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Recently, Brian St. Claire-King, the Creative Director of Vajra Enterprises and creator of Tibet: The Role Playing Game sent me a response to my essay on this blog about his game, and he was kind enough to let me share it with readers. Brian has honoured me with some very thorough and thoughtful comments on my post. I'm glad he responded – I made it very clear to him that what moved me to write the piece in the first place was the extent to which he achieved what struck me as a remarkable level of feasibility in his representations of Tibetan life. I was amazed to discover his work, and at least a few Tibetans who read my article have let me know that they were fascinated to see it too.
In his letter below, Brian answers some of the questions I pose in the article, and points out some areas worth elaborating on or exploring further. He expands persuasively on gaming's power to engender empathy, and echoes eloquently some of my own thinking on the parallels between anthropological and gaming 'pedagogies' (I especially love the idea he mentions of gamers using RPG resources to get into the headspace of the very same Christian moral crusader 'enemies' who sought to oppose their activities). Continue reading


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We decorated our yard for Halloween yesterday, and because most people don't genuinely fear plastic skeletons and fake cobwebs, I always like to include something that plays on a genuine fear. This year I chose fear of flying:
I'm really pleased with how the smoke turned out. The trick-or-treaters will be here any minute, but if I have time after I finish this post, I'm going to make a decoration to represent fear of public speaking.
The last two years I made these spider crackers for the kids to take to their classes:
You may have noticed the spiders only have six legs–this was not an accident but rather a conscious decision to encourage their classmates to argue with me about spiders having eight legs, and I can argue about adults always being right and later they'll always remember Halloween as the day they learned adults can't be trusted.
My seven-year-old, The Fonz, was a mad scientist.
My ten-year-old, Optimist Prime, was Hello Kitty. And yes, it was meant to be ironic.
Here are the kid's costumes from 2010:
In 2009, Optimist Prime was Thriller-era Michael Jackson:
In 2009, The Fonz was Jackson 5-era Michael Jackson:
In 2008, Optimist Prime was a cowboy riding a chicken. He had no help from his dad. Wait, I mean he barely helped his dad.
And The Fonz was Harry Potter, even though I'm not sure he had any interest in Harry Potter whatsoever.
In 2007, The Fonz was a Jukebox. If you gave him money and pressed one of four buttons, he'd sing you a song.
And Optimist Prime was a headless man.
Also in 2007, our complex chose to do trick-or-treating a weekend earlier than Halloween night, and we were unaware until the first trick-or-treaters rang the doorbell. The costumes above weren't finished yet and we literally completed the costumes below in less than ten minutes. The white on Optimist Prime's face is bar soap.
In 2004, the pair were a rickshaw driver and his rider.
This is The Fonz at three years old on a day nowhere close to Halloween:
Happy Halloween from The Good Greatsby!

subset: commoncrawl


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Lebanon PM Saad Hariri says he'll return within 2 days after mysterious departure
Hariri announced his resignation Nov. 4 and fled to Saudi Arabia, prompting claims he was forced out by Saudis
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who plunged the country into crisis with his surprise resignation during a trip to Saudi Arabia, said in a tweet Tuesday that will return home in the next two days but that his family will remain in the kingdom.
Lebanon's foreign minister meanwhile said during a trip to Paris that his country may resort international law to determine Hariri's condition, suggesting he is being held against his will, if he doesn't return to Lebanon.
It was Hariri's first personal tweet since he announced his resignation on Nov. 4 in a pre-recorded message during a trip to Saudi Arabia. Previous tweets since his resignation consisted of official pictures and press releases.
"People, I am fine. And God willing I will come back in two days. Can we chill?" Hariri wrote.
His surprise resignation and then his scarce communication led many Lebanese to speculate that he was being held against his will and stripped of his phone despite Saudi denials. A live interview Sunday with a Lebanese TV station affiliated with his political party did little to dispel such fears.
On Tuesday, Hariri met with the Lebanese Maronite Patriarch, who visited Saudi Arabia, the first publicized meeting with a Lebanese official. But there were no TV cameras allowed into the meeting and only photos of the encounter were released.
President Michel Aoun has refused to accept Hariri's resignation and urged him to come home. Hezbollah and other rivals have suggested that Hariri's Saudi patrons forced him to resign to wreck the coalition government. The coalition government includes the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Speaking from Paris, Lebanon's foreign minister said he hoped to resolve the "ambiguous" Hariri situation with Saudi Arabia. Gibran Bassil, who is on a European tour aimed at rallying support for his country's stability, said if Hariri doesn't return, then it will prove he is not free.
"We hope Lebanon doesn't have to resort to international law," Bassil said.
The resignation came amid mounting tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Hariri lashed out at Hezbollah in his resignation speech and said he feared for his safety. Saudi Arabia has accused Hezbollah of declaring war on the kingdom by supporting Yemen's Houthi rebels, who fired a ballistic missile the night of Hariri's resignation that was intercepted near Riyadh.
Last week, Saudi Arabia called on its citizens to leave Lebanon "immediately," raising fears of further escalation.
Asked if he fears punitive actions from the kingdom, Bassil said any attack on Lebanon would affect the whole region.
"The first to be touched in this will be the Syrians based in Lebanon," Bassil said, referring to the more than one million refugees in Lebanon, equivalent to a fourth of the tiny country's population.
"They would move from a situation of being accepted and absorbed by the Lebanese society to a situation where they will no more tolerate their conditions," he said, without elaborating.
Bassil and his party have been pressing for the return of Syrian refugees now that the war is winding down. Hariri, and other Sunni politicians who oppose the Syrian government, have argued against repatriation before a peace deal is reached.
Bassil denied Lebanon had anything to do with "a missile launched from one country toward another country," apparently referring to the missile fired at Riyadh.
"There is no excuse for this exceptional and unnatural situation" with Saudi Arabia, he said.
In his interview, Hariri hinted he may reconsider his resignation if Hezbollah agreed to discuss staying out of regional affairs. Hariri, a dual Lebanese-Saudi national, has homes in Saudi Arabia, where his wife and children have been living for years.


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The world lost a dear, kind, bright soul this weekend and is the lesser for it. Those of us lucky enough to have known her are infinitely "more" for the experience. A little brighter, a little wiser.
I wasn't going to write about Tersea's passing. I've written about her before in August when she was diagnosed and again in January when she stopped working to spend her last days with her family. Tersea was a coworker who became a friend. An unlikely friend, as she lived thousands of miles away in South Africa. But a friend nonetheless. One I talked to more often than many of my friends who live just a few miles away.
I did not want to write of her passing because I've written of death too much these past few years. First my mother, then my father—and of course my friend Audrey who named this blog without knowing it. Despite feeling that the passing of a loved one is not something new, I cannot wrap my head around it each time. On Thursday, I could have written that Tersea "lives thousands of miles away." (True confession: I did type that at first. And had to correct it to past tense.) Now I must write that she "lived." Here one day and gone the next. That is something I don't believe our human brains are wired to understand. Because if we did, we'd spend hours on maudlin goodbyes each morning, lest our loved ones become past tense that day.
I could not help but look back over our email communications. She sending me Ram Dass mantras and my reply: "Just a friendly reminder, as we head into August–are you saying your mantras? Because we're going to rock the house:). All will be well."
I am torn, today, between wanting to adopt puppies and plant flowers, and wanting to say to hell with the healthful habits—they don't matter anyway—and down a Big Mac. I think I am equal parts loving acceptance of it all and raging mad at the pieces I can't understand.
I will not get maudlin here. Instead, I will hold fast to the knowledge that Tersea would love my day today. Homemade pancakes for my youngest, a walk with a good friend and my faithful furry companion, a good book here in the room I do not use enough while the sun warms me. Foregoing the natural mascara I recently bought (read: not waterproof, but clean living and cancer aren't supposed to go together) because I know I will cry at random times today and there is no need to look like a raccoon in addition to the red, splotchy face I know I will sport. I hope I smile more than I cry, thinking loving thoughts of all she brought to my life—and what I brought to hers.
Just a few hours before my father died, I read to him quietly from "The Journey with the Master" by Eva Bell Werber. Tersea was not sure what she believed spiritually, but I think from her current vantage point, she may appreciate the story.
The Man Who Climbed to God
The man was told that on the mountaintop he would find God, that there he would meet Him face to face. So the man arose early, before the light of day, and started on his journey. When the first rays of the sun came through the forest trees, it gave him joy and he climbed steadily for many hours.
As he climbed, he became thirsty and sought a brook where he could quench his thirst, and while resting beside it, he fell asleep. As he slept, God came down from the mountaintop, and His form was that of a young man, strong of stature, with eyes of piercing beauty. God spoke. His voice rang out as a clear, sweet bell. These are the words He spoke:
You started the journey of the Soul, away from the crowded cities with their glamor and deceit, away from the rush of life as it is lived by man in his ignorance. You came alone to the Mountain Trail as day dawned in your consciousness of what life really means. You entered on the way of the lonely ones, thinking if you kept to the path, up and over the crags of old beliefs and old desires, that at last you would find Me, God. But I wait not there in My high place of glory, while you make the weary journey alone. I saw the desire burning in your Heart, as even now the sun burns your flesh, and I hastened down to meet you, that we might make the journey back, from Sense to Soul. The way, after all, will not be a lonely one, for on every step of the way you shall have Celestial Companionship. Awake! Rise up! Let us be on our way with joy.
You may have noted that as I introduced this excerpt, I wrote that Tersea "may appreciate the story." Past tense be damned. I know she is hovering near. I just can't seem to grasp her with my senses.
I have one more guardian angel watching over me—and it is now quite a crew. I will not spend today fretting. Because in my own wise words–we're going to rock the house. All will be well. Even if I don't yet fully understand it.


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Jake called my attention to a recent public interest story in the NYTimes, about using the results of an on-going telephone survey on predict the demographic profile of happiest man in America. It seems like they're making fun of simple models, a pursuit which I approve of:
The New York Times asked Gallup to come up with a statistical composite for the happiest person in America, based on the characteristics that most closely correlated with happiness in 2010. Men, for example, tend to be happier than women, older people are happier than middle-aged people, and so on.
Gallup's answer: he's a tall, Asian-American, observant Jew who is at least 65 and married, has children, lives in Hawaii, runs his own business and has a household income of more than $120,000 a year.
But the joke is that they made a few phone calls and found the guy… he looks pretty happy.


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My Ten Favorite Tweets – Week Ending 062609
June 27, 2009 Leave a comment
From the home office in Buenos Aires…
#1: Early criticism of veracity of MJ story was that it came from TMZ. Does TMZ misreport or lie? Or do people just not like what they cover?
#2: Reading – How to approach open innovation: With lessons from P&G http://bit.ly/EjcSp by @lindegaard #innovation
#3: "As strongly as you & a few like-minded people feel the impacts of info overload, a lot more people just don't care." http://bit.ly/9OnX4
#4: CLEAR, the service that used biometrics to fast-track you thru airport security, is no more http://bit.ly/cAxSY Another biometrics firm dies
#5: Reading these Dachis posts today http://bit.ly/13RFri I get the sense the firm is consultancy, not technology @peterkim @armano @jevon
#6: RT @VMaryAbraham McAfee/Lockheed: Top-down mandate needs to be done carefully. Otherwise it can hamper e20 rollout. #e2conf {How?}
#7: Reading: The secret sauce to successful Enterprise 2.0 adoption http://bit.ly/7oLP5 by @oscarberg
#8: Self-spam? Colleague CC'd himself on an Outlook email. Outlook put his email into its spam folder.
#9: Blind? :-p RT @hottweeters @bhc3 Are your legs tired? Cuz you've been running through someone's mind at http://www.hottweeters.com/bhc3
#10: My 5 y.o. son asks: Is there infinite of anything. My answer? No, everything is finite. Right?


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PID2008 Intro to Pd
From CCRMA Wiki
(Redirected from PID2007 Intro to Pd)
This introduction to Pd is in the form of a series of Pd patches.
- Save the lecture (a series of Pd patches archived here: pd_lecture.tar.gz) in your personal directory (in our examples the
'~/clarence'directory): OS X might automatically save it to your Desktop. So, you may have to move it first to
- Extract files like this:
~> mv ~/Desktop/pd_lecture.tar.gz ~/clarence ~> cd ~/clarence ~/clarence> tar xzf pd_lecture.tar.gz
- Start Pd by clicking on the Pd icon on the Dock.
- Read and try the patches.
- Look through the Pd Examples from the 'Help' Menu.
A collection of STK Physical and FM synthesis objects are now available in Pd. Check out the following objects:
- BandedWG~
- BeeThree~ (may not work on Mac)
- BlowBottle~
- BlowHole~
- Bowed~
- Brass~
- Clarinet~
- Flute~
- FMVoices~ (may not work on Mac)
- HevyMetl~ (may not work on Mac)
- Mandolin~ (may not work on Mac)
- ModalBar~
- Moog~ (may not work on Mac)
- PercFlut~
- Plucked~
- Resonate~
- Rhodey~ (may not work on Mac)
- Saxofony~
- Shakers~
- Simple~ (may not work on Mac)
- Sitar~
- StifKarp~
- TubeBell~ (may not work on Mac)
- VoicForm~ (may not work on Mac)
- Whistle~
- Wurley~ (may not work on Mac)
- http://www.puredata.org/ -- the Pd Community Site
- http://crca.ucsd.edu/~msp/Pd_documentation/ -- Official Pd Documentation
- http://crca.ucsd.edu/~msp/pdrp/latest/doc/ -- Pd Repertory Project; Patches that can run selected pieces of the live electronic music repertory using Pd
- http://crca.ucsd.edu/~msp/techniques.htm -- Theory and Techniques of Electronic Music by Miller Puckette; online (and print) book with examples in Pd
- http://at.or.at/hans/pd/installers.html -- Pd-Extended installers; Pd with lots of externs


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Roberts, Owen Josephus
Roberts, Owen Josephus, 1875–1955, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1930–45), b. Philadelphia. After receiving (1898) his law degree from the Univ. of Pennsylvania, he practiced law in Philadelphia, taught (1898–1918) at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, and served as assistant district attorney (1901–4) of Philadelphia co. During World War I he was appointed by the U.S. Attorney General to prosecute cases involving espionage, and he became nationally known as a prosecuting attorney in the Teapot Dome scandal (1924). Appointed (1930) to the Supreme Court by President Hoover, Roberts faced with other justices the problems of legislation for a depression economy. After 1935 he allied himself with the conservative group, but later he supported New Deal legislation. He was appointed to investigate the Pearl Harbor disaster. After he resigned from the Supreme Court, he was (1948–51) dean of the Univ. of Pennsylvania law school. He wrote The Court and the Constitution (1951).
See study by C. A. Leonard (1971).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Supreme Court: Biographies


text: is a speciose myrmicine genus with a worldwide distribution. The group is best known for some of its larger members, the fire ants, but most of the diversity in Solenopsis is found in small subterranean species. Several species of fire ants- most notably Solenopsis invicta- have become economically important pests where introduced by human commerce.Read More


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Star Wars Grogu™ READ Kids' T-Shirt
READ - THIS IS THE WAY … STAR WARS – Grogu™ READ kids' tee comes from the 2020 READ® poster by the American Library Association.
Reminiscent of the original Yoda poster ALA Graphics offered in the early 1980s, this image continues the tradition of previous Star Wars™ READ® collaborations, including with C-3PO and R2-D2, as well as other timeless characters.Product Details
- 100% cotton
- Distressed, softened print
- Color: black
- Unisex sizing
© & ™ Lucasfilm Ltd.Each purchase supports the American Library Association (ALA) and their work keeping our nation's libraries strong. Efforts include advocating for library funding, fighting censorship, diversifying the library workforce, and providing disaster relief to libraries in need.


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SEOUL, South Korea – Hyundai Motor Co. said its fourth-quarter profit increased 13 per cent over a year earlier thanks to higher overseas sales.
But its earnings for the whole of 2013 fell, underlining Hyundai's waning popularity among Korean consumers and labour strife.
South Korea's largest automaker said Thursday its fourth-quarter profit reached 2.1 trillion won ($2 billion) compared with 1.9 trillion won a year earlier.
Hyundai's 2013 profit dropped 1 per cent to 9 trillion won. Hyundai blamed lower demand from domestic consumers and production disruptions caused by strikes. Automakers from Europe and the U.S. expanded their sales in South Korea by introducing cheaper models and benefiting from free trade deals that phased out tariffs.
Hyundai, the maker of Genesis sedan, also attributed currency rates for its lower annual profit. The South Korean won posted gains against the U.S. dollar while Japanese automakers enjoyed the benefits of a cheaper yen as a result of the Bank of Japan's aggressive monetary easing.
Sales for the fourth quarter dipped 3 per cent to 21.9 trillion won. For the whole of 2013, sales increased 3 per cent to 87.3 trillion won.
Forecasting intense competition from foreign brands trying to erode its market share in South Korea, Hyundai said its growth in 2014 would come from overseas markets. It aims to sell 4.9 million vehicles this year, up from 4.7 million last year.
The annual goal represents 4 per cent growth from 2013, slowing from the previous year. In 2013, Hyundai's auto sales rose 7 per cent. Hyundai said the modest goal reflects a slow growth forecast in both emerging and developed nations.
The Korean automaker unveiled a new Genesis sedan to expand in the premium car segment and to make its brand known among premium car customers. It is expected to announce an upgrade of its mainstay Sonata model later this year.


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The PR department at AMC just sent out the following brief statement:
AMC and Sony Pictures Television confirmed today that they have reached a licensing agreement for a spinoff of Vince Gilligan's landmark AMC/SPT series Breaking Bad. As conceived, the new series is based on the show's popular Saul Goodman character with the working title Better Call Saul. Plans call for Saul to be a one-hour prequel that will focus on the evolution of the popular Saul Goodman character before he ever became Walter White's lawyer.
Perhaps after someone writes a script they'll all decide that this is a bad idea. Or maybe they'll shoot a pilot and decide they don't like it. But if nothing else this means that a bunch of creative people are going to try to make this show.
Rumors of a Saul-centric series have been going around for a while; back in April, June Thomas made the case here on Brow Beat that such a show was probably a bad idea, given that the sketchy lawyer archetype, while "a wonderfully adaptable supporting character," is probably not "substantial enough to sustain a whole show."
I tend to agree. But I'm still curious to find out. And the prequel route seems like the way to go; for one thing, it means we still don't know whether Saul Goodman will make it to the end of Breaking Bad alive. And even if he does, I can only assume he'd want to follow up the Walter White saga with some peace and quiet. Better to see how he ended up in the dubious place he had reached when Walt first found him.
Update: Variety confirms that Bob Odenkirk will star in the series (in case you feared that AMC would try to cast a younger actor in the role of the youthful Goodman) and that Peter Gould, a writer and producer who has worked on all five seasons of Breaking Bad, will be "spearheading the project."


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Ok so my mother in law, Deb, is a native of DeWitt, Arkansas. I am pretty sure before Big Daddy and I started dating, I'd never been to Arkansas, much less DeWitt. So it's pretty funny for me to say the words "Dewitt is my favorite place on Earth." Well, it likely rivals Perdido Key, Florida as my favorite place, but it is right up there at the top of my list. She and my father in law, Scott, run a hunting lodge, Bayou LaGrue. I've likely told y'all this before, but maybe you missed that so I'm saying it again. So technically Bayou LaGrue is one of my 2 favorite places on Earth. We love coming here. Last night when we arrived, Deb aka Granny had prepared a ham, fried potatoes, corn and peas with some rolls. My kids oohed and Aahed like they had not eaten in years. I could not blame them…everything tastes better at the camp! We all agreed on this. Forget Disney, for Cajun mama and family, Bayou LaGrue is the happiest place on Earth!
Now that I've been around for over two decades, Deb aka Granny sometimes gives me carte blanche in the lodge kitchen. Only sometimes though. Cajun Mama or not, that's her lodge kitchen and she is the queen of it. I've been wanting to make Mr. Scott some of my mom's dirty rice, so before coming up I grabbed the stuff I knew they would not carry in the Piggly or Kroger in DeWitt (it's pretty small) and then I saw this recipe on Facebook and decided to make this "cherry fluff" while I was at it, here is original recipe link. Mr. Scott LOVES ambrosia and this dessert seemed like a pretty good fit. And I told Deb I would be commandeering the kitchen. She allowed it. This time. Haha!
Anyhow, I made up batch of this cherry fluff aka unicorn fluff and I cannot wait to get his take on it. My Madame toot (10 year old girly girl with a love of all things unicorn) said given its pink color, it's fluffy texture, and that it has marshmallows in it, should be dubbed "Unicorn Fluff" so unicorn fluff it is!! This recipe is super simple to throw together and it is different than your regular cakes or pies, so it's a fun, unexpected treat. Also, given that it is 9000 degrees outside anywhere in the South, this dessert is NO BAKE, possibly making it the perfect summer dessert! Can I get a whoop whoop?!!
Unicorn Fluff 🦄/Cherry Fluff 🍒
Stuff you need~
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip
1 (20 ounce) can of crushed pineapple, very well drained
1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened works)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
What to do with the stuff~
Combine the Cool Whip, cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple in a large mixing bowl.
Stir in marshmallows, pecans, and shredded coconut.
Now, cover and pop in fridge. Let chill until ready to enjoy! It will thicken up as it chills. Be sure to take in the lovely pink hue of this sweet concoction sure to add a bright dose of color to your next meal!! Madame Toot would insist on this!
I hope you enjoy this luscious pink dessert in your happy place!


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State Sen. Ron Calderon, under a cloud of suspicion over a 24-count grand jury indictment alleged widespread bribery, fraud and money laundering, should resign from office, the Senate's leader Darrell Steinberg said in a statement released to the media:
"I make this statement with the full support of my caucus.
"I value and respect the legal principle that a criminal defendant is innocent unless proven guilty. I also know that the Senate has an ethics code that governs the behavior of elected officials, regardless of whether they are convicted or not. Senator Calderon is entitled to his full due process in all venues. It may be difficult, if not impossible, for the Senate to conduct a full investigation of the issues contained in the indictment because the U.S. Attorney has asked us specifically not to call any witnesses who are part of their investigation.
"Given the seriousness of charges that strike at the very heart of what it means to be a public official, Senator Calderon's continued service is a cloud over all the important work that we must get done this year. It is in the best interests of the people and the Senate if he resigns. I call on him to do so. The Senate Rules committee has already stripped him of his committee chairmanship and his committee assignments.
"At a minimum, he should take a complete leave of absence until the criminal proceedings are finished. If he does not resign, or take that leave of absence voluntarily, the Senate will seek to suspend him."


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It's time once again to take a look back at the Queen's sparkly year - the brooches, the tiaras, the new stuff, and the favorites. Curious how this compares to last year? Click here for 2012's wrap up.
The Most Popular BroochesWe saw well over 50 different brooches in this year's public appearances, most of which were worn just once or twice. There are some that always rise to the top with the largest number of appearances, and I have tallied them up. (With the required disclaimers, of course: these are only the public appearances that have been mentioned here, and we're not always able to identify brooches - and even when we are, sometimes we disagree.)
1. Frosted Sunflower Brooch tied with Amethyst Bouquet Brooch
2. Aquamarine Clip Brooches tied with Small Pink and Diamond Brooch tied with Queen Victoria's Bow Brooch tied with Pearl Trefoil Brooch
3. Jardine Star Brooch tied with Flower Basket Brooch
3. Jardine Star Brooch tied with Flower Basket Brooch
Most Significant Jewel
It may be tied in third place, but the Flower Basket Brooch's appearances during two of this year's most important occasions - Prince George's christening and the always significant Christmas broadcast - gave it special sentimental value over all the rest. It became a designated link between the generations, from George VI (who, along with Queen Elizabeth, gave the brooch to Princess Elizabeth to mark Prince Charles' birth) right down to a future King George.
The New BroochesEmerald and Diamond Sarpech Brooch made its first public appearance at Ascot; new Commonwealth gems were picked up in the form of the New Zealand Blue Pearl Brooch and the Saskatchewan Tourmaline Flower Brooch; a visit to Newhaven added a horse brooch to the family. She was also given a new badge from the SSAFA during a visit in November. The list should probably be longer in the "new to us" category, since there are still brooches that remain unidentified from this year.
The Tiara Appearancesone proper tiara appearance, plus the State Opening of Parliament. The Queen usually hosts two state visits a year, but this year the first one only included a state luncheon and no glittering state banquet. And of course, as usual, the annual reception for the Diplomatic Corps was another tiara appearance that went unseen for Her Maj. (It has to be noted that we did get an update of sorts on the Queen's tiara collection when the Duchess of Cambridge was spotted in the Lotus Flower Tiara, whose ownership was previously a question mark.) This year did also see the introduction of a portrait featuring the Queen in the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara with emerald drops, though the picture itself was taken three years previously.
My Favorite Appearance of the Year
Happy New Year, and thanks for tuning in this year! A very sparkly 2014 to you all.
What was your favorite moment in the Queen's jewel-filled year?
P.S.: These tallies include the last brooch appearance of the year...the Queen attended church at Sandringham in lovely purple, wearing the Kent Amethyst Brooch. Click here for a report from the Express, or here for the Daily Mail.
P.S.: These tallies include the last brooch appearance of the year...the Queen attended church at Sandringham in lovely purple, wearing the Kent Amethyst Brooch. Click here for a report from the Express, or here for the Daily Mail.
Photos: Getty Images/PA/Rex/MonarchyNZ/Hillberg & Berk/Sussex Express


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About Niagara At Large – Our Mission Statement
"Democracy cannot function without a well-informed electorate." – the late news broadcaster Walter Cronkite
Welcome to Niagara At Large – an independent, online source of news and commentary for the greater Niagara region.
Niagara At Large is dedicated to providing news and the most in-depth analysis possible – without fear or favour and always with the goal of getting to the guts of a matter or whatever constitutes the truth – on issues of interest and concern to those of us living and working in a binational region of communities including and neighbouring the region of Niagara, Ontario and the counties of Erie and Niagara in Western New York.
This online site has been launched with the support of long-time journalists and others in our region who share the following beliefs and principles:
- That journalism is a public trust that plays a vital role in providing citizens with the information they need to participate effectively in discussions and decisions that shape the future of their community.
- That journalists can only fulfill their potential as honest brokers of information and watchdogs for their community if their work is not compromised by the pecuniary interests of corporate chains that too often replace the "editorial policies" of newsrooms with "business plans" that define news as a "product" and readers of news as "customers" who might just as well be out at the mall shopping for shoes or laundry detergent.
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Through his career, Doug Draper has received several provincial, national and international awards for his reporting and has been invited to participate as a panelist and keynote speaker at numerous conference and workshops on journalism and environmental issues.
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As it has for years, A Book and A Hug hosts reviews of thousands of books for young readers. You can search for books by keywords, age of the reader, genre, geographical setting of a book, and reading level.
Applications for Education
Finding books that are appropriate for and engaging to young readers can be a challenge. A Book and a Hug could be a tremendous aid in your search and your students' searches for their next favorite book.
In addition to finding reviews your students can contribute their own book reviews to A Book and a Hug. Email addresses are not required in order for students to submit their reviews.


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Since I was looking for recipes featuring ginger with Canadian and Mexican elements, it did not take me long to think of Canada Dry™ ginger ale, the first reference to Canada I ever had as a child in Mexico. I confess my top choice of soda – in typical Mexican fashion – was Coca-Cola™, but my mom would rarely allow it because of the caffeine, so ginger ale was a more acceptable and also very popular option. Back then, I think what I liked the most about Canada Dry was the label, with a logo resembling a coat of arms, sporting a map of Canada topped with no less than a crown, along with the slogan "the champagne of ginger-ales."
Although ginger is native to South Asia and China, and ginger ale is a European invention, pale or "dry" ginger ale is indeed Canadian, and it was very interesting to trace the history of my (second) favourite soda:
Ginger was known since ancient times not only in Asia, but in the Eastern Mediterranean coast; its mention in the text of the Quran means that it was known to Muslim cultures by the 600s C.E. It was also one of the earliest spices known in Europe, already praised by the Greek and Roman empires. Its use in baked goods is documented in France since the ninth century, which extended along all of Northern Europe as digestive aids and shaped in different forms to convey messages. In England, both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were known to favour ginger; the first for medicinal applications and the latter, as a feature in the lavish sweet spreads offered in her court. Ginger became so popular that it was used as a condiment to add to food at the table. By the nineteenth century, pubs and taverns in England would put out small bowls of ground ginger, for people to sprinkle into their beer and get a whiff of the fresh spice in their drink, which was probably the origin of the name ginger-ale. It is not surprising then that the first non-alcoholic ginger flavoured beverages were developed in Ireland and England, sometime in the 1840s; although probably nothing more than sweetened water with ginger at first, they became nevertheless very popular as tonics and refreshments. Just a few years later, ginger-ales and ginger-waters had made their way to the US East coast, sometimes called "switchels", and shortly after the American Civil war, pharmacist James Vernor invented "golden ginger-ale", allegedly from a barrel of ginger water left behind in Detroit just before he joined the Union Army, which upon his return in 1866 had transformed in a "deliciously different" fermented non-alcoholic beverage.
In 1890, chemist John J. McLaughlin of Toronto, started to manufacture soda water, as a mixer for juices and cordials. He also developed a more refined, and less sweet "dry" ginger ale, his Canada Dry Pale Ginger Ale. In 1907, it was the object of an appointment to the Vice regal Household of the Governor General of Canada, and the label featuring a map of Canada with a beaver at the top was replaced by the present shield with the Canada map and crown. His company also developed mass bottling techniques; ginger ale became a roaring success during the 1920s as a perfect mixer to mask the taste of home brews during the Prohibition. Canada Dry was also the first of the major soft drink companies to introduce sugar-free drinks and sodas in cans:
The Ginger Limeade pictured at the top of this post, is my take on a homemade Canada-Dry-like beverage, with added Mexican flavours from agave syrup as sweetener and lime juice to give it a slight acidity (in lieu of fermentation).
Ginger Limeade – Limonada con jengibre
Printable recipe – Ginger Limeade
Ingredients (single serve)
1 cup drinking water
1 tbsp agave syrup (or honey or maple syrup, to taste)
1 lime
½ tsp fresh ginger; very finely grated
1 cup carbonated water (soda water)
Ice cubes, to taste
Dissolve sweetener in water; add freshly squeezed juice from one half of the lime, and ginger, stirring until well dispersed. Just before serving, top with soda water and add ice cubes and a wedge from the other half of the lime.
I thought I was being very clever with my recipe, but it turned out to be similar to the one cited in a passage from Laura Ingalls Wilder's "The Long Winter" (sixth book of the "Little House" series, published in 1940) set in the last quarter of the 1800s, in which Laura and Pa get a treat after Laura's first day helping with the haying on the field: "… Ma had sent them ginger-water. She had sweetened the cool well-water with sugar, flavored it with vinegar, and put plenty of ginger to warm their stomachs so they could drink till they were not thirsty. Ginger-water would not make them sick, as plain cold water would when they were so hot."
I still see my version as a humble improvement, though, because I am guessing that Ma probably only had ground ginger available, so grated fresh ginger and lime juice sure must taste crispier and better than dry ginger and vinegar. At any rate, my ginger limeade was just as described by Laura, very refreshing and yet, somehow, warm in the belly.
FUN FACT: COXALA™ is a Mexican company located in Jocotepec, in the state of Jalisco, specializing in organic tonics and naturally fermented beverages, including non-alcoholic ginger-beer
I am joining What's for Dinner? Sunday Link-up # 171 graciously hosted by Helen @ The Lazy Gastronome.


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In an exclusive interview, Zelda series director and producer Eiji Aonuma talks to CNET's Jeff Bakalar about the sequel to 1992's A Link to the Past on the Nintendo 3DS.
The Nintendo 3DS has already been through a lot. The first-ever glasses-less 3D portable console didn't have the most glamorous of launches when it hit the market more than two years ago. Tainted by an underwhelming batch of debut software, controversial 3D effect, and a disappointing battery life, the 3DS didn't have a whole lot going for it out of the gate.
If that wasn't enough of a burden, the 3DS was also forced to follow up the original DS, a predecessor that is approaching worldwide sales of 154 million units combined. It's the best-selling portable console of all time.
But in the 25 months since its release, the 3DS has made significant strides. A focus on the platform's online store and a hardware refresh with a much bigger screen and better battery have begun to right the ship. Most importantly, a bevy of compelling software has been made available -- though some have criticized the company's continual recycling of classic games.
In addition to hardware and software improvements, Nintendo has made up ground on consumer interactivity. To better keep its audience in the know, the company has been conducting a series of videos that have shed a generous amount of transparency on upcoming titles and news -- a move that has seemed to generate an organic buzz throughout its loyal consumer base.
Among the announcements made at the most recent Nintendo Direct video is the sequel to the 1992 Super Nintendo classic, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It's a game many -- Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime among them -- consider to be one of the best Zelda games ever made.
Surprisingly enough, this sequel would not see a release on a home console. No, the follow-up to the iconic top-down view adventure would be realized on the 3DS.
The game's most notable mechanic is Link's ability to shift from a 3D character into a 2D drawing. He can maneuver in and out of precarious situations with this new ability, which will also force players to examine the world in a different light.
To better understand the thinking behind this move, I got a chance to talk with Eiji Aonuma, the man who has overseen various Zelda games including the Link to the Past sequel.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from my interview with Aonuma was that the new 3DS Zelda game -- one that exists within the universe established by 1992's A Link to the Past -- will be a significant departure from the way most Zelda games are played.
When speaking about the basic Zelda formula of finding items to allow progression, Aonuma said "it certainly feels different from our [the developer's] point of view."
So what does "different" mean exactly? Aonuma was cautiously vague, but he explained that, with the introduction of a platform the Zelda franchise has yet to appear on, the game's developers had a fresh canvas to work with. It's this clean slate that was the driving force behind the decision to bring the classic top-down view of A Link to the Past to the 3DS.
Where in the past a game would normally need to be first constructed in a 3D world, the diorama-esque visuals of the 3DS have been able to breathe new life into environments that have become all but extinct in the last 20 years.
Of course, there had already been a Zelda game on the 3DS, but that was the 2011 remake of Ocarina of Time. Aonuma worked on that game, and it taught him a lot about developing on the stereoscopic 3D platform, which opened up a brand-new vein of creativity for him and his team. In fact, Aonuma says this new Zelda game may be the most inventive yet.
But why A Link to the Past? Why not create a new world for Link to explore? Aonuma says that the 3DS has allowed for the revisiting of a top-down world and provided new ways for the player to interact with a Zelda game. It was the perfect chance to reopen A Link to the Past. And like some other Zelda games in the past, the 3DS sequel will alternate between a light and dark world.
So where does the idea of Link becoming a drawing originate? Veteran Zelda fans may remember Phantom Ganon, the protector of the Forest Temple in Ocarina of Time. During Link's encounter, Phantom Ganon jumps into one of six identical paintings on a wall. Aonuma wondered, "What if Link could have the same power?"
Of course it's reasonable to wonder about the possibility of the stylus-equipped 3DS player assuming the role of artist in this new Zelda game. Judging from my time with Aonuma, it certainly seems like a possibility.
Seeing the Link to the Past sequel played on a 3DS reminded me of dimension-bending games like Crush, where the camera's perspective decides the physical rules of the game. The new 3DS Zelda isn't too far off, in that the switch to 2D creates a different plane for Link to travel along.
During my interview, Aonuma repeatedly stressed the importance of the 3DS' 3D effect and how it's used in the new Zelda game. This feature has been a major topic of controversy surrounding the 3DS since its launch, and the consensus seems to be split down the middle in terms of preference. Some complain that it causes headaches, whereas others maintain it's the only way to truly enjoy 3DS games.
Regardless of how you'll play the sequel to A Link to the Past -- with or without the 3D slider on -- Aonuma assures that you'll enjoy the game. He and his team understand that not everyone likes to play in 3D. That said, if you don't play it in 3D -- even with the 3D slider ticked up just a bit -- Aonuma says you're not getting 100 percent of the intended experience.
3D also presents a challenge in advertising the game. A 3D gameplay video is available for download on the 3DS, but the effect can't be conveyed in conventional advertising on the Web or TV. "I wish I could just tell people to buy it and definitely tell your friends!" he said.
The 3DS sequel to 1992's The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is set to arrive exclusively to the Nintendo 3DS this holiday.


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Back in 1986, when Whitney Houston sang about children being our future, I paid little attention. It was the year I turned 17 and I was busy casting off the shackles of childhood. As far as I was concerned, the future was all about me and what I was going to be in it.
It took thirty years and the words of another powerhouse woman, Miriam González Durántez, before I got the point: I may be the 'now' but the future is in the hands of those much younger and specifically those who inhabit our education system. Whilst I'm not interested in being a school teacher, Miriam's words made me see that there was another way to contribute.
In the weeks that followed, I signed up for Inspiring the Future, an initiative connecting schools with the world of work and before long I was involved as a business volunteer with the Barnet Business and Education Partnership. For the last year, I've been in secondary schools supporting programs like presentation skills, interview skills and how to make the most of work experience that help students prepare for life 'beyond school'. Participating in this way has been really motivating. It's also got me thinking about how we prepare young adults to tackle life's challenges outside their academic curriculum.
What other things can we do to help them to be resilient, resourceful and responsible in their adult life?
Earlier this year, I returned to the Inspiring the Future website to tick an additional box flagging my interest in being a school governor. I didn't know that this would be the right thing for me but I knew I felt passionately about the contribution to be made and wanted to explore this further. In the words of change leadership guru Deborah Rowland (who I met in March)…
" …having set up these initial conditions for emergence, you have to let the change come towards you, not go chasing it."
…so I ticked the box and went on with life, continuing to explore a range of other interesting opportunities that had been emerging.
On June 4th, I attended the TEDx London conference and among the lineup of inspiring speakers was Teach First's Executive Director of Delivery Ndidi Okezie who spoke about ending educational inequality and creating a world where all children have an "equalising educational experience". Okezie spoke of feeling overwhelmed by the scale of change required but insisted that "a change must come". Did you know that the proportion of UK children who go on to attend Oxbridge is roughly 1:20 but in poorer schools that this opportunity falls to 1:1,500? Teach First has over 10,000 ambassadors in schools creating equal educational experiences for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances.
As I listened to Okezie speak, I was taken back to my school years where a couple of teachers were particularly instrumental in helping me navigate the path to adulthood. Back then I was preparing to take flight into a world that, despite my insistence to the contrary, I didn't really know much about. I was embarking on a new phase – just as I am now. I jotted a few notes down as the talk came to a close, thinking that they might come in useful at some point. One of the things life has taught me is that you never know which pieces of the puzzle might eventually come together.
And how timely this was. Less than a month later, I joined the Board of Governors for a local secondary school, becoming part of their Educational Standards Committee and also the link-governor for the school's performing arts curriculum.
Needless to say there's a lot to learn and a lot of work to be done. But I'm really looking forward to working with this team of passionate and committed governors and teachers. I'm also excited about ensuring that the student community – these women of the future – are equipped and empowered for the adventure ahead.
I'm stunned by how quickly these pieces fell into place.
I once heard it said that when you take responsibility for your own happiness, life shows up as a gift. I drew deeply on my reserves of resilience and resourcefulness as I struggled to build a new life in London over 13 years ago. And after last year's work changes, I decided to take some time to explore how I wanted the next stage of my life to look. Whilst the full picture is still emerging, I'm feeling happy, fulfilled and excited to be on the brink of new possibilities.
So I feel passionately about encouraging the development of these qualities through my role as a Governor:
- Resilience – in the face of life's challenges;
- Resourcefulness – in spite of what might stand in the way;
- Responsibility – for stewarding themselves and the world through tumultuous times and inspiring the generations to follow to be the authors of their own success, whatever that may be.
Three more R's to supplement the three – reading, [w]riting, and [a]rithmetic – that began their education over a dozen years ago.
My life is undeniably the sum of all of the people and experiences that have left their mark on me and it was another speaker from the TEDx London conference in June – a bloke from the world of policing and forensics no less – that captured this perfectly:
"Every contact leaves a trace." John Sutherland
Here's to leaving a positive and worthwhile mark on the generations to follow.


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via APRIL BOOK OF THE MONTH! @BetteAStevens – #RWISA #RRBC
Bette A. Stevens is a 2017 KCT INTERNATIONAL LITERARY AWARD 'Top Finalist' BLUE "TREAT" AWARD Winner!!!
To learn more about Bette and her other books, please visit her RWISA profile page! Please pick up your copy of this amazing title today!!! You'll be so glad you did!
Book blurb
A compelling family drama in which a youth grows to manhood in a society where the poor are quickly and often wrongly judged.
DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens


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Picture this: You are strolling down a country road by yourself on a warm summer day when seemingly out of nowhere, a handsome young adult male appears before you.
Visualize him however you want, i.e. low, flowing hair, muscular body, whatever. He appears to you as an ideal 20something specimen — and he is stark naked, with the only adornment on his body being a simple gold band on his right index finger.
"Hello," he says to you. "I've been spending some time in your dimension."
You think you are being cute when you reply: "Haven't we all?"
He laughs. "Good comeback. But I'm not from this dimension," he explains.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your visit," you respond, thinking it might be best to put some distance between him and you. "I have to get going. People are expecting me . . ."
He smiles and nods. "I understand how weird this must seem to you. But I would like to give you something before we part, something that will change your world."
You ask: "Change it how?"
"Well," he says. "There are myriad problems here. You could make it perfect, in every respect. And everyone would have rejuvenated bodies that never shows signs of aging and would heal themselves from all wounds instantly. It would be a paradise."
You think you're getting a clearer picture now. "Are you a Jehovah's Witness, by chance?"
"What's that," he asks.
You reply: "A religious cult. Are you preaching about God, trying to gain converts?"
"What's God," he asks, innocently.
"The supposed creator of the universe and everything in it."
"Huh," he says. "Never heard of such a creator."
You're suddenly very curious about this fellow, because you have never come across anybody who hasn't heard of God. You decide to humour him, because he seems harmless and quite likeable. "So, what do people believe in your dimension about their origins?"
"We've always existed," he replies. "There was a time when our bodies aged, and we shed them and took on new bodies. But now our bodies last for as long as we want them. They never wear out."
"So you believe in reincarnation?"
He replies: "What does that word mean?"
"When a person dies, their spirit leaves the body and after a period of time in-between worlds, it returns in the body of an infant, and grows to adulthood with no recollection of previous lives."
He asks: "What does 'die' mean?"
"It comes from the word 'death'," you tell him. "Everything that lives in this world eventually passes away and disintegrates, and it's debatable if there is anything inside our bodies that carries on."
He smiles. "Of course there is. In our world, back in the time when our bodies aged to the point of not being fully functional, we would just go to a centre where we could transfer into a new one. We were fully conscious of the whole process. Now, our bodies are perfected, and we never have to trade them in. We can modify them to appear any way we want."
You ask: "What about births in your world? You must have a huge population if nobody ever dies."
"Births? What does that mean?"
You ask: "To reproduce, have babies. Don't women reproduce there?"
"No. Our population numbers never change."
Your mind is boggled, and you're thinking that you really must be on your way. "Well, it has been nice chatting with you. But I gotta get going."
"Wait," he says. "I haven't given you the gift yet."
You respond: "You're not carrying anything."
He holds up his hand, snaps his fingers, and a ring like the one he is wearing appears in the palm of his hand. "Here," he says, offering it to you.
"How did you do that," you ask. "It's as if you pulled it out of thin air."
"Exactly," he replies. "It was made from the elements of air, and by wearing it, you can do the same. You can make anything you want by just thinking it — you don't even have to snap your fingers. I just did that for effect. And the first thing that would happen when you put on the ring is it would create paradise on the planet for every living being."
You're thinking Lord of the Rings at this point. "You wouldn't happen to know Bilbo and Frodo, by any chance," you joke.
He gives you a quizzical look.
You ask him: "If the ring can do so much, why don't you change the world?"
He shakes his head. "It's not my place to do it. It's not my world."
"Well, I suppose I could take the ring, and try changing a few things just to see how it works," you say, humouring him.
He shakes his head again: "It doesn't work like that. It's all or nothing. When you put on the ring, everything changes in the twinkling of an eye."
"What exactly would change," you ask him.
"The planet would be cleaned up and made pristine. Everybody would be made young and healthy again and they would never fall ill and would instantly recover from any injuries they suffer. People would live forever in the same bodies, though they could simply modify them any way they choose. Everyone would have a ring like yours, and with it could produce food, drink, housing, you name it by simply thinking it. They would never lose their ring, for it would never come off their finger."
You shake your head. "This is a warring planet. People who thrive on power would misuse the rings to hurt each other . . ."
The stranger smiles and shakes his head. "It's not possible. The rings would not let anyone harm another life. And when you put the ring on and it cleans up the world, every weapon on this planet will disintegrate, as will money and the economic system here that leaves so many hungry. Anything that harms life on this planet will disappear. None of it will exist any longer. Everybody will have everything they need, and there will be very little work to be done because the rings will take care of it all. As for travel, just think of where you want to be . . ."
"And say 'make it so'?" You're thinking of Star Trek.
He smiles and nods.
You ask: "Would everybody be naked like you?"
He nods. "Yes. Because it would always be warm, and there would be no need for clothes."
You grin. "OK, who sent you? Is somebody filming this for a TV show?"
"Nobody sent me," he says, very seriously.
You ask: "So, why me? Why give me the power to change the world in such a dramatic fashion?"
"Why not? You are a good person, I can tell. You've taken the time to talk to me. Many people here would not have been so kind."
You ask: "But it would create chaos, wouldn't it? How would people know what's happened?"
"Fear not. The new ring on their finger would answer all their questions."
You ask: "And would they know it was me who made it all happen?"
The stranger nodded. "Yes, they would."
"Could they change it back?"
He shakes his head. "No. The world would be made a paradise forever, and the rings would only be used to supply people with what they need, including your ring. Nobody would be able to corrupt the perfect world afterward. The rings can only be used for good."
You say: "I'm not sure I have the authority to do something like this. Some people might say that the world as we know it right now is meant to be this way, that all things are unfolding as they should. Some might accuse me of trying to play God."
He shakes his head again: "If there were such a God, do you think it would let so many people suffer?"
"Well, I was never a firm believer in God, anyway."
He smiles. "So then, take my gift. Put it on and change the world."
You take the ring from his hand, and poof! He disappears right before your eyes without as much as a "goodbye and good luck."
And now you are pretty convinced everything he told you is true.
You are holding the ring in your hand. Do you put it on your finger and change the world into a paradise?
— Jillian
Photo: Earth. Source: NASA


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Yes, you read that correctly, the Whingers went shopping last night.
Well sort of. Despite Andrew's protestations that he just had to to pop into Argos, desperately needed an item from Doctors Surgery and that Old Boot Shoe Repairs really had Phil's name on it, Phil dragged him past them all to one of the growing number of retail units that have had to look for new sources of income.
Yes, it's a sure sign of how deep the recession is cutting at the West 12 shopping centre in Shepherds Bush that one of its former shops has been converted into a theatre foyer. Well theatre in the loosest sense. It's not theatre as the Whingers know it. Read the rest of this entry »


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PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END - Compact the title of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" to its acronym - "PC: AWE" - and the message is clear. It seems PC (piratically correct) to feel some awe. Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is like a master mascot. "You add an agreeable sense of the macabre to any delirium," chirps Sparrow, haughty and preening and tipsy by nature. Depp wears his stardom so lightly that Sparrow not "getting the girl" is acceptable, even witty as the camera gazes upon the carved cheekbones and sun-gilt thighs of Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, who also can be a toughie. Against odds, director Gore Verbinski keeps the whole thing buoyant and fun. He swerves from comedy (even farce) to pathos (notably Jack Davenport as gallant Norrington), from theme park thrills to antic, cartoonish madness. The screwball momentum favors gaudy villains like Geoffrey Rush's superb pirate rascal Barbossa, Bill Nighy's tentacled Davy Jones, Chow Yun-Fat as a Singapore menace and Tom Hollander as prissily vicious Lord Beckett. This is a voyage on salty but carbonated seas, and something always comes along to dazzle our attention. Briney mutations abound. Gorgeous maritime shots suddenly melt by magic into a desert, with Sparrow turning cuckoo in the fabled Bonneville Salt Flats. A mob of crabs hauls his ship across dunes. A Buena Vista Pictures release. Director: Gore Verbinski. Writers: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Stuart Beattie. Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Naomie Harris. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes. Rated PG-13. 3 1/2 stars.
SHREK THE THIRD - Shrek, green hero of "Shrek the Third," gets primped and pampered, as well he might, since the series has had a golden chain of box-office success. But the third movie has the look of royal inbreeding. The fun bunch is back, including the giant, green, lovable ogre Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers) and his chum Donkey (Eddie Murphy). Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) is still a dearie. Kids will relish the poop jokes. Older kids (really old) might go for the early schtick about dinner theater, and maybe having Julie Andrews on board OKs the silly dud musical at the end, an ego preen for obnoxious Prince Charming (Rupert Everett). Some of the gags slip in well. Having Donkey do a cat hiss is cute, there's a swell nightmare about ogre babies, and the idea of Andrews (as starchy Queen Lillian) head-butting a stone wall is almost satire. Essentially the movie is saying to its loyal crowd: You bought this stuff before, now take it re-canned. There is nothing really happening but the breezy ricochet of gags, the rote sitcom types, the star voices that are phoning in performances, the cuteness given a little by riffs about sexual attraction or body functions, the ruling swagger of assured box office. Inside the packaging is more packaging. Those who rally to it with, "So it isn't a critics' picture," had better be under 10 years old. A DreamWorks Animation SKG release. Directors: Chris Miller, Raman Hui. Writers: Andrew Adamson, Howard Gould. Voice cast: Julie Andrews, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Eric Idle, Justin Timberlake, Antonio Banderas. Running time: 1 hour, 37 minutes. Rated PG. 2 stars.
FAY GRIM - Parker Posey has seemed a little grim in recent years, so "Fay Grim" is a good fit for her. As pinballing Fay, always off balance but never defeated, Posey's famous hip-girl charm has become womanly and packs more punch. Hal Hartley's crafty entertainment derives from his 1998 art-cult film "Henry Fool." Henry (Thomas Jay Ryan), the ratty spitball of pontifical posturing whose diaries may out-gab Casanova's, is mostly gone, even reported dead. But the scattered diaries, recurrent rumors from foreign lands and the ambivalence of wife/widow Fay cause Henry to hover still, like Harry Lime in "The Third Man." Also festering is Fay's brother, Simon, cult bard mentored by Henry, now "the incarcerated garbage-man poet of Woodside, Queens." A chance to spring Simon from the can comes after pesky CIA agent Fulbright, a prodigy of alert paranoia, maneuvers Fay into espionage abroad that may find some of the lost diaries, even Henry. Fulbright is Jeff Goldblum, deadpan but less teasingly sardonic than usual.
Violence is minimal, the basic thermostat being set by dotty but decent Fay. Parker Posey is one of the indie queens (Hope Davis, Rachel Griffiths, Julie Delpy, Lily Taylor, Laurie Metcalf) used feebly by Hollywood, but in the hands of Hartley she is the star needed and right on schedule. A Magnolia Films release. Director, writer: Hal Hartley. Cast: Parker Posey, Jeff Goldblum, James Urbaniak, Saffron Burrows, Liam Aiken, Thomas Jay Ryan, Anatole Taubman. Running time: 1 hour, 55 minutes. Rated R. 3 stars.
28 WEEKS LATER ... - About 28 hours after viewing "28 Weeks Later ...," I woke up sweating, staring hungrily at my arm through scarlet eyeballs, and babbling, "No more reviews! No more reviews! No more. ..." But that passed. And in less than 28 days, "28 Weeks Later ..." will have fallen into the compost of memory where compulsively generic movies that rely on fiercely gullible viewers all tend to retire, hazily. Sequel to Danny Boyle's cult-hit "28 Days Later ..." - may we please have the next sequel in 28 years? - this one takes place after the plague of zombies has eaten Britain. Nearly all the humans got munched, and the rapacious zombies have died off like pigs after a toxic binge. Robert Carlyle and Catherine McCormack are Don and Alice, surviving couple. The Yanks bring in "repatriated" Britons to restock London (forget Liverpool). Coming back are the couple's kids, a spunky Artful Dodger type played by superbly named Mackintosh Muggleton, and his lovely teen sister (almost equally well-named Imogen Poots). The movie has some vivid shock touches and the scenes of depopulated London are queasily strange. Still, this is really about a grimly ravaged couple and two kids put through hell. Your idea of fun? Munch on it. A 20th Century Fox release. Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. Writers: Rowan Joffe, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Jesus Olmo. Cast: Robert Carlyle, Catherine McCormack, Jeremy Renner, Imogen Poots, Mackintosh Muggleton, Rose Byrne. Running time: 1 hour, 39 minutes. Rated R. 2 stars.
THE EX - Zach Braff is fine on TV and did a nice job writing, directing and acting in "Garden State." But his meal ticket is boyish cuteness - he's like a teen girls' chat room overhaul of Jon Lovitz. Braff smiles and gulps and double-takes cutely in "The Ex" as Tom, an aspiring New York chef. He exits job and city to move with wife Sofia (Amanda Peet) back to her Ohio roots. They've got a new baby, and Tom's a bit of a baby, a good guy prone to well-meant but klutzy gaffes. It doesn't help that his father-in-law (Charles Grodin) gets Tom a starter job at an ad agency, a place so fiercely hip and feely and PC it's like a Stepford Bosses version of Pee-wee's Playhouse. It helps less that his given "mentor" is an ambition freak and vicious mind-gamer in a wheelchair, Chip (Jason Bateman), a smarmy egotist who once dated Sofia. With snake-on-wheels Chip, who might (we can easily guess) be faking his "lifelong" paraplegia, Jesse Peretz's movie offers a few risky snaps of anti-PC impudence. But it's also crawly with cartoonish attitudes, dumb twists, embarrassments, baby close-ups, joke violence, a windup kid actor named Lucien Maisel, Grodin echoing past glory as a top comic actor, Mia Farrow as his wife reduced to being a dim, dotty collectible (and not for her real fans). An MGM release. Director: Jesse Peretz. Writers: David Guion, Michael Handelman. Cast: Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Charles Grodin, Jason Bateman, Mia Farrow. Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes. Rated PG-13. 1 1/2 stars.
GEORGIA RULE - A bar of soap is a repeated element in "Georgia Rule," and rightly so. Suds rise in this capably acted fem-drama laced with slap-in comedy. It's a story of three women, plus male appendages (sometimes rather literally). Jane Fonda is Georgia, lonesome and decent widow in wholesome Hull, Idaho. Her morally wayward granddaughter, Rachel (Lindsay Lohan), is sent to live with Georgia for a summer of strict straightening. Arriving later is Rachel's mother, Lilly (Felicity Huffman), an alcoholic whose life is all wobble and worry (Georgia - what a dear - washes out the liquor bottles before trashing them). It gets sticky once Rachel, mischievous to the verge of trampiness, says stepfather Arnold (Cary Elwes) used to molest her. This whopper comes soon after Rachel goes off in a rowboat with Idaho stallion and future Mormon missionary Harlan (Garrett Hedlund) and, with a naughty twinkle, eagerly tends his unexplored needs. The three women spin this bubbly bar of soap on their emotional tripod. Watching it foam, twirl and nearly tip over is family drama of an unusually spiced kind, for Mormon Idaho. A Universal Pictures release. Director: Garry Marshall. Writer: Mark Andrus. Cast: Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney, Laurie Metcalf, Cary Elwes. Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes. Rated R. 2 stars.
SPIDER-MAN 3 - By the Big Three "event" criteria, "Spider-Man 3" qualifies: 1) It cost a lot; 2) It will earn a lot; 3) Hype matches 1 and 2. You can skip all the merchandising and avoid saying "Spidey" but still have a good time with "Spider-Man 3." It's a dynamic Spider-Man movie. The first sequel (2004) was harried by the "can we do it again?" syndrome, though it had classy villains (Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, together a hambone duet of orchestral size). Now relaxed into its highly costumed skin, the new epic lets James Franco as Harry, the gone Dafoe's son, cut loose for some embittered villainy a lot like crazy old dad's. And Thomas Hayden Church, who looks more like Dafoe than Franco does, rips around as another villain. The story's "heart" includes making Church a sorrowful thief, Flint Marko, who misses his dear, sickly daughter. "I'm not a bad person, I've just had bad luck," Marko mutters sadly, and to prove it he stumbles into a secretive physics lab and is disintegrated into a weirdly buff pile of sand. "De-molecularized" and then re-formed as Sandman, he is the most beautiful effect this series has achieved. The appeal goes well beyond the plot doodles, or even the gorgeous use of the skyline and the tremendously engineered effects. It's rooted less in the Marvel Comics source than in director Sam Raimi's fierce faith in that source as a field of imaginative play, building upon the comics, freshly expanding the ka-pow! of the paper originals. When S-man turns aerial, we soar along. When he falls, stuck to a blasted slab of wall, gravity grabs us by the throat. A Columbia/Sony Pictures release. Director: Sam Raimi. Writers: Ivan Raimi, Alvin Sargent. Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes. Rated PG-13. 3 stars.
LUCKY YOU - "Lucky You" has (lucky us) Drew Barrymore, now looking more woman than girl, yet still the cutest star on fizzy tap, still a honey of charm, still graced by that glorious chin. But "Lucky You" is a Barrymore film sort of like "The Hustler" was a Piper Laurie picture. Both films are about the preening rivalry of two guys. Eric Bana is Las Vegas poker prince Huck Cheever (hustler Paul Newman played pool), and Robert Duvall the old fox of the game (Jackie Gleason shot pool and looked better than Duvall). That L.C. (Duvall) is also named Cheever labels the basic bond and split, one not shared in 1961 by Newman and Gleason. Can the son finally defeat his father? Can the father, who's even up (or down) for cheap challenge in a diner, go beyond stripping the son of his game stake and chipping off another piece of his pride? Not an ace, not a deuce, but gambling with the middle numbers, "Lucky You" does manage to sportingly pass the time. Even in Vegas in 2007, that might not be a big, winning hand. A Warner Bros. release. Director: Curtis Hanson. Writers: Eric Roth, Curtis Hanson. Cast: Drew Barrymore, Eric Bana, Robert Duvall, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Martin Smith. Running time: 1 hour, 44 minutes. Rated PG-13. 2 stars.
THE CONDEMNED - Wrestling star "Stone Cold" Steve Austin can't act. His compensation, at least in "The Condemned," is that he can't be killed. As Riley, a federal undercover agent and commando so bulky he could only go undercover in a titanic black hole, Austin is roped in with other "Death Row contestants from Third World prisons" for a "reality" snuff program. Much as in the wittier Japanese film "Battle Royale," they're dropped on an obscure Asian island to kill one another off for the video cameras, with explosive devices strapped to their ankles. Gross, serial sadism quickly eliminates most fighters, including the svelte black girl who looks like her top previous action was elbowing into a changing booth at a fashion shoot. A Mexican hulk gets burned alive after watching his girlfriend tortured, raped and killed. "The Condemned" invites us to condemn our own wallowing. Shouldn't that lead to refunds? This movie has all the appeal of road kill repeatedly worked over by insane truckers. A Lionsgate Films release. Director: Scott Wiper. Writers: Scott Wiper, Rob and Andy Hedden. Cast: Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Robert Mammone, Rick Hoffman, Sam Healy, Madeleine West. Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes. Rated R. 0 stars.
NEXT - String theory postulates, among other things, that ours is but one of many universes. Furthermore, the future is continually fracturing into an infinite number of alternative universes. In one of them, "Next," yet another adaptation of a Philip K. Dick tale, is the swift, nifty, semi-sci-fi thriller it's supposed to be. In this one, it comes pretty close. Cris Johnson (Nicolas Cage) is a small-time Las Vegas magician who occasionally throws real magic into his act - or at least, what looks like magic: He was born with the ability to see up to two minutes into his future. If he doesn't like the looks of things, he can alter his actions, and thus change ... everything. As you can imagine, this comes in handy at blackjack. Only for low stakes, though; he's living below the radar and wants to keep it that way. But he's come to the attention of three factions: the casino, which is getting steamed at his constant winning; the FBI, which needs his help in locating a loose nuke some terrorists have smuggled into L.A.; and those very terrorists themselves. Not overly ambitious, "Next" nonetheless keeps you thinking, guessing and entertained. In some universe there's probably even an explanation for Peter Falk's folksy cameo. Not in this one, though. Not now, and, I predict, not two minutes from now. A Paramount Pictures release. Director: Lee Tamahori. Writers: Gary Goldman, Jonathan Hensleigh, Paul Bernbaum. Cast: Nicholas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann. Running time: 1 hour, 36 minutes. Rated PG-13. 3 1/2 stars.
4 STARS - Excellent.
3 STARS - Worthy.
2 STARS - Mixed.
1 STAR - Poor.
0 - Forget It (a dog.)
Capsules compiled from movie reviews written by David Elliott, film critic for The San Diego Union-Tribune, other staff writers and contributors.


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Few product categories get a second chance to make it big. Wristwatch calculators, 8-track tapes, mopeds, unicycles and Polaroid film are never going to be wildly popular again. But tablets are poised to make the kind of comeback that would make Robert Downey Jr. proud.
PC makers have offered slates and convertible notebooks for nearly a decade, and they've never caught on. But now, a new generation of attractively designed and low-priced screens are looking to lure in consumers. Most of these sleek slabs of glass rely on simplified touch interfaces and will probably work best as content consumption devices: Something you'd use for reading, web browsing and watching movies.
The new generation of tablets might just pull it off. So far, Apple has sold more than 500,000 iPads and it says it can't keep up with the demand, suggesting that computer makers are right to jump on this trend now.
As they do, they're exploiting the iPad's weaknesses. Typing on the iPad isn't easy and it is an underpowered device for its price tag – the same money could buy you a nice laptop. Its browser doesn't support Adobe Flash, and you can't run software on it unless that software comes from Apple's App Store.
So if you don't want to buy into the Apple hype machine, there are plenty of alternatives. From Dell to HP, almost every major PC manufacturer is working on a tablet. And there's no dearth of upstarts. Asian brands and European startups are vying to get their tablets out, too.
Wired looks at some of the most interesting screens that will get into consumers' hands this year.
JooJoo (nee CrunchPad), the tablet from the Singapore company Fusion Garage, is an ostensible competitor to the iPad. It launched on the same weekend as the iPad and is very Apple-esque in its hardware design. But the JooJoo is far from being a device that could change the future of computing.
With its 12.1-inch display, JooJoo is a plus-sized monster that is almost a pound heavier than the iPad and offers half the battery life. It runs a custom operating system based on Linux and supports HD videos and Flash.
But in the days after its release, JooJoo has been buggy with surprising user interface glitches and at times difficult-to-navigate screen. And without access to apps or the ability to install your own software, JooJoo is a dumb terminal. It's good enough to check Facebook, Twitter and read websites, but not much more.
A few hours with the JooJoo and it raises the question: Do you really need a tablet? That's not the kind of question a tablet maker wants to raise.
Price: $500
Availability: Online order through JooJoo's website
HP Slate
In the last few weeks, the HP Slate has caught the attention of gadget heads, thanks to teaser videos that have been trickling out about the product.
In terms of looks, the Slate looks like the iPad's twin. It shares the Apple tablet's sleek profile and large capacitive touchscreen. Leaked product specs suggest the Slate will have an 8.9-inch display, 1.6-GHz Atom processor, Wi-Fi capability, optional 3G access and a pen/digitizer support.
It will run Windows 7 and support Adobe's Flash technology. It is also likely to have a built-in camera, video-recording capability, a USB port and SD card reader – all features pointedly aimed at the iPad, which lacks these features.
A big drawback is likely to be the five hours of battery life that the device promises. After all, do you really want to worry about keeping yet another gadget charged all the time?
Price: Rumored pricing of $550 or $600 depending on 32 GB or 64 GB of storage
Availability: Expected to launch later this year
Dell Tablet
Unlike its rival HP, Dell has been bold enough into dip its toes in the mobile phone market and create its own handset. But can it pull off a tablet too? This year, Dell hopes to make a splash with the Mini 5, a Sony PSP-sized tablet that will have a surprisingly small 5-inch screen.
That display is only a little bigger than that of an iPhone or a Motorola Droid, but Dell is counting on the fact that people want a compact computing device. After all, not everyone wants to rush out and buy a new bag just to carry around their tablet.
The Dell Mini 5, which will be the first tablet from the company, will sport a 5-megapixel camera on the back, a separate front-facing camera that can be used for video conferencing, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi, 3G connectivity and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1-GHz processor.
The Mini 5 will run the latest version of Google's Android operating system, version 2.0 or higher. And instead of the 4:3 aspect ratio of the iPad, Dell's tablets will support the 16:9 widescreen ratio, so movie watching should be a better experience.
If you think the 5-inch is not for you, Dell says it has more. Dell also has a 7-inch screen and a 10-inch screen tablet codenamed 'Streak' in the works. The 7-inch tablet could be available this year, while the iPad-sized 10-inch device might hit the market next year, says Engadget.
Price: Not known
Availability: Expected this year
Closer to the JooJoo in size than the iPad, the German-designed WePad is a tablet built on Android. The WePad will have a 11.6-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, a 1.3-megapixel camera, Flash support, six-hour battery life and a 1.6-GHz Atom processor. (See more specs (.pdf) for the device.)
The WePad will support most popular e-book formats, including EPUB, and will even have a magazine reader app.
Neofonie, the company behind the WePad, plans to offer a 3G and a Wi-Fi model.
But American consumers can only lust. The WePad will be available in Germany and, later, Europe, but not in the United States.
Price: 16-GB Wi-Fi model to cost around $600; a 32-GB 3G version to be around $775
Availability: Pre-orders start in Germany April 27; shipping expected in July
Google Chromium Tablet
"An e-reader that would function like a computer" – that's Google vision of a tablet. The search giant is not afraid to get into any new business and the flavor of the season, tablets, seem to have caught Google's attention.
According to a report in The New York Times, Google is working on a tablet that would run the Android operating system. Earlier this year, a Google interface designer created mock-ups that showed a Android tablet at work.
Google's tablet mock-ups indicate a device that would have icons providing quick access to Facebook, as well as Pandora, Gmail, Google Calendar and other Google apps. It would support multitouch and the familiar pinch-to-zoom and scrolling gestures.
Google has already launched its own smartphone, the HTC-designed Nexus One. It's not much of a stretch for the company to get into the tablet business next.
Price Unknown
Availability: Unknown
Notion Ink Adam
Tablets are not just for big companies with outsize marketing machines. Or so believes Notion Ink, an Indian startup that's never made a hardware product before. The company is hoping to take on the big guns with its home-brewed design.
Notion Ink has some ambitious plans for the Adam. If it can pull it off, Adam will be among the first devices to use Pixel Qi's displays, which would allow it to switch between a low-power, black-and-white display and a full-color LCD mode with the flick of a button.
The makers also promise a 10-inch display, a 3-megapixel camera, an Nvidia Tegra CPU, and a whopping 16 hours of battery life.
It will be just a tad heavier than the iPad, say the creators, and will come with Wi-Fi and 3G access.
Whether Notion Ink can actually pull it off remains to be seen. After all, making a tablet isn't easy for a startup. Just ask JooJoo.
Price: $350 to $800
Availability: July
Archos 7 Home tablet
Archos has been cranking out tablet-style devices for a long time now. But their tricky interfaces and bulky hardware have never become popular with consumers.
Yet Archos isn't one to give up. The company's latest tablet, the Archos 7 Home, hopes to ride the Android buzz with a 7-inch touchscreen. The tablet will be powered by a 600-MHz ARM 9 processor, include Wi-Fi capability and have about seven hours of battery life, the company promises.
Archos is also working on another Android tablet with an 8-inch screen. But considering its past products, it's difficult to get very excited about these devices.
Price: 150 euro, or about $200
Availability: Europe in April, North America later this year
ICD 'Gemini' Tablet
Ever heard of Innovative Converged Devices, or ICD? Neither had we. But there's something about the tablet business that seems to draw in intrepid entrepreneurs.
The Seattle company is creating a line of Android tablets with displays ranging in size from 7 inches to 15 inches that will be distributed through wireless carriers.
ICD's Vega tablet, a 15-inch "home hub," has already found a taker in T-Mobile UK, though the two companies have yet to disclose pricing or launch date.
Now ICD is working on a tablet called Gemini that will have a 11.2-inch multitouch display. The Gemini's specs could certainly give the iPad a run for its money: It will have a 1-GHz Tegra Nvidia chip, a SD card reader, an FM radio, GPS, Wi-Fi, 3G and a 2-megapixel camera in the front and a 5-megapixel camera at the back.
Impressive as the specs may be, there's more to a tablet than hardware. There's no word on software and user interface for the ICD devices, and few humans have ever set their eyes on this beast.
Price: Unknown
Availability: Unknown


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Capital MMA Misc
This is the gallery I will use to post photographs I take at random for Captial MMA. Be sure to check back in from time to time to see if you're in any of them! If you share these on social media, please tag my business. Every little bit helps! Also, if you wanna make any of these wall candy feel free to purchase a print right from this website. Thanks y'all!Read More


text: We're counting down, and the Post annual community Easter egg hunt is only two weeks away! Plan now to attend the event, to be held Saturday, April 7, at 1:00 p.m. at Red Hawk Elementary, on the Cedar Springs Public Schools campus. It will begin promptly at 1 p.m. so don't be late! It will feature hunts for four different age groups (up to age 10), real colored eggs, candy, coins and great prizes. The Cedar Springs Fire Department, Red Flannel Queen and Court, Keystone Kops, Post staff, and of course, the Easter Bunny, will all be on hand to help with the festivities! Call us at 696-3655 with questions.


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Veteran UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon has been on the sidelines since December, and his return is still at least three or four months away. But there's a good reason he's been limited in the gym.
In December, the UFC's record-holder for fight-night bonuses picked up his fifth "Fight of the Night" award in a decision loss to Jim Miller. The bout – one of two in 2012 that earned Lauzon "Fight of the Year" consideration – was an awfully bloody one. Lauzon suffered a deep forehead gash early in the fight but fought through the blood in a rousing but ultimately losing performance.
Lauzon (22-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) returned to the mats this past week, but he's been limited in what he can do in the gym. About two-and-a-half months after the Miller loss, Lauzon is still dealing with heavy scar tissue from those early-fight elbows.
"There was like a big raised ridge underneath there just full of scar tissue," he recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "The big thing is that I'm paranoid – really paranoid – that I'm going to start training again, and if all that scar tissue is still there, I'll make it to the end of camp, and I'll take a shot. It'll open it up again, or it'll open up right at the beginning of when I fight again.
"So I made a decision to take it a little slower."
Now, here's where things get a little gruesome. If you touch your forehead, you can easily feel your skull underneath your skin. Lauzon, though, also felt up to half an inch of scar tissue underneath the cut. Even the scar tissue around the cut was nearly a quarter-inch deep. Cosmetically, the cut looks fine. But underneath, it's still a bit of a mess.
To combat the problem, John Pallof, a physical therapist at Mike Boyle Strength & Conditioning in Massachusetts, has been working with Lauzon and using something called the Graston Technique.
"Basically he takes a metal tool and digs at the scar tissue to break it all up," Lauzon said. "So I can legit feel all the scar tissue breaking up and getting smaller and smaller. It's super painful, but I've basically been doing that. But I can only do it once a week. You can basically aggravate the crap out of it, break it all up, and then you need a couple days off to rest and stuff. So it's a little slow going."
This past Monday, Lauzon carefully returned to the mats for some light grappling. He said he could feel the scar tissue slightly tearing and breaking up as he worked. That's to be expected.
But Lauzon said he's been careful about whom he uses as a training partner during the recovery process because he's worried about a substantial issue with the tissue. While he's currently targeting a mid-summer return, he knows one setback could both put him on the sidelines and further aggravate the still-tender tissue, which could have career-long effects.
"I've been in the gym, but I really don't trust my forehead at all and don't want to risk opening it up," he said. "One accidental headbutt or accidental elbow could make it all swell up and cut open."
The delay also comes at an unfortunate time for Lauzon, who first debuted with the UFC back in 2006 with an upset of Jens Pulver. Lauzon, a longtime contender in the UFC's deep 155-pound division, was on a 3-1 run (with three "Submission of the Night" bonuses) until the loss to Miller.
He wants to get back in the win column as quickly possible. But he also wants to give his loyal fans something else to talk about besides his valiant but losing effort to Miller.
"The big thing that kills me is, how could that fight have been different if I hadn't got caught?" he said. "It was basically one combination that Jim threw. He threw a bunch of elbows in a row – one quick little flurry right at the beginning of the first (round). That's what opened up the cut. So the big thing that really gets at me is what would have happened in that fight if I slipped that combination or did something just a little different? That's kind of the part that gets to me.
"But I'm glad people enjoyed the fight. I always said I'd rather lose a good fight than win a super-boring one. I always say that, and I still stand by that."
MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by "Gorgeous" George Garcia, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian "Goze" Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.


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Le Bras du Démon
Florenci Clavé was a Spanish comic artist, who was best-known for his work for the French magazines Pilote, Charlie Mensuel and Circus and his collaborations with Christian Godard and Dieter. Born in Barcelona as Florencia Jové Clavé, he started his career in comics with the Selecciones Ilustradas agency in Barcelona in 1953. He worked mainly for the British market, but during this period Clavé also drew for the Catalan children's magazine L'Infantil.
Story based on the Beatles song 'If I Fell' for Valentine (UK, 1964)
He settled in France around 1966, where he began an association with the publishing house Dargaud. For the publisher's magazine Pilote, he created war stories with the character 'Rémy Herphelin' in cooperation with François Gépral between 1966 and 1970. He subsequently made short stories under the title 'Les Dossiers du Fantastique' for the magazine until 1974, as well as western stories with Jean Alessandrini. He worked with scriptwriter Guy Vidal on short stories starring 'Ned Kelly' (short stories in 1974, 1975 and 1978), as well as the serials 'Les Innocents d'El Oro' (1977), 'L'Île aux Chiens' (1978), 'Charlie and Boys' (1983) and 'Sang d'Arménie' (1985).
During the 1970s, Clavé also worked for other French magazines, such as Charlie Mensuel ('L'Île des Pins' with Bouquillard), TV Gadget ('Méhée de la Touche' in 1971-1972) and Circus ( 'La Bande à Bonnot' in 1977, 'Les Dossiers de l'Archange' in 1987, both with Christian Godard).
Clavé returned to his home country and settled in Madrid, where he worked for the publishing houses De La Torre ('Crónicas de la Illa Guerra Mundial', 1984), Bruguera (the Chester Himes adaptation 'Corre, hombre, corre' in 1985) and Semic ('El Cartero llama dos veces', 1987). He also did contributions to magazines like Cimoc ('La Guerra Civil Española' in 1986 and 'Alias Lázaro' in 1991), El Papus ('Scanner') and Comix Internacional.
He remained active for the French market however, working with Christian Godard on 'Les Chroniques du Temps de la Vallée des Ghlomes' (Le Vaisseau d'Argent, 1990), a series previously drawn by Julio Ribera , and two book of the fantasy series 'Le Bras du Démon' for Soleil in 1996 and 1997. For the publishing house Vents d'Ouest, he released three books in the series 'Voyages en Amertume' with scenarist Dieter between 1992 and 1994, as well as the detective thriller in direct colors 'Crimes d'Art - Opéra' in 1995. He subsequently contributed to Fluide Glacial magazine and several collective projects published by Les Humanoïdes Associés. He was the older brother of Spanish comic artist Montse Clavé.
Voyages en Amertume