prepare a place for you")
Later the groom comes for the bride (rapture)
He takes her to his father's house and gives her gifts where she is adorned and prepared for the wedding (judgment seat of Christ where crowns are awarded)
The wedding then takes place before the father and the witnesses (in the father's house)
The groom appears with his bride (second coming in glory with his saints)
Then the wedding feast takes place (on earth with invited guests of the bride and groom)
Jesus said it would be like in the time of Noah and Lot.
Fire destroyed Sodom the day Lot was led out by angels
The flood came after Noah entered the ark
God's wrath for the world in the future will come after the believers are removed.
Is the rapture of the Church in Old Testament scripture?
There are many hints in Old Testament scripture about God hiding his people during a time of judgment on the earth. Since it is clear that this has not happened yet, it is a future event:
Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Psa 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion: In the covert of his tabernacle will he hide me: He will lift me up upon a rock.
Psa 50:5 Gather my saints together unto me, Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
Psa 58:9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.
Joe 2:16 gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of their closet.
Zep 2:3 Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger.
Many will be saved in the tribulation
The scripture says all who endure to the end will be saved (all who hold on to the testimony of Jesus during the tribulation).
That word "all" should nullify any doctrine that says there will be no second chance of salvation for those who heard the gospel but were not part of the spiritual body of Christ before the rapture or tribulation. The passage clearly excludes no one and we see that true repentance leads to salvation throughout scripture.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.


text:
Interviews: "Transformers: The Movie" Composer Vince DiCola
"Transformers: The Movie" debuted in theaters in the summer of 1986. Many fans were struck by the visually dynamic film, but bolstering the action was an awesome instrumental soundtrack that kept the pace of the film exciting (and pleasing to the ear). The man responsible for this is Vince DiCola, a long time composer whose work has since included "Rocky IV" and "Crooked". Vince was kind enough to grant BWTF an interview this summer and I am deeply appreciative.
1. How did you become interested in music as a career?
My father was a great musician (played cello with a symphony orchestra in the town where I grew up - Lancaster, PA - and upright bass with several 'dance' bands in his younger years), and my parents started me on private piano lessons when I was about 5 years old. Also, I was heavily involved in music in high school, attended college for 2 years (majored in music - percussion specifically) and played in various rock, pop, and progressive rock bands up and down the eastern seaboard from1973 through1980. Within about a year or so after my wife and I made the move out to CA in 1981, I came to play in a band led by Sylvester Stallone's brother Frank, which led to my first major break in the movie end of the music business in late 1982... My collaboration with Frank on the movie "Staying Alive" (written and directed by Stallone... sequel to the hit movie "Saturday NIght Fever") as a songwriter/composer/musician.
2. Who are some of your favorite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?
In the classical genre I would have to say the famous Russian composers/pianists Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky. I also love some of the works by Chopin, Mozart and Beethoven. In the rock/pop genre, there are many bands I still love to listen to... the Beatles of course being my favorite and most influential of the genre. Some other standouts for me back in the day were Chicago, Three Dog Night, Foreigner, the Eagles, Steely Dan and Toto. Overall, though, the style of music I'm most passionate about has been and continues to be progressive rock. I probably listened most frequently to 'prog rock' bands who originated in England, such as ELP (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) and Yes. Keith Emerson in particular was and continues to be a major influence on my writing and playing style as a composer/keyboardist. I will always remember quite vividly the first time I saw ELP perform in 1972 because it had such a major impact on me! Hearing and watching all this great music and sound coming from a 3-piece keyboard-based band of virtuosos (at least that was my impression at the time!) blew me away, and I remember coming away from that concert with one thought uppermost in my mind - that's what I want to do!
In the film genre, my favorite composers are Jerry Goldsmith, Gabriel Yared ("1408" is probably my favorite thriller/horror score of all time), Thomas Newman ("Shawshank Redemption" and numerous other great dramatic scores), Christopher Young (his score to "Murder in the First" is one of the most moving and dramatic scores I've ever heard) and John Powell (composer on the first three films of the "Bourne" series starring Matt Damon).
My favorite among current songwriters/musicians is Steven Wilson (another Brit), along with the band he headed in recent years called Porcupine Tree. I'm also a major fan of Peter Gabriel - not only his music but his sound design and theatrical sensibility. In fact I would have to say Gabriel and Wilson are equally adept at working multi-medea presentations into their live performances very effectively.
3. Can you tell us about how you came to be involved with "Transformers: The Movie" back in 1985?
My first opportunity as sole composer on a film was "Rocky IV", and the producers of "Transformers: The Movie" approached me specifically because they loved my writing style on Rocky IV and wanted a similar energy for the music to "TF:TM".
4. Did it surprise you to learn "Transformers" still had such an audience years later at the Botcon conventions? How was it playinglive with Stan Bush for the concerts?
It still surprises me to this day when I think back on being approached for the first "BotCon" convention I attended in 1997. The organizer of that convention - Glen Hallit - took great pleasure and pride in showing me firsthand just how popular the franchise was in general, and the animated movie and my score in particular! Stan and I were both blown away when we saw the sheer number of fans who showed up at our panels! It was great fun performing at that convention with Stan and we played at one or two additional convention events. (My personal favorite of our performances was at the convention in 2009, held at Paramount Studios here in L.A.)
5. What's your motto or the advice you live by?
I think it would have to be HAVE FAITH... THINGS CHANGE!!!! No matter how dark things can be at times, one never knows what lies just around the next corner. Take one day at a time and do whatever it takes to keep worry and anxiety at bay in your life.
6. What are you working on for 2013 and beyond?
I've been working on three original projects... A progressive rock band called 4 Vienna, a rock band called CannonballZ, and a 55-minute progressive rock suite (as yet unnamed) for which I currently have in mind a multi-media live presentation sort of along the lines of Cirque Du Soleil - but edgier, more intense and rock-oriented. This has been one of my biggest dreams for over a decade, and although it will be extremely difficult to get funded and a giant undertaking to mount and produce, I can already envision the final result in my head! Not only do I believe it will be spectacular, but I can see it becoming very popular with people of all ages. Fingers crossed! Also, my partner Kenny Meriedeth and I recently completed work on a brand new medley of some highlights from my original Transformers score that will be included in a collection called the "Turrican Soundtrack Anthology" by game composer Chris Huelsbeck. This collection is currently expected to be released late summer/early fall so keep checking online for updates.
In closing I'd like to thank Ben Yee for bringing this opportunity to me, and a special thanks to my loyal fans for continuing to have faith in me!


text:
Dirty Girl 1g
- Product Type: Flower
- Flower Type: Sativa Hybrid
- Supplier: Rolling Farms
- Brand: Smokey Point Productions
- Strain: Dirty Girl
- Price: $11.00
- Test Results: THC: 20.1% / CBD: 0.1%
A sativa-dominant cross of a Trainwreck hybrid, known as Arcata Lemon Wreck, and Cinderella 99. A tropical aroma of pineapples and citrus fruit with a sharp pungent note reminiscent of Pine Sol. The flavor is like sweet lemon candy and the effects it produces are happy and creative. It will elevate your mood and help avoid the complications of depression, anxiety, and migraine headaches.


text:
Some of them may seem a little bit odd, but some reflect the essense of the film even more than original ones.
The Hangover = What Happened Yesterday?
I love You Phillip Morris = An Uneven Couple
28 Days Later = Extermination
Pulp Fiction = Violent Times
16 Candles = Looking For A Boyfriend
Home Alone = My Poor Little Angel
The Game = Near Death
A Bug's Life = Bugs
Scream = Scream, Keep An Eye on Who's Calling
The Breakfast Club = The Club Of The Five
The Nightmare Before Christmas = Jack's Weird World
The Green Mile = Unexpected Miracles
Saw 2 = The Game Of Fear 2
The Sound of Music = The Rebel Novice
50 First Dates = As If It Were The First Time
Superbad = Supercool
Posession = Multiple Personality
The Hurt Locker = Living At The Limit
Kingdom of Heaven = Crusade
Pineapple Express = Super High
Along Came Polly = My Girlfriend Polly
City of Angels = An Angel In Love
The Kids Are All Right = My Family
Sleepless in Seattle = Love Harmony
The American = The Sunset Of A Murderer
There Will Be Blood = Bloody Oil
Lost In Translation = Lost In Tokyo
Walk The Line = Johnny & June Passion and Craziness
101 Dalmatians = The Night Of The Cold Noses
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind = Forget About Me
Jackie Brown = Triple Betrayal
No Country For Old Men = No Place For The Weak
Get Him to the Greek = Everything About My Wild Party
My Girl = My First Kiss
Small Apartments = My Neighbor The Murderer
The Wedding Singer = The Best Of My Weddings
Tags: movie translation
Новости партнёров