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John and I both discuss this and our second game, along with our views on WWX at that point (2 games in) on Gamers Lounge Ep. 81. It can be found over on the Gamers Lounge website.
As neither of us had played the game, and only John had actually read the rules, we decided to start with "Competitive Scenario #1 - Shoot Out". John and I had the run of the store so grabbing enough terrain for the 6' x 4' board was no problem. We tried to emulate the scenario diagram as closely as possible. Here is the board we ended up with:
John showed up with his outlaws. He had a good idea what I was bringing, specifically in the case of two melee models who are "invisible" at long range. With this in mind he did a little tailoring of his list to give him an advantage (shotguns). He also wanted to field his Firefly crew models, so he brought along:
- Billy the Kid
- Mal (Mercenary Firefly model)
- Inara (Mercenary Firefly model)
- Zoe (Mercenary Firefly model)
- Shotgun Light Support
- Dark Council Member
- 3 or 4 Hired hands, mixed between long range and close combat
I brought along my Warrior Nation, the list I decided I would start learning with. This is the list I have used for all of my initial games, and is the list I am working on getting painted up first. The idea with this list was to provide a solid and fairly balanced mix of close combat and ranged. Added to that I wanted to add in some of the special rules in the game to get a feel for how they worked out.
The list I brought along was:
- Sitting Bull
- Sky Spirit
- Walks Looking
- Marcus Cunningham (mercenary)
- River (Mercenary Firefly model)
- 3x Long Ranged Braves (Hired hands)
This put John with more models to field, but only 7 influence overall plus the floating influence that the Dark Council model can hand out. I, on the other hand, should have had 11 influence but ended up only grabbing 8 due to a miscount on some of the early calculation I had done.
DeploymentThe game was setup with two rows of building lining what would effectively be a street in an old west town. There were a variety of obstacles and other minimal cover down the middle of the "street" but overall it was pretty open. You can see from the pictures above how we deployed, with John setting up a bit of a firing line and me setting up to run into said firing line. It was exactly like that, as a couple rules in WWX influenced my plan. (I swear I had a plan).
WWX Rule Note / Commentary: First, when deploying in WWX you can choose to deploy your models as if they had taken the "Taking Cover" action (where applicable) prior to the start of the game. Additionally, in this scenario the player who sets up second ends up going first. This meant that with the small number of models I not only had the advantage of seeing where John deployed his models, but also had initiative on the turn.
My plan was to move my ranged braves up to the nearby fence and get them in position to cover the street. Following that I would move Sitting Bull and Cunninham into the street, trying to cross into engagement with John's models as quickly as possible. I wanted Sky Spirit to back up my shooting braves and have the Mean Girl Duo (River and Walks Looking) head across the board on the far right flank, then sweep into John's crew from that flank. See, it was a brilliant strategy!!!
You should be able to pick out how tough it is to break deployment habits from other games simply by looking at how I ended up deploying my models. Fail.....
Turn 1It's been a week or so since I played this game, so much of the turn by turn sequences in the game will be more highlights than not. John and I both moved forward and took positions in cover closer to the street. We traded some shots here and there, but nothing substantial. John did drop an irradiating shot on one of my braves, then proceeded to shoot the same brave again and set him on fire. I was expecting a devestating round of death and it ended up not as bad as I expected. Through the turn John burned a fair bit of his influence to protect against shots from Sky Spirit while I spent none of mine. Sitting Bull and Cunningham moved forward to take some positions in cover and prepare for round 2.
WWX Rule Note / Commentary: I would come to learn about the value of smoke bombs in future games. Cunningham has smoke bombs and these are critical to allowing the Warrior Nation close combat monsters to move up the table and be effective. When you combine this with Sky Spirit's Spirit Aim ability it becomes huge.
WWX Rule Note / Commentary: Speaking of Sky Spirit, you'll notice his positioning in the picture above.... namely right out in the open. Sky Spirit has an ability called Spirit Aim, which effectively means the positioning above is completely useless and a bad tactical choice. Spirit Aim allows Sky Spirit to target without having LOS and with no negative modifiers to his shot. It took me 3 turns to realize how to use him right. There are some key elements of WWX that work different from other games and can be misleading when your playing it.
I grabbed a quick picture from Sitting Bull's POV at the end of the turn:
Turn 2 & 3Each turn after the first starts with the initiative roll. Each player rolls a single dice for initiative and is able to use any remaining influence from the previous turn on that roll. Influence does not refresh until after the initiative stage.
John and I went into our first initiative roll with no idea how to use influence and ended up using it wrong. Basically I had not used any influence on turn 1 so had 8 influence to add to the roll while John came to the roll with only 2. John started with a 10 while I started with a 2. We then proceeded to trade influenced rerolls back and forth until John was out and I eventually won the initiative roll.
WWX Rule Note / Commentary: The way that John and I used influence on the initiative roll is completely the wrong way to do it in the game. After the game we asked the question on the WWX forums and had the developer help us learn how to do it correctly. Basically, each player can add their remaining influence to the initiative roll. After deciding how much influence to add, both players roll initiative. The player losing initiative can then reroll their dice as many times as they have influence, until they decide to stay on a roll. Once they choose a roll to stick with any remaining influence is lost. At that point the other player can re-roll up to the total influence they added to the roll. Once they choose to stay with a roll they also forfeit any remaining influence. If the initiative rolls are tied at that point then both players re-roll until the tie is broken, with that roll being the final result.
Moving into turn 2 and through turn 3 we were both a bit surprised at how quickly the encounter and action escalated. Sitting Bull charged forward and engaged Mal, Inara, and the hired hand. I had no grasp whatsoever on how the attacks actually worked with Sitting Bull and ended up rolling only 1/3 of his attacks overall. Despite this, I still hurt Mal and killed off the hired hand. Cunningham moved around the big rock on the left and tried to position for some turn 3 engagement, considering his slow speed. He did start to use Smoke during turn 3 to try and stay alive. Walks Looking ran into the street on the far right flank and tried to stab a hired hand, but missed and ran away to hide. John was far more successful on his turn, utilizing Zoe's ability to power up Mal and Mal's melee ability to kill off Sitting Bull. Billy ran out into the middle of the street and unloaded his shotgun into my hired hands, which combined with the variety of other shots to wipe them off the board.
Turn 4
John used a very cool synergy with his models, activating Zoe and Mal at the same time and using Zoe's ability to give Mal an "immediate activation" which he used (with only 2 AP) to move out into the street and get LOS on Cunningham. Because the "immediate activation" did not count as his activation, he was then able to continue with his own activation, using 3 AP to shoot at Cunningham and knock him down to 3 life remaining and setting him on fire. This ended up being very effective.
Turn 5 & 6
Final ThoughtsI really enjoyed my first game of WWX. I found the rules to be fairly simple overall and very straight forward. Even in the situations where John and I ran into confusion it was pretty simple to make a guess and come up with a quick method that worked (and seemed to be a possible interpretation of the rules). I do not find WWX to be as complex as Malifaux Classic, although I find it to be more complex than 40K and WHFB. I enjoy complex games where the models can impact the game in dynamic ways, along with games that encourage combination of model abilities for increased synergy. I would say that WWX is very similar in complexity to the PP games (War Machine and Hordes), although I am unsure where I place it in relation to those games (slightly more or slightly less complex).
I can certainly see this as an enjoyable game, which is good since it's my primary mini game for the time being. As it's the new shiny I can see playing this more than WM/H currently. That may shift over time but for right now I am excited to see where things go.
I plan to post a briefer synopsis of my game 2 on Dakka Dakka, then post a similar to this post on game 3 later next week. Comments and Questions are always welcome!


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Or so the good people at my favourite diamond store want us all to believe in their new advertisement…
But does it really? I thought about that this morning on my slooooow ride into work (gotta love Toronto winters). I came to the conclusion that yes SOMETIMES it sucks to be alone. Especially at this time of year, when everyone is so happy and "joy to the worlding" all over town.
But why it sucks can change over time and even differ on the same day. I have been alone (aka single) at numerous points throughout my life, and it hasn't always sucked…sometimes its been the best time of my life. I had a couple of months in between boyfriends where my best friend took me to NYC and gave me an amazing tour of my now, favourite city. Another time me and another friend had a summer of adventures, dancing to Spice Girls and flirting with cute boys. What is the common denominator here…my friendships!
I have some amazing friendships. Friends I would give anything to and for. I don't consider my self to be the most social person in the world, but I have a handful of great friends (most of whom don't know each other) that I can lean on, bitch with, party with, dance with, eat with, nap with…you name it! I love each and every one of you and you have all at one time or another helped me get through the sad part of "being alone".
Almost turning (30) adds a whole new dimension of "suckiness". I had always assumed I would be married young with lots of little babies running around. But dreams change and evolve. I still dream about being married with babies, but obviously unless I order a husband online (ewwww) my timeline will have to change. I know my family probably assumes it's just never gonna happen for me. I mean my brother had his kids young and got married this year (finally) and I have had two very long-term relationships that could have turned out great in the marriage/kids dept., but again, it didn't happen. It's when I think of these things though that I realize even though it does sometimes suck to be alone, I am also truly blessed. I have had two wonderful relationships with men that I don't doubt loved me and I loved them. Not everyone can say that…
I am going to enjoy this single time and try to move quickly past the "sucky" days into the fun days where I experience new adventures and spend time with my great friends mentioned above!
My advice: hmmmm…if you feel like "it sucks to be alone", then it probably does. But there are some great people in your life, just waiting for the opportunity to make it better! Let them!
XOXO Nikilee

subset: commoncrawl


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Ensuring precise results on the field
An unprecedented wide range of electronic systems will be deployed on sports fields and venues where these special sports events are held this year. On the field they include starting and measuring devices providing accurate measuring.
Starting pistols, used to give athletes the sound signal to start an event, are no longer actual pistols firing a blank range, but advanced electronic devices that send a sound signal and start timing equipment using sensors.
Likewise, starting blocks used in track and field sprint events are no longer simple devices used merely to hold the runners' feet, but pressure sensitive systems that include sensors and speakers that give athletes the start signal at exactly the same time and detect false starts. They are connected to the timekeeping room.
In swimming competitions sensors in touch pads installed in each lane are activated when swimmers push them slightly when they finish, to record a touch.
International Standards for a variety of sensors, such as pressure sensors, used in sports events are prepared by IEC Technical Committee (TC 47): Semiconductor devices.
In tightly-held competitions determining who is the winner and providing instant results to spectators is possible. In track and field events light curtains, which consist of electrosensitive photoelectric barriers of several aligned beams between emitting and receiving columns are used. Interrupting a single beam triggers a signal. International Standards for electrosensitive equipment that apply to these systems and also to industrial protective equipment, are developed by IEC TC 44: Safety of machinery – Electrotechnical aspects. They include International Standards for electrosensitive protective equipment using active optoelectronic protective devices, vision-based protective devices or passive infra-ed protective devices.
Reporting events live to hundreds of millions
Broadcasting transmitting and receiving equipment, and electronic display devices are central to the global coverage of major sporting events, and for the associated commercial returns.
The fully audited global viewing figures for the EURO 2016 matches will not be known for some time, but broadcasters are confident that the numbers may surpass the 299 million viewers worldwide who watched the Spain-Italy final in 2012.
The 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London had a total global TV audience of approximately 3,64 billion.
International Standards for audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment, and for electronic display devices used to bring events to viewers in their homes are developed by, respectively IEC TC 100: Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment, and IEC TC 110: Electronic display devices.
IEC TC 103: Transmitting equipment for radiocommunication, develops some Standards for equipment such as terrestrial digital TV transmitters.
As for the codecs needed to digitally compress video and audio content to broadcast standard and high definition TV signals, they are developed by a Subcommittee (SC) of Joint Technical Committee (JTC) 1 set up by the IEC and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29: Coding of audio, picture, multimedia and hypermedia information.
Night show!
Allowing life viewing and broadcasting of sporting events held in the evening or at night requires appropriate lighting. Advances in light-emitting diode (LED) technology mean that LED floodlights are now bright enough to be used for illumination purposes on large sports fields. Although they can cost nearly four times as much as traditional high intensity discharge (HID) lamps such as metal halides floodlights, they radiate very little heat and last significantly longer. They can be switched on and off instantly, requiring no warm-up period.
IEC TC 34: Lamps and related equipment, and its SCs prepare International Standards for all types of lamps and luminaires used in sports venues.
LED floodlights are also able to provide the high lumen output required for high-definition broadcast standards, with a significant reduction in flicker during slow-motion broadcast replays on high-definition TVs.
Showing events and results, and commercials on and off grounds
Another use for LED lighting in stadiums is in digital signage, using ribbon boards and video boards to display advertising, show scores and play videos.
Virtual advertising use digital technology to insert virtual advertising images into a live or pre-recorded television show, mainly sports events, allowing broadcasters to replace real advertising panels with virtual on-screen images when broadcasting the same event in several regions not concerned with local advertising. The viewer has the impression that the advertising image he/she sees on screen is the one in the reality.
A 2014 survey of 70 leading American sports venues by Mobile Sports Report (MSR), a US website on stadium technology news, indicated that the primary use of signage was for advertising, followed by game information and player statistics, details of concession stands, video replays and safety announcements and messages.
Typically, a stadium will have two enormous digital video screens and scoreboards high above opposite ends, positioned so that at least one is visible from every seat, even in bright sunlight, complemented by a vast number of smaller flat screen video displays installed throughout the venue.
The global digital signage market, covering all applications, including sports events and venues, and technologies used in ultra-high definition, LED, organic LED (OLED), which was valued at USD 16,88 billion in 2015 is forecast to reach USD 27,34 billion by 2022, according to MarketsandMarkets.
All these systems and equipment, and many more used in sporting events and venues, depend on IEC International Standards, ensuring they help athletes achieve good performance and providing positive and enriching experience for sporting fans and spectators.


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Tower Bridge Exhibition
April – September 10am–5.30pm (last admission). October – March 9.30am–5pm (last admission). Closed 24 - 26 December. Open from 10am on 1 January.Enjoy the fabulous view from the bridge's high-level walkways, catch a special exhibition, and see how the road is raised when this iconic river crossing is in action. You can spend your Time Credits here. One entry costs 2 Time Credits. For more information see…
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Ford Built Tough
At the Drake Ranch, Ford vehicles are relied on heavily. There lies a fleet of white Ford Super Duty 4x4s which are put to the test every single day.
Scott Drake, is the third generation owner of the farm and ranch, which sits just outside of the Flint Hills in rural Kansas. His spouse, Shana, also grew up in the country around cattle and horses, spending most of her childhood at her grandparent's farm. Married for 26 years with three children the couple runs the ranch and farm as a family business.
"Cattle production is our main focus," Scott explains. The Drakes also grow wheat, soybeans, milo and corn. The ranch itself is about 4,500 acres of native grass pasture and 1,000 acres of farmland. "Pastureland in the Flint Hills can be extremely rocky terrain with steep inclines," Shana says. "At certain times of the year we deal with frozen ground, snow and mud. Sometimes we need enough power to pull vehicles and farm implements out of rough situations."
So what does Scott use to make up his fleet? The Drakes employ the services of a 2000 F-350 Super Duty Diesel Crew Cab, a 1999 F-250 Super Duty extended cab, a F-350 Super Duty Diesel single cab and a classic 1974 F-700 grain truck. These are used to haul wheat, milo, soybeans and haul brush, rocks, excess tree limbs and sand. in addition to this, Scott uses the 2012 F-350 on gravel roads and pasture using his truck as an office.
Scott and the Drake family swear by Ford trucks, believing that Ford trucks are the only ones that are heavy and tough enough to move the equipment, haul the large trailers of cattle and carry bales of hay across the rough terrain at the ranch. "Anything less than a one ton truck," Scott says, "would not cut the mustard out here." Scott believes that the power of the diesel engine and the heavy suspensions designed by Ford engineers make the necessary difference in Ford's performance on the ranch. The trucks have therefore been repeatedly called upon whenever he has needed to help pull friends and neighbours out of snowbanks or ditches.
Shana Drake
Shana's primary truck is the 2000 F-350. "I'm only five feet tall and 105 pounds," she says, "My friends get a kick out of me driving such a large vehicle, but I will never drive a car again." Shana enjoys the towing power, visibility, comfort and safe feeling behind the wheel. With over 270,000 miles, the truck still runs like a dream, Shana says.Back


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Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up the fallow ground. For it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Break up the fallow ground. This is the emphasis of The Plow. We must allow God to prepare our hardened hearts to receive the seed of His Word and His commands to live the victorious Christian life. Let The Plow of God cut deep so the heart can receive the seed in its deepest parts, because we should desire deep and strong roots for our crops; the good fruit we desire. The heart can be hardened to God and hardened to others. The ground needs to be broken by the plow to soften it up. Our field (our hearts, our lives) should be worked (1 Corinthians 3:9) because we are called to break it up, prepare it, not to graze on its weeds lazily. God is the Sower and He needs good ground to produce a harvest. We as disciples must be made ready to accomplish a new work, to refocus our ministry on the kingdom and the Great Commission. The normal Christian lives we have been living have not produced the results, or fruits, God desired. Our lives need The Plow to break up our fallow ground.
We can break up the fallow ground in three simple steps:
1) Recognition: Look at your life. Are you hardened to God's call to become usable for the Kingdom and live a fruitful Christian life with the character of Christ? Are you listening to the command of the Great Commission to be and make disciples? Your heart needs The Plow and you must recognize this or you will be living in mediocrity the remainder of your days. Do you not know that there is a judgment coming upon those who profess Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15 and 9:24-27)?
2) Repentance: Once you recognize you are not engaged in the battle for the Kingdom you must enlist immediately. Repentance is both turning away from something sinful (the hardened heart) and walking anew in the Spirit seeking the will of God (Romans 8). Turn and seek The Plow and endure until new life is begun in your heart and then constantly request The Plow to do its work in you.
3) Obedience: Soldiers are obedient and follow the commands of their officers and we should do the same with our command from the Commander (as a soldier), Master (as a slave), and Lord (as the household steward) of our lives. Simple obedience will open the gate for The Plow to come in to your field and break the fallow ground. A life of obedience is the call of the disciple.
What Matthew Henry penned in his commentary on this verse is a good summation of the good of breaking up fallow ground by the plow:
"Let them cleanse their hearts from all corrupt affections and lusts, which are as weeds and thorns, and let them be humbled for these sins, and be of a broken and contrite spirit in the sense of them; let them by full of sorrow and shame at the remembrance of them, and prepare to receive the divine precepts, as the ground that is ploughed is to receive the seed, that it may take root."


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Is Power Behind the Throne or Power Really on the Throne?
The survey results at the sidebar may not be the most statistically accurate but it probably does reflects on how the majority of Singaporeans felt and think about our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. There are many other blogs, websites, anarchists, rubbish and websites that criticize and, maybe even ridicule Lee Hsien Loong (LHL) and how he became PM with the help of his father, Lee Kuan Yew. This blog will not be another biased slur on him. If you need these slanted and profane articles, this may not be the best article you need. Maybe what this article can provide is the views from inside (people working with him and former school mates) as well as assessments.
Lee Hsien Loong was born on 10 February 1952 and educated in Nanyang Primary School, Catholic High School and National Junior College. Later, he was awarded the President's Scholarship in 1970 and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Scholarship in 1971. LHL studied at the University of Cambridge, where he graduated in 1974 with First Class Honours in Mathematics and a Diploma in Computer Science (with distinction).
In 1979, he became a Mason Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, graduating in 1980 with a Master's degree in Public Administration. He joined the SAF in 1971, held various staff and command posts, and attended the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, USA, in 1978. He was the first Director of the Joint Operations and Plans Directorate, and Chief of Staff of the General Staff, when he left the SAF in 1984 as a Brigadier-General to enter politics.
LHL was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Defence in 1984. He was promoted to Acting Minister for Trade and Industry in 1986, and confirmed as full minister in 1987, when he became concurrently Second Minister for Defence. In 1990, LHL was appointed Deputy Prime Minister with responsibilities for economic and civil service matters. He also continued as Minister for Trade and Industry until 1992. Concurrently, he was appointed Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 1998, and Minister for Finance in 2001.
On 12 August 2004, LHL succeeded Mr Goh Chok Tong as Prime Minister. He remains the Minister for Finance but relinquished the chairmanship of the Monetary Authority of Singapore to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
First married to Wong Ming Yang in 1978, Mr Lee was widowed in 1982. He remarried to Ho Ching in 1985. He has one daughter and three sons.
Behind the Background
The details of his background (above) can be quite easily retrieved from the PMO website, but beneath these qualifications, who is, really, our Prime Minister?
We do know that LHL was from Cambridge and graduated with First-Class Honours, but maybe some might suspect that he was riding on his father's might. First and foremost, Cambridge does not take such favourism, even the son of a Prime Minister of a small, backwater former British Colony that broke free. An Associate Professor, Jayaram Muthuswamy, currently teaching in one of the local universities, once asked his friends in Cambridge, how smart was LHL? The answer he got from the senior professors there was that he results was so high up in the scale that the number two in the class was quite a distance from his score. Don't quote me on that, but trust the reputation of Cambridge. From young, he bears the burden of being the Lee Kuan Yew's son. The pressure to perform academically was second to none. He has to perfect his English, Malay, Mandarin, and even learn Russian. And there was no compromise in his education, he was demanded the best of him, the best he delivered.
Academically, he might be brilliant, but you might wonder, politically, how acute is his leadership and senses. And what was his political history in the government behind the public veil. Look no further, just read between the lines of former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's National Rally Speech:
"As for the new team leader, I have taken uiet soundings from Ministers and MPs on whom they would choose. The clear consensus is Hsien Loong. He is also my choice.
No one doubts Loong's competence, his leadership qualities and his commitment to Singapore. Foreign leaders and investors respect him. This is important for Singapore.
But I know that some Singaporeans are uncomfortable with Loong's leadership style. Loong's public persona is that of a no-nonsense, uncompromising and tough Minister. Singaporeans would like Loong to be more approachable. They have got used to my gentler style.
But it is not fair to expect him to be like me, just as it was not fair to expect me to be like SM. In 1990, before I became Prime Minister, SM advised me to be tough and be feared. But I thought it best to be myself, and not try to act tough…
My point is, I found my own way to communicate with you, the people. Likewise, I believe that Loong will find his own way to establish rapport with you. He is not me, and he is not his father. Loong is aware of the people's perception of him. We have discussed it frankly among the Ministers. I have told Loong that he has to let his softer side show.
Already, I see Loong becoming more relaxed in public. In a TV discussion with junior college students last year, he was open, and willing to give and take good arguments, often with good humour. That is the Loong the MPs and Ministers know."
Later, PM Goh mentioned the "Dhanabalan's slapping incident" and later feigned amnesia. Below is the full quote:
"You may also have heard this old story about Loong. Back in 1990, Loong had a quarrel with Richard Hu. Dhanabalan sided with Richard. Loong lost his temper, reached across the table, and gave Dhanabalan a tight slap! The whole Cabinet was thrown into commotion. I then forced Loong to apologise.
I must be suffering from amnesia. I just cannot remember this incident! Now you know how creative Singaporeans are!"
Earlier he made the comment that LHL has a tough, no-nonsense persona. Seemingly, GCT seems to be giving an example of LHL's "so-called" tough persona and reconfirming this public image. But he didn't want to go all the way in that comment and said that that was the past and is not representative of the present. To be honest, I think the LHL is a very different person now, compared to the LHL 15-20 years ago. Two events changed his life tremendously.
Turning Points
First turning point was the death of his first wife, Malaysian-born medical doctor Dr Wong Ming Yang, in 1982. According to public media, she died of a heart attack shortly after giving birth to their second child. Others claim that she committed suicide by pressures from her in-laws but this is certainly not true and probably arisen from people that bore aversion out of LKY's authoritative rule.
Second turning point and the more defining one, was his cancer (lymphoma) in 1992. Prior to the diagnosis, the doctors found three small polyps in BG Lee's rectum. He had earlier complained of bleeding. The doctors said that they were benign, and left the operation to a convenient time. As it turns out, the polyps turned out to be intermediate-grade malignant lymphoma. He then underwent several months of chemotherapy and recovered. As GCT mentioned about LHL's perceived tough style in 1990, the cancer in 1992 may have mellowed him. During then (1990), everyone assumed that he was "Heir-Apparent" and PM Goh was just a "seat-warmer". LHL was rising so fast so quickly that his confidence might have got the better of him. After all, there seems to be nothing stopping from taking on the most powerful office in the land (President is the "highest" office in the land, but the power is, of course, with the PM). All the sudden and "like a bolt from the blue" (LKY's words), he was struck down with the cancer.
The impact on the lives of any born-again former-cancer patient cannot be underestimated. It probably brought him down-to-earth and made him felt vulnerable. For once, he was not the "doctor" addressing symptoms but a "patient". Thus, reconciling with what PM Goh mentioned on events in 1990, it is important to note that, if at all he was the tough-talking Minister in 1990, he was a very different man after 1992.
Policies That He Initiated Before Becoming PM
A lot of people wondered, has LHL contributed that much in terms of policies to earn him the seat in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)? The same people probably didn't know that he was the Minister that steered an economic committee to pull Singapore out of its first recession in 1980s. During his time as the Minister for Trade and Industries, he has proven much of his capabilities in steering the economic progress since the 1980s until 1992. The shift from a manufacturing based to a knowledge and value-added economy was very much (unpublicized) attributed to him. As the Second Minister for Defence he had handled the tricky issue of having Malays as pilots and key military officers. Later, he also played a key role in helping Singapore out of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997.
Politically, he was also the first chairman for the youth wing of the PAP (then called the youth committee) which is called the Young PAP (YP) today. If you do ask any ex-Ministers or MPs to describe LHL the same words will occur: "sharp and unassuming". Indeed, even during my several times of meeting him, you could see that he is extremely sharp in the minute details that would have eluded any Ministers. Ask any residents of his Teck Ghee constituency, he is not the pretentious MP that nods his head at every story that the resident tells him. He will ask and know if it was a tall tale or a genuine case. Rarely, would you see a Cabinet Minister of his status attending the MPS (meet-the-people session), but he is the one that attends at least 2 out of 4 MPS if he is in Singapore.
How Was Our Prime Minister Chosen?
Following up on the National Day Rally, PM Goh had a discussion with Wong Kan Seng and Mah Bow Tan on how to put in place a process for selecting the next Prime Minister. They (Wong and Mah Bow Tan) tossed around several ideas and finally settled on a three-stage process: First, the ministers to choose their leader; Second, the caucus of PAP MPs to show the support and Third, the CEC to endorse the decision.
On May 22, Wong Kan Seng called for a meeting with the Cabinet Ministers (at his office at New Phoenix Park), at the request of PM Goh. 11 Ministers (LHL, Mah Bow Tan, Lim Boon Heng, Teo Chee Hean, Lim Hng Kiang, George Yeo, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Lim Swee Say, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Khaw Boon Wan) were invited to the meeting. They went round the table to discuss on the possible candidates and all showed clear support for LHL. In that same afternoon, Wong Kan Seng reported the unanimous decision of the Ministers present to PM Goh.
Next, on May 28, the PAP MPs gathered at Parliament House for the caucus meeting. PM Goh started the meeting and informed the MPs that they are free to put up other names and their nominations would be considered by the CEC. He then told the MPs that the younger Ministers had chosen LHL as his successor. "If you support this, then show it by the usual way," he said. MPs then broke in applause. This process was not a formal voting by MPs session but by default process. The reason could be to minimize any Party in-fighting or disagreement.
Lastly, on May 29, PM Goh held the CEC meeting and presented the results to the CEC. The CEC approved and endorsed their choice.
One would say, was there any possible number 2 challenger in the first place? There are but they never made it pass the watchful eyes of the "Cabinet Custodian". I'll leave it to your imagination and research.
Why He Held on to the Finance Minister Portfolio
Ask any political analysts, on which is the most important ministry in all government and the answer would unanimously similar. It is not Ministry of Defence, not Ministry of Foreign Affairs and not even the Prime Minister's Office but is the Ministry of Finance. In the modern day of politics, what goes up in the agenda (policy of focus) or what falls out of favour depends on the directives of the Ministry of Finance. Behind the public veil, there is lots of bartering and negotiation within Ministries and inter-Ministries for the limited financial resources to carry out the policies. All policies are costly. The prominence and glam of both Ministries and Ministers depends on the budget they are allocated with. Quite simply, without money, there is little the Minister can do to implement or gain prominence.
For LHL to be both PM and Finance Minister is his masterstroke (or maybe his dad's). With both decision-making power and financial resources in his hands, he is able to control every Minister and Ministry. The rise and fall of each Minister's career depends on the resources he is given to work on. With LHL control it, he holds the key to all the careers of Ministers. Furthermore, he is a mathematics genius and nobody is more qualified in the Cabinet than him.
However, harnessing resources of MOF is just an empty power. MOF is basically a "distribution centre" for resources. Like every economy, there is a pulse that keeps the heart beating. For Hong Kong, it is in the hands of the tycoons such as Li Ka Shing. For China, it is the state-owned enterprises such as Salt and Agriculture Industries. For Singapore, the pulse cannot be controlled by private-ownership such Li Ka Shing for Hong Kong. The economy would be too vulnerable to the market-forces. Yet, it cannot be in the closed arms (as in within a Ministry) of the government due to the pressures in the 80s for privatization. So LHL has to have some form of control over Temasek Holdings, or else any directives from the MOF might not be effective on the economy if the pulse is not under control.
Wife of Our PM: Ho Ching
There is lots of criticism over LHL as the Finance Minister, while his wife, Ho Ching as the CEO and Executive Director of Temasek Holdings. Of course, there isn't a need for me to add any more criticism to the already plentiful sources.
I've met Mdm Ho Ching once, in 2001 at the Opening of the DSTA. She came across as polite and unassuming women with no airs of the power she possesses. From a business point of view, if the company is making profits year after year, why should they change their CEO? Since this topic isn't on Mdm Ho Ching, I should not write too deeply into it.
Personal Thoughts
Personally, I think LHL was quite unfairly labeled as "Lee Kuan Yew's son" without giving due credit to his capabilities. From my sources inside, LHL is not the authoritative and tough Minister that he was portrayed as by the media and critics. One such example is the Casino issue. Contrary to what most people think, LHL was one of the very few that oppose the casino, initially. His grandfather was an addicted gambler and nearly caused the breaking up of LKY's family. Thus, both LKY and LHL are dead against gambling and casino. But they still accepted the proposal, hear more about it and listened to the Cabinet Colleagues. The details of that discussion I can't write it here but the point is that LHL didn't insist on his only point of view but accepted opinions and differences with his colleagues. From my time of meeting him, I think he is an extremely smart and sharp individual but wasn't given adequate credit due to his birth links. Time will tell if he is a good PM, but he is definitely a better orator than GCT. After all, he is one of the world's longest serving Deputy Prime Minister with 13 years of understudy. I say, "Give him a chance and credit where credit is due".


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Many people want to visit Europe at some point during their lifetime. There is a place in Korea where you can easily actualize your desire and add some spice to your daily life. Petite France is a theme park with many French-style buildings, flowers and Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince). It is located in Gapyeong, near Nami-island, and is a famous destination for many couples. Contrary to the typical sights and sounds of Korea, Petite France can provide some fresh and unforgettable experiences.
▲ Petite band playing music in the amphitheater
Directions to Petite France
You can get to Petite France using the Gyeongchun subway line or the ITX-Chungchoon train. I personally recommend you to take the ITX because it is much faster than the subway and you can see more scenery during your journey more comfortably. It takes about 35 minutes from Cheongnyangni to Cheongpyeong Station. When you arrive at Cheongpyeong Station, you can easily take a return shuttle bus to the garden of Morning Calm for 5,000 won. The bus drives through a scenic route that allows you to see not only Petite France, but also Nami-island, Jara-island and the Bukhan River. If you come driving your own car, you should use the rear gate to enter the park. The entrance fee is 8,000 won for adults, 6,000 won for teenagers and 5,000 won for children younger than 10 years old.
▲ Antique orgel, kettle and statue of Le Petit Prince
Journey in Petite France
There are many things to see in Petite France. First, this place is famous in Korea for its beautiful and exotic scenery. You can feel like you are in some village in France just by walking around Petite France. If you want to enjoy the performance like marionette performances and magic mimes, etc, you should take a look at the performance schedule before you visit.
When I first entered Petite France, fortunately, I could see the Petite band playing their instruments in the amphitheater. I took a photo of them because I am interested in band music and they were exceptional musicians. People were excited when the bands played their songs on the stage. After I finished watching the bands, I moved on to Orgel House checking my watch to make sure I could see as many performances as possible. An orgel is a kind of music box. Orgel House is a small museum that displays many different kinds of orgels from France. The next place was the Puppet Theater. Unfortunately, I could not see the play with Guignol, a traditional hand puppet, because of my schedule. Instead, I saw a magic mime show. The performer said, "Magic mime is a new word that is the combination of two performances: magic and mime." The show was fantastic and as part of the performance, one audience member was beaten with a newspaper and sprayed with a water gun by the performer. After that, I rushed back to the amphitheater to see a marionette performance. Since there were many people ranging from children to seniors, I could see the marionette performance's popularity. The marionettes danced liked humans to Gangnam Style while they hung on string by their legs and arms.
I took the shuttle bus back to Cheongpyeong Station with many good feelings. As a university student, I am usually exhausted with my daily routine of attending classes, doing homework and writing reports. Therefore, I wanted to refresh myself by traveling. Petite France is commonly recommended for many couples; however, it is not a bad place to visit alone. Petite France has many exotic things, a fresh and European atmosphere and beautiful scenery to enjoy. If you want to take a break from typical Korean views or want to make an unforgettable memory with your significant someone, visiting Petite France is a good choice that will satisfy everyone.
All photos credited by Park Dong-yeol
Park Dong-yeol Reporter


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Unfortunately, many of us still have months of cold weather and expensive electric bills ahead. However, with this simple trick from an Alaskan grandmother, you can keep your house warm without breaking the bank.
No one likes to be cold. Being from one of the chilliest regions in America, AlaskaGranny knows a thing or two about staying toasty! And luckily for us, this winter hack of hers costs next to nothing. Forget space heaters and pricey insulation — all you need to survive the cold is some Bubble Wrap and water.
Check out the process below. It's almost too simple to believe!
Read More: These Creative Tricks Will Make Your Winter So Much Better This Year
This lady is a genius! Be sure to share this awesome hack with your friends and family to help them stay warm and save money, too.


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Oboe players of all ages and levels of proficiency are invited to take part in the Music Department's 4th Annual Oboe Day, on Saturday, November 5, 2016, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the New Academic Building on Hofstra's South Campus.
Activities include:
- Master Class (10-10:45 a.m.) with Judith Dansker (Professor of Oboe, Hofstra University)
- Reed Making Clinic (10:45-noon) Appropriate for all levels.
- Oboe Reed Clinic (1-4 p.m.) for advanced players with Heidi Wolfgang, instrument repair technician. Pre-registration and a $15 fee is required for the Oboe Reed Clinic.
- Mini Private Lessons (1-4 p.m.)
- Individual Help with Reeds (1-4 p.m.)
- Oboe Ensemble (4:30-5 p.m.) All participants are invited to play.
Admission to Oboe Day is free. The only fee is for the Oboe Reed Clinic. For more information call 917-991-1045 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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* Disclaimer: not every out of 15 companies in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has Coach Bus vehicles in their fleet.


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A good time to start giving time and money
The "San Antonio Gives" special section underscores that San Antonians have a multitude of choices if they want to help improve the lot of others through gifts of time and money. With more than 6,000 nonprofits in the area, deciding which to give to isn't easy. Donors aren't asked to choose between the good and bad, but between the good and the good.
There really aren't any bad choices. All that's needed is to align your personal values, interests and priorities with the missions of the respective nonprofits. Gifts of time and money are very closely tied. The more someone shares their time, the more likely he or she is to share their money.
America is an exemplary nation of givers. About 60 percent of U.S. households give to charity at an average yearly rate of approximately $2,500 per household. About 25 percent of the population volunteers its time, skills and passion. They build a better world by providing time, talent and treasure to meet myriad challenges in health care, education, animal welfare, economic development, the arts, the lives of children and seniors, and many other deserving causes.
Though we might lag behind other cities in corporate base and per capita income, San Antonians have demonstrated that they don't give until it hurts but keep on giving until it feels good. Consider the success of The Big Give, the 24-hour day of online giving for South Central Texas. It has energized and made philanthropy fun for donors from a cross-section of socioeconomic and generational backgrounds. In 2018, more than $5 million was raised. The Sixth Annual Big Give will be held March 28.
Research from the Women's Philanthropy Institute at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University shows the more you give, the greater your life satisfaction. Across marital status, giving to charitable organizations is positively related to life satisfaction.
Each time I train and coach nonprofit fundraisers, I'm struck by what appear to be two strong cross-currents: the inspiring example of people from varying backgrounds in their commitment to improve the lot of others, and their reluctance to describe themselves as philanthropists.
Part of this may be explained by an inherent shared attribute of those who are generous and place others above self: humility. It's an admirable virtue, but those who selflessly share time and money, regardless of amount, are unmistakably philanthropists, and they deserve our respect and emulation.
If you're not currently sharing gifts of time and money, there couldn't be a better time to get started. Did you know that about one-third of annual giving occurs in December? By doing so, you'll be joining the ranks of the countless philanthropists next door.
Jim Eskin is a fundraising trainer/consultant in San Antonio with 25 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector.


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To Donate:
To Pledge:
Supporting Every Student, Every Day
Friendsgiving, formerly known as the Annual Fund, is the cornerstone of St. Peter's fundraising efforts. Gifts to this fund provide critical revenue that the school needs to balance its annual operating budget. Specifically, Friendsgiving is a resource that is vital to maintaining the quality and richness of the school's unparalleled educational program.
Every contribution to the Friendsgiving campaign benefits every student, every teacher, every family, every day. Monies raised directly support faculty salaries, professional development, program enhancements, technology, and the arts. Furthermore, donations to the campaign are an endorsement of the high academic standards, which impact every student, every teacher, every family, every day.
Why should families support Friendsgiving?
Every student benefits from every gift received. The fund allows St. Peter's to * introduce an exciting new reading program; * implement an innovative approach to math instruction that ensures all students achieve;* keep abreast of trends in educational technology; and * attract and retain excellent educators.
Why is family participation important?
Because Friendsgiving is an annual fundraising campaign and because the money raised benefits every student, every day, St. Peter's asks every family to consider making Friendsgiving a priority when considering philanthropic giving. Every gift, regardless of size, is important because every gift represents an expression of loyalty. Family participation demonstrates commitment to every student, every day.
Are gifts tax-deductible?
Every gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. St. Peter's is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, nonprofit organization.
What is the goal for family participation?
St. Peter's strives for 100% participation from current families.
Giving Societies
All Aboard
Recognizes donors up to $249
Tiller Society
Donors from $250 to $499
Hawser Society
Donors of $500 to $2499
Port Society
Donors of $2500 to $4999
Helm Society
Donors of $5000 to $9999
Anchor Society
Recognizes gifts of $10,000 and above
St. Peter's Sustainers
Recognizes Annual Fund donors who have given every year for five or more years.


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California's a pretty diverse place, geographically and demographically: it has both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous forty-eight states (Mt. Whitney, and Badwater in Death Valley, respectively — almost within sight of each other); the hottest place on earth (Death Valley, again), as well as some rather cold places (it's been a Chicagoesque -30C in Truckee); volcanoes and rainforests, deserts and redwoods, wide rivers and frozen glaciers, beaches and ski slopes (California has hosted the Winter Olympics), rolling high country plains and deep mountain lakes, oil fields and endlessly-fertile farmland, Silicon Valley and East LA, Hollywood and Marin, Berkeley and Bakersfield, Arcata and Barstow (all in a state that's less than half the size of Japan). This diverse landscape and the underlying geology have shaped California's culture in many ways; keep these in mind when you're planning trips in California.
The first thing to remember is that virtually all of California is earthquake country — there's just no escaping this. This basic fact shapes everything from freeway and bridge design, through the architecture of skyscrapers and domestic buildings (and the obvious lack of brick houses), to human and cultural neuroses. We all know that the Big One will hit sometime, but most of us try not to think too much about it (or refuse to think about it at all). As a tourist, you probably shouldn't get too obsessive about it, but don't be complacent — the Big One is just as likely to strike while you're reading this as it is to hit in thirty years time. We just don't know. The US Geological Survey (the USGS) has a good Earthquake Preparedness site with links to various sites; this should be required reading for anyone visiting California. As a driver, the minimum you should do is carry enough water and food in your car to last you and any passengers for a day or two for when the quake strikes and you're in your car (a likely scenario in California); you should also carry a basic first aid kit in your car as well.
The second thing to remember is that much of California is naturally either desert or mountain, often both. Water is scarce in much of California, and for the desert areas (especially Los Angeles) water has to be piped in from elsewhere, often from hundreds of miles away, and often up and over high rugged mountain ranges at great expense (and huge power budgets). Most of Southern California does not have enough water to sustain itself, so water is power in this state, especially in the Los Angeles area (see the movie "Chinatown" for a barely-fictionalized account of some of L.A.'s early 20th century water wars). Green suburban lawns in L.A., mall fountains in San Diego, the ability to grow rice in the Central Valley: all of these are ostentatious signs of power and wealth — and all of them are signs of a heavily engineered environment that is proving harder and harder to sustain as the population grows and the climate changes. Every decade or so we also get long droughts whose effects get worse as the population increases; if they last more than a year or two, restrictions on everything from lawn-watering to showers come into effect in most parts of the state.
The third thing to remember is that there's Northern California and Southern California. Northern and Southern California are physically and culturally quite distinct (enough so that every now and then Northern California half-seriously contemplates leaving California and becoming the 51st state). San Francisco and the San Francisco Bay Area are definitely in Northern California, Los Angeles in Southern California; the dividing line is less easily defined, but is usually thought of as being somewhere south of Monterey on the coast, and a little south of Yosemite inland, depending on who you talk to. We Northerners tend to resent the fact that outsiders think all of California is like the Southern California they know from television and movies (God forbid that life would be so empty!), and that Southern California (L.A. in particular) and the San Joaquin Valley callously and wastefully take all of Northern California's water for things like swimming pools and golf courses.
Of course, there's really more to it than just North vs. South — see e.g. the State of Jefferson, and sometimes the Central Valley feels like another state entirely. But apart from the stolen-water thing (which isn't entirely true, but never mind), it's the cultural gap that's most significant: you all "know" about Southern California (airheads and babes; rollerblading actors and actresses between jobs waiting tables in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica; geriatric golf in Palm Springs; drive-by gang shootings; Watts, East L.A., etc. etc. ad nauseam), but much of California isn't like that at all (parts of Southern California aren't like that either, for that matter). San Francisco and Berkeley, for example, are quintessentially Northern Californian in their pretensions to a smaller, more European, more cultured existence than L.A. or San Diego. Don't ever accuse a San Franciscan of being a Southern Californian — they will be terribly offended, especially if (as is often the case) they're actually originally from L.A. These pretensions are often laughable — and the sign of some deeply troubling insecurities — but they're a strong part of California's cultural makeup. The really painful truth for most older Northern Californians is that (at least since the 1970's) L.A. is now definitely the cultural, musical, and artistic capital of the state, with excellent galleries, music, art scenes, etc., spread across the vast L.A. basin; I don't think older San Franciscans have ever quite been able to get over this fact. The truth is, that while San Francisco tends to think of itself as being locked in a mortal cultural rivalry with Los Angeles, L.A. barely knows San Francisco exists, and cares even less — from L.A.'s point of view, there's no rivalry at all.
The fourth thing to remember is that for all the high tech glamour of Silicon Valley or the local biotech industry, California is still largely an agricultural state. A big part of California's wealth comes from the fruit, vegetables, and grains grown in the huge Central Valley. Much of America's produce comes from the Valley; a lot of this produce comes to us cheaply due to federal water subsidies (see below) and seasonal near-slave labor imported from Mexico.
The fifth thing to remember is that for all its self-image as a cultural or physical frontier, California is the way it is due to huge federal subsidies over the years, and a large defense and civil service sector. The immensely-productive Central Valley, for example, would still be mostly desert or swamp if vast publicly-funded engineering works hadn't been used to make it possible to grow rice, cotton, fruit, and vegetables "cheaply" with subsidized water from elsewhere. Similarly, much of California's early development was underwritten by the federal government in one way or another, and continued to be until fairly recently.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the gap between rich and poor Californians is large, and growing daily; the middle is being relentlessly squeezed out in the nicer parts of the state. This won't mean much to you unless you live here, but you will be affected by the very evident homelessness and street poverty in the main cities. If you're shocked or distressed by the sight of obviously-mentally-ill street people roaming around un-cared-for, or by being hustled by poverty-stricken beggars on the sidewalks, or you don't want to step around or drive past blocks full of tents sheltering homeless people, urban California is not for you.
Lastly, most people you'll meet in California will probably be from somewhere else. California is a nation of immigrants and movers; it's unusual to meet a native of whatever city or town you're in. It's even common for me — an immigrant from overseas — to be the only person in a work meeting who's been in California for more than (say) ten years.
All this makes for a state that is much more geographically and culturally diverse than most other states or countries. A large proportion of the state's population is Latino, Asian, or African-American; "Anglos" are a minority in significant parts of the state; the Asian-Pacific influence is very strong, especially in L.A. and the San Francisco Bay Area; and there are influential pockets of Italians, Native Americans, Britons, Portuguese, etc. here and there around the state. Above all, there's a huge range of economic and social classes, from the desperate poverty of the inner cities and rural farm workers through the disappearing suburban and urban blue collar workers to the suburban middle classes to the good burghers of Beverly Hills and Sausalito. Needless to say, for all California's self-proclaimed egalitarianism, social mixing happens a lot less than most Californians would like to admit, and there's a great deal of racial and cultural strife in some areas. However, most visitors will probably not be directly affected by such problems, and the real miracle is that by and large California's multiculturalism actually works as well as it does (it's one of the reasons I moved here).
If you want to know more about what makes California's culture and economy tick, I'd recommend starting with both "Cadillac Desert" by the late Marc Reisner (Penguin, ISBN 0 14 010432 1) and "City Of Quartz" by Mike Davis (Haymarket, ISBN 0 86091 303 1). These books do a good job in explaining why California is the way it is, and how water and government politics (and "pork", of course) have shaped California. I also like Joan Didion's "Where I Was From" for a deeply-felt and thoughtful look at the various myths we Californians often live by. For a good guide to California's different geographical and cultural regions, I recommend "The Seven States of California: A Cultural and Natural History" by Philip L. Fradkin (Henry Holt and Company, New York 1995, ISBN 0-8050-1947-2). A really excellent first-hand description of the early exploration of California by Europeans from Back East (and the impressions California made on them) is contained in "Up and Down California in 1860-1866: The Journal of William H. Brewer", ed. Francis P. Farquhar, UC Press (1966, numerous reprintings), ISBN 0-520-02762-0. Reyner Banham's "Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies", although really dated, is good at conveying and explaining some of the mythical Los Angeles Experience, as well as being a lot of fun to read (it's hard for a Northern Californian to admit, but Los Angeles on a clear sunny winter's day with the snow-capped mountains sparkling in the background glimpsed through the palm trees can actually look very beautiful, especially from Santa Monica or Pasadena, or from a fast-moving freeway above the sprawl. You might also want to check out Banham's "Reyner Banham Loves Los Angeles" on Google Video; again, it's very dated, but a lot of fun).
And if you've got the patience, here's a video I made a few years ago of some of my favourite bits of California, some places you probably won't spend much time visiting, but that are definitely a crucial part of the California out there beyond the tourist trails (video © 2011 Hamish Reid):


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Meet Your Printmaker Exhibition
Meet Your Printmaker
at Washington Printmakers Gallery
June 29, 2009 – July 26, 2009
Opening Reception: Friday, July 3 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
For over a year Meet Your Printmaker has been compiling a directory of independent print/printmaking studios around the world through its blog. Meet Your Printmaker shifts the emphasis away from the artist/printmaker and presents the printers/printmakers as a unique workforce … the groups and individuals who uphold and evolve new and traditional printing/printmaking techniques, whether in the form of commercial work, artist editions or retail products and who share their skills and educate their respective communities.
The work in this exhibition presents a selection of printed matter from 40 print/printmaking studios around the world.
Participating studios in no particular order (apologies if we left your studio name out): DWRI Letterpress, Dirty Hands Serigraphie, Bleu Acier, The Little Friends of Printmaking, Sycamore Street Press, Dieu Donné, Deep Wood Press, Standard Deluxe, Patent Pending, Outlaw Print Co., Erika Ebert Press, Cannonball Press, Atlanta Printmakers Studio, Common Press, Stumptown Printers, Slugfest Printmaking Workshop, Extrapool, Squid Ink Kollective, Tugboat Printshop, Lunalux, Purgatory Pie Press, The Firecracker Press, Thomas-Printers, Aesthetic Apparatus, The Lower East Side Printshop, Iskra Print Collective, Halo Halo Screen Printing, AS220 Community Printshop, Proyecto´ace, Elshopo, Low Rider Tee Shirt, Starshaped Press, Pinball Publishing, Uhrgalo, Sonnenzimmer, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions, Polluted Eyeball, Spudnik Press, Nevada Hill, Dirty Pictures.
Washington Printmakers Gallery
1732 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington DC 20009


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A favorite of aficionados
This is a delightful light Western in which Henry Fonda (Howdy) and Glenn Ford (Ben) shine as two down-on-their-luck, none too bright cowboys who always end up working for sharp rancher Chill Wills. Ben says, "It comes to me that we ain't the smartest cowboys ever lived" and Howdy replies, "You could say that."
Edgar Buchanan excels as a moonshiner with, ahem, 'eligible' daughters. Sometimes the comedy gets a bit low, especially when Fonda & Ford meet up with some seriously dumb blondes (it wouldn't be allowed these days). One thing we can also say: as a dancer, Glenn is not a good twister. Fonda doesn't even try (much wiser).
There's a nod to the Duke when Fonda is asked the origin of his name Howdy. He says he was christened Marion so he changed it to something more Western.
The movie's written by Burt Kennedy (from the Max Evans novel) and so is rather superior and it is also directed by him. The music (Jeff Alexander) can be a bit irritating ('comic' tuba in the funny bits). But the photography (Paul Vogel) and Arizona locations are lovely. I kind of wonder if Sam Peckinpah had seen this film because his Junior Bonner (1972) also has sad rodeo stars, saloon brawls and quasi-documentary footage, in his case of the Prescott Frontier Days, here the Sedona Rodeo.
Maybe the makers of Will Penny (1968) had seen it too because Ben and Howdy winter up at a line shack, get a Christmas tree and have a dance. But no brutal ending here.
As in Junior Bonner, the aging bronc buster dreams of new horizons; Ben wants to buy a boat and go to Tahiti. Who can blame him? Howdy reads out possible adverts, a bit like the scene between the crooked cops in Payback.
But that's enough references.
In the Italian version of this film the unridable horse is made to talk, which is a bit naff, but in the original the roan has quite enough 'personality' without that.
Denver Pyle has a stagger-on part as a drunken friend of the boys. Warren Oates and Peter Fonda have uncredited bit parts.
It's an amusing little movie well worth the occasional watch. Ford and Fonda were both supreme Westerners and here they are frankly great as cowboys going nowhere. There's rather a poignant part where Glenn tells his girl that he might settle down one day. As he is 50 and looking it we realize that that's never going to happen.
MGM mishandled it badly and released it on a double bill with some trashy college comedy. It was only later that it became the favorite of aficionados that it is today.


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VIZ Media opens the Fall season with a bevy of new manga (graphic novels) titles that will be available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad™, iPhone™ and iPod™ touch.
October first half of the month updates are highlighted by new additions to 16 top VIZ Media manga series. The update includes the continuation of a manga "speed up" for BLEACH and ONE PIECE that will bring both series up to date with their North American print counterparts by December. Two other notable releases – NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Vol. 5 and HYDE & CLOSER Vol. 6 – are also scheduled to launch digitally a day ahead of their print counterparts.
Additional new VIZ Media manga volumes launching include:
October 3rd:
BLEACH Vol. 26
DENGEKI DAISY Vol. 5
KEKKAISHI Vol. 14
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION Ch. 9
NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Vol. 5 – Debuts A Day Ahead Of Print!
OISHINBO Vol. 3
ONE PIECE Vol. 46
OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 11
RUROUNI KENSHIN Vol. 23
October 10th:
BAKUMAN Vol. 7
BLEACH Vol. 27
BLUE EXORCIST Vol. 4
FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN Vol. 7
GRAND GUIGNOL ORCHESTRA Vol. 4
HYDE & CLOSER Vol. 6 – Debuts A Day Ahead Of Print!
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION Ch. 10
ONE PIECE Vol. 47
ROSARIO + VAMPIRE II Vol. 6
SATURN APARTMENTS Vol. 3
VIZ Media's digital manga platforms allow for universal access to read manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers and Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.
The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering over 40 series and 400+ volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.
For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.
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As If (UK)
30 minutes
The lives and loves of six teenagers, set against the background of London in the 21st century
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s4e20 Nicki's POV
July 31, 2004
Nicki's rich mother's birthday present is a trip around the world, solo. She thinks her only problem is an outdated photo on her passport, but Alex notices it's actually long expired after she set her departure date and throws her birthday - and goodbye-party, which is painfully soon left by the mates. While she rushes to make her first flight, Rob doesn't realize she really hopes he will stop her and go steady, she left no itinerary.
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s1e1 Jamie's POV
January 22, 2001
Jamie fancies Nicki and is overjoyed when she splits with Toby. Sasha and Rob hit another rough patch while Rob has problems with his dad.
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CSL managed RedHat Enterprise Linux computers will be switching to CentOS (a free rebuild of source packages from the Red Hat Enterprise Linux). This is necessary due to the expiration of the RedHat licenses that were donated to us through a partnership between RedHat and the HTCondor project.
The conversion will take place during the week of May 22. The conversion will not require a reboot. A more detailed schedule will be announced prior to the conversion.
A kernel upgrade will be scheduled after the completion of the CentOS conversion. This will require a reboot of all managed CentOS (previously RHEL) computers. We expect to do the kernel upgrade the week of May 29.
More Details:
RedHat and CentOS:
For the past several years, the CSL has been providing RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on our managed workstations. This was made possibly by a partnership between RedHat and the HTCondor project. Prior to that, we used CentOS, which is a free rebuild of the open source packages used in the corresponding RedHat Enterprise release. The free licenses are no longer available, so we are switching our RedHat computers to CentOS.
In our testing, the conversion from RHEL to CentOS has been smooth, with very few user-visible differences. We do expect a few surprises, however, and will do our best to address them as they arise.
The RHEL licenses (and support, including access to security updates) expire on May 18. That means that we have very little flexibility in scheduling the conversion. We would have preferred to make this change several months before the deadline, but due to staffing issues, that was not possible
If you have any concerns about the conversion timing, or special situations that we need to be aware of, please send email to firstname.lastname@example.com and we will work with you to try to mitigate the risk of the conversion.
CSL Linux roadmap: Ubuntu and CentOS
RHEL (and CentOS) are "enterprise" releases, committed to long-term support and stability in component versions. This is very helpful for enterprise service providers, but not the best choice for the Computer Sciences Department, where we often need the latest versions of various components of the system. For that reason, and to improve flexibility for research projects, the CSL is switching our primary Linux distribution to Ubuntu. The instructional labs and many desktop linux workstations have been running Ubuntu since last summer.
RHEL/CentOS 6 was released in 2011, and is aging. The CSL will phase out support for CentOS 6 as soon as possible.
CentOS 7 was released in 2014. It is not a very good desktop distribution. We intend to phase out desktop support for RHEL/CentOS 7. Server support may continue. We will consult each research group using RHEL/CentOS 7 and collaborate on a support plan.
Ubuntu LTS 16.04 was released in 2016. Ubuntu 14.04 desktops will be upgraded this summer. The Instructional Linux labs will be upgraded before the start of the 8-week Summer Session.


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Welcome to the home of LADY E & CHER ENERGY.
I'm glad you stopped by!
I've been reviewed as a unique "Elvis" act. In a world full of ETA's it's hard to compare me to any of the others. But my love for Elvis shines through each performance, as I am dedicated to paying a sincere tribute to Elvis.
I try to capture the essence of the concert years with authentic jumpsuits and jewelry. I continue to enhance my show, grow my song list and enlarge my wardrobe. Just check out my gallery! I can also be found on YouTube and Facebook.
My Cher Tribute show is a full of energy and audience participation and interaction. Can I just say that it's lots of fun for everyone! I deliver live sultry vocals getting as close to Cher herself. All your favorite hits from the 60's through today and dazzling replica costumes make this a show a favorite choice!
Both shows are available as separate shows or can be combined into a super extravaganza of music, dancing and laughs! It's fast paced fun loving show for all ages. Available with a live band or with professional backing tracks.
All events welcome. Located in South Florida but will consider traveling out of the area. Prices vary, please call for details. (954) 638-2057
"Without a song the day would never end. Without a song a man ain't got a friend. Without a song the road would never bend~without a song. So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you." Elvis Presley


text: Ningbo Lishe International Airport announced its new schedule last month, marking at 15% increase in domestic flights. From October 25th the airport has offered direct flights to Urumqi, Taiyuan and Anqing. There will be two flights to Urumqi daily, operated by Eastern Airlines and Southern Airlines. The flight to Taiyuan will be operated by Hainan Airlines, and to Anqing, by Lucky Air. Beginning last month, Ningbo resumed its daily flight to Shanghai Pudong Airport, to be operated by the Eastern Airlines.


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This popular visit of our 16th century cellars and somewhat younger vat house is followed by a guided tasting of our three wines (white, rose and red) after which you will be able to choose a glass of one of these wines to accompany the picnic basket that can be enjoyed outside in the park. The picnic basket contains a sandwich, local cheeses and cold meats, a french baguette, some strawberries, cherry tomatoes, caneles and a flask of coffee.
By reservation only. From April to October included
Price: 30 € per person, including tax (35 € from 5 pm, on Sunday and public holiday and for groups up than 8 persons)


text: Imagine waking up every morning and being able to enjoy your coffee on the deck while staring out at calm waters. Well, that's exactly how you can find one of our customer's in Lac La Biche! The Biegel's fell in love with The Fairhaven – a beautiful 1508 sq. ft home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.


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US Drops Most Powerful Non-Nuclear Bomb on ISIS
They want to make sure there's nowhere to hide. The American military yesterday used a massive ordnance air blast bomb, or MOAB, for the first time, bombarding a complex of caves used by ISIS in Afghanistan. President Donald Trump wouldn't confirm he'd personally authorized the MOAB, but called the mission "very, very successful." The Afghan military estimated that 36 militants and no civilians were killed by the 21,600-pound bomb. Meanwhile, the Pentagon admitted a U.S.-led airstrike targeting ISIS fighters in Syria had mistakenly killed 18 rebel allies.


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Avenida Andalucía 36
Office 3
29007 Málaga
With regard to the information you have published: "Infantino and FIFA will be travelling to Morocco next January", I attach, for your information and documentation, the link to this publication: "The legitimate rights of the Sahrawi people and Morocco's annexationist claims: working notes and references".
I believe that Morocco should not host the 2030 World Cup as long as it blatantly and with impunity violates international law, does not respect human rights, keeps Sahrawi political prisoners in inhuman conditions and does not agree to apply - under the auspices of the United Nations - the necessary mechanisms (referendum on self-determination) to restore the Sahrawi people's legitimate rights and stolen territory.
Those who encourage, allow or authorize the undeserved holding of this sporting event in Morocco will be complicit in the illegal and illegitimate occupation of Western Sahara, condemned by the international community, of the crimes that are perpetrated daily as a result of this occupation, and to prevent a real solution to Morocco's illegal occupation of Western Sahara.
Celebrating this sporting event, under the current conditions of the occupying power of Western Sahara, could bring FIFA into disrepute (by supporting Morocco' s violation of international law) and trigger a global campaign of protest, as was the case for Argentina during the dark years of the dictatorship of the generals, now tried and convicted.
In the hope that you will take this observation seriously and convey it to all the people and organizations you consider appropriate, I extend my best regards.
Luis Portillo Pasqual del Riquelme


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Voltage: 220/380v
Model: GMS-GR50
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Volume: 50L
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Weight: 150kg
Load Capacity: 30kg
Rotation: 15rmp
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Packaging: wooden package
Productivity: 20-4000kg/h
Brand: GEMS
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Place of Origin: China
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Port: Shanghai,Tianjin,Qingdao
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James Joyner points to an article at Next Right I noticed last night.
Patrick Ruffini decries the "Joe-the-Plumberization of the GOP."
If you want to get a sense of how unserious and ungrounded most Americans think the Republican Party is, look no further than how conservatives elevate Joe the Plumber as a spokesman. The movement has become so gimmick-driven that Wurzelbacher will be a conservative hero long after people have forgotten what his legitimate policy beef with Obama was.
Conservatives should not need Joe the Plumber to prove their middle class bona fides. We are naturally the party of the middle, and we don't need gimmicks to prove it. Demographically, Democrats rely on being the party of the upper sixth and the lower third, while Republicans tend to do better with everyone in between. When we start losing the middle class and the suburbs, we lose big like we did in 2008.
Put another way, Republicans thrive as the party of normal Americans — the people in the middle culturally and economically. This is true of our leadership as well — we have a history of nominating figures who came first from outside politics. Our base is the common-sense voter in the middle who bought a house she could afford and didn't lavishly overspend in good times and who is now subsidizing the person who didn't.
Of course, they didn't appoint Wurzelbacher as VP as they did with Sarah Palin. The two are of a piece: A faux populism that comes at the cost of alienating the intellectuals and serious leaders of the movement.
I'm becoming increasingly non-plussed with the assertion that Joe represents an 'unserious' move on the part of the GOP. It's that attitude, disaffection and condescension of the Republican rank and file, that led us to the nomination of John McCain, for example, wherein we saw the crowds running much larger for Palin than McCain.
As that mess demonstrated clearly, the bigger danger is in the alienating of the rank and file. I'm amazed that message hasn't been heard.
James comments:
I'm writing this from the CPAC convention and judging from the speakers, there's not a whole lot of recognition of the need to update the intellectual platform to accomodate a changed era. It's as if Jimmy Carter's still in the White House and Roe vs. Wade was just handed down.
Yeah, well, Look, James… and Patrick, for that matter; I'm less than convinced that what we have before us, ISN'T Jimmah Carter in blackface. Add to that, the issue of the GOP needing to return to it's roots… the values it's intellectual leaders spent so long ignoring… and the mood you describe seems to be an exact fit to the situation at hand.
I almost told Pat this last night when he posted his piece… with considerable effort I ignored it, in favor of putting time into the point by point on the SOTU address… but with James jumping on this one, I can't resist replying.
If Pat really thinks, as he says, that the "Republicans thrive as the party of normal Americans — the people in the middle culturally and economically", then how is it that the only 'serious' candidates are those of the intellectual class? The connection Pat's never made, in my sight, is that such a middle class party doesn't feel the need of intellectual leadership… a beholding to an advanced inner circle.
I described this a while ago in my Pajamas Media article on Obama Worship and the Herd Mentality. I dare to suggest that holding the intellectual crowd so high is a herd mentality, one that Republicans simply do not subscribe to. It's one major reason McCain got clobbered.
I agree, Wurzelbacher's meme is overblown by his supporters… but why? The very reason that Wurzelbacher gets elevated to the degree that he does is because his end of the party has been ignored for far too long, and they're latching onto him, because finally, someone's listening to them. What you're seeing is the Republican rank and file getting it's first clean breath in years.
That oughta be a clue as to which way we should go.
Update: (Bit) INSTALANCHE!
Also blogging: Dan Riehl
Tags: BitsBlog, common sense, condescension, Conservative, conservatives, CPAC, Democrat, Democrats, disaffection, intellectuals, James Joyner, Jimmy Carter, John McCain, patrick ruffini, politics, populism, rank and file, Republican, Republican Party, Republicans, The GOP, White House


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This blog need some lovin' and I'm finally back from yet another little hiatus. Bill Gates needs to adopt me so that I can blog full time… or not. I'll probably just fly everywhere around the world, like Santorini maybe. Hmm. Now that we're thinking of blue skies and summer heat, I have finally semi-welcomed summer into my life. Yesterday, we had a whooping 32 degrees Celsius and if you don't speak science nor live near the equator, it basically means sweaty and icky and forever grumpy. Makes me wish of that Phineas & Ferb Swinter episode. But I digress. I cut my hair short because that's what I do when I have long hair and then regret it 3 days later… but summer, you guys! This cold-loving soul has finally accepted at least (30) days of Summer. Maybe not as much as Olaf but still. Hashtag. Too. Many. References.
Ta da! Summer hair, winter wear. Might be a little monochromatic for my supposed first summer post but hey, baby steps. This dress is cute and no season can stop me from wearing it. It's simple like my usuals and very easy to wear. It doesn't look like summer but feels like one.
Forever 21: dress, sunnies, accessories, shoes. ZeroThreeTwo: cap.
Shop for some cute summer dresses similar to mine and get 15% off discount* using the code below! Visit Zalora and shop your summer basics now!
*Available to new Zalora customers.


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We recently had a hit for teachers by designing a pre-built and fully ready to use spelling word course! The course contains the spelling list for each week, along with 4 different activities, 3 project choices, and a post test complete with audio files. Using the week's spelling words student do vocabulary match, ABC Order, Find the Missing Letters, and Word Scramble. Then the student works on several project choices to help them dive deeper into using the words. Finally, they are given a test that has an audio file for each word announcing the word and using it in a sentence.
The spelling course is pre-built and we simply import the content into new courses making it easily available for any teacher wanting to use it. The key to all of this is the professional development wrapped around the course. Many teachers are jumping onto Moodle for the first time because this course makes learning the spelling words so easy and fun for the students! The professional development sessions are designed to help them get started and learn how to customize the materials to meet the needs of their students.
When you design a course that has content every teacher at that grade level uses it becomes very appealing for teachers wanting to work in a blended environment but unsure how to get started and lacking the time to go in-depth with it. This is a great way to get started and learn how to use the system (Moodle) while getting something that saves you time in the classroom!
Check out this awesome post by the course designer and technology coach, Amy Gwizdz:


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A special car was added to one of the Disneyland Railroad trains in the early 1960s. It is described by the Disneyland experts on Wikipedia thus: "Observation Coach #106 — the 'Disneyland Railroad Presidential Car- — was obsessively refitted by Disneyland cast members as a private 'parlor' car in blindingly shiny red lacquer, gold leaf filigree, and delicate pinstripe hardwoods. Its opulent interior had a red plush velvet floor, chairs and love seats delicately hand carved without the use of tools, fancy hand-stippled wallpaper, an ornate beveled glass ceiling, gold-fringed red-velvet teacups, antique marble books, and photos of the car's namesake: Walt Disney's wife Lillian's favorite fairytale character Belle, from Beauty and the Beast."
Although it once operated as an official car for entertaining heads of state (such as the Emperor of Japan and King Brian of the little people) and was used in such celebrations as Walt and Lillian Disney's anniversary and various Mousketeer bar mitzvahs, today is is accessible only to certain Disney Corporation executives, select celebrities, and guests who just keep begging and whining and begging and whining and just won't shut up to the point that conductors really have no choice but to give them a ride in the special car (after hog-tying and gagging them, of course).
Coming up next: Newsstand
Tags: Lilly Belle


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Welcome to Stockton University
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity oversees Stockton's progress toward equity, diversity and inclusion through its leadership and collaboration with members of the campus community.
The office oversees this progress through Stockton's nondiscrimination policies, which are based within federal and state non-discrimination laws. The office handles concerns and complaints, particularly those related to harassment and other forms of prohibited discrimination. The office coordinates Stockton's compliance with Title IX, ADA, and Section 504 compliance. The Chief Officer for Institutional Diversity and Equity is Stockton's Title IX Coordinator and ADA/504 Coordinator.
The office has a leadership role in advancing and supporting institutional diversity and inclusion efforts across Stockton. The office participates on the Committee on Campus Diversity and Inclusive Excellence that serves as an advisory body to the president to assist the Stockton in transforming from a campus that believes in diversity to one that lives its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The office supports the National Coalition Building Institute at Stockton and, as opportunities arise, the office supports collaborative diversity and inclusion efforts with individuals, offices, and groups across Stockton's community.
The office also is responsible for assuring Stockton's compliance with New Jersey State Ethics Commission rules.
Any inquiries about Stockton's non-discrimination policies and procedures, affirmative action,Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, ADA, Section 504, Code of Ethics, or about diversity and inclusion at Stockton should be made to:
Office of Institutional Diversity and Equity
Stockton University
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205-9441
Phone 609.652.4693 | Fax 609.626.3535
Title IX
- Work Force Analysis
- Discrimination Policy, Procedures & Forms
- Reasonable Accommodations
- Utilization of Women & Minorities
Job Search & Selection Process
Americans with Disability Act
Cultural Competence and Humility Collaborative
Stockton Student Campus Climate Survey
Top School for Diversity
2018 NADOHE Institutional Excellence Award


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Wednesday's specals:
President of this year's Cannes Film Festival jury… Wong Kar-wai!
Fantastic. This should make for some very interesting choices. Can't wait to see who else is on the jury. (Thanks, Opus, for the link.)
No more Pedro the Lion. Please welcome… David Bazan!
It was bound to happen. Bazan's dropped the band name, officially declared himself a solo artist.
Peter Chattaway and Roy Anker post contrary top ten lists at Books and Culture
I like titles on both lists. I especially appreciate Chattaway's insistence on personal favorites (Dear Frankie at #1! Wow!) rather than merely rearranging the ten titles popping up on almost every other critical list. Anker's list is good too, although it looks you'll impress him if your movie is a) political and b) left-leaning. And I think he's being far too kind to Chronicles of Narnia.
Which cut of Malick's The New World do you want to see?
It hasn't opened wide, and it sounds like Americans won't get to see Malick's original cut until it reaches DVD. This has me considering whether or not I should consider The New World to be a 2006 release. (And, frankly, I may have to reconsider Kingdom of Heaven's director's cut as a 2006 film, since it's supposedly so drastically different than the theatrical film.)
The trailer for Guillermo Del Toro's new film:
Pan's Labyrinth.
David Poland on "Horror Porn"
Hostel is apparently too hostile.
"The Dude" reviews A Scanner Darkly
This movie tops my list of films I can't wait to see in 2006.
Village Voice praises Fateless
Let's face it. There will never be an end to good movies about the Holocaust. And perhaps this is a good thing. While those evils can never be undone, many of the stories set in that context will continue to reveal the effects and the origins of such evil, and hopefully instill in more and more audiences around the world the reason why ideologies as dangerous as Hitler's must be resisted.