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A *SPOILER*ful ramble on X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST follows. So turn back if you haven't seen it!
Basically, fanboy hack that I am, I very much enjoyed watching the movie. It was kind of a mess in a storytelling way, and didn't take full advantage of all of its talent (more Trask!), but it did deliver a ton of fun (Quicksilver & Blink) and comic book fanboy button pushing, so I have to recommend it. For me it's probably the second-best of the X films. If you put a non-metal gun to my head, I'd say from best to WTF (and not including the Wolvie solos films), it's…
Note that I've seen DAYS and X3 (and the WOLVERINEs) once and the others twice.
Okay, on with the rambling!
The Good…
1. Quicksilver vs. Pentagon guards. Just lovely and clever and cool and fun and so very satisfying. I do have a geeky problem with it (see below), but was able to ignore the voices for the sequence and thoroughly enjoy it.
2. Blink (and friends) vs. Sentinels. The future X-Men use Blink's portals to wonderful advantage. Particularly enjoyed her riff on the Fastball Special—having Colossus build up terminal velocity in free-fall from way high and then dropping him into a portal that exits 90 degrees from his fall, ballistically launching him at a Sentinel. Helping energy manipulators blast thru her portals from one place to another. Once, severing a Sentinel limb. Would've liked to have seen more of that. Nightcrawler used that tactic vs. both Magus and Nimrod in the MCU, didn't he? Or no, one of those was Rogue, w Nightcrawler's power.
3. Professor X recognizing Wolverine's return from the past in the now-changed future. That was a sweet time travel bookend moment for me. Wolverine's time jump is now part of history, and anyone who knew about it then would remember it (unless Professor X removed that info, which I hope he did, lest the strategy be used/overused to change history to some malicious advantage =). I like that Wolverine seems to have memories of the original timeline still intact (surprised by Jean and Scott) when his consciousness snaps back to the future. I hope he can keep memories of both timelines, without the "new" one overwriting the original.
4. Post-credits scene. APOCALYPSE! Surprised that so few people in the theater seemed to understand what they were seeing. Perhaps the absence of his trademark orthodontic headgear was a fail? But, no—"En Sabah Nur!" Ancient Egypt! Four horsemen on the horizon? Come on, people! Anyhow, I wonder which X-MEN roster will face him. Multiple teams in different eras would be pretty sweet. Or even multiple teams in the present. He's definitely the Thanos of Mutantia. I'm almost disappointed to see that the next film is supposedly X-MEN: APOCALYPSE as a build-up of a film or two would be nice, but I guess we shall see.
5. The events of this film apparently negate those of X1 thru X3. Interesting. So, maybe we could get a legit Dark Phoenix story?
The Bad…
1. 1970s Wolverine vs. Magneto's bombardment. I don't believe that Wolverine could run at Magneto and brush off/deflect his bombardment. Mags was chucking sizable chunks of rubble at him and Logan was blocking them with swings of his arms. I'll allow for Wolverine being above-average strong and agile, maybe Olympian, but we should've seen him take damage deflecting blows like that w his body. If he'd had his adamantium-laced skeleton and claws, okay. The metal would protect the structure of his body. He'd also be stronger as well, his muscles adapted to carrying around an extra couple hundred pounds of metal as part of his person. But as he was, we should've seen his forearms snap, bone jutting thru broken skin, and MAYbe he heals while he continues moving forward, but not without a lot of pain.
2. I believe it's been established that Wolverine can be killed by asphyxiation/drowning. *MCU SPOILER* That's how he killed his son, Daken. *Maybe* it's a matter of time? So, brain death takes much longer for Logan than the average human. Okay, but seriously, how much longer? When do we think MyStryquer recovered his body? At best, the same day, but given the hullabaloo, I'd think it would take quite a bit more time to assemble the resources, meager tho they may be—boat w winch, tools, soldiers/agents w clearance—that s/he uses to recover Logan's body. And under whose auspices then, right? I don't see how Wolverine's body could create oxygen, which is really what would have to happen, right? Hrm… Okay, how about his healing factor kicks in once there's oxygen available again, but there was brain damage as a result of the lack. MAYbe this is the start(?) of his modern feral existence and memory loss? Frack. I may have to re-watch other X-MEN movies to get that straight and I don't really want to do that, bleah. Would've been bold to let Wolverine die that day, drowned while saving the future. Also, an "out" for Hugh Jackman if he wanted it. =)
3. Quicksilver's walkman. Okay, maybe he has an aura that extends his perception of time while he's moving at super speed, and within it, his walkman plays at regular speed relative to himself. But then, what about his precaution with Magneto, holding his neck to prevent whiplash? A physical range limit to this aura? Would be fun to have him conduct an Einstein's Twin test, with clocks, maybe with Beast's guidance. Still, regardless of the rules surrounding his speed and a supposed aura, the scene was a thing of beauty, probably tied with Blink's portal strategies for coolest execution of X-Men-itude in the film.
4. Kitty Pryde is shunting psyches back in time? WTF? Why not introduce Rachel? Why not introduce a completely new, never-before-seen mutant? Why not create some b.s. pseudo-science explanation that combines Kitty's phasing w someone else's telepathic or temporal abilities instead?
5. When Kitty phases thru electronics, she disrupts them. I didn't spot her using this vs. the Sentinels. I'd think it would work at least once vs. a Sentinel, right? Or maybe it's deemed too dangerous a power to allow them to adapt? But then, if the battle they fight would never have happened in the first place (after time shunting Bishop back to warn them) why not use it, right?
6. Future-Sentinel blast-attacks. Why did they have to resemble the Destroyer so much? I didn't hate it, but I certainly didn't love it. Friends with whom I saw the movie questioned it and didn't like it. I dismissed it pretty quickly as just a dopey design choice, but to people who only/mainly know Marvel's creations thru the movies, I guess it IS confusing, creating a visual connection when there is no real connection.
7. Magneto hijacks the Sentinels. I like that he bonds steel to them to physically control them as puppets, but I don't love that he seems to command them as a kind of admin as well. That he can order them to do things and let them do them, without apparently controlling every joint, limb, engine, and weapon on them, and fighting the Sentinel's native programming to do it.
8. Using Mystique's power as the basis for the Future-Sentinel adaptive technology. If you're gonna steal a mutant's ability to make this possible, it would be Rogue's. Mystique is purely cosmetic, right? Altho, I suppose her musculature changes, so… she'd become stronger if she took the physique of a body builder? But would she be able to fight the way she does in such a body? I dunno. Anyhow, using her genetics does not explain how a Sentinel could gain control over moisture (Iceman) and fire (Pyro/Sunfire?) or why they'd need to generate a blast based on those powers somewhere inside its body that would need release via a hollowed-out head cannon. Why not just blasts thru its hands/arms? Or just mentally projected? Blerg.
9. The next threat: Apocalypse. Not a bad thing on its own, cuz he is basically the Big Bad of Mutants. Would be interesting to see his blue hand mess with events throughout history in a next film. Altho, maybe he's beaten/subdued in ancient Egypt somehow, and released in the modern day? Anyhow, the thing I *wanted* to see… Remember Kulan Gath? He took over Manhattan with some transformative spell that turned anyone within into a fantasy/medieval version of him or herself? When the X-Men and Spider-Man beat him, it involved turning back time to the event that triggered Gath's release and the spell's beginning. The fateful price for retconning that event out of existence? The arrival of Nimrod. I would've *loved* to have seen a ripple from the prevention of the DOFP future in the 70s lead to the creation of a new (yet familiar to fanboys) threat. A Nimrod story would've been cool, but would require a lot of exposition at some point about the Future-Sentinels developing time travel tech or somehow mimicking time travel abilities. Maybe too TERMINATOR-y? How about begun at the Pentagon, in response to Magneto's escape? Forge's Neutralizer? A Hound program? A Cure program? The birth of Legion?
10. A muddy ensemble for a movie. Who the heck am I really invested in here? I know who I *like* but if I was coming to this film without having my knowledge of the characters from the comics, or even from the other films (unlikely, I suppose), would this work as a film? Wolverine seems like he'd be the one to follow, but he's actually just an enabler. I *think* the fulcrum is Mystique, and her decision to kill/not to kill. Mystique spares Magneto, but not Trask, right? She's only prevented from killing Trask. Is that really a powerful decision? There's also the young Xavier, who needs to be convinced "to hope," and be set on a brighter path. Not the greatest inspirational speech from older Xavier, btw. While I dig the telepathic connection via Wolverine's time-shunted psyche, X and X's scenes "together" were not as powerful as I'd hoped.
The Huh…?
1. Why the heck didn't young Charles and Hank get to Wolverine before MyStryquer? I guess it *could* allow for the events of X2 and the WOLVERINE films to persist in the brighter timeline… In the new timeline, did Magneto's rebarring of Wolverine (and Wolvie's surviving the process) *inspire* Stryker to seek an adamantium grafting process? Wack!
2. Okay, if we just accept Kitty's consciousness shunting ability in the future, Wolverine has let the young Professor X in on it. Perhaps the Professor and Kitty together have worked on this ability and used it to tweak the timeline more than a couple times? She can do it for shorter periods of time with someone who doesn't have a healing factor. A dangerous get-out-of-jail-free card in future films, no?
3. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. They certainly don't appear to be twins in the movie. Does Wolverine introducing Peter to Eric in the 70s mean that Magneto finds his children sooner in the new timeline than in the original (if he ever does)?
4. The Sentinels design. Couldn't we have seen just ONE of the familiar GIANT Sentinels from the comic book? Maybe as a failed/failing/mothballed prototype in the 70s? Or as drones/guards in the future? The 70s design was cool enough, but I wouldn't have minded them being larger and clunkier, cuz how are you gonna produce those w 70s tech in the first place, right? The future Sentinels are totally forgettable and forgotten. They absorbed powers, okay, but I can't remember a distinctive silhouette. And actually, I can't remember what the faces of either the 70s or future models look like.
Allright, I know if I give myself enough time, I'll find more things to love, not-love, and WTF about, but I think this hits the biggies (and mediumies, even).
Keep on keepin on~


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I've never read any WW comics, I'm not a fan, but it looks surprisingly entertaining.
One thing that caught my eye was the sword she wields.
Now, during her first movie appearance in Batman vs. Superman, WW had a different sword, which I didn't like a lot:
It looks vaguely late-medieval or early renaissance, maybe inspired by the cinquedea:
Why would Wonder Woman have a sword like that, what historical sense does it make? Of course, the handle is WAY too long and looks pretty stupid.
Her new sword looks like this:
Now, by itself it's not mindblowing, but a few things about it intrigue me. Firstly, the shape of the guard reminds me of this sword from grave Delta in Grave Circle B at Mycenae:
The handle and pommel are more reminiscent of (mostly fantasy invented) twisted "celtic" hilts, but the general shape isn't too far from some Scytho-Siberian swords.
Now, Wonder Woman is an Amazon, so some Scythian influence would be appropriate.
Looking closer at the guard's dragon heads, they really do remind me quite a bit of these Scythian dragons from Central Asia:
Here's a close comparison:
If that's intentional, that's quite neat. Good to see Holywood designers take inspiration from historical designs. (Honestly, I wish someone did WW entirely dressed in this style, not the comicbook nonsensical "armour". But I fully understand why they went with the established style.)

subset: commoncrawl


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Decks and pathways that intertwine throughout our yards and gardens give our outdoor space flow and direction. We came across a few stunning ideas to incorporate into your outdoor decor that will get you from one place to another in style.
Deck Space
This decking naturally weaves in and out of a beautiful garden, bringing the green blanket of nature right to the tip of your toes. Relax in a lush and private atmosphere beautified by mother nature.
Stone Pathways
This stone pathway through a gorgeous pond adrift with beautiful Lilly pads brings a sense of calm right through to your core.
Creative Mosaic Pathways
Get creative when laying your pathway using various textures and designs. This mosaic stone path, adorned with a beautiful flowery design, is splendid.
Canopy Pavers
This beautiful brick paver walkway is taken to another level entirely with a beautiful natural canopy that encompasses everyone who walks through with colorful and beautifully scented flowers.


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Actor/comedian Marlon Wayans is reportedly in the running to replace Nick Cannon as the host of U.S. competition show America's Got Talent.
Mariah Carey's ex-husband quit the show last month (Feb17) after he was allegedly reprimanded by NBC executives for making negative remarks about the network in his stand-up routine.
According to TMZ, show creator Simon Cowell is now considering Wayans, and comedians Tone Bell and Brandon Mychal Smith to replace Cannon.
Cannon quit the show on 13 February (17) after it was reported the 36-year-old was nearly fired from the show after eight seasons for saying network executives wanted him to lose his "black card" and display less "swagger" in his stand-up special, which aired last month. The comments were reportedly a violation of his contract, which stopped him from talking about the network without their approval. NBC bosses reportedly had serious discussions about firing him but chose to let the comments slide.
However, mere weeks before the show was scheduled to begin filming, Nick announced he would be leaving the show because he could not stand the way he is being censored by corporations.
"I find myself in a dark place having to make a decision that I wish I didn't have to, but as a man, an artist, and a voice for my community I will not be silenced, controlled or treated like a piece of property," he wrote in a lengthy Facebook post.
"I have loved hosting AMERICAS GOT TALENT for the last 8 seasons… but my soul won't allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices…"
– Cover Media0


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"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization – these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit – immortal horrors or everlasting splendors." (C. S. Lewis)
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You will leave the course with the new government recognised Level 2 standard in Barbering Qualification.
Experience Level Required – Minimum 4 years barbering
Duration – 10 full days. (2 weeks full time, 10 weeks part time, 20 weeks evening class)
Price – £2000
Location – MR Mill Rd Academy Cambridge
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For more information or to book your course today please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Registration for the competition is only open to students of the MUK. At least half the members of an ensemble must be students of the MUK. Soloists (only permitted in the Kreation category) and duets must be students of the MUK.
You cannot enter the competition with the same ensemble of people more than three times during the course of your studies. Previous winners can only compete again with a new programme.
You are permitted to register more than once – either with different programmes in both categories or in different ensembles in the same category. You are not permitted to substitute any of the participants named in the application during the course of the competition.
Both categories of the competition are split into three parts with mandatory participation in the registered ensembles: preliminary round, main round, prize winners presentation.
The juries of the first rounds ("preliminary rounds") are made up of lecturers at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna and will decide whether to put performers through to the main competitions.
The juries of the second rounds ("main rounds") are made up of artists, art educators and cultural managers. These juries decide on the prize winners.
The audience of the prize winners presentations each award a "public prize".
A total of 6 scholarships, each worth 1,500 EUR per ensemble or 800 EUR per soloist
1 public prize of 1,500 EUR
6 scholarships, each worth 1,500 EUR per ensemble
1 public prize of 1,500 EUR
1 performance at the Pitten Classics festival under the artistic direction of Florian Eggner in July 2020
1 ensemble coaching session from Krystian Nowakowski/NO-TE artists agency


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I was entombed by thought and feeling
Shallow lights and empty meaning
Brief liaisons with delusion
Forced to kneel by convolution.
Imprisoned in not my belief
Madness tortures through my sleep
Never sought nor sunlight ventured
Never dared this darkness mention.
Nailed and boarded twixt your faith
Conversing music plays my face
Bright the colours come torment
This rainbow pain is evident.
Stung up on one mans opinion
Roasting here like filet mignon
Hyperactive one small move
Hanging here while death is shrewd.
I'm cuffed inside a thousand views
Pierced my mind with 10 small rules
Waste your life forgiveness waits
Corrosive be your last exploits.
I'm free to speak with heart and mind
Vacant be the truest line
Urgent strokes do float me there
Should I drown without a prayer.
Freedom now do as I bade
Take shroud from me the one true way
The sky the earth the whole is white
Still I entombed ironically, right.
Gasp inhale take deep your breath,
Preach not brethren who is best,
Leaking slicks encompass all
Breathe once and rest,
For rest is now all.


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Videos above by: A. TAYLOR. Videos below by: Jeff Stang
Several families have been displaced after an early morning fire at a multifamily home in Harrison, New Jersey.
The blaze broke out around 3:30 a.m. on South 5th Street.
"All I heard was my uncle saying, 'there's a fire, my house is burning down,'" Juan Macancela told CBS 2′s Don Champion.
Macancela's uncle lives on the first floor and called his nephew as smoke filled the 3-story building. While Macancela rushed to the scene, he said his uncle helped get neighbors out by knocking on doors.


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Tuesday, March 19, 2013
American Hubris
11 comments:
Indeed, Leroy, it is in great need of repentance. One can hardly get one's head around the incredible arrogance and cruelty of the Iraq War when many of us at the time, without any insider's knowledge and with just a little sociological horse sense, knew the administration was lying to us about the reasons for war as well as to itself about how the war would turn out. Spanish-American War, Vietnam War, Iraq War, and many other military and covert actions -- we've been at this imperialistic bent for over a hundred years. Add the ethnic cleansing of the Native-American nations, and it goes back farther.ReplyDelete
But, alas, the current presidential administration is from the only party with any elements capable of humility, and it's apparently not going to show it. The only other party has lost all sense of humility whatsoever.
I fear that, like other imperial powers before it, the U.S. will stop only when it is humbled by weakness and defeat.Replies
Anton, thanks for again contributing significant comments.Delete
With regard to your last comment: you may be right, but there is freedom in this country to express considerable opposition to the hubris of the government (and elsewhere), and I am hopeful that those voices will become strong enough to bring about more humility and more respect for other cultures.
- Les HillMarch 19, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Thanks Leeoy for a word that needs to be shared more often than the lies its exposes. What we also fail to see are similar results reflected back into the U.S. in excessive secrecy about government matters and our growing prison systems that prove profitable to private enterprise. Need we ever deny that America is not a Christian nation? And of course it never has been.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 19, 2013 at 9:53 AM
An interesting read. Yet thinking back on history, it is hard to find presidents who were not arrogant. Seems to come with the territory. Depending on the perspective, I can think of between 2 and 5 who were not. Arrogance and Bitterness are the worst attributes in humanity.ReplyDelete
President George H. W. Bush explained the first Iraq war by saying something along the lines of, "We are fighting in Iraq today so our children will not have to tomorrow." (I could not find the exact quote online, so I am quoting from memory.) Well, now we are at the tenth anniversary of the children's war he tried to prevent.ReplyDelete
And what a children's war it was. It went so badly that even retired General Giap of North Vietnam commented on it. (See this link: http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/vietnam.giap/index.html) The Pentagon reportedly blocked the State Department from planning post-invasion strategy. It was apparently more important to make the invasion look cheap and easy than to plan for what came next. Mother Jones ran an article Friday, March 8, 2013, titled "Happy 10th Anniversary, Iraq War." Peter Van Buren's article is subtitled "Why the invasion of Iraq was the worst foreign policy decision in American history." In the article he discusses a "Potemkin Chicken Factory" where he worked in 2009. It was built with American money to process chickens American-style in Iraq. Unfortunately, Iraq lacked the infrastructure to support such a factory, so whenever the press came to visit, they had to go market and buy chickens to process. Otherwise, the factory set idle.
Personally, I think both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were serious mistakes. At least the war in Afghanistan had an actual connection to a recent attack on the United States. If we were going to invade that country, we should have single-mindedly deployed our forces, taken care of Bin Laden's forces, and then quickly left the area with that success. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. It also has never been shown to have retained weapons of mass destruction, unlike, say, North Korea. The closest thing to a winner in this whole fiasco has been the regime in Iran. Talk about trillions of dollars worth of irony.
Now, as for drones, I belong to the the General Sherman school of "War is all hell." What drones are doing is inherently no different than what artillery shells and aerial bombardments are doing. What drones bring is actually more accuracy and fewer civilian casualties. The real question is why is the war in Afghanistan still continuing? Bin Laden is dead. How much is a face-saving exit worth? We should make a generous offer of asylum in the United States for those Afghans who believe in women's education, and nurture that group until Afghanistan is someday ready for the modern world. We finally made peace with Vietnam after we got out. Perhaps we can do the same someday with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Thank you for this, Leroy. If the book or film "Hubris" can effect change in enough minds and hearts to reverse New American Century hypocricy, I couldn't be more pleased.ReplyDelete
Actually, I COULD be more pleased. I agree 120% that "the full story of the selling of that war" needs to be told. The key word is FULL. I would be more pleased with a FULLER telling of the story.
No post-9/11 story of Iraq can be "full" without a true account of 9/11. I just checked, and none of the five journalists named here have signed the petition of Journalists and Other Media professionals for 9/11 Truth, which calls for FULL, independent investigation of 9/11. (Some similar petitions are Religious Leaders for 9/11 Truth, Political Leaders for 9/11 Truth, Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, Pilots for 9/11 Truth, Firefighters for 9/11 Truth, Veterans for 9/11 Truth, Health Professionals for 9/11 Truth...) I therefore assume the "Hubris" account leaves unchallenged the official 9/11 narrative--which was fed to us by the very same band of liars. (I will test this assumption when I find the time to watch "Hubris" on Youtube.)
Buddha (supposedly) said, "There are just two mistakes that can be made on the road to truth; not starting, and not going all the way." Benjamin Disraeli (supposedly) said, "Justice is truth in action." Jesus (supposedly) said, "The truth will make you free." Does travelling halfway on the road to truth make us half free, or half just? Will this entitle us to reach halfway to heaven when we die? With respect to Iraq and 9/11 (and Afghanistan and ALL that is justified under the "War on Terror"), I tend to agree with Benjamin Franklin, who (supposedly) said, "Half a truth is often a great lie."
Iraq was not a "mistake." Far from it, the FULL truth is it was a well-planned, lie-fueled, corporate takeover... not just of "rogue" foreign lands/resources, but also of the "free" domestic state.
Yesterday, Thinking Friend Glenn Hinson sent an e-mail with these brief comments:ReplyDelete
"Bravo, Leroy! We need to become penitents and stop letting fear rule what we do. Our arrogance (hubris) is born of fear, not self-confidence."
Thinking Friend Kevin Payne also made comments by e-mail:ReplyDelete
"Good article! Unfortunately, there is never a shortage of arrogance with those in power. Power corrupts!
"I do hope the press in America wakes up to the failings in the current administration – I tire of them 'beating a dead horse' so to speak, by just going on about the failings of past presidents, and giving a pass to the current administration."
Thinking Friend Glen Davis, a Canadian, writes,ReplyDelete
"Thank you Leroy.
"We pray for our neighbour to the south, and we pray that our Canadian government will stop its march toward the same kind of hubris in other areas , such as the environment, and total lack of transparency and accountability.
"Perhaps hubris is another word for being "puffed up" as the KJV used to call it! It was a sin in Jesus' day and it is still a sin today."
- larry riedingerMarch 20, 2013 at 2:27 PM
I think this is all part and parcel to the reaction of the pre-WWII culture of White Male Supremacy - wrapped in God-talk - in all things domestic, and belligerent ugly Americnism in all things foreign.ReplyDelete
That beloved, ego/evil-based status has taken one body blow after another in domestic socio-politics and internationally. Male chauvinism - especially "Bible-based" - isn't quietly accepted anymore. And, so it seems, American poliltical-economic power isn't accepted quietly in the world either. Hence the resort to pre-emptive military action.
It is well established that real, perceived, loss/fear of loss, of status is a very powerful drive toward rage. And just think of all the apoplectic spluttering rage on the Far Right - religious and secular - and all the while claiming to be the victim. There is a strong parallel in Tolkien's Morgoth (Lucifer-like) and Sauron (demon-like) characters. They both justify their rage/lust for domination with feelings of victimization - by consquences they brought on themselves!
The Far Right sounds a lot like the union slogan of years ago - "We're mad as hell, and we ain't gonna take it anymore!!"
Interesting reversal!
Hope that helps!
Thinking Friend Charlie Broomfield gave me permission to post his email comments here:ReplyDelete
"I will never forget the night that Mr. Bush and Mr. Chaney launched their war of "Shock and Awe!" I was in my motel room in Jefferson City and I watched hour after hour as the bombs and rockets flew into Baghdad killing and maiming anybody and everybody who happened to be under those bombs, and I wondered why? And I wondered about this so-called "born again" Christian President who campaigned on "compassionate conservatism."
"Of course nobody knew all the circumstances behind the war, but I was suspicious of it from the beginning and I wondered why so few Senators and Congressmen and women from both parties did not stand up against this crazy war.
"For nearly all my life as a teacher, legislator, citizen and Christian, I had been so proud of my country because we claimed (at least) that we never started a war first.
"Perhaps it was then that I decided that someday I would try to find out the real reasons for the Iraq War.
"As you know I went back to school a few years ago and one of my primary reasons for doing so was to try to study and find out what was happening to my country; what had lead the American people to embrace the likes of Dick Cheney and George W. Bush and all the others.
"What I learned 'was not pretty'!"


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The 10 Best Belts for EDC in 2020
Related Gear:
20 Best Pocket Knives for EDC in 2020
10 Best Spring Assisted Knives for EDC in 2020
The Best Large Folding Knives for EDC in 2020
Normal belts are boring. Sure, they keep your pants from falling down after you've loaded up your pockets. But being the EDCers that we are, we try to find utility and quality in every piece of our gear—including those that may seem like the last place you'd find something useful.
But the thing is, there's plenty of room on belts for extra features. And we're not talking just having an extra place to clip or attach things to. Their length, width, and hardware are prime places to add (or conceal) tools or other features. And even better: they'll all be within arms' reach. There's also the fact that belts aren't and shouldn't be limited to just pieces of leather and metal. They can take cues from how other items meant for heavy everyday use are built, and come with better construction and materials.
So we've rounded up 10 belts that do more than keep you decent in public. Each one comes with features and construction beyond what you would find at your local department store. And think about it: Batman doesn't wear a regular leather belt, does he?


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the black kitty and the zombie…
dinner first and then trick or treating!
so why not eat dinner with a black cauldron on your head?
once the ambrose family got to the house (with their zombie boy in tow), it was mayhem!
the good kind.
a vampire kitty!
or not…


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Boston Scientific Inc. said Wednesday the Food and Drug Administration has approved several new implantable heart devices the company developed.
The company said the FDA approved its Incepta, Energen and Punctua devices.
Incept and Punctua are implantable cardioverter defibrillators, which are used to treat rapid heartbeats. Energen is a cardiac resynchronization device, which includes an ICD and a resynchronization device used to coordinate the pumping of the heart.
The company says the devices are smaller and thinner than older heart implants, and they are easier to implant and less visible from the outside. Boston Scientific said the first Incepta implant occurred Tuesday.
European regulators approved the Energen and Punctua product lines in October 2010, and they have been on sale in Europe and other non-U.S. markets since May.
Shares of Boston Scientific gained 17 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $5.72 as the markets rose in midday trading.


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The industry has experienced a volatile year with challenges appearing in many shapes and forms. TRAVTALK picks out 10 moments that defined the year gone by and will continue to have a ripple effect in the years to come.
Visas are relaxed
The Tourism Ministry, in a single masterstroke, eased up the bottlenecks that patients and business travellers faced while entering India. The department announced not just e-medical visas but also e-business visas apart from the existing e-tourist visas from April 1. Applicants from nearly 150 countries eligible for e-tourist visas were able to send online applications for medical visas. Short-term medical visa is now valid for 30 days after which the government can extend it by up to one year. Also, e-tourist visa and e-business visa was made double entry.
Air India disinvests
In a historic move that our Finance Minister Arun Jaitley felt could help propel the growth of India's aviation sector, the government gave 'in principle' approval for disinvesting its stake in Air India and five of its subsidiaries. This move makes it possible for the national carrier to hope for not just survival but a full recovery. The entity guiding the disinvestment will decide on the treatment of unsustainable debt of Air India, hive off of certain assets to a shell company, demerger and strategic disinvestment of three profit-making subsidiaries, quantum of disinvestment, and the universe of bidders.
Ease on liquor ban
The ban on this controversial beverage was eased after much heartburn was suffered by hotels, restaurants and pubs when the Supreme Court cleared the air around this directive. This brought relief to about 70 per cent of the affected properties and ensured that the rest of the year was spent focusing on business. After relaxing the ban for Andaman and Nicobar Islands and nine districts in Uttarakhand, the Court explained that this ban, in force from April 1, was not valid within city limits but was only meant for roads that provide connectivity between cities, towns and villages.
Upgradation of cruise terminal begins
The Mumbai Port Trust finally started work on upgrading the cruise terminal at a cost of Rs.225 crore – a project that is bound to catapult the financial capital to become the cruise capital of India. In a path-breaking move, this project involves key government agencies: all five major ports of India including Mumbai Port Trust, Ministry of Tourism, Central Board of Excise and Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and the Central Industrial Security Force under the watchful eye of the Ministry of Shipping. The issue of taxation for cruises, however, remains unresolved.
Government announces GST
The Goods & Services Tax (GST) was announced on July 1, 2017, with the indirect tax replacing multiple cascading taxes levied by the central and state governments. The travel industry is still trying to find its feet in all the confusion despite attending multiple sessions on GST, including a few conducted by the CBEC. Some were quick to act while others waited and watched possibly in the hope that the tax would be repealed. The good news was that reductions were eventually announced (including GST on restaurants down from 18 per cent to five) and we are hopeful that more waves of clarity and exemptions will follow soon.
Incredible India 2.0 announced
The Ministry of Tourism finally saw the need to revive its flailing global campaign with a second version. So on World Tourism Day, the department unveiled three big initiatives which included the Incredible India 2.0 campaign that would have its own website. The ministry has assured us that 2.0 is going to be largely different from the earlier campaign, which was generic in nature and running around the world. The new campaign will be country specific, depending on the kind of products that would interest them. New and emerging markets will also be included this time. The budget for this has not been made public yet. There is scope for 360 degree marketing to attract both foreign and domestic travellers to the state."
Monuments given significance
A move that should have been made earlier rather than later, the government announced an important project titled 'Adopt a Heritage' to keep our historical monuments safe and well-maintained. The Ministry of Tourism announced on September 27 that it will offer 14 monuments for adoption to the private and public sectors and even individuals. The 14 monuments include Jantar Mantar and Qutub Minar (Delhi), Sun Temple (Odisha), Hampi (Karnataka), Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra). The shortlisted companies to be called Monument Mitras, have been given 'Letters of Intent'. Taj Mahal failed to find a spot though.
Close shave for Mumbai's rooftop restaurants
After squashing the best part of Mumbai's nightlife by banning rooftop restaurants, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai later issued a circular permitting hotels and restaurants having existing eating house and lodging services to continue operating open-air terrace as a service area for serving food. Reportedly, over 40 rooftop bars across the city had shut down after the excise department decided to scrap daily licences that were allegedly being 'misused' by these outlets. Red-tapism apart though, what matters, in the end, is whether the authorities manage to create and retain a competitive environment.
HRIDAY and PRASAD merge
The Ministry of Tourism announces the merger of its HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) and PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) schemes with effect from 2018. It had been in talks with the Urban Development Ministry and they have been given an in-principle approval to merge the two. It was done to create a greater synergy between the rural and urban spiritual sites to provide a holistic development of these sites and increase the scheme's funding. The ministry ended 2017 on a high note with 'Paryatan Parv' – a 20-day festival to highlight the benefits of tourism, showcase India's cultural diversity and reinforce the principle of 'Tourism for All'. Hopefully, the event will make a dent on inbound figures apart from the one it made in the government treasury.
Jet, AF-KLM tie up
This threesome announced a pact that is likely to change the dynamics of aviation in India. This 'metalneutral' agreement goes beyond just codesharing; it will effectively help the trio connect 44 destinations in India with 106 destinations in Europe and will have an annual incremental revenue potential of over US$1 billion (roughly Rs 6,400 crore) for Jet Airways. For the FrancoDutch combine, the tie-up helps it compete for a bigger share of the Indian market against European rivals such as Lufthansa and the Gulf-based carriers. If you can't beat them, join them, goes the idiom.


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Olmsted Township, Ohio — After learning that carrying a child is no easy task, a local dad now realizes that childbirth isn't any better.
Chris Balmert took on a challenge from his expectant wife, Lindsay, to be pregnant for 24 hours.
He strapped on an 8-pound medicine ball and wore it for a day. He did housework, picked up groceries, and stopped by the cell phone store. After a rough night of sleep and back pains, Chris admitted he was glad to take off the pregnancy gear. "I thought this would be a lot easier than it was," he said.
**See that video above**
The Facebook video has gotten over 116,000 views — which meant he had to take on another challenge from his wife: labor simulation. So Chris found a labor simulation machine online, ordered it, and conducted his experiment Tuesday night.
They attached wires to his abdomen and sent waves through the muscles that would be affected by child labor. They even had a magic word that meant it was time to stop: epidural.
His eyes were watering, and he braced himself during each "labor pain" while Lindsay told him to "breathe through it."
They stopped after 15 minutes. His response to her?
"I feel so bad for you. I'm sorry," said Chris.
**Watch the video below**
The videos are part of a much bigger story for the couple. Chris and Lindsay found out in October that their baby girl has a congenital heart defect. That means that three days after she is born, she'll undergo heart surgery to repair the problem.
When they learned the news, the couple decided to document the pregnancy for their daughter to one day watch and so that she knows they handled it with laughter and positivity. Their young son also makes appearances in the videos.
Aside from going viral, the family has gotten lots of support from others who are or have been in their position, and that's also helped them cope with the stress of the situation.
Their daughter will be delivered Monday if everything goes as planned. She'll be a heart warrior at Cleveland Clinic Children's.
For the family's Team Balmert Facebook page, click here.


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Lexus' answer to demand for a performance-oriented compact sports sedan is the IS 350 F Sport, which is around the same size as an Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series. Fast cars in this class have always been favourites for me, especially if they offer something extra in performance and cosmetics and this Lexus delivers on that score.
The car is now available with all-wheel drive and that's the way my tester came. AWD is a great asset in a performance car as it safely places all the power right where it belongs - straight to the road on all four wheels when needed. This is a performance sedan you could really trust for a long trip across the mountains in winter. My car was equipped with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires, which are the best I've ever used on ice and snow. They do wear quickly on paved surfaces though, so it's best to use them when you know you're going to be encountering icy conditions.
With the various cosmetic upgrades that come as part of the F Sport package, this is a great looking car and mine was especially eye-catching in its Ultrasonic Blue Mica, a colour that seems to be popular with Lexus buyers right now. It's good to see some of these brighter colours coming back as we seem to have gone through years of 'sameness' with so many shades of silver grey chosen for vehicles. My test IS looked very spiffy with its 18-inch alloy wheels in a gunmetal colour.
IS 350 power comes from a 3.5-litre V-6 which really gets this car off the mark quickly. With 306-horsepower, it needs watching in urban areas because you're up over the speed limit very quickly indeed. It's exceptionally smooth and responsive and also refined and vibration-free - this is Lexus after all and that kind of silky power delivery is expected. The only transmission is a 6-speed automatic but I had no complaints at all. The transmission can be set for various levels of performance - I used 'eco' around town to save fuel and to take a little off the edge off the acceleration levels.
Given the engine's high torque levels, it makes for a very flexible driving experience and the car is just as happy around town as it is on a fast mountain road like the Coquihalla Highway. The driving position is just about perfect with optimal positioning of steering wheel, pedals and seat. The seats are very well sculpted and hold everyone in place, especially up front, with great effectiveness. The instrumentation and switchgear is 'busy' but an owner would soon get used to the impressive array of controls. I was happy to see one of my favourite 'pamper the driver' features - a heated steering wheel.
The car is a delight to drive, thanks to the Lexus engineering team paying lots of attention to the suspension of the IS F Sport. Like all Lexus products it's built to the highest possible standards of assembly and design. It's a very luxurious car that's even better thanks to the F Sport package and the numerous goodies that come with the upgraded specification.
BODY STYLE: Four-door sports sedan
ENGINE: 3.5-litre direct-injection V-6, 306-horsepower
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic
PERFORMANCE: Zero to 100 km/h in approx 5.6-seconds
FUEL ECONOMY: 11-litres/100 km city; 7.7-litres/100 km hwy
PRICE: Base MSRP $51,900


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In the case of Doctor's Associates Inc. v Lim Eng Wah (trading as SUBWAY Niche) the Singapore High Court held that for visual and aural similarity, one must bear in mind the "imperfect recollection" of customer and "the ideas that lie behind" for conceptual similarity.
Doctor's Associates Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "the plaintiff") is an American corporation with its head office in Florida and owns and operates the franchise for the popular sandwich chain named "SUBWAY". At the time of this decision, there are 34,891 SUBWAY stores in 98 countries and 92 SUBWAY outlets in Singapore selling inter alia, sandwiches.
Lim Eng Wah (hereinafter referred to as "the defendant") operates a chain of stalls in Singapore under the name "SUBWAY Niche" which sells nonya kueh (local delicacies), bubble tea and other local snacks. The defendant first applied the alleged offending "SUBWAY Niche" sign in 1987 at an outlet in Wisma Atria, Singapore. The first SUBWAY Niche outlet opened in Singapore two years before the defendant registered its first two SUBWAY marks and nine years before the first SUBWAY outlet opened in Singapore.
The plaintiff complains the infringement of its SUBWAY marks registered under classes 30 (T8903282C) and (T0511829B) viz the defendant's sale of sandwiches, and class 43 (T0511831D) viz the defendant's operation of a SUBWAY Niche cafe. Initially, the plaintiff began legal proceedings in 2008 but the action was struck off in 2009 due to the plaintiff's failure to comply with order to furnish security for the defendant's costs.
The present action was started in 2010 claiming infringement of the SUBWAY mark in Singapore. The defendant resisted the proceedings and several affidavits were filed by both sides.
The Court held that the infringement will be found, if the offending sign is similar to the registered mark, both the sign and the mark must be in relation to similar goods or services and if there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public. The interdependence of these factors need only be assessed once a 'minimum level of similarity' of marks or a 'slight' similarity of goods/services has been reached.
The relative importance of each type of similarity depends on the circumstances at hand. The court is to consider the two signs/marks
"as a whole" and compare the "mark for mark". Court held that similarity is proved if the marks fell within the same class of products. The defendant argues that the addition of "Niche" distinguishes the offending mark from the plaintiff's SUBWAY mark which consists of two syllables while offending mark comprises three syllables.
The plaintiff submitted that the first word of the SUBWAY Niche mark is identical to the infringing mark. The Court found that the applicability of the "first syllable" principle is reserved for cases where the marks comprise only one word. The Courts however undertake a quantitative assessment of the marks, such that a slight variation in pronunciation or length can render marks different. The Court held that both the marks use the subway/train/rail concept. Though, addition of "Niche" conveys a 'narrowing' effect, it does not alter the texture of or impression evoked. Thus, the marks have aural, conceptual and visual similarities.
For the requirement of identity or similarity of goods the plaintiff relied that similarity of goods is prima facie established if the specifications of the goods are identical. The goods sold by the defendant would qualify to be registered under class 30 and 43. The sandwiches comprising variants of white bread with fillings fulfill the British Sugar test of similarity as well. While the defendant states the sale, display and handing over, interior design of SUBWAY outlets, prices of the sandwiches differed to customers.
Given the lack of any real evidence (apart from bare assertions, evidence from the bar and haphazard recollections of isolated incidents) of a likelihood of confusion, the Court concludes that the likelihood of confusion is hypothetical or speculative. The plaintiff's worldwide advertising proves that its customers can distinguish Subway Niche as a separate enterprise unrelated to SUBWAY.
The Court held that if the requirements for infringement have not been met, it is not strictly necessary to consider the defense of prior use. The plaintiff made claims like free-riding, financial, legal type, loss of licensing opportunity or income, and misappropriation of the plaintiff's goodwill and reputation, dilution of goodwill and tarnishment, and restriction of its planned expansion of menu under various heads of damages. The Court found insufficient evidence of damage to plaintiff's interest and the damages identified as merely hypothetical.
For passing off, the Court held that the preliminary issue of fact was that when the defendant began selling sandwiches under the alleged infringing mark. When complained conduct commenced, the defendant had not begun trading in Singapore. The plaintiff avers that goodwill was extended to Singapore even before the registration of the first SUBWAY mark in 1989 and before the first SUBWAY outlet opened in 1996. The Court found it unclear whether one can have goodwill without having any business presence or actual customers locally and referred this as the "foreign business problem".
The Court described that in Singapore the choice between the hard-line approach and a softer approach to the "foreign business problem" is "not of much significance", suggesting against an increase of protection for trade mark proprietors and against whittling down the hard-line approach. The plaintiff provided no real evidence of any goodwill, reputation or base of customers in Singapore in or before 1987. On this basis, Court found no need to go on to consider whether there was any actionable misrepresentation or damage to goodwill.
The Court thus, dismissed with costs the plaintiff's claims in relation to trade mark infringement and passing off. Court sets precedent suggesting against an increase of protection for trade mark proprietors and against whittling down the hard-line approach in "foreign business problem".


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England's Ashes woes continued at the Adelaide Oval as Australia turned the screw on day two of the second Test.
Despite having been thrashed by 381 runs in the first Test in Brisbane, England had high hopes of hitting back in Adelaide.
However, missed chances came back to haunt them as centuries from Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin helped Australia reach 570-9 declared.
And then a woeful dismissal from Alastair Cook left England on the ropes at 35-1 at stumps, still 535 runs behind.
Australia captain Clarke's 148 equalled his predecessor Ricky Ponting's record of six Test hundreds at the Adelaide Oval, while Haddin hit 118 from 177 deliveries.
Their 200-run stand surpassed the 181 they put on against New Zealand in 2008 for Australia's best sixth-wicket effort at the ground - with both players making the most of the chances presented to them on day one.
Clarke was put down by Root and although that was a tough diving chance at midwicket, Carberry was guilty of dropping a regulation chance that would have removed Haddin.
Both were also handed lifelines on day two as Haddin edged a no-ball from Ben Stokes behind when on 51, while Clarke was also dropped again on 91, with Ian Bell putting down a tough chance at short leg off Graeme Swann.
Clarke, who scored 113 in the second innings of his side's win at The Gabba in the series opener, completed back-to-back hundreds during a morning session in which little went right for England.
On 48 overnight, Clarke miscued the first ball he faced from Monty Panesar (1-157) just out of the reach of Stokes in the covers to complete his half-century.
He used his feet to the spinners at every opportunity and was also strong on the cut when the seamers dropped short, picking off Stokes for a couple into the leg side to move through to a 175-ball hundred, his 26th in Tests, before lunch.
Haddin took a more brutal approach and launched four leg-side sixes off England's spinners, taking advantage of the short square boundaries.
England did eventually break the partnership when Stokes (2-70) made Clarke his maiden Test wicket, with James Anderson taking a stooping catch at straight midwicket from a leading edge.
The tourists quickly added two more wickets; Mitchell Johnson failing to clear Stuart Broad (3-98) after trying to hit Swann's spin back down the ground and Stokes finding Peter Siddle's outside edge with a delivery that shaped away.
Shortly after Clarke's exit, Haddin brought up his fourth Test century - and third against England - by pulling Stokes for four.
But Haddin's impressive knock - which included 11 boundaries and five sixes - was finally brought to an end by Broad with a bottom edge off a wide one carrying to Matt Prior.
Ryan Harris and Nathan Lyon continued to pile on the misery with a 41-run stand before the declaration came.
Harris registered his second Test half-century - following his 68 not out against the West Indies in 2012 - with his 55 coming off 54 balls, while Lyon added 17, including his first six in first-class cricket.
The declaration left England with 21 overs left to face in the day, however they lost Cook (3) just 16 balls in. The England skipper completely misjudged the line of Johnson's delivery and lost his off-stump as a result.
Root, promoted to three in the order following Jonathan Trott's departure from the tour with a stress-related illness, and Carberry were able to steer England through to the close but it wasn't pretty.
Australia turn the screw
England's Ashes woes continued at the Adelaide Oval as Australia turned the screw on day two of the second Test.


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Fine Grey Sea Salt 1 pound
An all natural gourmet fine grind high mineral grey sea salt sun dried from Celtic Sea water in France. Grey sea salt is becoming very popular, and considered to be the very best quality salt available by many, due to it's high mineral content. As an all natural salt it can also be used for curing. Produced in accordance with French NatureetProgres.org natural standards. Salt must be natural to be used in an organic product.


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Last week, at New York Comic-Con, Marvel announced that a five issue mini-series, Shadow of Vader, was going to be written by Chuck Wendig. Today, Chuck Wendig announced that Marvel had fired him. Why? Because his Twitter had been "too vulgar and negative."
Seriously, that was the excuse given by his editor. "Today I got the call. I'm fired. Because of the negativity and vulgarity that my tweets bring. Seriously, that's what Mark, the editor said. It was too much politics, too much vulgarity, too much negativity on my part." Too much politics? Too much negativity?
Is Marvel the Twitter police now? Are they firing people because they don't like their political views online? What the fuck, Marvel? Is this why Chelsea Cain was fired, too? Because Wendig also says that he had written three issues out of a five issue mini-series, which sounds pretty goddamn familiar. If you are that hard up about his politics, why the fuck did you hire him in the first place?


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Don't talk to me about how you win some you lose some.
Don't talk to me about how 'It's all your fault you are losing'.
Don't talk to me about how I should do something else in my game.
Please take a wild guess what all of these games have in common.
If you answered some guy who feeds courier/ruins the game on purpose/talks in foreign languages all the time, DING!, you are absolutely right.
Valve have this stupid star system implement that puts you in games with other people who have the same star rating as you.
For me, thats the 1 star queue. And it's terrible, and has nothing to do with skill, but since some geniuses thought it was a good idea to use this in normal and RANKED games, I'll just keep losing until I fall ot 4.something K mmr.
And that is absolute bullshit. All this rage I build up from this streak made me see the bigger picture. I genuinely liked dota when I started playing it(2011), and it quickly became my favorite passtime. I was playing for hours upon hours, and the more I started understanding about the game, the more I started disliking losing, especially since ranked was introduced. But now, thinks have changed.
This game, for the past two years, has been nothing but a shitty cash grab. Valve will soon turn into the next EA(at least they actually dish out good games once in a while), and there is really no hope for any of their competitive games(Dota & CS), because they, as a company focus more on the money-making aspect of the game, than on actually fixing bugs, taking community suggestions more seriously, etc.
Well, I for one, have had enough.
I'm out.
No one will care, because I'm not the first. But I won't be the last.
Very soon many more like me will follow, and will hopefully open up Valve's eyes.


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Mega spoilers ahead if you haven't watched The Ritual on Netflix yet.
Sometimes, the most memorable part of a horror movie is its monster. Even if the acting isn't up to snuff, the plot is something you've seen before, and the characters make some bonehead decisions, a good movie monster can salvage an otherwise forgettable flick. I'm happy to say that David Bruckner's The Ritual is a rare horror film that actually has a solid cast, a story full of twists and turns you won't see coming, and a deeper emotional level to the narrative that's rare among macho movies these days. (Read Phil Brown's review here.) Beyond all that, it gets kicked up a notch for a truly remarkable movie monster that's a thrilling addition to the genre, but probably needs a little extra explanation for the viewers at home.
Adapted by Joe Barton from Adam Nevill's novel of the same name, The Ritual follows a group of college friends on a hiking trip in Sweden. What starts out as a guys retreat in tribute to a fallen friend soon turns into a fight for survival as things take a turn for the very, very creepy. In a maze-like forest, the gang comes across cryptic symbols, a seemingly abandoned cabin, and a headless effigy in the attic, but these are just the beginning of their troubles. Something is hunting them through the forest, picking them off one by one. And while The Ritual does a solid job in offering great looks at this original movie monster and explaining just enough of its mythology to satisfy most viewers, we wanted to dive a little deeper.
Our own Haleigh Foutch spoke to Bruckner about his movie and, specifically, its ending and original monster creation. Bruckner spoke about the mythology of the creature and the decision to save the full reveal until the end of the movie:
[It's] sort of this old Norse Viking nightmare that these modern men have wandered into. That the movie should always go for it, in the end. Whatever that means. So we always knew that we wanted to reveal, in one way or another, what it was. There are many movies that I admire that are withholding until the end, and like I said, we just felt that wasn't this film.
So, yeah, we had to feature it and that meant that we had to kind of literalize not just how it looks, but how it chooses to present. Because the idea of these kinds of shape-shifting Norse gods is that they can kind of choose how they want to look to you. So, what you're seeing is how it desires to be interpreted, and it's part of the way it intimidates and controls.
One of the coolest aspects of The Ritual's monster is its bizarro design and how it was glimpsed piecemeal throughout the telling of the tale–an antler here, a spooky visage there, a pair of human-like hands somehow extending from too big a body–all up until the final act where it's fully revealed in all its horrific glory. Even without the very human story at the center of this movie, it's worth a watch for the monster alone.
The Ritual brought on Keith Thompson, a concept artist for Guillermo del Toro who has worked on Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, Pacific Rim, The Strain, and Crimson Peak. Here's an insightful quote regarding Thompson's design of the creature:
He threw a bunch of images across the desk based on those conversations. One of the things we loved about this was that it, it was a difficult construction to understand at a certain glance. You know, that you could sort of build a mystery, just a very simple visual mystery around it.
Well, we talked a lot about different influences in Norse mythology. We knew that it was gonna be some sort of animal god, and, but we also talked a lot about it would have a sentience, and how would you give it a human quality? How would you obfuscate the difference between animal and human, and how could an animal form read with a human intelligence?
And so, Keith had many variations on those kinds of conversations, and this was one that he would kind of do an initial design on a few different things, and then I would have some notes. And this was one of his original designs based on our conversations that he had passed across and I loved it instantly.


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'Mad Pooper' Copycat Is Pooping on Lawns All Over Arkansas Neighborhood
It was just months ago a rogue runner with the runs stole headlines by pooping in the lawns of their Colorado Springs neighbors. The "Mad Pooper" has inspired a copycat in Little Rock, Arkansas. Residents of the Hillcrest neighborhood are calling their scat man the "Shit Bandit."
Tiffany Mattzela is one of those residents and she told Arkansas's FOX16 she's called the cops after catching the Bandit dropping droppings in her driveway. One morning she found the deed next to her car, and, assuming it had to have been left by Clifford the Big Red Dog, she and her husband checked the security footage and discovered the Bandit.
"It was a person who had been jogging down the street, ran up between our two cars, defecated, and ran away," she told FOX16.
Just days later she found her car door handle full of the Bandit's makeshift toilet paper and once again caught him in the act on the family's security cameras. "It was vile," Mattzela said.
She took to an online neighborhood group to warn neighbors of the foul exercise taking place. Unsurprisingly, her neighbors had faced the Bandit's defecating defacements as well. Little Rock Police have confirmed with FOX that they're on the case. The Shit Bandit is undoubtedly their number two priority.
h/t Vice


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SAM must shift focus to address changing priorities
by Stephen White | January 17, 2017 | Comments Off on SAM must shift focus to address changing priorities
Changed software market dynamics mean the focus of SAM must respond to altered priorities
The provider lead shift of application business and delivery models to SaaS, in turn leads to a substantial change in software provider / client relationship, becomes stickier and alters the nature of risk.
As we reported last year – the myth that it is impossible to be out of compliance with SaaS needs to be addressed. The role SAM plays becomes even more vital when considering requirements to address cost escalation challenges, whilst also establishing if adoption of a cloud service will be, or is, successful.
In essence the view of SAM's role must switch from a practice of managing license compliance, to measuring and managing consumption of provisioned services and functions.
- First, in the context of not only SaaS, SAM provides the astute with a vehicle to understand which users or user groups will consume the functions being evaluated in advance of adoption.
- Second, we should consider also that given SaaS providers are prone to withhold functionality for measuring consumption of their solution, it is essential that SAM tools are capable of effectively metering usage, thereby enabling both an actions to understanding of value derived and address any lag in adoption.
- Thirdly, given potential for escalating cost our organization may incur, we should be mindful to identify value extracted through consumption and enable excessive subscriptions and shelfware to be eliminated.
Accordingly, we should see SaaS not as a measure to eliminate need for SAM as a governance function. We should however choose to strategically invest in the SAM function, ensuring the means for managing functional and quantitative usage of each SaaS solution adopted is in place to regulate and report on consumption.
We have kick started 2017 with new SAM research that analyzes these impacts in more depth, including a look at changes in providers approach to auditing. The solution will be a combination of tools, disciplined process, resources to govern the practice and awareness of inherent risks and the governing frameworks put in place to manage them. The question for many remains whether to create mechanisms internally or utilize third party expertise.
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Johnston, Victoria; Cohen, Karen; Wiesner, Lubbe; Morris, Lynn; Ledwaba, Johanna; Fielding, Katherine L; Charalambous, Salome; Churchyard, Gavin; Phillips, Andrew; Grant, Alison D; (2013) Viral suppression following switch to second-line antiretroviral therapy: associations with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance and subtherapeutic drug concentrations prior to switch. The Journal of infectious diseases, 209 (5). pp. 711-720. ISSN 0022-1899 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jit411
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Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
BACKGROUND: High rates of second-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) failure are reported. The association with resistance and nonadherence on switching to second-line ART requires clarification. METHODS: Using prospectively collected data from patients in South Africa, we constructed a cohort of patients switched to second-line ART (1 January 2003 through 31 December 2008). Genotyping and drug concentrations (lamivudine, nevirapine, and efavirenz) were measured on stored samples preswitch. Their association with viral load (VL) <400 copies/mL by 15 months was assessed using modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two of 417 patients (49% male; median age, 36 years) had genotyping (n = 115) and/or drug concentrations (n = 80) measured. Median CD4 count and VL at switch were 177 cells/µL (interquartile range [IQR], 77-263) and 4.3 log10 copies/mL (IQR, 3.8-4.7), respectively. Fifty-five percent (n = 44/80) had subtherapeutic drug concentrations preswitch. More patients with therapeutic vs subtherapeutic ART had resistance (n = 73): no major mutations (3% vs 51%), nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (94% vs 44%), M184V/I (94% vs 26%), and ≥ 1 thymidine analogue mutations (47% vs 18%), all P = .01; and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) cross-resistance mutations (26% vs 13%, P = .23). Following switch, 68% (n = 83/122) achieved VL <400 copies/mL. Absence of NRTI mutations and subtherapeutic ART preswitch were associated with failure to achieve VL <400 copies/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Nonadherence, suggested by subtherapeutic ART with/without major resistance mutations, significantly contributed to failure when switching regimen. Unresolved nonadherence, not NRTI resistance, drives early second-line failure.
|Item Type
|Faculty and Department
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases > Dept of Clinical Research
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
|Research Centre
Antimicrobial Resistance Centre (AMR)
Tropical Epidemiology Group
|PubMed ID
|Related URLs
Filename: J Infect Dis.-2013-Johnston-infdis_jit411.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0Download


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|Contact Info
Ghering Health and Wellness Center
Counseling and Psychological Services
The CAPS professional staff is committed to providing you with high quality mental health care. For a deeper understanding of issues you or a friend may face, the following online resources may be helpful.
Concerning or Threatening Behavior Referral Form
If there is an immediate concern or threat to self or others, call University Police (814) 732-2911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Crisis Services - Call to be connected to 24-hour crisis intervention, stabilization, and assessment services.
HalfofUs – Awareness initiative by mtvU
Access code: Pennsylvania
ULifeline – Online screening and information
In addition, the Self Evaluator, a free, online screening, may be useful. Developed by Duke University School of Medicine, the Self Evaluator screens for the thirteen most common mental health conditions faced by many college students. It doesn't give you a diagnosis, but instead identifies problems that could be impacting you. It also offers information on these conditions.
NOTE: Please be aware that we do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered by the author of the reference or the organization operating the server on which the reference is maintained.


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High-tech solutions that keep you beautiful while connected
The digital era comes with new challenges for beauty brands and consumers. By introducing you to the new #ConnectedBeautyConsumer, Evonik Personal Care provides a highly innovative range of digital beauty solutions that enable you to become a pioneer within the digitalized beauty world.
Consumer face new beauty challenges within the digitalized world they live in
Benefits: Become a pioneer in digitalized beauty solutions with Evonik's Beauty-Tech concept
The challenge: Formulate high performance solutions that fit the needs of digital beauty consumers
Evonik's solution: A range of innovative formulations, solving consumer's digital dilemmas
Product highlights: ABIL® Care XL 80 MB, TEGO® Cosmo C 100, TEGO® Feel C 10, TEGO® Pep UP, TEGO® Turmerone
Consumer's relationship with technology has evolved over the last decades and fundamentally transformed the way we communicate. For example, digital influencers have nowadays an undeniable impact on consumer and their purchase decisions. Through social media networks, beauty consumers are looking for make-up tutorials, beauty routines and product recommendations. As technology becomes more and more incorporated into consumers everyday life, the use of digital devices is constantly growing across the globe and all generations. However, being connected 24/7 and living in a hyper-connected world, brings unique challenges to beauty brands and consumers.
Evonik provides innovative solutions for digital beauty challenges, such as bacteria control on smartphones or formulations that do not leave smudges on digital devices, formulations for flawlessly skin and hair for a perfect selfie, and innovative solutions to the hyperconnected skin. Insta-Selfie Loose Powder for example is a loose-powder that offers matte-effect and is the perfect on-the-go solution to keep your skin flawless and beautiful for selfies. The Unplugged Hair Leave-in is an optimal solution for perfect and "in-place" hair, wherever you are. It tames frizz and fly-aways and leaves hair soft and glossy for perfect selfies. The Smudge-free Cationic Hand Cream uniquely combines the cationic technology, very light emollients and natural cellulose fibers to improve absorption and to reduce oil transfer. Against this background, Evonik developed a special average typing and swiping test method to demonstrate the efficacy on reducing blemishes. Results clearly showed that the formulation outperformed common benchmark products in terms of smudging residuals, left on digital devices. Another option to address concerns of today's consumers is the Blue Light Defense Eye Cream Gel, an eye cream gel with elegant and soft skin feel, protecting your under-eyes skin against the damage caused by blue light emitted by digital devices.
With the Beauty-Tech Concept, Evonik offers an inspiring and innovative selection of formulations for the challenges faced by digital beauty consumers.
Hair and body shampoo
PEG-free. Excellent foaming properties
|RHEANCE® One
|dermofeel® sensolv MB
(Isoamyl Laurate)
Lauryl Glucoside
Sodium Coco-Sulfate, 91%
ad 100.00
|dermosoft® 1388 eco
(Glycerin; Aqua; Sodium Levulinate; Sodium Anisate)
|TEGO® Remo 95 MB
(Sorbitan Caprylate, Glyceryl Oleate)
Citric Acid
ad pH
Dissolve dermofeel sensolv MB in RHEANCE One. Add remaining ingredients in the given order.
Natural origin content: 100% (DIN ISO 16128, incl. formulation water).
in-vitro mildness test result (RBC test): moderately irritant (L/D = 6.1)
Slightly yellowish
2650mPas (Brookfield, 25°C)
pH Value
Microbiological Safety
Challenge test passed


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Personalised Christmas card. Hand made to order. Front will be printed with 'HAPPY CHRISTMAS' You can then add a personalised message of your choice. Made from lovely textured 300gsm weight card. Card size: 145 x 145mm approx. Envelope 155 x 155mm approx. Inside will be left blank so you can add your own hand written message. Card is sent in a cellophane bag and posted in a board backed envelope for safe delivery
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other shoppers!
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Check out NotesKey—I love this site. It has every Apple keynote event since 1997 laid out in an easy-to-grasp table. Each year is laid out by month, and each keynote event is represented with an icon that immediately conjures up memories of that event. The earlier ones use images from moments in the keynote, while recent years use the images Apple sent out in media invitations. It's brilliant, useful, immediately made me realize Apple used to hold a lot more keynote events than it does today thanks to the now-defunct Macworld Expo. To the creators of NotesKey, nice job!
Check It Out: Every Apple Keynote Since 1997 at a Glance


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CheQQme presents… *drumrolls* …campaigns with a twist!
Challenge your friends to crazy treasure hunts, unique branch hopping races, brain-cramping quizzes and more, anytime anywhere on your mobile devices.
The best part? You'll be rewarded by your favourite merchants with awesome goodies!
Behold! Our list of amazing partners!
From your local restaurants to international award winning brands, we try our very best to partner with your favourite merchants to bring you exciting experiences.
Don't see your favourite merchant on the list?
Suggest them to us and let us take care of the rest.


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Can you believe it's already Fall? I can't, especially not with this 90 degree weather we're having. As long as it feels like it's summer outside, I am going to keep dressing like it's summer. Can you really blame me? I cannot get enough of this beautiful baby blue color. It is so simple, yet fun and playful. It pairs perfectly with white to add a breezy, summer vibe to your look (even if it is almost October). This off the shoulder dress is so airy and comfortable. It's the perfect chic, on-the-go look. The dress I'm wearing here is Free People. Click here to get yours!
Babes, these white Chanel loafers have been my go-to lately. They can honestly tie together any outfit. They can easily go from casual cute to comfy and classy and they go with EVERYTHING. The black accents add a chic and trendy element to the classic shoes. I am seriously obsessed. Because of how gorgeous these babies are, they're sold out just about everywhere. Luckily, I found this pair at Tradsey.com! I also found a super similar style here!
Don't worry, I didn't forget about my bag. This deep turquoise/blue is the perfect accent to the breathable baby blue dress. This vintage Hermes satchel bag adds a fun pop element to any look. Two tone looks are so in right now and I am loving how well these two blues complement one another. This fun and vibrant blue bag serves as the perfect accent to the light and airy baby blue of this summer dress. This limited edition color is pretty rare. BUT I found it for you babes at Gilt! You can purchase it here ;).
And how gorgeous is this Swatch watch?! It's perfect for transitioning into the fall.
That's it for now. Have a lovely week and enjoy the sunshine xoxo.


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American Idol is looking for a certain kind of talent, performers with the "it" factor.
Thousands audition, a hand full make it through. It seems as though anyone making it to the top 5 is virtually guaranteed a record contract, resulting in a live tour.
While on the surface it seems like a great opportunity for fledgling vocalists there is a rising tide against the competition. The protests are coming from the rejected contestants and concerned music executives.
After an unusually bad brow beating by Simon Cowell one contestant stormed out of the audition area flapping her wings in her chicken costume screaming they don't know talent. My clucking is better than Rubin's crooning.
Another man appeared to be channeling dinosaur behavior as he performed his rendition of, Walk this Way, by Aerosmith. He made growling sounds and lizard like movements as he was led out by security.
"If they don't let some of the more unusual performers through we're doomed to have to listen to talent like Kathryn McPhee and Taylor Hicks forever", said record producer Niles Gordon. "I mean would Janis Joplin, Cindy Lauper or Dillan have made it through? I think not".
The industry is concerned that Idol is creating a factory of cookie cutter performers that will inundate American air waves leaving no room for anyone else. Now that's just not Rock n Roll.
From the desk of
Buck E Filbert
Feb 2 2007


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Veganism : a lifestyle that seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Our Mission: To reinforce the idea that veganism is not only beneficial for an average busy family, but downright easy. And delicious. Check back often for posts about food, thoughts, links, and more related to living in a vegan home. Oh, and if you like something, let me know!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead like I did, you can kind of see how the juicing lifestyle would be a life saver for those who are currently eating themselves to death. For us, it just didn't fly. Plus, juicers are hard to clean and kind of messy. You be the judge. In my PERSONAL opinion, you would be wise to borrow one and try it for a couple weeks before investing the money. I am not knocking what could be a potentially very healthy choice, but it is quite a commitment if you want it to "change your life". PS: Guess who has NOT made any juice as of yet? Husband. Nuff said.
Sticky Fingers For All!
Sticky Fingers Bakery and cafe, but did not have time. Well this time it was at the top of our destination list for the day! When we walked in it seemed small, but had a nice vibe and there were other folks eating there, too. So not creepy at all, as some places in D.C. tend to be. The menu was OUTSTANDING. We all had a hard time deciding what to get, since we are not used to having so many choices. I decided on a tempeh Reuben and sweet potato fries. Delish! My daughter had the TLT (tempeh, lettuce, and tomato). And of course we all had desserts and shakes. Like, delicious, cold, creamy "milk" shakes. They were of course, non-dairy milks. We stuffed ourselves and even took some home. They had a variety of products for sale, including some vegan Easter chocolates. I waited till the kids were distracted and then stocked up. Overall, the experience was amazing, the food was phenomenal, and I recommend Sticky Fingers as a place not to be missed if you enjoy exploring the veg scene as much as we do!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Just wanted to say...
Once again I am so excited to be blogging again after a bit of a break...and I cannot wait to see what 2014 will bring! For any of you who might not be vegan yet...make it your resolution for the new year to bring peace and joy to the animals, the environment, and your health by going vegan! Cheers!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Wedding Fare
|Photo booth madness!
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Pierogies Done Fast
I used to LOVE pierogies when I was a teenager. My brother, sister and I would make a whole box and just eat that for dinner on any given night, especially when we were in a hurry. I wanted to make a vegan version for my own family, but all the recipes that I saw were a bit...ummm....complicated. Ain't nobody got time for that! So I mulled this one over and decided that if I could just make the dough, then I could fill the pierogies with instant mashed potatoes and then boil them. This was very effective and turned out to be pretty quick and easy. Here is the dough recipe that I used followed by my own assembly instructions:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus flour for dusting the work surface
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup sunflower oil
- 1 cup water
- Box of instant mashed potatoes
- Optional: Diced onions, nutritional yeast
- Combine flour, salt, oil and water in large bowl, and mix until dough forms a ball. If dough is dry, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until moist. If dough is sticky, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it's smooth.
- On a floured work surface, knead dough 3 or 4 minutes or until elastic. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Make a pot of instant mashed potatoes, maybe about 4 servings. You can dice up onions and add them if you want. You could even mix in a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. Let the potatoes cool before using.
- Roll out the dough flat and cut into circles that are maybe 8 inches in diameter. It depends on how big you want them. I will leave that up to you. Put a dollop of potatoes in the middle of each circle and fold the edges around the potatoes so that it looks like a semi-circle. Pinch the edges together so they stick. Once you have finished making the pierogies, put them in a pot to boil for about 3 minutes. When they float they are done, but be careful because they don't always float. That might be a myth even, I am not convinced.
- You can serve them with vegan sour cream or even salsa or marinara. Get creative, they are good with pretty much anything. Some people fry them in oil once they are cooked through. Before you fry them, you can actually freeze them and they keep for 3-6 months.
|Get the kids to help, it'd be hard to mess this one up!
When the moon hits your eye like a big...
Mellow Mushroom's website to see if there is a location near you and to view the menu. If you aren't near a Mellow Mushroom, you can always gather ingredients at your local grocery and make your own :-) Sometimes, your own is simply the best!
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Sleepover Solutions
|Mobs of kids take over my living room.
Big Fat Vegan Radio
I have posted about podcasts before, but not since the inception of my new favorite, Big Fat Vegan Radio! I have been listening to this podcast since the summer, and not only is it informational, but it is so so SOO funny. The hosts are Laura Yaz (entertainment writer and former stand-up comedian) and Ben Strothman (AKA Honey LaBronx, The Vegan Drag Queen). Laura and Ben have a great thing going, for sure. Some vegan podcasts can be a little dry, but this one will keep you listening because they speak to each other with the warmth and humor of old friends, and I always feel like I am sitting down with some good vegan friends who just want to talk. I often listen to BFVR while I am cooking. And let me tell you, after a long day of wrangling elementary school children, they are the perfect comic relief! I LOVE their reviews and interviews as well. Now, as far as kids are concerned, this might not be one that you would want you kids to listen to. It is not explicit, but it is not really kid-friendly either. Listen to a few episodes before you play it around children. As always, you know your kids best. To find out more about BFVR, click here. And enjoy!
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by Jose Alzate
This Contemporary 4,900-square-foot mansion sits on a little more than a half-acre, with broad views of the surrounding mountains. The exterior facade is a combination of stucco and carob wood. A small pond surrounds the base of the house, near the entrance. A bridge of wooden steps leads to the front door. The large open living room immediately off the entrance has Spanish marble floors and two-story windows and outdoor deck. Previous tenant famous Colombian soccer star Juan Fernando Quintero. Article published on the house in New York Times
From the living room, glass doors open onto a teak deck. There is a separate TV room and office on the ground floor, as well as a space the current owner uses as a fitness room. The living room connects directly to the kitchen, which has an island counter for casual dining. All the appliances are Italian, including a steam oven and a range on the island. the balcony off the living room is for formal dining. A wood spiral staircase leads to the second floor, where there are three bedrooms and three bathrooms and the floors are made of carob wood.
The master bedroom has a dome-shaped roof with indirect lighting and two balconies. The bathroom features natural stone walls, a double shower, two sinks and a Jacuzzi; circular windows offer views of the city. There is also a large walk-in closet. A guest bathroom is on the ground floor, along with another bedroom and bathroom.
The backyard has a large lawn with banana, lemon and avocado trees. The
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USC Hoops Should Be Thanking Gerrity, Johnson, and LewisPosted by jstevrtc on June 10th, 2010
USC received the official response from the NCAA regarding penalties to the men's basketball team. Jeff Goodman from FoxSports.com posted a good succinct rundown of USC's self-imposed penalties plus what the NCAA added today. The penalties as described below are paraphrased from his article, but you should check out his article by clicking the link above.
Here is how USC stuck it to itself in the middle of last season:
- They ditched one scholarship from last year and this upcoming season,
- They reduced by one the number of coaches who could hit the road recruiting,
- Took 20 days off their allowed recruiting time this year,
- Vacated (a concept we hate) any wins in which O.J. Mayo played,
- Gave back just over $200,000 they earned by being in the 2008 NCAA Tournament,
- Let three kids out of their LOIs for the next season, and
- Took a year off from both the Pac-10 and NCAA Tournaments.
More on that last one in a bit. Here's what the NCAA tacked on as far as basketball penalties today:
- Four years of probation. It starts today, and it ends in exactly 1,461 days on June 9, 2014. In other words, the NCAA acknowledges you were bad. It added some penalties. But if you screw up any time in the next four years, they're really going to be ticked.
- Vacate all those post-season wins from the 2007-2008 season. USC won their first game in the Pac-10 tourney that year over Arizona State, then lost to UCLA. Then, as a 6-seed, they lost to #11 Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament first round. Total penalty there? One win. Crippling.
- Hold the Mayo. USC must "disassociate" itself from O.J. Mayo and the guy who provided illegal benefits to Mayo, Rodney Guillory. USC can't take any donated money from him, can't have him helping with recruiting, can't have him do anything on behalf of the school. That was probably happening anyway. We can't imagine that USC would have him out trumpeting the virtues of USC basketball.
- If you're not part of the team, get out. "Non-university personnel" can't fly on charters, donate money, help with camps, go to practices, or hang out in the locker room during/after games.
Again, the last penalty listed there is interesting, because it will be tricky to adhere to, just as it will be tricky to enforce. There will probably be lots of communication between USC Compliance (stop laughing) and the NCAA over the next several years about that. All it's really saying is that they have to quarantine themselves from "non-USC people." But the definition of a "USC person" is probably pretty wide-ranging.
The only real sanction that affects them going forward is the four years of probation. There's no TV ban, there's no extended loss of scholarships, there's no further post-season ban. True, that bit about disassociating themselves from O.J. Mayo might prove costly if he pulls a Rajon Rondo-like delayed transformation and becomes one of the top guards in the NBA, but USC basketball should be very pleased. As long as they keep their noses clean for the next four years, there'll be no problems.
When USC unleashed the self-imposed sanctions on its basketball program last January, most people (including us) thought they were a little harsh, especially the post-season ban for a team that would almost certainly have made the NCAA Tournament. Soon after began the talk from many experts that the athletic department was sacrificing the basketball program to save football, a totally logical way of thinking that was further engendered by the fact that, even though USC football was having one of their "worst" seasons in recent years, they still didn't want to put any post-season bans on that prized possession known as the football team. Heaven forbid.
Looking at what happened to USC football today, it's obvious the NCAA didn't fall for this straw man. We can assume now that the self-imposed sanctions were evidently deemed by the NCAA as almost totally sufficient for basketball, and that the punishments were kept completely separate. This basketball punishment now endorsed and finalized by the NCAA isn't exactly a slap on the wrist, but it's not the NCAA Pimp Hand of Death, either, and it's much, much closer to the former. USC basketball was never going to save USC football — but it may have helped save USC basketball.
Forgotten in all of this are three gentlemen who should be revered by any and all fans of USC basketball: Mike Gerrity, Marcus Johnson, and Dwight Lewis. They were the three seniors who lost their last opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament because of the self-imposed postseason ban last season. Gerrity, who had just transferred in as part of his three-college career and performed beautifully for the basketball team, never got to play in an NCAA Tournament — all because the athletic department was seemingly hoping to reduce the eventual sanctions on the football side. We're not saying they should have their jerseys retired, or anything, but USC basketball supporters should find a way to remember those fellows for a long, long time.
A final point: we've never met Pete Carroll. Our relationship with him is that he's a college football coach and we're college basketball bloggers. In other words, there is no relationship, other than he's famous and we know who he is. He may be a prince of a man, and most people seem to think so, given all of the stories written and specials aired about him explaining what a great guy he is. We're in no position to confirm or refute any of that. What we can say, though, is that the people who want to jump on folks like John Calipari or Kelvin Sampson or any player or coach who ever left a program right before it got hit with penalties from the NCAA now need to unleash that same glower at and think those same thoughts about Pete Carroll, and that's not going to be easy for the majority of college sports fans.