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A little bit of Christmas animation for the season!
Author Archives: mattvr
MiThought Promo
The new video from my animation company Small Island Studio!
Mixture of 2D and 3D animation, created in Flash, After Effects and Lightwave 3D.
Music & Sound FX by Nick Storr, Narrated by Matt Hunt.
It's about time for another Kitteh..
Animation from a Small Island
I thought it would be nice to post the first animation by Small Island Studio here, with character design by Paul Newell, animation and props by Stefan Le Mottee and yours truly. The music and sound effects are by Nick Storr. Narration is performed by Susanne Schantz.
Small Island Studio Launches!
Optimistic Painter has been a bit quiet lately as I have been working hard to launch our new business venture: Small Island Studio
Small Island Studio originated as a desire in me to connect ideas and education with people using images and animation. As an animator I'm aware of the power of the visual to help people understand the complex.
Thankfully I met my business partner, Susanne Schantz, who saw the value in what I was trying to do and felt that it was both worthwhile and that there was a market for this service.
I'm very lucky to be surrounded by talented people, among them people like David Orr, who bridge the scientific and illustrative fields. I saw many of these people being under utilised, and really wanted to show off what they can do and reward them too!
Of course I know quite a few scientists as well, so there are lots of opportunities for collaboration. In fact, we're hoping to produce something very soon along those lines.
So please visit Small Island Studio to see our first Explainer Animation and visit the gallery, I hope you enjoy it!
Drawing dinosaurs: how is palaeoart produced
Long time collaborator Dr. Dave Hone has been kind enough to feature my recent Bellubrunnus painting in his Guardian Blog Article about Paleoart.
It's been quiet around here lately as I discover just how long it takes to start a new business! Small Island Studio will be launching at the end of this week, keep your eyes peeled for some dinosaur related animation in the near future!
I like your old stuff better than your new stuff #2
Vintage art, circa sometime in the mid 90's. This is the second version of a piece depicting a predator chasing two Leaellynasaurs across a river. (Acrylic on Board)
The first version had an Abelisaur, back when some research indicated a closer tie between South American and Australian fauna in the Early Cretaceous, until Allosaurus seemed to be a safer bet. Now I'd need to do a version with an Australovenator , feathered of course!
I was already stubbornly feathering my Leaellynasaurs for cold conditions back then, despite no direct evidence of any insulation.
Apologies for the poor photography…
Not my best work.. and probably heading upwards of 15 years old! But fun to post during a busy patch.
Bellubrunnus Work in Progress Animation.
Apologies for the lack of updates, I've been really busy in the background on various projects. Here's a work in progress animation of the Bellubrunnus painting.
In retrospect I should have spent more time on the composition, it really could have used another animal in there for example.
Anyway, enjoy another peek at my scattalogical process!
Bellubrunnus: Cute Fuzzy Death from Above
In the midst of painting my first pterosaur for Dave Hone he approached me asking if I could do an 'emergency painting' for another little critter who's description was much closer to publication. Bellubrunnus rothgaengeri is a fossil of a juvenile pterosaur closely related to Rhamphorhynchus.
As usual it was hard to say no when Dave showed me the fossil. I'm not at the bleeding edge of pterosaur knowledge but I could recognize several interesting features I couldn't recall seeing in other animals. The first thing to leap out was the forward curving wing tips, giving the wings quite a different shape from classic pterosaurs. Dave also pointed out that Bellubrunnus had more flexibility in its tail than related species. Be sure to check out Dave's post on Bellubrunnus at the Musings which I'm sure covers more of the anatomical detail.
So I began sketching away.. actually this sketch was what I sent Dave as a reply when he asked if I wanted the task!
Which he liked. I then made a few more to try out positioning and posture, keeping in mind we needed to clearly show the important anatomical features, the shape of the wing and the flexibility in the tail. I took inspiration from bird photography for the next one.
I really liked it but Dave pulled the whole scientific thing, turns out it was primarily a piscivore(preyed on fish), curse you evidence! I certainly wanted to avoid the old skimming pterosaur trope, and Dave was quite happy with the first gestural sketch I'd done as it showed the features that differentiated Bella from its relatives, so we went with that as a general guide, though we needed to lose the tree as the fossil indicated a coastal habitat.
Fleshing out the initial anatomy went pretty well, though we hit a few snags with the orientation of the fingers and my new favorite body part the 'uropatagium'. Yup, I spent much time on Skype stuttering trying to pronounce 'uropatagium'… which is the broad skin between the legs. It's a bizarre bit of anatomy that attaches to the outside toes which then fold back over the sole of the foot.
Anyway, after much too-ing and fro-ing we got the anatomy in a happy place and I could render it all up. Here's the final piece.(click to embiggen)
I did joke that I was incapable of producing a painting without an approaching storm in the background.. seems to be holding true for now!
Small Island Studio: A New Animation Studio
Myself and good friend Susanne Schantz are launching our new business called 'Small Island Studio', an agency based commercial animation studio specializing in informational videos.
To celebrate we've released our logo animation!
We're tapping into some seriously talented people we've met over our careers to form the business. You can keep up with what's happening at Small Island Studio using Facebook and our 'in progress' website.


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BG Spy
|Mar 06, 2013
|BG Spy BG Spy is an enemy team talent specialization reader and reporter for use in battlegrounds. Full team listing and specific role listing is supported. Lists can either be displayed in the players chat box or sent to the battleground channel. Commands: /bgs or /bgspy and include any additional parameters: help - Show this help screen r - Report list to Battleground chat f - List players of friendly team Different list types: s - List talent spec numbers on team t - List tanks on team h -...
|Feb 07, 2013
|Overview Minimalistic AddOn for instant Slam! notification. This was spurred by the AddOn Bloodthirst and is meant to be a direct replacement. Bloodthirst had a large memory leak so I decided to just write a new AddOn that accomplishes the same thing and is Ace3'ed. Changes Ability to add custom spell ID's and names to BloodSurge has been removed. This was done to return BloodSurge back to its roots as a lightweight addon. If you like the addon as it was developing then please install...
|Feb 04, 2013
|Bimbo is an equipment optimizer based off the old site "be.imba". Bimbo will scan your equipped items looking for missed enchants and gems. Unlike be.imba, Bimbo won't critique your choice of enchants, gems, stats or talents. It will not "grade" or "rate" your gear in any way, it simply looks for enchants you've overlooked. Visit my site for more great addons. Please send all bugs, feature requests and questions to [email protected]
|Dec 13, 2012
|Broker_TankStats is a LibDataBroker(LDB) plugin to show various tank statistics, such as: Dodge % Block % Parry % Expertise # Avoidance % Each statistic is its own LDB object and can be modified or disabled independently. Credits: sanjuro StatBlock_TankStats
|Nov 28, 2012
|Broker launcher plugin for Recount. Please post feedback here: http://forums.wowace.com/showthread.php?p=239046
|Nov 28, 2012
|This addon provides a quicker way to toggle the display of a character's helmet on or off. It requires a Data Broker display (like ChocolateBar) to work; it will not work on its own. Just click the icon in the Data Broker display to toggle the helm.
|Nov 28, 2012
|This addon provides a quicker way to toggle the display of a character's cloak on or off. It requires a Data Broker display (like ChocolateBar) to work; it will not work on its own. Just click the icon in the Data Broker display to toggle the helm.
|Nov 28, 2012
|This addon shows a Data Broker with the number of epic items (and items of other quality) that you are wearing. It requires a Data Broker display (like ChocolateBar) to work. Currently, this addon also allows you to toggle whether to show each individual quality (so you can exclude poor quality items if you like). You can also choose to show a 0 if you have no items equipped of a specific quality or you can only show qualities that are currently equipped. Thanks to Crindappy@Bronzebeard-US...
|Nov 27, 2012
|LDB port of Mecdemort's TimeToDie, with all the cruft removed.
|Nov 25, 2012
|Blipstick is a simple addon to change the minimap blip textures. I wrote it because I didn't like the big huge '!' and '?' Blizzard used, so I adjusted the sizes a bit. Since then I've added in blips from other addons and created a config panel so the user can select the set of blips they like. New blip textures are always welcome, send a pull request on GitHub. Visit my site for more great addons. Please send all bugs, feature requests and questions to [email protected]
|Oct 22, 2012
|BossTactics improves and simplifies explaining boss tactics in World of Warcraft. Development Has Restarted Knetik (aka Czarknetik) has taken over this addon in an attempt to keep it going. This has been a great addon that has helped many guilds to simplify fight strategies and setups. Sorontur's final statement before handing it off After over 5 years of WoW, it is time for me to end my time ingame. It was really a great time, raiding with so many friends and achieving so much. Cataclysm is...
|Oct 21, 2012
|Debug tool for LibWho-2.0. Left-Click toggles WhoLib debug mode. Right-Click resets WhoLib.
|Sep 26, 2012
|Is AddonLoader compatible - loaded delayed Lets you enable disable addons in game without logging out. Lets you quick reload the UI. You are able to save addon sets that you can easily reload at any time. You can hide certain addons for certain characters. Different sorting options for addons (atm only grouping by Name possible) All modifier clicking options and possibilities are shown in the Hint tooltip. Grouping Options : (atm only 1 avail) There are a few hardcoded groups that group...
|Sep 15, 2012
|Better Outbox is Better Inbox's outbox brother. It adds the following features to the outbox frame: - Autocompletion of your alts automatically. Helps when you have non-guilded alts. - Autofills the subject if no subject is set and you are only sending money. - Autofills the Recipient box with the last person mailed I'm still looking for ways to improve, please leave a comment! Enjoy, -Ammo
|Sep 15, 2012
|BetterInbox replaces the default paging Blizzard inbox with a scrollable inbox with some extra features. - Summary of invoices, attachments and gold at the top. - Dropdown embedded to select what to open, all mail, all items, all gold. - Select certain mails via a checkbox and open the selected mails, items or gold The open all feature might still have some quircks with battleground tokens you can't pick up. See the screenshot for an example of the attachment summary and looks. Enjoy, -Ammo
|Sep 14, 2012
|Summary An LDB data source that tracks your top hits and crits for all of the abilities you use. Both heals and attacks are tracked, if desired. Yes, the icon is cheese. Who doesn't like cheese? Usage Configuration options are reached by right-clicking on the LDB display. Entries can be reported into the chatframe by left-clicking on them in the tooltip. Data can be removed by Alt-Left-clicking on entries in the tooltip. If you click on a category (eg, "Damage" or "Healing"), it will remove...
|Sep 14, 2012
|Summary An LDB data source that displays XP information about all your toons in tooltip. Each column can be excluded or included via the configuration. Usage Configuration options are reached by clicking on the LDB display. Translation help Please use the new wowace localization system if you'd like to help out. Also, create a ticket so that I can give you credit in the addon. You can find documentation for the localization system here:...
|Sep 13, 2012
|Matches items based on the professions you know or don't know. Supports matching for recipes, materials, crafted items, tools or gathered items. The is a subset of LibFilter-1.0 that offers the same features as my older Baggins_Professions plugin. You do not need this addon if you have either Baggins_LibFilter or LibFilter-1.0 installed.
|Sep 13, 2012
|This is just the pieces of LibFilter-1.0 that are useful for baggins. It includes all the item and bag slot filters as well as the baggins adaptor. You do not need to have LibFilter-1.0 installed to use this addon. Note: Older (non-libfilter) plugins will prevent the filters from this addon from being made available to Baggins in the case of a conflict. Filters EquipSlot - Matches items based on the slot in goes into on the character sheet. EquipmentSets - Matches items based on 3.1's new...
|Jan 15, 2010
|Very minimal LibDataBroker data feed to display data about the currently watched faction in the reputation pane. Tracked items include: Name of faction Current progress towards the next rank Current progress percentage Current standing Optional coloring of progress and standing Amount of rep gained/lost since login or watched faction change Right-click to enable or disable any of the above. Mousing over will show the full label, regardless of options chosen. Clicking the label will open the...

subset: commoncrawl


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This review is from: TOSHIBA Canvio 3.0 500GB USB 3.0 2.5" Portable Hard Drive HDTC605XK3A1 Black
Pros: Day after receiving the unit, I used the Windows 7 backup software to perform a backup on my new desktop ( USB 3.0 ) and my wife's laptop ( USB 2.0 ). Mine took less than 15 minutes and my wife's less than 30.
Cons: None
Did you find this review helpful?
Side Note
This review is from: TOSHIBA Canvio 3.0 500GB USB 3.0 2.5" Portable Hard Drive HDTC605XK3A1 Black
Pros: None this post, read my previous post for input...
Cons: Formatted for NTFS, not FAT32 like so many other Ext HDDs... Loaded it w/over 200+GB of data to use w/my PS3... FAIL UGH, my fault for not paying closer attn @ first.
1 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Does As One Would Expect It Too
This review is from: TOSHIBA Canvio 3.0 500GB USB 3.0 2.5" Portable Hard Drive HDTC605XK3A1 Black
Pros: 500GB, USB 3.0, No need for power supply, Compact, Lightweight but yet has a solid build feel to it, runs quiet & cool, unique white led, as most I've seen/owned are R/G/B
Cons: Unique cable end, not sure if its due to being USB 3.0, (my 1st, so not familiar w/the look of the cabling) but seems its proprietary to this Ext HDD, minor inconvenience if you're like me & tend to swap out Ext HDD's regularly, super glossy finish might be a problem to those who don't like to see fingerprints, lol
Other Thoughts: As a gift, great, no complaints from me, but if I were to go & buy a new Ext HDD, the plug might keep me from going w/this model again...
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you?
A Little Disappointed
This review is from: TOSHIBA Canvio 3.0 500GB USB 3.0 2.5" Portable Hard Drive HDTC605XK3A1 Black
Pros: Small, Compact & Cheap compared to other prices since the flooding
Cons: Very short cord & SLOW......... This thing is very slow in comparison to today's technology. Spinning up to wait for transfer to start is the wort part of how slow it is. This is through the 3.0 USB on a very fast computer. The transfer rate is ok once it gets going. I have to think the slow spin is not related to the USB port since it does the same on both 2.0 and 3.0 ......... The transfer rate is nothing to write home about but ok once the drive is moving. I will stick to Western Digital in the future. I don't feel very good about putting anything important on this drive. It just feels untrustworthy when dragging & dropping on the fly.
Other Thoughts: I have several external hard drives and 2 of them are old technology but they are faster than this thing running on 2.0 USB. This mostly in reaction time and not transfer rate but its not a whole lot faster there. I mostly own Western Digital & have never had any problems with them. The 3.0 WD I purchased recently puts this one to shame. I purchased the Toshiba to transfer my files on the older ones and since all the little weird spin up & down issues I moved the files back. I don't trust this one. I plan to go to the sight and see if there are any updates for it. I am hopeful there is! I'm very disappointed since I have owned several Toshiba brand items and this is the first one I have had something negative to say. This comment is in no way towards New Egg... They are always great! The 3 eggs are for the product only.
4 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Did you?
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we had a good holidays on it.
- alexander
Plenty of living area for relaxing as bed was upstairs in loft area.Great rooftrop swimming pool and jacuzzi. Local restaurants on doorstepare excellent value. Easy to get taxi into centre. Free internet was abonus. Continental breakfast delivered to your door was fine - yoghurt,fresh fruit, juice and bread to toast with jams etc.. We have stayed ontwo occasions and will choose here again. - Anonymous
I couldn't speak more highly of a hotel. We stayed in room no. 7. It was very clean and and attractively decorated. The room was air conditioned with shower ensuite. The house is elegant with some lovely period features. But the real beauty of this place is the helpfulness of Silvina and Sabina. They both speak flawless english and are happy to help you with your plans. I had my wallet stolen one night and Sabina went way beyond the call of duty to help us sort out the resulting mess. - Siobhan


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Untitled, 2011 by Thór Vigfússon
via wowgreat
Posts tagged with knots
William Thurston, geometrizer of manifolds
Sometimes I like to spend an hour looking at something I barely understand. The inside of this guy's mind has got to be so interesting, but it's been shaped by geometry rather than words, so it's very hard for him to express it. The geometry shaping it is also quite less limited than the square space we hit baseballs in, so it's hard to draw as well.
I can offer some help on grokking what he's saying, but there's simply no way to absorb this stuff quickly. That said, I wouldn't mind being able to imagine the platonic forms inside Bill Thurston's head.
3! ways. No, they don't all sound the same, but when I use the word "triad" I am equivalence-classing over the kind of sameness that they do have.
&& surjects the source onto the target—which means it can be inverted. (By contrast, a non-monotonic, up-and-down-looking function, re-uses values, so going in reverse you couldn't tell which usage the 3 had come from.)
That's functional in the sense that the data of interest forms a mathematical function or curve, not in the sense that flats are functional and high heels are not.
So say you're dealing with like a bit of handwriting, or a dinosaur footprint [x(h), y(h)], or a financial time series $(t), or a weather time series [long vector], or a bunch of electrodes all over someone's brain [short vector], or measuring several points on an athlete's body to see how they sync up [short vector]. That is not point data. It's a time series, or a "space series", or both.
Techniques include:
The problem you're always trying to solve is the "big p, small n problem". Lots of causes (p) and not enough data (n) to resolve them precisely.
You can see all of their examples, with code, at http://www.springerlink.com/content/978-0-387-95414-1.


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Lennox Lewis on Chisora v Klitschko
With Britain's Dereck Chisora facing Vitali Klitschko this weekend, we ask Lennox Lewis – the last man to beat Vitali – what it's like being in the ring with the 6ft 8ins Ukrainian.
It's over eight years ago that you fought Vitali Klitschko. What are your main memories of that night?
"That he throws a lot of punches, that he's very awkward and that I wished I'd taken more time to train. I only really had 10 days [Klitschko stepped in as a late replacement when Lewis' original opponent pulled out] – and he's lucky that I had 10 days, because he had years to prepare for me.
"You see, when you're the top man, everyone is out there hungry and watching you, really trying to figure out how to beat you. Looking back, I shouldn't have taken the fight.
"But – at my worst – I beat Klitschko. His skin wasn't able to hold up to the punches I threw." [The bout was stopped and Lewis awarded a technical knockout after opening up a series of cuts on Klitschko's face.]
What's Klitschko's main strength as a fighter?
"His main strength is the fact that he's awkward and he leans back. A lot of boxers think that he's in punching range, but when they throw their punch he's leaned back a whole foot further away.
"Then he leans back in and punches you. So that's a problem I found; one that I started to solve halfway through the fight."
You hit him with some huge, flush punches – were you impressed with how he took them?
"Yeah, there were two or three big uppercuts in there. But I'd hit him with an uppercut and he'd slump on me. This man weighs 250lb, he's 6ft 8ins. You hit him with an uppercut and he slumps his weight on you – halfway through a fight and you're tired already, but now you have to boost up enough energy to push him off before you punch him again.
"But Vitali can take a hell of a shot – I take nothing away from him there."
You've fought some hard punchers: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Razor Ruddock. How did Vitali's shots compare?
"I wouldn't say he's a harder hitter – he's more of a thumper. He's an arm puncher.
"I was more of a puncher, and here's how you can tell the difference: I knocked people out, he more batters them into retirement [in a fight]. In a lot of his fights, the referee has to step in and say: 'That's it, we don't want this guy to take any more punishment.' But that's what he does – he punishes people. A big puncher can take someone out."
Dereck Chisora is far smaller than Vitali. What kind of tactics do you need to employ against a taller fighter?
"Step on his toes – then he can't move away [laughs].
"If you're shorter, you have to use the attributes of speed and movement. Vitali is getting slow on his legs. I see him moving around less now and being more dependent on his reach and his upper-body movement, which is still good. But his feet are not really moving around as much as they used to."
You have experience in what Chisora faces in Munich this weekend – fighting in front of another guy's crowd. How did you prepare yourself for a biased audience, maybe even a biased referee and judges…?
"Judges? That part is easy, man. Bring your own judges – [holds up his hands] lightning and thunder! As for the crowd, my mentality was to take the energy from people cheering against me and use that for me. 'So you're cheering for him? Well, I'm going to hurt this guy' – and then the''re not making any noise because they're worried for their fighter. After that, you can even start to win some of the crowd over."
We saw David Haye in the ring with Vitali's younger brother, Wladimir Klitschko, last year – and we might see him in the ring with Vitali in 2012. Does Haye have any better chance of winning against Vitali?
"No, I think Vitali is the best heavyweight out there right now. He's way better than his brother. I think it's beyond David Haye to beat either of them right now.
"He needs to box a couple of other people to build up his standing, because you can never come out of retirement and then go straight into a Klitschko fight. You need to build up a following again so people will say: 'Oh, I think he's got better – I think he might beat a Klitschko this time.'"
Heavyweight boxing had a golden period with you, Tyson, Holyfield and Riddick Bowe all around the same age. Will we ever see the likes of that again?
"Each era brings a different quality of fighters and right now we're in a rebuilding era, you could say. This is the era of the Klitschkos.
"But there's always going to be challengers out there. When I was champion, I'd get guys calling out my name saying: 'I'm gonna knock you out, but you don't want to fight me.' So I'd fight that guy, come back, sit down on my throne and straight away I'd get three more guys calling me out. There's always people talking about you. They may not have the talent to do it, but they're talking up a storm."
But you don't see anyone out there – British or otherwise – who can beat the brothers?
"I don't think there's anyone around able to beat the Klitschkos. But the interesting thing here is old father time. They're getting old and there's always hungry boxers out there, so you never know.
"People ask why I retired – it was time for me to retire. I beat everyone of my era, and I was slacking off a bit. That's what I love about boxing. It keeps you honest. If you're in shape, it will tell. If you're getting old, it'll show. There's no fooling boxing."
Alex Reid @otheralexreid
Mission Impossible
Dereck 'Del Boy' Chisora has been involved in his fair share of shocks. He's planted a kiss on the lips of a rival heavyweight, bitten an opponent's ear and done his best to ruffle Vitali Klitschko's feathers – calling himself "the black plague" and telling a startled Vitali that he "swings both ways, player".
However, the biggest shock of all will be if Chisora can find a way to beat the granite-chinned Ukrainian this weekend. The good news for Chisora is that Vitali is 40 years old and, despite being in phenomenal shape for his age, is injury-prone and slowing down.
The bad news is, well, everything else. At 6ft 1in, Chisora is the smaller man by seven inches. Vitali also towers above him in talent and experience, plus Chisora has two defeats in his past three fights (a 15-2 win/loss record).
Admittedly one of those defeats – his split-points loss to European champion Robert Helenius – was an outright robbery, and it's on the strength of that performance that the 28-year-old has garnered a shot at Klitschko's WBC heavyweight belt.
The fact remains, however, that less than a year ago Chisora lost his British title to Tyson Fury, who is a long way short of being a Klitschko brother. Come Saturday, Del Boy will likely learn the hard way that the same can be said of him.


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Live Action films has released another undercover video showing just how inhuman and cruel abortionists can be. In this film, late-term abortionist Leroy Carhard jokes with two pregnant women about how he tears unborn babies apart in the womb in order to make sure they are dead. A recent article explains: "Live Action today released the fourth video in its Inhuman investigation. This time, two different undercover investigators – both pregnant, one at 22 weeks and one at 24 – went into LeRoy Carhart's late-term abortion facility in Bellevue, Nebraska. Carhart is recorded joking and laughing about the process of tearing a human child apart in the womb, as well as relaying misleading information on his involvement in the death of Jennifer Morbelli this past February."
Watch the undercover video below to see how inhuman and cruel the abortion industry really is. If the video doesn't appear automatically, please refresh your browser. Click here for original article.
About Nathan Cherry
Nathan Cherry is the chief editor and blogger for the Engage Family Minute blog, the official blog of the FPCWV. He serves also as the Regional Development Coordinator as a liaison to the pastor's of West Virginia. He is a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, pro-religious freedom conservative. He is also a husband, father, pastor, author, musician, and follower of Jesus Christ.


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People mill around, soaking up sunshine on the most perfect of Saturday afternoons. Nobody rushes by the quaintly picturesque tableau of urban relaxation. People are content to sit, soaking up … Continue reading


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The earliest flight from Providence, RI leaves at 5:45 am.
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text: Here's a great article in NUVO (Indianapolis' alternative newsweekly) about the development of Big Car, an arts collective I'm a part of, and Service Center, our latest endeavor in an abandoned tire store by Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis. Much of my creative energy over the last few months has gone to helping create this space for others to use as a garden, gallery, library, installation space, work space, and community center. Oh, and a publishing center. More on that later.


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I'll be in Cincinnati this summer for the first time since GABP opened. In return for attending Miami Reunions, my wife has agreed that we can all go to a game. We'll be there for the June 17th day game against the hated Dodgers.
So, I checked out the Visitors Guide to figure out where to sit. While it was very helpful at outlining the pros and cons of various smoking policies, neither my two little kids nor their two little cousins smoke, so that's not really a driver.
What I really want to know is: Where should we sit? We'll have 8 of us, so I'd like to keep the ticket price under control. Family friendly, near some decent food, with an overall good park experience given that we won't be back for a while.
Do the bleachers get too rowdy for little kids (4 kids under 8 years old)? Are we going to get baked by the sun in a day game?
Common, guys, make me look like a genious for picking great seats when we get to the park.


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Welcome to the community.
Hey guys, my name is Tom Bugg, yeah, I actually use my real name. I'm 45, 5'8" and 200lbs. Every year my goal is to be in the best shape of my life.
I know, ... STFU NOOB!!
Welcome to the community.
Welcome, Tom!
blackstonelabs.co/ 10% Off Coupon Code = ebfitness10
ironmaglabs.com/ 15% Off Coupon Code = ebfitness15
ironmagresearch.com/15% Off Coupon Code = ebfitness15
Welcome. How does that goal work for you? Seems like you need to set more short-term and specific goals. Just sayin.
Welcome to the board
All orders come with automated status updates, so you're never left wondering
check out our free gear and discount code thread
pm me with your questions or concerns
Great goal! Welcome.
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn?t work hard.
I can't find you on FB Tom. What's your address and SS#?


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|Montenegro (ˌmɒntɪˈniːɡrəʊ)
|a republic in S central Europe, bordering on the Adriatic; declared a kingdom in 1910 and united with Serbia, Croatia, and other territories in 1918 to form Yugoslavia; remained united with Serbia as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia when the other Yugoslav constituent republics became independent in 1991--92; Union of Serbia and Montenegro formed in 2003 and dissolved 2006. Mainly mountainous. Language: Serbian (Montenegrin). Religion: Orthodox Christian majority. Currency: euro. Capital: Podgorica. Pop: 658 000 (2001 est). Area: 13 812 sq km (5387 sq miles)


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IMP Awards > 1993 Movie Poster Gallery > Weekend at Bernie's II Poster
Weekend at Bernie's II (1993)
TRAILERS | IMDB | AMAZON | added: Apr 7th, 2008
WANT TO BUY THE POSTER? Try these links:
Internet Movie Poster Awards - Featuring one of the largest collections of movie poster images on the web.
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CARY — Asked at a forum Thursday how the United States should respond to Russias recent actions in Ukraine, Republican candidates for U.S. Senate emphasized the need impose economic sanctions against Russia.
Candidates Mark Harris, Ted Alexander, Greg Brannon, Heather Grant and Edward Kryn participated in the forum, which was hosted by the Republican Women of Cary & Southwestern Wake.
Thom Tillis, Jim Snyder and Alex Bradshaw the other Republican candidates were not in attendance.
We must be ready to make a swift move. We must be ready to use economic sanctions. We must be ready to put all of the issues and the options on the table, Harris said. You cannot do that unless you have a leader who is willing to stand.
Harris said he thinks Russia is more of a threat than many Americans believe it is, and a strong military is critical to developing an effective solution.
Grant suggested positioning naval ships outside the Black Sea as a show of military strength. She also said the U.S. should send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin by leveraging U.S. natural resources.
We can take a strong stance on America, do what we need to do by opening the Keystone Pipeline, by taking applications to drill in ANWR, and by working with the European Union to say we will export our natural gas to them, she said.
An expanding Russia is not something that we want.
But Kryn said the U.S. can act without sending any warships.
We have the opportunity to cripple the Russian currency if we place the right restrictions in place with our European partners, he said.


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SwimEx 60 T Most Compact Physical Aquatic Therapy Pool
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Breaking Bad season 5 episode 7 review: Say My Name
The penultimate episode of this Breaking Bad half-season is a showcase for two magnificent performances. Here's Paul's review...
This review contains spoilers.
5.7 Say My Name
Breaking Bad has always taken pleasure in subverting our expectations – episodes late in the season feel like clinging on to an enormous firework as it spins wildly around the room, out of control, dragging you violently in one direction then another; or, to use a more appropriate, chemistry-based analogy, the closing stages of a season are when the addition of too many reactive elements to the formula finally causes it to become unstable, leading to it corroding and destroying everything that surrounds it.
Unlike previous episodes at this stage of a season, however, Say My Name had a quiet inevitability to it. Mike and Walt have been at loggerheads all season, and their conflict was clearly coming to an end, so did anyone truly think that Mike would make the clean break and live happily ever after?
No one ever gets out unscathed on Breaking Bad without first paying the price for their mistakes, and Mike's biggest mistake throughout the entire series was to continually underestimate Walt – to let him worm his way out of trouble and into positions of power time after time after time. Last week, Mike left Walt limply cable-tied to a radiator next to the keys to the treasured methylamine which was parked next door – clearly not the actions of a man who is taking significant, or even adequate precautions
So why the blind spot? It's easy to see why Walt's other two nemeses, Hank and Jesse (and they are nemeses, even though neither of them exactly realise it yet), can't see how dangerous he is: to Hank, he'll always be his dorky brother-in-law, and to Jesse, there's still the vestiges of the respect formed by their initial teacher-pupil relationship, as is constantly demonstrated by him still instinctively referring to him as Mr White. Walt knows the innate power of these preconceptions, and uses them accordingly to manipulate situations to his advantage
But Mike was different (describing him in the past tense like this is brutal, by the way). He saw Walter for exactly what he was, as he demonstrated in what proved to be his final blazing argument with Walt: made to leave town after his lawyer was caught with hundreds and thousands of dollars of hazard pay and subsequently flipped by the DEA, Mike is heartbreakingly forced to abandon his granddaughter and quickly get out of dodge. He's required to leave in such a hurry that he isn't even able to grab his 'go-bag', a case possibly full of clothes, toiletries, duct tape, makeshift torture instruments, and low-level military weaponry.
Therefore, he's required to have one final interaction with Walt, who readily volunteers to make the drop as he wants something in return – the nine names of the men who, now that their hazard pay has been stemmed, he knows will be being leaned on heavily by the DEA.
Mike's refusal to give up his men and Walt's subsequent grandstanding leads to our favourite elderly hitman finally snapping, and the depths of his perception are confirmed as he loudly and angrily runs down a painfully accurate description of Walt's character defects– petty, ego-driven, impulsive, irrational, arrogant, and utterly hamstrung by his own pride.
While Mike's amateur psychology here was first rate, ironically, it perhaps was Mike's own pride that stopped him from dealing with Walter as effectively as he might have during their working relationship. Mike correctly identifies Walt's ego as his biggest weakness, so if he had been able to at least pretend to respect Walt even a little bit, he would probably have found him a lot easier to deal with and may have ultimately escaped with his life.
Easier said than done though. Mike ultimately couldn't even feign respect for Walt, so violently opposed were their two approaches to business – Mike with his unerring loyalty, strong (relative) code of ethics and principles; and Walt with his cutthroat, do-whatever-it-takes to survive mentality.
As a result, Mike was so disgusted by Walt that he refused to ever take him seriously as a man, let alone a boss - consistently skeptical of his ideas, addressing him in an almost constant sneer, and physically intimidating him on a number of occasions. And unless you haven't noticed, Walt is all about being taken seriously as a man. He's primarily in two businesses: 1) the empire business, and 2) the being taken seriously as a man business. But mainly the second one.
Take the opening of the episode as Exhibit A, which saw Walt/Heisenberg at possibly his most swaggeringly aggressive yet, demanding that some high-level meth dealers "say his name" after they first were all-but forced to accept the terms of a counter deal he just laid out for them: "Heisenberg…" "You're goddamn right." It's a crowning moment of machismo for Walt and his swinging dick Heisenberg persona, and even Mike is briefly and grudgingly respectful.
But when Walt tries this same trick again later in his confrontation with Mike – using tough talk in a stubborn, steel-eyed negotiation as they face each other down like gunslingers - it has absolutely no effect on his weary ex-partner. Walt's stunned to see that Mike's not only not scared, but also ready to drop that quick, scathingly unflattering psych profile on him, one that also fairly transparently belittles his manhood ("You should have known your place!") He then walks right up to him and snatches the bag right out of his hands, as if he were just an ordinary man and not a mythic drug lord.
Because to Mike, Walt will always be an absurd figure, the chemistry teacher who is playing drug lord, and that realization for Walt - that he will never earn Mike's respect as an intellectual, a criminal, or even a human being – finally sends Walt over the edge, and leads him to impulsively gun down Mike in what is admittedly an achingly beautiful and picturesque setting (hey, at least it's not a nursing home, right Mike?)
And it's in these final moments Walt unwittingly cements himself as that absurd figure, perhaps more absurd than even Mike ever thought possible, as he suddenly comes around from an extremely ill-timed 'senior moment' to realize that his murder had been in vain – he could have easily got the names he was after from Lydia.
This is already one of my favourite moments in Breaking Bad history – I laughed out loud when Walt metaphorically sniffed the gas he'd left on, as it was such a hilarious and character-appropriate way to illustrate Walt's ever-loosening grip on reality. (As a quick aside, Jonathan Banks and particularly Bryan Cranston were both phenomenal in this episode, conveying some deeply complex character arcs with an intensity and intelligence that will surely be rewarded during the American awards season. Banks, and Mike, will be sorely missed.)
We are now beginning to see what an unfiltered Walter White/Heisenberg persona looks like, and it isn't pretty, Whether consciously or sub-consciously, Walter has spent this half-season steady disassembling all of the safeguards that had been keeping him (relatively) human, and now is left without anyone or anything to keep his worst impulses in check. Now Mike is gone, he has no-one to call him on his bullshit and actually be able to stand up to him about it on an aggressive, masculine level. He's also driven Jesse away, who has effectively acted as his conscience and moral centre for the past few seasons. His family too, is now long gone, with Skylar (metaphorically) and his kids (literally) having both left the building.
All that's left are yes-men who are either intimidated by him (Saul) or in thrall to him (Todd). We see a preview of Walt and Todd's working relationship, and realise that the greatest asset of Jesse to Walt was his subservience, and his ability to be easily manipulated – here, however, Walt is surprised and happy to realise that manipulation now won't be necessary, as he now has a pupil who is just as obedient, eager to learn and eager to please, with none of the fussy moral hang-ups that would consistently plague Jesse's work getting in the way.
Before Jesse got out though we got a nice best-of of Walt's manipulation tactics, as he tried to use guilt, scorn, ridicule, pity, flat out anger, and money to persuade Jesse to stay. Walt's endless lies and circular logic have become too much for even Jesse now, however – "It's bullshit, every time" – and Jesse proves his moral fibre by agreeing to walk out on $5m if it means finally cutting ties with the increasingly deranged Walt.
So how will the momentous death of Mike affect things going into the season finale? Well, it's sure to make Jesse do…something, considering their relationship constantly seemed to be teetering on the edge of being genuinely affectionate. Will we finally head into season 6 with the Jesse vs. Walt showdown that's been building for years?
Or will Hank prove to be Walt's main stumbling block to his empire-building, and a confrontation that's been brewing for even longer will get resolved? Now that the main lead in the case has been murdered, it's sure to cement Hank's resolve that he's getting closer, after his bosses all but shut down the investigation, and convince him to pump more time and effort into the project.
But, perhaps most pressingly, how will the murder of Mike affect Walt, at least in the short-term? Walt's self-mythologizing is heavily built around his status as a master planner, someone who canvasses every detail and outwits every other player in the game by always being sure he is a few moves ahead at every point: so for him to make this, the most basic of errors, one that would lead to him committing yet another murder (shortly after assuring Jesse that they were to be a thing of the past) out of pure, spiteful hot-headedness, should even penetrate Walt's inches thick layers of denial and self-justification and make him realize that he is beginning to lose control. If he were to make another mistake like that, in another of the dangerous, precarious scenarios that Walt seemingly so craves being a part of, it could cost him any or all of the following: his freedom, his fortune, his life, and his children's lives.
Walt himself must know that this is a worrying precedent – he has hitherto prided himself on being able to ride out even the most potentially hazardous of situations by using his intelligence and ruthlessness to harness the elements to his advantage. But now, with the senseless murder of Mike on his conscience, and the knowledge that his violent emotions are finally capable of overtaking the power of his calculating intellect, he has identified himself as the unstable element - the catalyst for the break down into chaos and destruction that he has been forced to dig deep and rise above so many times in the past. Up until now, he's proven a master at managing situations controlling others, but now he faces possibly his biggest challenge yet – will Walt be able to control himself?
Read Paul's review of last week's episode, Buyout, here.
Follow Paul Martinovic on Twitter, or for more babble, check out his blog here.
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Disqus - noscript
I am constantly blown away by this programme and no where else on the internet is it analysed so perfectly and so poetically than in your reviews.
Brilliant review - you really nailed this episode.
Great review mate, cant wait for Sunday !
Are we sure Mike is actually dead?
All of the above and possibly the BEST exit line for Mike too...just a wonderful sign off
I should have mentioned this in the review but unfortunately ran out of time/space. Don't really have anything to add, other than they really were perfect last words.
Yep. Jonathan Banks cries all the way through the making-of documentary for the episode due to it being his last day on set.
Surely the mid-season climax now just has to be Hank's penny finally dropping? I predict Walt going on the run in real-time for the ten months we have to wait til the concluding 8 episodes which would segue neatly into bringing us back in at the point where the season opened. What do you think?
great review, you really hit on some good points here
wuuw ı miss you..:/
Great review for another great episode. However there were two things in this episode that I would like to nitpick on a little. Walt being conveniently present at the DEA when Hank and his former partner say they have everything they need on Mike and are ready to go bust him. The other thing was Mike crawling out of the car and down to the river at the end without Walt seeing him do it. These are nitpicks I know but I found them to be just a tad bit lazy from writers who are almost never lazy like this.
Still a spectacular episode though and a great send off for Mike. I'm really going to miss that guy!
Another great review that really delves deep into Walt's psyche. I love how you often use chemistry terms (like catalyst) as you analzye the characters. This show is amazing, which is no surprise since it comes out of the mind of one of the masterful writers of our time - Vince Gilligan - who was the best writer on The X-Files (the greatest show of all time!)
One correction, though. You made reference to Season 6, but it's actually going to be the second half of Season 5.
Hi guys. Can't use the comment system at work, so don't comment like I used to. I just wanted to say how far the reviews have come since the days when DoG basically just did a synopsis. This is a great review, pondering the implications of an episode and really being a worthwhile, almost complimentary partnership to the show unfolding. Keep it up guys.
Oh, and Breaking Bad is brilliant. I'd like to add to the discussion the thought regarding the implications of Walt telling the drug lords he killed Fring - Fring had been brought up as having a history with some pretty big boys before his time in America, enough to warrant him still damn near untouchable. I feel this is the major seed sown in this episode designed to showcase Walts increasing ego and it's reprocussions (already excellently summarised in the article). Walt has now killed the only man even remotely likely to protect or inform Walt about his impending doom. It would also explain the need for an BFG on his 52nd birthday, as only something huge would cause a man like Walt to not attempt to use his wits first.
Right. But they could have wrote it so the bug gave them one final piece of intel just as easy, which would have made it too much of a plot device. This specific point I think will add a layer into the plot later, when it comes out Walt was working with Mike. This will have repercussions for Hank and Gomi for discussing the case in front of the central conspirator who later that day killed their target.
It was dusty and Walt was far away, on the other side of the car.
To the point in the review about this resembling Snoop's death in the Wire, another similarity is to the scene where Omar shoots Brother Mouzone, who was completely comfortable with dying in such a way and didn't even care to know why. The game is the game. Even Stringer, after a lit bit of attempted negotiations, accepted what was about to happen. That always fascinated me about The Wire. Lydia when very first confronted by Mike cared more about the details of her body being found than being killed.
Mike was guilty of the same criticism that he lobbed at Walt. If he had also known his place in the new regime, he would probably be alive. I am not condoning Walt's act of murder, but seriously, Mike has almost killed him several times and often belittled him--it's a wonder Walt hadn't done it sooner. Ultimately he was wrong in that 'killing Jesse James' did in fact make him Jesse James. The other dealers recognised this and showed him the respect he craved by doing as told 'saying his name.'. Had Mike shown any of that respect, it probably would have appeased Walt.
Great review as always! One point that you talked about for the last episode, but not this one was Todds character.
Todd is clearly a psychopath, and hinted heavily at family criminal connections that "might come in use". Mike waved these aside saying "they came up in the background check", but didn't give any more information than that. This is a man who, while in 'thrall' with Walt, is a very dangerous man. We don't really know his motivations yet, but they will not be good. He wants to get in with Walts gang as was apparent from the first, and is not in the most treasured position of all - learning how to cook.
This man is going to have access to the Methylamine, Walts equipment, Vamanos, and most of all Walts cook technique. The call that he made about not wanting to be paid till he gets the cook right has endeared him to Walt, while lowering Walts defenses (since he's pretty torn up / messed up over Jesse's departure.
This is a guy who calmly killed a boy with only a moments thought, showed a creepily sociopathic stare when looking at the trapped spider, and has criminal connections...
Bad things are going to happen with this guy. Mark my words.
Tae, you're right on about Todd being a psycho. It's not just the look on his face when he looks at the spider that hints at this fact - it's the fact that he has the spider at all. Serial killers are notorious for keeping mementos from their victims. In this case, it's the spider. They're setting Todd up to have some serious significance down the road, possibly even killing a main character.
Cool review! You made me understand this episode even better :)
Awesome review of this episode....props to the great analysis and writing, as always.
I totally hope and would love to see that happen. I'd much rather Walt go on the run during or near the end of episode 8 rather than take off in a later episode, like near the end of the 2nd half of the season only to come back in the last episodes (if not the last) to go out in a blaze of glory. I'd love to see him get discovered by Hank in episode 8 which would cause Walt to bail....that would make a nice 8 episodes of the second half of the season to see how it all unfolds to its ultimate finale. I think a combination of Hank's discovery and the death of some one close to Walt (Skylar or Jr. or both) will cause Walt to go on the run in remorse and shame and eventual plans to avenge their possible deaths. The weaponry he buys in the first episode could be for revenge plans on the druglords who may kill his family (if one or more do indeed get offed).
It was a fine episode, but for the first time I am starting to resent "Breaking Bad." I have been upset for months that an arbitrary end has been set for the series.
It is, without doubt, the best show on television. I have been watching TV since Uncle Miltie, and I think that it is the best show EVER on TV (at least, since the Moon landing). So I am upset for that reason.
I would think that the show could go on for several more years with the storylines available with Hank, Marie, Skyler, and Saul Goodman (a wasted asset this season, I think).
This bring me to my second complaint. Like "The Sopranos," the other nominee for "Best Show Ever on Television" (but in second place), a show that was never the same after Adriana's murder and really hit the wall after Christopher was murdered (Tony murdering his surrogate son?), I fear that "Breaking Bad" is consuming its characters.
Gus Fring's exit was memorable, but he was irreplacable and has been missed this year. I fear that Mike's demise will be the same, with the exception that his death was totally unnecessary and gratutious. Walt is becoming too much and too obvious a monster TOO QUICKLY. Gus Fring was a wonderful villain because he SEEMED so ordinary, the unassuming, hard working small businessman, who was always first to contribute to DEA charities (while in reality being a secret drug kingpin). But Gus Fring always had Mike to do his killing (except for Victor, an object lesson) when it became necessary (murder being just a normal business technique of the "meth" business).
The chess game between Gus Fring and Hank and the DEA should have been allowed to play out, with the local charitable involvement of Gus Fring obscuring his drug dealing. I guess that what I am saying is that the entire story seems too fast. Like the plate of eggs in Denny's in the first episode, it seems somehow not quite "well done."
How did Walter White go from lecturing bored students in a high school chemistry class to "Tony Montana" buying a machine gun in the parking lot of Denny's in just two years ("Breaking Bad" time)? "Breaking Bad" has killed off two of its most compelling characters, Mike and Gus, althogh Lydia seems promising (a twitchy woman, but one with enough moxie the want to talk about payoffs with a gun to her head). And what of Madrigal? Are they "dirty" or not? Is Madrigal the victim of a corrupt manager or a worldwide drug enterprise?
Is Vince Gilligan tired of "Breaking Bad" and itching to move along to the next project? I can understand ending the series before it "jumps the shark," but I cannot understand ending it because of an arbitrary deadline when there are so many stories left to tell.
What will happen when Hank identifies Heisenberg and Marie tells him that Walt payed thousands of dollars for his rehab? What will the DEA think when it discovers that Hank's rehab was paid for with drug money? Will Hank try to defend himself with the argument that he THOUGHT the money was just proceeds from ILLEGAL gambling. Will the DEA think Hank has been protecting Walt's identity?
We should see Walt as the new Gus Fring — local car wash owner and pillar of the commlunity — just a Hank begins to fig;ure out who Heisenberg might be. With the problem of the rehab money — which Marie tearfully confesses — will Hank really go after Heisenberg?
Todd's working for the rival gang to learn Heisenberg's tehnique. It's got to be that. Let's not forget the lingering look that Todd gives the spider, slightly odd for a grown man. What does the spider respresent? Danger perhaps. But more importantly, a creature that builds its web and waits. Patience. Walt's problem is that he underestimates his rivals in the drug business. Master criminals are pretty slippery, intelligent guys and the fact that his showdown at the start of this episode went so remarkably smoothly is possibly a hint at the fact that these guys want to keep him on side. I'm sure they're well aware of the $130m that they're missing out on; it's surely not the revelation that the egotistical 'genius' Walter White believes it is. And I just don't buy the fact that Walt can get criminals capable of raising $15m just like that to 'say his name' - is it just me or was that scene all a bit contrived?
Might be a long shot to try and guess the plot direction of these incredible writers, but what I'm really saying is that Todd is a very interesting character and it would be incredible if Walt is played in almost the right-under-your-nose kind of way that he's played Hank all along.
Hey Paul - quick question... Would you mind sharing the link with me for this documentary, I can't seem to find it?
It's silly to resent the show for having a set finish date, and yet praise it as being the best show of all time.
Would 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. be considered the greatest rappers of all time if they had not been gunned down in their prime? Probably not, because as Harvey Dent so aptly put it in the DK, "You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain". The only reason there are mutterings of BB being considered one of the best TV dramas of all time, other than it really having the makings of a seminal, defining piece of artistic work of course, is that we can all comfortably watch it in the knowledge that we will not see our beloved BB universe descend in to farce and despair as the writers try and string out another 5 seasons *cough* almost every other TV drama, ever *cough*. This really will be the first TV show, as Paul pointed out a couple of reviews ago, that has paid close attention and adhered strictly to the laws of time, the ticking clock we all face.
This brings me on to my next point. Your other complaint was the frequency, and perhaps absurdity of the deaths of characters. I'm not sure how much you know about the world of illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking, but my answer is this: people do not get old in the drug business. Gus Fring, as careful, discreet, meticulous and rule-abdiding as any real life drug kingpin, eventually crossed paths with an egotistical, warped, self-mythologising, greedy character, and his world went in to free-fall from that moment until his death. The same is true for real life. The drug business attracts a whole spectrum of individuals with different motives, but there is a key characteristic that simultaneously runs through them all: ruthlessness. If this were a like-for-like retelling of a real story from the drug world, I can guarantee you that in all likeliness, not only would Jessie and Walt be dead, so would Skylar and Jr. too. The lifespan of someone involved in this business is not long, and therefore do not be so shocked or resentful that characters are dropping like flies: realism is a key ingredient in TV dramas and when people look retrospectively at BB in determining it's standing in television history, the resemblance it bears to real life will hold it in very good stead indeed.
Great to see a show written and acted so well that reading the review is like reading my own thoughts. Tae is right of course. Since Walt must end like Fring (to fulfill his destiny) the only question is at whose hands. Surely Todd. Killing children is the signpost for Fring, Walt and Todd. But I also agree that Jesse and Hank are nemesis. I guess someone has to give Todd the means motive and excuse... step up Jesse / Hank.
I figure that when Jesse discovers the lilley of the valley...
I'm interested in Todd
He seems to worship Walt because of the "meticulous planner" persona of his and how he pretends to be a hardened crime lord. If Todd realizes that Walt is full of **** and all of his meticulous plans are just to get out of problems from the last time he got in over his head them he might make a play to become the head of the organization.
He'd know how to cook almost as well as Walt, he has relatives who are real criminals and he's only as loyal as he's filled with hero worship and he probably wouldn't hesitate to murder Walts family.
I understand the artistic reasons for it. I just regret the end of the show and the demise of such important characcters. I disagree with you, however, about "Breading Bad" observing the rules of time. Is is likely that all "Breaking Bad" action took place in less than two years? From classroom Geek (not even feared or respected by bored teenagers) to Heisenberg, murderous drug kingpin who blew up the previous king, in just two years? Wouldn't Walt White's cancer treatment, alone, have taken many months, perhaps a year, to complete. Having seen chemotherapy up close, I also think that he would have been disabled, in effect, for that period with lack of energy and nausea and other side effects. The falling out of his hair would have been unlikely to have given birth to the swaggering Heisenberg because he would have probably been in his recliner most of the time with nausea and exhaustion. The series should do more to show the involvement of Saul Goodman in the criminal enterprise. As Jesse said, "What we need is not a criminal lawyer. We need a CRIMINAL lawyer." For instance, how does Walt buy a machine gun? You cannot just pick up the "Yellow Pages" and look under "Uunlawful Weapons." The connnection must have come through Saul or his criminal clients (now that Mike is gone). How about a dangerous affair between Walt and Lydia, a woman with the potential to be his "Lady MacBeth" in the meth business now that Skyler has recoiled in horror from what Walt has become. There are good story lines available if "Breaking Bad" insists on eating its own like Gus and Mike.
Except that had Walt known his place. Jesse would be long dead. From *Mike's* POV they had a good thing going under Gus -- but Mike is (was) as monstrous in his own way as Walt has become.
I particularly like your analysis of Walt in the final paragraph; I've wondered if this is Walt's nadir -- if now, having become Heisenberg, he will try to become Walt again and fail, à la Jekyll and Hyde.
best reviews ever your the man
This ongoing BB review is the definitive companion piece to the series. IMO
Walt only killed Mike because he disrespected him. he had no other reason. it just proves Mike's earlier theory that Walt is a ticking time bomb and as he said, he didn't want to be around when he did go off. we'll miss you mike, you deserved a better end.
i disagree- none of Walt's family will be killed. todd will die for sure
forget about Todd he's the next Gale- he'll be dead before long
Great review. I was looking for the scene " ... when Walt metaphorically sniffed the gas he'd left on" in the episode, and couldn't find it. Can you state when in the episode it occurred please?
No Doubt Man , Mike was the only person who really Knew the true nature of Heisenberg. Now that hes dead , the writers of this show are ready to send Walters Roller Coaster ride on a Downhill throttle towards destruction.
Without Mike now , who is going to keep Todd in line ? Jesse ? Nah, Jesse is OUT , only way hes showing up next season is as a nemesis.
We will just have to wait and see what Todd does , you can tell just from his name that hes the fly Walter was staring at when he was sitting inside the Vamanos office on his own. LOL
I know how you feel man , this show will end 2013 , we have 8 more episodes to go, although all the plots you have suggested might seem plausible , it is highly unlikely that Saul Goodman ( a coward) could evolve any further than he is depicted , Lydia on the other hand is just like Walt , an unpredictable ticking time bomb(Mike's words R.I.P old man) herself if pressured and cornered as we have seen , so as far as Lydia's character is concerned we will see her go Boom just like we will Watch Walt go out with a even Bigger BANG BOOOM !!!!!!
People in the Drug and Killing business , accept the inevitability of their actions , so it is normal for them to not react the way innocent parties would in a similar circumstance where a gun is pointed at them.
Just started watching this show on Netflix a couple weeks ago, and I come for your reviews after almost each episode. Awesome!
Hmmm nek minute


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"Do you believe Northwest Indiana is a good place to live?"
Sara Trevino, Chicago Heights | "Yes. Their taxes are lower, and there are a lot of nice areas to live in. They have a lot of greenery and wildlife. There's nowhere to go in Chicago Heights because of crime."
March 03, 2013 12:00 am • Charles R. Snyder | The Times


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It was a little league coaching job that led Crossroads South Principal Raymond Tucholski down his chosen career path, a journey that will come to an end at the close of the school year.
While playing high school baseball at Rutherford High School in northern New Jersey, Tucholski mentioned that he was also an assistant coach for a local little league team. He said that he loved working with kids in that capacity. By the time college came, it was this experience that helped Tucholski realize he wanted to work with children.
Now after 36 years in the South Brunswick School District working with kids, Tucholski will be retiring in June.
"It has been an amazing journey," Tucholski said in his farewell letter home to parents. "I hope I have left a thumbprint and impact on child's lives that I have served and that I have been instrumental in kid's success."
After receiving his Bachelor's in Education from William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ, Tucholski went on to Rutgers and gained a Masters in Administration and Supervision.
During the 1976-77 school year, the veteran educator began an extensive teaching career in South Brunswick.
"I was primarily certified to be a math teacher and I taught the subject for 20 years," Tucholski said, noting that his entire teaching career has taken place at Crossroads South.
Besides being a math teacher and now principal for the past five years, Tucholski has also contributed to high school athletics in South Brunswick, as he coached football and softball.
In 1986, he stepped down as math chairperson and became the first athletic coordinator at the middle school, as he was responsible for organizing interscholastic athletic events. Tucholski also served as an assistant principal at Crossroads South before becoming principal.
"There is no single year or moment that stands out to me. I have very fond memories," he said. "I still wake up and am excited to go to school. I will truly miss the kids and the staff. This was my second home, although my wife would say it's my first home."
During his time as an educator in South Brunswick, Tucholski also provided an example for his colleagues.
"He has displayed a very strong work ethic over the 36 years he has been part of this school district," said Assistant Principal Sondra Hinson. "He is dedicated and it has been a pleasure, as we have worked well together over my nine years as his assistant principal."
Tucholski said it was the parents and students he met during his time at Crossroads that helped make his career so enjoyable.
"The people in South Brunswick have been very supportive and encouraging," he said. "I have been blessed to have a career I love for the past 36 years."
Hinson said it was Tucholski's dedication to the school that helped him become synonymous with the Crossroads community.
"He is compassionate about middle school and attends all sporting events and activities that take place at our school," she said. "There is no one that knows Crossroads better than him and it is a tribute to him to go out as principal. It shows the hard work it took to get to where he is and that he is well-respected."
When asked how he would like to be remembered after he retires, Tucholski said he hopes the people he came in contact with after nearly four decades in South Brunswick would be his legacy.
"I hope to be remembered as a people person, who always placed kids first in any decisions I made, and as a gentleman," he added.
For those at Crossroads who were inspired by Tucholski, his example will be remembered long after his career in education reaches the end.
"He will forever be a friend and colleague," Hinson said. "Every day he loved what he was doing and it showed."


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UCI MTB World Championships closes with South African Victory
The 2013 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships concluded on Sunday in the most spectacular way possible, with the first victory of the Championships for host nation South Africa by Downhill star Greg Minnaar in his home town of Pietermaritzburg. Rachel Atherton of Great Britain won the women's Downhill title, while Sweden's Alexandra Engen successfully defended her Eliminator title in the women's race, and Paul van der Ploeg gave Australia their first title of the Championships in the men's Eliminator.
Women's Eliminator: Two in a row for Engen
The fastest four qualifiers for the women's Eliminator made it to the final race for the medals, but the real battle for gold was between Engen and Swiss rival Jolanda Neff. Neff got off the start line first in the final, but Engen managed to squeeze by her before the race entered a singletrack section, and the Swede never relinquished the lead. Neff kept the pressure on, but couldn't close a two second gap, having to settle for silver, to go with the gold she won in the Under-23 women's cross-country on Friday. Linda Indergand of Switzerland took the bronze medal.
"This is such a marvelous moment, I am enjoying it right now," said Engen of her successful title defense. This is such a really good track. You have to have a powerful start, but you have to be technical to be able to keep that lead, and then you have the power climb where you have to punch. She (Jolanda) is a really good sprinter and I know that to be able to win over these girls you have to have a perfect day, and I had one."
Men's Eliminator: first title for Australia
The men's competition saw none of the top qualifiers make the medal round, with van der Ploeg joined by World Cup series leader Daniel Federspiel (Austria), Andres Soto (Argentina) and Elia Silvestri (Italy). Federspiel, one of the fastest starters in the sport, took the lead in the final start, but van der Ploeg pulled off an amazing dive into the first corner to overtake the Austrian. He immediately opened a gap and was never seriously challenged through the rest of race. Federspiel hung on for second, with Soto claiming the bronze.
"It's unbelievable, I can't believe what just happened. It's a dream come true." said van der Ploeg. "I found a sneaky inside line in the semi finals and thought, 'Well if it worked once,it would probably work again'. I went from second or third to first and then it was just about riding smooth and trying to keep my cool."
"I was watching him (Federspiel) win World Cups from back at home on the couch because I've doing a bit more road racing, and then I had to learn how to ride the mountain bike this week, but it has all come off. I'm stoked."
Women's downhill: Atherton again after five years
The crowd favourite Downhill concluded the championships in the afternoon. Australia's Tracey Hannah, only seven weeks back from a broken clavicle, was fourth down the course for the women, but immediately set a fast time that would hold up until the final two riders came down, thus claiming the bronze. Emmeline Ragot of France, the two-time world champion, finally dislodged Hannah from the top spot with the first sub-4:40 time, but Atherton was still to come, and the British rider has been completely dominant this year. She came through the first time check 1.7 seconds ahead, and continued to build her lead, finishing an impressive 8.632 seconds in front of Ragot.
"That was wild," said Atherton. "On the way down I was just ... I have no idea how fast I was going. People on the pedally bit were just yelling so much. I had to dig deep. It was so painful. Awesome. I love South Africa. My first time here. It's a challenge."
"This title has been a long time coming. I won my first in 2008 and it seems like ever since then I've missed World Champs through injury or had a big stack and I was starting to wonder if I would ever win again. It hasn't really sunk in yet. All the girls are so strong. It's a hard fight. I wanted the title, I wanted the stripes again."
Men's downhill: a home celebration
Australia's Jared Graves, the 2009 4-Cross world champion, came close to pulling off a stunning upset from 24th in the start order, when he flew through the finish with a time of 4:01, while riding an Enduro-style bike rather than a speciality downhill bike. He spent an hour in the Hot Seat, while rider after rider failed to beat his time. Finally, countryman Mic Hannah, with six riders remaining, bumped him into second place by three seconds. However, there were still the highest ranked riders in the world to finish.
Minnaar, third from last to start, was under immense pressure, with cheering fans urging him on all the way down the course. He was ahead by a second at the first split, behind eight-tenths of a second at the next split, before recovering at the end to finish a mere 0.396 seconds in front of Hannah, despite finishing on a slow leaking rear tire. The hill exploded with cheers, but there were still two riders to go. Steve Smith (Canada) crashed out of contention on the first corner, while Gee Atherton (Great Britain), the World Cup leader, could manage no better than seventh.
Minnaar brought the first African Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships to a perfect ending.
"I started a bit loose," Minnaar explained. "The track had got blown out up top quite a bit and I tried to get a good rhythm going and I found it up top. I got into a pedaling section and spent myself up top just trying to go as fast as I could."
"The puncture ... I came through that last rock section as hard as I could and went slightly off line and got a leak. It only went down on that last jump. So it didn't slow me down thankfully."
"I could hear the buzz of the crowd below and it just kept me pedaling in the middle section. It feels surreal (winning at home). The whole of South Africa was here backing me for sure. Everyone from the guys who drove us to the top, the marshals, everyone was cheering me on."
Medals tally
In the final medal tallies for the Mountain Bike disciplines of Cross-country and Downhill, Switzerland led the way, with a total of six medals, including three gold, one silver and two bronze. Australia was second, also with six medals, but only one of which was gold, plus two silver and three bronze - all won on the final day of competition. Third in the rankings was France with five medals; one gold and four silver. Germany also had a total of five medals; one gold, two silver and two bronze.
In the Trials competition, France claimed the most medals, with a total of six, however, only one was gold, with three silver and two bronze. Powerhouse Spain finished second in the total medal count at five, but three were gold, plus one each of silver and bronze. Germany was the only other nation to win more than one medal, with one each in silver and bronze.


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April 29, 2013
Cross-Strait Event: The 13th Mini-Monterey Model
What: A collaboration between the Chinese Studies Program, GSIPM, and the Translation and Interpretation Program
When: Wednesday, May 1st, 2013, 12:00-3:50 PM
Where: Irvine Auditorium
Opening: Moderators Feiya Luo, Timothy Ditter and Yinghua Cai
12:30-1:30 PM: Cross-Straight Seminar Class Debate in English–Has China's Taiwan Policy failed?
Sean Manzano, ITP; Heather Frank, IEM; Timothy Ditter, IPM; Levi Paul Stribling, TFL Chinese; David Thompson, ITP; Everett Roberts, MPA; Nina Geller, IEP; Jende Huang, NPTS; Aaron Hebenstrait, T&I; Nate Maynard, IEP; Catherine Norbeck, MPA and Thomas Stevenson-Shannon, MPA will present.
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Google In Control of Your Thermostat
Google's second-largest deal ever expands Android into the Internet of things.
Google is paying $3.2 billion to acquire Nest Labs, a developer of WiFi-connected thermostats and smoke detectors, in a move that will likely expand the use of its Android operating system to connect with smart devices.
[READ: Google's Android Operating System Hits Cars in 2014]
This is the largest acquisition Google has ever made with the exception of its 2011 purchase of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. The Nest Learning Thermostat uses sensors to train itself to the behavior of people leaving and entering different rooms of the house, gathering data and becoming smarter.
Google is already expanding the use of its Android system onto car computer systems with its new Open Auto Alliance. Adding Nest's capability to develop a network of interconnected devices may help Google create products that know what users want before they ask for it. Nest devices are connected with iPhones but Google will likely also connect the products with its Android system.
The deal is expected to close "in the next few months," Google said in a company blog post on Monday announcing the deal.
"Nest's founders, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, have built a tremendous team that we are excited to welcome into the Google family," Google CEO Larry Page said in the blog post. "They're already delivering amazing products you can buy right now--thermostats that save energy and [smoke] alarms that can help keep your family safe. We are excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfill their dreams!"
Nest CEO Tony Fadell, who is a former Apple employee credited with helping to design the iPod, said in a separate blog post that he is excited the company he co-founded in 2010 is joining Google, which gave Nest venture capital funding in 2011.
[ALSO: Google Considering Computer Chip Design]
"Google will help us fully realize our vision of the conscious home and allow us to change the world faster than we ever could if we continued to go it alone," Fadell said. "We've had great momentum, but this is a rocket ship."
Nest's privacy policy limits the use of customer information to providing and improving its products and services. It is unclear what information sharing will take place when Google formally acquires the company, and how it might use information that tells devices what rooms you are in to track consumer behavior for advertising.
"By sharing data on whether something in the room is moving, the products better assess if you are away from home so temperature can be reduced you can save more energy," Nest's privacy policy explains. "Over time, Nest may provide the opportunity for you to interface Nest Products to one or more third party products and services, which will involve the exchange of information from your Nest Product. Your explicit consent and authorization will be required for this interface, and will be revocable by you at any time."
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Actors shoulder the movie!By K N Gupta
Eye TV India Bureau
Cast: : Zayed Khan, Dia Mirza, Cyrus Sahukar, Tisca Chopra, Satyadeep Mishra and Pallavi Sharda
Director: Sahil Sangha
Critic's I-view
The theme of the title 'Love Breakups Zindagi' is neither new nor rare. In fact, it's no longer a strange phenomenon as we do come across this in our life. So, the story relates to everyone, irrespective of one's age, though mostly in urban relationships. It's no more 'Love follows marriage'. 'LBZ' claims love happens and without any logic. Unlike in the distant past, breakups aren't rare though not few. And that's zindagi (life). Thus, the movie's debutant director Sahil Sangha is right. Significantly, the movie is produced though for the first time by ace actors - Dia Mirza and Zayed Khan. They may have not reached the top in their career, but haven't failed either. Similarly, director Sahil Sangha hasn't introduced anything novel in the story, but has indeed succeeded in making you smile for a while with the brisk romance coupled with comic end. So, let's pray for them!
The movie moves around five couples. One is getting married, and its sangeet night leads to another couple to connect themselves. The third one checks if they are compatible. The fourth enjoys ice-cream! This is not far from real life story. However, there is a slight difference. The marriage taking place in Chandigarh has a shock in store; the pheras (couple taking seven fire rounds) leave the cast wondering what life is all about!
The movie begins with Jai played by Zayed Khan and Naina played by Dia Mirza getting ready to attend their respective friends' marriage at Chandigarh. Jai is a marketing executive in Delhi who believes that opposites attract. So, he dates a bossy opposite girl Radhika played by Pallavi Sharda. On the other hand, there is Naina, a Mumbai photographer who is happy with her workaholic investment banker Dhruv played by Vaibhav Talwar. Jai's friend is Arjun (Satyadeep Mishra) and Naina's Gayatri (Auritra Ghosh). Arjun and Gayatri are childhood friends and are getting married in Chandigarh. Thus, Jai and Naina meet at their friends' wedding. You may be aware that a wedding leads to more weddings by creating sparks in many a heart. On the sidelines, there is another story blossoming. Jai and Arjun's friend Govind played by Cyrus Sahukar don't mind dating again though already divorced twice! Cyrus falls for Tisca Chopra playing Arjun's aunt Sheila, who isn't shy either to love Govind.
Incidentally, Jai returns soon to Delhi after his trip to Mumbai to revive his relationship with Naina. Meanwhile, Govind dates with Sheila over coffee. Soon, Govind arrives at her love interest Sheila's house and meets with her retired army officer dad played by Boman Irani. Boman's behavior with her would be son-in-law isn't convincing inasmuch as he cleans his gun keeping it straight at Govind. This is another matter that Sheila succeeds in keeping Govind's nerves cool. Thus, they happen to be the main characters of the movie. However, the director fails to connect them with the viewers for lack of good screenplay.
Technically speaking, first time producers as well as the director lack a lot in giving a good script, screenplay and dialogues. But, this shortcoming is more than compensated by the excellent cast performances, melodious music by Salim-Sulaiman and lovely lyricist by Javed Akhtar. Cinematographer Aseem Bajaj deserves applauds for his excellent camera work. The presence of Bollywood biggies likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Shabana Azmi and Boman Irani lend a lot to the movie. Ace actors - Dia and Zayed- stunningly well and shoulder the movie while Cyrus Sahukar and Tisca Chopra leave their impact. However, Satyadeep Mishra, Pallavi Sharda and Vaibhav Talwar (all newcomers) hardly get any scope to prove their merit.
Overall, a good movie!
All News Material is Copyright © by SmasHits.com
- Love Breakups Zindagi [Public Opinion]
- Dia Mirza, Zayed Khan at the music launch of Love Breakups Zindagi [Bollywood Today]
- Zayed, Dia Promote Love, BreakUps Zindagi [Bollywood Today]
- King Khan in Love Breakups Zindagi [Bollywood Videos]
- Dia Mirza, Zayed Khan unveil first look of Love Breakups Zindagi [Bollywood Today]
- Love Breakups Zindagi first look unveiled [Bollywood Videos]


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Staff and students beat the UK record for 'most participants in a badminton rally' at Woodcock Sports Centre last week.
The atmosphere was fantastic as students, staff and members of the community came together to attempt to break the current Guiness World Record of 97 participants. Unfortunately after an hour of attempting the record, only a rally of 62 was reached before some participants needed to head back to work, lectures or home. One last attempt for the record was made and although an amazing rally of 110 shots was made without a foul (this would have smashed the World Record), there were only 86 people taking part. However, this is a British record and as far as we can tell, this is also a European record – although we are trying to get final confirmation of this!
Participants left the event disappointed not to have broken the Guinness World Record but with smiles on their faces after taking part in a fun sporting challenge, making new friends and proud of their efforts. Well done to Miles and the Badminton team for putting on such a great event and thanks go to all those who took part!
Words by Simon Foster and Louise Russell
© 2014 Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET Disclaimer


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Mr. Handyman of Bloomfield/Birmingham offers handyman services to the Oakland County area. Cabinetry/counters, drywall repair/painting, wood rot repair, caulking and tile grouting, window and door repairs. Residential and commercial services. Mr. Handyman's professionals arrive in nationally-recognized uniforms and logo-ed vans stocked with every tool they will need. Mr. Handyman has ideas and potential home repair suggestions that make for a more energy efficient, environmentally-friendly home. Proudly serving the Bloomfield and Birmingham areas.


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In the 1840s, a new painting by Jean Francois Millet was unveiled in Paris. But, horror of horrors, no one seemed to like it!
Researchers found that if they bombard fossils with a special type of intense x-ray, they can find the pigment's location.
Why would people choose to have tests done that expose them to radiation?
Doctors have developed a promising new procedure that could revolutionize the way we fight cancer. Learn about proton therapy on this Moment of Science.
Did you know that cosmic radiation is up to one-hundred times greater at cruising altitude than on the ground? Learn more on this Moment of Science.


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August 4th, 2011
5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.
The world is your oyster - especially seeing that August 5 is National Oyster Day.
In preparation for the molluscan merrymaking, we've recruited Executive Chef Eric Woods of Blue Water Grill to drop the bivalve 411.
Cracking the Code (and Shells) on Oysters: Eric Woods
August 4th, 2011
Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.
August 4th, 2011
iReport above courtesy of hluu410
A trip to Hong Kong is about extreme capitalism - or extreme dining.
A visitor is usually here to cut a deal or, better yet, cut through all the wheeling and dealing and devour a decent meal. Thankfully, you are spoiled for choice in the city.
Among my favorite local delights (and there are many!) is Hee Kee's spicy Typhoon Shelter crab, the long-celebrated egg tarts at Tai Cheong Bakery, and a scoop of "Hong Kong milk tea" gelato at XTC.
August 4th, 2011
While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.
Chip, chip hooray! - August 4 is National Chocolate Chips Day!
Chopping up a chocolate bar into little morsels and putting them in a batch of cookie dough may be one of the best ideas Ruth Graves Wakefield of the Toll House Inn ever had. Since we don't know dear Ruth, it's safe to say that chocolate chip cookies are one of the best American creations to date.
August 4th, 2011
Yaaaawn. Strrreeetch. You've been clacking away at your TPS report, manning the register or stuck on a conference call for what seems like an eternity, and it's time for a little java jolt.
You trudge to the communal break room for a cup of whatever brownish liquid they're passing off as coffee and...oh shoot! The darned thing is leaking everywhere.
August 4th, 2011
Pssst! Got a sec to chat?
We are utterly thrilled when readers want to hang out and talk – whether it's amongst themselves or in response to pieces we've posted. We want Eatocracy to be a cozy, spirited online home for those who find their way here.
Consider the daily Coffee Klatsch post as your VIP lounge – the primary comments thread for readers who'd like to chat about topics not related to the articles we're running. That way, everyone knows where to find each other, and each post's comments section remains on topic.
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Daniel Tack, Contributor
I cover interactive entertainment and technology.
Page 3 of 7
While there won't always be a sorcery and the mill is a little sketchy, the Dimir Charm should generally be able to find a target to take out with the creature removal option. It's no Selesyna Charm, but it's certainly playable. C+
Dinrova Horror
Dinrova Horror pushes all the right buttons. It's expensive, but throwing a bounce, a discard, and a 4/4 frame for six is perfectly reasonable. B+
Duskmantle Guildmage
The true embodiment of the Dimir's focus in Gatecrash, Duskmantle Guildmage can destroy an opponent's library and life. While the library function is expensive, the first ability works disgustingly well in tandem with a wide variety of blue and black cards. B
Duskmantle Seer
While a constructed deck can take advantage by loading up on cheap cards to take advantage of Duskmantle Seer, this is going to be a wild sort of crapshoot in Limited play. There are many expensive Dimir cards in Gatecrash and although your opponents could be blown away by drawing Gruul cards, they may also be playing Boros. It's going to be impossible to build around Duskmantle Seer for Sealed deck play, but a 4/4 flying creature for 4 that can "sort of" race is still tempting. B+
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
Hexproof. Shapeshifting. Like all of the guild leaders, Lazav does work, and does it well. While the casting cost can be fairly intimidating, a Dimir deck should have little problem fielding this legendary wrecking ball. Lazav is incredibly difficult to deal with and can change to even more dangerous forms. A+
Mind Grind
A powerful grindstone in the Dimir toolbox, this one is going to absolutely tear through a Limited deck, leaving an opponent "drawing dead". A
Mortus Strider
Perhaps best in an Orzhov/Dimir deck where extort can trigger on every cast, Mortus Strider is a defensive recurring option that can work well with several sacrifice outlets, so change value accordingly when Undercity Informer is available or there are opportunities for extortion. C
Paranoid Delusions
Thank you, sir, most useful. I'm crossing my fingers that Simic is next, because I'm keen on reading the evaluation of the unguilded blue cards. Dimir will be my guild on Day 1 of pre-release.
Man, this must have been a lot of work. Nice Article and evaluations.
Thank you so much for showing me some cards I can use in my Dimir deck. However I do not agree with the grade you gave "Contaminated Ground". In my experience it was a decent card to slow some people down. Their land becomes a swamp. And even if they play black, the opponent needs to pay if he/she wants to use that land.
Would you please be so kind to mention the cards that are better to play than this. Because I really want to see the other options I have.


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Teaching yoga, reffing dodgeball, and saving lives are just some of the ways alums, faculty, and students stacked up 25,000 hours.
Do right-handed people reign dominant? New research shows that when it comes to advertising, lefties don't have the upper hand.
Seven couples share how their romances blossomed inside the TNRB to celebrate the Marriott School's silver anniversary.
Jon Rowberry, accounting grad and Mormon Tabernacle Choir staple, has a résumé that reads like a stirring chorale.
Time to renew your passport—more Americans than ever before are packing their bags for international assignments.
For honored alum Richard Herlin, reaching the heights of our personal best means climbing with integrity.
Important inscription in the @MarriottSchool's #TannerBuilding "Service is the rent we pay for living in this world of ours." #BYUDevo
RT @byuradio: @marriottschool professor Bruce Money will deliver the @BYU #devotional. Listen live on @byuradio @ 11 a.m.
.@byugrantwell helps family, corporate foundations fund really impt projects that fly under the radar, says @marriottschool Aaron Miller.
Later on #themorningshow, how @marriottschool students help philanthropists spend their $ wisely. @byugrantwell coming up at 10:30 a.m. ET.
@BYUMBAProgram @marriottschool @beatthegmat "7 Reasons Why We Chose BYU's MBA Program" tinyurl.com/nxfzogz
Some leaders limit employee intelligence. This author's book tells how to stop wp.me/p3Hvo3-xw @marriottschool http://t.co/yA1uvyyHYs
Alum @LizWiseman turned an observation into a @nytimes bestseller, landing her on the 2013 @Thinkers50 list. ow.ly/yVdEp


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Yes, it's that time of year again – can you believe how quickly Christmas comes around? One of my favourite Christmas songs is definitely the 12 Days of Christmas, and although annoyingly catchy I have also found it so helpful for finding a little inspiration for gigs. Feel stuck about what to offer over this … Continue reading
Tag Archives: festive
It's time for … Happy Thanksgiving!
With Thanksgiving just a few days away, don't you think it's time to stop and think about all the things you are thankful for? Well, to show how grateful you are, why don't do you something nice for the other people on Fourerr? Yes, Thanksgiving Day is the perfect day to do that. Basically, this … Continue reading


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SISC Copper Mountain Special Section
Call for Papers
The 13th Copper Mountain Conference on Iterative Methods took place April 6 - 11, 2014.
As in previous even-numbered years, the SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing (SISC) is planning a Special Section, dedicated to recent progress in iterative methods.
Submissions are encouraged in all aspects of iterative methods including the following areas:
- Stochastic PDEs and uncertainty quantification
- Scale-free/Small World Graphs
- Page Rank and Markov Chains
- Multigrid and Other Iterative Schemes on GPU & Multicore Architectures
- Inverse Problems and Regularization
- Optimization of Complex Problems
- Nonlinear Solution Methods
- Nonlinear Least-Squares
- Multigrid All-At-Once and Block Approaches to PDE Systems
- Coupled Multi-Physics Problems
- Time-Parallel Algorithms
- Krylov Accelerators
- Hybrid direct-iterative linear solvers
- Iterative Methods in Challenging Applications (e.g., Electromagnetics, Energy, Environmental, Data Assimilation, MHD, Neutronics, Transport/Reaction, Chemical Engineering)
Attendees and participants of the conference as well as the general community are invited to submit papers. Papers will be subject to review by a guest Editorial Board.
More information is available at http://grandmaster.colorado.edu/~copper/2014/.
Manuscript submissions will be accepted beginning April 12, 2013 and until July 31, 2014.
All interested should submit a manuscript and cover letter in PDF format via SISC's online submission site at http://sisc.siam.org. Note the block labeled Section (just under the keywords block on your submission screen) and select "Special Section" from the dropdown box. Directly below this is a block labeled Special Section, where you'll want to select "Copper Mountain Special Section 2014" from the dropdown.
If any questions, contact Mitch Chernoff, SIAM Publications Manager, at email@example.com or Michele Benzi, at firstname.lastname@example.com, Guest Editor-in-Charge of the Special Section.