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October 26, 1992, Section C, Page 11Buy Reprints
So "Under Siege," the new action adventure starring Steven Seagal, is not exactly high brow. The film, about nuclear terrorists aboard a Navy battleship, won't rival "Howards End" for Academy Award nominations. The art house set, who prefer Ingmar Bergman and Akira Kurosawa, won't even blink at it. But the movie, along with "The Last of the Mohicans," is the major success of the autumn, and has been No. 1 at the box office for the past three weeks. Even serious film critics admit that "Under Siege" is perhaps the best popcorn film in years. And a darkly funny, if violent, one.
Andrew Davis, the 45-year-old director, and a politically involved former cinematographer from Chicago, said with a smile: "The film is more complicated and interesting than people anticipate. It tries to raise some provocative issues about nuclear weapons. Look, if you do an intellectual movie that 20 people on the West Side of Manhattan see, you're not exactly reaching a lot of people."
In the film, Mr. Seagal plays a Navy cook, and highly decorated former SEAL in trouble with the brass, who takes charge of the crew against a bunch of murderous military specialists who have plotted to hijack the ship and steal its nuclear arsenal. Also on the ship is a Playboy Playmate (played by Erika Eleniak) with, of all things, pacifist leanings. But that's another story. The film's screenplay was by J. F. Lawton, who wrote "Pretty Woman."
Mr. Davis was shrewd enough to surround Mr. Seagal, who is known far more for his grunting martial arts than his acting skill, with two dazzling character actors, Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey. The two just about steal the film as over-the-top, and funny, bad guys.
(Mr. Seagal came to stardom the old-fashioned way. Like Lana Turner. According to legend, Miss Turner was discovered by a talent scout at a soda counter. Mr. Seagal was discovered by one of his martial arts students, Michael Ovitz, the chairman of Creative Artists Agency.)
Mr. Davis said the success of the film had just about transformed his career. In Hollywood Mr. Davis has gained a reputation as a highly successful action director; his movies include "The Package," a 1989 thriller, starring Gene Hackman and Mr. Jones; "Above the Law," which marked Mr. Seagal's feature debut in 1988, and the Chuck Norris film "Code of Silence," in 1985.
Mr. Davis said sardonically: "Things have changed a lot for me in the last few weeks. It's all about money. Isn't it wonderful? Great movie makers come through Hollywood all the time but if you don't make money on your movies -- and especially if you're a woman -- forget it. A man can fail five times. A woman fails once. That's it." Longing for Something New
Mr. Davis, who lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Adriana, and two young children, said his next films would probably go far beyond the action genre: he yearns to direct a comedy or a drama or even a musical.
Mr. Davis began his career working as an assistant cameraman to Haskell Wexler on "Medium Cool," the 1969 classic about the turbulent 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago. (He said, "I loaded cameras during the riots.)
Mr. Davis's roots -- and many of his friends -- are in Chicago. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and still has fantasies about being an investigative reporter. His father, Nate Davis, is a well-known stage actor in Chicago.
Mr. Davis's acclaimed first independent film, "Stony Island," in 1979, which brought him to Hollywood, was a semiautobiographical musical about jazz musicians on the South Side of Chicago. He then spent several years directing a number of quickie exploitation films because he was broke. The Norris film "Code of Silence" turned Mr. Davis into an action director.
"I got pegged as this action guy -- this guy who could do great stunts," he said. Echoes of a Classic
Mr. Davis takes his film making seriously: the scenes in "Under Siege" in the Pentagon war room are designed to resemble a similar backdrop in Stanley Kubrick's 1964 classic, "Dr. Strangelove." And he insists that each of his films has a broader theme: the movies have dealt with police cover-ups ("Code of Silence,") and an assassination plot by Soviet and American military dissidents against Mikhail S. Gorbachev ("The Silence").
Although Mr. Davis says that critics too often condescend to action films, he acknowledges that many of these films are terrible.
"The basic underpinnings don't have any soul or value," he said. "They're totally incredible so you don't believe them. They're dumb stories. People are unbelievable."
"People want to see action," he said. "Life is boring for a lot of people and they want to be excited. But if you make these you've got to like the people in it. You've got to have some irreverent humor. Audiences want to cheer for the good guys and hiss the bad guys, and really love the hissing."
"Look, it's so dark out there for a lot of people," said Mr. Davis. "You want to give people some hope without turning it into a diatribe. Every successful action movie has a guy who's a nobody, who gets messed up by the big guys in the system and then comes back and does right. It's Robin Hood. It's hope for the little guy. That's what it's all about. " Too Sad to Sell
If "Under Siege," is pure escapism, "American Heart" is the reverse. It is bleak, unfunny and sad, and as a result is facing enormous difficulties.
Jeff Bridges, the movie actor, is one of the producers with Rosilyn Heller and Neil Koenigsberg. Mr. Bridges is also the film's star and its guiding force.
"Most of the major studios don't want to touch it, but why the independents have turned it down is a big mystery to me," said Mr. Bridges in a telephone interview. "It's distressful. Everyone's so reticent. It just doesn't fit into a neat category."
The low-budget film, directed by Martin Bell, a British documentary film maker, with a screenplay by Peter Silverman, a television writer, deals with an ex-convict, played by Mr. Bridges, who reluctantly allows his desperately lonely 15-year-old son, played by Edward Furlong, to live with him. The film takes place in Seattle's underside. Also involved in the movie as associate producer is Mary Ellen Park, a well-known photographer who is married to Mr. Bell.
In traditional Hollywood style, one company, which was set to distribute the movie, went bankrupt. The movie was then placed in limbo. Mr. Bridges and his partners have failed to find a company to release the film. One main reason, they say, is because the current bleak economic mood in the nation leaves audiences craving for escapist films like "The Last of the Mohicans" and "Under Siege." Preview audiences have generally responded positively to the movie.
Mr. Bridges said: "I knew this film would be a tough sell, but nothing like this. Nothing quite like this."


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Officials are taking another look at stalled plans to tear down the Matilija Dam north of Ojai.
The Ventura County Star reports ( https://bit.ly/Vseokl ) a new proposal calls for hiring consultants to study possibilities for removing the dam and the thornier issue of what to do with two million cubic yards of sediment built up behind it.
Peter Sheydayi, deputy director of the Ventura County Watershed Protection District, says potential consultants will have to go through a qualifications process.
He says the agency expects to have a contract in place next summer. Funding for the study will come from a California Coastal Conservancy grant.
There's still a question of how to pay for the demolition project, last estimated at more than $140 million.
Negotiations on an earlier proposal stalled in 2010.
Information from: Ventura County Star, https://venturacountystar.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Boistfort Valley Farm
| dish: main
season: summer, fall
Roll out pastry on floured work surface to 12-inch square. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhang to 1 inch. Fold under; crimp edges. Cover; chill.
Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add leeks and thyme. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until leeks are very tender but not brown, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add chard; sauté until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cool.
Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 425°F. Whisk cream and next 5 ingredients in large bowl. Mix in cooled leek mixture. Pour filling into crust.
Bake tart 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F and bake until filling is puffed and just set in center, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to rack; cool 10 minutes.
Bon Appétit, October 1999


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The first State Declamation Contest was held in 1910 as part of that year's State High School Track and Field Meet. In 1911, the first state-wide Declamation Contest was held independent of the State Track Meet. From those modest beginnings over 100 years ago the contest has evolved into the modern State Oral Interpretation Festival of today. This year students from 81 South Dakota high schools will compete in the 106th Annual SDHSAA State Oral Interpretation Festival on Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5, in Sturgis at Sturgis Brown High School.
This year's State Interpretation Festival competitors have qualified for the Festival through a combination local school, district and regional competitions. The Festival will feature a combined total of 296 Class "AA", Class "A" and Class "B" entries. The Class "B" State Oral Interpretation Festival competitors were determined by advancing from one of the ten district contests to a Class "B" regional contest and advancing from their region contest to the State Festival. The Class "A" State Festival competitors qualified for the State Festival after advancing from one of five Class "A" regional contests. Class "AA" contestants have advanced to the State Festival as a result of intraschool competition in their own schools. The 2015 State Oral Interpretation Festival will showcase competitive performances by 91 entries from 13 Class "AA" schools, 104 entries from 30 Class "A" schools and 101 entries from 38 Class "B" schools.
The State Oral Interpretation Festival, sponsored by the South Dakota High School Activities Association, brings together South Dakota's best high school oral interpretation speakers in a "festival" setting. During the State Festival the students will compete to achieve a "Superior" rating which is the equivalent of a state championship in their contest event. State Oral Interpretation Festival competition is divided into seven contest events: Non-Original Oratory, Interpretation of Serious Reading, Storytelling, Poetry Reading, Humorous Reading, Duet Interpretation, and Readers Theatre.
The State Oral Interpretation Festival competition will begin on Friday morning, December 4th at 10:00. The Festival's second and third sessions will be held at 2:30 Friday afternoon and at 7:00 Friday evening respectively. The Festival will conclude with two sessions at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 5th. The awards for each session's competition will be announced at the conclusion of the session. "Team Excellence" awards, recognizing the high schools whose over-all entries excelled during the State Festival, will be presented at the conclusion of competition on Saturday afternoon.
The public is encouraged to attend any or all of the sessions of the State Festival.
Media outlets wishing to do additional stories or news reports adding a "local flavor" for their coverage area may find the following materials on the SDHSAA website - http://www.sdhsaa.com/FineArts/Speech/OralInterpretation.aspx
-When you chose any of the "Speaking Order" links you will find a listing of all of the State Festival competitors in each event and their randomly drawn order of speaking.
-If you click on "Festival Schedule" link you will secure the time schedule for each session of the Festival and the listing of events scheduled for each class in each session.
-A listing of the State Festival judges
-A listing of the Class "B" District Team Champions and the Class "A" Regional Team Champions
Members of the media are encouraged to contact the high school(s) in their coverage area for further information about the State Festival competitors from each of the participating schools.
FOR STATE FESTIVAL RESULTS DURING FRIDAY AND SATURDAY PLEASE NOTE: the State Festival competition results will be posted at sdpb.org/oralinterp at the conclusion of each session of the Festival on Friday and Saturday.


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© 2011 Estes Remodeling. All Rights Reserved.
All information provided is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between Estes Remodeling and any person or entity unless otherwise specified. Information is subject to change without prior notice. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, Estes Remodeling make no guarantees of any kind.
Hosted by: LinkNow Media | Roofing Mobile, AL. | Roofing Mobile, Alabama | Contractors Mobile, AL.
Estes Remodeling
Theodore, AL 36582-2736
(251) 634-1650


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Part Number: 18441
eFireplaceStore Item Number: FSD-18441
* Please Note: The listed screen size refers to the framed mesh area and does not include feet or decorative finials. Also, because this product is hand-forged, it may vary slightly from the dimensions provided. Please allow for an eighth-inch tolerance.
Pilgrim's 44-inch x 33-inch forged iron black fireplace screen is a wonderful option for you if you want a different look for your fireplace. You don't have to completely remodel your fireplace in order to achieve this. This fireplace screen is unique in that it has arched doors that open easily to access your fireplace. You don't have to move the screen each time you want to use your fireplace. Simply open the doors and you have complete access to maintain and use the fireplace. The screen is matte black and is made from durable iron, which should last you for many years of use. It is wise to have a screen not only for looks, but also for protection from sparks or to provide a barrier between your family and the flames.


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3D 4D Ultrasound in Northern Virginia ~ Washington DC area!
Phone: (703) 494-0064
Your 3D 4D Ultrasound will be performed by Dr. Ramsey himself!
Dr. Ramsey has over 25 years experience!
It is not necessary to be a patient of Dr. Ramsey's!
No note from your physician is required since ultrasound sessions are performed by Dr. Ramsey!
We are a full service Obstetrics and Gynecology imaging center offering comprehensive diagnostic, effective
3D/4D ultrasound
sessions. Our prenatal ultrasound sessions provide an unforgettable bonding experience between parents and their unborn baby. The real-life pictures provide a deeper emotional bond and improve the mother's personal well-being that, in turn, improves the health of the baby.
With our
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) you will witness the activities of your baby inside the womb that are either difficult or impossible to identify on traditional 2D scanning. The GE Volusion Ultrasound System provides the live motion technology allowing you to see your baby yawn, suck, stretch, blink, heart beat, perform intricate finger movements and gender determination.
The optimal timing for a scanning is between 16 and 34 weeks. However, we can obtain beautiful images as early as 12 weeks and as late as 36 weeks. Many women choose to come in twice or more (up to 4 visits permitted) to see the various development stages.
Occasionally we encounter a camera shy baby due to such factors as gestational age, fetal position, amount of amniotic fluid, and the mother's condition. We promise to make every possible effort, under all circumstance, to provide the finest images available.
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Ultrasound Photos
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About Dr. Ramsey
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ApricotTree Ultrasound, LLC
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(703) 494-0064
Alley K. Ramsey, M.D.
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
14904 Jefferson Davis Hwy.
Suite 407
Woodbridge, VA 22191
map & directions
email us
©2005 All Rights Reserved
website by SandyMeier.com


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HANNIBAL, Mo. — A Hannibal police officer was finishing up mundane paperwork on a quiet Saturday morning when Manuel Cazares walked into the station, blood splattered on his hands and shoes.
Cazares put his hands out, crossed them, and told the officer to arrest him.
"I killed two people," he allegedly said.
Details surrounding the allegations are far too common: an abusive relationship, a jilted lover, a sudden attack.
But some in this Mississippi River community of 17,000 best known as Mark Twain's hometown aren't just outraged by the violence. They also question why Cazares was in Hannibal at all.
Cazares admitted after his arrest that he is an illegal immigrant from Mexico. The 32-year-old had several run-ins with law enforcement before the homicides, but officials had never questioned his legal status.
Now he is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Feb. 28 deaths of his ex-girlfriend, 27-year-old Amanda Thomas, and 25-year-old Carl Patrick Epley.
"I don't know how this happens," said Tina White-Masengill, Thomas' sister. "My stepdad told police many times, 'I don't even think the guy's a legal citizen.'"
Avoiding detection
During his three years in Hannibal, Cazares managed to avoid detection, despite a few traffic violations and a property damage conviction after an arrest for allegedly beating up Thomas and tearing up her home. Thomas had a restraining order against Cazares, who got probation in the property-damage case.
Police say his name wasn't in a database maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Police and Cazares' boss also say he had authentic-looking identification, including a Social Security card. And police noted that Cazares speaks fluent English.
Cazares' attorney did not return phone messages seeking comment. Cazares is being held in lieu of $1 million bond.
Hannibal police declined several interview requests from The Associated Press, but said soon after the killing that they had received several angry calls, some with racial overtones.
Days after the killings, rocks were thrown through plate-glass windows at the Mexican restaurant where Cazares worked. The FBI decided against opening a hate-crime investigation after concluding that it was vandalism, not retaliation.
Hundreds of messages related to the case were posted on the Hannibal Courier-Post Web site, with several questioning why authorities hadn't been able to determine Cazares' legal status before. One suggested police should conduct raids to seek out other illegal immigrants.
"Of course we have folks who say that's unconstitutional and racial profiling so we have to ignore the problem until this sort of terrible tragedy takes place," the posting read. The newspaper eventually took down the postings.
Rocky relationship
At a news conference, police Capt. James Hark told reporters that tracking illegal immigrants is a federal responsibility. He said the department is sympathetic to the victims' families, "but, in retrospect, there's nothing in the system that would have prevented this from happening."
ICE spokesman Carl Rusnok said the agency seeks to work closely with local police to uncover illegal immigrants.
"When local law enforcement suspect that they have arrested an illegal alien on criminal charges, we encourage them to forward those suspicions to ICE, where we will make the appropriate determination whether that person is in the country legally or illegally, and whether he is deportable," Rusnok said.
The relationship between Cazares and Thomas had long been rocky, with Thomas seeking restraining orders in 2007 and again early last year. Marion County prosecutor Tom Redington said the first order was dismissed when Thomas failed to appear at a court hearing; the second was dismissed at her request.
Thomas made a third attempt around Thanksgiving and obtained a restraining order that was supposed to keep Cazares away from the small brick duplex where she lived with their 20-month-old son and a 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
Yet neighbors said they often saw Cazares in the area.
"We pulled up one night and he drives up the street with his car lights off and just sits there watching her house," said neighbor Charles Thomas, who is not related to the victim.
Up late, drinking beer
In early February, Thomas told police she thought Cazares was stalking her. White-Masengill said her sister played cell phone messages for police, including one in which he said, "No one can love you like I do."
Redington said he didn't have Cazares arrested immediately because of the "on-again, off-again nature of their relationship." He asked Thomas to obtain records that would show that Cazares had been calling her, but she never got the records.
According to court records, Cazares offered the following account of the killings in his confession:
Despite the restraining order, he and Thomas had spent the night of Feb. 26 together after she called him. He thought they would be together again the next night.
Instead, Thomas went out. At some point she met up with Epley, a friend from her nearby hometown of Monroe City.
Cazares fumed when a friend told him he saw Thomas outside a bar. He stayed up late drinking beer, then went to Thomas' home the next morning and found her with Epley.
Cazares said he went to the kitchen, found a knife and stabbed Epley before turning the knife on Thomas.
He then drove around in Thomas' car before using her cell phone to call his mother. He told her "that I loved her and that I did something that was not right and for her to take care of herself."
He said he considered suicide, but instead quietly turned himself in.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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NEW YORK – Recently, China's government announced that it wants Shanghai to become a global financial capital equal to London and New York by 2020. An ambitious goal, which may or may not be achieved.
But China's aspirations also underscore a worrisome and increasingly pervasive new reality: political officials are making decisions normally left to markets on a scale not seen in decades.
Like the financial crisis itself, this trend is now global. Political leaders in dozens of countries are making decisions that will drive the performance of local (and global) markets for the foreseeable future.
In China, exports fell by more than 25% in February. Not to worry, said Premier Wen Jiabao: the Chinese government has "adequate ammunition" to add to its $586 billion stimulus package, a plan meant to create millions of jobs via enormous government investment in transportation, energy infrastructure, housing, and other large-scale projects.
In India, where government is more often considered a drag on commerce than a catalyst of growth, the decisions that move local markets are now more likely to come from bureaucrats in Delhi than from innovators in Mumbai.
In fact, the Congress Party-led government, anxious to appear responsive to public demand for help during an election-year economic slowdown, has pushed forward three stimulus packages since December.
The bottom line: to find out how, when, and where assets will be allocated and wealth generated in dozens of countries across the developed and developing worlds these days, we must now look toward political, not financial, capitals.
This trend will spell trouble for longer-term global economic growth. First, it's tough enough for leaders within the Chinese Communist Party elite to agree on economic-policy priorities.
The challenges facing US President Barack Obama as he tries to win support for risky and expensive policy options from quarrelsome Democrats and obstinate Republicans will create some tortured legislative compromises.
That pattern is being repeated elsewhere. In Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, and other states, battles among domestic political factions will yield often-incoherent responses to pressing economic problems.
Second, if it's difficult to forge consensus within one country on how best to promote growth, imagine the same argument on a global scale. Most politicians craft policy to serve their local constituents and to protect their personal political capital. Reinvigorating global growth runs a distant second.
In Washington, many Democrats will use these policy debates to capitalize on popular fury at Wall Street, while many Republicans look for an opening to capitalize on hoped-for public anger at the Democrats.
Some within the Chinese Communist Party leadership will support plans to engineer a shift from export-led growth to a model based on domestic consumption. Others will try to direct state funding toward their personal investment projects.
Factions within the Russian, Indian, Mexican, and South African governments have their own competing political priorities. With so many political officials crafting crisis responses to solve local problems or to create local opportunities, how likely are they to agree on a unified international approach?
Our first glimpse of the trouble in coordinating an international response to the financial crisis came last November, during the emergency G-20 summit in Washington.
To get the G-8 to agree on priorities is a complicated enough; building consensus within the G-20 is exponentially more difficult, not simply because of the larger number of players involved, but because many of them don't agree on the most basic rules of the global economic game.
While the April G-20 summit in London produced more economic-policy agreement than expected, this was largely because the most divisive issue – the US and British demand for more global stimulus spending – was removed from the table beforehand. As a result, the smiling presidents and prime ministers could afford to be more diplomatic than Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who, in his role as acting president of the European Union, had warned that Obama's economic plan would lead others down a "road to hell."
Topolanek wasn't at the G-20; his country is not a member. And, while British Prime Minister Gordon Brown agrees with Obama that the world's leading industrialized countries must stimulate their domestic economies as much as they can, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has warned that Britain may already have taken on too much debt for another round of stimulus.
However frightening the global recession, a coordinated and coherent response to it by the world's political leaders remains highly uncertain at best. And the increasingly heavy influence of political factors on market performance will likely weigh on global growth for years to come.
Ian Bremmer is President of Eurasia Group and a Senior Fellow at the World Policy Institute.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2009.


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Collects up to the specified number of elements, and then emits a single array of the collection.
- iOS 13.0+
- macOS 10.15+
- Mac Catalyst 13.0+
- tvOS 13.0+
- watchOS 6.0+
- Xcode 11.0+
- Combine
The maximum number of received elements to buffer before publishing.
Return Value
A publisher that collects up to the specified number of elements, and then publishes them as an array.
If the upstream publisher finishes before filling the buffer, this publisher sends an array of all the items it has received. This may be fewer than
count elements. If the upstream publisher fails with an error, this publisher forwards the error to the downstream receiver instead of sending its output. Note: When this publisher receives a request for
.max(n) elements, it requests
.max(count * n) from the upstream publisher.


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Stainless Pastry Bag
Item # KHN 25605
Modern upgrade of the pastry bag makes it easy to create gorgeous decorations without the mess.
Dishwasher safe. Hand wash and air dry recommended.
You can remove the clear barrel from the stainless steel barrel for cleaning; you can either push down on the clear barrel while pulling it up and out of the stainless steel, or hold the bottom of the stainless steel barrel with one hand while pulling the clear barrel up and out with your other hand. If frosting has hardened in the barrel, then soak both barrels in warm soapy water first, then dry and remove as stated above.


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When I first started using vision boards (called 'em 'dream boards' back then), most people had never heard of 'em. … [Read more...] about Hot Tips for an Effective Vision Board
set a vision
Working With Your Vision
In yesterday's post, we worked on "Vision." Don't be afraid to make your goal something BIG. It's an interesting … [Read more...] about Working With Your Vision


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Hi, I celebrated my second birthday yesterday( 12th July).
It has been almost a year since I last updated my blog. I am not sure the reasons for it, may be I am too busy these days or may be my poppy has been too lazy of late.
But I thought, my second birthday is a good occasion to update you about things happening in my life. Like last year, this time also my B'dday fell on a working day and it was a rather quiet affair again. Rajesh Chachu came over to our place on tuesday night, we prepared matar paneer and aloo -methi sabjee at home... actually mommy prepared and I disturbed... I cant help it because this is the only way I can contribute and contribute I must...
There was a small cake also supposedly to be cut by me at 00.00 hrs but i was feeling too sleepy you see. I am still a little 2 years old bachha... So the cake remained in the fridge.
The next day , i.e., my birthday, I went to my play school rather late in my new pink frock as you can see in the picture. My teachers said that I was looking damn cute and pretty and simlar stuff.
Then my mommy proudly informed them that it was my birthday . People are supposed to look pretty and cute and happy on their birthdays... My ever ignorant mom asked my teacher how they celebrate birthdays in the school..... She was promptly informed that generally parents would bring Cake (and gifts). And in the afternoon , His/her freinds in the class and the teacher(s) would celebrate birthday with the toddler.....Arghhhhhhh..... Mommy, could you not have asked this a day before.... She forgot to bring the cake and the camera too.... so my cake cutting was postponed by a day....
My freinds in the school sang me " Happy Birthday to You" in the evening without any cake.....forget about the gifts.... I returned their wishes by singing " Happy Tu Tu" to all of them...
I can speak simple sentences as of now but if you want me to ratlle out tough ones , I know how to simplify them...
Paying respect to my Nana and seeking his blessings.
( well actually not... dont be mistaken I am not holding any flowers in my hand.. I am just playing with a silly little red chain with a plastic pendant... But my Nana will understand my playfullness and bless me anyway...
Finally I Can Cut my Birthday Cake
Well at around 3.15 today , after a long wait of more than 36 hours, i get to cut my cake as u can see here. I do not look welldisposed in this pic beacuse I have a slight cough. Secondly, when mumma is around I love to cry...
Wow, It is sooooooooo Yummy
I love cakes and pastries and I have stopped crying now as soon as I get my slice to eat.
If mumma is around , I dont like any one else to feed me.
Sorry Mdm Wu, I like you very much when I am in school. But when mommy is in front of me how can I not cry if I am not clinging to her.
Meet Some of My Non Crying Freinds
Get a kid's worldview from the eyes of Sami and Shreya .Learn the fun things we do as we grow.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
I have turned 2
1 comment:
- amit said...
i don't know the reason why i luv u so much but i know that any news/snaps of urs rejuvenate me . i luv to see u in my screen saver or in sami's world . i think that it may be an hour or two , we live together , but an unknown affection has developed towards u . in the busy world of urs mommy and poppy , whether i will get time or not , its different , but u will be in my heart forever my sweet butterfly.
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Mrs. Iris M. Holt, 87, of Clarksville, FL, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2011 in Blountstown, FL.
Iris was born on December 5, 1923, in Lakeland, FL, and had lived in Calhoun County for most of her life. She, along with her husband, James, owned and operated the Seminole Restaurant in Calhoun County for several years. Iris was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 179 in Blountstown, FL. She was inducted into the Eastern Star on November 28, 1950, served as Worthy Matron in 1954 and held 16 out of 18 positions. She was a member of the Poplar Head Baptist Church in Clarksville.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Holt.
Survivors include her son, Frank Gates, and his wife, Sylvia, of Fultondale, AL; one brother, Ed Frank McFarland, and his wife, Peggy, of Port St. Joe, FL; two sisters, Eunice Hill and her husband, Kelly, of Kinard, FL, and Virginia Newsome and her husband, J.C., of Frink, FL; two grandchildren, Holley Gates of Pelham, AL, and Gina Averett and her husband, John, of Tallahassee, FL.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 27, at 11 am (CDT) at Peavy Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Tommy Sumner officiating. Entombment will follow in the family mausoleum at Boggs Cemetery in Blountstown. The family will receive friends Tuesday, July 26, from 6:00 pm (CDT) until 8:00 pm (CDT) at Peavy Funeral Home.
All arrangements are under the direction of Marlon Peavy at Peavy Funeral Home in Blountstown (ph. 674-2266).
OBITUARY - Holt
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Music Composers Unite!
In the Spring of 2018, The Composers' Forum held a contest based on the idea of the 4 "Classical" elements, Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. Composers were asked to contribute a work of 2 minutes duration for each element. Here are the winners of that contest
1st PLACE: Johannes Bergcrantz, with "Air"
2nd PLACE: Stu Lloyd, with "Test Flight"
3rd PLACE: Kevin Evans, with "Air"
1st PLACE: Emily Bond, with "High Mountain Stream"
2nd PLACE: Stephen Ferre, with "The Black Pool"
3rd PLACE: Stephen Lines, with "Water"
1st PLACE: Emily Bond, with "Flame"
2nd PLACE: George Abbott, with "Cinematic Action Piece"
3rd PLACE: Joshua Empyre, with "Fire"
1st PLACE: Vn, with "The Dance of Gaia"
2nd PLACE: Emily Bond, with "Blue-Green World"
3rd PLACE: Clint Clark, with "Element Earth"
Original artwork by Julie Brown
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Though it was a quieter month at the cinema – just four trips – I got through a heap of viewing at home. Some of this viewing was in preparation for Sydney Film Festival. Some of it was catching up on films I missed at the cinema, on digital platforms. I ended up watching 29 films and 15 episodes of TV. But, more importantly, I finished two projects I had been working on for months. The first: Bond. I watched all 24 James Bond films and ranked them here. The second: Goosebumps. In one of the most ambitious and foolish things I have ever attempted, I re-read all 62 of the original Goosebumps novel series, and ranked and wrote about each one. The idea, to spark some nostalgia and to take once R.L. Stine fans through each novel and give the experience of re-living them. Also, it serves as a guide on which ones to never ever read again.
In addition to all this I recently began reading Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life. Tremendous work, but deeply scarring. I have read over 400 pages in a short amount of time, and am struggling to emotionally process some of this beautiful, but distressing story. On the TV front I have been addicted to The Thick of It, a perfect tonic to a long tough day at the office, but haven't really given much time to anything else. Albums of the month go to Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool and James Blake's The Colour in Everything.
Coming up in June: Sydney Film Festival. Check back in regularly for reviews and a series of diary entries. Some thoughts on fresh watches after the jump:
Theatrical Screenings
Green Room – Terrifyingly intense and plausible, survival instinct on bloody overdrive v. clinical business preservation. All hail Imogen Poots. A big jump in skill and craftsmanship for Jeremy Saulnier. (4/5)
The Nice Guys – Reviewed (3.5/5)
Bad Neighbours 2 – Reviewed (3.5/5)
Alice Through the Looking Glass – It is just never as trippy as it should be despite some inspired production, effects and a great Sacha Baron Cohen performance. An improvement on Burton's dire effort, but still pretty lackluster stuff (2/5).
The Spy Who Loved Me – Certainly the best-made of the Moore outings, and one of the most spectacular films in the entire series. I mean, check out the way this opening sequence ends. Carly Simon's Bond theme is one of the very best too. Then there's Jaws, the henchman with metal chompers, Carl Jurgens' megalomaniac wishing to launch World War III and start a new civilisation under the sea, and Barbara Bach's very capable Soviet KBG agent/sidekick Triple X. One of the few films in the series to generate awe, so at the end of the day it is just a ripper of a film. (4/5)
Octopussy – Considered by many to be one of the worst, but I found it to be amongst Moore's strongest outings as 007. Yes, that title is ridiculous and 'All Time High' may be the worst Bond theme song, but Octopussy is a rare Bond film that doesn't waste a minute of its runtime. It is Bond on overdrive – suturing electrifying action sequences (the train!) with sexy rendezvous on women-only islands and adventurous shortcuts through the jungle. It doesn't let up and I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, the clowns and all. (4/5)
James White – A brilliantly acted NYC-set life-in-disarray study with a sobering sense of stakes. (4/5)
For Your Eyes Only – The final Bond film I watched. Claims that it is Moore's most serious and sobering Bond outing are accurate, but it nevertheless remains a whole lot of fun, and secured Moore as my personal favourite 007. Carole Bouquet's revenge mission packs an emotional punch, the underwater sequences are superbly photographed and Bond's navigation of the shifting allegiances between Greek businessman Aris Kristatos, and his drug smuggling rival, is deftly scripted. But, what was it with that sexed-up blonde figure skater? (3.5/5)
Grimsby – SBC's best work since Borat? Hilarious spy spoof and endearing celebration of brotherhood, and family. Loved that it makes you recalibrate what qualifies as 'too far', and never wastes a joke. (3.5/5)
Kung Fu Panda 3 – The trilogy's weakest (so far)- the plot is hurried, and some of the characters get distractingly short-changed – but this is still some of Dreamworks' best work. Great family entertainment, with powerful messages about what identity, family and nurturing potential. Looks beautiful, as you'd expect, with some nifty score progressions. (3.5)
Dheepan – A dubious Palme d'Or winner last year, but it tells a timely story of freedom in the wake of suffering, and the struggle to maintain that freedom when the hyenas of war again arrive at your doorstep. This is a confused film; on one hand telling a compelling immigrant story – a Sri Lankan Tamil warrior flees to France with a woman (not his wife) and a young girl (not his daughter) – which is essentially an undercover mission to start a new life, and building a volatile and unpredictable environment to test the acclimation. Then, it becomes a different film entirely – a violent one, dealing with the resurface of repressed psychological trauma when that fleeting harmony comes under threat. (3/5)
Mei Ren You [The Mermaid] – I didn't know what to expect here, but I'd heard things. Including that it became China's highest grossing film of all time. Somehow. It is a genuinely bonkers environmental-awareness/anti-development/romance hybrid that is manages to run a gauntlet of hysterical and inspired to shoddy and terrible. There's also…no action? (3/5)
Entertainment – He is a loathesome offensive brute, and yet I can't look away. Flirts with unwatchability, but there was something mesmerising about this comic's fade into the wasteland of American failure. (2.5/5)
Moonraker – A weird one. Bond goes into space, so it is completely absurd, and yet early on a woman is mauled to death by dogs. Despite pigeon double-takes and Clint Eastwood impersonations it isn't the barrel of laughs I expected. Oh, and Dr Goodhead? Come on now. (2/5)
The Lady in the Van – The only memorable feature is Smith, who plays a cantankerous old bat. Well. Again. (2/5)
Gods of Egypt – Well, it isn't really trying to be anything other than silly, I don't think, but it doesn't even do a good job at that. Still, there are worse things out there. (1.5/5)
I have also watched a bunch of pre-SFF screeners that I cannot yet discuss. They include: A Journey of a Thousand Miles: Peacekeepers, Girl Asleep, Hieronymus Bosch: Touched by the Devil, Sonita, Morris From America, Let Them Come, Kate Plays Christine, Blood Father, A Fish, In Jackson Heights, Non Fiction Diary
Carol – (4.5/5)
Spectre – (4/5)
The Thick of It S2 E3 (Season – 4/5)
The Thick of It Season 3 (5/5)
The Think of It [Special] – 'Rise of the Nutters' (4/5)
The Thick of It [Special] – 'Spinners and Losers' (4/5)
Casual S1 E2-3
Hap & Leonard S1 E2-3


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The book starts out innocent enough - a Halloween celebration in on my favorite cities in California - Santa Cruz. Everything is going fine until someone dressed up as Death, hands out small cards to passerby's with a date on it. The date is of their death.
But, it's all fun and games, right?
A silly Halloween trick.
Until someone reads that their death is that night. And a few minutes later, they die from a stab wound.
Everyone saw Death that night, but no one can be certain of who the real killer is.
But when real estate agent, Regan McHenry, puts her nose into the middle of the investigation, things get a little more interesting. And suddenly, everyone starts to hold their husbands a little bit closer as many more die one by one.
Nancy's books gives me exactly what I want out of a mystery - a classic whodunit. While at times I had a little difficulty keeping track of character names, it didn't stop me from enjoying the exciting caper she wrote. I also really enjoyed the main character. I love anyone who can't help but put themselves in everyone else's business!
The Widow's Walk League is perfect for Halloween and will make you think twice about dressing up as the Grim Reaper this year.
You can purchase a copy of your book via Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Also, make sure to check out Nancy's website for further details on her publications. You can also read Chapters 1 and 2 for free, so click this link to find out how!


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Pic by Bobjgalindo / GFDL
This is your comprehensive guide to memory care in Klamath Falls, OR. Memory care communities offer housing and care for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. Memory care empowers seniors who have memory loss to stay as active and engaged as they possibly can, while living in a dignified, safe and supervised setting. Our local Senior Living Advisors are expert in dementia care in Klamath Falls, OR and surrounding areas. After an initial assessment, your advisor will recommend a list of memory care facilities that most closely match your loved one's individual imperatives for care and living preferences, as well as your family's budget.Memory Care Costs in Klamath Falls, OR
Price varies widely depending on location, care required, size of the resident's living space and the level of luxury at the community. The price of memory care in Klamath Falls ranges from $3,300 to $5,035 a month.
Memory Care Costs in Nearby Cities* The costs above represent the AVERAGE monthly cost of memory care for a one person bedroom in that city.
Pic by Seth Ilys / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Facts about Klamath Falls
The official website for the city of Klamath Falls is http://www.ci.klamath-falls.or.us.
Klamath Falls is represented by Mayor Todd Kellstrom.
Klamath Falls is a city in and the county seat of Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The city was originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867. It was named after the Link River, on whose falls the city was sited. The name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1893. The population was 20,840 at the 2010 census. The city is situated on the south east shore of the Upper Klamath Lake and about 25 miles (40 km) north of the California-Oregon border.The Klamath Falls area had been inhabited by Native Americans for at least 4,000 years before the first permanent settlers. The Klamath Basin became part of the Oregon Trail with the opening of the Applegate Trail. Logging was Klamath Falls' first major industry.


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Not Slumping This Saturday
I lost yesterday afternoon entirely, as Whippersnapper is terribly ill and has had to go back to the vets. The cure for pancreatitis is to starve the cat, and the cure for diabetes is to feed it. Somewhere between, I hope he will get well.
So today- well, I am preparing a mega-budget for an archive of women's music and memories, in conjunction with Debi Withers, and that is going to take up a lot of today.
Meanwhile, I have been colour-coding the clothes on the clothes rail, which has been amazingly therapeutic. I have no room for a wardrobe, and have to keep clothes acquisition to the minimum as a result. But sorting through what I have results in new combinations and almost feels like buying new clothes. The chest of drawers that wouldn't go up the stairs in this mini-house is going into storage next week and I have to find somewhere to put six pairs of denim jeans and a selection of vintage woollens. Hmm.
Offsprog Two is hovering, or should that be hoovering, but I've just been in her room and observed her habit of storing clothes everywhere but her cupboard, so she's on a hiding to nothing today.
I have started to read Zoe Street Howe's book on the Slits, Typical Girls, and it's providing a lot of food for thought- the cosmopolitan make-up of those early punk bands, for instance, and the surprisingly manipulative Joe Strummer. I read Marion Leonard's book Gender and the Music Industry last week and was particularly taken by the way the Spice Girls reverted Girl Power to the woman's right to choose her make-up and shoes!
Later, I have a super plan. Gina sent me a link to a yodelling video, and I will begin today. I am certain that the meaning of life, or one of them anyway, is stored in the ability to yodel. I may not make the Tyrolean Yodelling Championships, but hope to edge a micro- millimetre closer to being able to mimic Dolly Parton!


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This pen is a bolt action 30 caliber bullet tip. It makes for a good conversation piece. It has the bolt mechanism just like a real rifle.
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Sep 14, 2012 3:18 PM GMT
Protesters attack the US embassy in Tunis, British and German embassies in Khartoum, and a KFC restaurant is torched in Tripoli.
Protesters have entered the US embassy in the Tunisian capital Tunis in the latest violence sparked by an anti-Muslim film.
A large fire could be seen burning inside the compound. Police fired teargas at the crowds, who broke windows and set fire to trees.
In the Sudanese capital Khartoum, some 5,000 protesters attacked the British and German embassies.
Demonstrators broke into the German compound, pulling down the German flag and flying a black Islamic flag above the building. They also smashed windows and started a fire in front of the main gate.
Police fired tear gas at the protesters, who then moved on to the nearby British embassy in Khartoum East.
Britain's Foreign Office said: "We can confirm an ongoing demonstration outside the British Embassy in Khartoum. Sudanese police are at the scene."


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FME Cloud runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS). When processing any data on FME Cloud that does not reside in the database, it is worth looking to see if you can leverage the AWS simple storage service (S3). AWS S3 is secure, durable, highly scalable object storage that allows you to store any amount of data and access it over a simple web services interface.
There are several ways you can use FME Cloud with S3.
FME Server Backup - When using the FME Server backup and restore tool to migrate between FME Cloud instances, rather than simply downloading the backup file you can configure FME Server to write to an S3 resource. This is advantageous if you are migrating a large server with a lot of data, because the data doesn't have to leave AWS which means it is fast.
Storage - Store data on S3 that you either produced as a result of a translation, or you read as input for a translation. Because of the low storage costs, it is a great place to store even terabytes of data. A key feature of S3 is every object has a web address. Using this web address, a document can be accessed with absolutely no impact on your web server or database.
Automate data processing - Rather than sending a request to FME Server to trigger a process with S3 you can trigger a process on FME Server by just uploading a dataset. You can automate data processing using the FME Server S3 Publisher, you can also use S3 event notifications in combination with AWS Lambda. This involves provisioning FME Cloud capacity dynamically based on the amount of data that needs processing.
Web Server - S3 can be used as a web server which we discuss in more detail here.
To ensure maximum performance you should ensure your data is stored in the same AWS region as the FME Cloud instance. You can find the region the FME Cloud instance is in by selecting an instance on the FME Cloud dashboard and then looking on the Details panel. Also, although pricing for S3 and EC2 is relatively complex, it is generally cheaper to move data between components when it is in the same region.


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IPG Photonics is the world's leading provider of high power fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers that are revolutionizing performance and utility in a remarkable array of material processing, micromachining, telecommunications, medical and other advanced applications.
LMI AB is the IPG Photonics partner in Sweden offer market leading fiber laser solutions for most industrial applications.
Would you like more information on IPG laser systems? Leave us your email or phone number and we'll contact you. You can also call us at +46(0)28130710 or email: email@example.com
Hjärpholn 18SE-780 53 NÅS SWEDEN
Bankgirocentralen No.: 5199-0018 Organization: 556538-1752 VAT NO: SE556538175201
Our mother company - a premier provider of solutions for material processing needs.
Cavagent CMS


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Enter your email below to get access to a proven guide to creating a successful B2B podcast and discover:
"I needed someone who understood the challenges of building a business with content. He has freed me up from the daily grind of writing, editing, publishing and promoting posts. His skills as a writer and attention to detail have always produced one-of-a-kind content which is meaningful and impactful for both the reader and Google. This has saved me massive amounts of time allowing me to concentrate on other vital projects. Hiring Vinay is a smart strategic move for any business wanting to grow in the medium to longer term with earned media."
Dan Norris, Co-founder of WPCurve
"Vinay helped us kick off our content in way that was unique, gained attention, drove traffic and even opened up potential partnerships."
Sreedhar Ambati, CEO of Engagebay
Vinay Koshy
When I was about 11, I got on my first ride on a roller coaster.
I wasn't too sure of what to expect other than that I would experience speed. As the ride commenced I found my organs doing strange things - like my mind telling me that this was all wrong and in danger, my heart skipping more than a beat and my stomach.... well, let's not go there.
My experience on that rollercoaster ride reminds me of what it can be like for most prospects and customers.
As businesses we want customers and want them to have a positive experience. Yet more often than not what they are in for is an uncertain yet wild rollercoaster ride.
So what can we do provide a great experience and tame the wilder aspects of the buyer/customer journey?
The answer is simple - get to know them and understand their experiences.
It's something I learned working for SaaS companies including WPCurve building their audience to over 30,000 subscribers before it was sold to Godaddy.
But how do you scale gaining customer insights, fuelling your content strategy, gaining quality leads etc all while driving business growth?
I have come to realize there is a simpler and better way to do it. What is it?
Podcasts and in particular interview-style podcasts which allows you to build warm relationships, better understand your audience and customer, build content, share your culture and create memorable experiences if you execute it right.
It said that the golden rule of content is that it should be educational and entertaining.
Podcasts can achieve both with your interviewees providing the content. Other benefits include:
Most importantly it builds an audience and community which comes back for more.
You see, as we pulled up at the end my first rollercoaster ride, I stepped out with my new windswept look, staggered over to my dad, looked up at him and said - That was awesome! Can I go again?
That's what you want to hear from your clients - That was awesome! Let's do it again!
To show you how this works, I'll send my guide to creating a successful B2B podcast that expands your influence and drives business growth for FREE! Sign up below now!
Join my free weekly newsletter and I'll send you a guide on "How to create a successful B2B podcast that drives business growth."


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Recruiting and selecting the right individuals for New Zealand's Special Operations Forces is crucial. Each element of New Zealand's Special Operations Forces has a slightly different selection process, but in each case applicants are assessed against the rigorous requirements relevant to each position or role.
The Special Operations Command maintains positions in a variety of roles. Vacancies in the Command will be advertised internally within the New Zealand Defence Force (for military and civilian positions) and externally (for civilian positions only) where appropriate and on an as-required basis. Skills and qualities of candidates must meet the individual requirements of the job for which they apply.
The New Zealand Special Air Service looks for individuals who are mentally and physically fit, have a high level of motivation, and who are prepared to undertake selection and employment within the NZSAS as a special personal challenge.
NZSAS Selection is a demanding course designed to identify self-disciplined individuals who are capable of working effectively as part of a small group under stressful conditions for long periods of time. Incredibly high standards are demanded because difficult mental, physical and emotional challenges can be encountered by NZSAS personnel on operations.
The Selection course consists of the following elements:
There are a number of physical and mental challenges that are conducted within a controlled environment, and by the end of Selection only the most motivated applicants will remain to go on to the next level – the rigorous training needed to become a member of the NZSAS.
NOTE: Completion of Selection does not guarantee that a candidate will move on to the more demanding training phase. That is determined by the Commanding Officer's Selection Board.
Commando Selection, like NZSAS Selection, is a demanding course which assesses the capability of an individual to work as part of a team under stressful conditions, but specifically in the counter-terrorist operational environment.
Candidates for Commando training attempt the same initial Selection course as NZSAS candidates (see above), but the requirement to complete certain stages of Selection is slightly different.
Similarly with the NZSAS process, completion of Commando Selection does not guarantee that a candidate will be accepted for further training. The progression of a candidate is determined by the Commanding Officer's Selection Board.
The role of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operator is best suited to individuals who are mature, physically fit and highly motivated, and have the ability to solve problems with minimal supervision. An aptitude for mechanics, electronics and chemistry is necessary, as is a willingness to live and work in small teams over an extended period of time.
Prospective candidates are required to pass the Special Operations Forces Induction Course (SOFIC), which covers physical barrier testing, familiarisation with New Zealand's Special Operations Forces weapons and equipment, and education on the New Zealand Special Air Service ethos and values.
The duration of the course is ten days and consists of the following elements:
The SOFIC is concerned with ensuring that the 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment employs individuals who are prepared to deploy, survive and win in stressful domestic and expeditionary environments.
Technical and practical skills in EOD environments will be taught through a series of basic courses after the SOFIC has been successfully completed. This initial training includes a three-month probation period to ensure individuals are capable of operating effectively in their chosen trade.
1 NZSAS Regt's Support Squadron is a multi-functional sub-unit comprising individuals employed in 18 different trade groups:
By nature the Regiment is a dynamic unit with shifting needs, and therefore the Support Squadron looks for individuals with the right attitude, who are innovative and agile, and prepared to meet any challenge that comes their way.
Similarly with the EOD Operator applicant, individuals posted to Support Squadron are required to pass the Special Operations Forces Induction Course (see above).
A three-month probation period ensures individuals are capable of operating effectively in their chosen trade. Specific-to-role training is undertaken to ensure the individual has the necessary technical skills to perform their role in a Special Operations Forces environment.
Visit the Defence Careers site for more information on roles currently being recruited for.


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I wasn't planning on writing a Audio Masterclass Daily today. But you know what? Something came up and I just can't resist. It's just a quickie...
Take a listen to this. It's a short clip of acoustic drums,...
WAV (best)
AAC (better)
MP3 (take your chances)
It's a pretty huge sound, isn't it? But there is NO processing other than a 12 dB boost at 11.5 kHz and above.
So here's a question for you...
How was it recorded?
Send in your answers to me by Tuesday evening and I will tell all in the Audio Masterclass Daily later next week.
I find it a great exercise to really listen to a track and try and hear everything there is to know about it, recording-wise. If you like, you can make other technical comments on the sound. Just tell me what you hear.
And another challenge... Can you turn it from merely huge to positively earth-shattering? Fire up your plug-ins and see what you can do. Send the results to me by e-mail and I'll publish the best ones next week (with full credit for you of course).
The clip above is titled Drums-0701, by David Mellor, and the composition, performance and recording are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.You are free:
Submissions for this feature have now closed and the results are available at www.audiomasterclass.com/learn.cfm?a=3759. Thank you to all who took part.Come on the FREE COURSE TOUR
Great home recording starts with a great home recording studio. It doesn't need to be expensive if you know how to select the right equipment for your needs.


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Liquavista has taken its color e-paper displays to the next level, by producing what the company is calling the first flexible electrowetting displays. The new prototypes are still video capable, but now use flexible substrates rather than the typical glass layer. The obvious application once commercially ready is rollable or bendable ereaders.
Video demo after the cut
In addition, it makes the Liquavista panels more resilient to bangs and knocks, with the company bravely describing them as "unbreakable." They also require less power than a color LCD display, but have a refresh rate sufficient for smooth video, unlike traditional E Ink panels found on most current ereaders.
What the company isn't saying is when, exactly, the prototypes will graduate to production-ready panels available to OEMs. Nor do we know how pricing for the screens compares.
[via The Digital Reader]
Press Release:
First Liquavista Flexible Display Prototype – October 2010
Demonstrates true versatility of electrowetting display technology
26 October 2010 – Eindhoven – Today, Liquavista BV., announced the creation of the first flexible electrowetting displays. These prototypes demonstrate yet another dimension to the versatility of Liquavista's display technology, adding lower weight, robustness and conformability to the bright, colourful low power video capabilities.
"We're really excited to be able to demonstrate yet another significant benefit of electrowetting display technology with the development of these prototypes." Said Guy Demuynck, CEO Liquavista. "Bringing to market a unique display that can run video in color at low power and has the added advantage of an unbreakable screen which is lightweight, thin, flexible and robust will enable consumer electronics manufacturers to increase the durability of devices, reduce manufacturing costs and create new product designs to open up new markets.
"This new prototype is a first important step in paving the way for high volume manufacture of displays on flexible substrates" added Johan Feenstra, Liquavista's CTO and Founder, "This clearly demonstrates that electrowetting technology is not only compatible with standard glass substrates but can in fact be manufactured on any substrate. The pace at which we have been able to continue to show advanced technology features is further proof of the simplicity and versatility of our technology."
Liquavista's displays are based on the principles of electrowetting and bring bright and colourful images and video that ensures excellent indoor and outdoor readability but uses dramatically less battery power. The technology is uniquely suited for colour and video electronic paper displays because of its very high reflectivity and its intrinsically fast video-rate switching speed. It is ideal for manufacture on flexible substrates as it does not require high temperature processing, has no demanding encapsulation requirements and is independent on cell gap variations.
In the future, consumers will want products that not only support full color and video but offer readability in all lighting conditions and gives them the freedom and portability of paper. Liquavista's displays possess all the features to fulfil this desire.


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Lots of activity takes place during this period of expectancy including traveling to various destinations using different modes of transport. Long distance traveling may predispose a pregnant woman to clot formation, which is a dangerous complication called deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs due to stasis of blood in the lower limbs for a long time.
Traveling long distances causes prolonged stasis of blood which can cause clot formation. Although long distance travel is not contraindicated for healthy pregnant women, it's important to take certain precautions to reduce the risk of DVT.
Pregnant women traveling long distances by road or train are advised to take 30 minutes breaks every 2 hours of traveling. During the breaks, they should walk around to improve blood flow from the legs.
Air travel in pressurized airplanes is allowed usually up to 36 weeks. A doctor's recommendation that you're your fit to fly is normally required. The above apply to those flying for many hours.
Adequate hydration is crucial while traveling. Lack of water in the body (dehydration) is a risk factor for clot formation. While traveling it's advisable to take plenty of fluids especially water to prevent dehydration.
Seat belts should be used all the time as this significantly reduces ejection from the motor vehicle during an accident thus saving lives.
Expectant mothers with complications such as high blood pressure, rupture of membranes, premature labor, bleeding in pregnancy should not travel. Consultation with a gynecologist is important before traveling.
Pregnant women near their due date usually from 36 weeks should not travel far from the facility where they will deliver as labor can begin earlier than expected.
Consumption of Alcoholic beverages is very common during festivities. It's important expectant women to understand that alcohol is completely contraindicated in pregnancy and must be avoided. Alcohol is harmful to the baby. It does close the placenta. In fact, fetal blood levels approximate those of the mother. There is no safe quantity of alcohol in pregnancy hence need to avoid it completely.
Alcohol consumption may cause a number of congenital malformations such as brain anomalies; abnormal face, low birth weight, mental retardation and many other anomalies. Alcohol intake also increases the risk of miscarriage.
In terms of physical activity rigorous and high impact exercises should be avoided. Activities such as walking and swimming are safe for the normal healthy pregnant woman. Sports like skiing, gymnastics, motorcycling, basketball, football, scuba and all high-impact sports should be avoided. Adequate hydration must be maintained during exercises.
Traveling and Camping at very high attitudes generally more than 10,000 feet above sea level should be avoided because of decreased oxygen pressures at such high attitudes which can affect the baby and mother.
It's very important to have contacts especially mobile phone of your gynecologist or antenatal care provider during this festive season. This is crucial especially when you get a problem away from your provider. Your gynecologist would be able to advise you and if it's a problem which requires urgent attention they can link you up with a colleague working in the area you're visiting or link you up with a hospital where you can get assistance. If you don't have contacts for your doctor, it's advisable to visit a reputable hospital within your vicinity.


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Die Die Must Share – The Idea of Collaborative Consumption
December 8, 2011 by Zero Waste Singapore
Filed under Insights
Eugene Tay, the Editor of Green Business Singapore and Founder of Green Future Solutions, is a person whom you would describe as a green maven – someone who reads and knows a lot about environmental trends and ideas, and who likes to share them with others.
Having come across many green ideas over the past few years, there is one recent idea Eugene would claim that he 'die die must share' – the idea of Collaborative Consumption.
Collaborative Consumption refers to the idea of sharing that is empowered by technology and social networks, and how it changes consumption and the way businesses operate.
Sharing also covers renting, swapping, lending, trading, exchanging, bartering, and gifting. The advantages of sharing are that fewer resources are used to make and ship products, and less waste are generated and disposed.
The term Collaborative Consumption was first described in 2010 in the book What's Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers.
Other resources with similar ideas on sharing include the book The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing by Lisa Gansky and the Shareable website. Read more


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So, just finished the awesome and wonderful game that is Persona 3, and I can say that it is truly epic. Few games have made me feel so many emotions in one story. Took me around 200 hours to get through The Journey combined with The Answer and I'm really glad I did.
I have to say that this was one of the best console games I've ever played, and it was really unique. I played the unofficial "undubbed" version, which is the english version but with the original japanese voices. That's because, usually with these kinds of games that have lots and lots of voiceovers, the english dub is horrible! And I checked youtube after I finished the game, and Persona 3 was no exception. So I'm very glad I played the undubbed version, and I recommend that everyone does that. Bad voicing can really ruin a game like this, when it contains like 90% talking.
I almost always play the undub version for any game, if they exist, but it was a little hard to find a good one for this game, so if you are looking for it, ask me because I know which one works.
Oh, and in case you're wondering what FES stands for, it stands for Festival and is an official expansion for Persona 3 that was released after the original game, with lots of added stuff to do. Most importantly, the FES version contains the final chapter of the game. The conclusion of the story. It's fittingly called "The Answer". It's separate from the main game, and also plays out really different. So I'll write about them separately too.
The Journey:
You take the role of a blue haired guy who recently joins a new school. In my case this was Kira, the cool kid that were friends with everyone, anything and loved by all. The game starts with Kira, entering his new dorm and is met by a mysterious boy who gets him to sign a contract of sorts and who knew then what that would get him into later on?
It's so hard to put this game into words as I think it should just be played, not read about to get your own feelings about it. All the little details and subtle moves made this game a true masterpiece in my eyes.
All the social links, the events and after school activities and the fact that you even sat down to take tests to advance in school meanwhile you tried to figure out how to finish the night off. Going to Tartarus, staying in to study or hanging with your girlfriend(s)/best friends.
Of course I tried to finish all social links but didn't micromanage too much and ended up getting all but four of them. The links have really nice stories and I loved each one I did get to know.
Tartarus is a dungeon filled with shadows that you have to kill and grind on to get leveled up enough for the coming midnight bosses each month, as well as get items, weapons and clothes. The fun part was that, I hated to go in there, I just wanted to continue with the social links, and the characters in the game didn't want to go in either so it felt like I could connect with them more in that way.
The game overall is thick with story, perfect memorable characters and awesome music.
The people in the game that stood out the most to me were Yukari, Mitsuru and Junpei in the team. There couldn't have been better characters. I liked them all and their stories and personalities really made the game as epic as it is.
The first part, The Journey, took me around 170 hours to finish and all those events that happened throughout the game left me wanting for more.
The fighting system can be somewhat frustrating at times. This is one of the few turn based games where you can't manually control your party members. It's also one of those games where one bad move, by anyone in your party, can change the fate of the entire battle. And they do make plenty of bad moves, sadly. When they act like you would want them to, it feels really awesome and it gives even more of a feel that they are real characters instead of just pawns to control in battle. But when they screw up 30 minutes into a big boss battle, and you get killed for the 5th time, it gets really annoying. This is especially annoying in The Answer.
I would have wished for manual handling there as they have in Persona 4, but at the end of the day, it worked out great anyhow.
The midnight bosses are really creative and fun to play, but sadly I overleveled for the last boss so the fight didn't get as epic as it could have been. Even though the last one were awesome with changing arcanas and all its attacks. My party always included Yukari for healing and Jumpei a whole lot for defence. Akihiko and Mitsuru rotated as well in there.
"Strength of heart, when united, is barred by no door…"
Extreme spoiler below!
The Answer:
The journey continues after unfortunate events due to the big battle. No real reason have been given to why it happened and we are met by a video showing the group fighting, each other.
The Answer is a true dungeon crawler in my head, with hardly any story (if you compare it to its first part) and boss after boss after boss in giant dungeons. The bosses aren't that creative either sadly and I ended up beating bosses looking like the ones I just grinded on to level up. The enemies was way harder, as the difficulty has been raised a lot. I think this game is one of the hardest games I've ever played, difficulty wise, and it gave me a good sense of achieving something great.
The story that existed though, was intriguing and well worth the time spent and gave me a perfect ending to a perfect game.
I finally got to know what happened to Kira after he passed away mysteriously in the ending of the Journey, and he didn't truly die, he saved them all in a truly selfless way.
As I said before but can't say it enough, a perfect ending to a perfect game.
"You know… I think you can spread the message now… Not with words alone… but with everyone's passion and strength… If you could do that… He wouldn't have to bear the burden all alone, would he…?"


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An item in a tab bar.
- iOS 2.0+
- Mac Catalyst 13.0+
- tvOS 9.0+
- UIKit
A tab bar operates strictly in radio mode, where one item is selected at a time—tapping a tab bar item toggles the view above the tab bar. You can also specify a badge value on the tab bar item for adding additional visual information—for example, the Messages app uses a badge on the item to show the number of new messages. This class also provides a number of system defaults for creating items.
Use the
init(tab method to create one of the system items. Use the
init(title: method to create a custom item with the specified title and image, which is used as both the unselected and selected image. Use the
init(title: method to create a custom item with the specified title, unselected image, and selected image.
Customizing Appearance
In iOS v5.0 and later, you can customize the appearance of tab bars by setting item label text attributes using appearance selectors declared by
UIBar. You can also use the methods listed in Customizing the Item's Appearance. You can customize the appearance of all tab bar items using the appearance proxy (for example,
[UITab), or just of a single tab bar item.
By default, unselected and selected images are automatically created from the alpha values in the source images. To prevent system coloring, provide images with
For more information about appearance and behavior configuration, see Tab Bars.


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Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017
Virgo will enjoy myriad opportunities in this year 2017. But you'll also meet with countless roadblocks and you'll come out safely at the end of 2017. Some of Virgo Horoscope individuals might suffer some serious issues of relationships and some will be able to hold the entire situation.
Mars will help you and increase your efforts to reach your goals. This is a better effectiveness on your part as the year developments. Jupiter would upkeep Virgo personal life and develops interpersonal relations. You can't move onward in an unsociable fashion, but instead necessity to fake relations with near and dear ones to thrive in this year.
Virgo, you would be involved in different fields and your decisions are more effective for Virgo career as well as other spheres of life in a positive way. You will have a full support of luck and your social status will rise during this year. Virgo card is also full with the grantee of foreign trips and change of residence.
You would get good results after the September 2017 and would get many chances in life to attain success in your actions. These opportunities would try to distress you but after September 2017, you would control them and totally outperform.
In this year, Virgo is in the special period of life and it is quite extreme for them. Jupiter would be in the house of Libra and Saturn would be in Sagittarius for most of the time of 2017. Hence Virgo natives enjoy stability in their life. You would rise stronger and things would be a lot softer this period with these placements.
Mercury, the planetary ruler would start the year with a reversing motion making your actions go nonfunctional. In December 2017, Virgo would be tried and tested in emotional side. Take sufficient relaxation as nothing productive would come done in this period. Uranus would be Virgo's house of familiarity, Neptune in the extent of relationships and Pluto would be placed in the love sphere for all of 2017, which would change your behavior towards love and relationships in a more optimistic sense.
Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017 Career
Virgo career would find some tough time in 2017. You would also be regular to transfers and changes. The overall performance likely to fall when compared to the prior years' work. Hard work and supple approach to workplace relationships will bring progress in the long run. Don't take things for arranged, in its place, your service or business assumes more of you.
Give all things that you can easily and see the results. In the last quarter of the year, a sense of calmness would prevail in your work sphere. You would be busy throughout the year due to your business and career.
Around September 2017 Virgo career and business is also visible. Many chances would be there no embellishment your income and boost in business and career may come. You should open your eyes and ears and hike under a simple environment all through the year.
Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017 Love and Marriage
Virgo love life would be full of emotions and surprises. You would be able to the container on more dependable and attractive relationships for now. New luxurious and wishes move can be anticipated in your love front for the year. Those Virgo who already married would find the smooth runway for the year 2017.
Misunderstanding and hitches would need to be resolved through proper communication and dialogues. Venus and Mars would help those single Virgos that are searching for ideal life partners. You would need to avoid frustration and try to understand your partner and their viewpoints.
You should raise communication to sidestep any annoyances in love matters. Already engaged people may get married during this year 2017. Virgo and your partner would be travel to obligation and your relationships would reach a new glass. You need to contribute some time to them, as impulsiveness would give you trouble in relationship 2017. You can expect much stability in love life around the year end.
Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017 Finance
Virgo financial situation would be stable. You would be enhanced your financial situations. Your extra expenditure may create problems for you and misbalance in financial status. The Investment would not be the best choice throughout the year. If you still have ambitious, then you can invest during June and October with proper planning and care.
Stay focused, put your efforts of improving your financial stand up in society. Don't over-spoil on anything overgenerous for this time period. When you come to investing or saving use your skills and analytics. Leave some flexibility in your reasonable and survey it the book.
Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017 Health
Virgo horoscope people would be enjoying good health in all the year 2017. They would be full of ample energy that helps Virgo natives to overtake the stress. Have a positive approach and be bold courageous when you meet real-world difficulties in life. But, Virgo takes some time for rest and relaxation during this year.
You would be able to rewind and face life with renewed vigor and strength. Avoid all conflicts and expressive disorders and have the positive approach towards life.
Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017 Education
Virgo education situation would be favorable and you would get good results in your studies. Some Virgos those hopeful for higher education and admission into foreign universities would be able to contain the same.
However, the planetary positions are associated so as that the Virgo individuals would get good results only on hard work and promise. There is not luck in store. Don't take speedy judgments regarding education in this year 2017.
Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017 Travel
A long distance trip on Virgo green card that you would enjoy with your family. Some business trips which are of short duration are possible in 2017. Some Virgo people would be in travel as shift career and transfers likely.
Advice for Virgo Yearly Horoscope 2017
In 2017 Virgo life seems to be little unclear with no detection as where you are going. That's why you'll need to be sensitive around you to excel in life. You need to modify your objectives to make them more practical with life. A sagacity of security might produce in at the time but hold to your ground.
There is always bright at the end of the subway. Give all your best and then there would be complete goodness in life.
What's Your Reaction?
Sophia has a great experienced in Astrology and very well known blog writer. Sophia is a great fan of new adventure. She starts her day with one pinch of astrology and a hot cup of latte. She loves reading, watching Movies, and traveling.


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Progressive Rock has never been cool. Even when it was cool it wasn't cool. Like Heavy Metal, anyone who listens to it is a complete pariah on every level. Social misfit, outcast, weirdo. It comes with the territory. That doesn't stop prog from being great!!! I think fans identify with the genre because it presents an alternative way of thinking and feeling. A pop song can take three minutes to say "I love you," while a prog song takes ten. Something about that extended length forces more retrospection. The moods and thoughts of the song feel more warmly explored as opposed to coldly calculated. This is why I love this genre. Anyone who knows me is well-aware that I never shut the fuck up about it. It's just so damn epic! One song can be jam-packed with so many musical and lyrical concepts! What's not to love?
So I've decided to compile a shortlist of the 5 Prog Epic Essentials. I'll briefly (yeah right) attempt to explain what makes each tune so epic, and maybe provide some amateur insight into the meaning behind them. This list is in no specific order, and is in no way meant to denote any amount of superiority from song to song.
1. Supper's Ready – Genesis
Don't even know where to begin with this one. If anyone were to ask me what "Supper's Ready" is about, I'd tell them it's the history of the world in a song. 23-minutes of sprawling epicness. This song defined epic. In reality, the song is intended to be a massive meditation on the battle between good and evil, as told in seven different sections. It would come to define what prog was all about: tempo changes, intricate movements, insane solos, excess. It presents 5 musicians, all at the height of their game, playing/singing for their lives. It's a tune that feels like an experience, as if you've just gone on some wild adventure or journey through time and space. It's absolutely mad in the best of ways, and will have you scratching your head long after it's over. I don't feel like I can do it much justice, so just listen to it. Explore it yourself, or miss out!!!
2. Close to the Edge – Yes
'A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace.' This is the opening line to one of the greatest prog epics ever written. Like Genesis on Foxtrot, the 1972 classic record Close to the Edge is Yes at their best. Bruford, Wakeman, Anderson, Howe, Squire. Those names in the same breath is a prog fan's wet dream. In my opinion, this the definitive Yes record, and definitive Yes song. It's the best record they ever made, and could be the greatest prog song ever recorded. You've just got to hear it. The lyrics are strange, and it's never really quite clear what they're about. Anderson has said the following on the subject of the song's meaning: "It's all about your higher self eventually bringing you out of your dark world." The musical passages certainly reflect that sentiment. If I can be a little serious for a moment here, I'd like to comment that Yes has always been a spiritually comforting band for me. Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm one of the most anxious, paranoid people to walk the earth. Yes has been a band that has always been there to remind me that it's all good. Everything is okay. Things have a way of working themselves out.
This track is in a similar vein as "Supper's Ready." It takes you on a spiritual journey that leaves you feeling elated, and oddly comforted. This song has a strange ability to do that for me, and I hope it can do the same for you. The first time I heard it, I was moved to tears. It's THAT powerful. See if you agree.
3. Thick as a Brick – Jethro Tull
This is another epic I struggle to find words for. In my senior year of college I actually wrote a term paper about this record because I had so much to say about it. Ironically, it was made as a parody of the genre, but was received as a celebration of it. Sick of being labeled as a prog band, Ian Anderson and company decided to make a record that would call out the genre for its excessive and pretentious nature. The plan backfired when prog fans hailed Brick as a champion of the genre. From that point on, Tull would embrace their proggy reputation and go on to work almost exclusively within the genre.
The lyrics to the album's lone song are supposed to be the work of an 8-year old prodigy with a knack for writing epic poems. That's right by the way, one fucking song for the entire 45-minute album. I LOVE THAT! I could go on all day about the themes explored in the song, but I already did that in a college paper. If you really want to hear my thoughts on the piece, just ask for the paper. Otherwise, figure it out for yourself. That's half the fun of it!
4. 2112 – Rush
I feel like this only makes sense as the next step on the list of epics. I think any prog fans reading this most likely knew this was coming. I mean… how could it not be included? I'm not really sure how to explain what 2112 is all about, so let me provide you with this aptly written description of the piece via Wikipedia:
In the year 2062, a galaxy-wide war results in the union of all planets under the rule of the Red Star of the Solar Federation. By 2112, the world is controlled by the "Priests of the Temples of Syrinx," who determine the content of all reading matter, songs, pictures — every facet of life.
A man discovers an ancient guitar and learns to play his own music. Thinking he has made a wonderful discovery that will be a boon to humanity, he goes to present the guitar to the priests of the Temples, who angrily destroy it and rebuke him for unearthing one of the "silly whims" that caused the collapse of the previous civilization. He goes into hiding and dreams of a world before the Solar Federation. Upon awakening he becomes distraught and commits suicide. As he dies, another planetary battle begins resulting in the ambiguous ending "Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: We have assumed control."
Do I need to say more?
5. The Invisible Man – Marillion
This choice is a bit more controversial and unexpected than the others, but I've thought very carefully about this selection. I assure you that I have not taken it lightly. I'm guessing most of the people who will read this will ask themselves, "Who the fuck is Marillion?" That's a perfectly normal question to ask! The band rose to fame in the 80s as a prog rock revival act, but just as quickly faded into obscurity as the world politely made it known that they weren't interested in that sort of revival. That doesn't mean that Marillion hasn't contributed some great epics to the genre, and this is one of them. This pick is also the most current of all on the list, coming from the 2004 album Marbles. The band's sound has changed throughout their 30+ year career, and this song and respective album are a far cry from the band's early work.
Lead singer Steve Hogarth is a bit more personal with his lyrics, and surely more direct. "Invisible Man" is a meditation on the physical and psychological frustrations that come with…well…being dumped. But of course in classic prog fashion, Hogarth doesn't just come out and say it, he chooses a more introspective method:
If I close my eyes
I can see where you live
Climb the winding stairs
Up to your apartment
The scent of you preparing
His evening meal
I must watch in dread
When he's cruel to you
In horrified silence
As you make love
I cannot lift a hand
Lift a hand to stop him
I don't exist What can I do?
What can I do?
The song builds and builds until it reaches its zenith. A summary of what it means to feel insignificant, ostracized, abandoned. A comprehensive guide to being a lost in another person, while you mean nothing to them. It's heavy stuff, and the music reflects that. GIVE IT A LISTEN COME ON!


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Vinyl Start-Up Connects with Metro East SBDC to Fine-Tune Business Plan
Brothers Gerald and Brian Bach have joined forces as co-owners of Gaslight Vinyl, a new high performance digital print studio in downtown Belleville.
Older brother Gerald was raised in print shops and schooled in graphic design, having worked for a major telecommunications company for more than 10 years. Younger brother Brian spent eight years in the Army with two combat tours in Afghanistan, working in infantry and later with computer systems.
In January, the duo officially opened the doors to their startup in nearly 4,000 square feet of commercial space in Belleville. The Bach brothers sought help from the Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in completing their business plan.
"We first contacted Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's SBDC for help with securing a traditional bank loan," said Brian Bach. "Although we weren't successful in obtaining the loan, we did spend three weeks perfecting our business plan, which we've been able to use it long term as our business continues to grow. We're grateful to the SBDC and Business Specialist Jo Ann DiMaggio May for the time she spent with us and the expertise she shared."
Gaslight Vinyl designs and makes a range of personalized vinyl products from single-order banners to a complete rebranding of a commercial fleet. Gerald says the business is unique with regard to its expertise in vinyl customization. All orders are completed in-shop.
"From simple, one-color vinyl decals and magnets to full color wraps, we have the capability to turn any blank canvas into a work of art," Gerald said. "We're not a sign shop that tries to wrap vinyl. We're a vehicle wrap studio that also makes great signs."
Gaslight Vinyl products include cut or printed vinyl; car magnets; "perforated" or see-through vinyl for rear windows; decals for hoods, wheels and rocker panels; side panel accents; hood logos; and tailgate wraps.
"You are only limited by your own imagination," Gerald said, referring to the process the brothers went through to form their business. "We love what we do. Our goal is to create a unique, eye-catching product that our customers will be excited to show off."
This customer-driven focus by the entrepreneurial brothers made the startup process much easier said May.
"Gerald and Brian are truly passionate and dedicated to meeting their customers' needs," said May. "Their unique craft is a superior marketing product that appeals to a wide range of customers, businesses and organizations. I look forward to getting 'wrapped up' in all the brothers' success and assisting them further."
For more information on Gaslight Vinyl, see the company's website at gaslightvinyl.com.
The Metro East SBDC assists new companies like Gaslight Vinyl as well as existing businesses headquartered in the nine-county Metro East region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph. It is a no-cost service to the community supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
By aiding entrepreneurs and small business owners in defining their path to success, the SBDC Network positively impacts Southern Illinois by strengthening the business community, creating and retaining jobs and encouraging capital investment. It enhances the Metro East region's economic interests by providing one-stop assistance to individuals by means of counseling, training, research and advocacy. When appropriate, the Metro East SBDC strives to affiliate its ties to the region to support the goals and objectives of both the SIUE School of Business and the University at large. To learn how these no-cost services might help your small business, contact the Metro East SBDC at (618) 650-2929 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Photo: Brothers Brian Bach (left) and Gerald Bach opened their own customized vinyl studio in downtown Belleville in early 2016, thanks to business plan expertise provided by the Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center at SIUE.


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"When Patrice made me aware of the colors that are right for me, it was a eureka moment. They positively impacted my mood, energy and posture and made a significant and long lasting impression, which i think is important to share with others. The result is that I am a recipient of many an admiring glance, compliments and queries about my chic and colorful sense of style. I now shop with an awareness and self assurance. Everyone should experience such verve and excitement in exploring their best colors and styles"Marcelline CPadawan
"Before meeting Patrice, I wore any color and worse yet, matched all my accessories with every outfit. I learned how to complement colors versus matching which I found out made me look older. My confidence level rose as my conscientious efforts became natural to wear the correct colors each time while being creative in doing so. others are drawn to my outfits and compliment the changed look".Fay W
"There is nothing better than knowing that you have a carefully curated wardrobe – both clothes and accessories all ready at the drop of a hat for that impromptu occasion. sometimes i just open my closet, sit and stare… content in the knowledge that i have several options at my fingertips for work and social eventsJeanette B
"20llbs overweight and a wardrobe full of size 8 clothes, turning 58, professional and personal life a mess, this was me at the start of 2014. Then I met and hired Patrice (cheaper than Botox, lipo and a therapist and a far more pleasant experience). Small things… wearing the right colors and shapes for my skin type and body shape, wearing statement pieces of jewelry.. in a mere week people were complimenting me on how "fabulous i looked". a year later, my professional and social lives are back on track. We owe it to ourselves to be the best of ourselves. Patrice helped me to do thatSharon C


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How lucky that the Supreme Court upheld marriage equality in the middle of this year's Frameline LGBT Film Festival, which runs through Sunday. The Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival starts tonight and also runs through Sunday. As usual, I've placed Festival events at the end of this newsletter. A Twenty Feet from Stardom, Shattuck, Rafael, … Continue reading What's Screening: June 28 – July 4
Month: June 2013
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival officially announced its 33rd run this morning. Probably the largest of all the "identity film festivals" in the area, it will play five venues around the Bay Area from July 25 through August 12. This year's theme, "Life through a Jew(ish) lens," raises two questions: What does that mean … Continue reading San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceaușescu
Kino Lorber is releasing this documentary on DVD next week. I watched and reviewed it prior to its screening at the 2011 San Francisco International Film Festival. I'm finally posting the review now. D- Documentary Written and directed by Andrei Ujica This is what an inept filmmaker can do. What should have been a fascinating … Continue reading The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceaușescu
What's Screening: June 21 – 27
No festivals open this week. But DocFest continues through Sunday, while Frameline runs through the week and a bit beyond. I put my Frameline recommendations and warnings at the end of this newsletter. A A Hijacking, Elmwood, Embarcadero, Rafael, opens Friday. This isn't your typical, fun, swashbuckling pirate movie. One truly harrowing thriller, A Hijacking … Continue reading What's Screening: June 21 – 27
Hitchcock 9, Part 3: Sunday
B The Pleasure Garden For a new director's first film, The Pleasure Garden is surprisingly assured--creatively using all the cinema's tools to tell a good story. Based on a popular novel of the time, it follows two young women, both dancers, as their professional and love lives go in different and contrasting directions. One goes … Continue reading Hitchcock 9, Part 3: Sunday
Hitchcock 9, Part 2: Saturday
I spent most of yesterday at the Castro, watching the Hitchcock 9 festival of early, silent Alfred Hitchcock movies, all newly restored. Here's what I saw: B Champagne With it's ditzy heiress ingénue, romantic plot, broad humor, and class consciousness, this Hitchcock silent has all the ingredients of a screwball comedy except sparkling dialog. I … Continue reading Hitchcock 9, Part 2: Saturday
Hitchcock 9 Report, Part 1: Blackmail
Friday night Blackmail A beautiful young woman ditches her boyfriend (a Scotland Yard detective), flirts with another man, then kills him in self-defense. The next morning she's at the mercy of a blackmailer. Alfred Hitchcock's tenth feature and second thriller already shows touches of the master. Her night wanderings after the incident, her reaction to … Continue reading Hitchcock 9 Report, Part 1: Blackmail