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Al Sharpton brought celebrity to the struggle in Vieques, and George Pataki made it mainstream. Journalist Mario Murillo, in his concise and heartfelt book, Islands of Resistance, describes the movement behind the headlines. "The colonial arrogance of the United States as well as the ignorance of its political, economic, and media elite, has provided fuel to the resistance of a people who refuse to let go of the centuries-old dream of true self-determination," he writes. The U.S. maintains an imperial control over the islands to serve its military, economic, and political interests, Murillo argues. But more than 100 years of native discontent has its consequences. It's getting harder, Murillo promises, to keep Puerto Rico in its place.
To outsiders, he observes, 1999 marked the beginning of serious tensions between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Bill Clinton, to accusations of political pandering, granted limited clemency to 11 jailed FALN members; the ensuing criticism resurrected images of Puerto Rican nationalists as crazed terrorists. And the navy in Vieques accidentally dropped a 500-pound bomb on native security guard David Sanes Rodriguez, killing him.
But the trouble really started 101 years earlier, Murillo explains, when the U.S., under the premise of freeing the islands from European imperialists, wrested control from Spain and never let go. The U.S. military focused on Vieques, with its strategically valuable location, as a site for war games. Puerto Rico also provided the ideal climate for expanding the U.S. sugar industry and other sectors of the American economy. And, in the days of mandatory conscription, the islands—where to this day natives can't vote in U.S. elections—were a source of tens of thousands of fighting bodies.
The internationally reported events of 1999 only crystallized the resentment locals had been feeling for decades. Keeping Puerto Rico in political limbo—not a part of the U.S. but not independent of it—has made it easier for U.S. interests both to exploit the country's human and geographical resources and to avoid answering for it, Murillo argues.
What's most moving about Murillo's work is his palpable desire for Puerto Ricans to transcend traditional political fractures and unify, with the common aim of achieving the greatest good vis-à-vis the U.S. Yet while he engages in a respectful discussion of the pro-statehood and pro-status quo camps, Murillo's staunchly nationalist heart thumps through this work. "For Vieques and for the people of Puerto Rico," writes Murillo, "it has never been clearer: This colonial relationship must be terminated."


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| Book Depository | Booktopia | Amazon |
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Release Date: February 27th, 2018
Pages: 368
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: middle grade, urban fantasy, fairytales, adventure, magic
Goodreads blurb:
(But she doesn't know it yet.)
On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey… until her parents mysteriously vanish later that day and a rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Turns out there might be some truth to her parents' fantastical stories—like how Kiranmala is a real Indian princess—and a wealth of secrets about her origin they've kept hidden.
To complicate matters, two crushworthy Indian princes ring her doorbell, insisting they're here to rescue her. Suddenly, Kiran is swept into another dimension full of magic, winged horses, moving maps, and annoying, talking birds. There she must solve riddles and slay demons all while avoiding the Serpent King of the underworld (who may or may not want to kill her) and the rakkhosh queen (who definitely does) in order to find her parents and basically save New Jersey, her entire world, and everything beyond it…

subset: commoncrawl


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A review of Roasted Barley Tea by Nishimoto Trading Co, Ltd.
Company: Nishimoto Trading Co, Ltd.
Tea Name: Roasted Barley
Tea Type/Varietal: barley
Region: Japan
Steeping Vessel/Amt Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Liquor Color: dark amber
Leaf Characteristic:
1st Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 5 minutes
I have not had this tea for a long while. I actually thought I had finished the box. I was pleasantly surprised when cleaning out my tea storage to find the box of tea with several tea pouches remaining and I have been enjoying ever since.
Anyhow, this morning I fixed a large cup of this barley tea for myself and it is very hot and smelling strongly of the barley twigs like being outdoors with the burning of twigs nearby. It is a very strong roasted cup of tea.
2nd Steeping:
Water Temp: 200
Time: 10 minutes
This next steep is left for longer and the teas aroma is that much more powerful. You know the saying: 'smokes gets in my eye' well it is similarly so. The tea's aroma is as pungent and strongly in taste; they equal each other. The tea is not bitter but woodsy and grainy in texture and taste. It is a full bodied aroma to make one think of having a cup of coffee when it is tea.
Overall tasting notes: This roasted barley makes for wonderful cup of fine barley tea with a robust kick in the taste. The tea's aroma smell strongly of burn wood, that open pit fire in the deepest forest; like the smell of smoke from afar and somehow making one feel warmth and coziness.
Classification: Year, and region of production; Product of Japan
Cup's characteristic: barley tea is very strong and woodsy (of burnt wood)
Liquor color: golden amber at times very dark cup of tea.
Taste: grainy in texture and very robust, and woodsy taste. It is an acquired tasteful cup of tea.


text: Relatively new to DTLA, The Parish has made quite an impression on our palates – starting with Chef Casey Lane's breakfast biscuits. For a measly $4 each, guests can enjoy one or all of these freshly baked breakfast goodies as early as 7:30AM. A variety of biscuits are available, from the CHEDDAR, EGG, BACON & AVOCADO to the GRILLED TOMATO & CHEESE to the FRIED CHICKEN, MAPLE & PICKLES – as well as the lone biscuit or biscuits slathered with jam. Read More


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Diversions are a fundamental piece of an Android and it furnishes one with various choices of amusements. Amusement Guardian is one such application, which makes alteration in the diversion wrongfully, and computer games are made to the benefits of the players. A portion of the vital focuses about the amusement data are recorded as under:
What Is Game Guardian – Benefit of using Game Guardian APK
Diversion Guardian APK is an application made to alter computer games for the advantages and points of interest of gamers. It works in an illicit way and this is a decent approach to cheat in an amusement. Utilizing this application is likewise a hazard in light of the fact that if the engineers get some answers concerning the illicit method for winning, at that point there are chances that you may lose your record in the diversion and never have the capacity to play in again.
What Can We Do With Game Guardian APK
The best thing about Game Guardian APK is that it gives you a chance to discover the score esteems that you have earned in any amusement. When you discover your score esteems, you can hack those qualities and enter the number that you want. game guardian latest version On the off chance that you score around 500 out of one of your most loved amusements, at that point this diversion programmer can adjust the numeric score to something around 500000 in the amusement. The greater part of the qualities must be included the particular fields for the coveted outcomes.
Highlights Of Game Guardian APK
Diversion Guardian APK keeps running on a code infusion, which encourages you to change the score esteems to the coveted focuses.
In the wake of downloading of this application, it can keep running out of sight and you can hack any amusement as you like. In the wake of choosing the diversion, you can run Game Guardian out of sight and this application will do its work individually.
Aside from the quantity of coins, the quantity of lives in the amusement can likewise be hacked. In the event that you are coming up short on lives, you can utilize Game Guardian APK and it will supplant the number that you write in.
Another fascinating element of the application is that it can moderate the check procedure in your gadget with the goal that the upgrades can be made and the gadget quits working for a specific number of hours.
Instructions to Install Game Guardian APK
Instructions to setup diversion gatekeeper apk free
In the wake of downloading of the application, you will get the entrance to introduce the application in your Android telephones. It will take a couple of minutes to introduce after which you will be diverted to the Set Temp File Path. You need to experience the points of interest of the application and tap on the Stop Guardian catch to continue to the following stage. You need to pick the area where you would need to keep the application. In the wake of sparing it, you are allowed to utilize the application and hack any amusement that you like.


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Just saw this article earlier. Lou Reed is apparently releasing the infamous Metal Machine Music album. Lou Reed is one of my musical heroes, but I could never wrap my head around Metal Machine Music. Metal Machine Music like "Revolution Number 9", "Self Portrait" and even Sandinista! is the sound of hubris taking over. Each of these individuals involved have created some of the best music ever to be made – and these musical projects reveal they can indeed make shit. The worst part is – they try to pass it off as art.
I like feedback and noise. I wouldn't be a fan of The Velvet Underground, The Stooges of Sonic Youth if I weren't. But I also like songs – not just meandering noise for no other reasons than shock value. "Sister Ray" is known for it's excessive use of feedback and noise (and some deem it almost unlistenable) but it is still a song. It pushes the limits of what could be called music for sure – distortion pedals pushed to the max, and John Cale on organ. And the lyrics are even darker and subversive for 1968.
Says Lou Reed about the song: "Sister Ray' was done as a joke—no, not as a joke—but it has eight characters in it and this guy gets killed and nobody does anything. It was built around this story that I wrote about this scene of total debauchery and decay. I like to think of 'Sister Ray' as a transvestite dealer. The situation is a bunch of drag taking some sailors home with them, shooting up on smack and having this orgy when the police appear."
Even at its most extreme music is supposed to elicit an emotion out of the listener. I'm not sure what a person benefits from listening to Metal Machine Music other than to write to Lou Reed and ask for some time of life back. And now he's planning on rereleasing this thing?


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The Jatiwangi Art Factory (JAF) is an arts foundation and traditional roof tile factory. Jatisura is located on the cusp of Northwest and Central Java, and the area is known for its roof tile factories. During my first residency at the Jatiwangi Arts Festival in 2006, I worked full-day shifts at a traditional and modern roof tile factory. The work in the traditional factory was physically strenuous, but the energy of the workers and excitement of having a "foreigner" work alongside them was exhilarating. In the modern roof tile factory, the sounds were loud and the machines never stopped, forcing workers to take turns for a quick lunch rather than break together.
Inspired by the hard work of people in the community, my second project at JAF a year later narrowed in on the hands of people in the area. Over the course of one week, I created a short video documentary that showed various Jatisura residents working with their hands. On the final night of my residency, the screening was projected on the inside wall of the JAF roof tile factory. Musicians from the JAF community played instruments made from roof tile clay, and at the end of the screening the audience was invited to dip their hands in wet clay, and leave their mark on the wall of the video screen.
For more information about the Jatiwangi Art Factory, visit https://jatiwangiartfactory.tumblr.com


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Here is the VirtuaMart template that is for e-commerce: Henry Shop Template. This template will be an ideal choice if you would like to introduce your shop to everyone. Henry Shop is a Responsive Joomla Template which helps you create a professional online shop in a intuition way.
With using Plazart Framework, your template will display perfectly across all devices and screen sizes Especially, Henry Shop also uses Virtuemart component which help you freely show all your products in clean way.
Awwwards Certificate
Key Features
Need supports?
* Support Forum
When being our member, you have access to our forum where you can post your problem and get support to solve it.
* Support Desk System
It includes two supporting systems: the Ticket system, by submitting a ticket about your problem to us, member will receive answer to the problem. It is also fast and easy to check whether your problem has been solved and how it is fixed. The second worth-mentioning supporting system is FAQ includes a lot of useful information to be found.
It is also possible to e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com in order to ask them for help.
Update VersionVersion 2.2
Support VirtueMart with Joomla 3.x. Update Joomla version 3.4.3. Update TZ Portfolio 3.3.2. Update Plazart 4.5. Fix Create module mod_tz_hikashop.
Version 2.1: http://www.templaza.com/item/henry-v2-1-virtuemart-hikashop-joomla-template-was-released/498.html


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Given that her status as Mrs. Brian Grazer makes her the well-known "and a guest" on invitations, Gigi Levangie Grazer created an understandable stir in certain circles with her novel about a discarded, rail-thin Hollywood wife. But as stitched together into a six-hour USA miniseries, the whole exercise feels like a nonstarter. The two-hour premiere (to be followed by four weekly installments) is neither trashy enough to qualify as a Jackie Collins-type guilty pleasure nor hip enough to break ground sifting through Hollywood's dirty, overpriced lingerie. Essentially, it's "Desperate Housewives" with "Entourage"-style namedropping, and not nearly as compelling as either.
The limited series' problems are partially not of its making, coming as it does on the tail end of a showbiz-themed parade on cable, from "Fat Actress" to "The Comeback." As such, the broader, more relatable thread involves a pampered, privileged wife having her idyllic existence upended, prompting the hangers-on and half-friends in her husband's career orbit to quickly abandon her.
Outwardly, Molly (Debra Messing) has it all: a lovely daughter, beautiful home and studio-mogul husband, Kenny (a hyperkinetic Peter Jacobson, blending "Entourage's" Ari Gold with Tim Robbins in "The Player"). She boasts about putting in 16-hour days to keep the family machinery running and, in the project's best image, can be seen dropping off her kid at an exclusive private school where black SUVs line up like a presidential motorcade.
In a flash, though, Kenny announces his intent to break up with her and takes up with a twentysomething pop diva. Molly's friend Cricket (Miranda Otto), under pressure from her husband, chooses Kenny's side, while boozy buddy Joan (Judy Davis, caricaturing her Judy Garland portrayal) absconds for a month in rehab.
So Molly heads for the beach, where she discovers that first-rate tables are no longer assured. Fortunately, her options in terms of men are slightly better, if decidedly polarized: another studio honcho, Lou (Joe Mantegna), disenchanted by the town's slimy facade; or a handsome beachcomber named Sam (Stephen Moyer), whose motives remain suspect.
Clearly, "Starter Wife" wants to project a tantalizing behind-the-ivied-gates allure, dropping the names Spielberg and Bruckheimer and dialogue like "Meg Ryan poached your nanny?"
Too bad the script by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott, as directed by Jon Avnet, telegraphs most of the plot beats well in advance and doesn't create an especially sympathetic protagonist in Molly. Even befriending the struggling gate guard at the Malibu Colony (Anika Noni Rose, fresh off "Dreamgirls") doesn't do much to humanize her.
There are, admittedly, a few savvy observations here, such as Lou describing himself as "the asshole who gets to crush them with a single no." For the most part, though, "Starter Wife's" insights are as enduring as a sprayed-on tan and authentic as the Australian locales subbed in for Southern California.
It's also puzzling, frankly, how this big bet fits USA's branded "characters welcome" profile. If that designation applies to cardboard cutouts the audience is unlikely to care about much, then, mission accomplished; otherwise, this beach excursion with the rich and beautiful feels tailored more to suits in a pitch meeting than the wider world that may yearn to sneak an illicit peek into their fabulous, frustrated lives.


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Monday, May 30, 2016
"East of West: The Promise" is a well illustrated, humorless pretentiousness to the max
Nick Dragotta is a talented comic book artist. His imagery in the first TP of East of West: The Promise comic book series is fascinating indeed. More than just an illustrator, the man creates quite a visionary world that can even be described as a gloomy, futuristic past. The Wild West that is the setting for this unusual tale about the Four Horsemen of the apocalypse, is a most peculiar place. Here one will find various politicians, assassins, and several weird looking characters who may or may not be Bible's own creations. The juxtaposition of such villains and anti-villains creates quite a sight for the mind that's been starved of iconic imagery of late.
The writing, however, is altogether another matter. Jonathan Hickman's characters speak in a manner that is rather dull and old-fashioned, and in this particular case it isn't a benefit to the story. The dialogue, which is not only confusing and full of enigmatic phrases that will leave many scratching their heads, is also surprisingly humorless. When Death, all high up on his giant black beetle (or whatever it actually is) that he rides all over, says, "I see nothin' but air... and dead men soon not needin' to breathe it", my reaction was simply, "Really?". Even any attempt at comedy or an injection of wit falls flat on its face, leaving us with a series of beautiful images that add up to a story that is all exercise, without even being an experience.
East of West has many characters, perhaps a too many, and judging from this first issue, none are very interesting as people or characters on a page. They have way too much to say and do, and clearly suffer from an overwritten story that is jamming way too much pretentiousness in a 125 page space. Will I eventually move on to the second TP of this series, in order to find out if Death and the other Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse will eventually put their differences aside and re-join forces, and if Mao Xiaolian and Death will regain their long lost child, and their love? Based on the effect this first issue had on me, I'd say it's very unlikely.
Posted by acestroke at 9:44 AM No comments:
Sunday, May 29, 2016
"We Stand on Guard" divides North America among itself, and its giant robots resemble Pacific Rim's Jaegers
Just like most contemporary sci-fi stories that incorporate war and violence, We Stand on Guard is essentially a tale of a family that's torn apart, and the young brother and sister who are forced to survive after their parents are murdered when US invades Canada. Little Tommy and Amber become orphans in their native Ottawa, in the year 2112, and as they grow up into Canadian rebels and eventually freedom fighters (at least Amber does; Tommy ends up in a US POW camp), they evolve into less-than-compassionate killers of their enemy. When Amber, pressured into shooting an American operator of a giant drone robot after the latter kills a Canadian freedom fighter, pulls the trigger without a second thought, we know we're dealing with a new kind of (anti)hero: one without a cold nerve, nor an ounce of remorse on her conscience.
Writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Steve Skroce create a cold (literally and figuratively) world in which a very thin line separates the good guys from the bad (is the opposing interrogator woman, whom they call The American, really all that villainous and heartless in comparison with the Canadian rebels?). Vaughan also gives us archetypal battle-ready characters, the members of the so-called The Two-Four, who seem to have walked in right out of a James Cameron sci-fi action movie. There's Vic, the Chief, an all-black wearing female leader, who appears to be quite a fearless badass; Les Lepage is the former comedic actor, who mostly speaks in French, and whose cynicism and wit is sprinkled throughout the action and destruction; Dunn, the large, scarred and mean-looking man, with an artificial right arm, who has a general appearance of a lumberjack; and Highway, a former geologist who perhaps possesses more compassion than his fellow freedom fighters, among others. These characters are distinctly imagined, and for the most part, come across convincingly.
Skroce's artwork is quite marvelous. His graphic design of every frame, page and even scene is visually impressive and at once commanding of the reader's attention. The coloring, by Matt Hollingsworth, is equally impressive, and it complements Skroce's design fittingly. Vaughan has created another original comic, brutal and uncompromising, but still possessing that human element which many will able to relate to. Amber's ultimate sacrifice isn't for naught, for she has saved her country from further US occupation, and has also reunited with her family somewhere in the afterlife. Perhaps that was the main reason why she was in a such a hurry to die for her homeland after all.
Posted by acestroke at 9:33 AM No comments:
Friday, May 27, 2016
"Locke & Key: Clockworks" takes us back in time and shatters expectations once again
So we've finally gotten answers to some of the most sought-after questions when it comes to the Locke & Key mythology. Where did the various keys of Keyhouse come from? Who created them? And when? In the opening chapter of Locke & Key: Clockworks, Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez takes us a few centuries back in time, all the way to the Revolutionary War, and they reveal the curse of the Keyhouse in the most graphic, engrossing way. The result is an exciting and most mind-numbing chapter of this story yet.
Using the newly discovered Timeshift Key, Tyler and Kinsey take a trip back through history, and learn about how the Keys were forged, when their great-great-great... uncle Benjamin Locke used a leftover whispering-iron, a product from beyond the Black door, to melt and create the Omega Key, among others. They also went back to the late 1980s and witnessed their father, Rendell, who was attending the Lovecraft Academy as a high school senior at the time, put on a magnificent play with his friends, the so-called Keepers of the Keys (or the Tamers of the Tempest, depending on whom you ask) - consisting of Rendell, Luke Caravaggio, Erin Voss, Kim Topher, Ellie Whedon and Mark Cho - all agreed to extract a piece of whispering-iron from the Black door for themselves.
Needless to say, things went awry, and Luke's soul was possessed by a demon from beyond, a tragedy that left Kim and Mark murdered, Erin without her wits, and the demonic Luke as a woman (thanks to the Gender key). This section of the story was written by Hill and illustrated by Rodriguez with such originality and gorgeous detail that one couldn't help but hold their breath throughout. No, seriously! In fact, I'm still recovering from it as I type this.
Clockworks' conclusion sets us up for the ultimate climax in the series finale, Omega. But regardless of what happens in the end, who survives, and who doesn't make it, Locke & Key has cemented its legacy with this, the most incredible and best chapter yet. I only wish that I could use the Head Key to erase it from my memory completely, revert to the Timeshift key in order to go back a few hours, and experience it all over again, for the very first time.
Posted by acestroke at 2:36 PM No comments:
"Hellboy: Seed of Destruction" is a pulpy trip to Mignola's red-devil underworld
Mike Mignola's Hellboy comic has, to me, always appeared to be a rather pulpy entertainment with more style than substance, at least from afar. Having (unfortunately) seen the Guillermo Del Toro's movie adaptations before I even glanced at a single page of the comic, I'm now forced to work backwards, and read the original material after the films have already made a nice impression on me. And so it was that I just finished reading Seed of Destruction only yesterday, some twenty plus years after it first hit the comic book shelves the world over. Needless to say, I had a mixed reaction to it.
Seed of Destruction is structured plotwise, more or less, the way the original 2004 Hellboy movie was. Nazis attempt to open the gate to hell way back in 1940s, and a small, devilishly red looking creature accidentally sneaks out, and is adopted by the good guys who are trying to foil the Nazis' plans. As Professor Trevor Bruttenholm raises Hellboy as one of his own, the latter becomes an agent of the BPRD, and some 50 years after arriving on Earth, he once again has to face the evil Rasputin, the villain who's still attempting to summon the forces from the dark underworld into our own. What exactly these evil demons mean to do on Earth after they enslave or destroy humanity, no one, I'm sure, can say (not even Rasputin).
If I have one problem with this first issue, it's that Mignola's artwork doesn't quite communicate the story that him and John Byrne have written. Artwork and script don't quite mesh, as if they are completely different entities, and out of sync with one another. The story itself is not very imaginative, nor original, and I ended up being more confused the more I read, as if the additional information from pages ahead only made everything I had read up to that point more unclear (Who the hell is Ogdru Jahad? And why is everyone always talking about waking up the demons from darkness, as if there's any benefit to anyone, even to the villains, from such an endeavor?).
Hellboy is surely a charismatic and likable character. His use of humor and innuendo is refreshing and entertaining, and I'm sure that with a story to match his charm, this edition could actually end up being quite good. Seed of Destruction is a mediocre start to this iconic comic book series, and left a lot to be desired, if I'm being honest. Here's hoping that the next issue will at least leave me looking forward to the next episode, because as it is, I'll need some serious motivation to keep reading.
Posted by acestroke at 9:36 AM No comments:
Thursday, May 26, 2016
"The Brothers Grimsby" shows Sacha Baron Cohen doing his best (worst?) Tom Green impersonation
Raunchy, perverted and definitely filthy. Like Tom Green on acid, Sacha Baron Cohen here pushes the limits of good (or plain bad?) taste to the absolute limits, much more so than Freddy Got Fingered actor/director ever did way back in 2001. You don't believe it? Than watch this movie, and witness his character suck his own brother's nut-sack (in order to extract a lethal venom out of it), insert a rocket-missile into his own anus, and even get ejaculated on by a male elephant, all the while hiding inside of a female elephant's vagina. Yes, it's that kind of movie. Some of Baron Cohen's punchlines aren't actually bad, but he's completely missing the build-up to any joke, so the effect is eventually lost. If he only possessed the talent to work his way up to the shocking climax, instead of merely jumping straight to it, he might once again regain the humor of Borat and Bruno. Since those movies, his work has been less than sophomoric (The Dictator, anyone?). In a way, this movie is "so bad, it's good!" (but really, it's just bad) Sigh.
Posted by acestroke at 3:50 PM No comments:
"In Captivity" sheds new light on Sweet Tooth world mythology
The first volume, Out of the Deep Woods, introduced us to Gus, a hybrid of a young boy and a deer, and the post apocalyptic world he's grown up in. We also met Tommy Jepperd, a tough guy, former hockey player, who "helped" Gus out of his home in the woods and brought him to a mysterious laboratory before betraying him. Now, in Volume 2, In Captivity, writer and artist Jeff Lemire uncovers certain mysteries that have intrigued us during the opening arc of Sweet Tooth.
Jepperd's late wife, Louise, who passed while giving birth to their child, was his only motivation in life, and after finally giving her a proper burial, he's run out of reasons to live. Succumbing to alcohol, depression and some meaningless violence, he seems to be at wit's end. Meanwhile, back at the lab station, Gus is being studied by scientists who are trying to uncover the meaning behind the disease that wiped out most of the world's population. It seems that Gus wasn't born from a woman, as the absence of a belly button would suggest. Is he perhaps the reason the world has fallen apart? How did he come to be? Was he artificially created by his strange "father", or is he a second coming, of sorts?
Lemire keeps the tension and suspense at a high level throughout In Captivity, as some questions are answered, but others are wisely raised and left open to interpretation. The cruelty of common man once again shows its ugly self; Gus is treated like an animal, and just may be butchered for the sake of "science"; Jepperd is beaten to a bloody pulp, and no one in the vicinity blinks an eye. The world of Sweet Tooth is a cruel one. Man has turned into animal, and if Gus is any evidence, vice-versa seems to be true as well. Regardless, Lemire keeps the story elevating to new heights, and as long as he does, I'll be picking up the next issue.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
"Criminal: Coward" is a classic noir tale with shady characters and overwhelming sense of doom
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' comic book serial, Criminal, is dark all around. There are no good guys, only fallen heroes and femme fatales who will drag the "hero" down an even darker path. Each issue is like an episode of a classic 1940s film noir featuring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, their fates already sealed well before they've been tempted by the devil.
In Criminal: Coward, Leo Patterson, a lifelong crook whose skill lies in being able to get away from any sticky situation, gets involved in a complicated heist after being talked into it by an old 'friend' and a crooked cop. After the so-called robbery goes awry, bodies begin to pile up, police are quickly involved, and gangsters come looking for the loot that was originally theirs. Involved also is Greta, Leo's old friend, and a needy mother to her young daughter; Ivan, the old man with a heroin addiction that Leo takes care of; and Roy L.T., a terrifying gangster who has a stake in Leo and Greta's abduction of a briefcase of heroin, the "loot" they stole from an armored police car in hope it was packed with diamonds and stones instead.
Brubaker creates a shady world where no one can be trusted, where police are just as crooked and dangerous as mobsters, and where ruthless murders are as common as cigarettes that are barely hanging on the mouths of every antagonist and protagonist alike. The artwork by Phillips is also just as dark - literally and figuratively - and that style remains consistent throughout. Reading Coward, we get the impression that the story takes place in some Earthly form of hell, where evil is the omnipresent and only force these characters know. By the time we get to the dreary third act, we realize there is no other way this tale could've possibly ended. The protagonist ends up reaping what he sows, as he well should have.
Judged as a simple noir story, Coward is more or less standard of the genre, not offering anything new, but also not disappointing. However, if viewed as a comic, it has plenty of style and more than enough fresh and quotable lines that can stay with the reader well after they've turned the last page. Leo may not be a coward after all, but he sure is one memorable criminal.
Posted by acestroke at 10:14 AM No comments:
Friday, May 20, 2016
"Sweet Tooth: Out of the Deep Woods" is a creepy look at the post-apocalyptic world of hybrid human suffering
Jeff Lemire is a unique comic book artist. Excuse me, I meant writer. Ahem, actually he is both; in a word, the man is an auteur. Just like some of the great comic book creators that preceded him (Terry Moore, Hugo Pratt, etc), the man both writes and illustrates his comics. That is a unique feat, and a talent worth noting.
His post apocalyptic series, Sweet Tooth, is some sort of a hybrid story (much like its lead) of an old world gone by and the new one yet to come. The characters who inhabit it, like the people in similarly themed movies such as The Road, The Survivalist and the long running series The Walking Dead, are themselves the future species of the extinct, mere ghosts walking around the creation that has long ago given up on them and any other living thing. There is no society anymore, only scavengers and ruthless humans looking to destroy anyone and everything they come across for their own personal gain. The hero at the story's center, Gus, a.k.a. Sweet Tooth, is a naive hybrid of a deer and a human nine-year old boy, and following his father's death, he ventures out of the deep woods where he was raised, much against the advice of his late dad.
Sweet Tooth: Out of the Deep Woods is an effective intro to this comic book series, which some have already described as "Bambi meets Mad Max". Lemire does a nice job of immediately hooking us into his tale, as there is very little text, since his characters don't talk very much. Lemire the writer, at least so far, seems to be more of a talent than Lemire the artist, but that's is no knock against the man, simply an observation that his artistic style is rather simple, but still clear and easy to follow. When Jeppard, the mysterious hunter/assassin who rescues Gus from a couple of no-good hunters early on, ultimately betrays him and turns him to some strange men at a peculiar experimental station, we are left to stare at the heartbroken eyes of Gus, an innocent living in a world of sin and anarchy, who just can't catch a break. Lemire captures this moment rather well, and at the end of this first volume, definitely leaves us wanting more.
Sweet Tooth may not be the most fascinating comic out there, nor does it feature some of the best artwork available, but what it lacks in its graphic design, it more than makes up in creepiness and sheer unpredictability. I have no idea what will happen to Gus next, and I can't wait to find out. I suppose one could say I'm in my early stage of developing a Sweet Tooth for Sweet Tooth.
Posted by acestroke at 11:06 AM No comments:
Thursday, May 19, 2016
"Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom" exposes Caravaggio, introduces Face Key and continues to blow our minds
Is there any other comic book writer-artist duets out there who've reached the heights that Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have in their Locke & Key franchise? Ok, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples have done wonders with their Saga epic so far, and I'd have to be lying if I said that Italy's Guido Nolitta and Gallieno Ferri didn't form one of the all-time great writer-artist teams in the history of comic books on their famous superhero Western serial, Zagor. But Hill and Rodriguez are taking the art form to a whole new level: it's as if each was born (for the most part) in order to complement the vision of the other.
In the fourth volume of their horror story, Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom, the aforementioned duo continue in their telling of the Locke family story, and the conniving Zack Wells (Dodge, or Luke Caravaggio by birth) who will stop at nothing in his deception to find the enigmatic Omega Key. We witness Tyler Locke get his heart broken by the sexy yet unreliable Jordan Gates; Kinsey nearly discovers the truth about the keys and her family history from an old woman, Erin Voss, but Dodge unfortunately gets there first and uses the Head Key to erase any memory she may have had; and young Bode uses the Animal Key to turn into a Sparrow and save his older siblings from a pack of wild animals, who were led by Dodge (transformed here as a wolf, also using the Animal Key). Rufus Whedon is given a larger role in the story's mythology, and Hill turns him into a more essential character than may have first appeared; it would seem the "slow-witted" boy knows and understands a whole lot that is going on, and his method of communicating in some sort of toy-army-speak may just be a ploy on his part.
Rodriguez's artwork of the opening chapter, Sparrow, is handled quite exquisitely. He illustrates the scenes from a few different points of view: the third person viewpoint, which is the style we've grown accustomed to, and also a more basic, child-like drawing style, which clearly suggests Bode Locke's interpretation and viewpoint of the events in question. The juxtaposition and juggling of two such contrasting styles within the same section - or even on the same page - is quite marvelous for the eyes and imagination of a fan of this series, which seems to be re-inventing itself as it continues to amaze us in all the right ways. Keys to the Kingdom kills off some main characters, introduces new twists and turns in this ever-engrossing storyline, and keeps our heartbeat at the absolute maximum throughout. Because, to be honest, anything less than perfection would be a letdown at this point.
Posted by acestroke at 9:37 PM No comments:
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
"Long John Silver: Neptune" strips the honor of piracy and stoops to deception, violence & mutiny of common men
Long John Silver's second volume, Neptune, really hits home when it comes to portraying the conditions of living on a ship on the high seas, full of pirates, treacherous criminals and a lack of order in general. The (in)famous captain of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island decides to take matters into his own hands, and betray not only Lady Vivian Hastings, but also the current captain of Neptune ship in starting a mutiny, during which Long John Silver cuts off the captain's arm before throwing him overboard into the wild and stormy sea. It is an ominous scene, executed during the darkest night, on a ship that is slowly losing its soul, and heading into the unknown with perhaps even more doubt than ever before.
Artist Mathieu Lauffray surpasses his own work from the first volume, and in this issue his frames and pages are alive with the wildness of a rather angry ocean and the bluest of all nights, leaving the reader with an impression of classical, 18th century paintings. Without exaggerating, I can honestly say this is one of the most impressively illustrated graphic novels I've ever come across. The Neptune ship in this volume appears to be a vessel from hell, carrying an array of lost souls back into the underworld where they belong, with newly crowned captain LJS playing the role of Lucifer himself. The fact that he lets a young man (Jack) receive a fatal whipping due to a "crime" he didn't even commit (Lady Hastings' servant girl, Elsie, was murdered by Silver's scoundrels when she discovered information detrimental to his position) only further solidifies that he no longer has a soul, if he ever had one to begin with.
The writing by both Lauffray and Xavier Dorison is sharp and honest, never giving us too much unnecessary chit-chat, but only the essential information that their characters need to share externally. More than just a rousing tale of pirates looking for long-lost legendary treasures that the first volume of this series promised us, Neptune dives deeper into the mythology of easily corrupted pirates and the true evil that lies deep within hearts of those whose primary objective in life is greed. It is a dark tale, to be sure, but also an adventure whose conclusion I wouldn't miss for anything in the world. I can't wait for The Emerald Maze.
Posted by acestroke at 9:21 AM No comments:
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
In "Under the Sign of Capricorn", Corto Maltese embarks on an adventure in Latin Americas...
"... A leader who leaves his people without a plan and lets himself
be captured like a child in order to solve what was a personal
matter doesn't seem very competent to me."
As celebrated and beloved worldwide that Hugo Pratt may have been - and still is - his writing and the dialogue of his characters surely sounds unique and unusual to an English speaking ear. I'm not sure how much of his sarcasm and irony gets lost in translation, but it's easy to notice how some of the words and sentences spoken by his protagonists and antagonists come of as too literary, or even too illiterate, if you catch my drift. Perhaps his works read really well and come off as liquid smooth when read in Italian or French, but in English they still sound as too cynical and unnatural, as if those who translated his original words into English didn't quite know how to do it properly. However one may look at it, his Corto Maltese series is a wonder to behold, whether the reader loves him, merely admires him, or despises the cynicism of the world-famous earring and side-burn wearing free spirited Captain of the world's oceans.
In Under the Sign of Capricorn (Euro Comics IDW Publishing, 138 pgs), Corto finds himself in the Dutch Giana, San Salvador de Bahia, Maracatoqua, and a few other islands and beach-front villages, where he helps young Tristan Bantam, a British boy, search for his half-sister Morgana. Accompanied by Professor Jeremiah Steiner, a well-known drunk, Maltese will sail various parts of Atlantic Ocean in search of possible treasures of decades and centuries past. He will also help his newly discovered friends look for the lost continent of Mu, a mythical place that was researched and studied by young Tristan's deceased father, Ronald Bantam. Along the way they will encounter sailors from the German navy, Cangaceiro rebels, and even an old acquaintance, Captain Rasputin, who has a unique "I-love-you, I'll-kill-you" kind of relationship with Corto. An arch-enemy of the highest order, Rasputin is Maltese's eternal foe who will keep popping up in this serial not because his presence will threaten our hero fatally, but because Pratt's created him to be a complete antithesis of our protagonist, a person representing all the vices that our hero possesses, but to a more dangerous extreme.
"... I don't know how they did it, but they got me involved in
a game that until last night I was completely indifferent to..."
A fascinating aspect of Corto Maltese is his interaction with female characters to whom he has an attraction. In the final act of Under the Sign of Capricorn, Corto finds himself on a small island, stranded among the rocks with his memory having abandoned him, while a mysterious foe shoots at him from a distance. With no clue as to who he is and how he got there, he is eventually discovered by a young and lovely woman with golden hair, Soledad Lokäarth, who comes from a family of Evangelists. She reminds Corto of Pandora Groovesnore, the young lady who shot him in his previous adventure, The Ballad of the Salt Sea. Just like Pandora before her, Soledad also shoots Corto (what's with this guy getting shot by every woman he shows interest in?), albeit accidentally, and after nursing him back to health and helping him recover, she finds herself having to bid him adieu. Charmed and clearly smitten with her innocent, naive beauty, Corto tells her, "... Soledad... you must leave now... it's not easy to say goodbye to you...".
Unlike some phrases and expressions, which, at least to me, appear to have been lost in translation from Pratt's original language, this one, I imagine, sounds exactly as its author intended it to. I suppose it is just as they say: love has only one spoken tongue, which is understood by all universally. Or perhaps the author's language, irrelevant of translation, is simply starting to grow on me. Just as Corto Maltese's adventures.
"... but dreams remain dreams, Steiner, and you are one
who dreams too much. Let's go drink our beers and thumb our noses
at those who would do us harm."
Posted by acestroke at 3:54 PM No comments:
Monday, May 16, 2016
Kirkman's "Outcast" is a good follow-up to his long running Zombie serial
When I think of Outcast, what comes to mind initially is The Exorcist, that terrifying movie from the early 1970s about a young girl possessed by the devil. I am also reminded of Bill Paxton's 2002 movie Frailty, although to a smaller extent. Whatever this comic book series was influenced and inspired by, the result it has on its reader should be one and the same: a drama about one man's past experiences and struggles against a supernatural evil in a world that is very much like our own. Add to the equation the obligatory priest who helps the protagonist in his quest to defeat the evil spirit that's clouding the minds and hearts of particular citizens in the small West Virginia town, and what we have is a horror tale that is a classic throwback to the countless exorcism movies that have preceded it.
Outcast: A Darkness Surrounds Him introduces us to Kyle Barnes, an everyman still tormented by ghosts from his past, in which his mother was possessed by an evil force that resulted in her death. He's also traumatized by a recent separation from his wife and child due to an incident in which his daughter being possessed by a similar ominous spirit caused Kyle to nearly beat the young girl to death. So now he spends his days in solitude and isolation, visited only by his sister Megan. With the help of a wise and good-natured priest, Reverend Anderson, Kyle will try to use his special gift (his blood apparently has the ability to burn those who have been possessed) for the good of mankind.
Robert Kirkman does a great job of presenting us with a convincing brother-sister relationship that is free of cliches or otherwise redundant scenes. Megan comes across as a real person who is authentically worried about her brother's secluded existence, and who truly wants him to come out of his shell and get past his recent personal struggles. The story in general is engaging and tense, and I can only hope that it doesn't end up dragging the way Kirkman's The Walking Dead has for the past decade or so, clearly past its prime, having jumped-the-shark years ago.
The artwork by Paul Azaceta is very simple, yet effective. His style is convincing in portraying the appropriate emotions that his characters are going through, showing the ability of being able to draw inner turmoil, shocking surprise, and even terrifying fear on the faces of Outcast's characters. His illustrations are never a distraction, only an asset, to this tale that doesn't necessarily excel at any particular element, but stays consistent and fairly engrossing in its writing and artwork. It is certainly a comic worth checking out, and a tale that I doubt will bore anyone. In an ocean of numerous other mediocre comics in contemporary America, Outcast does not disappoint.
Posted by acestroke at 1:05 PM No comments:
Saturday, May 14, 2016
"Rat Queens: Sass and Sorcery" looks great, but sounds stale
It's about time someone put out a comic with a fantasy theme, and with not one, but four heroines at its center. Rat Queens Volume 1: Sass and Sorcery is an imaginative and visual treat for the eyes. However, the effect it has on the ears and the brain is another one altogether.
The four leads here are a curious bunch: small, elf-looking Betty, who's all about getting high and tripping on mushrooms; Violet is the hipster who apparently used to have a beard, but no longer does; Dee apparently comes from a family of monster cultists, and finally there is Hannah, who is an elven mage sporting a rocking attitude and image. These so called Rat Queens fight giant orcs, battle mysterious and unknown assassins who're trying to kill them, and do a fair amount of cursing and partying. All in a day's work for rebellious and sassy undersexed warrior women.
Writer Kurtis J. Wiebe and artist Roc Upchurch's fantasy epic is perfectly illustrated and impressively stunning on most pages. The supporting characters, as well as the four heroines, are presented with great attention to detail, as each frame vibrates with life and action. However, the writing is less than impressive. The plot of this first TP is confusing and unclear, and the characters do way too much talking for a genre that is supposed to feature sorcery and dragons and all things fantastical. The leads appear to be interesting girls/women, but they don't really have a story worth following, nor a quest of any sort that is appealing. By the time I reached the last page, my only reaction was, "Is that it?"
From a graphic perspective, this serial is similar to Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples's sci-fi opera, Saga. The characters in both universes appear to be human, but are instead hybrids of human and animal, giving them a look of modern centurions, at least above the waist. The major difference between Saga and Rat Queens, though, is that he former pulls you in and engages you with the characters and their plight, whereas with Rat Queens, you're flipping past page 100 and still looking for a reason to keep on reading. I, unfortunately, could not find one. My engagement with this serial will apparently end sooner than expected. But hey, don't blame me: I'm not the one who's supposed to have sorcery on my side.
Posted by acestroke at 8:25 AM No comments:
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Warren Ellis' "FreakAngles: Volume 1" is slow paced, meticulous and a bit pretentious
FreakAngels, Volume 1, is a unique comic in more ways than one. For one, its arrangement of frames (or panels) is very traditional, and as such, it resembles a European comic that possess the standard layout of four or six (or any even number) of equal sized frames per page. The story - if one can even call it a story in the traditional sense of the word - is slow moving, deliberate, and perhaps a bit too much character driven. The writer Warren Ellis and artist Paul Duffield are certainly treading new waters when it comes to introducing their characters into the American comic book landscape.
The story focuses on several of the twelve children, the so-called Freak Angels, who possess special psychic powers, and who were all born on the same day some 23 years ago. When they were all 17, the world apparently ended. They spend their time in an abandoned and half-flooded London, resembling a ghost town the way it did in the movie 27 Weeks Later. Some are homeless bums (Luke), some spend their times guard-watching on roof tops (Kirk), while others are too busy participating in some (surprisingly unsexy) orgies (Sirkka), no name just a few of them. They walk around, make small chit chat, bring new vigilante members into their group, and communicate to each other telepathically. In short, none them are doing anything worth noting nor following, because for the most part, this first volume of FreakAngles is very light on plot. There's no clear villain or antagonist, nor any internal conflict worth mentioning. I'm not quite sure, after reading nearly 150 pages of it, what this serial is actually about, or at the very least, if it's heading anywhere worth looking forward to.
The creator of FreakAngels, Ellis, has said several years ago, "I've written over 200 pages, and I've no idea what it's about..." These are definitely not encouraging words, to be sure, as the readers will have even less idea what they're reading. FreakAngels looks relatively good, because Duffield does an exemplary job of drawing the characters distinctly, and not making the common mistake of having them all look alike (something most serials suffer from). So the blame here clearly doesn't fall on Duffield, but on Ellis. His FreakAngles are unimaginative, slow, and worst of all, quite boring. And with no direction at all, it's a miracle that they've managed to run long enough to publish six volumes. Some things, I suppose, are beyond comprehension.
Posted by acestroke at 12:59 PM No comments:
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
"Captain America: Civil War" is Marvel's latest Superhero explosion, even better than "The Avengers"
An Avengers Lite, if you will. Captain America continues to enjoy high quality writing in Hollywood, possibly more so than any other hero of the Marvel Comics universe. This movie delivers plenty of action, explosions, betrayals and deception to make its nearly two and a half hour running time worthwhile. The conflict at the center, between Iron Man and Captain himself, is well handled, and executed with conviction, and the battle scenes are definitely exciting.
However, there's still plenty that's less than believable, even though it takes places in a world where suspension of disbelief should be in full effect (how does a man free-fall from high up in the sky, hits the ground flat, and survive? Not even Marvel can make this kind of preposterousness fly). Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans do a terrific job at conveying the inner turmoil that their characters are going through, and as such, they resemble two Shakespearean tragic (anti)heroes, albeit with bigger muscles and better gadgets. Another interesting factor is the introduction of the new Spider Man (the young Tom Holland) from a yet another upcoming re-boot; this kid is charming and much younger than the predecessors who played him, and should make a very effective Peter Parker and his alter ego.
All in all, this barrage of superheroes and superheroines will, of course, spawn even more sequels and spinoffs, until the franchise branches out and the Marvel Comics start publishing episodes based on the movies, instead of the other way around. Art imitating Hollywood, and the other way around. Circle of life at its most "super".
Posted by acestroke at 10:18 AM No comments:
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
"Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows" lets Rodriguez's art shine & take over
The shadows in Joe Hill's and Gabriel Rodriguez's third part of the Locke & Key saga are large and in charge. They resemble boogey men and demons from our worst nightmares: one looks like an evil ice queen, another like a Roman centurion gone completely villainous, and yet others resembles large, giant wolves in drag. As the wicked Dodge continues to deceive the Locke children, all the while still searching for the Key to the Black Door, he comes across the Shadow Key, which allows him access to the Crown of Shadows. This ornament possesses the ability to grant its owner the power to wake and command the shadows of the underworld to their liking. Needless to say, Dodge leaves no stone unturned.
In Crown of Shadows, the story we've grown to love and be amazed by keeps delivering more surprises, all the while continuing to challenge our imagination and our sense of awe. Dodge tries to negotiate with Sam Lesser in the dead zone, which is accessible by the Ghost Key, but their disagreement only leads to Sam suffering more harm. Meanwhile, the Locke children branch out a bit. Kinsey, led by Scot Kavanaugh, ventures into the cave under the Keyhouse to discover her father's name etched in stone, along with some other names, from the year 1988 (there's also a corpse of a woman lying way below the water's surface, but her origin remains a mystery up to this point). The Locke girl also experiences a first ever French kiss, with Scot's close dreadlocked friend, Jamal. Tyler, meanwhile, watches his mother sink deeper into a new level of alcoholism, and Bode, along with his older brother, discovers the Giant Key. At the end, the eldest Locke child may have, after all, found the ultimate of all keys, albeit by sheer accident.
Hill continues to amaze us with his inventive ideas, further expanding the mythology of Keyhouse and its connection to the Keys. But the star in this third installment is clearly Rodriguez. His artwork carries this issue to levels that only few comic book artists could ever dream of, and in the fifth chapter, Light of Day, we finally see the magnitude and sheer visual power of Rodriguez's interpretation of Hill's words. There are several splash pages here, in which Tyler fights the evil shadows, illuminated by the bright blue moonlight of Eastern Massachusetts, that are master artworks in and of themselves. Each could easily be blown up to a full size painting, hung on a wall, and marvelously stand toe to toe with some of the best contemporary art.
It is a rare thing indeed for any comic book series to challenge its readers emotionally and spiritually, but that's exactly what Locke & Key continues to do. I can't think of any other American serial that's had a grip as strong as this on me. It's like a dream infused with elements of nightmare, but unlike most horrors I experience while asleep, this is one unconscious fantasy I never want to wake up from.
Posted by acestroke at 4:26 PM No comments:
Sally Field shines in the underrated "Hello My Name is Doris"
A very effective and unique comedy about an older woman (in her 60s?) who's got a crush on a much younger man, and who resorts to all kinds of tricks and deceptions to try to win him over. Sally Field can apparently still amaze; her character here is a strange woman indeed, and the way the actress portrays different kinds of emotion and expression in various situations really is marvelous to watch. Her Doris has apparently never known true love, or even mediocre love. She seems so alien to the dating scene that the very idea of romance is something so alien and new to her, as if she were 6 years old, and not ten times that age. Actor Max Greenfield holds his own as the object of Doris' desire. Their scenes together are actually quite charming and touching, and the very last scene (or shot, for that matter) is pure genius (do they? I mean, does he? Ahh, I guess we'll always wonder). We need more clever and insightful movie comedies like this one, because unlike most films of this genre, Hello, my name is Doris is about character rather than slapstick and cliches. Thank god for Doris and her cluelessness, for without her we'd continue to have idiots roam the cinematic landscape as heroines without any integrity.
Posted by acestroke at 9:15 AM No comments:
Monday, May 9, 2016
"Corto Maltese: The Ballad of the Salt Sea" is a fitting intro to Pratt's legendary graphic novel hero
Hugo Pratt's legendary comic book/graphic novel series hero, Corto Maltese, has always been the epitome of cool. The man has style, looks, intelligence and wit to spare. Hell, even the Marlboro Man would be envious of him. A world traveler and a high-seas adventurer, Maltese is 20th century's Marco Polo: a born sailor and a captain of various ships and boats in the South Pacific. If the tide of the world's oceans had a name, it would be called Corto Maltese, and fittingly so.
In his maiden adventure, The Ballad of the Salt Sea (Universe Publishing, 2012, 253 pgs), Pratt places his timeless hero in the Coral part of the Pacific Ocean, not far from New Guinea and Australia's northern coast. Found adrift in the open sea by Captain Rasputin and his pirates, Corto is taken aboard the vessel, where he meets two teenagers: Cain Groovesnore, a disagreeable and suspicious blonde-haired young man, and his cousin, Pandora Groovesnore, a beautiful and seductive young woman, whose intentions and mannerisms, at least at first, seem to fluctuate a great deal. Rasputin's intention is to bargain with the wealthy Groovesnore family and trade the children for big ransom money; Maltese, of course, wants to make sure that no harm comes to them, so he agrees to help Rasputin return them to safety in one piece.
Most of the story takes place on a small island called Escondida, where a mysterious figure in a hooded cloak - called The Monk - rules over the local natives. He is an enigmatic person, to be sure, and perhaps even has some ties to the two Groovesnore children. When he first lays his eyes on the lovely Pandora, he proceeds to throw a fit equivalent to a child who's been denied a lollipop in a candy store. Did he recognize someone from his past in the young woman, or was he simply overcome with uncontrollable lust due to her provocative features?
Hugo Pratt's artwork is good, but alas, it is not consistent, nor impressive if we compare it to today's comic illustrations the world over. I realize that being the writer AND an illustrator was probably a heavy burden to bear, but his Corto, although iconic in most contemporary images where he's smoking a cigarette while wearing a left earring, appears different from frame to frame. He's not the only one; most of the main characters appear contrary in some panels. Such a disparity among the same characters from moment to moment can be a nuisance, especially when so many of them already look similar to begin with.
I also have an issue with this edition's translation. For a series that is admired by millions the world over - and especially in Europe, where Corto Maltese has a cult following - this English version deserved a much better translation than what Hall Powell has given us (I won't even dwell on the fact that there are numerous errors of the grammatical and punctual kind, in addition to having the same word or words being repeated erroneously in the same frame). In many instances, characters say things in manner that isn't befitting for people speaking English: "...My father fought against him from the time he was a boy..." (it should read "since the time he was a boy"), or "You'll follow my orders to the letter!" (no one speaks like that in English; perhaps another phrase would've sufficed). It's as if Powell had focused on translating much of Pratt's original dialogue way too faithfully, and we all know that some, if not most of any language, can be lost when translated into another way too literally. The way the current translation stands, much of the dialogue sounds stale, wooden and even juvenile. Characters speak as if their mouths are stuffed with peanut butter, and the result is less than melodious for the human ear.
But despite all that, the bottom line is that The Ballad of the Salt Sea is a grand tale of sea faring pirates and criminals and soldiers and (anti)heroes in the South Pacific, and everyone who's a fan of such a genre will enjoy it. There's jealousy, treason, murder, kidnapping, a knife fight with an octopus - and a shark - and several more than subtle moments of sexual tension. The last encounter of parting between Maltese and Pandora is at once peculiar and heartbreaking: I wasn't sure if this was a goodbye between friends, or two lovers who've secretly enjoyed each other's intimacy for years. Pratt never suggests that there's something between them, but an intrigued and curious reader can still hope. This having been only Corto's first adventure, perhaps we will find out more about the tension between these two (lovers-to-be?) in the chapters to come.
Posted by acestroke at 4:45 PM No comments:
"Mustang" is bold, audacious and a revelation about young women's lives in Turkey
A very insightful movie about the way young girls and women are treated and dealt with when it comes to marriage in old fashioned, conservative countries. Not unlike most places in the Middle East, arranged marriages are very common in Turkey, and the five orphan girls who are the subjects of this coming of age - and coming-of-forced-marriage - drama are uniquely born in the wrong place, but at a time when rebellious and sexually promiscuous behavior constantly clash with the cultural norms of a strict Muslim society. Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven has made a very important film about an even more important issue facing all women in backwards countries that are still practicing outdated traditions of the past, but in today's changing and (somewhat) progressive world it creates conflict and drama like no other topic. The lives that young women especially are subjected to in these places are sad and depressing indeed, and some parts were difficult to watch, albeit necessary for the delivery of its gut wrenching theme. I don't think I'll ever want to watch this movie again; however, I will remember it for many years to come.
Posted by acestroke at 10:54 AM No comments:
Sunday, May 8, 2016
"The Night Manager" is the best le Carre TV/movie adaptation yet
I must admit, I've not been a fan of relatively recent movies based on John le Carre's novels. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and A Most Wanted Man were rather bland and overwrought, and left a lot to be desired. I'm not ashamed to admit that until I saw the new TV miniseries The Night Manager, I thought the man's works were overrated and not really adaptable for the screen. What the hell did I know.
The Night Manager, new miniseries (BBC and AMC) based on one of le Carre's novels from some thirty years ago, is good. No, seriously. It's really good. Exploring the secret mission of one Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), a British agent working undercover to bring down an international illegal arms smuggler Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie), the series is perfectly written, directed and acted all around. We are treated to some glorious locales around the globe - Egypt, Spain, England, Turkey, Switzerland, to name just a few - and the cast does an excellent job of emitting subtle details of their characters' relationships to one another. Ascene in a seafood restaurant between a frustrated Lance Corkoran (Tom Hollander) and an under-appreciated waiter is executed to near perfection; Hollander himself deserves an award for his bold performance, which is convincing to the max.
Director Susanne Bier, who admirably helmed every single episode, does a terrific job of keeping the tension and suspense at the highest level, from the opening moment to the final second. She captures le Carre's story and theme appropriately, and is just as much of a creator of the story's time and place as le Carre here (setting has been updated from the novel's 1980s to today). I don't know if there really are bad guys like Roper in our world, but it's hard to imagine there not being anyone who at least slightly resembles him. All I can do in that case is hope that a real-life Jonathan Pine is out there somewhere, endangering himself and risking everything to keep us and our neighbors safe.
Posted by acestroke at 8:17 PM No comments:
Friday, May 6, 2016
"10 Cloverfield Lane" is 80% bore, 20% excitement: all in all, mediocre
Misery meets War of the Worlds, kind of. The unfortunate thing is, there's too much of the former, and not enough of the latter. The movie has nice "bookends": the first 5 minutes, and the last 10 or so. However, it's the middle portion where it drags and becomes exhausting. John Goodman is not very convincing as the large, lonely bully who has plenty of skeletons in his closet, and whose attempt to impersonate a "savior" is obviously a charade. His tone is all over the place, and I didn't find much of his performance to be genuine at all; instead, it's labored and over the top. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the real deal, and it's just unfortunate she doesn't have a better script to go with her obviously superior acting. I never cared much for the 2008 movie Cloverfield that this film is clearly a spin-off of. I'm not sure that I'd honestly ever want to re-watch either one again. The trailer for this one was great, though. Too bad that the whole movie doesn't possess that kind of mysterious excitement.
"The Beauty" leaves impression of a FOX TV drama: bland and overstuffed
When I first saw the copies of the somewhat recent Image comic The Beauty on the stands, I was mesmerized by its cover of a woman who appears to be ill with some very ominous sickness. Who was she? Where did she come from? How did she come to appear this ... dead? All these questions when through my mind. But alas, I got answers to some of them - if not all - after having read the first Trade Paperback issue.
Featuring a pair of detectives who may or may not be secretly into each other, a la Scully and Mulder of X-Files fame, Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley's new enigmatic, sci-fi-meets-possible-apocalyptic-doom-in-form-of-a-deadly-disease comic does remind one of old TV shows from Fox network (Fringe, anyone?). Vaughn and Foster are investigating The Beauty, which is a sexually transmitted virus that gives its victims physical and cosmetic bliss, but also kills them by making their head combust internally, like a light bulb whose interior gases have expanded just a bit too much.
The artwork by Haun is clean and precise; his characters look more or less the same from page to page and from issue to issue, and that is not something that can be said of every work in the contemporary world of American comics. However, the script/story here is a bit flat: it's simply overwritten, featuring too many characters whose motivations and intentions remain unclear. I couldn't help but wonder if the appearance of a mysterious "villain", Mr. Calaveras, - who resembles Red Skull of Captain America universe - is simply there for show. Calaveras likes to slice and dice prostitutes he sleeps with, and also touch naked men as much as he pleases. Not only that, he has a bunch of goons who, when they get trigger happy, like to shoot up police who are on the verge of discovering a cure for The Beauty. All that aside, he really isn't very interesting at all. In other words, he's all style, no substance.
The Beauty reminds me a great deal of another Image comic that I've recently come across, Injection. Just as in that one, I found the idea here of a world threatened by a virus or some other man-made impending doom somewhat unsatisfying, especially for a comic. This medium, as diverse as it is nowadays with numerous genres and its leading heroic characters by various publishers, simply needs to be more fun. Or if it should take the serious tone, it should at the very least be engaging. Sadly, The Beauty is not quite either.
Posted by acestroke at 9:16 AM No comments:
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
"Keanu" is a one-note comedy which contains less laughs than one of Key & Peele's sketches
Meh. Forgettable. I'm a huge fan of Key & Peele, and their Comedy Central show was, for the most part, hilarious. But I honestly laughed maybe 3 or 4 times here, which is just as many times that I laugh in one of their 3 or 4 minute sketches. Many have already said that this movie is a bad sketch stretched out to feature length, and for the most part, they're right. The script is really lazy, suggesting additional sub plots that go nowhere (what is up with Clarence's wife and that dude who go on a weekend getaway together? And what is it exactly that he does that ends up offending her so? A better movie would've dealt with these issues), and additionally, it just takes the one-joke and runs with it, whether the gags work or not. For the most, part they do not. It's a shame, because these guys are very funny and talented; they just don't really prove any of that here.
Posted by acestroke at 10:05 AM No comments:
Monday, May 2, 2016
"30 Days of Night: Dark Days" continues the vampire saga, but a little further south this time around
This sequel story to Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith's dark and murky illustrated vampire tale 30 Days of Night takes us to sunny California, far away from the frozen and dark vastness of the small Alaskan town, Barrow. Stella Olemaun, wife of the deceased sheriff of Barrow, Eben Olemaun, arrives in Los Angeles to promote her new book about her encounter with vampires, hoping to raise awareness about the presence of these bloodsuckers in our world. The thing is, no one believes her, and she's therefore forced to resort to alternative methods.
30 Days of Night: Dark Days continues to present us with pages that are predominantly black and difficult to define. Their content is hardly ever clear, and is confusing more often than not; characters are identifiable, but their actions sometimes are not. It is especially difficult to decipher scenes of conflict. When two or more characters are involved in a fight, the result is the comic book version of a nuclear explosion captured in still time: it is impossible to tell who's winning, who is actually who on the page, and what the final result of such conflict is.
The unfortunate thing about this serial is that the very thing that made it unique and special - the stylish and overly ominous artwork - is the same thing that drags it down. Illustration and drawing style aside, Stella's relationship with the vampire Dane here is well handled, and is definitely the aspect of this story that elevates it above its predecessor. At the end, when Stella is somehow able to resurrect her dead husband Eben back to life, we're unsure if this is a clever ploy from Niles to inject a pleasant twist into the series, or a desperate move from a writer running out of fresh ideas. Either way, Dark Days is a slight improvement, but it still leaves a lot to be desired, especially from a graphic standpoint.
Posted by acestroke at 11:00 AM No comments:
Sunday, May 1, 2016
"Zootopia's" ambitions are grand, its leads are righteous and charming, and its story is charistmatic and engaging
A brave and ambitious new Disney movie, one that takes chances I've not seen in years (perhaps decades?). Visually and cosmetically, this is a movie for children, full of colorful animals and cute-looking characters they surely will adore; however, from a content perspective, the script is very clever and daring, exploring themes of "us vs. them" that is reminiscent of a coming of age drama, and as such only adults will be able to fully appreciate what it's trying to do. The Fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) is a character for the ages, a scoundrel willing to rip anyone and everyone off for his own personal gain in this universe where Foxes aren't given the benefit of the doubt, but he's also a kind and thoughtful creature capable of surprising gestures. Ginnifer Goodwin's Judy Hopps is a young idealist prepared to do whatever's necessary to uphold the universal justice she holds so dear to her heart. The scene between these two characters in which she apologizes to him for being previously mean is worth the entire admission. The good thing is, the movie doesn't have a single bad scene. One of the best movies of the year.
Posted by acestroke at 6:14 PM No comments:
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The City is noted for its minarets and gardens. On a
sunny day the four minarets of the Blue Mosque rise to
the skies like prayers of many believers; more
picturesque is the central dome covered with some
millions of blue tiles. Such blue is no more seen
since the sultan decreed 'Blue is passé'. See how it
stands, a shimmering dome like the tear of an angel,
frozen in midair. The Blue Mosque. Poets loved
watching the dome under changing lights through the
day! It made their poetry sound sweeter. Hamals (or
porters) carrying heavy loads through winding and
crooked streets looked at that dome rising from the
city skyline and instantly their loads became lighter
and they thought life was worth living. No one could
resist its power. Except one.
See that crooked street cutting through the market?
Do you see that shop on the right? A To Z the board
says. Anything money can buy is sold there. Ziddiq,
the shopkeeper is dressed in drab clothes and his
beard is browned as his fingers are calloused. Henna
colored his beard which he allowed because his wife
thought brown was becoming in one so old; his fingers
were calloused from counting money: large sums of it
every night passed through his fingers when the folks
slept. While the dome of the Blue Mosque gleamed under
a waning moon! Poor Ziddiq! He had never even heard of
the blueness of the dome under whose shadow he lived
all his life!
One morning his neighbor told him in strictest
confidence the price of grains would go sky-high. How
high? Ziddiq asked. He quoted a figure. Ziddiq said,
"impossible." As soon as his neighbor was gone he
called his eldest son to find what were the prices for
items written in his list. His son came back with his
findings. After reading it he was astounded! A sack of
barley cost only three copper pieces!"
Having ordered for as much as could be bought he had
a problem: "Where to stock them?"
He knew just the place. He had a large warehouse
where his father put away every thing he had no
immediate use for. Just as his forefathers had done in
the past. It was bursting in its seams as the
expression is. He called a few servants and asked them
to clear up that place. Nothing was to be spared.
Hour's later servants came to report. They said his
orders were carried out except for a carpet, which was
of size 64"by 37 inches.
"I am in no mood for checking the size of a carpet."
"But master," said Samir, "It was made somewhere in
Samarqand probably late 17th century. It is silk. If
you ask me it is one of the finest." "Shut up!"Ziddiq
yelled, "Who asked you for your opinion?"
The silk carpet was decorated with a mihrab design
(a cusped arch with geometric motifs) in the field
counterpoised with arabesque in the spandrels. A
stylized floral pattern running around the edges
completed the piece.
He ordered the laborers to set light to it. "I
shall not have this nonsense here!" The menials balked
at the idea. They pleaded. "A thing of beauty,
master!"Samir cried. He became enraged at the word
beauty and he shoved them aside.
"A thing of beauty such as this has a life of its
own." Kalam added his. They all pleaded with tears in
their eyes. With uncontrollable rage he pushed them
aside. He himself torched it and said, "There, you try
to teach me beauty!" He was in a rage. He said, "You
all live a life of ease because I pay you wages in
time. Be gone!" He was so worked up.
That day Ziddiq went home very late. He was tired
but he had found a place for thousands and thousands
of sacks of grains, which came in a convoy one after
the other. Only seeing them secured for the night
eased his fury somewhat. Then he saw how his son had
put his men to guard it. He had done well, and the
father's heart swelled with pride. The young man gave
him the keys and the accounts and left for home.
Mentally Ziddiq calculated the profit he stood to
make and that made him laugh. In a happy frame of mind
he followed his son.
He went home to eat his frugal supper. Even when he
went through the motions of the nighttime prayer he
had only one thought. He would make all his rivals
bite the dust. So much profit he stood to make. He
wandered through the house and secured the doors for
the night.
At the time he was about to lie down he thought he
heard a knocking sound. As if some were shifting
things around somewhere. So distinct it sounded. His
wife lay asleep. He checked into his sons' room. They
were also asleep.
"Clickety-Click," he heard. "It must be from across
the river," said he. He put out the candle and lay in
bed. The same sound again. "Clikety-Clack!"
"Clikety-Klak!" The sounds came louder this time. He
thought it came from his drawing room. It was distinct
and very ominous. With each minute the clicking sound
went louder and louder. He could not sleep with such
an infernal noise. Again he got out. He lit a candle,
which he could barely hold for fright.
He peeped into the parlor.
There was an intruder!
And he had settled himself in the middle of the
parlor as if he owned the place. He felt a murderous
rage struggling with his fear at the scene presented
before him.
Across the parlor stood a weaving frame; and a very
old man with sad look in his deep-set eyes, went on
working. "What on earth!" It was all he could say. His
fear swallowed the rest of the sentence. Instead a
squeal. Even that did not distract the wizened
intruder. The ghastly apparition of a weaver did not
look up nor acknowledge his presence. Instead he was
bent over the frame intently checking his work. Having
satisfied himself he went on knotting the fibres and
cutting the knots to make naps. Ziddiq had no idea
whether his eyes were deceiving him or some rival of
his was hell-bent for mischief. Before his very eyes
filmed with fear and pricked with hate the old weaver
went on and on. His hands flew over the carpet while
adjusting the warp and the woof without missing a
beat. So free and fluid his movements were. As if he
had been doing it all his life and could have done
even while asleep.
He was masterly in his work.
Ziddiq stood there transfixed. Clickety-click,
Clinkety-clank, So went on the loom while the room
was lit by a spot of light that hovered around the
design, which was becoming clearer with each motion of
his hands. Ziddiq would have screamed but his voice
died silently. The weaver looked at him with sad eyes
that in its hurt, without any rancor whatsoever, no
stab-wound would have come anywhere near. It twisted
his heartstrings beyond endurance.
Ziddiq could only twitch in response.
He trembled uncontrollably when the spectre of a
weaver looked once towards him. Those eyes now seemed
to challenge him. The infernal intruder said, " My
life was in that carpet. Now I must weave another
because you so callously destroyed it."
Having said his piece he continued with his task as
if he were alone in his own workshop. He was sad as
before and yet, very resolute. As if he knew he could
do it. Without tiring himself. Ziddiq could do nothing
but watch in horror. He went hot and cold as an
exquisite design began to take shape before his eyes.
Clikety-clack! Clickety-click! The weaver went on
without stopping and he was inhuman that he could draw
for his carpet filaments out of thin air! He wanted to
scream but nothing. He stood there petrified!
Poor Ziddiq! While the swirls of design now settled
down to a pattern he felt short of breath! As if the
ground under his feet gave way to something
insubstantial, and the walls melted and flowed about
him. Clickety-click! clikety- Clak! went on the loom
unrelenting. 'Clickety-click! Clikety-clak!' It went
on enveloping everything else.
Next morning the City awoke to some astounding news.
Where the ancestral home of Ziddiq stood nothing ever
remained but a prayer mat. No one could well explain
what occurred in the small hours of the night.
Samir and Kalam came as usual to take orders from
their master. Instead they were witnesses to
something, which no one could explain. There stood not
a trace of the master's house! Some one had cleaned up
the old wooden beamed house with terrace and balcony
and not even a door hinge lay there; the wrought-iron
washstand where their master always went for wash
before prayers was missing; the folding stool and the
holy book also had vanished! Except a prayer mat.
Passers-by came over by curiosity and all that they
saw was the curiously wrought prayer mat. Nothing
Samir could not take his eyes off it. It didn't
explain the mystery! Still bewildered he stood there.
Finally he commented, "A crazy-quilt pattern. I see
Master's profile his beard and all- so distinct. What
do you think, Kalam?"
"I do not think anything," Kalam replied, "But the
mat will make some money for a second-hand dealer."
The End


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Meeting old friends and getting ready for the Hands On literary festival.
What is the food in the shallow, white bowl? Does not look appetizing.
I assume that you like it. I like fried catfish, but consider grits to be just glue. I am what southerners so graciously call a DAMM Yankee. I love the DAMM part, sets me aside as a person of interest.


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Are you ready to see the most charming garden party? Today's blog features the wedding of Jocelyn and Dennis at Beltane Ranch. You know Beltane Ranch in Glen Ellen, California is one of my absolute favorite venues (because yes, I tend to rave about it on my Instagram feed now and again). So, it's always a pleasure for me to photograph a celebration at this venue. The landscape is stunning- a photographer's dream- with oak trees, gardens, a vineyard, open spaces, and plenty of ranch animals to find along the way.
Wedding Design Details
Jocelyn and Dennis chose a fabulous team of wedding pros to work with, starting with the team of Kaella Lynn Events. We asked Kaella for some details about planning and designing the garden wedding celebration and she filled us in.
"Jocelyn and Dennis wanted an intimate and elegant wedding that was, most of all, authentic to them and truly took care of each and every guest. We worked together to ensure each selection truly represented them and would add to a warm and thoughtful experience for their guests. Their discerning taste meant no detail was left unnoticed and the final result was a very beautiful and personal celebration. To create this in the design, we enhanced Beltane Ranch's garden aesthetic with beautiful romantic Spring florals. Luxurious textured linens, beautiful Theoni china and upholstered chairs added elegance and formality to the affair, while minimal paper goods kept the overall feel a simple elegance. To add personal touches, the couple added some of their favorite quotes through the wedding, both on the welcome sign and each table number. While the visual aesthetics were important, so was the overall sensory experience. A huge focus was the food and The Girl and The Fig customized a deliciously seasonal and farm to table menu for everyone to enjoy. Wines were meticulously paired to each dish. The bride's daughter sang a special duet for the couple that was a highlight of the evening. It was an incredibly touching celebration." ~Kaella Lynn
I hope you enjoy some of my favorite images selected below. In closing, I'm sending a special thanks to all those who made this wedding a memorable event for Jocelyn and Dennis.
Wedding Vendors
Stationery: Aerialist Press | Calligraphy: Brown Fox Calligraphy | Hair/Makeup: The Glamourist | Pressing: Wedding Detailor
Ceremony Music: Musical Heart Strings | Reception Band: The 415s | Music/Sound: Entire Productions
Rentals: Theoni Collection | Encore Events Rentals | Frances Lane


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Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018!
This week, it's a Halloween freebie, so I'm going to talk about scary movies that I love! Some are actually horror movies, others aren't!


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There are many types of flooring available including: cork, laminate, hardwoods and so many brands to choose from. Waterford Building Supply knows that quality is important and features vendors like Bruce, Mirage, Armstrong and many others. "One Simple Call Does It All"
Check out our Buying Guides to learn before you buy.
At Waterford Building Supply we help to make it easy for you to choose the right products for your project.
7 Industrial Drive
Waterford, CT
Phone - 860-443-1167
Fax - 860-439-0803
Monday thru Friday: 7:00 - 5:00
Saturday: 8:00 - 12:00
Sunday: Closed


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'tv'.
Found 1 result
Cousin Couples for TV show
Jodi_NYC posted a topic in Shoot the BreezeHi everyone! My name is Jodi Friedman and I'm a Casting Director for a major TV production company called Leftfield Pictures. We're seeking currently seeking cousin couples for a possible new docu-series. Please know that we are NOT looking to shame anyone or put anyone in a disparaging light. To the contrary, the idea of the show is to de-mystify and normalize the reality that many cousins end up falling in love. The more research I do about cousins who end up together, the more I realize it's not uncommon or taboo. Everyone has a story to tell, and none of us can predict or control who we fall in love with. If anyone is interested in speaking with me, or if you have any questions, I can be reached at 212-564-2607 x2648 or [email protected] Please note that the moderators have approved my posting on the forum. You can learn more about Leftfield Pictures at http://leftfield-entertainment.com. We've created a number of non-scripted programs for virtually every television network, including TLC, Discovery, A&E and History, just to name a few.


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Apply to be a SCCLA Law Student Representative!
SCCLA's Law Student Representatives are an integral part of our Board of Governors. We rely upon our Law Student Representatives to communicate with law schools, which is essential in providing SCCLA's mentorship and scholarship activities. SCCLA Law Student Representatives obtain an inside perspective on the inner workings of a bar organization and receive the opportunity to forge invaluable connections with legal professionals, attorneys, and judicial officers in Southern California!
2019-20 SCCLA Student Representative Application.pdf


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Creator: Loki Kross
Publisher: Sans Minds
Skill Level: All
DVD Run time: 18 minutes
Sonic Stab is a versatile card prediction routine with style! With a pair of standard headphones around your neck, you will pick out your spectator's chosen card every single time. Just toss the deck of cards into the air, crack the headphones like a whip, and watch your audience's reaction when you stab their chosen card with your headphones!
Review link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYyThX1eazE


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Hi, This is Tom Gagliano. Thanks for taking the time to connect directly with me. This web form is the best way to reach out and ask a question, leave a comment or to share any information your are inspired to share. However, please be patient. I often travel to teach and speak and it may take awhile for me to return your request. All the Best,
Submit a Testimonial
If you would like to submit a testimonial about Tom, fill out the form below and send it to us.


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Korean Screen Protector Hints at 4.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S III
Korean Screen Protector Hints at 4.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S III
With less than two days away from the official launch event in London, more leaks on the Samsung Galaxy S III begun to trickle in, with the latest from a South Korean screen manufacturer, Colorant.
According to Android Community, the screen protector gives an inkling of the official size, shape, and design for the Samsung's upcoming flagship phone. Unwired HK posted several photos of the screen guard on different phones including the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S II.
Based on the comparisons, it seems that the screen protector is tailored for a display size of 4.8-inch, a chassis that is slightly longer and has a dedicated menu button lower than the touch sensitive buttons on the HTC One X.
This matches an earlier leak by SamMobile, a dedicated Samsung site which has two photos of what seems to be the Galaxy S III. If you look at the shape of the menu button and overall design of the device, the Colorant screen protector appears to be a good fit for it.
In addition, the device has the model number, GT-I9300, runs on Android 4.0.4, and is equipped with a 12-megapixel rear camera. SamMobile's source also learnt that Samsung will be launching another device with the model number GT-I9800.
Well, you will soon find out what's true and what's not as we will be there in London to cover the launch event. If you want to know more about the media buzz around the Samsung Galaxy S III, do check out our round-up article here.
Sources: Unwired HK, SamMobile via Android Community (1) (2)


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San Juan Basin Archaeological Society
A Colorado Nonprofit Corporation
The San Juan Basin Archaeological Society... exploring, learning about, and
Field Trip and Activity Schedule
Reading List and Helpful Links
John W. Sanders Internship Fund
One of the SJBAS objectives is for members to learn about the archaeology and early history of the Four Corners region. Presentations at our monthly meetings and PAAC classes presented by History Colorado are a wonderful way to acquire more in-depth knowledge. Our Reading List includes a number of books that cover the archaeology and early history of the Four Corners region. Our monthly newsletter, the Moki Messenger, often includes educational articles, and our Links web page includes links to many educational organizations and resources. This web page contains links to various resources on the Internet that offer excellent information and insight.
Below is a basic introduction to the culural history of the Four Corners region presented in the Pecos Classification phase sequence. Click on the hyperlinks in blue for more information.
Links to Various Educational Resources
Colorado Archaeological Society (CAS)
Crow Canyon Archaeological Center - Peoples of the Mesa Verde Region
History Colorado - sponsor of PAAC classes
All about PAAC - Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification
Center of Southwest Studies - Fort Lewis College
Mesa Verde - Ancestral Puebloans and their World
Ancestral Puebloan dwellings in Colorado
Chimney Rock National Monument - In Depth Info
University of Colorado Boulder - Mahaffy Cache - 13,000-year-old stone tool cache from the Clovis culture
Colorado Archaeological Society - Publications - Southwestern Lore
Archaeological Conservancy - blog by Dr. Jim Judge - The Archaeology of Puzzle House: Preservation and Excavation (in the Great Sage Plain near Cortez)
Archaeology of the Barrier Canyon style rock art in Horseshoe Canyon in Canyonlands National Park
The Cedar Mesa Project
Archaeology of Natural Bridges National Monument
Examination of the Prehistoric Sandal Collection of Natural Bridges National Monument
Edge of the Cedars Museum in Blanding - Interactive exhibit of Ancestral Puebloan pottery - Wow!
History of Navajo National Monument - including Betatakin and Keet Seel


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la sangre de America Latina
If student, worker or pensioner, basically everybody in the very south of America is obsessed with the strong, green tea. In Argentina, southern Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay it is really typical to see people passing the streets with a thermo in one hand and the typical mate cup with bombilla in the other hand. They drink it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between. People share their mate with friends, family and even strangers. They are very proud of that tradition and its roots to a time long before the colonization of the europeans. Almost every region has its own way and rules how to prepare the mate properly. In this article we would like to show you how to prepare the mate like the Uruguayos drink it.
- A mate, a cup which is traditionally shaped out of the dried fruit of the mate plant. Usually it is wrapped in leather or decorated with carvings and paintings.
- A bombilla, a drinking straw from metal with a filter in the end.
- Yerba Mate, the chopped and dried branches and leaves of the mate plant.
- A thermos and hot water.
Preparation:At first you need to boil some water in a teapot. Meanwhile its time to prepare the mate, for that you fill the cup to 3/4 with Yerba Mate. Use your hand as a lid, shake the cup to mix the tea, flip it to the side and bring it back in its position. Afterwards the mate should slant diagonally in the cup. Fill the boiling water into the thermos and add cold water to the teapot. Use the now lukewarm water from the pot to fill up the cup and wait for one minute. The mate should now soak in the water and grow to the edge of the cup. Place the bombilla in the opposite diagonal direction and make sure it reaches the ground. You can use your fingers, to push the mate a bit up so there will be some dry leaves above the cup which will sink down while drinking to keep the mate tasty.
drinking rules:You can drink a mate on your own but usually people drink it in small groups. For that one person (el servador) takes care of the preparation. The first infusion is done with the rest of the lukewarm water from the teapot. Normally its bitter and not really tasty so the servador drinks it and prepares the ongoing infusions with hot water for his guests. You receive the cup from the servador, you finish it off and give it back to him. You don't thank him yet, because if you do so it means that you don't want any more. So basically the servador takes the cup back and the whole process starts again with the person next to you. If you give the cup to someone else than the servador that person needs to kiss the cup and hand it back to the servador so he could do a new infusion. The round ends either if nobody wants anymore or the servador ends the session because there is no more taste in the leaves.
Mate is rich in caffeine and contains lots of vitamins. So in general its healthy and has a stimulant effect. Nevertheless the frequent consumption is not the best idea because it raises the chance for lung and bladder cancer.
Beside the described preparation there are many different ways to drink mate. Many people add sugar during the infusions, in Paraguay mate frio (iced mate tea with orange juice and sugar) is really popular and in the andean region people like to prepare mate de coca (the same process only with leaves of the coca plant) against the mountain sickness.
I hope we could whet your appetite so off to your next tea merchant and enjoy a tasty mate with your friends!


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Brunston Castle Golf Club
Golf Course Road
Latitude: +55° 16′ 36.96″ (55.276933)
Longitude: -4° 44′ 20.66″ (-4.739056)
Golf Shop/Club Secretary
01465 811471
Dine Bar & Restaurant
01465 811484
We are located in the village of Dailly, five miles north of Girvan on the B471. 5 miles east of Trump Turnberry, 20 minutes south of Ayr and just 50 miles south-west of Glasgow.
Travelling from Glasgow, from the north, follow signs for the M77 Kilmarnock & Prestwick Airport. This becomes the A77 which you follow until you reach Maybole where you take a left onto the B7023 following signs for Crosshill & Dailly. Travel through Crosshill, staying on the B7023, and you will eventually join the B741. Stay on the B741 and you will reach the town of Dailly. Cross the bridge over the Water of Girvan and then take an immediate left onto Golf Course Road.
Travelling from Girvan, in the south, take the 1st exit at the roundabout onto the A77 Ayr road and then the first right onto the B741 following signs for Dailly. Before you cross the bridge over the Water of Girvan take a right turn onto Golf Course Road.
We are 57 miles from Glasgow International Airport (GLA) and just 24 miles from Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) both of which offer car hire services and/or chauffeur/taxi travel.
Please contact us if you would like your accommodation listed on the Brunston Castle Golf Club website.