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We Love
Kenneth Grange: Making Britain Modern
From the Kodak camera to the Kenwood Chef, with Parker pens, taxi cabs and Anglepoise lamps all squeezed inbetween, the range of Kenneth Grange is awe-inspiring. The designer is the focus of the Design Museum's major summer exhibition - a celebratory retrospective of more than 50 years of Grange's career to date. And while it might appear on the surface to be an exhibition of quite ordinary everyday items, it's also an extraordinary eye opener, featuring all kinds of innovations that have in some way or other helped to modernise British life over the decades.
Certainly, the fact that one man is responsible for designing so many of the products and appliances that shape British life is both inspiring and a little shocking. Born in 1929, Grange has designed the archetypes for number of domestic products: Razors for Wilkinson Sword, cigarette lighters for Ronson, Irons for Morphy Richards, and so on, before in 1972 (alongside Alan Fletcher, Theo Crosby, Colin Forbes and Mervyn Kurlansky) he established Pentagram, the multi-disciplinary design consultancy with near-legendary success worldwide. Hipsters today can sing his praises as the man behind the Kodak instamatic camera in 1968, the start of a new generation of portable, inexpensive cameras - and the inspiration behind a million iPhone apps forty years later. And lest we forget the high speed Intercity 125 train appears in his repertoire too.
Despite that his products are universally recognised, and despite being made a Royal Designer for Industry in 1969, and receiving a CBE in 1984, Grange has - always working on behalf of another brand - somehow remained a relatively quiet presence in the background over the years. Charming, influential and infectiously passionate about his work, he is well respected and revered within the design community, but it is surely time for him to become a household name himself, alongside his work. This blockbuster of an entertainingly educational exhibition sings the praises for this hero of modern design: of food mixers and fountain pens - and about time.


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The eponymous "Swiss cheese", made in the Emmental region of western central Switzerland. Herdsmen traditionally take their cows up into the mountains during the warmer months, where the animals graze on lush, high-elevation grasses.
The milk from these months is luscious, grassy, and goes into making Emmental cheese. These enormous wheels are then cave-aged for up to 14 months, developing large, round eyes throughout the paste and a sweet, nutty flavor that's reminiscent of rising bread dough. Delicious with fresh fruit, this is a great sandwich cheese that also melts beautifully. Pair with Swiss Gruyére for a traditional mountain Fondue.
Dolcelatte translates to 'sweet milk,' so it's no surprise that this decadent, creamy blue cheese tastes like something halfway between breakfast and dessert.
Italy's famous blue is named for the town of Gorgonzola in Lombardy, where it was first made in the middle ages. The mildness of Dolcelatte's flavor is due in part to its creaminess; after being pierced to develop blue veining, the cheese melts back into itself, blocking most of the oxygen and developing only pale blue veins. While less pungent than most blues, the paste has a rich, full body with aromas of crushed grapes and fresh bread dough. Excellent melted on polenta, spread on crostini and drizzled with olive oil, or baked into a sweet & savory cheesecake.
A wise Frenchman once shared with us his recipe for the best fondue: Comté, Comté and more Comté! While this might be a bit excessive, it's certainly true that Comté is one of the world's best melting cheeses, with a silky, even texture and rich flavor that's both full and sweetly unassuming at the same time.
Our wheels come from Essex St. Cheese Co., founded by Daphne Zepos and Jason Hinds to bring some of Europe's finest cheeses into the US. This particular Comté is so versatile and exceptionally good that for a long while it was the only cheese being imported by their company. Each wheel is hand-selected for an especially refined flavor profile, which balances the aromas of grassy milk with rich hazelnuts and sweet onions. This is a cheese that can be as fancy as you want it to be, whether that means providing the perfect complement to a bottle of light red wine or bubbling atop a tuna melt.
A Californian original, created by mother and son dairy duo Cindy & Liam Callahan of Bellwether Farms. Cindy founded the farm in 1986, turning from a career in nursing, and her son Liam came on board soon after as head cheesemaker.
Carmody is inspired by the young cheese made around Milan, most of which in consumed locally and a rare find outside of Italy. Made to showcase the buttery, sweet flavors of Jersey cows milk, the cheese is mild and lactic in flavor with a yogurty tang reminiscent of fresh milk and a spring breeze. The texture is buttery and pliant with excellent meltability, making it a star in the kitchen. The subtle flavor makes this a great breakfast cheese, delicious drizzled with honey on a hearty raisin bread. Named for the Carmody River that runs adjacent to the Callahans' property, a reminder of the connection between food, farmer and land.
A scrumptious, natural-rind cheddar made in the style of the English giants, like Montgomery's and Quicke's Cheddars. Aside from being utterly delicious in its own right, this cheese has an economic agenda to protect rural dairy farming in New England.
Made for the Cabot Co-Operative from the milk of a single herd of Holstein cows, this cheddar is then transferred to the Cellars at Jasper Hill in Greensboro, VT, where it is larded and bound in muslin to begin its 10-month stay in their cheese caves. The Cellars at Jasper Hill buy young, "green" cheese from small dairies in New England in order to age, market and distribute it across the country. They help keep these small dairies in business by providing a market for their specialty product, and help spread these great cheeses to areas that might otherwise never have the chance to taste them – a real treat for us on the west coast!
While Cabot is a large co-operative, this cheese shows their commitment also to small producers and their artisanal cheeses. Each wheel of Cabot Clothbound develops a natural rind under the cloth, which both protects the interior and allows the cheese to breathe, leading to more complex flavor development than you'll find in cheddar sealed in plastic or wax. At 10-12 months old, Cabot Clothbound has a firm texture that shows the texture of the curds, with a pliant butteriness and slight crunch on the tongue. Sweeter than the English counterparts, with undertones of toasted caramel and high notes of grass and butter; an invaluable cheese on the plate or in the kitchen.
Champagne, anyone? Brillat Savarin is one of the single best accompaniments for sparkling wine, be it Champagne, Prosecco, or a California sparkling white.
This is a triple-crème cheese, with a dry volume butterfat content around 75%. Cakey at room temperature, the cheese melts into liquid on the tongue, where it begs for effervescent bubbles to cut the fat. Our Brillat Savarin usually arrives around 6-8 weeks old with a thin, edible, white bloomy rind. The paste is irresistibly soft and spreadable, like a sensual butter that can't wait to get on the baguette. Mild, sweet and faintly tangy, this is a great pairing with fresh berries, toasted hazelnuts and dried dates.
A superb aged gouda. The Beemster co-operative has been making and aging cheese for over a century in the Beemster municipality of the Netherlands. The Beemster polder is 20 feet below sea-level, with an incredibly nutrient-rich earth and grasses that sustain the cows for most of the year.
The co-op also works with Caring Dairy, a program that provides resources for farmers to maintain sustainability via appropriate energy use, healthy animals and a good economic return. Aged for a minimum of 26 months, Beemster X.O. is a hard, dense cheese with intense flavors of butterscotch, smoky caramel and toasted almonds. The texture is firm but maintains a butteriness that's irresistible, as well as the signature crunch that's found in a well-aged cheese. For a new twist on a classic dessert, try shaving Beemster X.O. over a bowl of vanilla ice cream or a slice of apple pie. Planning a hike or picnic? Forget the trail mix and pack some aged gouda, fresh apples and a bar of dark chocolate.
Wensleydale may be the butt of a few jokes around the cheese counter – Wallace & Gromit fans can barely contain themselves – but it's earned its place as a delicious, satisfying cheese.
Traditionally, a hearty country cheese meant to preserve milk into a nutritious, mobile food that would satiate quickly after hours of physical labor, this is still a product with minimal guile and subtle assertions. Each wheel is bound in cloth to mature with a natural rind, which leads to a slightly creamier, earthier layer under the rind and a smoother overall flavor than wheels aged in plastic or wax.
Our wheels are selected and aged by Neal's Yard Dairy in London, committed to preserving the farmstead cheese traditions of the UK. Wensleydale is lactic and yogurty in flavor with a slightly dry, brittle texture that breaks on the tongue irresistibly. The finish is long and buttery, leaving you craving another bite and a crisp, juicy apple.
California's first and only traditional blue cheese! Made in Point Reyes, CA by the Giacomini family with raw cow's milk from their own herd of Holsteins. The California fog and ocean breezes keep the cows cool and the grasses lush, a formula for some really great milk.
A long-time dairy family, the Giacominis started making cheese in 2000. They decided on blue cheese for its appeal both in the kitchen and for its role as part of a cheese course. The result? A sumptuous cheese that's both big and balanced. Each wheel is aged a minimum of six months, giving the cheese time to develop its signature creamy-crumbly texture and intense flavor. Bright, tangy and acidic, this is a great blue cheese to pair with fresh fruit, a crisp white wine, or something sweeter for dessert.
Names for the town of Gruyéres, Switzerland, a lion among mountain cheeses. Traditionally made at high altitudes with rich, grass-fed milk.
Alpine farmers pool their milk supplies to make these enormous 80-pound wheels which are then cave-aged. Our Antique Gruyére is aged a minimum of 12 months, allowing the flavor to concentrate and the texture to become firm with slight crunch from the crystallizing calcium lactate. At this age, the flavors are deeply sweet and nutty, with an earthy edge that becomes more prominent and aromatic the warmer the cheese becomes.
Gruyére can be quite stinky when melted, although the flavor remains buttery and smooth. A traditional ingredient in Fondue, potato gratin, or a traditional French jambon and cornichon sandwich. A superb eating cheese, Gruyére rounds out a cheese plate and pairs beautifully with fresh apples –universally appropriate!
"The King" is a coveted title claimed by a handful of cheeses and their fans – Stilton, Beaufort, Comte – but even these must tip their hat to Parmigiano Reggiano.
Italy's most famous cheese is also one of its oldest traditions, with a recipe that's centuries old and highly regulated for quality and consistency. Even among Reggianos, ours is well ahead of the pack. For 5 generations the producing family has hand-selected wheels of Reggiano direct from the producers and matured the cheese in their own vaults with great care. Aged for a minimum of two summers, the complexity of the grass-fed milk concentrates into deep, nutty and sweet flavors in the end product. Our Reggiano retains a springiness at 24 months that's rare in a cheese aged so long. This moisture gives these wheels a slightly softer paste than most of the same age, still achieving the high peaks of flavor that we look for without becoming over-dry and waxy.
Perhaps the most versatile and satisfying cheese we've ever met. Our favorite way to enjoy Reggiano is next to a glass of rich, complex, earthy red wine like Barolo or Barbaresco; these wines benefit from the nuttiness and low acidity of the cheese and together they truly sing for one another. Although in the U.S. most Reggiano is used for cooking, it is a fantastic table cheese that's low-fuss and delicious - great for cheese plates or a snack for a long hike. In the kitchen, try it grated over roasted asparagus or fresh pasta tossed with your favorite olive oil. Simply the best.
Real, true, old-fashioned English Cheddar, made in Somerset by cheesemakers Jamie Montgomery and Steve Bridges, then aged by the masters at Neal's Yard Dairy in London.
Made from the milk of grass-fed Friesian-Holstein cows; a rich, fresh & flavorful milk for cheesemaking. These 50-pound drums are larded and bound in muslin rather than aging in wax or plastic, allowing the cheese to breathe during affinage and develop a natural rind. The result is a drier, curdier texture than most cheddars with a truly complex flavor that ranges from tangy and lactic to grassy and earthy, with faintly sweet undertones.
This is a cheese that deserves some attention, making a great single-cheese course paired with an English ale or hard cider. Excellent with chutney or mustard and hearty bread, or eaten with fresh apples for a snack.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mario Kart comes to life with real-world Luigi bumblebee kart
A real-world go-kart based on Luigi's bumblebee vehicle from Mario Kart is currently being sold on eBay by user Heather651, with bidding ending later tomorrow.
The two-year old kart was part of a grand prize for a Disney Mario Kart 7 3DS sweepstake in 2011. The kart, which weighs in at around 100 lbs, was part of a prize valued at $14,000. Now it's currently priced at $1,000 on the eBay marketplace.
Check it out in full right here.


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Since there seem to be some confusion on Cincy Jungle about the Bengals exact cap standing during the past week:
Jacksonville Jaguars: $25,115,885
Tennessee Titans: $19,970,080
Cleveland Browns: $17,774,764
Kansas City Chiefs: $16,548,048
Cincinnati Bengals: $16,309,693
Philadelphia Eagles: $15,879,570
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $15,740,231
Indianapolis Colts: $14,595,514
Green Bay Packers: $11,255,804
Denver Broncos: $10,878,461
New England Patriots: $10,873,988
Minnesota Vikings: $10,595,534
Carolina Panthers: $8,769,801
Seattle Seahawks: $7,470,071
Buffalo Bills: $7,382,319
Dallas Cowboys: $7,188,021
Washington Redskins: $6,970,162
New York Jets: $6,044,153
Arizona Cardinals: $4,552,576
Miami Dolphins: $4,458,211
Houston Texans: $4,053,256
Chicago Bears: $3,976,700
Detroit Lions: $3,775,829
Pittsburgh Steelers: $3,734,063
St. Louis Rams: $3,602,486
San Francisco 49ers: $3,394,599
New York Giants: $3,119,114
San Diego Chargers: $2,862,095
Atlanta Falcons: $2,834,873
New Orleans Saints: $2,272,081
Oakland Raiders: $1,347,040
Baltimore Ravens: $606,858
source: NFL.com
Jags, Titans, Browns, and Chiefs all have more cap space. With the Eagles and Bucs both circling around the Bengals cap number. Regardless of which media talking head said it, the Bengals are not leading the NFL in cap space.


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Freida Pinto's has been the ultimate success story. Not quite from rags to riches, but certainly from a modelling agency, straight to the Oscar red carpet.
After the success of Slumdog Millionaire, Freida has just not looked back, and is sitting content as Hollywood offers pour in. After the announcement of a Woody Allen project with the likes of Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Naomi Watts, Freida is now being considered to be the next Bond girl.
Sources say that the producers first noticed Freida while casting for Quantum of Solace, but she was dropped because she would look too young. A few months later, it seems, she has matured enough to be the arm candy of Daniel Craig who plays the British spy.
Sources also say that the chances of the actress' participation in the film seem strong as executive producer of the film Barbara Broccoli is eager to cast her.


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Cody Larson's time at Florida has come to an end, as the forward's decided to leave the Gators.
Florida thumped its second straight overmatched foe in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. But it's the way the Gators are playing that is so tantalizing.
It's Not Plagiarism If You Link To It: Hawkeye Basketball, What Could Have Been
Chomping At Bits runs twice daily during the week and once daily on weekends, and comes stocked with the best Florida Gators links and news we can find. Got a link we should check out? Email us at A...
Jacoby Brissett may yet start for Florida against LSU. But one columnist was pushing for Brissett over Jeff Driskel as early as Friday morning.
Florida football player Dee Finley has had a felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor. And Florida basketball player Cody Larson accepted deferred prosecution stemming from an April incident.
The Gainesville Sun has some relatively good news today: the felony charges against Florida basketball players Erik Murphy and Cody Larson stemming from an April incident in St. Augustine have been...
Florida Gators basketball players Cody Larson and Erik Murphy were arrested, along with a "team manager" named Joshua Adel, and charged with burglary Sunday night. According to police, the trio...
Just over two weeks removed from a heartbreaking loss in the NCAA Tournament, Florida's basketball team has a new problem on its hands: As first tweeted by Gator Country's Thomas Goldkamp, Erik...
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To Jackson, where Lansing Sexton took an early lead when Da'vonte Chaffee plunged in from one-yard out. Big Reds were up 7-0 early on.
Jackson answered though when Javon Greca called his own number and dived for the goal line. The lead cut to one after a failed two-point attempt.
Sexton looked to go ahead for good, when Jay Alverez took a toss and powered in for a score.
Sexton remained undefeated with a 43-12 win over Jackson.


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Ever since Yao Ming went down in that classic series against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, the Rockets have been searching for a center who can fill the role of a shot-blocker, rebounder, and occasional scorer on the block. Chuck Hayes has started at the pivot admirably for two seasons, but stands at just 6'6" and can struggle against longer, finesse players that have invaded the league like fire ants over the last few years. Hayes, a free agent this off-season, will likely be brought back, but the Rockets must look to upgrade at the center position if they are interested in competing in the Western Conference in the near future.
After the jump, I'll run down all of the Rockets options at that frustrating position.Nene, free agent: After the Nuggets traded away Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks, many were quick to speculate on the Rockets' interest in Nene. The Rockets were known to have expressed interest in upgrading at the center, but, in the end, the Nuggets opted to hold on to Nene and hope for the best in contract negotiations.
Nene has an opt-out clause in his contract that he will likely exercise barring unforeseen circumstances and will enter free agency when it begins (right after the lockout). At 28, he may not be the long term answer at the center position, but he'd add a lot to a team that desperately needs size. He would not be the shot-blocking force some would want next to Luis Scola (or Patrick Patterson, if Scola is traded), but he would give the Rockets a very quick center who excels at scoring efficiently, a quality Daryl Morey would undoubtedly appreciate.
Aside from defensive issues and his age, the other problem with Nene would be how to acquire him. If Nene decides to leave Denver, he'll likely look for a contract starting at $10 million a year. However, as the Rockets already have committed $48 million next year to 11 players not including draft picks or free agents to be, signing Nene would require some interesting financial moves. The Rockets would have to convince the Nuggets to sign-and-trade him to Houston, and given the Nuggets' aversion to trading him to a conference rival, that might prove difficult to pull off.
Verdict: Not Worth It
Tyson Chandler, free agent: Chandler, like Nene, would present a number of issues related to his acquisition. After a huge comeback season, the Dallas Mavericks center will also likely demand seven figures as a starting point on a long term contract. Given the Rockets financial situation, it would be tough to swing.
However, unlike Nene, if the Rockets were willing to pay the price, Chandler could turn out to be a godsend to a defense that has so desperately needed a shot-blocking force for years. He struggled in Charlotte when asked to post up and score, but next to a scoring forward like Dirk this year, he excelled as he was just needed to play defense, secure rebounds, and finish alley-oops from Jason Kidd.
The only problem is Dallas, most notably Mark Cuban. After seeing that his squad has the potential to reach the NBA Finals as currently constituted, there is little to no chance that Cuban lets his stud center leave for greener pastures, especially not to a division rival in Houston. For that reason, bringing Chandler to Houston remains a pipe dream.
Verdict: Perfect fit, but not happening
DeAndre Jordan, Restricted Free Agent: For many, Jordan represents the ideal player for the Rockets to target when free agency begins. He's young, he's a good shot-blocker, and he might be available in a sign-and-trade as the Clippers are already paying Chris Kaman over $10 million a year to be, well, Chris Kaman. Jordan, a Houston native who attended Episcopal High School, has said that he would love to come back to his hometown, but, as has been the case with the others before him, there are problems with him.
Despite flashing some of the tools that had some scouts rating him as a top five draft prospect in the 2008 Draft, Jordan remains far from a complete player, lacking any semblance of an offensive game outside of the paint. He can make little hook shots if he gets the right position, but is a horrific free throw shooter and cannot make a jump shot.
Defensively, he grew up last season as he put himself in better position for blocks while still playing fundamental defense. He is not the stalwart on the block that Chuck Hayes is, but he'd be a definite upgrade on team defense, as he could help on penetration from wings much better than the height challenged Hayes.
Some will debate the merits of giving up assets and committing long term to a guy like Jordan after acquiring a similarly raw player in Hasheem Thabeet, but Jordan has proven himself over the last year to be a very good NBA center, something Thabeet hasn't done. If the Rockets are willing to give up an asset like Courtney Lee or a draft pick or two to make it happen, getting Jordan is possible, and he'd instantly provide the Rockets with a long term answer at the center position.
Verdict: Will be tough to get, but the Rockets' best option
Yao Ming, free agent: Here's where the debate gets really interesting. While few would argue that getting DeAndre Jordan for the right price would be great or that Tyson Chandler would be a great fit if we could pry him from Dallas, the topic of whether Yao should be brought back or not sparks incredible debate among Rockets fans. Some hope that he can regain his health and return to the dominant force that he was before a string of injuries while others just want to move on in a rebuilding phase.
After years joined at the hip to Yao because of a max contract extension he signed in September of 2005, the Rockets must finally make their own decision on him. Both sides have said they are amicable to an agreement, but until he signs his signature on a contract, it is impossible to tell whether he will be staying in Houston.
While the excitement of having the 7'6" center back again would undoubtedly help ticket sales, you have to wonder how much he has left after years of painful rehabilitation and horrific injuries. Even if he did come back, could he be counted on for more than 10 or 20 minutes a game? Would he be in and out of the lineup a la Tracy McGrady with various maladies? It is tough to say goodbye and I hope Yao can regain his form, but the Rockets should stay away.
Verdict: Time to Say Goodbye
Brad Miller, Houston Rockets: Don't worry, I'm just messing with you.
Verdict: Only value to the team is in his potential to rep the cornrows
Hasheem Thabeet, Houston Rockets: Like Yao, Thabeet inspires his fair share of debate among Rockets fans, with some thinking that his combination of size, athleticism, and a decent jump shot makes him more than an adequate center while others say that his inability to put it together in his first two years dooms his existence to one on the bench.
However, unlike Yao, it's time for the Rockets to give him a chance. While he was not a dominant force in the D-League, he showed that his offensive game has improved from the Jared Jeffries-esque levels that he showed off in Memphis. He flashed a nascent perimeter game, hitting face-up jumpers, and even made some nice finishes in the paint. He won't be confused for Hakeem Olajuwon any time soon, but he could thrive in a role off the bench for 20 minutes a game.
Verdict: Give him a chance, even if it's only to see what we have with him
Marc Gasol, restricted free agent: The odds are so laughably small that we can get him that I'm not going to even continue.
Verdict: Not happening


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Posts Tagged 'erection'
Penis or Mr. P is the male and is an external organ. Biologically, the function of Mr. P is as a means of disposal (excretory organs) fluid tangible metabolism (urination) and as a tool for reproduction. The peritoneum itself develops from mesoderm. By the time the baby is born, a vital tool has expanded. In some developmental disorders can occur Mr. P is hidden or there hermafroditisme, ie both sex organs are formed all.
In normal growth, Mr. P and bag testicles begin to experience growth during puberty (puberty legal age in Islamic religious terms). The hormone testosterone plays a role in this development. Having manhood size tools (Mr. P) which is more than average size, is an honor for a man. So there are some men who visit a doctor or visiting people who have special advantages to increase the size of the tool masculinity (Mr. P).
The way to raise or increase the size of male virility tools (Mr. P), among others:
Technique Points
This technique is a stretch at Mr. P to obtain a more optimal length. Pubococcygeus muscle is a muscle that is responsible for erection, power, length Mr.P and regulate the flow of urine.
Wet Technique
To perform this technique needed help lubricants like lotion. Before performing this technique, Grease first hand that will be used to process this technique then make a sign like 'OK' around Mr. P. Then slide your finger from the base of Mr. P toward the head. Both ways (techniques) to extend the size of male virility tools (Mr. P) is indeed not been clinically tested. But to achieve maximum results needed patience and consistent to keep doing therapy. Since both ways (techniques) to extend the tool virility man (Mr. P) can not make Mr. P grew longer in an instant (instant) although the results obtained will still be temporary. Hopefully useful.
Caring for Men Vital Organ
Although annoying, occasionally losing desire or failed to maintain an erection should not be too worried. Treatment, alcohol consumption, smoking and psychological factors such as depression, stress and anxiety at work can complicate matters. Stop smoking!
Meanwhile, their sex lives are just a leisurely stroll changed little. Running, swimming, and cycling are good choices.
Reduce fat
The doctors believe that diet to become a mighty man is a low-fat diet, with only 20 percent of calories come from fat. If you eat 2500 calories per day, then limit your fat intake is about 50 grams. Excess weight can cause your penis length is reduced. Hundreds of medications can cause impotence as a side effect, including diuretics, lowering high blood pressure, some antidepressants, and antipsychotics. Alcohol moderation
Alcohol is a depressant that slows reflexes function, including sexual though. Limit yourself to just two cans of beer or a glass of wine a day, said Saul Rosenthal, MD, director of the Sexual Therapy Clinic of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, and author of Sex over 40. Beware
Injury to the penis is often the cause of impotence, says Irwin Goldstein, MD, professor of urology at Boston University School of Medicine. "Injury to the penis can cause rupture of the fibrous wall that serves to resist the pressure when an erection occurs.


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President Barack Obama gave a full-throated defense of his attorney general, Eric Holder on Thursday.
But in 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama called for President George W. Bush's attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, to resign over the firing of a group of U.S. attorneys.
Obama, who voted against Gonzales' confirmation, told CNN that Gonzales seemed to "conceive" his role as the "president's attorney" instead of the "people's attorney."
"Part of the role of the attorney general is to say to the executive branch, 'Here are the limits of your power. Here are the things that you can't do.' I don't think Alberto Gonzales ever told the president that there was something he could not do," Obama said in 2007.
"What you get a sense of is an attorney general who saw himself as enabler of the administration as opposed to somebody who was actually trying to look out for the American people's interests. For that reason, I think it's time for him to step down and for another attorney general — who can exercise some independence — to be put for the remainder of this president's term."
Five years later, Obama was asked in a Univision interview on Thursday why he has not fired his Attorney General Eric Holder over the Fast and Furious operation that resulted in the deaths of approximately 100 Mexicans and U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
Despite the controversy surrounding Fast and Furious, Obama said on Thursday that he has "completely confidence" in Holder.
"I will tell you that Eric Holder has my complete confidence, because he has shown himself to be willing to hold accountable those who took these actions, and is passionate about making sure that we're preventing guns from getting into the wrong hands," Obama said.


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New Mass Effect game in early stages of design
Casey Hudson takes to Twitter to ask fans what they want to see in new Mass Effect.
Majority of DLC not included in Mass Effect Trilogy
Not quite the ultimate collection some had been hoping for.
The Week in Review: FIFA 13 is everywhere - but not in a shoebox - edition
The Week in Review is a weekend feature which takes fine-toothed comb over the week that was, hoping to point your eyes in the direction of news, features, videos and reviews which I deem to be worthy of your precious time.
Mass Effect Trilogy won't feature an optional FemShep cover
BioWare is planning 'a little something special' for FemShep not related to the cover.
To the ends of the universe - A look back at the Mass Effect trilogy
The biggest sci-fi series of this generation comes to an end.
No Souls Were Sold: An Insider Perspective on EA's BioWare
Did BioWare change when the studio was bought by publishing giant Electronic Arts?
Mass Effect's best moments
Here's some of our favourite moments from the first two games in the series.
BioWare writer Drew Karpyshyn retires from video games
Drew Karpyshyn, lead writer of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect 1 and co-lead on many of BioWare's other titles, has announced his retirement from video games.
Mess Affect: Reception - A Mass Effect fan fiction
William C. Dietz isn't the only person who can write a Mass Effect novel. WARNING: Doesn't contain spoilers, but may ruin your appreciation of the Mass Effect series.


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Buchanan Editorial Board Roundtable
Republican presidential candidate Buchanan, a former columnist and television commentator, spoke with members of the USA Today editorial board and answered questions about his policy ideas.
People in this video
- Benedetto, Richard Correspondent USA Today->White House
- Bennett, Susan Editor USA Today
- Buchanan, Patrick J. Presidential Candidate
- Gallager, Brian Correspondent USA Today
- Hurlburt, Sid Editor USA Today
- Jurgensen, Karen Editor USA Today->Editorial Page
- Raasch, Charles Correspondent Gannett News Service
- Reynolds, Barbara Editor USA Today
- Walte, Juan Correspondent USA Today
Hosting Organization
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Promise Keepers
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Health minister: 'Patients should be treated as individuals'
– Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter
There should be absolutely no place in the NHS for assumptions about entitlement to treatments that are based on age or any other form of unjustified discrimination.
All patients should be treated as individuals, with dignity and respect, and receive care that meets their healthcare needs - irrespective of their age.
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Greensburg Daily News
Indianapolis — The members of the Greensburg boys basketball team weren't the only students who enjoyed their memorable moment on the court Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Pictured, Greensburg senior David Navarra tips his hat to Greensburg fans after correctly answering a trivia question at halftime of the Pirates' State Championship victory over Fort Wayne Concordia. The questions, presented by Eddie White of Pacers.com, alternated between Navarra and a Concordia Lutheran student. The Pirates later returned to the court to capture Greensburg's first state championship in team sports.


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July 2, 2014
Travel Grants closed for Oct-Dec, 2014
January 16, 2014
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January 7, 2014
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Foundations of Online/Hybrid Course Development
Date: October 1, 2013
In this series, we will discuss the basics for developing a course with the online or hybrid designation. Designed to provide a starting point and to meet the requirements stated in the faculty handbook, we will orient you with resources and tools to begin your planning process with a foundation of quality standards. Participation in all components of the series is required.
Fall 2013
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Session 2
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A Different Life
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Granny's Got Game is a documentary film, directed by
Angela Alford and released in 2013, featuring seven women in their
seventies who are members of a North Carolina Senior basketball
team called the Fabulous Seventies as they try to win a National
Senior Games Championship. It follows them for the year leading up
to this major championship and sees them through all of the ups and
downs that they encounter as they seek to progress through the
earlier stages of the competition. The film's tagline, which is a
quote from Benjamin Franklin, usefully sums up the philosophy of
the film: "We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old
because we stop playing".
The film
Granny's Got Game is constructed around
monologues from all of the team members alternating with footage of
them practicing or competing on court in various state and regional
competitions on the way to the national championship in Texas.
Initially this involves them giving some background about their
sporting achievements as young women at high school and goes on to
talk about their physical health issues, the role of the team in
their lives and their friendships that have developed over time.
Some have developed significant physical health problems or have
suffered injuries on court, but even then they show a determination
to remain connected to the team by sitting on the bench during team
practice or playing with protective padding. They have been playing
together for seventeen years and so the women are able to offer a
significant historical perspective on the role of the team and
basketball in their lives as they are negotiating growing older.
They share many interesting insights about how they cope with the
experience of ageing.
Granny's Got Game provides the viewer with
a wonderful example of the benefits that regular physical exercise
in later life can bring, especially when it involves social contact
with team mates that encourages the development of mutually
supportive relationships. Indeed the film examines the nature of
friendships formed in later life and presents a clear argument in
support of the mental health benefits of maintaining or creating a
social network as we age. The style of the documentary helps the
viewer to connect with each of the women very quickly and to
appreciate their different personalities in relation to the task of
growing older.
There is an increasing public health need for
individuals at all ages and stages of life to take a greater
responsibility for their physical and mental well being. Regular
exercise is recognised as being central to achieving and
maintaining good health and preventing the development of many
diseases. Within the World Health Organisation Global Strategy on
Diet, Physical Activity and Health the recommendations for
Physical Activity and Older Adults are worth
quoting at length:
In order to improve cardiorespiratory
and muscular fitness, bone and functional health, reduce the
risk of NCDs (Non-communicable diseases, which include a range of
chronic conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular
disease and hypertension), depression and cognitive
Older adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity
aerobic physical activity throughout the week or do at least 75
minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout
the week or an equivalent combination of moderate- and
vigorous-intensity activity.
Aerobic activity should be performed in bouts of at least 10
minutes duration.
For additional health benefits, older adults should increase their
moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity to 300 minutes per
week, or engage in 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic
physical activity per week, or an equivalent combination of
moderate-and vigorous-intensity activity.
Older adults, with poor mobility, should perform physical activity
to enhance balance and prevent falls on 3 or more days per
Muscle-strengthening activities, involving major muscle groups,
should be done on 2 or more days a week.
When older adults cannot do the recommended amounts of physical
activity due to health conditions, they should be as physically
active as their abilities and conditions allow.
There is further useful information on the benefits
of physical activity for older adults on the
NHS choices website with some detailed guidelines
about the 150 minutes a week recommended for better physical
health. The webpage also includes an excellent short video about a
playground designed for the over-60s somewhere in the UK in which
users also link the social benefits of exercising with others
outside of the home.
This is a wonderfully uplifting, at times moving,
and compelling documentary film and I think anyone interested in
working with older people would benefit hugely from watching
• More information about Granny's Got Game
can be found at IMDB and
an extended trailer is available to view at Vimeo.
• Granny's Got Game can be purchased from
• Minds on Film is written by Consultant
Psychiatrist, Dr Joyce Almeida
The Savages, written and directed by Tamara
Jenkins, and described as a tragicomedy, was released in 2007. It
tells the story of two middle aged siblings, Wendy and John,
estranged from their father Lenny for many years, who are suddenly
faced with his physical and cognitive decline in older age, which
demands their involvement. The film explores the different
responses of the two siblings to this enforced caring relationship
in light of the revelations about their father's abusive
relationship to them both as children. Of interest to Old Age
Psychiatrists is the suggestion that Lenny is suffering from a
dementia associated with Parkinson's Disease, allowing for a
discussion about the possible differential diagnosis.
The filmThe Savages opens in
a retirement village in Sun City, Arizona, where Lenny Savage,
played by Philip Bosco, is living with his long time girlfriend
Doris, who has a home healthcare professional, Eduardo, to assist
her with her daily living. When Lenny fails to flush the toilet
after Eduardo asks him to do so, and Lenny writes an insult on the
bathroom wall with his faeces, alarm bells start ringing. Shortly
after this Doris dies and her family call Wendy, played by Laura
Linney, to inform her of the crisis. Both siblings John, played by
Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Wendy are deeply engrossed in their own
lives on the east coast of the USA where John is a professor of
drama and Wendy a playwright yet to find financial backing. Neither
have settled relationships and both seem to struggle with a life
outside of their work. As they meet in Arizona to visit their
father, they learn that he has no legal right to live in his
girlfriend's home and that he has been admitted to hospital for
tests after suffering from episodes of faintness and the faecal
smearing incident. On their first visit to see Lenny in hospital,
John and Wendy find him restrained in bed because he was attempting
to pull out his intravenous line and to get up from bed despite
being unsteady and having falls. The doctor informs them that their
father does not have vascular dementia but most likely a dementia
associated with Parkinson's disease, which accounts for his masked
face and blank stare, his disinhibition, aggression and fluctuating
John decides to find a nursing home for Lenny near
to where he lives and although Wendy considers that they should try
to look after their father or find him a supported living
placement, she is reluctantly persuaded that residential care is
the only realistic option. Once a residential placement has been
sorted out by John, Wendy is tasked with bringing her father to
Buffalo, New York state, by plane from Arizona. This is a painful
scene that brings home the reality and potential difficulties of
traveling any distance with someone who suffers from a
significantly disabling dementia, as Lenny becomes perplexed and
agitated when in the unfamiliar surroundings of the aircraft cabin
and cannot move about freely. Once admitted to the Valley View home
in Buffalo, Lenny shows his complete lack of understanding about
his circumstances, believing it to be a hotel. Wendy's guilt cannot
be assuaged and she attempts to get her father admitted to 'a much
nicer' residential home. However, this requires Lenny to 'pass an
interview' that proves he is not cognitively impaired. Of course he
fails this test but remains unaware and unaffected by the heated
emotional discussion that follows between Wendy and John as the
latter tries to get his sister to accept their father's disability
and his consequent care needs. The film follows the siblings as
they deal with Lenny's death and the period that follows it as they
move forward positively in their individual lives, able to mourn
for their father, whilst being released from their traumatic
childhood experiences.
The Savages offers an excellent
opportunity to consider the issue of care for an elderly person who
may not have any close biological family ties. In contrast to the
first film in this movie series,
A Simple Life, that portrayed the bond
of employer and employee proving strong enough to support an ageing
housekeeper after her move into a care home, The Savages
deals with estranged adult children forced into the caring role by
duty. As more people in our society live longer and suffer from
dementia in greater numbers, these issues are likely to become
increasingly important for professionals to consider and
understand, as not everyone has family members prepared to take on
the unpaid role of personal carer. The need for greater support of
people suffering with dementia in the community is acknowledged in
the UK and a recent initiative by Public Health England and the
Alzheimer's Society is encouraging people to learn more about
dementia in order that they might befriend someone with the
illness. This initiative is called
Dementia Friends and more information can be
found on the Alzheimer's Society website.
The other topic of psychiatric interest in this
film is Lenny's tentative diagnosis of dementia related to
Parkinson's disease. This provides the opportunity for learning
about dementia in Parkinson's disease and Lewy-body dementia. As
Lenny has a masked face with a blank stare, disinhibition,
aggression, apathy, faintness, unsteadiness with falls and
fluctuating disorientation it might be argued that he most likely
has dementia with Lewy bodies as the cognitive change precedes the
development of the classic Parkinsonian movement disorder. In
contrast, dementia in Parkinson's disease usually presents first
with the classic movement disorder and later with the cognitive
impairment. However, both conditions are caused by the presence of
Lewy bodies in various areas of the brain and their location
determines the symptoms that are seen. The Alzheimer's society has
a good information page about dementia with Lewy bodies
)and the Alzheimer's
Association in the USA has a good page outlining
the difference between both DLB and dementia in Parkinson's
disease. In addition, for mental health professionals, a detailed
article on
Dementia with Lewy bodies by I G McKeith,
published in BJPsych in 2002 (The British Journal of Psychiatry
(2002)180: 144-147) might be useful to read.
The Savages is a sad and painful film to
watch as it deals with a difficult subject that many people wish to
avoid until it visits their own circle of family or friends.
However, by the end of the film there is a positive sense that the
adult siblings have found a stronger and more meaningful
relationship with each other as a result of being forced to
confront the care of their father before his death and that this
may also have helped them to find better fulfillment in their lives
generally. As a depiction of the guilt suffered by adult children
often associated with placing a parent with dementia into
residential care The Savages is essential viewing.
• More information about The Savages can
be found at IMDB as
can a short trailer.
• The Savages can be purchased from
• Minds on Film is written by Consultant
Psychiatrist, Dr Joyce Almeida
Wrinkles is a feature length animated film
directed by Ignacio Ferreras and first released in Spanish in 2011.
An English language version has been released in April 2014, with a
soundtrack dubbed into English as well as with English subtitles.
The screenplay is based on the award winning graphic novel of the
same name by Paco Roca. The film won 3 awards in 2012. I
would highly recommend first watching the film in the original
Spanish with English subtitles as the tone is significantly
different in the dubbed version voiced by Martin Sheen and
Matthew Modine.
Ending with the dedication 'To all the old
people of today and of tomorrow' this is a film intended to place
the viewer in an environment that all of us may one day encounter.
It explores the very real vulnerabilities brought about by memory
impairment in dementia but also the value of later life friendships
that may develop in a residential setting. In particular, Wrinkles
focuses on the bond that is formed between Miguel and Emilio, two
elderly gentlemen in a residential care home, one of who has
Alzheimer's type dementia.
Wrinkles begins cleverly by introducing us to
Emilio, a bank manager, turning down a mortgage application for a
young couple. This is revealed as a misperception as, in reality,
he is refusing to cooperate with his son and daughter-in-law who
are trying to persuade him to eat his supper and take his
medication so that they can leave for a concert. This incident
appears to be the trigger for Emilio's admission to a residential
care home, arranged by his son, where he is immediately confronted
by an elderly man who repeats everything that is said to him.
Perplexed and lost, Emilio says good-bye to his family and is shown
to the room he will share with another man called Miguel, who has
no apparent cognitive impairment. Miguel immediately undertakes to
show Emilio around the home and becomes his support in the new and
unfamiliar environment. However, as he does so it becomes apparent
that Miguel makes money from a number of other residents by
charging them for favours that they do not actually get from
him. Emilio learns from Miguel that the upstairs in the home is for
the more severely ill residents who can no longer care for
themselves and that he
must avoid going there at all costs. To this end, Miguel tries to
cover up Emilio's failing memory and abilities by diverting
attention during the doctor's mental state test of him. Emilio's
family only visit him at Christmas when he fails to
his young grandson who
asks him why he is wearing his jumper over his suit jacket and
startles him by taking flash photographs. The lost family
connection is palpable.
With the exception of some slightly
improbable incidents involving the care home swimming pool and a
car ride near the end of the film that causes a final deterioration
in Emilio's mental state, the day to day routine is captured very
well. The group of friendships formed at the dining table serve as
a focus for certain conversations that trigger poignant flashbacks
from childhood for several of the residents, including Emilio, and
the nature and strength of earlier bonds of love become apparent.
It is only when Emilio has deteriorated sufficiently to need care
upstairs that Miguel becomes sad at the loss of his friendship, but
this in turn prompts a change in his behaviour toward other residents, perhaps
proving the old adage that 'it's never too
Wrinkles provides the viewer with a
vicarious experience of life in a care home environment with
numerous examples of residents vulnerable to emotional and
financial abuse as a result of their dementia, who are being
exploited by Miguel without the knowledge of staff. The film
highlights an important problem for dementia sufferers who have
significant memory impairment, in that they are often unable to
clearly recall wrong doing of any kind and therefore cannot report
it to others. This aspect of the film would make a very good focus
for teaching about such abuse. A viewing of Wrinkles
alongside a
reading of the Safeguarding Policy from the Office of Public
Guardian in the UK would offer an excellent platform for
discussing the important topic of safeguarding adults at risk
(previously called vulnerable adults). The film also illustrates
the problem of paranoia that can arise as a result of impaired
memory when Miguel eventually finds Emilio's watch and wallet
hidden carefully for safekeeping in their shared room, after Emilio
has repeatedly accused Miguel of taking both
With the care home sector under
particular scrutiny at present and with the prospect of many more
elderly people needing care in such settings, these are important
topics to discuss openly within our society. A very interesting
account of her own move into a residential home, by the 96 year old
author Diana Athill, in
Guardian in
2010, would make additional complementary reading to the film. In
contrast to Athill's personal decision to move in to
residential care, Emilio, who is suffering from dementia, is not
happy to leave his home and the move is arranged by his son. This
issue presents an opportunity for teaching about the deprivation of
liberty safeguards (DOLS), a part of the
Mental Capacity
Act, and whether such a move is in
Emilio's best interests. One could debate whether, if the care home
was in the UK, Emilio should have his deprivation of liberty
by the procedure known as
DOLS, especially in light of the recent supreme court judgment in
March 2014 stating that anyone under continuous control and
supervision of staff and who is not effectively free to leave
whenever they choose, should be protected by the independent
scrutiny that DOLS provides. For a good summary on
supreme court
judgement, see the RCPsych web page.
Wrinkles is a warmly moving and at
times humorous animation that deals with a difficult subject
extremely well. It is essential viewing for all care home staff and
might encourage greater empathy and understanding about the plight
of residents, and assist in the training of staff dealing with some
of the most vulnerable individuals in our
More information about
Wrinkles can be found at IMDB as can a short trailer.
Wrinkles can be purchased
Minds on Film is written by
Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Joyce
A Simple Life is directed and co-produced by Ann Hui and
was released in the UK in 2012. Set in Hong Kong, it is in
Cantonese with English subtitles and stars some very well known
Hong Kong actors and actresses, namely Andy Lau and Deanie Ip, who
won the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival 2011, and at
eight other festivals, for her role as Ah Tao. Inspired by the true
life experiences of one of the film's producers and co-writer,
Roger Lee, the film focuses on the changing relationship between Ah
Tao, a maid to the Leung family for 60 years, who looks after Roger
an unmarried film producer and the only one of the family remaining
in Hong Kong after they relocated to America. Ah Tao's life is the
simple life of the title and the film follows the reversal of their
caring role after Ah Tao suffers a stroke and Roger becomes
involved in providing support for her. The director, herself now 66
years old, has described the film as a documentary style drama in
which she sought to portray the featured Hong Kong residential care
home in a realistic way, making it of particular interest to Old
Age Psychiatrists.
A Simple Life opens with Ah Tao buying
food in the local market where she seems well known and warmly
regarded as a quirky character. She then cooks a luxurious, healthy
meal of fish for Roger which she delivers with minimal fuss or
conversation but maximum care and attention. Her loyalty is very
apparent. Their relationship, although one of employer and
employee, is seemingly symbiotic and words are almost unnecessary
as they have such mutual understanding that has developed since
Roger was young. Ah Tao raised Roger as a baby and child and he is
now a successful film producer who travels a lot but does not have
a wife or partner. On returning from a trip to mainland China, Ah
Tao does not answer the door to the flat. Roger eventually finds
that she has collapsed inside having suffered a stroke and she is
admitted to hospital. As she begins to recover a little, Ah Tao
states that she must now retire and wishes to live in a care home.
Roger helps to find a suitable place and then finds that he is
drawn to regular contact with Ah Tao as he becomes her provider.
She requests that Roger inform his mother about Ah Tao's situation,
as the majority of the Leung family now live in America. A visit
follows which delights Ah Tao but highlights the more distant bond
that Roger has with his mother in contrast to that which he has
with Ah Tao. Her gradual recovery from the stroke allows greater
freedom to leave the care home on outings with Roger, which she
never takes for granted, and they begin to develop a friendship
quite distinct from their previous relationship. Roger takes Ah Tao
to a film premiere where he introduces her as his godmother, which
touches her enormously. Their bond is finally sealed as they leave
the screening arm in arm talking about the film. Interspersed with
the portrayal of their developing relationship are scenes involving
other residents at the care home. After suffering another stroke,
Ah Tao is confined to a wheelchair and deteriorates steadily with
dignified acceptance and serenity. Roger is at her bedside in
hospital as her death approaches, with the full awareness of how
important Ah Tao was to him.
A Simple Life tackles the very topical
subject of how best we can provide care for older people no longer
able to live independently. The film shows the effect on Ah Tao, a
previously productive, capable individual, who enjoyed being a
carer, when she chooses to move into institutional care after
suffering a stroke. The film sensitively examines the nature of the
bonds that sustain people in residential care providing a
commentary on the importance of non-familial as well as familial
bonds. The opportunity to compare these issues as seen in another
culture with our own experiences here in the UK, and elsewhere, is
a useful and important exercise that broadens and deepens our
understanding of elderly care.
A Simple Life highlights certain positive
interventions that enhance the lives of those in residential care,
such as meaningful engagement in groups, access to the community,
the importance of visitors, the joy of pet therapy sessions and
above all the delivery of compassionate care. It also hints at the
cynicism of some who interact with the residents during the visit
of a professional singer and her entourage for the Autumn Festival
as they snatch the gifts away from the residents after photographs
are taken so that they can use them at the next care home. The film
also reminds the viewer of the commonly felt loss of privacy
experienced by individuals relinquishing their own home for a life
lived in a communal space which is often the most troubling
prospect for those elders facing a move into residential care.
With its slow and gentle pace, and its deeply
humane perspective, this film is a gem and a real joy to watch. I
would highly recommend it to anyone working with older people.
• More information about A Simple Life can
be found at IMDB as
can a short trailer.
• A Simple Life can be purchased from
Les Invisibles is a documentary film about the
experiences of being lesbian, gay or bisexual
in Southern France. In French with English subtitles Les
Invisibles was directed by Sébastien Lifshitz and released in 2012.
It features a number of men and women aged 60, 70 and 80 recounting
their memories of 'coming out' and living with their sexual
orientation at a time when this was not easy. The film includes
some accounts of the emerging gay rights movement in France,
accompanied by archive film footage, and also reminds us that when
many of the interviewees were discovering their homosexuality or
bisexuality, it was still classed as a mental illness. As same sex
marriages are now legal and available in England and Wales from
March 29th 2014, but certain other countries are making it harder
to be openly LGBT, Les Invisibles is an important film to highlight
at this particular moment.
Les Invisibles is composed around a series of
monologues delivered to camera by various men and women either
alone or in couples and in their home environments. Each person
starts by explaining how they first became aware of their sexual
orientation and what implications this had on their immediate
relationships with family, friends or work colleagues. They then
proceed to discuss the experience of being lesbian, gay or bisexual
through adulthood up until the present time, in which the effects
of ageing now play a part. At all times respectful, the integrity
and dignity of all participants are portrayed beautifully as they
describe the struggles that many endured by being open about their
sexual orientation at a time when this was widely disapproved
Les Invisibles provides the viewer with an
important reminder about the continued existence of sexual
behaviour in older age, whether heterosexual, bisexual or
homosexual in orientation. It is also the case that, as it has
become easier in our society to be openly gay, there is an
increasingly visible elderly population who need acknowledging
within that community and that this may not be quite so easy for
them. As an article in
The Guardian newspaper in September 2013 describes,
the sheltered housing and care home sector can present significant
difficulties for older LGBT people. The Alzheimer's Society has a
useful webpage providing advice on the topic, entitled:
Moving into a care home - advice for lesbian, gay and bisexual
This is a very warmly moving documentary that
handles its subject matter sensitively whilst providing valuable
insights for all who may encounter elder LGBT people as they work
within the caring professions.
• More information about Les Invisibles can be
found at IMDB as
can a short trailer.
• The Les Invisibles can be purchased from
The Impossible is a film about a British
family caught up in the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, directed by
Spanish film director J.A. Bayona and released in 2012. It is based
on the true story of a Spanish family, the Alvarez Belóns, whose
detailed account provided by María Belón
Alvarez informed the making of the film at all stages.
Bayona has described the process he chose to create the Tsunami
scenes using digital effects and a huge water tank to replicate the
moments of chaos after the wave hits the beach resort in order to
make them as realistic as possible. He worked with real water
surges to destroy miniatures of the resort, while Naomi Watts and
Tom Holland, who play mother Maria and her son Lucas, filmed for
five weeks in the tank for the turbulent underwater scenes. The
film received much critical acclaim and prompted Simon Jenkins, a
British survivor of the Tsunami from the same beach resort, to
comment on its authenticity in a film blog entitled
The Impossible is 'beautifully accurate'
written for The Guardian in January 2013, in
response to some criticism that the film didn't focus on the
majority of local victims.
The Impossible opens with the Bennett
family on the plane to Thailand for Christmas.
When they arrive at the resort of Khao Lak they are
mildly disappointed to discover that they have not been given the
rooms that they had booked but then find that the replacement
beachside suite is much to their satisfaction. After celebrating
Christmas day with an exchange of presents there is no awareness of
how significant one of those gifts, a red ball, will become in the
events that follow. On Boxing Day, as the family are relaxing and
playing by the poolside there is a sudden change of atmosphere and
with almost no warning the scene is swamped by a ferocious wave.
The devastation that follows is powerfully experienced by the
viewer as mother Maria and her eldest son, Lucas are tossed around
beneath the water like rag dolls. Maria is seriously wounded, but
they manage to stay together and survive being swept inland. Lucas
finds himself having to find the strength required to become his
mother's main support and with the help of some locals she is taken
to a hospital nearby. As this story is told there is no indication
of how the other family members have fared and the pain of not
knowing is brilliantly recreated in the midst of the most extreme
chaos that has been inflicted on the area. Then we see father Henry
(played by Ewan McGregor) searching the wreckage of the beachside,
calling for Maria and Lucas, until returning to the rubble of the
hotel where his two young sons are waiting. The emotional pain of
separation is palpable in all of the characters and at this stage
neither family group knows whether the other is alive or dead.
Henry then makes an agonisingly difficult decision to put his two
youngest sons in the care of the authorities for evacuation to
safety while he continues to search for Maria and Lucas in all of
the surrounding hospitals.
The remaining suspenseful scenes show how the
family are finally reunited at the hospital where Maria receives
life saving treatment. The film ends as they are evacuated by plane
to Singapore only then beginning to process the fact that they have
survived where so many others did not.
The Impossible provides the viewer with
the vicarious experience of a sudden and serious life changing
event that is an immediate threat to life, placing us,
cinematically, under the Tsunami wave with Maria and Lucas. It also
presents a powerful portrait of the emotional consequences of
separation in the immediate aftermath of the disaster and provokes
the viewer to question what they would do in such a situation. The
harrowing portrait of survival against the odds offers an excellent
opportunity to explore the psychological consequences that such
traumas might cause in both the short and the long term. A good
article to read alongside a viewing of the film is called Early
mental health intervention after disasters by David A.
Alexander, published in
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2005)
11:12-18. In it the author examines the factors
that may play a part in determining the ability of survivors to
cope with the impact of such events and notes that very few people
display overt psychopathology in the immediate period after a
The Impossible is not a comfortable film
to watch, although with the knowledge that it is based on true
events, it is hugely compelling and involves a significant
emotional commitment by the viewer. This is an important film for
anyone working in mental health to see, especially for anyone who
may work with people affected by sudden trauma or who have been
caught up in a disaster.
• More information about The Impossible
can be found at IMDB
as can a short trailer.
• The Impossible can be purchased from
The Crash Reel is a documentary directed
by UK film director Lucy Walker which premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival in January 2013. It tells the story of
champion snowboarder, Kevin Pearce, who suffered a serious head
injury in 2009, in his early twenties, whilst training for the 2010
Winter Olympics. It follows him and his family through the
difficult stages in the immediate aftermath of his injury, when he
spent six days in a coma, through the stages of his physical
recovery to the following years in which they are all confronted by
the cognitive changes caused by his traumatic brain injury
As well as considering the very personal circumstances of Kevin
Pearce and his family, this documentary explores the world of
extreme sports from the perspective of both the athletes and the
spectators. Athletes are driven to perform ever more spectacular
stunts, perhaps motivated in part by greater sponsorship deals, and
spectators seek the thrill of watching them take these extreme
risks. The documentary's title refers to the portfolio of filmed
crashes that snowboarders collect over time and which audiences
enjoy watching. By juxtaposing many of these filmed falls with the
reality of Kevin Pearce's accident, and some other snowboarding
tragedies, the film challenges the viewer to feel differently about
those Crash Reels in the future. The director discusses some of
these issues in an interesting
interview given at the Sheffield documentary festival
in 2013.
The Crash Reel opens with footage from the
successful years of Kevin Pearce's rise to fame as a champion
snowboarder, competing for the top spot with his life long rival
Shaun White, and hoping to take a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver
Winter Olympics. Kevin is seen to be a fearless, talented young
man, from a hugely supportive, loving family, at the height of his
athletic ability when he suffers a terrible accident, during a
training session, that results in his traumatic brain injury. The
film follows Kevin and his family as he progresses steadily through
each stage of his rehabilitation.
Of particular interest, are the scenes with Kevin's
parents and his brothers, one of whom, David, has Downs syndrome.
David is given the opportunity to talk about his own struggle with
his disability in a very open and honest way that gives further
insight into how this family functions. The positive effect that
his family undoubtedly has on Kevin's recovery is recorded in an
unsentimental way. The film also provides the viewer with empathic
understanding of how challenging it could be to interact with
someone you love who has lost their judgement and insight about
their mental and physical abilities. The interactions between David
and Kevin are particularly significant in helping the family try to
persuade Kevin to reconsider his desire to return to snowboarding
again, and are fascinating to watch.
However, despite his family's misgivings, Kevin is
determined to make a return to snowboarding, only to find that he
cannot function at anywhere near his previous level of ability,
causing him much frustration but forcing him to realise that he
must accept the different person that he has become.
Several other stories are told alongside Kevin's
and they do not have such a positive outcome. One of these is the
tragic death of freestyle skier, Sarah Burke, on exactly the same
half-pipe where Kevin had his accident. Another story focuses on
the snowboarder, Trevor Rhuda, who has been left with severe
cognitive and physical disabilities resulting from three successive
TBIs caused by a return to snowboarding against medical advice.
Kevin meets with him and his mother and is visibly moved by hearing
his mother describe Trevor's aggressive challenging behaviour and
inappropriate affect. This seems to shift something for Kevin in
his understanding of his own limitations and for the first time
brings some insight that he should accept his 'new brain' and his
'new life'. With this improvement comes a sense of progress again,
more than two years after his accident. Finally Kevin begins to
find a role as a sports commentator and as an advocate for others
with TBI which brings him a renewed purpose and enjoyment, albeit
of a very different kind.
The Crash Reel offers the viewer a perfect
opportunity to learn about traumatic brain injury and its
long term sequelae. Through the portrait of Kevin both before and
after his accident and during his lengthy recovery phase one gets a
good sense of the protracted time it may take for recovery to
occur. In conjunction with the recently released and updated
guidance by NICE on the management of Head
Injury (CG176), the film might be especially useful
for those teaching students from a variety of healthcare
disciplines. From a mental health perspective, the film is
particularly good at presenting the effect that Kevin's TBI has had
on his insight, judgement, memory, mood and ability to regulate his
impulses. Further learning is provided in a scene where Kevin's
brain scans are shown to him by a specialist who points out the
area of damage that explain some of his ongoing difficulties.
The Crash Reel also offers the opportunity to teach
about the assessment of mental capacity by considering the changes
that the viewer is shown in Kevin's ability to understand, weigh up
and make fully formed judgements about whether to snowboard again.
The contrast between Kevin and Trevor Rhuda on this issue is
brilliantly illustrated in the scene where Trevor seems unable to
weigh up the important information presented to him by Kevin. Most
significant, however, is the demonstration of an alteration in
Kevin's mental capacity over time as he recovers greater insight
and executive function, which is a really important aspect to
consider when teaching about this topic. In essence, it
demonstrates that mental capacity assessments must always be
decision and time specific.
In the USA The Crash Reel has given rise to a
campaign called LOVEYOURBRAIN
led by Kevin
Pearce which aims to inform people, especially
snowboarders and skiers, about TBI. The Kevin Pearce Fund has also
been established to help fund organisations that support families
facing challenges as a result of TBI. In the UK, the charity
Headway offers
advice and information about brain injury and has some excellent
resources available on its website about the condition. This film
offers an important learning opportunity for anyone wanting to know
more about living life with a brain injury and I would highly
recommend it.
• More information about The Crash Reel can be
found at IMDB as can a
short trailer.
• The Crash Reel can be purchased from
For the third blog in my series about drug addiction, I would
like to recommend Trapped in a Purple Haze, an American film made
for TV, directed by Eric Laneuville, which was first shown in 2000.
It was subsequently released on DVD in the UK in 2004. This
film provides a good portrait of the process in which a middle
class teenager becomes addicted to heroin. There are excellent
performances by Jonathan Jackson as teenager Max Hanson and Carly
Pope as his girlfriend Molly White.
Trapped in a Purple Haze begins at a high school ice hockey
match where we first meet Max Hanson, the star player on the team,
and see him scoring a goal that wins the match. Evidently happy
with his success as a sportsman, Max enjoys the acclaim he receives
from his peers but it soon becomes apparent that his mother's hopes
for him are very different. She wants him to develop his talent as
an artist, something she had wanted to do but had abandoned when
she had a family. Max tries to tell his mother that he is not so
sure about pursuing a career in art but she is reluctant to listen.
Max finds himself attracted to a girl at school called Molly who
seems impressed with his sporting prowess and invites him to a
party. The relationship with Molly develops quickly into a powerful
and intoxicating means of escaping from the intrusive scrutiny of
his mother. It is Molly who introduces Max to drugs and a whole new
world associated with them. The film follows Max on a painful
downward spiral as his successful school career slips away from him
and he loses his place on the hockey team. He becomes estranged
from his close friends as he is drawn ever deeper into the world of
drug addiction and associated criminal activity. Max begins to
suffer from some physical health problems as a result of using
heroin, which others start to notice. However, with his family's
concerns dismissed and their influence diminished, Max disregards
their concerns and leaves home for a precarious existence on the
edges of society. It takes the persistence of his father, who
searches for Max after a serious incident occurs involving the
police, to find him just in time although he is by then suffering
from extremely serious health problems. It is only then, and after
discovering the tragic death of Molly from a heroin overdose, that
Max agrees to seek help with the support of his family.
Trapped in a Purple Haze explores some of the underlying reasons
that young people may come to find themselves addicted to illegal
drugs, in particular the peer pressure from other teenagers,
especially when this involves a romantic attachment. The film
provides a context for Max's initial rebellious behaviour by
sensitively portraying the difficult relationship that he struggles
to manage with his mother, whose high expectations of him feel
intolerable. At the same time his mother's failings in her
relationship with Max are portrayed with depth and understanding,
showing the complexity that always exists when a parent 'tries to
do the best for their child'. As a viewer, one can gain empathic
experience of Max's need to escape from a suffocating home
environment in which his hopes and wishes cannot be heard. This
might help someone to understand why a young person, such as Max,
could seek relief through substance abuse from such pressures when
the drugs are provided by a very desirable other who appears to
offer appreciation and understanding. Trapped in a Purple Haze goes
on to portray the physical addiction that develops with the use of
heroin and how the supply of that substance becomes the main focus
of desire and daily necessity for Max.
As an educational resource, the film offers the opportunity to
consider and discuss the variety of underlying causes that may
result in a previously well functioning, successful young person
developing an addiction with all of the serious associated health
and social consequences that Max suffers. It openly invites
commentary on the way in which Max is parented by his mother and
father and allows the viewer to gain understanding of why treatment
must often involve some form of psychotherapeutic intervention with
the whole family.
An openly available article published in Advances in Psychiatric
Treatment, in 2000, entitled Substance misuse in adolescents by
Harith Swadi (Advances
in Psychiatric Treatment (2000) 6: 201-210) offers a
good introduction to this subject area and would be useful to read
alongside a viewing of the film for teaching purposes. A more
recent article in the same journal called Adolescent substance
misuse: an update on behaviours and treatments by Paul McArdle and
Bisharda Angom (APT July 2012 18:299-307
abstract) brings the discussion up to date.
* More information about Trapped in a Purple Haze can be found
at IMDB.
* Trapped in a Purple Haze can be purchased from
* Minds on Film is written by Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Joyce
For my second blog about drug addiction as portrayed in films, I
would highly recommend Oslo, August 31st, a Norwegian film
subtitled in English, directed by Joachim Trier and released in
2011. The film focuses on the process of recovery from drug
addiction and touches on the difficulties of reintegration back
into a community after time spent in an inpatient treatment unit.
Widely acclaimed, and with a fantastic central performance by
Anders Danielson Lie who plays Anders, the film follows him for 24
hours of authorised leave as he travels to Oslo for a job interview
where he also meets up with some old friends and family. It is a
subtle portrait of his internal thought processes as he appraises
his place in the world without drugs and reflects on why he has
ended up facing the very real challenges of finding intimacy and
employment at the age of 34 after squandering his potential for
success as a young intellectual middle class adult.
The film opens with a collage of personal home-movie memories
narrated by people who grew up in Oslo. Then we see Anders draw the
curtains in a room overlooking a city before watching him walk
through woodland to a lake where he unsuccessfully attempts to
drown himself. He returns, soaking wet, to the drug rehabilitation
centre situated in the countryside on the outskirts of Oslo. After
making good progress in conquering his heroin addiction, Anders is
granted leave to visit Oslo for a job interview at a magazine
publisher. Before his appointment, he phones his ex girlfriend and
leaves a message on her phone asking to have contact with her
again. He visits a previously close friend and peer, Thomas, who is
now married with children and is a successful academic. The
encounter seems to highlight just how much Anders has lost in terms
of his purpose in life when compared to the achievements of his old
friend. However, Thomas confesses that his existence isn't quite as
wonderful as it first appears which raises the issue of what
actually constitutes happiness in life for these old friends now
that they must accept greater responsibility as they age. Thomas
invites him to an old friend's birthday party that evening but
Anders declines. Having had no reply from his ex girlfriend, he
tries phoning her again and leaves another message.
The job interview acts as a pivotal point in the film, as it
reveals Anders' poor self-esteem and lack of confidence in his
journalistic abilities. Forced to reveal his drug addiction as a
cause for the gap in his CV, Anders doesn't wait to hear the
response from his interviewer and storms out, as if uncovered as a
fraud, using the experience as supporting evidence for the
hopelessness of his life now. He arranges to meet his sister in a
cafe but finds her female partner there in her place. He demands a
key to their parents' home, which she reluctantly provides him, but
he is hurt that his sister did not come to see him and he leaves
the café angrily. He later decides to go to the birthday party
after all only to find that Thomas and his wife haven't turned up.
At the party he encounters an ex-lover and much temptation in the
form of freely available alcohol, which he starts to drink. He
meets a young woman and follows her and two others to a club in the
city, followed by a night spent 'on the town', although his mind
seems resolutely fixed on his ex girlfriend and his feelings of
alienation. He then acquires some illegal drugs. In the final
scene, Anders visits his parent's home where he makes a crucial
Oslo, August 31st examines the very important issue of how a
recovering drug addict reintegrates into society after the initial
stages of treatment and the maintenance of abstinence for a short
period of time. By focusing on 24 hours in Anders' life as he
attempts to reconnect with his friends and community and to find
meaningful employment, it offers a closer examination of his inner
thought processes that highlights the various areas of difficulty a
recovering addict may encounter. The emptiness, hopelessness and
suicidal intent in Anders is well portrayed and would make an
excellent case study to teach about the diagnosis of depression and
suicidal risk in those recovering from drug addiction. But the film
also offers a view on the changed relationships that may result
when an individual has betrayed the trust of those close to them as
a result of their addictive patterns of behaviour. It shows the
ease with which Anders can form a new superficial relationship but
actually craves forgiveness, understanding and acceptance from
those who he perhaps hurt the most. It is the portrayal of just
this reality that emerges slowly through the film and makes viewing
it such a powerful experience.
A useful publication that might enhance an educational viewing
of Oslo, August 31st is freely available at the American National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) website and
is called
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based
Guide (3rd Edition revised in Dec 2012).
* More information about Oslo, August 31st can be found at
IMDB as
can a short trailer.
* Oslo, August 31st can be purchased from
* You can now follow Minds
on Film on Twitter @psychfilm
Down to the Bone was co-written and directed by Debra
Granik and released in 2004. As a film about drug addiction in
small town America, the director chose to create a naturalistic
portrayal by using real locations and some nonprofessionals in
certain supporting roles. In an incredibly powerful central
performance, professional actress Vera Farmiga plays Irene, a
working class mother of two young sons, living in a stale marriage,
who has a cocaine habit. The film won eight awards including two at
the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 for the director and for
Farmiga's performance. The story is based closely on the
experiences of a real family whom the director met over several
years, first producing a short film about them called
Feed, which was released in 1997, and later her
first full time feature Down to the Bone. In the
director's own comments (available on the Film's Official
website), Granik states her motivation for making
the film:
"I was drawn to this story because of the questions that it
raises. Why do some people keep going and others give up? Why do
some people change and how do they do it? Why do some of us run
with people who are not good for us? When does a person become
dangerous to another? When is it safe to trust? Why are so many
people prone to addictive patterns? Why do people
The film opens with Irene returning from work at the supermarket
to prepare for a Halloween night of Trick or Treating, in which she
tries to encourage her reluctant young sons into dressing up and
walking around the neighbourhood. She seems to be a busy caring
mother until we watch her dash into the bathroom before they leave
home to snort some cocaine while her son knocks on the door asking
her a question. Her job at the checkout doesn't pay enough to feed
her drug habit and so she begins to owe increasing amounts to the
man who supplies her. He eventually calls a halt to this and
refuses to give her any more cocaine without payment. Desperate,
Irene tries to offer him her son's birthday cheque in part payment
but the dealer will not accept it. As her physical state of craving
becomes more intense, Irene realises that she must get help and so
takes a 'holiday' to book into a residential drug rehabilitation
unit. Unfortunately, despite making good progress, Irene feels she
must discharge herself sooner than planned, against the advice of
those at the clinic, as she must get back home and to work.
Initially, she remains abstinent and starts attending Narcotics
Anonymous meetings, where she meets Bob, played by Hugh Dillon, a
nurse who Irene saw at the residential clinic, who is an ex-addict
and they form a strong attraction for each other.
Unfortunately, without the influence of cocaine, Irene's
performance is slower at the supermarket checkout and she is soon
dismissed from her job after revealing the reason for the change in
her efficiency. Struggling to survive economically, she begins to
do cleaning work with a female friend she met in the rehabilitation
clinic and this is initially successful until she starts to have a
secret affair with Bob. As he relapses and starts using heroin,
Irene is drawn back into her old habits but this time tries heroin
with Bob. They are soon caught by police while driving her car,
which brings their affair to the attention of Irene's husband,
Steve, and he asks her to leave the family home. She finds a place
of her own to live, where her sons can visit and stay, and Bob soon
joins her there. But Irene begins to realise that she will be
hampered in her attempts to recover from her addiction with Bob in
close proximity to her, and so she asks him to leave. The film ends
there, without resolution, perhaps reflecting the uncertainty that
so many addicts face every day that they strive to stay free of
their addiction.
Down to the Bone presents a naturalistic portrait of
drug addiction that doesn't shy away from the human effects that it
may have on an individual as well as on partners, children and
friends. It also gives the example of treatment in a residential
drug rehabilitation clinic as well as support in the community
through attendance at Narcotics
Anonymous. But Down to the Bone is
particularly good at demonstrating the vulnerability of someone
seeking to recover, taking each day at a time as they strive to
stay clean and showing how easy it can be to lapse without a
supportive structured environment. In particular this is
highlighted by Irene's ill advised relationship with Bob, himself
an ex-addict, which occurs in the context of her unsatisfactory
marriage to Steve who also uses drugs. Neither can give her what
she truly needs to manage her addiction and we are not given any
certainty about her future as the film ends. Because it was
closely based on the experiences of a real person there is an
authenticity in the film that provides an excellent opportunity for
learning about this complex issue.
Viewing this film accompanied by an exploration of some of the
following resources would offer a very good basis for a discussion
about the management of drug addictions and the role of various
treatment options. An article published in Advances in Psychiatric
Treatment in 2003 would make a good starting point. It is titled
What works in drug addiction?by Jason Luty
(Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2003) 9: 280-288).
A major addiction charity in the UK, called Action on
Addiction, has lots of information about
prevention, treatment, research and family support for people with
addictions as well as providing lots of useful links to further
resources. One of these resources that mental health professionals
may find helpful and interesting is the archive of
on addiction posted at the King's College website
of the Institute
of Psychiatry, Addictions Department.
• More information about Down to the Bone can be found
at IMDB and a
can be viewed at the Film's Official website.
• Down to the Bone can be purchased from
• Minds on Film is written by Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Joyce
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Minds on Film is a monthly blog that explores
psychiatric conditions and mental health issues as portrayed in a
selection of readily available films.
Please note that this blog may contain
plot spoilers. Any views expressed are purely my own.
Dr Almeida is a consultant
psychiatrist working in the private sector in the UK.
* You can now follow Minds on Film on Twitter @psychfilm
Other College blogs you may wish to
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text:
J.J. Barea got his concussion on Sunday, I believe, and he immediately took two concussion tests and was cleared to play within a day.
What's the deal with Davis' tests? I haven't seen anything saying whether or not he's actually taken or failed any tests. All we know is that he's ruled out for today's game.


text:
A fine country public house set in the heart of Walton-on-the-Hill, with exposed wooden beams, real open fires and candlelit tables. 'The Fox & Hounds' is a family-run 'Pub & Restaurant' renowned for its fine wines, local ales and unrivalled À la carte restaurant menu.
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Our carvery lays on a family-sized feast with a choice of four 4 roasts from the local village butcher, loads of veg including roasties and mash, and the Full Monty of accompaniments! So you can re-create your carvery meal just the way 'mum' used to make it. Every spud is peeled and then checked by hand, all of our meat is slow-cooked to pure perfection, and our Yorkshire puds are freshly made throughout the day. NOW Available for TAKEAWAY and referred to by the locals as 'The BEST around for miles'.
With excellent venue facilities via our newly refurbished barn, which still retains its original character charm… but with a stylish new touch. We can cater for all occasions and parties for all age groups... in a nut shell from a full wedding reception with all the bells and whistles (marquee available to hire), to a finger buffet over an informal business meeting! Hog roasts are also available for events and we have a barbeque hut coming in the summer!
We have recently had a stunning NEW B&B built on the second floor of the main building which will offer 5 Luxury rooms... and as ever at very reasonable rates!
Booking is always advisable particularly at weekends, so give us a call or
Monday-Sunday: 12:00pm - Till Late
Walton Street, Walton-on-the-Hill
Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7RU
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text:
Lacrosse ends learning season
-photo by Jordan Jacobo/Review staff writer/photographer
Claire Oliver
Arts/ent/ops editor
Wildcat lacrosse ended their rebuilding season with two losses against the University of Puget Sound and the University of Redlands this week, but motivation remains for improvement next year.
After a hard loss April 12 against rival UPS at home, Linfield traveled to Tacoma, Wash., where despite stormy weather, it was able to put up a fight and take the lead 8-7, at intermission.
"Overall, the first half we came out very strong," sophomore defender Tracy Maruyama said. "We were playing smart."
Junior goalkeeper Becca Levy, who had 13 saves in the game, agreed. She said the team put out 100 percent effort, helping it answer the Loggers' offensive line.
"We had good transition through the midfield," she said. "That's been true all year."
These passes allowed junior attacker Sammy Smith to score five goals against UPS. Freshmen attackers Melissa DePierro and Tarie Couette also had successful games, scoring three and two points, respectively.
"Melissa and Tarie were fearless, driving in and going to the goal," Levy said.
The 'Cats were unable to keep this edge, and suffered nine unanswered points in the second half.
Freshman attacker Sofia Lama was the game's high scorer, bringing in eight points for UPS. Juniors Lindsay O'Brian and Lindsay Pearce also scored multiple times, helping UPS pull away with an 18-11 lead that sealed the win.
"We never really understand where our momentum changes," Maruyama said. "We have a great team; we just let our emotions get the best of us."
April 23's home game against University of Redlands ended with similar results, rounding off the Wildcats' season with a 17-9 defeat.
"It was the best game we've ever played," Maruyama said. "They had a couple go-to girls who were quick and smart with the ball. We had some mistakes and they played off them."
In what team members described as a particularly rough game, five members of the Redlands team received yellow cards.
"We had girls that took the initiative of driving the ball to the goal," she said.
Smith was once again the high scorer for the Wildcats, putting four balls in the Bulldogs' net. Caouette followed closely with three goals and an assist.
Linfield is unable to keep up with the Bulldogs, who hold a 6-5 record with six matches left to play.
Freshman attacker Christy Smith made five unassisted goals for Redlands, aided by sophomore Anna Moriarty and junior Lauren Matta, who each scored three times.
Once Redlands gained an 8-2 advantage over Linfield at half time, the Wildcats could not recover.
Linfield, which lost several of its players to injuries throughout the season, finished with a 3-11 record.
Team members said despite these numbers, they were able to see progression in the team's ability and are looking forward to overall improvement next year.
"This season we played more as a team," Levy said. "We worked through our injuries and managed to come through as a team."
As no seniors will be graduating this spring, the team expects to carry the lessons of this season into 2009.
"There's always room for improvement," Smith said.