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(NewsUSA) – In today's busy, high-tech era, women are carrying more and more responsibility. Society expects them to earn a living; climb the corporate ladder; manage a home; and provide for the family by cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and helping care for them. In addition, these women — who are spread too thinly and on-call 24/7 — are expected to look good and feel good.
Many women say to themselves, "I used to be very active and worked out every day. These days, I find it hard to fit exercise and diet into my day." They often ask, "What can I do, and where can I start?"
It's a simple question that typically gets a not-so-simple answer. In order to see that people get and stay healthy, here are some quick tips for those busy women and even men.
* Get on a scale, take a photo, and set a goal. You must start somewhere. Find out where you are today. Then, set a small, short-term, obtainable goal. Write it down next to your photo.
* MyFitnessPal.com. It features a calorie counter, food journal and a social network community, all free online or by app.
* That Crazy Wrap Thing.
At the same time you're doing laundry, you can tighten, tone and firm with an in-house wrap from It Works! Global (www.itworksglobal.com). User reviews say that the body wrap motivates them to workout.
* Get up and go workout. You schedule dental checkups, haircuts, salon sessions and soccer practices — why not schedule your fitness? Schedule a 30-minute workout four to six times per week. If you don't, it won't happen. If you can't spare 30 minutes, squeeze in a vigorous 10 minutes that day.
* Photo food journal. Studies show that photographing and journaling your meal is six times more effective for curbing overeating.
* Cut sugar and starches. Avoid white-colored food except cauliflower and meats.
* Join a group exercise program. Yoga, spin and CrossFit, among others, are all great ways to meet new friends and enjoy the familiarity and accountability of group exercise.
This article is copyright free. You are free to use it on a blog, website, in a newspaper, or newsletter.
To re-post this, copy the content above, or HTML on the right, and paste onto your site.


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Santos denies Neymar speculation
Santos chief Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro has rubbished the latest speculation surrounding Neymar and Manchester City.
Reports from Spain claimed that City's hierarchy – led by director of football Txiki Begiristain – were ready to offer a 'blank cheque' to Santos in order to land the brilliant young Brazilian.
However, Ribeiro was quick to insist that even if City did make an approach it would have little bearing on them.
"I would tell the English that I would have a new stamp for their cheque: It would be returned for non-payment, rather than for lack of funds," said Ribeiro, who refuses to put any price on his prized asset.
"I'll say in advance what my response is to any offer that may come, my answer is no.
"Neymar is going to stay at Santos for sure until 2014 and I hope he stays even longer than that."
Ribeiro believes Neymar could stay with Santos whilst he remains as happy as he is.
"I have a very clear thesis to explain why Neymar stayed at Santos, resisting the offers from the Spanish. The reason is simple, he is happy. And he costs us relatively little considering his talent.
"The presence of Neymar generates so much for us, like our fan base growing 20% in the last two years.
"It's a repetition of what happened in the 1950s and 1960s when Pele attracted lots of fans far beyond the city limits, repeating history is not creative but I'm doing what [former Santos president Athie] did regarding Pele."
Pele stayed at Santos for almost two decades and played more than 1000 games for the club, including friendlies.

subset: commoncrawl


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Inspiring Bathroom Makeover Ideas for Renters
We recently moved into a new apartment and you know that, as a renter, one of the hardest rooms to update is the bathroom. Although our bathrooms are in desperate need of storage, a coat of paint and a few little fixes here and there, they are in pretty good shape. However, many times, ugly tiles, dated sinks, showers and cabinets make it difficult to make a big change.
In order to get inspired to tackle our bathrooms, I decided to look for great temporary or reversible bathroom makeovers. I hope these also help you dream up your own bathroom makeover.
And knowing how to deal with that retro tile can make a huge difference. Here are some clever ways to integrate it into your bathroom re-design:
1. Working the Vintage Bathroom Tile
Changing the wall color and shower curtain can do wonders:
2. Stephanie's Guest Bath Makeover... On a Budget
3. Before & After: Marie's Budget Bathroom Makeover
4. A $200 Bathroom Makeover Using Craigslist Finds
Changing the color of the floor, walls and cabinets can make a very bold statement:
5. Kim's Fabulous (Temporary) Bathroom Makeover
Adding different materials and textures can be a great way to break up the space and provide visual interest.
6. A $12 Rental Bathoom Makeover (again)
7. Before & After: A $25 Bathroom Restyle
Do you have any other great rental-friendly bathroom makeover tips?
(Images: as linked above)


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The Media Distraction Factor: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
I am tired you guys. Tired of all the naysayers saying Dallas is going to lose. Tired of all the Romo bashing. Tired of all the Jessica Simpson backlash. Tired of all the skeptics. Just plain tired and I gotta vent. Vent because, never in my 31 years on earth have I seen a team so disrespected. Never have I seen a team be so low-balled as my and your Dallas Cowboys.
This team is 13-3 yet the media portrays them as a 7-9 team who had divine intervention in making it to the playoffs. We have a quarterback who broke almost every team record this year. Romo surpassed Hall Of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman and even Danny White in the you name it stats. Yet, Romo will choke under this barrage of pressure on Sunday come game time as stated by hundreds in the media frenzy.
No R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
We have two of the games premiere players in Terrell Owens and Jason Witten, who were selected All-Pro's this week, yet we get no R-E-S-P-E-C-T. We have one of the games premiere defensive players in Demarcus Ware, an All-Pro at that as well, yet we get no R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I could go on and on guys about how good or great a team we are but it isnt gonna matter. Not matter to anyone outside the Cowboys fan Brotherhood and Sisterhood(for all the lovely ladies out there).
I know what this team is capable of. I know what this team can do when it clicks on all cylinders. I know for a god-given fact that this team can and will steamroll through the playoffs and to Superbowl 42 in Arizona and make you and I proud. There is too much tradition and history in this team.This team is the epitome of Sports Franchises globally. People on all corners of the world know who the Dallas Cowboys are. They are America's Team. They have a Stadium with a hole in the roof so god can watch his Cowboys play.
Now grant it, I know that the Dallas Cowboys of the 70's and 90's and the success that came during those eras have been missing here lately, but I know it's coming. It's coming in a huge way and I hope America is ready for it. I honestly believe that Jerry Jones has this team primed to dominate the NFC for the next 5-10 years. We are not a elite team by any standards, I am not naive, but we are a good if not great team at the moment. Can this team turn it up a level?
Well according to one of the All-Pro players on this team, who shall remain nameless at this time, they know of all the doubters and disrespect that has been given to them this week.
"We have 12 Pro Bowlers, 5 All-Pro's, should of been 6 with Tony, and an NFC best 13-3 record. I have never been on a team that has been this disrespected and we are gonna show the world come Sunday, believe it!"
Thats the exact quote I got from this Cowboys All-Pro. Thats why I decided to write this letter here on StarStruck. So if your going to the game on Sunday, wear white and scream to lungs out. Lose your voice and bring the house down on the G-Men because now it's US against the world.
Contributed by Fredooch


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Chinese Youth Are Losing Their Writing Skills
A hit Chinese game show is revealing a startling fact: Chinese youth are losing their writing skills. Photo: CCTV
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... scenes like this protection EV in China ... the fourteen year the strong yen ... and a half straight away meaning flesh of millions in everything he said that a Chinese show ... Chinese taking dictation competition ... and the program ... what often American spelling bee ... contest since this but I was in Chinese characters ... sound simple enough but in Chinese even a simple way to require dozens of brushstrokes The and the show has revealed a troubling facts ... China is the new generation of losing the ability to write in Chinese with it on technology ... explosion of digital devices in China and around the world has led to young people's substituting rating with a magic ons for example Chinese text is his software that allows him to write much quicker and Opinion systems which Chinese with the written phonetically use in the West an alphabet critics say these This Ma fund is undermining the ability of Chinese people to write in their own language ... the situation has caused a media outcry over the state of Chinese education ... it even prompted calls from one former government official ... to replace English and prayer Respules Chinese pricing class ... but the sheer popularity of the Chinese characters dictation competition ... and other shows like it ... may be what's needed to spur a new wave of interest in an ancient form of communication ...


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Starry Nights will return to Metropolitan Park with progressive rocker Chicago and five-time Grammy Award winner Christopher Cross joining the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for two concert events this spring.
Billed as Jacksonville's edition of Saturday in the Park with a full orchestra, Chicago rocks out on its 1970s and '80s hits on May 31. Christopher Cross, best known for the album "Ride Like the Wind" and singles "Never Be the Same" and "Say You'll Be Mine," performs with the symphony on June 6.
The concerts are both set for 8:15 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m. The concerts take place race or shine, unless conditions put the musicians or concertgoers in danger, symphony officials said during the official announcement on Thursday, March 6.
Subscriptions to both concerts are now available with table seating ranging from $70-$170 per seat and $500-$1,250 for full tables of six or eight. Lawn seating is available at $30 for adults and $10 for children younger than 12.
Single event tickets will go on sale Monday, April 7 — table seats at $35-$85 and full tables at $250-$550. Lawn seating is $15 for adults in advance, $20 at the gate (children are $5).
For more information or to buy tickets, call 354-5547 or visit the box office at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Jacksonville.
Note: Christopher Cross' Starry Nights concert was originally scheduled for June 7, but it was moved to June 6 after the U.S. men's national team scheduled its Sendoff Series soccer match against Nigeria for June 7.


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If you have read the blog you know I worked at a local graveyard here in
Having a small non denominational start up church and a para church outreach organization does not pay the bills, so I found work when I could.
I went to work at
Long story short I left the sales department and started mowing lawns and burying the dead.
A lot of odd things happen in cemeteries.
When you work around it day in and day out you kind of get used to it.
Then again sometimes such unexplainable things happen that you could never get used to.
One of the head maintenance men was clearing snow from the sidewalks and offices early in the morning one day in the middle of January. It was still dark, but the freshly fallen snow illuminated the landscape in an eerie glow. The maintenance man decided to save gas and walk the quarter mile from the office building to start shoveling the snow around the mausoleum. Halfway there he saw a figure walking behind the building. From the size it looked like a child had just walked behind the mausoleum, but the worker could not be sure. It was a little odd but not entirely out of the ordinary that someone would take an early morning walk around the cemetery for exercise. But it was downright peculiar for someone to do it after a heavy snowstorm let alone with a child. So wearily he surveyed the grounds for any site of the child or parents who might be getting some brisk morning exercise.
But he saw no one as he neared the building.
He circled around to where he swore he saw the figure of the child, but there were no footprints in the snow.
As he looked up from the new snow he saw a face peering from around the corner on the other side of the building just 50 feet away from him. He could not make out features but he saw the rough shading of eyes, mouth and nose from the shadowy figure that was examining him. It was about three feet tall, the size of a young child.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" he shouted and started to make his way through the drifts to the curious face. But as soon as he started to move the head quickly disappeared from the corner. The maintenance man added some speed to his gait but when he arrived to the corner the child was gone. But as he looked down to see where the young one had ran to he once again saw no footprints.
Amazed and disturbed he threw his shovel into the ground and mumbled to himself. He was sure someone was playing a trick on him, but he was clueless as to who it could be. For all he knew he was alone in the 70 acre cemetery.
Alone except for that small child who could disappear without leaving any tracks in the snow.
He shrugged and made a mental note to drill the other members of the crew when they came in to see if any one of them was up to shenanigans. If it was a trick they would probably edge him on a while but then get their jollies at his expense. So trying to push aside the oddness of the event, he went about shoveling the snow.
That was when he heard the voices.
At first he thought it might be the wind. The mausoleum was out in an open field and sometimes the wind whipped around the building fiercely and made all sorts of odd noises. But after a while he knew it was not the wind. He heard the whispering voices even when the air was still. The whispering voices were barely audible but to his ears they were clearly distinct and individual voices. It was as if there were a large group of people gathered together in the mausoleum having a conversation. He silently moved around the sidewalk to try and get a location for the voices. They seemed very close but at varying distances. It was as if many people were having a whispered conversation from a distance. Then one of the voices seemed to be a little closer, and his heart almost stopped when he realized where they were coming from.
The voices were coming from inside the crypts in the mausoleum walls.
Frozen in fear he thought he was going insane so he slowly moved closer to the cold ice layered marble slab. The icy slabs concealed the cement crypts which made up the inner and outer walls of the building. As he put his ear to the freezing stone he heard a distinctive whispering voice say, "Shhh. He hears us!"
In an instant he dropped the shovel from his hands and ran to the office building. He never heard the voices again, but he vowed to never shovel the snow around the mausoleum in the dark ever again either.
However that was not the end of caretakers and others seeing shadow people in the early morning twilight on the cemetery grounds.
One morning I had come in early to get ready for a trip to a neighboring cemetery that needed some help because someone had called in sick. The sun was just about to rise and the supervisor and myself were sitting at a desk drinking some coffee and discussing current events when an elderly lady came into the office door.
She seemed quite distressed.
She was barely able to get inside and was hanging onto the front door as if it were a lifeline. She must have been in her early eighties and almost collapsed just as my supervisor caught her and helped her to a seat.
She had visited her deceased husband's grave to put out a fresh flower arrangement before she went to an early morning breakfast appointment with some friends. She was sitting on a blanket and arranging the flowers in the vase as the morning sun was just rising. Sitting there and taking in the bright sunrise she saw a figure move to her right. It was a lady dressed in a long black shawl about 40 yards away from her on the other side of the garden where her husband was buried. She saw no distinct features but from the silhouette in the sunrise she could tell it was a woman with a lithe figure who was standing erect with her head tilted down to the grave which she was standing over. She wondered who she was, because she had not seen her before as she had walked back and forth from her car to bring the flowers and water to her husband's graveside. In fact she was sure at that time she was the only one on the outside of the property.
She was considering these things as the sun rose over the treetops to the east and the rays of light began to filter into the garden with intensity. The figure seemed to fade a bit.
Then it slowly sunk into the ground.
It was as if the earth sucked up the silhouette of the woman and ate her.
We calmed the woman down and gave her some water. I went out to investigate and found her small blanket at the foot of the grave and the fresh flowers arranged in the vase just as she said. But I saw no other person on the grounds. A few minutes later my supervisor came out with the woman and we asked her where she saw the figure. I walked out to the opposite side where she gestured but saw nothing out of the ordinary. So I called to her to have me move where she thought she saw the figure vanish into the ground. When she had finished directing me I looked down. I was standing over the grave of a young teenage boy who had shot himself earlier during the year with his father's gun. He had been an honor student with a bright future to look forward to. Then a random school drug search found a few ounces of cocaine in his locker. He was kicked out of school and faced serious charges. Instead of facing a bleak future he chose to take his own life.
But the family tragedy did not stop there. Within a few months the father had gunned down the boy's mother and a coworker he had suspected her of cheating on him with. And then he put a bullet into his own head as well, just as his son had done just a few months previously.
The graves were all together. Father, mother and son slept together for eternity.
But according to the woman something had visited the son early in the morning's twilight. Was it the mother? A figment of her imagination? Or just an illusion of the diffused lighting coming through the pine trees in the East? Or was it a dark entity that had influenced the family to commit such tragic and needlessly violent acts that still lurks at the gravesite?
I have no idea.
All I could do was pray that God would have mercy on their souls and grant them peace.
Even though once in a while I did come in early in the twilight morning to help out now and then, I never came into the graveyard at night. I was a bit afraid of what I might see.
Especially after another frightening story that was told to me by the retiring supervisor that morning. But I think I'll save that story and another interesting incident for a post that I will make this Halloween.
Until next time,
Pastor Swope


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Caitlin and John Puterbaugh of Oak Park, formerly of Sycamore, announce the birth of a daughter, Abigail Cait Puterbaugh, born Dec. 17, 2012, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, DeKalb. She weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces.
Grandparents are Donna McDowell and Scott Mullen of Charlotte, N.C., Robin Puterbaugh of Carmel, Ind., and Joe Puterbaugh of Downers Grove.
Great-grandparents are Don and Stacy McDowell of Oswego, Jack and Ledell McConnell of Scipio, Ind., and Phil and Barb Puterbaugh of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jacob and Jenny Challand of DeKalb announce the birth of a daughter, Josie Julia Challand, born Aug. 31, 2012, at Valley West Community Hospital, Sandwich. She weighed 9 pounds and was welcomed home by Reid, 2, and Reagan, 1.
Grandparents are Tom and Priscilla Kapraun of Lee and John and Sharon Challand of Malta.
Great-grandparents are Harold Angotti of Wirth, Ark., Bob and Elaine Kapraun of El Paso, Ill., and Roy France of DeKalb.
Jerry and Angie Shipper of Baraboo, Wis., announce the birth of a daughter, Samantha Jean Shipper, born Nov. 9, 2012, at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, Wis. She weighed 6 pounds.
Grandparents are Kathi and Bill Shipper of Sycamore and Judy and Jerry Ostrowski, formerly of Lombard, currently of Baraboo, Wis.
Emily Pollack of Sycamore announces the birth of a son, Oliver Edward Pollack, born Dec. 11, 2012, at Delnor Hospital, Geneva. He weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces, and was welcomed home by Constance Wedel, 10.
Grandparents are Roy and Denise Pollack of Campton Hills.
Josh and Trisha Crittenden of Sycamore announce the birth of a daughter, Neve Lynn Crittenden, born Dec. 26, 2012, at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, DeKalb. She weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces, and was welcomed by Drake, 3.
Grandparents are Bob and Jacquie Drake of Clare and Roger and Deb Hodgkinson of Genoa.
Great-grandparents are Helen Beamish of Sycamore and Jane Brackett of Fletcher, N.C.


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So, when 20 male runners enter the Louisville starting gate, it's likely the casual sports fan will have heard of Rosie Napravnik, and for all they know Verrazano is still only the bridge in New York that connects Brooklyn to Staten Island.
And perhaps the only reason the fan has heard of Napravnik is because they will have seen her on "60 Minutes" this Sunday night. Check your local listings.
A check of the NTRA listings and profiles shows that Napravnik, having reached the 1,500-win plateau earlier this year, also owns a Breeders' Cup victory, historic wins in the Kentucky Oaks and Louisiana Derby, and the single-season earnings mark by a female rider of over $12 million.
The earnings record, erasing the standard set by the great Julie Krone 20 years ago, came as the result of 193 victories in 2012, many of those enabling her to win a third consecutive riding title at the Fair Grounds.
Rosie currently ranks fifth nationally in money won, her mounts having earned $4.3 million, and if Joel Rosario hadn't gone absolutely wild at the recently concluded Keeneland race meet, her 113 victories this year would lead the nation.
When a rider dominates any one meeting, the way Napravnik has at the Fair Grounds since 2011, they usually in get the best mounts but still, her win percentage of 26 trails only Rafael Bejarano, who at 28 percent had 100 fewi rides.
Twenty six percent is better than Rosario's strike rate, or that of Johnny Velazquez or Javier Castellano, the remaining members of the top five. Her win rate was even better than the dominant, albeit currently sidelined, Ramon Dominguez.
Through Friday, Rosie's had 434 rides and three of every five have hit the board. She's having the kind of year that makes you almost forget the unforgettable Ms. Krone.
At the moment, Rosie counting the days to Derby 139. Here's Napravnik on the classic: "Win it? It would mean the same thing to me as it would everyone else in this game. It's the ultimate goal that really doesn't seem realistic until you're there and in it."
Those iterations came with respect to her Derby ride aboard 2012 juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby, now currently sidelined. Instead, Napravnik will partner Mylute for trainer Tom Amoss, an outfit that has done very well together in the winters down on the Bayou.
Mylute will be one of the longer shots in the field but still has a little better than a puncher's chance. In his last start, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, he was beaten in a photo by Revolutionary, a colt many have picked to win the roses on Saturday.
Last month, through the auspices of Thoroughbred publicist Equisponse, Napravnik entered a strategic partnership with Octagon, a leading global sports and entertainment marketer. The company represents Michael Phelps, Apolo Anton Ohno and Kelly Clark, among others.
"Every now and then, an athlete emerges in a sport and exhibits the potential to do things that have never been done before," said Peter Carlisle, Octagon's managing director of Olympics and Action Sports.
"This amounts to a great opportunity not only for Rosie but potentially for the sport of horse racing as well."
"You can almost classify her as just 'jockey' now," said trainer Larry Jones after saddling Joyful Victory to win Santa Anita's Santa Margarita Stakes. "You don't have to put 'woman' on there anymore.
"She's talented and horses love to run for her. I've had some horses that are somewhat lazy. I didn't think Rosie would fit them but I put her on and the horses weren't lazy anymore. She just can communicate with them."
And then Jones offered this: "Rosie is one of those special riders. I tell you it's a gift from God what she's got. She doesn't realize it yet but she's been anointed with this talent. She is one of the brightest young stars in this game, I can assure you."
So there indeed is a filly in this Derby. How about "roses for rosie?" The headline just writes itself.
He Can Still Flat Out Run
As it turns out, concerns that the 7-year-old Flat Out might be passed his prime were ill founded. It must be something about the water in Elmont, the elixir apparently helping the old pro to extend his unbeaten streak at Belmont Park to four.
To do so, he had to run down a very fast and formidable Gulfstream Park shipper, Cross Traffic, and that's exactly what he did by a head in the shadow of the wire, getting a mile in a very snappy 1:32.99--even if the track played on the fast side all day.
It played on the speed-favoring side, too, and it was that much cooler seeing the old boy dig down deep, making his terrible effort in the New Orleans Handicap a bad butdistant memory.
"Junior Alvarado did a great job," said Bill Mott assistant Leana Williford of the winning rider. "He was aware the other horse was the lone speed, and didn't let him get too far away."


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by Tom Utescher
In the last full week of practice before official games can begin (on March 23), Mount St. Joseph Academy's lacrosse team engaged in two weekday scrimmages and then played a spate of mini-games last Saturday at Upper Dublin High School's St. Patrick's Day Invitational.
The Magic have one more tune-up session scheduled for the middle of this week before opening their 2012 season on Saturday against a league rival, Sacred Heart (away at 11:00 A.M).
Mount St. Joe is coming off of a 2011 season in which an overall record of 11-8 included the Magic's first win over league rival Villa Maria in several years. The Mount went 9-4 in Catholic Academies contests, falling to Merion Mercy in the playoff semifinals. The campaign ended with a 14-6 loss to Conestoga High School in the opening round of the PIAA District 1 tournament.
The Magic's new mentor, Jen Duckenfield, did not coach a high school squad last spring, but before that she enjoyed a successful tenure at Strath Haven High School. An assistant for many years, she became head coach in 2010 and guided the Panthers to a tie for the championship in the Central League, one of the strongest leagues in the state.
One of her protégés at Strath Haven was her own daughter, Alex, who is now a freshman on the lacrosse team at Vanderbilt University. Duckenfield, originally from Delaware County, has coached many club players from this area in the Ultimate Goal club program, which is based in Ambler.
Mount St. Joe graduated five members of its 2011 roster, including Stevie Wells, who is now playing at Columbia, and Shannon Zoldy, who has joined the squad at Lafayette.
Although there are only four seniors on the Magic team this year, a total of eight players have already made their college choices. Attacker Burke Brabson signed with La Salle University back in the fall, and defender Maddie Haas is headed to Monmouth. Middie Laura Pacheco plans to play both lacrosse and field hockey at Union College, while the fourth senior, defender Haley Hendel, will attend Penn State and won't be participating in intercollegiate athletics.
Four juniors have made verbal commitments, with center Emilee Ehret opting not for lacrosse, but field hockey at Penn State. Former Norwood Fontbonne Academy standouts Olivia Gannon (attack) and Dominique Nyzio (defensive mid) have given the nod to Villanova and Drexel, respectively. The Magic's goalie, Alex Lista, has chosen the College of William & Mary.
The other members of the Mount's talented junior class are attacker Marley Breslin, defensive mid Meg McCabe, and low defender Jane Black.
Two young attackers have also earned a place on the varsity team, sophomore Natalie Bohner and freshman Christie Mischler. Bohner is the daughter of the former Leslie Gillin, a Springside School lacrosse standout who went on to the University of Virginia.
Following the team's first few sessions at Upper Dublin on Saturday, Coach Duckenfield remarked "Emilee Ehret was fabulous on the draws, and in the goal Alex stopped some point-blank shots early on to keep us from falling behind.
"Olivia and Natalie Bohner did some nice things on attack," the new Mount mentor continued, "and Maddie Haas and Haley Hendel were solid back on defense. We also get a lot of speed from Meg McCabe in the back – she's our chaos-maker. I think we did well with our transition game, and we got after the ground balls."
Overall, Duckenfield observed, "The girls are very hard-working and very committed to each other. There's good team chemistry, and that's important."


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Jerry Jones: Jason Garrett still not coaching for job even as Cowboys' playoff drought lingers
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OXNARD, Calif. – Jerry Jones doesn't like to repeat his good sound bites, so he found a new way to say Jason Garrett isn't coaching for his job.
The Dallas Cowboys owner said Wednesday it wasn't a "make or break" season for Garrett, a year after opening training camp by declaring that last season wouldn't be "Armageddon" for his coach if the once-proud franchise missed the playoffs again.
The Cowboys have identical endings to all three full seasons under Garrett, losing to NFC East rivals to finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
This time, Garrett is in the final year of his contract. While he's not talking extension, Jones also isn't talking change.
"Did the record of 8-8, 8-8, 8-8 ... was that the factor? No," Jones said on the eve of the team's first camp practices. "In my mind he is more of an asset after this last 8-8 season than he was before the first 8-8 season we had three years ago."
In Jones' mind, that means Garrett is gaining experience since replacing Wade Phillips in the middle of the 2010 season. And the owner says he likes the continuity with Garrett going into his eighth season after he was hired as offensive coordinator before Phillips came on as coach in 2007.
"There's nobody that has a better feel for me than Jason, in terms of the relationship," Jones said. "We both know where our expectations are and when it's looking good and when it's looking dire. And I don't expect it to be the latter."
In other words, Jones isn't resigning himself to missing the playoffs a fifth straight time. Dallas hasn't done that since 1990, when the Cowboys entered his second year as owner coming off a two-year mark of 4-28.
"I don't want to have to stomach it," Jones said. "Let's put it like that."
Still, Jones was a bit cautious with his optimism, using his opening statement to point out that roughly half of the 90-man camp roster includes players who weren't with the Cowboys a year ago.
He also likes to say Dallas has gone from one of the oldest teams in the league to one of the youngest. Some might call that rebuilding. Not Jones.
"It's not about next year," Jones said. "I think we've got the fundamentals to compete and compete right now, and the decisions we've made are that."
The biggest decision was releasing franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware on the first day of free agency in March. The Cowboys hope to fill the void by finding quality in the large quantity of defensive linemen in camp.
Dallas also is looking for a replacement for Sean Lee at middle linebacker after he tore a knee ligament in the first offseason practice.
The offense is counting on a healthy Tony Romo, and Garrett said he would be ready "for all aspects" of camp.
The Cowboys will ease into workouts, even scrapping their traditional conditioning test to try to cut down on a two-year plague of injuries that helped wreck two of the worst defenses in franchise history. And that's one of the areas where Garrett figures he can be better.
"We want to evaluate how we used our players, what we asked them to do and how we can do stuff better," Garrett said. "So I can give you 50 examples of that, coverages we play, what we're doing up front with our guys, techniques we're using at the different levels of our defense. And we implemented all that stuff in the offseason."
So Garrett starts the process of trying to break out of his personal 8-8 rut for a franchise with a .500 record going back 17 years.
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL


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Julie Jason: Be smart about student loan repayments
If you graduated from college last spring, you may have to start repaying your student loans this month. Most student loans have a built-in six-month grace period before payments start -- November for students graduating in May.
Even if you have no job or a low-paying job, don't delay getting the facts about your loan and when repayments must begin. If you don't get a handle on things quickly, you face the danger of creating a poor credit history and triggering penalties, late fees and collection costs, lawsuits, seizure of state and federal tax refunds and other dire consequences.
Here are some pointers to get you moving in the right direction, which I've adapted from tips provided by America Saves, an initiative of the Consumer Federation of America, and Sallie Mae, the leading financial services company specializing in education.
1. This is basic: you have to face the music. Find out exactly how much you must repay each month. Oftentimes, students don't realize they have an obligation to repay loans even if they don't have jobs. You must know how much you owe.
2. A lot of times, graduates might procrastinate -- or forget -- to start their repayments. To avoid missteps, direct your bank to debit your account automatically each month. In some cases, putting your loan repayments on automatic pilot can qualify for lowering your interest rate.
3. If you feel you can't afford to make payments, look inward. Do you have cash to spend on consumer purchases and entertainment? If so, you have cash to pay your loan obligations.
4. If your loan servicer calls you, be sure to answer the phone. There is no reason to avoid those calls. You will be able to get information that will be valuable to you, including how to defer repayment.
5. Some lenders may offer deferment to delay repayments. While you should know about these options (ask your loan servicer), it's best to do so only in dire emergencies. Otherwise, resist the impulse. You'll only pay more over the life of the loan.
6. If you think you'll fall behind on repayments, your loan servicer may offer a temporary repayment postponement to get you back on your feet. Or, you may be able to negotiate a different repayment plan.
7. Update your loan servicer if you move or change your email or phone number. That will help assure that you receive timely information about your loan.
8. Don't look for too-good-to-be-true ways out of student loan debt. You might easily walk into a scam.
As with other financial matters, being informed is the starting point. Using information to map out a plan leads to success. Ideally, you'll be able to set aside some extra money each month to repay the loan faster.
That's what Connecticut resident, LH, did.
"When I began paying back my loan," explained LH, "I started with the minimum payments ($67), not knowing how another bill would affect my finances. Once I was able to look ahead to my goals and what I had already saved up, I was able to raise my monthly payments to about $150 each month." "My job was treating me very well and I soon earned a raise and a bonus. Once that occured, I was able to raise my monthly payments yet again to $300 each month. I had a CD that matured over the summer and I used a portion of that to make the final payment on my loan, over $1,200. I was elated the day I made that final loan payment! I was extremely proud of myself that I had been able to pay off my student loan just 2 years after graduating." LH's story is a great example of successful planning.
"By following a few simple guidelines, graduates can take control of their finances and make student loan repayment manageable," said Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae.
For more tips on planning for college or student loan repayment, visit CollegeAnswer.com. The site offers several calculators.
Julie Jason, JD, LLM, award-winning author of "The AARP Retirement Survival Guide: How to Make Smart Financial Decisions in Good Times and Bad," and "Managing Retirement Wealth: An Expert Guide to Personal Portfolio Management in Good Times and Bad," is principal of Jackson, Grant Investment Advisers, Inc. of Stamford. Please e-mail her with questions at firstname.lastname@example.com or write to her c/o The Advocate, 9A Riverbend Drive South, Box 4910, Stamford, CT 06907. Copyright 2012 Julie Jason.


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Most of my parishioners should understand by now that, while your ever-lovin' Vicar could not really be called a "perfectionist," he does take pride in having at least a rudimentary idea what he's talking about. That's why it's often not enough for me just to watch a movie and then foist my opinions on the breathlessly anticipatory blogosphere; no, sometimes I have to go that extra mile, do that extra little bit of research, find that one bonus tidbit that will make everyone's visit to the dungeons of the Vicarage worthwhile. Say what you will about me, but if there's one think I hate, it's going off half-cocked.
Sometimes, though, the knowledge I gain is hardly worth the torment of its possession. Such was definitely the case with my inaugural movie of 2009, Sergio Martino's infamous 1978 cannibal flick, Slave of the Cannibal God. The version in my collection comes from the Mill Creek 50 Drive-In Movie Classics box set, and clocks in at a lean 82 minutes. It had its gruesome moments, but even to an untrained eye it's obvious some censor has taken a hacksaw to the print. A cursory glance through my Internet Sources (the BEST sources!) told me I was missing anywhere from 9 to 19 minutes of prime sex-and-gore infamy. Not one to let an omission like that stand, I put on my pith helmet and struck out into the jungles of the web, searching for that elusive lost footage.
But before I discuss the result of *that* ill-fated expedition, let's talk about the shorter, kinder, gentler print.
In both versions, Martino (who showed a much defter touch in the previously reviewed All the Colors of the Dark) opens with a seemingly conservation-minded text crawl:
New Guinea is perhaps the last region on earth which still contains immense unexplored areas, shrouded in mystery, where life has remained at its primordial level. Today, on the dawn of the space age, it seems unimaginable that only twenty hours' flight from London there still exists such a wild and uncontaminated world. This story bears witness that it does...Fair enough--but that green message is accompanied by examples of what Alfred Lord Tennyson famously called "Nature, red in tooth and claw": we get to see an alligator eating a snapping turtle, an albino cobra spreading its hood, and various other shots of animals basically being beastly to one another. Of course this is to establish the metaphorical backdrop for our tale's easy moral, which as usual has to do with men not being any better than komodo dragons when it comes to compassion and survival. However, next to the above sentiment, it seems a little out-of-context.
Susan Stevenson (Ursula Andress, whose forehead has never been higher) arrives in New Guinea with her brother Arthur. (Despite the preponderance of reviews claiming it's Helmut Berger in this role, it is in fact the only slightly less sinister and Germanic-looking Antonio Marsina. Minions of the Tenebrous Empire, you were warned.) The crowd of reporters that greets her lets us know she's rich and important, presumably for being the wife of a world-famous anthropologist who's gone missing in the New Guinea bush. She and Arthur have come to New Guinea to look for him, and there's your plot.
After striking out at the embassy, Susan heads to her husband's jungle compound where she meets his partner Professor Edward Foster, played by a young, buff n' scruffy Stacy Keach. Edward has a hunch about Professor Stevenson's whereabouts, as the old man had been fascinated by the legends surrounding the island of Roaka and its sacred mountain, Ra-Ra Mi. Unfortunately, Ed tells us, the island is off-limits--"They say it's for conservation reasons, but the truth of the matter is...they're afraid of the curse too." Resolved not to leave Papua without her Papa, Ursula recruits Keach and his band of merry natives to lead an illegal expedition to the mountain to get her husband back.
From there it's a short helicopter ride to the middle of jungly nowhere, and our intrepid band of explorers spends quite a bit of time hacking through the brush in close-up. Ursula gets the first brush with death in when she falls over to find herself face to face with a gigantic tarantula! The tarantula, in turn, gets the first ACTUAL death as Keach cleaves it in twain with his handy machete. (Yes, as is usual with this kind of flick, ANIMALS WERE HARMED.) Keach then delivers a chilling monologue about what Ursula could have expected had she been bitten by the deadly beast--a cautionary tale that would carry more weight, I think, if Keach himself were clad in more than mid-thigh camo shorts. I guess he's relying on his cunning to keep him alive.
As it turns out, the spider got off easy. Believing the killing of a spider was a bad omen, the natives in Keach's outfit set about appeasing the gods...by killing an iguana! The tied, writhing animal is gutted graphically for your viewing pleasure, and one of the natives goes the extra mile by pulling out the lizard's heart and using it for chewing gum. My brain was spinning a little--if killing the spider was bad, wouldn't killing the lizard be worse? Will they have to kill a goat to make up for the lizard? Then a tapir for the goat? Then a pygmy hippo and so on? WHERE WILL IT END?
Luckily the natives are untroubled by sacrificial escalation scenarios, and our group continues through the jungle, narrowly avoiding a police copter patrol and giving Arthur the chance to show his douchebaggy side when he interrupts the sacrifice and gets some Keach-knuckles to the gums for his trouble. Offended by the guy's Teutonic insensitivity to their customs, some of the natives split, leaving the band short-handed but still determined. They eventually reach the ocean and (presumably) sail across to the cursed island.
After a brief shot of a python eating a monkey, it's back to the close-up trek for several minutes, never showing more than a few square feet of coverage around the actors. Just when you think they might be filming this in a greenhouse, however, we're on-location and river-rafting! This is supposed to get us to the mountain quicker, but really it's just an excuse to show one of the native guides getting his arm chomped off by an alligator. Which admittedly is pretty awesome. A little later another native is caught in an animal trap, letting Keach show his acting chops by spouting nonsense "native language" to calm his rapidly dwindling crew.
About this time the Evil Cannibal Natives appear in Nightmare Mummenschanz masks and attack the crew, graphically beheading one guide and chasing Ursula through the forest, separated from her protective menfolk. Luckily another stranger, Manolo (Claudio Cassinelli) comes out of nowhere to save her. Danger averted and a few more expedition members gone, they make it to the jungle Mission of Father Moses, played by the awesomely named Franco Fantasia.
Not much happens at the village except for a booty-shakin' native ritual and Arthur availing himself of the opportunity to beat some native bush, IYKWIM. Unfortunately the Cannibal tribe attacks again, killing the girl in flagrante de douchebag and inspiring Father Moses to kick them (the fuck) out of the village. Having conquered the jungle and needing a new challenge (not to mention getting some serious play from Ursula), the manly Manolo agrees to join them as they press on to the last leg of their quest.
So on they trek--Keach dies in a freak waterfall-climbing accident (aided by Arthur's douchebaggery), we see our crew torturing and eating seafood, Ursula is attacked by a snake and saved by Manolo, we learn that the prof had actually been looking for uranium on the island, we get a nice heel-turn by Ursula, who reveals she doesn't care about the Professor, she just wants that radioactive loot. She asks Manolo to help, but the steadfast good guy refuses for reasons even a Greenpeace member would have to find suspect at this point: "Help you exploit this island and its peoples? Help you destroy the forests and bring your so-called progress to a place like this?" Um...dude, have you SEEN this place? It's crawling with fucking CANNIBALS!
As if on cue, the Cannibal tribe shows up, spears Arthur, and FINALLY they get taken back to the cavern where most of the grodiness the film is infamous for will take place. There they find the corpse of Professor Stevenson with a Geiger counter in its chest, Ursula is recognized from a photo the doc had with him and dolled up to become the Cannibal God's queen, and Arthur is gutted and eaten by the cannibals, leading to a meat-crazed sex orgy that in my version is cut very, very short. (More on this below.)
Highlights in the cut version include EXTENDED CANNIBAL DWARF sequences, a rapey native who snuggles up to Ursula and gets castrated for his transgression, and an escape that relies heavily on the Cannibal Warriors' practice of NOT shouting for help, even when mortally wounded. Clinging to a log in the raging river with the man(olo) she loves, Ursula has a change of heart and the movie ends happily. Ta-da!
So that's the cut version. Apart from few scenes of animal cruelty (which while bad, is nowhere near the level of what we see in most of the other films of the genre) and not much gore fx, it does have brisk pace with some entertaining twists to keep it moving. Actually, except for being a little bland, at 82 minutes I had to say it worked pretty well as a jungle-adventure movie--without the animal deaths, it would run even leaner and better, imo.
So WHY couldn't I leave well enough alone? WHY did I have to pick at the scab? I can't tell you, but driven by journalistic integrity, I delved further and came up with an uncut print of the movie (under the alternate and more literal title Mountain of the Cannibal God) for research purposes. I didn't rewatch, but fastforwarded through just to see what, if anything, I missed.
The uncut version, as you might assume, is just MORE SICKER MORE. It was first noticeable in the monkey-eaten-by-python scene, which is much longer and more agonizing: you can see the primate looking at the camera several times, as if pleading for help, before his expressive face disappears into the snake's gullet. The snake/falcon fight is longer too, though with nothing like the same brutality.
As for the NON-real sections of the flick, those up the ante as well. The alligator-gets-arm scene is longer and grosser, as are some of the natives' deaths. When Arthur is made a douche-kebab in the cavern, the gutting and ripping out of entrails goes on much longer, with much more detail and gnawing on the part of the natives. The dwarf cannibal's death by falling backwards on a rock is more graphic too, as in this version he actually pops the top of his skull off, revealing the quivering brain beneath. The rapey cannibal gets a post-castration close-up as well, which while not exactly realistic, still gets the point across.
The centerpiece though is the meat-mad orgy the natives go into after feasting on Arthur's Germanic goodness, which makes up the bulk of the cut footage. Natives eat live snakes and hump each other against the walls of the cavern, and a native girl masturbates graphically for a good two minutes while the drumbeats blare. (I guess German food makes her horny.) But the ne plus ultra occurs when, in the midst of the frenzy, we see a warrior performing energetic (and hopefully simulated) intercourse on a BIG-ASS DOMESTICATED PIG. This probably only goes on for a few seconds, but believe me, a little dab will do you.
That pig has haunted me ever since I saw it. Where did it come from? These natives were obviously NOT agriculturally advanced enough to have domesticated livestock--no goats or chickens or ducks in evidence--and the thing was so large it was obviously fed well. And what about human meat made this guy immediately and uncontrollably want to go have his way with the cattle? And why eat people if you have all the pork you want? Then again, maybe that question answers itself.
Yes, there you have it--some things you see and can't unsee, and they diminish you. It happened to me.
Had I stopped with the 82 minute version, I might have given Slave of the Cannibal God 1.75 or even a soft 2 thumbs; however, getting a glimpse of it in its full terrible majesty, I have to knock it down to a 1.25 at the highest. In an attempt to get that piggy image out of my mind, here's a picture of Ursula Andress in a state of undress. And may the Cannibal God have mercy on us all.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Slave of the Cannibal God (1978): or, Sometimes Shorter is Better
Posted by The Vicar of VHS at 8:20 PM
Labels: '70s, 1-2 Thumbs, Animal Snuff, Cannibalism, Drive-In Movie Classics, Jungle, Little People, Mill Creek, Sergio Martino, Stacy Keach, Survival
12 comments:
- Tenebrous Kate said...
See, this is why the blogosphere is a beautiful thing, Vicar. I was *thisclose* to breaking my self-imposed cannibal movie boycott, thinking that the Fabulous Mr. Berger had a role in this film. It was hard math--which has more value in my universe: watching a Teutonic Hottie ponce about in a sweaty, jungle fashion, or NOT watching a monkey meet its gruesome and very REAL demise...? I'm so glad I no longer have to stare down this serious moral dilemma.
And just think, this is apparently one of the "tamer" entries in this canon. Yikes...
- January 6, 2009 at 6:54 AM
- CRwM said...
Hunh. If the cannibals don't have cattle and they eat humans for the meat and this is the only pig we see and its sole purpose is sexual, maybe he's not jumping the livestock. Maybe its just his, um, "partner." Jungle cannibal cultures are very progressive in come ways.
Ugh. I can only assume the the righteousness of you holy mission is what grants you such intestinal fortitude. You are a braver man than I, Vicar.
Tennyson wrote "nature, red in tooth and claw."
- January 6, 2009 at 6:58 AM
- The Vicar of VHS said...
Empress--glad I could help. :) I knew that the Berger-lure might lead some down this thorny path, and I'm glad to have put up the "No Pith-Helmuts Here!" sign to warn the unwary away.
CRwM--Sometimes the line between courage and foolishness is a very, very thin one.
>>Tennyson wrote "nature, red in tooth and claw."
That's what I said! ;) Just kidding--thanks for the correction, duly noted. It's been a long time since my Romantic Poetry class. I'm sure Matthew Arnold was known to quote Old Uncle Al over a sherry now and then, though. ;P
- January 6, 2009 at 8:12 AM
- Karswell said...
So as suspected, I'm not really missing much from the shorter, kinder, gentler print... thanks for the pork warning, TV. Have to agree with Kate too, of all the genres of horror that I find detestable (not because of subject matter but because 9 times outta 10 they're just fucking BORING) cannibal movies are definitely worth the self imposed boycott.
WORD VERIFICATION today is: Grarie.
A rare form of gore film that leaves you feeling grarie bored from not only it's over use of nature stock footage, but also from its lack of Ursula undressed.
- January 6, 2009 at 6:43 PM
- OCKerouac said...
Alas, I stumbled upon this flick pre vicar-treatment and ruined an otherwise enjoyable evening.
I applaud your public service. I only wish I had done the deed earlier, warning the fair blogger nation of the perils of the bearded Keach...
- January 6, 2009 at 10:48 PM
- pot head pixie said...
When I was first living in Spain in the early 90s I remember the state TV's main channel TVE 1 showed the uncut version of this film one Saturday afternoon just after lunch time.
I guess the guy who programmed that had a fate worse than the snake-eaten monkey or cannibal buggered pig in store for him after that cock up.
- January 12, 2009 at 7:45 AM
- Darius Whiteplume said...
Weren't we just discussing how disturbing Salò was? IMHO, it had nothing on this film, tootsie roll banquet included.
I watched this years before I knew anything of the genre. It was a $5 DVD, and I had my first DVD player. Add the promise of naked Ursula Andress, and you have a sale!
I don't eat anything with feet these days (I just cannot give up sushi), but remember now how disturbing the animal killings were. IIRC, the falcon seemed to be tethered down near the snake? Or its wings were clipped? I did not see the interspecies erotica in my copy.
I should have known better than to read your review... Now I see that monkey in my head... :-(
- January 19, 2009 at 6:41 PM
As having experience in this part of the world I was slightly troubled by your ignorance.
You find it hard that 'even' a Greenpeace member would want to save this island:
"Help you exploit this island and its peoples? Help you destroy the forests and bring your so-called progress to a place like this?" Um...dude, have you SEEN this place? It's crawling with fucking CANNIBALS!
Please do some research on what is happened to West Papua now since Indonesia have taken over. It's been ruined for the sake of money. It wouldn't be so bad if they got a fair cut of what was taken from their land.
Also you will find that they do eat pig.
Good point about these movies being like scabs that need picking though and cheers for the review.
- June 13, 2009 at 1:02 AM
- The Vicar of VHS said...
Thanks for your comment and concern, Anonymous (if that *is* your real name! ;) ). I would hope it was clear that the observation you quote is in relation to the world of the film which I in no way think accurately reflects the real world. I have no doubt that the people of West Papua have been exploited like every other colonized indigenous peoples in the world, and I in no way advocate this exploitation.
I would also hope it was clear that the section you quote is what the kids these days are calling a "joke." I'm not sure my review would have been improved by exhaustive research into the history of the area, which it's obvious the filmmakers didn't do. While such a project would be interesting, I think National Geographic is a better place for it than a B-movie review site. Wouldn't you agree?
>>Also you will find that they do eat pig.
Do they also make love to them? Because that's what they do in this film, and it's the film I'm concerned with. ;)
- June 13, 2009 at 1:10 PM
- Darius Whiteplume said...
I love Ursula Andress, but would never site her as a source ;-)
I think Mr. Anonymous has learned to find posts from the christians. Troll without reading, and when you do read, skip any available nuance.
Word Verification: dampleg
- June 13, 2009 at 5:17 PM
- Darius Whiteplume said...
Sorry, next word verification was "thing" - too irresistible.
- June 13, 2009 at 5:19 PM
- venoms5 said...
I avoided the cut version and went straight for the jugular when the more complete film became available. I think I find the fact that these Italian crews shot these movies in such dangerous climates and circumstances even more fascinating than the actual movies.
The cinematography and score I liked very much. Still, the brutal animal killings, as abhorrent as they are, really aren't too far removed from the treatment such creatures get in the "modern" world. I did an article on the subject some months back at my site.
Another thing I also find fascinating about the Italian cannibal sub genre are the excuses the directors throw the audiences way for the way the animals are utilized on screen. It's always this mysterious "producer" who shot that footage. Only Umberto Lenzi has been honest enough to at least admit to actually shooting such scenes.
As much as I enjoyed reading this, I would have given the film a bit higher grade considering the sense of adventure is in evidence far more than in other similar movies.
The pig scene apparently was simulated. I thought it was right humorous. Isn't the animal busy stuffing his face with sustenance whilst the native furiously "pumps" away at its rectum? Hope I didn't put that image back into your head, Vicar, lol.
- July 22, 2010 at 8:31 PM


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As any of my friends might tell you, I collect stuff. Primarily I collect "stuff" to repurpose it into something wonderful ... maybe functional or maybe just an art form. I've been known to collect some great treasures (my words) from Junk Yards. Wonderful pieces of metal from machinery or who knows what? In my mind I envision making large pieces of art that combine some of these treasures. I see possibilities everywhere!
At one time, I was even making "root monsters" from fallen limbs of trees. They have a special place in my heart. Other times, I use normal everyday objects to encrust things like an old piece of furniture that has seen better days. One of my favorite things to use is old buttons. Everyone has a jar of buttons around, but if you don't you can find them at flea markets, auctions and garage sales. You can buy them for next to nothing. You might even have an aunt or grandmother that has hundreds.
Shown here is the button cupboard I made last year. I found the old cupboard for $20 and then painted it white. Then I started gluing (I used household Goop available at hardware stores and craft stores, most anywhere) buttons in a random array, filling in the top inserts of the cupboard doors. My intention was to also do the bottom inserts of the doors but I decided I like just the tops encrusted with the buttons. This is a wonderful family craft project you could make this summer. Check at garage sales and flea markets for really inexpensive furniture and also the buttons.
Another project, using buttons, involves painting and gluing a frame. My grandson, Ryan, made his button frame in an afternoon and then took it home to use on his bedroom wall. Kids love these types of craft projects and they get a real sense of accomplishment when it is a functional piece to be used in the home or given as a gift. Remember you can use any other type of discarded objects and make your own unique piece of art or furniture!
For more fun craft projects.
by Sharon Pierce McCullough


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Riding The Long White Cloud – Full Documentary
If you couldn't tell, I love skateboarding; I also love bicycles. For over two decades I've been an obsessive skateboarder and bicycle fanatic. Yeah, it sounds kind of cheesy when you put it that way, but if there's anything I've come to learn in the last 20+ years, it's that there's nothing quite like combining two great things and doing them both at the same damn time.
Sometimes great things aren't really mean't to go together; red wine and sour candy, Mentos and diet cola, a hot shower in a tropical climate, road bikes and disc brakes (LOL) – you know what I mean? But when you take a bike tour in a place like New Zealand and combine it with some skateboarding, you've got yourself a surefire guaranteed fun-as-hell saga ahead you. "Riding The Long White Cloud" is a visualization of countless dreams I've woken up from, except that it actually happened.
Check out this documentary by Alex Craig, featuring some of my favorites: Rick McCrank, Silas Baxter Neal, Cairo Foster, John Rattray, Keegan Sauder, Chris Haslam and Kenny Anderson.
So kick it back, grab yourself a choice beverage and start planning a journey of your own.


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A Navy defensive effort that limited host Colgate to 12 field goals coupled with a balanced offense led the Mids to a 59-43 victory Saturday night in women's basketball.
The win is Navy's second in a row and fourth in five games in the Patriot League. The Mids (11-9, 4-1) moved into a first-place tie with American, Army and Bucknell with one week remaining in the first half of the league season. The Raiders fell to 6-13, 0-5.
"I thought this was a really intense game," Navy coach Stefanie Pemper said. "I think Colgate competed really well, and so did we. They forced us into 18 turnovers, and they got to the foul line. They played hard, and we had a hard time at times with that."
Navy led from the opening possession when Kara Pollinger made a 3-pointer. The Navy advantage was 12-11 when the Mids quickly ran off eight straight points to take a 20-11 lead. Chloe Stapleton connected on a pair of 3-pointers over a span of three possessions to begin the run, then Jade Geif scored on an inside move.
Coppin State 53, North Carolina Central 38: Kyra Coleman scored 10 points and visiting Coppin State (8-12, 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) opened the second half with a 13-0 run on its way to victory.
Coppin State held a 24-17 lead at halftime, and the 13-0 run gave it a 37-17 lead with 13:48 to play. Coleman and Leola Spotwood sparked the run with four points each.
Boston University 63, UMBC 49: The visiting Terriers (17-4, 7-1 America East) used a 15-0 run in the second half to pull away from the Retrievers (6-14, 2-5).
Brittany Crowell led UMBC in scoring for a third straight game with 18 points, and Raven Harris added 15.
Rashidat Agboola, Chantell Alford and Mo Moran each scored 10 or more points as they combined for 50 of Boston University's 63 points.
Robert Morris 61, Mount St. Mary's 59: The host Colonials (4-14, 3-4 Northeast Conference) closed the game on a 14-2 run and scored the decisive basket with 1.9 seconds left.
Jacqueline Brewer paced the Mount (8-10, 4-3) with 19 points, and Selina Mann had 15 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Florida A&M 67, UMES 54: The host Rattlers (8-11, 5-1 MEAC) led for most of the game and held the Hawks (5-10, 1-3) to 17 points in the first half.
North Carolina A&T 90, Morgan State 73: The visiting Bears (5-14, 2-4 MEAC) have lost three straight.
Chowan 64, Bowie State 50: Jasmine Jacobs scored 17 points, but the Bulldogs (5-12, 2-7 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) were outscored 41-31 in the second half.
Johns Hopkins 52, Muhlenberg 42: The visiting Blue Jays (10-9, 8-6 Centennial Conference) used a 15-2 run to take a 14-point lead with seven minutes to play. Stacy Fairey had 13 points for Hopkins. The Mules fell to 11-7, 8-5.
Hood 59, Arcadia 53: Emily Maerz made a 3-pointer with 1:42 left to give the host Blazers (5-14, 3-9 Commonwealth Conference) the lead for good at 50-49.
The Scarlet Knights (9-10, 2-10) led for most of the game.
McDaniel 73, Bryn Mawr 44: Steph Perez scored 12 points and the host Green Terror (8-10, 5-8 Centennial) opened with an 11-0 run.
Mary Washington 53, Frostburg State 42: The host Bobcats (6-13, 1-6 Capital Athletic Conference) have lost five straight.
York 77, St. Mary's 54: Marche Pearson and Joanna Murray each scored 16 points in a losing effort for the visiting Seahawks (8-9, 2-5 CAC).
Moravian 77, Goucher 59: The visiting Gophers (5-13, 1-7 Landmark Conference) trailed by 17 at the half and never recovered.
Stevenson 69, Alvernia 66: A 3-pointer by freshman Stephanie Martinez gave the host Mustangs (7-10, 4-8 Middle Atlantic Conference) a two-point lead with 2:21 remaining, and they hung on to win.
Stevenson moved into sixth place in the league.


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Raharney Capital, LLC Releases 2012 Underbanked Merchant Profile
A First Glimpse at Businesses That Seek Merchant Cash Advances and Cash Flow Loans
Feb 05, 2013, 07:36 ET
NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Raharney Capital, LLC (RC) is releasing data from a yearlong analysis to reveal what they believe to be the profile of an underbanked merchant. RC captures and aggregates data through their loan networking service at http://merchantcashadvanceindustry.org.
The typical small business seeking financing has annual revenue between $120,000 and $600,000. 15% of them do not accept credit cards as a form of payment. 32% accept credit card payments but not enough to make traditional merchant cash advance financing worthwhile. This means that almost half of underbanked small businesses are best suited for a merchant cash advance alternative such as a merchant loan, ACH advance, or other type of cash-flow financing program.
RC is committed to making these alternative options available to their clients. Their lending partners have reported a surge in funding non-merchant cash advance transactions.
The states with the most application activity originated from California, Texas, and Florida, statistics that came as no surprise due to their large populations. The only anomaly was Florida since it has half the population of California and yet produced nearly the same amount of application volume. Floridian small businesses appear to need the most support.
The underbanked merchant is typically too small for banks to lend to. RC was pleased with the results however because the average applicant is well within their scope of expertise. They also help larger businesses quite frequently, with the maximum loan size being $2 million. RC intends to make announcements when material data points in the underbanked merchant profile shift.
About Raharney Capital, LLC
Raharney Capital, LLC was founded by Sean Murray, a merchant cash advance industry veteran and consultant. The company operates a business loan networking service in addition to Merchant Processing Resource, an independent online publication.
SOURCE Raharney Capital, LLC


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I can't quite read the label on the side of the cart, but a little googling brought up Bakfiets, a Dutch bike that's apparently trendy here (I'd never heard of it ).
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Selecting your vehicle's make, model, and year allows us to display only parts and items specific to your car's model and year.
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We can sum up the somewhat short list of shows this week as follows: all killer, no filler. Starting at the Showbox at the Market on Monday night with Iration & The Expendables and Cisco Adler. Tuesday, Animal Collective and Micachu & The Shapes are at Paramount Theatre, Bob Mould plays Copper Blue and Silver Age at ShowboxRead more…
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Matt Harvey was everything the Mets hoped for as he dominated the San Diego Padres, 8-4, in frigid Citi Field tonight. Harvey gave up one hit with ten strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.
All San Diego's runs came against the bullpen, which is expected to be a Mets' Achilles Heel this season, but not even it could ruin this night.
Especially impressive was Harvey did it pitching with temperatures in the low 30s after the wind-chill. Harvey was in complete control, but at 94 pitches after seven, manager Terry Collins thought it was time to pull the plug.
"Believe me, later in the season in a close game he's not going to want to come out. There will be huge argument in taking him out,'' Collins said. "He was getting stiff. He was cold. Under the circumstances he pitched a very impressive game. In weather like that, the ball feels like a cue ball.''
Harvey said he doesn't want to be just a major league pitcher, but a great pitcher, and to do that he's not afraid of putting in the work as in running the steps in the Citi Field stands this winter. It's easy to say you want to be good, but the key is to make the effort.
The victory was the first of Harvey's career at Citi Field, and he became the fourth Mets pitcher to register at least 80 strikeouts in his first 11 starts with the team, joining Pedro Martinez, Dwight Gooden and Nolan Ryan.
"Today it was the fastball,'' Harvey said of what was working. "I threw some good sliders when I needed and I threw my change-up in timely counts. … I said all spring training I wanted to pound the zone and I wasn't about to let the cold effect me.''
Harvey wore short sleeves and refused a jacket when he was on the bases: "In my mind, a jacket doesn't belong on a baseball field.''
That's the mentality of an offensive lineman, and the Mets haven't had that in a long time.
POWER PLUS: One of the pre-season concerns was if the Mets would hit with power. Collin Cowgill hit a grand slam in the opener, and Ike Davis, Lucas Duda and John Buck each hit two-run homers last night off left-hander Clayton Richard. That's ten RBI on four homers.
"Duda and Ike hitting them off a lefty is huge,'' Collins said. "If those two guys are hitting, it's a tough line-up to get through.''
The Mets have outscored the Padres, 19-6, in winning their first two games.
MARCUM UPDATE: Shaun Green returned to New York from Port St. Lucie to have his neck and shoulder re-examined. He's already on the disabled list, and Collins said Aaron Laffey would start in his place Sunday against Miami.
"He has some real discomfort running from his shoulder up through his neck,'' Collins said. "What that is, where it starts, what's causing it, I think we won't know until he sees the doctor tomorrow.''
The Mets signed Laffey as a free agent in December. At 27, he's also pitched with Cleveland, Seattle, Toronto and the Yankees. He went 4-6 with a 4.56 ERA in 22 games, including 16 starts with the Blue Jays last year.
"Hopefully he comes in Sunday and pitches very well,'' Collins said. "If he does, he most likely will get another start. But we're going to just take one start at a time right now.''


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From ZineWiki
Revision as of 22:24, 16 December 2012 by Vanessacapshaw (Talk | contribs)
BATS is an ongoing comic-zine series published by Vanessa Capshaw. It centers around the abject misadventures of Juju and the Lox, two genderqueer high school students that live in Houston, TX.
BATS is included in the Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
BATS #1: Cry Crystal Castle
Released in 2012, 24 pages
In this issue of BATS, Juju and the Lox run away from home and try to find their Crystal Castle.


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Apartment Services
Visit the Off-campus Housing website!
Off-campus Services
The Office of University Apartments and Off-campus Student Services provides students with useful tools to help them find a perfect place and remain comfortable once they've moved in. The Marquette neighborhood and greater Milwaukee community provide a variety of housing options for upperclassmen, graduate students and families.
Neighborhood Safety
The Marquette University Police Department is nationally recognized for the services it provides to the campus community. Some unique services offered to students living off campus include:
- Security checks — before signing a lease, contact MUPD to request that an officer examine the apartment/house to ensure that all entrances and windows are secure
- Vacant house watch — going home for winter break? Let MUPD know, and officers will pay extra attention to your apartment/house on their routine patrols
More information about MUPD's services can be found on their website.
Landlord/tenant Concerns
If you are having problems with your landlord and need guidance to navigate the terms of your lease, we are happy to help. Three resources that may be helpful:
Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services: The city has a searchable database of properties, providing information on past complaints and building status. You can also submit a complaint officially with the city.
MU Volunteer Legal Clinic: The legal clinic is held from 3-7 p.m. every Tuesday at the House of Peace Community Center (1702 W. Walnut; corner of 17th and Walnut streets). Contact them at (414) 933-1300. Take all documentation with you — your lease, any other agreements between you and the landlord, and all correspondence.
Consumer protection: Download the landlord/tenant complaint form. You can also contact the Milwaukee office at (414) 266-1231.
If you need assistance or have questions about the Milwaukee area, contact us at (414) 288-7281 or email@example.com or stop by 1500 W. Wells St., No. 109. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Tenant Guide, send us your mailing address. We are happy to serve you!


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Senator Doug Jones begins new chapter in Washington
It's a new year and a new era in Washington.
The state of Alabama is also starting 2018 with a major change -- they have elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate for the first time in 25 years. So what can we expect from Sen. Doug Jones?
Jones says he plans to keep his promise to do what's best for all of this constituents.
"My sense is that people just want somebody that is going to listen to them understand em and at the end of the day hopefully we can find that common ground," Jones said in an interview Wednesday.
Common ground is of course not always easy in Washington.
Jones sides with fellow Democrats on contentious issues like abortion rights, gun control and the Affordable Care Act. But he said his top priorities include saving the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which he says 150,000 children in Alabama rely on.
Another goal he said is reaching a deal on DACA, the program for Dreamers, set to expire in March. Jones says in exchange, he wouldn't rule out working with President Trump on funding for a border wall.
"There's a lot of talk about walls and what that may entail. I don't think we have seen the specifics. Immigration reform is important and to do that it's going to take some compromise on a lot of issues," Jones said.
He also said he plans to work with his counterpart in Alabama, Republican Sen. Richard Shelby.
"I am going to look at this with an eye toward what's best for the country and what's best for the state of Alabama," Jones said.


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Ellen DeGeneres was in her element Wednesday at the People's Choice Awards, taking swipes at Justin Timberlake, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey.
The daytime host's humorously questionable behavior kept the otherwise stale show hosted by "2 Broke Girls" Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs, well, entertaining.
First came her mock acceptance of singer Justin Timberlake's favorite album award. DeGeneres ascended the stage when the "Mirrors" singer's name was announced to accept the award on his behalf.
Later, she set a record for winning 14 People's Choice Awards when she took home the honor for daytime TV host at the Nokia Theatre.
"Wow, wow, wow! Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I would say sit down but you are already sitting down," the comic quipped. "Fourteen, this is incredible. I mean really, as a young girl growing up in New Orleans, if anyone told me I was going to win 14 People's Choice Awards -- I mean 12, yes, 13 maybe, but 14..."
"I treasure this because it is from the people and there's no better thing than knowing that you are making people happy. It's why I got into this business," she continued. "I love making people happy. And when we first started the show the very first season, I love not only having celebrities on but having regular people on. And I wanted to make the show a show for everyone. A show for old people and young people and men and women and black and white and gay and straight and everybody."
That's when the host, who is married to actress Portia de Rossi, got a resounding round of applause. Then she took aim at another TV queen...
"As a matter of fact, just yesterday, I was talking to this lovely African American woman and she told me she was single and she works 80 hours a week to get by and she looks forward to coming home every single night and watching me," DeGeneres said. "And that woman's name is Oprah Winfrey, and I think I am doing something right. I love you all, thank you so much for this."
(There may be hope for a humorous Academy Awards yet: DeGeneres is slated to host this year's Oscars on March 2.)
Later, presenter Drew Barrymore, who is expecting her second child with husband Will Kopelman, took the stage to present another award. But first she told the audience that DeGeneres made an unkind comment about her weight backstage.
"Ellen DeGeneres told me I was fat!" Barrymore announced. The joke fell a bit flat for those who didn't realize that Barrymore had put on the weight because she was pregnant, so she attempted to clarify her comments. "But I'm not, it was a joke. It was really funny."
DeGeneres and Barrymore were photographed backstage laughing. The actress is set to appear on "Ellen" on Jan. 15, Us Weekly reported.
Barrymore then presented the favorite comedic movie actor award to her "50 First Dates" costar Adam Sandler. The funnyman read a grammatically challenged letter from his "fan for life," who turned out to be Barrymore, then later also took a jab at her expanding figure.
"By the way, you do look like you lost weight," he joked.
Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.


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At the root of the problem is a burgeoning human population and large infrastructure developments in the Greater Mekong region, which are fragmenting the species' habitat
Asian elephants in the Greater Mekong region
At the root of the problem is a burgeoning human population and large infrastructure developments in the Greater Mekong region, which are fragmenting the species' habitat
© WWF Bhutan
Asian Elephant
© Peter Cutter / WWF Greater Mekong
Asian elephants in Kuiburi National Park, Kayah Karen Tenasserim ...
© Cat Tien National Park / WWF Vietnam.
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus spp) in Cat Tien National Park, ...
© WWF / Gerald S Cubitt
The Eastern Plains Landscape of Cambodia is home to many endangered ...
Status of the Asian elephant in Greater Mekong countriesIn the Greater Mekong, Asian elephants are distributed across an area spanning approximately 300,000 km2. But despite this vast range, there are fewer and fewer of the species in the wild. Today, between 7,000 and 10,000 individuals remain.
Why are elephants threatened?
- Habitat loss and fragmentation: The Asian elephants' habitat is shrinking fast and wild elephant populations are mostly small, isolated, and unable to mingle as ancient migratory routes are cut off by human settlements and large development projects (such as dams, roads, mines and industrial complexes), plantations and human settlements. A substantial proportion of the world's population lives in or near the present range of the Asian elephant, which leads to elephant-human conflict.
- Illegal hunting and trade: In Asian elephants, only males carry tusks and therefore poaching is aimed exclusively at males. Poaching of Asian elephants for ivory and meat remains a serious problem in many countries, and especially across the Thai-Myanmar border.
- Capture of wild elephants: Capturing wild elephants for domestic use undermines wild populations. India, Vietnam, and Myanmar have banned capture in order to conserve their wild herds, but in Myanmar elephants are still caught each year for the timber industry or the illegal wildlife trade.
As the numbe of big tuskers dwindles, there is concern about the genetic effects. When tuskers are killed, the number of males in a population decreases, resulting in skewed sex ratios. This may lead to inbreeding and eventually to high juvenile mortality and overall low breeding success.
How is WWF protecting Asian elephants in the Greater Mekong region?DETAILS NEEDED
Inspiring Girl Scout troop helps save endangered species with WWF and Earth Hour
Famous cookie sellers raise money for a sniffer dog patrol
Actress Emma Stone helps fight wildlife crime
Real life superhero Emma Stone helps WWF protect tigers, rhinos and eles at ehour.me/EHpuppies
Rhino poaching statistics highlight need for action against crime
Record number of rhino poaching deaths in South Africa last year
Orphan rhino settles into new home
Two months after a rhino calf was rescued by WWF staff and concerned residents, the volunerable ...
UN recognizes severity of wildlife crimes
Members of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Friday passed a ...
Orphaned rhino struggles to survive after mother killed
An Indian rhino calf that lost its mother to poachers is clinging to life with the help of WWF.
All eyes on countries fuelling illegal ivory trade
Sanctions should be imposed on Thailand, Nigeria and DRC for their roles in the illegal ivory ...
Long-term solutions needed for conservation of Borneo pygmy elephants
WWF is concerned about the recent pygmy elephant deaths in the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve in Sabah, ...
On India visit, US official offers support to wildlife law enforcement
US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment Robert D. Hormats today ...
First calf born to newly established rhino population as poaching threat looms
A female greater-one horned rhino that was relocated from an Indian wildlife sanctuary to a ...


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North Texas Tornado Brought Total Devastation For Some
GRANBURY, Texas – Authorities combed through debris in a North Texas town 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth on Thursday while residents awaited the chance to see what was left of their homes. Witnesses described the two badly hit neighborhoods as unrecognizable, with homes ripped from foundations and others merely rubble.
Raul Rodriguez counts himself a lucky man.
For two years, the 42-year-old auto mechanic and his family have enjoyed life in his house in the Rancho Brazos Estates subdivision of the town of Granbury. Built by volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, it was the first home Rodriguez has ever owned.
On Wednesday evening, he was home with his wife and three children when a storm began to rage.
"I looked out the window and thought, 'It doesn't look good,'" he said.
He gathered his family into a hall closet as a savage tornado roared over his neighborhood. All he could hear above the storm's din was the sound of every window in his home shattering.
After the storm passed, he and his family emerged to find his home damaged but still standing.
"I'm surprised. I can't believe it. My wife was the first person out, and injured people, bloody people, started coming to our house, asking us to call 911," he said.
Habitat for Humanity spent years in Granbury's Rancho Brazos Estates subdivision, helping to build many of the 110 homes in the low-income area. But its work was largely undone during an outbreak of 16 tornadoes Wednesday night that killed six people and injured dozens.
Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said Thursday afternoon that two of the dead were women and four of them men; one man and one woman were in their 80s. Six or seven people have not been accounted for, he said at a news conference.
"I'm very confident we'll find those people alive and well," Deeds said, adding that 37 injured people were treated at hospitals. "We're going to keep looking. We're not going to give up until every piece of debris is turned over."
Granbury bore the brunt of the damage. The weather service said the preliminary storm estimate for the Granbury tornado was an EF-4, based on the Fujita tornado damage scale. An EF-5 is the most severe, but an EF-4 tornado has wind speeds of 166 to 200 mph.
Another tornado in nearby Cleburne cut a mile-wide path through part of the city Wednesday. The weather service said it was estimated as an EF-3, which has winds between 136 and 165 mph. No deaths or severe injuries were reported from that tornado.
Harold Brooks, a meteorologist at the weather service's severe storm lab in Norman, Okla., said May 15 is the latest into the month that the U.S. has had to wait for its first significant tornadoes of the year. Brooks said he would expect 2013 to be one of the least lethal tornado years since the agency started keeping records in 1954.
Habitat for Humanity's website describes the international organization as a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry that has helped build or repair more than 600,000 houses for more than 3 million people who otherwise could not afford home ownership. The ministry was brought to prominence by the participation of former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter.
Habitat for Humanity homes, built for low-income buyers using volunteer labor and donations, are financed with affordable loans. The nonprofit selects homeowners based on their level of need, willingness to become partners in the program and ability to repay their loan. Homeowners invest their own time into building the homes as well.
Of the homes in the Rancho Brazos Estates, 61 of them were built by Habitat for Humanity, according to Gage Yeager, executive director of Trinity Habitat for Humanity in Fort Worth. He said most of those homes were damaged, including at least a dozen that were destroyed.
"I tell you, it has just broken my heart," said Habitat for Humanity volunteer Elsie Tallant, who helped serve lunch every weekend to those building the homes in a Granbury neighborhood and those poised to become homeowners.
"We were going to dedicate a house this weekend, and her home was destroyed," she said.
The homes, built primarily for low-income people, were insured and can be rebuilt, said Habitat for Humanity volunteer Bill Jackson.
Raul Rodriguez said he will rebuild. Aside from shattered windows, lost roof shingles and a garage that caved in on his car, Rodriguez feels fortunate.
"My neighbors to the right, they lost everything," he said.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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Right, I said in the 'Is Dissensus dead? thread that new threads were in order, so let's have it.
I like reading reviews of things. Music, films, books, theatre, videogames, restaurants, whatever - I lap them up. (I seem to recall devouring issues of Which? magazine whilst awaiting dentistry.) Reviews are a good idea - you can't possibly hope to keep abreast of every new thing that comes about in any given field, but someone will have seen/heard/watched/eaten it, and if they can get their thoughts down eloquently then you can choose to investigate further or ignore the thing in question.
A good review should present you with both facts and opinion, and ultimately allow you to make an informed decision whether the thing will be of interest - even if they've slated it, the descriptive/facts-based part of the review ought to be enough for you to judge (allowing for your own personal taste). But I find that reviews are getting worse and worse these days, for a number of reasons:
Ratings. I can accept this for something like hotels (or McDonalds staff), because there are clear and discrete criteria that have to be met to achieve each star ranking. Fair enough. But the need for a score out of 5 (or 10) for films, games or music baffles me. What is a 4/5 album? Is there a definitive yardstick against which the thing you're reviewing can be measured, thus ensuring it is a 4? No. I strongly dislike the application of an abstract, non-tangible measure to reviews - not only do they absolve the lazy from reading the actual meat of the review (the text) but it contributes to the Metacritic-driven monetization of review-based pay and bonus. (If you're not familiar with Metacritic, I'll come back to it another time, but it is an 'aggregator' and is ostensibly a good idea but is actually horrific.)
Also, ratings would be better if anyone actually used the scale in any meaningful way. I stopped getting Muzik magazine because, although they used a 5-point scale (six if you include giving things zero), nothing ever got less than 3/5, and therefore I never knew how to differentiate between records. If you're pretending everything's average to good, what is the point? (Presumably so as not to offend anyone in the 'scene' and ensure you keep getting sent free promos.) There are a few honourable exceptions when it comes to using the full range (Peter Bradshaw in the Guardian springs to mind, as does Swells (RIP)), but not many.
Consensus. Why is this thread called '4 Stars'? Because that is the default setting of nearly all reviewers, in any industry. Look at almost any promo poster for a film - it's littered with 4 star 'reviews' (in fact just the "****" and the name of the 'journalist'). Yes, obviously the distributor isn't going to proudly trumpet 1-star reviews, but there genuinely aren't any - everyone gives everything the same rating. But not only that, they give the same review. It is usually a regurgitated press release with, at best, a paragraph of 'opinion' at the end.
So why the hegemony of 4 stars? I think it's fairly simple: most reviewers are in collusion with their respective industry to sell tickets or downloads or whatever. Nearly all publications and websites are reliant on the generosity and/or advertising of their respective industry to ensure they actually get to review the thing before the public gets access to it. Film reviewers get preview screenings, music mags get promo CDs, etc. As above, the public are used to everyone marking from 3/5 upwards - 3 stars is effectively the minimum score. 4 stars implies better than average, enough to make the public think "oh, that's probably ok then". Giving 3 stars will piss off the distributor, who will subsequently remove you from their mailing list, or stop inviting you to previews, or other restaurants in their chain; or worse, stop advertising with you, meaning you can't afford to publish. (Even if you do give poor reviews, the vast majority of sales (film tickets, CDs, games) are in the first week of release, so by taking you out of the chain, any subsequent reviews of yours which slate the company's thing aren't in the public domain until after the thing's release, so the negative impact on sales is minimised.) Therefore the ubiquity of 4 stars - enough to tempt the public, enough to satisfy the industry, enough for the reviewer to keep their job and stay on the freebies list. It's a pretty open secret that nearly all the staff of a certain videogames magazine walked out when their publisher agreed, in return for exclusive advertising, that no games from a certain company could be given less than 7/10. Many mags and websites, of course, agree to deals like these - if you want to get upfront coverage, glowing reviews of their previous output is going to help. Beware anything which says 'Exclusive!' on it - 'compromised' is more accurate.
Hedging. The reviewers are trying to second-guess their audience, and not giving their own opinion, but rather what they think the audience expects (based on a mix of hype, previous iterations of the series, reputation, etc). For instance, the NME (yeah, I know, but it's a good example) gave the second Strokes album a gushing review and 10/10, because at the time they were hugely popular, on the cover most weeks and basically selling the mag single-handedly. Their readers loved the band, so obviously the album was great, wasn't it? Nope. Their career nosedived and it is the scourge of bargain bins everywhere. Staff of that era have quietly admitted to being lenient on it for fear of a backlash. Other examples would be the near-universal praise for Driver 3 (videogame-wise) and Star Wars: Phantom Menace (film-wise) - they were the next in hugely popular and successful franchises, the audiences were expecting them to be good, why confound them? Hmm, because it's your job as a reviewer to be accurate and honest, perhaps? Gits.
Cliché. This pisses me off no end. Any review containing any of the following phrases is basically shorthand for "I've given this only the most cursory amount of my time and have chucked out the required word-count as fast as I can, and am now hanging around waiting to get paid." Again, in order to stay on the freebie list and go drinking with PR people, reviewers are prone to saying things like:
"On acid" = this is beyond my frame of reference and I haven't the vocabulary or imagination to describe it. It might be a bit 'wacky', too.
"If you liked X, you'll like this too" = I hated this but don't want to say so, so to avoid giving a critical opinion, I'll just make a lazy comparison instead.
"It's like X crossed with Y" = ditto, but I not only hated it, I didn't really understand it.
"Great for fans of this style" = mind-fuckingly average.
"A real improvement over the last one" = which I managed to fob off onto a colleague so I didn't have to slag it.
I'm aware I have generalised here quite substantially, but I believe the above to be largely true of both mainstream and specialist media. I think this is particularly endemic on the internet, because there is no cover price to make up for lost advertising, but it does get everywhere. Obviously there are some journos on Dissensus, and I'd be interested to hear your opinions especially, but anyone's thoughts on this matter would be welcome.


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Available at Notcutts is the Asparagus. Asparagus is a wonderful home grown delicacy! Mouth-watering edible spears are produced from April to June every year
Please be aware that this plant is dispatched fresh from the nursery once a week on a Wednesday, for delivery on the Thursday.
Please make sure your order is placed by 8am Tuesday to ensure you qualify for a Wednesday dispatch.
- Plant Features
- Plant Care
- Eventual Height: 10-60cm (4-24in)
- Eventual Spread: 10-60cm (4-24in)
- Flowering Season: Spring
- Leaf Colour: Green
- Planting Season: Spring
- Plant Type: Fruits
- Pot Size: 3 lt
- Facing: South
- Soil Type: Most Soil Types
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