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Saturday, January 07, 2006
Monsters HD - Incentive to Stay?
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (Added 10/28) Tales of Terror (Added 10/28) Thing, The '51 (Added 10/28) Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight (Added 10/28) Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The (Added 10/28) Bride of Frankenstein (Added 10/28) Creature Walks Among Us, The (Added 10/28) Dracula (Added 10/28) Hellraiser: Bloodline (Added 10/28) Hellraiser: Inferno (Added 10/28) Revenge of the Creature, The (Added 10/28) Frankenstein (Added 10/28) Son of Frankenstein (Added 10/28) Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman (Added 10/28) House of Dracula (Added 10/28) House of Frankenstein (Added 10/28) Wolf Man, The (Added 10/28) Dead Heat (Added 10/28) Godzilla (Added 10/28) Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (Added 10/28) House (Added 10/28) House II: The Second Story (Added 10/28) It's Alive (Added 10/28) It Lives Again (Added 10/28) It's Alive 3: Island of the Alive (Added 10/28) Golden Voyage of Sinbad, The (Added 10/28) Blob, The '58 (Added 10/28) Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled (Added 10/28) Jaws 3 (Added 10/28) Jaws 4: The Revenge (Added 10/28) Day of the Dead (Added 10/28) Grudge, The (Added 10/28) Poltergeist 3 (Added 10/28) Wishmaster 3: Beyond The Gates of Hell (Added 10/28) Body Snatchers (Added 10/28) Child's Play (Added 10/28) Cyclops, The (Added 10/28) Fright Night (Added 10/28) Jaws (Added 10/28) Them! (Added 10/28) Jaws 2 (Added 10/28) Blob, The '88 (Added 10/28) Cujo (Added 10/28) Ghoul, The (Added 10/28) Return of the Living Dead Part 3 (Added 10/28) Creep (Added 10/28) Orca (Added 10/28) Candyman (Added 10/28) Friday the 13th Part 3 (Added 10/28) Scream, Blacula, Scream (Added 10/28) Psycho 3 (Added 10/28) Lost Boys, The (Added 10/28) Rage: Carrie 2, The (Added 10/28) Seventh Sign, The (Added 10/28) Wolfen (Added 10/28) Child's Play 2 (Added 10/28)
A second wave of added titles: Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (added 12/15/05) Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (added 12/15/05) Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (added 12/15/05) Alien Nation (added 12/15/05) Amityville 3D (added 12/15/05) Amazing Transparent Man (added 12/15/05) Friday the 13th-Pt. 2 (12/20/05) Return of the Living Dead-Pt. 2 (12/20/05) Wolf Creek (12/20/05) Frogs (12/21/05) Funhouse (12/21/05) Ghost of Frankenstein (12/21/05) Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow (12/21/05) Giant Gila Monster (12/21/05) Gorilla At Large (12/21/05) Graveyard Shift (12/21/05) Halloween 2 (12/21/05) Grizzly (12/21/05) Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (12/21/05) Army of Darkness (12/22/05) Attack of the Puppet People (12/22/05) Birds, The (12/22/05) (12/22/05) Black Cat, The (12/22/05) Black Friday (12/22/05) Brides of Dracula (12/22/05) Cat People (12/27/05) Colossus Forbin Project (12/27/05) Darkman 2 (12/27/05) Deadly Mantis (12/27/05) Dolls (12/27/05) Dracula's Daughter (12/27/05) Dr. Cyclops (12/27/05) Evil of Frankenstein, The (12/27/05) Fantastic Voyage (12/27/05) Fly, The (12/27/05) Horrors of the Black Museum (12/27/05) I Walked With a Zombie (12/27/05) I Married a Monster From Outer Space (12/27/05) Incredible Shrinking Man, The (12/27/05) Invisible Ray, The (12/27/05) Invisible Man Returns, The (12/27/05) Island of Terror (12/28/05) Kiss of Evil aka Kiss of the Vampire (12/28/05) Leech Woman (12/28/05) Leopard Man (12/28/05) Magic (12/28/05) Man in the Attic (12/28/05) Metalstorm (12/28/05) Mole People (12/28/05) Monolith Monsters (12/28/05) Monster On the Campus (12/28/05) Motel Hell (12/28/05) Murders in the Rue Morgue (12/28/05) Nomads (12/28/05) Phantom of the Opera '62 (12/28/05) Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas, The (12/28/05) Tobor, the Great (12/28/05) Tarantula (12/28/05) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (12/28/05) Werewolf of London (12/28/05)
Forgive me for not retyping all that in our standard caps, but it was too much work. You get the idea.
In response to this roster, I have to say that the additional titles are very welcome indeed -- it's a treat any time new titles crop up on Monsters HD -- but for me, considering that I already own many of these titles on disc, the stepped-up (every 10 minutes) VOOM/Monsters HD watermarks would still be a deal-breaker for me as a viewer. And certainly, it goes without saying, as a home recorder.
Any station that believes that they are not providing entertainment to be recorded and enjoyed at home, in this day and age especially, is living in a fool's paradise. One watermark per movie should be enough to brand a broadcast against being bootlegged. Twice per movie, once an hour, is pushing it but grudgingly acceptable. Once every ten minutes is offensively excessive. It's like paying someone to do you a favor and have them ask you every ten minutes, "Did you like that favor I did for you? I did that favor for you! I did! Don't forget!" Never mind that we know. Never mind that we paid for it. And we are paying for these broadcasts, don't forget, and the product we are buying to enjoy without commercial interruption are effectively being ruined for us by all this overzealous ID-ing, which amounts to commercial interruption. Indeed, on this scale, it amounts to harassment.
And what if a few people in the viewing audience do try to sell DVD-Rs of these titles on eBay? If some people did this, they might sell a few copies. That's hardly reason to punish the majority who are paying to view this material in good faith. And the fact remains that the majority of the titles listed above are already available on DVD, so what would be the point of trying to sell DVD-R copies online?
Furthermore, to be force-fed thse bugs in such a manner is a shoddy "thank you" to those of us who have loyally stuck with Dish Network, solely to hang onto their VOOM channels, which have added little or no new HD programming since they acquired these channels. I would be surprised if anyone watched Rave HD other than new subscribers, their musical programming is so severely limited. LATER... WITH JOOLS HOLLAND is on every week in the UK, but Rave HD seems to own the rights to air only four or five segments.
Other hope-inducing Dish TV/VOOM news: Two other VOOM HD channels, Guy TV and The Majestic, are no more. They have been replaced by Kung Fu HD and Film Festival HD, with both newly recristened channels now playing daily loops of three films per day rather than the previous two. Also, in February 2006, Dish TV will be adding five more VOOM channels to their current lineup -- Family Room HD, Gameplay HD, Treasure HD, World Cinema HD, and WorldSport HD -- as well as HD locals, Universal HD, and ESPN 2 HD.
If we can just apply some vox populi pressure to get Dish Network to reduce the frequency of those on-screen VOOM bugs, all of this could be good and welcome news.
Monsters HD - To Keep or Not to Keep?
As you know, I have been an ardent advocate for this channel since I began receiving it a year ago. I went through the trouble of changing from VOOM to Dish Network just to keep it. But if these are the conditions under which I'll have to watch Monsters HD in the future, I'd rather not continue to pay for it. It makes their programming worthless for recording, and too irritating to watch.
I've written to the powers that be at Monsters HD to unburden a most disappointed heart, and unless they can give me some good reason why I shouldn't, I fully intend to cancel my VOOM subscription next week and maybe go back to Time Warner.
More to come.
Smash-Up: The Story of a PC Filing Cabinet
Friday, January 06, 2006
I've Got the Hots for HOTS (revised)
This pretty thing is the cover of a 1964 digest-sized fanzine -- HORRORS OF THE SCREEN -- published out of Brooklyn, New York by one Alexander Soma. I've been in love with this impressionistic cover drawing of Steven Ritch (as he appeared in THE WEREWOLF, 1956) since I first saw it reproduced in the pages of, I think, a survey of fan press ventures in FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, probably 40 years ago. Today I finally succeeded in laying hands on a copy of this long-coveted relic and learned that the name of the artist responsible was Charles Johnson.
1964 was a long time ago, of course, and HORRORS OF THE SCREEN (or HOTS for short, as it called itself) has since faded into obscurity from an only slightly more prominent level of obscurity. I don't know how many copies were published, but the scarcity of HOTS has been an unfortunate obstacle in terms of Alexander Soma and company being properly remembered and acknowledged for what they brought to the field of horror movie fan publishing. In brief, HOTS appears to have been the earliest fanzine to insist on the need for more serious writing and reportage about the genre -- something attempted previously only by Calvin T. Beck's one-shot enterprise of 1959 , THE JOURNAL OF FRANKENSTEIN.
In "The Monster Philosophy," the editorial of HOTS #3, the genesis of Soma's brainchild is explained: "In 1961, FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND was for the most part a 'phun-filled' monsterzine aimed at the younger set, with little regard for the serious horror-phantasy addict. This was also true of the few 'fanzines' [note the quotes! it was an uncommon term!] available then! Alex Soma gathered several friends in the New York area and discussed the idea of publishing a completely serious fanzine. Thus the first 'crude' issue of HOTS was born."
I have also obtained the first "Collector's Edition" issue of HOTS (pictured here), published in the Spring of 1962, which describes itself as an "experimental" issue and welcomes fine-tuning suggestions from its readers. Though ambitious, it is a bit of a mess, with a cut-and-paste interior look and lots of typographic errors. "Please excuse the price of HORRORS," the publisher/editor pleads on the first page, "due to printing costs, mailing, and limited circulation we are forced to charge fifty cents." A sentence like this brings the artifact into sharper perspective. HOTS #1 was truly a homemade venture, literally typed onto paper and pasted onto boards with photographs from a variety of sources. In those days, when mimeography and ditto-press ruled, for a fanzine to include photographs at all was a big deal. HOTS was actually lithographed, and the first issue had a laminated cover.
In the Spring of 1962, the debut issue of Beck's CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN had only just appeared (in February), and the first issue of the influential French digest MIDI-MINUIT FANTASTIQUE was just around the corner, coming out in May/June 1962. So a journal devoted to the serious discussion of horror cinema was extremely novel at the time, in any language. That said, the first issue of HOTS is hardly for intellectuals only; it's pretty basic from a contemporary viewpoint. The contents cover four articles: an overview of silent horror films 1885 - 1927, a biographical sketch of Vincent Price, a short and superficial survey of recent "macabre fiction" (illustrated with the same portrait of Christopher Lee -- in black-and-white, sans overlays -- that soonafter graced the cover of CASTLE OF FRANKENSTEIN's second issue in full color), and an 18-page illustrated story synopsis of Hammer's THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN.
As is noted in HOTS #3, this synopsis article appears to have inspired FAMOUS MONSTERS to follow their example by undertaking their own long-running series of "filmbooks" (which began in earnest circa 1963, around the time of their popular BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN filmbook), making this otherwise unexceptional piece rather a seminal moment in this particular sphere of publishing. Nearly all the photos reproduced inside the debut issue are familiar to us today, though Soma's editorial describes some as "never before published." There is one signed photo of Lon Chaney (Sr.) that I don't remember seeing before.
I don't have the second issue, which sported a not-very-accomplished drawing of Christopher Lee as Dracula on the cover, but compared to the first, the third issue represents something of a quantum leap. Here Alexander Soma is listed only as publisher, with John Eyman recruited as editor. The first issue's typos are a thing of the past, and the interior features a number of different typefaces or fonts, with some articles even presented via the miracle of reverse type (white on black). Very attractive. The unsigned articles (likely by Soma) in #1 here advance to a number of different contributors, including articles on Bela Lugosi and Peter Cushing written by their then-fan club presidents William C. Obbaggy and Annette Florance. (The Cushing Filmography ends with 1962's NIGHT CREATURES!) Short reviews or looks at such films as THE FLY, THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH, THE BIRDS and THE INNOCENTS fill out the issue, but most interesting of all is Edwin Schallert's surprisingly detailed study of how John Fulton created the special effects in James Whale's THE INVISIBLE MAN, probably explained in print for the first time and presented with fascinating procedural illustrations. It's a piece that many fanzines would be proud to publish (or reprint) today.
One of the biggest surprises of HOTS #3 is its letters page, which starts off with a letter from Christopher Lee himself (the likes of which I never saw in the pages of FM or CoF!) and a very sharply observed and thoughtful communiqué about adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe in the cinema from none other than Joe Dante, Jr., of 68 Crestview Drive in Parsippany, NJ!
Looking back at this third issue of HOTS, one feels the stage has been set for something truly wonderful to follow -- but, for whatever reason, it didn't happen. Number 3 was the final issue of HORRORS OF THE SCREEN. I can't find any further information on Alexander Soma or John Eyman, so I have no idea if they couldn't afford to continue, if it was simply too early to make an idea like this succeed, or if the two of them were packed off to Viet Nam. (If anyone within range of this blog knows more, please tell me.) But their pioneering efforts surely inspired other fan publishers to follow their example, and thus we had Fred Clarke's CINEFANTASTIQUE (preceded by his and Dave Keil's GARDEN GHOULS GAZETTE), Gary Svehla's GORE CREATURES (later MIDNIGHT MARQUEE), and countless others who loved FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND but felt the urge to move beyond it.
I'm just seeing these two issues for the first time today, so I could not honestly claim that HORRORS OF THE SCREEN was an influence on me and what I've done with VIDEO WATCHDOG... and yet, in its pages, I can see what must have inspired the people whose work did inspire me. Examining these 40 year-old fanzines has left me feeling more deeply in touch with the world in which I make my living. And I'm grateful.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
So Proudly Put On Your WatchBlog Ears
Over recent evenings, Donna and I have been spending at least an hour a night watching the Walt Disney Treasures' THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB set, devoted to the show's first week of broadcasts in October 1955. Between these episodes, another that's included in the Walt Disney Treasures SPIN AND MARTY set, and episodes from Universal's LEAVE IT TO BEAVER - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, our household -- which traditionally leans toward the Sixties-centric -- has ventured farther back into the 1950s.
For me, these early hour-long episodes of THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB took a little getting used to, because they predate my own memories of the program. In fact, they predate me! But, by the time we ran out of shows to watch, Donna and I were both feeling fairly hooked. We want more, right away, but I have no idea when the next batch of WDT metal-boxed limited editions are due, or if a second volume is scheduled to be included.
Some world-weary souls might argue that the MMC was as popular as it was because there were only three channels in those days, but I would argue that its popularity was rooted in a spirit that's still there to be enjoyed by those with an open heart. It's a thoroughly engaging production where everything is done in the spirit of creativity, responsibility and constructive encouragement; it's post-war, but a product of the spirit that won the war -- firm, idealistic, and ready to pitch in and make the most of the today and tomorrow of the Baby Boomer generation.
There's an interesting daily feature called "What I Want to Be" that features future GREEN ACRES star Alvy Moore guiding two children through tours of the jobs they aspire to hold one day, as an airline pilot and airline hostess. (The little girl, Pat Morrow, grew up to act on ABC-TV's PEYTON PLACE as Rita, the girlfriend and wife of Christopher Connolly's character, Norman Harrington.) Unfortunately, this segment lasted ten episodes, so we are given only the first half of the entire saga in this initial box set. (Moore also makes a mistake by saying "See you tomorrow!" at the end of the Friday segment, because there were no weekend episodes.) It was an unfortunate bit of strategy that Walt Disney Video chose to issue the show "by the week"; it required a more complete box set -- the first month of broadcasts, at least.
Childhood is always kept in perspective on the show, but so is the idea that the world can be a child's oyster, that it's a wonderful and varied place where all their dreams can come true. The daily change of setting within the program -- "Fun with Music Day", "Guest Star Day", "Anything Can Happen Day", "Circus Day" and "Talent Roundup Day" -- is like a mini-world tour in itself, mixing the regular opportunities for creative expression with opportunities for spontaneity and surprise. The Mickey Mouse Newsreels focus on everyday occurrences and may seem quaint today, but they also helped children to see their own activities as special and may have inspired them to raise the bar for themselves in untold personal ways. We see kids having fun, even raising a little... er, heck, but it's never outside the lines of the law or even propriety. If it's sometimes hokey, at least it's never snide or cynical or some other 21st Century alternative. Most of all, the show is just plain healthy and inspiring, due in no small part to the participation of host and resident songwriter, Jimmie Dodd.
A fellow Cincinnatian and veteran of the THREE MESQUITEERS B-Westerns, Dodd looks like Lampwick from PINOCCHIO... but, like a select breed of folks who made it through the Great Depression, he embodies the very soul of optimism and community. His songs lend sparkle to each episode, their words full of heart and wisdom and wordplay, and his closing remarks (apparently improvised on a set theme) are warmly advisory without conveying any hint of pushiness. He can even quote Scripture without it seeming an inappropriate intrusion into a secular entertainment -- and, in a supplementary profile of Dodd, the Mouseketeers remember him exactly this way, as a devout Christian who allowed people to have their own spiritual "space" and never intruded upon them with his own beliefs. He's the show's lightning conductor and his centrality brings out the very best in all the Mouseketeers who, in these earliest episodes, included not only Annette Funicello but future RIFLEMAN co-star Johnny Crawford (who demonstrates the art of fencing with his older brother Bobby on "Talent Roundup Day"). The first week of shows also gives us a surprise encounter with a surprise Mouseketeer, future DONNA REED SHOW co-star Paul Petersen, who is involved in some heavy-duty acrobatics on "Circus Day" -- but was, I hear, booted out of Mouseketeer camp early on for unruly behavior.
A week or so ago, I added some rhubarbs to another blog's reprimanding of Leonard Maltin's endorsement of some less-than-complete-or-ideal WALT DISNEY TREASURES releases, so let me assert here, once again, that he's the ideal host for these releases, no doubt about it. He does an outstanding job of interviewing a select group of veteran Mouseketeers and also SPIN AND MARTY stars Tim Considine and David Stollery on those respective sets, and he's even named an honorary Mouseketeer.
Initially, I wished that the MMC set had offered personal updates on all the Mouseketeers, but there are places online where you find out about all that -- and, after Googling up tales of the later, unfortunate misadventures of members like Darlene Gillespie (of CORKY AND THE WHITE SHADOW fame), who performs with such enthusiasm here, I can better understand the company's decision to leave well enough alone. Some viewers may wonder why Karen Pendleton, the raspy-voiced pixie Mouseketeer best remembered in tandem with mite-sized drummer Cubby O'Brien, is shown moving about in a wheelchair; WIKIPEDIA reports that she was involved in a car accident in 1983 that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Watching these shows, you do become interested in all this raw talent and what ultimately became of it.
The next batch of MICKEY MOUSE CLUB shows can't reach my doorstep too soon. Till then, I guess it's back to my Jess Franco DVDs...
Monday, January 02, 2006
Introducing Bava Book Update Blog
Well, yes and no.
The fact is, today our VIDEO WATCHDOG website (www.videowatchdog.com) launched a special Updates blog as part of our page devoted to my forthcoming book, MARIO BAVA - ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK. Just go to the main page, click on the Bava book link in the left-hand column (you may need to slide the guide bar down to find it), and click on the "Click Here for Updates" link under the book cover. That will take you right to the Update blog, where I'll be posting occasional reports on where the book's progress presently stands.
So why not try it now? I'll meet you over there and fill you in on the rest!
The Real McCay
Yesterday I decided to warm up to the new edition by sitting down with both versions and doing a cover-to-cover, side-by-side comparison. Before I get to my findings, I should tell you what the publisher's press release had to say about the new edition. It reports that the new edition is 272 pages, which adds 48 pages to the previous one. Other points of attraction include:
• Never-before published pages from McCay's private animation production notebook revealing the filmmaker's ideas for timing and visualizations in "Gertie the Dinosaur" (1914), "Lusitania," and "Flip's Circus" (c. 1921).
• Rare concept art by McCay for a second film starring Gertie the Dinosaur.
• New documentation of McCay's early career, including the Wonderland and Eden Musée in Detroit, where he sold his first cartoons.
• McCay's professional relationship and longtime personal friendship with cartoonist Apthorp "Ap" Adams, one of his two assistants on the monumental animated epic "The Sinking of the Lusitania" (1918).
• Full-page reproduction of a 1907 New York Herald showcasing eight top comic strip cartoonists and illustrators including McCay, and their art.
• A complete Winsor McCay Chronology, and extensive additions to the Notes and Bibliography sections.
• Many rarely seen photos and drawings from private collections.
• A new cover, book design and page layout.
What I discovered myself is not always flattering to the new edition, but to go through the two editions simultaneously told me much more than an ordinary sit-down perusal of the new book would have done. One thing that is immediately evident is that, despite the added page count, the new edition is thinner and slighter in stature than the Abbeville incarnation. Upon opening the book, I noticed that the Abrams book is printed on much thinner paper with a slight degree of "see-through" not found in the Abbeville, which subsequently has the richer and more durable feel. The Abrams also opens wider to expose its sewn signatures, while the Abbeville is more sturdily bound. I frankly prefer the cover of the Abbeville edition, which highlights the artist and his creations rather than Abrams' wallpapery detail of one of the "Little Nemo" strips.
The illustrations are comparable in the two editions, but with some interesting distinctions. More than once, a single vintage photo in the Abbeville appears in the Abrams with another similar photo taken during the same session, giving these rare glimpses of McCay's documentary past the fleeting illusion of cinematic reality. Whereas the Abbeville edition was unable to offer color on every page, the Abrams edition does; even when it presents art in black-and-white, it uses color to offer variety of tones, lending enhancing sepia tones to B&W photos and creamier background shades to line art. I was also fascinated to see that almost all of the photos and source art is presented by Abrams with its outer borders intact; both were cropped to present only the art in the Abbeville edition. Therefore, we can now see the tattered outer edges of a gorgeous "Gertie the Dinosaur" poster, and the handwritten notations and surrounding pictures of those photos which reside in McCay family albums. I find this additional textural information fascinating; it demonstrates that our perception of what is important in such documentation has become more exacting since 1987. Context is now regarded as potentially revelatory as content; looking at the same illustration rendered both ways, I found that it really is preferable to see the whole object, warts and all. These "warts" may harbor hidden truths. For example, there is a surviving film cel from McCay's "The Sinking of the Lusitania" that is printed in the two books two different ways. It's flipped the wrong way around in the Abbeville, but presented correctly in the Abrams, as is proved by the newly exposed notation "End" written below the picture line on the uncropped document!
The Abrams book does add quite a bit of newly discovered illustration -- such as the aforementioned Gertie sketches, showing her attempting to cross the Brooklyn Bridge with disastrous results under the sweet heading "She Meant No Harm" -- but sometimes the shared illustrations are larger or more favorably rendered in the earlier edition. Some "Little Nemo in Slumberland" Sunday strips, in particular, are wrecked in the Abrams version by being presented in the book sideways... what fun to turn a large book sideways!... ostensibly to permit a larger rendering, but it also causes the panel midway down to get creased and sunken in the depths of the spine. Of the two books, I must say that the Abrams edition, despite its many other advantages, is not as well designed or laid-out as the Abbeville.
I noticed in the revised edition several instances of additional and amended text, bringing Canemaker's research fully up-to-date. The instances range from newly uncovered information (like correspondence relating to the ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA's acknowledgement of McCay as the father of film animation) to the fine-tuning of nuance. The 1987 John Canemaker pondered whether McCay might have been divining his own imminent death when he placed a death's head in his final editorial drawing, completed three days before his fatal aneurysm, as a personification of the narcotics threat. "Probably not consciously," he hedged, not really knowing but liking the conceit. But the 2005 John Canemaker, perhaps more of a realist or simply more cautious about making such pronouncements, weighs the same evidence and decides, "Probably not."
I love this book, and after comparing the two versions, I've decided that I have to keep them both. If you can only afford one, the Abrams edition -- despite some presentational lapses in judgment -- is clearly the one that represents the subject and its author most accurately. And this Amazon link offers the book at significant savings off the cover price.


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Bennett Design Group Pink Ribbon Walk Houston by Bennett Design Group - almost 2 years ago
"Bennett Design Group team at the finish line in Houston for the Pink Ribbon Walk. Thanks so much for your support CustomInk! BDG loves that other businesses are making a difference & supporting charitable efforts in tremendous ways! We'll definitely be coming back for more!"

subset: commoncrawl


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Main navigation | Main content
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Santiago, Chile
Dates:Two weeks between January 2-18, 2015 (specific dates TBD); pre-departure classes Fall B term Tuesdays 9:55 - 11:35 AM plus one session in Spring A term date/time TBD.
Term: 2015 Winter Break
Objective:The Global Discovery program is a course for all full-time MBA students. It includes on-campus classes and an on-site component in one of three international locations during the winter of a student's second year. It is designed to give students a deeper understanding about how multi-national enterprises, trade agencies, and small and medium-size enterprises work successfully in emerging-market economies.
Up to 35 full-time MBA students from Carlson School of Management
The program is open to the second-year full-time MBA students from Carlson School of Management
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America. As the political, financial, industrial, and commercial hub of Argentina, the city is also known for its European style architecture and rich cultural life. Located on the eastern edge of the Pampa, Argentina's most productive agricultural region, and linked with Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil by a great inland river system, the city is the distribution hub and trade outlet in South America.
Santiago is Chile's capital city, and the center of commerce for the country. It is a modern city and serves as the regional headquarters to many multinational companies including Minnesota-based 3M, Ecolab, and Cargill. Due to its location on fault lines, Santiago has a limited number of buildings remaining from Spanish colonial times, so the city has a modern architectural feel.
The program starts in Buenos Aires and will then travel to Santiago. The program fee includes transportation between cities. The program will start with a welcome dinner and opening city tour. A typical day will include two academic or cultural activities. Activities will include possible guest lectures from local university faculty, visits with government officials, NGO's, and businesses both domestic and international. The evenings and a one to two afternoons will be free for independent sight-seeing and exploration. To see a sample schedule please contact Carlson Global Institute at email@example.com.
Students stay in conveniently-located hotels in each city and will share a room with one or two classmates of their same gender. Because networking and community-building are key parts of the program, students will not have the option of a single room. Guests are not permitted during the program. Breakfast daily, a welcome dinner, and closing dinner are provided.
These estimates will vary based on student preference and exchange rates. All details subject to change based on economic and international factors. Most financial aid may be applied to study abroad programs.
|2014-2015 Tuition for 3 academic credits (included in the tuition plateau)
|Program Fee (including lodging, program events, course materials, breakfast daily, two group meals, and int'l health insurance*)
|International airfare between Minnesota and Argentina/Chile
|Passport, Reciprocity Fees & Photos (based on prices for U.S. citizens)
|Textbooks/Course Materials (included in Program Fee)
|Hotel Accommodation (included in Program Fee)
|Daily Living Expenses (local transportation, incidentals, laundry, etc)
|Meals (lunch and dinners not included in Program Fee)
*Students should also maintain their U.S.-based health insurance plan while abroad.
We encourage students who may have constraints to consult with our Education Abroad advisors and read information available at Access Abroad.
Carlson Global Institute
Phone: 612-625-9361
Fax: 612-624-8248
Lauren Dickinson
Program Manager
Phone: 612-626-3150
Fax: 612-624-8248
Seth Werner
Senior Lecturer
Faculty Profile


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Introspecting views in DjangoMonday, February 15th, 2010
I've been developing small wikiesque app for Django recently, and since I'm a fan of human-friendly URIs I had some difficulty coming up with a DRY method for finding the primary model associated with any given view within my project. Of course, not every view is directly associated with a single model, but in most cases you can probably inspect each of your views and conclude that there is a single primary model instance which is most directly related. In this example, I'll explain the method which I've decided to use in order to take any requested URI path and rather than resolve it into a view, we will resolve it to a specific model instance. This greatly simplifies the process of creating sub-views which have access to the parent view's primary model instance.
Tux used for nefarious purposesWednesday, December 23rd, 2009
It may sound strange, but every now and then I swing on over to Google and run a few searches for some of my wallpapers, particularly "See Hear Speak" and "Trampoline Tux" since people tend to upload those to various websites on a regular bases. I don't mind that people upload them as long as they include the proper CC license, but I stumbled across an article at The Register last night, which is certainly something new...
Merry ChristmasSunday, December 20th, 2009
Merry Christmas everyone! I just wanted to show off the fancy 5x7" prints I had made...
Second Creeple resultsThursday, November 19th, 2009
I finished my second creeple quite a while ago but I haven't had time to post an article about it, so here it is. Casting went pretty well, although I made a couple mistakes with mixing too much plastic and ended up wasting a bit of it. I guess that's one of those things you learn by trial-and-error. Overall though, he turned out really good.
The second attempt ( Creeple: part 2 )Monday, August 10th, 2009
After the fairly successful creation of the first figure, I decided I'd order some molding/casting materials (silicone rubber, casting resin, all that stuff). I've never attempted working with such materials so this is my first attempt at such a thing. This article describes what I learned and how things went during the creation of the second Creeple figurine.
My Recent Tweets
Christmas Tux 2013Tuesday, December 17th, 2013
Merry Christmas once again! I'm happy to share Christmas Tux 2013 with you on this day. My apologies for being so late, I've had a very busy few months. This year aimed for a little more minimal design compared to last year, and I also took the opportunity to utilize SVG filter effects which give the shapes a paper-like appearance. Due to my heavy use of SVG filters in this piece, I had to write a small Inkscape extension for handling transformation application. As always, created in Inkscape 0.48. click here to view


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Analysts' Actions: AOL CSCO DIS FDX JNPR
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- CHANGE IN RATINGS
Alon USA Energy (ALJ) was downgraded to hold at TheStreet Ratings.
AOL (AOL) was upgraded at Topeka Capital to buy from hold. $43 price target. Risk/reward is compelling at current levels, Topeka Capital said.
Cardinal Health (CAH) was initiated with a neutral rating at Sterne Agee. $48 price target. Company will likely grow slower than its peers, Sterne Agee said.Cisco (CSCO) was initiated with an underperform rating at Credit Suisse. $21 price target. SDN architecture will likely cut into industry margins, Credit Suisse said. Disney (DIS) was downgraded at Morgan Stanley to equal-weight. $70 price target. Company lacks near-term catalysts, Morgan Stanley said. FedEx (FDX) was downgraded at Goldman Sachs to neutral from buy. Valuation call, based on a $116 price target, Goldman said.
(GIS) was downgraded at Wells Fargo to market perform from outperform. U.S. retail environment remains weak, Wells Fargo said. Groupon (GRPN) was upgraded at Stifel Nicolaus to buy from hold. $16 price target. Growth is accelerating in the local business and Europe appears to be stabilizing, Stifel Nicolaus said. Huntsman (HUN) was upgraded at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch to buy from neutral. $24 price target. New strategic plan can unlock shareholder value, BofA/Merrill said. Juniper (JNPR) was initiated with a neutral rating at Credit Suisse. $20 price target. Secular concerns will likely offset a cyclical improvement in the core business, Credit Suisse said. McKesson (MCK) was initiated with a buy rating at Sterne Agee. $80 price target. Company has a dominant market share of specialty drugs, Sterne Agee said.
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AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage called on lawmakers Thursday to sign off on a 60-day spending fix to buy time to negotiate a new budget that doesn't raise taxes, but state Attorney General Janet Mills called into question the legality of a temporary budget.
Mills said in a letter to lawmakers that Maine's constitution requires a balanced budget and that continuing the current budget would result in an unbalanced spending plan.
She said Maine law requires a two-year budget and even if it didn't, passing a temporary emergency budget would "throw the state into financial uncertainty and would face significant opposition from bondholders, school, hospitals" and others. She predicted a temporary budget would spark lawsuits.
Lawmakers finished nearly all of their work for the session early Thursday morning, passing a slew of bills and sending them to the governor's desk. They already were prepared to reconvene next week to respond to LePage's anticipated veto to their budget bill before the governor called Thursday for a temporary fix.
LePage's administration said state law allows a short-term emergency measure, if passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor.
"The Maine Constitution requires the State to not spend more than the amount of revenue it takes in — a short-term budget is constitutional," LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said in an email. "A short-term budget would authorize spending only for the expenses necessary to operate State government for a limited period of time, avoiding a shutdown."
At a rally earlier at the State House Hall of Flags, LePage announced to cheers that he would veto the two-year budget passed by the Legislature and called upon lawmakers to pass a 60-day continuing resolution to buy time to negotiate a new budget.
"The budget raises taxes on hardworking Maine families. I am here to tell you I will veto this budget," he said during an Americans For Prosperity rally dubbed "Don't Overtax ME." Behind him, the group held signs that said "Veto the budget!" and "Less taxes, less government, more freedom."
Democrats said the attorney general's letter shows that the governor's proposal was merely a stunt aimed at trying to convince fellow Republicans to sustain his veto.
"It is clear that the governor's 'continuing resolution' is nothing more than a Washington-style political gimmick," said Senate Democratic Leader Seth Goodall of Sagahock.
Democrats said they don't need a temporary budget because they are confident they can override LePage's veto next week, before the July 1 start of the next fiscal year. The budget passed in both chambers with the two-thirds majority that is necessary to override a veto.
The bipartisan budget lawmakers sent to LePage's desk last week would temporarily increase Maine's 5 percent sales tax by a half-cent and temporarily raise the meals and lodging tax from 7 to 8 percent, generating roughly an additional $170 million over two years.
Democrats said the increases were designed to avert steep property tax hikes that would result from a two-year suspension of revenue-sharing to Maine municipalities, which LePage had proposed in his original budget.
LePage said a short-term fix would ensure that state employees don't lose their jobs while avoiding an "unnecessary tax increase." He asked Maine residents to call their lawmakers and encourage them to support his proposal.
"Democrats have been saying for months and putting fear into people that there is a pending shutdown of government," he said. "That's how they get weak Republicans to cave."
Assistant Democratic Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash said the 60-day fix is "something that we don't need to talk about right now."
"I think the Republicans definitely understand what's at stake here," he said.


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Legislation that would allow minors and those with epilepsy to use medical cannabis in Illinois is one step closer to law.
Chase Gross, 8, suffers from a debilitating type of epilepsy. His parents have been on the forefront of the fight to get state lawmakers to modify the medical marijuana law to allow kids and adults in Chase's situation to use the drug to treat their symptoms.
Chase's mother, Nicole, moved to Colorado so she can legally get the oil form of the drug there. She told a senate health committee in Springfield Tuesday it has dramatically reduced the 1,500 seizures Chase had been having every day.
"Following his dose of the cannabis oil, we started to see one to two seizures in two minutes, and then two minutes seizure free, five minutes seizure free, then eight...and when we hit twenty, I cried," said Nicole.
Nicole and her husband, Randy, are hopeful the law will get changed after the eight member senate committee unanimously approved a revised bill. Three of the senators had voted against the original bill.
"It's cautious optimism because we're having to fight every step of the way and we were successful today, but we've got four steps to go and at any point in any one of those steps it could fall apart," said Randy.
For the Gross,' cannabis oil has been a game changer for their son who functions at a 2-year-old level. Controlling Chase's seizures has begun to improve his cognitive ability in amazing and heartwarming ways.
"As a mom too, it's fun to see his personality, we're seeing more of his personality, we're seeing more of a sense of humor, he wants to tease and play, he likes to make jokes, he likes to hide things from us now and run away, and he knows what he's doing and he thinks it's funny. And before we did not really see that," added Nicole.
Seizures can be treated with traditional marijuana, which is smoked, or in Chase's case with a drop of oil, that contains virtually no THC, the ingredient in pot that produces the high.
The measure amending Illinois' four-year medical cannabis pilot program now moves to the Senate floor.
If the revised bill passes, it could benefit some of the 40,000 people in the Chicago area who suffer from intractable epilepsy, which doesn't respond to traditional seizure medication. This includes about 1,000 kids.
The bill is SB2636.
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Police are investigating the murder of a homeless man who was beaten to death in an alley in Logan Square.
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Plainfield Central's Duvaun Goodlow picks up an Oswego rebound at Plainfield Central High School in Plainfield, Ill., on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013. | Corey R. Minkanic~For Sun-Times Media ORG XMIT: .
It was a long time coming, but once they reached the threshold, five senior starters on Oswego's basketball team made quick work of reaching their goal.
The visiting Panthers closed the first quarter Tuesday at Plainfield Central with one of their patented runs — 13 straight points — boosting an 11-9 lead to 24-9 after eight minutes. From there, they cruised to an 80-49 rout of the Wildcats to clinch the program's first conference title since 1998.
"It guarantees us a share, but this is something we want to be selfish with," said Oswego coach Kevin Schnable, who made sure his players knew what was on the line before the game.
The Panthers, 23-2 overall and 11-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference, entered the game with a three-game lead over runner-up Plainfield North with four games remaining. One win in their final three will secure the crown outright.
It's been a long time coming for Schnable, whose team was third in the league last season after five straight runner-up finishes.
"It got to the point where, when you couple the conference finishes with our (Class 3A) state runner-up finish in 2009, I've got best friends who call me, 'Mr. Second Place,' " Schnable said. "Leave it to this group of guys to bring our program to the top."
The school's all-time leading scorer, Elliott McGaughy, led the way with a game-high 19 points. His senior backcourt mate, Miles Simelton, scored 14, while senior forward Jack Kwiatkowski had 11 and sophomore Zach West came off the bench to add 11.
"I'm glad we won the game, glad we won the league but we did so down there at the defensive end. That's how it started," Schnable said.
The Panthers forced 22 Wildcats turnovers through three periods, with the five starters accounting for 14 steals. McGaughy had four, Jamaal Richardson, Simelton and Darion Reddick three each and Kwiatkowski one.
"Our defense, that's what wins games," McGaughy said. "Coach stresses if we play defense, our offense will follow."
Central (7-16, 2-9) got 16 points from junior center Logan Velasquez, 12 from senior guard Mitch Young and 11 from senior guard Curtis Harrington.
"We didn't control the things we could control, turnovers, rebounds and some defensive lapses," Central coach Steve Lamberti said. "That's kind of what we need to pride ourselves on, taking control of things we can control."
His team managed to cut the 42-18 halftime deficit to 11 (50-39) on Young's three-point play with 3:39 remaining in the third, but the Panthers responded with three straight three-pointers — one each from Simelton, Danny Mangers and West — to start a 15-0 run that closed the quarter and gave the visitors a 65-39 advantage.
"We got it close to 10 but couldn't get any closer. They made shots and you're not gonna win games allowing runs like that," Lamberti said. "They've got a lot of parts."
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Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
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Topic: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes" (Read 34572 times)
Posts: 712
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #30 on:
December 28, 2012, 02:25:42 AM »
"Vold, this symbol is somewhat of a mish-mash of a few things, the horse is the symbol of Magnus the Steed, and the symbol of Bane with it is some indication that King Nero Ouros the Carnifax is involved, but as the the true origin or meaning of the symbol, I can't truly place it."
I tuck the cloth scrap into Volds belt and turn to the Tiefling
"I have learnt from past trials that nothing is truly a chance occurrence; I'm craving a hot meal and as it seems I shall be eating with 2 strangers I see no reason why a 3rd would make a difference, lets go eat and maybe you can tell me more about you knowledge of Genasi militia, just use less words this time?"
I wince as Wingtip describes Vold as kind and Genital, but no-one else seems to notice so I decide to let it pass.
Dr. Connors
Posts: 398
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #31 on:
December 28, 2012, 08:47:09 AM »
Ultime nearly doubles over with laughter at Vold's goat comment.
"Oh.... Goat... Ahahah.... Whew... That was most amusing my bovine friend. I don't think I've ever been compared to a goat before. I'm a Tiefling. I won't go into the specifics of my heritage, but I can assure you that there are no goats in there."
Ultime tucks his crystal orb into a pocket, straightens his spectacles on the tip of his nose, and offers his hand in turn to Vold and then Dacian.
"Gentlemen, I am Ultime Fascient, Scholar of the Unseen, and member of the Arcana Academia of Hiza. I'd be honored to share a meal with you, and perhaps we can each tell what brings us here just before the momentous occasion of the meeting of the Guardians."
{sliksham, methinks you're a bit caught up on Vold's loincloth with that Freudian slip of Genital instead of gentle.}
Cowboy Centaur
Not the Mama
Posts: 1431
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #32 on:
December 28, 2012, 11:49:07 AM »
Vold returns the handshake and points to the sleeping pixie on his head.
"my sleeping comrade here is Wing, and he's a Pick-see, I'll ask you not to call him otherwise by mistake, as I've promised i'd horribly kill any that do, and you seem like a good-humored fellow."
"I'm Vold Crookednose, and I'd be glad to feast with you, I'll need to leave before it gets too late though, I've an errand to run, and wing here wants a ride to his Pa's house"
Vold leans in and whispers while looking up at the Paladin
"I think he's homesick, he keeps talking about 'Im like he's here, and I haven't seen any others what can fly"
P.R. Scholtz
Not the Mama
Posts: 1287
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #33 on:
December 28, 2012, 04:36:32 PM »
A tall wirey man appears before the group and addresses them,
gentle folk welcome to Kynach, you all look like your in need of a guide. What luck you have, oh the fates are kind to thee indeed, you've found Brin to show you around the turtles back. Brin knows where to find the freshest meals, the sweetest ales, the cheapest merchants, the kindest ladies and softest beds. Let Brin guide you and you'll never want to leave.
. He finishes with a wink, smile and a bow.
The man is in his late twenties, with dark features and tanned skin. He wears tight grey leathers covered by a dark coat. Covering his black hair is a top hat that is more short than tall and in his hands is a solid cane, the size of a baseball bat with a head that is banded metal.
Roll Dice:
Cowboy Centaur
Not the Mama
Posts: 1431
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #34 on:
December 28, 2012, 06:15:13 PM »
As the only member of the party that speaks eleven is asleep, the conscious trio stare at the newcomer. Vold looks at Brin's cane, eyeing the metal bands on it and draws his own mace for comparison, shrugging and looking to Ultime for guidance.
He leans in and greets the human in Giant
"you speak the language of my people? That's sure a fancy baton you got there."
{dunno for sure if you were speaking Elven, but here's the languages if you didn't see them,
OOC stuff is blue with the swirly bracket thingeys
P.R. Scholtz
Revenant Sorrow
Not the Mama
Posts: 1671
Wingtip aspires to greatness
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #35 on:
December 28, 2012, 06:19:45 PM »
My ears perk up having heard his fathers native tongue.
"Hello father I hear your call."
I rubs my eyes as I open them and am surprised to see a human of all things.
"How did one such as you come to learn my fathers language?"
"You said your name was brin? We need something to eat and I need to visit my fathers temple before the gathering of . . ."
I let out a long drawn out yawn
"of the guardian's champions."
I crawl out of the makeshift hammock scratch Vold be hind the ear as a thank you. My wings spread and I leap into the air and glide to the ground.
"Where to then."
{I was waiting to post this but am going to do it anyway knowing there may be a retcon. sorry in advance}
Roll Dice:
Not the Mama
Posts: 1287
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #36 on:
December 28, 2012, 07:42:08 PM »
Brin smiles.
apologies gents my eleven is spotty at best, common suits my style much better.
He stares at Wing, then at the Minotaur.
y'know I know a merchant that would pay big for your head piece.
Roll Dice:
Revenant Sorrow
Not the Mama
Posts: 1671
Wingtip aspires to greatness
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #37 on:
December 28, 2012, 08:13:46 PM »
I look up at Vold
"What is that awful noise? Are you speaking I've never heard such sounds"
As I hear the new comer mention a price on Volds head my right hand begins to travel with out thought across my armor until it finds the hilt of my sword.
"This minotaur and I share an oath of loyalty. You shall not have his head so long as I draw breath."
"Some guide you are offering help then offering to sell out someone for a quick buck. Begone I will not tolerate this talk of senseless murder."
My wings flare as I try to make my self seem imposing as possible.
Roll Dice:
Cowboy Centaur
Not the Mama
Posts: 1431
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #38 on:
December 28, 2012, 08:36:18 PM »
Vold grins broadly and holds out a hand to stay Wing,
"that's the language of my people, its not as pretty to hear spoken as some, but you ought to hear me sing in it sometime"
The Minotaur leans toward the newcomer, with eager eyes
"A larger brute once tried to take my head, and all he got was part of it"
Vold touches the end of his broken horn for effect, then flexes his mighty limbs
"My head would indeed fetch a great price, can you afford the cost of doing business?"
P.R. Scholtz
Dr. Connors
Posts: 398
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #39 on:
December 28, 2012, 08:50:56 PM »
"Ioun forfend. Boys, boys, must we be so aggressive? I'm certain our human friend here meant what he said as a compliment and not a threat. Isn't that right, Brin was it?"
{I diplomacize the horses... I mean party. But just with words, and not with a roll because I hate rolling Diplomacy against other party members.}
Revenant Sorrow
Not the Mama
Posts: 1671
Wingtip aspires to greatness
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #40 on:
December 28, 2012, 08:58:51 PM »
Quote from: GeorgeDubya on December 28, 2012, 08:50:56 PM
{I diplomacize the horses... I mean party. But just with words, and not with a roll because I hate rolling Diplomacy against other party members.}
(I LOLed for real at that one}
"Singing 'ay maybe when we're traveling to meet this "friend" for yours you'll get a chance to sing."
I ponder over Ultime's words and drop my wings and let my hand fall from my sword.
"Maybe you can reason with this Brin fellow. I will be keeping my eye on him for the time being."
Roll Dice:
Cowboy Centaur
Not the Mama
Posts: 1431
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #41 on:
December 28, 2012, 09:01:36 PM »
Vold chuckles to himself,
"you may be right, but at any rate, airship grub is poor fare, and the movement of that damned machine made all five of my stomach queasy. I'm for finding meat, as this horned fellow says, then we can... 'negotiate' "
Vold rehangs his mace on his back, and hands Brin a rabbit pelt
{1 silver}
"Lead on human"
P.R. Scholtz
Posts: 712
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #42 on:
December 29, 2012, 03:14:50 AM »
I raise an eyebrow at the banter with the newcomer and mutter under my breath
"At least we're not supposed to be incognito, a motley bunch and now being directed by someone who looks like they would steal my purse and then sell to back to me."
shaking my head in grudging resignation I raise my voice and start to usher everyone along;
"Right, lets get to eating and then maybe we can all be about our business on a full stomach at least, my gut grumbles louder than the great war-conch of La'mithrimalar Bay"
{I drop to the back of the group and keep an overwatch on everyone, its a new city with new people and I don't trust anyone further than I could throw them}
Not the Mama
Posts: 1137
Desperately craving Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #43 on:
December 29, 2012, 06:20:10 AM »
{Nice job guys! Loving the tension in the air, really rich character interaction.
Brin, you can know, as a native, that there are two establishments nearby where the group can get breakfast (it's still early morning after dawn); first is a little bed-and-breakfast run by a lovely couple, a middle-age Half-Elf and his 10 years younger Tiefling wife, just two blocks away in Tula Ward. Second, is an actual restaurant located on the other side of Loreh Ward, some 12 blocks for the group if you're straightforward about it, called the Fey Sisters (run by two Elf maidens and an Eladrin matron), where the group can get some slightly fancier fare. However, they then would have to find lodgings. I'll describe any as they come up.
As a native, you know the history of
quite well, and despite appearances, the people of Tula and Loreh Wards are NOT poor; rather, the Republic has funneled money into Aeronaut Industries over the years, focusing on the shipyard rather than the living conditions surrounding it. The people of Tula and Loreh are not bitter, per se, but they are vocal about how their respective councilers, Micaiah the Half-Elf and Scar the Tiefling, are fighting for their comfort every day in Council. Most of the people in these two wards are dock workers and shop keepers, but Loreh Ward enjoys a small focus on the Artificer's Guild, which is where airship engineering gives the children of Loreh a better future.}
Venom symbiote + Blackheart = Marvel Apocolypse
Cowboy Centaur
Not the Mama
Posts: 1431
Re: Age of the Guardians-Prologue: "The Gathering Heroes"
Reply #44 on:
December 29, 2012, 09:47:54 AM »
{not sure what the protocol is for making actions for other PC's but I thought I could move things along a bit with some limited puppeteering with the other guy toys. If that's not kosher, then by all means feel free to disregard it}
Brin looks at the rabbit skin with dustain, but shrugs and leads the party on anyway, describing the locations and distances of the Two establishments, after hearing "closest" and "bed and breakfast" Vold turns in the direction described.
"Good as any, lets go here"
The older half elf opens the door to his charming home, as the friendly greeting on his lips disappears into a gasp as he sees the brute walking into his home. His teifling wife next looks and lets out a yelp as the Minotaur squeezes past her. On noticing her horns, Vold points and grins to Ultime with a "hey look!" expression. His pointing brushes a shelf near the door, disturbing a small vase that looks expensive, but is narrowly rescued by a swooping Wingtip.
Vold stomps past, following his nose, and, while not permanantly destroying anything, leaves a wake much like a tornado through the sitting room.
Their Tiefling host looks at the rest of the party imploring them to do something.
Upon entering the dining room, Vold grabs a large pot of stew that anyone else would clearly see was meant for everyone. He looks at the chairs and winces with dissaproval, then settles on the floor in a corner and begins pouring the contents of the steaming pot down his gullet.
The teifling hostess has a sinking feeling that he's going to want more once its gone.
P.R. Scholtz
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Nurse Kiss It
Convulsing Nurse Animated Decoration
Give your guests a scare they will never forget when you decorate your haunted house with the Convulsing Nurse Animated Decoration. This screaming and flailing nurse is compatible with the First Aid Box, features volume control and comes with a power adapter.
Nurse Adult Womens Shirt
There will be plenty of wounds to fix up on Halloween. Hope you're qualified in this Nurse Adult Womens Shirt. At least you'll look the part in this classic white collared shirt with signature red cross logo.
LIght-Up Naughty Nurse Kit
Look like a medical professional in under a minute when you use this Light-Up Naughty Nurse Kit! All you need is a simple red or white dress. Add these accessories and you'll be ready to perform check ups!
Nurse Adult Thigh High
Turn up the naughty in the Nurse Adult Thigh High. These red fishnet thigh highs feature a dark red seam running up the back which ends in a sexy little bow.
Nurse Adult Glitter Decals
Add a bit of naughtiness to your good nurse persona with the Officially Licensed Nurse Adult Glitter Decals. These red glitter decals can be placed on the arms, face, or the neck and chest for a sexier twist.
Nurse Jewelry Set
For the girl who looks to accessorize, even while saving lives, the Officially Licensed Nurse Jewelry Set is for you. The set features a red choker necklace with heart and cross detail and red heart earrings which also feature a tiny white cross.
Naughty Nurse Thigh Highs
Get guys finding any excuse to dial 911 when you're on call in this pair of naughty nurse thigh highs! This sexy set of stockings come in an innocent white with racy Red Cross bows sure to raise anyone's temperature.
Smash Nurse Adult Womens Costume
The party may not be a war zone, but you can still help those in need when you wear thisSmash Nurse adult womens costume. The camouflage dress of this sexy womens costume features red trim and comes complete with a matching nurse cap and two shot syringes.
Nurse Mercy Adult Womens Costume
You don't need to take any nursing classes to don this Nurse Mercy adult womens costume. The gray, 100% polyester dress of this nurse costume features an attached light gray, blood-spattered apron and a jagged hem, complete with a matching nurse hat.
Poison Nurse Adult Womens Costume
…give all of your patients a fever when you arrive in this Poison Nurse adult womens costume. The skin tight, teal, white and red dress of this nurse costume comes complete with matching teal and white gloves along with a teal nurse cap. Watch as pulses quicken when you approach the bedside in this…
Bedside Beauty Nurse Womens Costume
He won't mind you checking up on him when you wear the Bedside Beauty Nurse Women's Costume. You have the power to see how he reacts to your every move with your stethoscope. Also features, white hot dress with red accents, nurses hat and gloves.
Nurse Heartbreaker Adult Womens Costume
Prescribe your friends a fun Halloween when you wear this Nurse Heartbreaker adult womens costume. The short and sassy white mini dress of this nurse costume features red trim and a front zipper closure. A red belt and matching nurse hat complete this sexy costume.
Army Nurse Womens Adult Costume
Everyone will want you to be their nurse in the Army Nurse Women's Adult Costume. This army green bra top and skirt has a throwback retro look. With a delicate white apron, sporting a red cross and matching green headband with a red cross, you'll have people lining up to get their pulse checked.
Nurse Shaper Adult Womens Costume
Want a prescription for a good time on Halloween or whenever you're in the mood? This Nurse Shaper adult womens costume is the medicine you need. The short and sweet, black and red nurse uniform-inspired shaper comes complete with bolero and matching hat. Temperatures will rise!
Miss Diagnosed Nurse Adult Costume
Be sure you get the right prescription on Halloween when you wear this Miss Diagnosed Nurse adult costume. The black dress of this nurse costume features red trim and comes complete with matching headpiece.
Nurse Knockout Adult Womens Costume
Temperatures will rise and hearts will beat a lot faster when you show up in this short and sexy Nurse Knockout adult womens costume. The white and red mini dress comes complete with jacket, belt and matching nurse hat along with a stethoscope and name badge.
Nurse Badge with Shot Glass
Here's a prescription for Halloween fun - complete your naughty nurse or cute Candy Striper costume with this clever name badge. The Nurse Name Badge is equipped with a handy shot glass - you determine the proper dose.
Hot Flash Nurse Adult Womens Costume
…will quicken at the sight of you in this short and sweet Hot Flash Nurse adult womens costume. The white, 100% polyester, zipper-front dress of this nurse costume features red graphics and comes complete with a matching nurse hat. This sexy womens costume is a prescription for a fun Halloween!
Say Ahhh Nurse Adult Womens Costume
They'll all say "Ahh" when you report for duty in this Say Ahhh Nurse adult womens costume. The white and red, polyester and spandex blend mini dress of this sexy nurse costume features red accents and comes complete with a matching cap, stethoscope and two shot syringes.
Zombie Nurse Adult Womens Plus Size Costume
Take a bite out of the medical field when you don this Zombie Nurse adult womens plus size costume. The white dress of this nurse costume features red trim and come complete with a nurse hat and leg garter. Practice medicine without a license in this zombie costume!
Nurse Heartbreaker Adult Womens Plus Size Costume
Practice your bedside manner in this Nurse Heartbreaker adult womens plus size costume. The white, 100% polyester, zippered mini dress of this nurse costume features red trim and comes complete with a red belt and a matching hat.
Sexy Midnight Nurse Adult Womens Costume
Here's a nurse that definitely takes house calls! Sexy Midnight Nurse Adult Womens costume resembles a medical uniform while vamping it up with frills and lace! You should be ready before twelve with the help of ruffled gloves, choker, and headpiece, also included.
Really Naughty Nurse Adult Womens Costume
Give your patients special attention when you wear the Really Naughty Nurse Adult Women's Costume. This stunning outfit comes complete with a white and red dress with an attached apron and a matching hat. You're presence alone may cause temperatures to rise!
ER Female Nurse Scrubs Adult Womens Costume
Take care of Halloween when you don this ER Female Nurse Scrubs adult womens costume. The pink shirt of this nurse costume comes complete with pink pants, name badge, stethoscope and a white mask. You'll be diagnosing ailments in this womens costume!


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Lightwright: Absolutely, the most critical piece of software I own. I use this program constantly to keep up with all the paperwork for shows, big and small.
Vectorworks Spotlight: The only drafting program I use; the Spotlight add-on speeds up my drafting functions dramatically.
TrendMicro Anti-Virus: Keeps my machine healthy better than any other program I've used.
eDrawings Viewer 2006: For use when people send me CAD files in DWG format not readable by Vectorworks.
Adobe Photoshop: Useful for occasional image editing, making BMPs for focus notes.
Picasa: Organizes my digital camera pictures, has basic image editing capabilities, and it's free. What more can you ask for?
Quicken: Tracks budgets and personal finances. We all have to eat and have enough records to fend off the taxman.
Painter: For when I need more artistic tools for greater image manipulation.
Microsoft Excel: Allows me to calculate budgets to stay under budget. I also track inventory usage over time to evaluate rental needs and make strategic decisions about our rep plot.
I have all of these on a tabletPC that can go with me anywhere, and I can draw on it too.
As a part-time teacher, I would add:
Virtual Light Lab: Gives beginning lighting students another useful way to visualize lighting.
Laura McMeley is also a professor at SMU and Collin County Community College. Visit her at www.geocities.com/lmcmeley.