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The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug March 18, 2014Posted by oldboy in : Uncategorized, Cinema, Fantasy, Book to Film , add a comment
The bits I thought would be longer were shorter and the bits I thought were short were longer. So begins the long journey of the epic review of 'The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug', now pronounced smaOUg,
Hummm, well it starts off pretty well. The Peter Jackson cameo is the most obvious and somewhat funny for being so. The flash forward to the Dwarves and Bilbo Baggins running with Gandalf through beautiful landscapes reminded me of the good ole LOTRs days.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban November 2, 2013Posted by oldboy in : Books, Fantasy , add a comment
Much like the movies the tone of the books start to take a darker turn with repeated scenes of Harry hearing the final scream of his Mother before she dies trying to save him. We also have Harry wanting to take revenge for his parents and we're told how Sirus Black coldly killed a bunch of Muggles in a past incident. It's a turning point.
The Hobbit: An Unexpeted Journey IMAX 3D 48fps December 20, 2012Posted by oldboy in : Cinema, Fantasy, Book to Film , add a comment
That was certainly different. I'll come right out and say that I believe 48fps isn't a suitable way to watch movies and I don't believe it will catch on. Here's why.
Your eyes need to adjust to it.
From the opening scenes it looks like a daytime Chinese historical TV drama. Or those high definition TVs you see in shops where everything is moving too fast and looks as if it's been sped up. Peter Jackson has said that it will take time for our eyes to adjust at the beginning and I grant that it did. But if this is the way of Movies in the future does that mean that my eyes must adjust to the new 48 frames per second before I can fully immerse myself in a movie? This is my biggest problem. It was less obvious later on but when you start to think for a second you begin to notice the sped up frames again. Day time scenes are the biggest problem while scenes in darker areas or during evening and night are not so much of a problem.
I'm sure there was a collective WTF moment among the cinema audience during the first 20 minutes at least. It's very jarring. In my opinion a movie should look like a movie. I can live with 24 frames per second if it means that the movie will "Look" like a movie. I believe that is the most important thing to everyone isn't it? Movie's distinguish themselves from Television by having their own film quality. In fact many TV shows AIM for that movie look. Take for example the TV series Red Dwarf which removed frames to get that "film look" during series 7.
It could be that 48fps is taking the clarity of image appreciation too far and I feel like I want to watch 'The Hobbit' a second time in 24fps to get a real feel for the film. There might be an argument that we haven't grown up with it so we aren't used to it but I believe after 100+ years of cinema 24fps is the way to go. 48fps looks unnatural and if reports of people getting motion sickness from this are true it's another reason not to go with it in future.
Now the film! The Hobbit! Well I almost wonder if I could have read half the book faster than the time it took for the film to portray it. It does seem a little stretch out and there's a big epic gap missing in the film since Sauron and the Ring are not the main focus of the quest.That is because I the Hobbit is very much a proto-story to the LOTR Books. As one or two films I think the Hobbit could work better but since the reports of the third film being made came pretty late I would imagine Part 1 was completed by then. So does that mean the passing is supposed to be like that? A shorter running time might have helped. Sometimes I got the feeling that scenes were stretched out unnecessarily to gain the long running time. Scenes have added action that they didn't necessarily have to begin with. I think Drew McWeeny of Hitflix put it best in his review "if Tom Bombadil came from "The Hobbit" and not "Lord Of The Rings," fans would be listening to Tom sing every word of ever song and watching him prance about in vivid 48FPS 3D this Christmas."
The film could do with being a little more humorous like the novel too because the next two films obviously will get darker (and hopefully better).
Yet, there is so much to like about the film, it's loving made and highly detailed though animals don't talk in this like they did in the book nor does Gandalf say "Great Elephants!". Peter, i'm waiting… We also have Ian Humphreys, the 7th Doctor Sylvester McCoy, Christopher Lee. Wonderful cast.
Favorite moments: There is a scene where Gandalf and Radagast are talking and at the moment when Radagast says he has something on the tip of his tongue Martin Freeman as Bilbo looks around at no one in particular in a confused way. A nice homage to the office. If Bilbo had looked directly at the camera I would have died laughing.
Having read the Hobbit two years ago I had hoped seeing the book come to life would be a more magical experience like the original LOTR films were 11 years ago. But it feels a little too padded for my full liking. It is by no means bad though. I want to see the film again in 2D in 24fps for it would obviously match the feel of the LOTRs Trilogy more. Will they release a extended version of this? I can't imagine so since the movie itself feels extended!
Favorite Quote: "Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay… small acts of kindness and love." - Gandalf
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets September 14, 2012Posted by oldboy in : Books, Fantasy, Book to Film , add a comment
As with the movie I found the second book to diddle around a bit too much without moving the story of Harry Potter himself forward. It's fantasy magic mystery, as colourful and inventive as it's predecessor yet it doesn't really present anything new. There's a feeling that we've done this before.
There is some nice History tidbits on Hogwarts but nothing as of yet mind blowing in book two. The scenes featuring characters being petrified or ghosts who were previously students and killed is a bit heavy for the younger reader and there's a definite morbidity even though it keeps the tone light mostly.
The most interesting part that I was looking forward to was Tom Riddle's diary, reading his diary in the book is a lot more fun than the exposition of it onscreen. The mystery is pretty much straight forward as in most children's adventure stories but there are some nice twists in it, particularly with Ginny.
The book plays around with the theme of identity. Are we who we are because of where we came from or are we our own person. What defines a person's life. Harry still being a child has to face this question and worries over it greatly as he starts to feel and hear a connection to something evil that he learns he is related to. More interesting is that at this early stage (even earlier than the movies I think) we discover that Voldermort transferred some of his own powers to Harry on the night he gave him that scar. In the end it's what Harry and Voldermort do that defines them and it's interesting to see that Harry having slytherin heritage does not mean he has to embrace it and Voldermort too having a Human mother does not make him sympathetic to muggles but more racist and hypocritical as all racists are. Harry's worry is always about becoming what he fears but in reality they are two people going in opposite directions.
Favorite Quote: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Dumbledore
The Lord of The Rings December 21, 2011Posted by oldboy in : Cinema, DVD/Video/T.V., Fantasy, Book to Film , add a comment
The Fellowship of The Ring
It was a cold December morning in Dublin City exactly 10 years ago that I went to see The Lord of The Rings first showing. It was close to Christmas and I had woken up early to a gloomy grey sky and a bitterly cold day to see this film specially. At the time I was not a Lord of the Rings fan, I was going into it blind, not knowing the story, what it was about. What these films were to me though were film history, a trilogy. I knew the story was going to be epic, I knew that this was been bantered about as the Star Wars of today. I wanted to be part of that geekdom history that saw it first. It was either that or Harry Potter and at the time Harry Potter seemed to be a film geared towards kids. Looking at trailers for both, Harry Potter had a leading unknown cast of children, a very British secondary cast filled with famous TV personalities and comedians. Also it just didn't look that epic, the Lord of the Rings had booming music, Wizards fighting wizards, giant fire breathing monsters and a quest (Being a "Knight-mare" fan I love quests.) The international cast of the Lord of the Rings was also familiar to me. Ian Mckellen I adore, as do I love Christopher Lee, Kate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Liv Tyler, Sean Bean etc
From the opening scenes I'm already sold that this is going to be 'something else'. A real genuine big fantasy movie. On every level it just doesn't look like your typical movie. As Gandalf enters the film for the first time I could see two young women sitting in front of me giddy with excitement. They had obviously read the books and were eating this scene and it's book references to pieces.
I was really impressed how the main villain of the movie, an eye, could be made to be so fearsome, from the first moment Frodo puts on the Ring the sound and atmosphere blasted my soul and the unblinking burning Eye filled the massive cinema screen. It's a moment from the film that I will never forget and unfortunately it does lose some of it's impact watching it on the small screen. Watching this film on the big screen was a life time experience to a movie fan.
The Ring itself is a character here. It's like an addictive Drug to characters who seem to start suffering withdrawals by just being around it. Here it's effects are none so apparent as they are to Boromir who is a man who wants to defend his home, a great man who sees the potential of this power as a weapon but it's clearly more than that to him. It's power and drugs often make people feel powerful for a time at least.
When the film came to an end I realized only then that the three movies dealt with ONE Ring and not 3 different Rings. An easy mistake for a complete newb to make since it did say the Lord of the RingS .But at that stage it didn't matter. I was sold and wanted to watch the sequel which was only one year away.
Favorite Quote: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought." - Gandalf
The Two Towers
"The Two Towers" has an amazing opening, it ups the ante and sets the tone for the whole movie as a big action piece. That opening scene of Gandalf and the Balrog fighting makes every other fantasy movie eat it's heart out.
I always thought of the Two Towers as the action piece in between. The Battle of Helms Deep is really well done. Having loved studying History at School and reading about situations such as a sieging of a Fort or Castle I thought Jackson did a fantastic job of fleshing out the siege and battle which is more prominent and to the front of the movie than it was in the book.
Gollum could have been a disaster of a CGI character. I think lots of people feared a Jar Jar Binks situation, but the amount of work Andy Serkis put into the character made him so real and I do think he deserved at the very least an Oscar nomination consider he had to not only stand in for his character on film but he had to film the scenes again by himself for the CGI movements. He is a more loveable character here and has a journey to go through himself.
Favorite Quote: "…there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for." - Sam
The Return of the King
It's hard to eclipse the action of the Two Towers but Jackson really does it and does it differently rather than repeat the standard siege battle.It a far broader battle scene he does with action taking place in different areas giving each character a significant role to play.
Some scenes are built up a little too much. The encounter between Gandalf and the Witch King doesn't really happen so we never get the sense of who the Witch king is whereas in the books he had pages to be dealt with and is far more chilling a foe on page.
Sam and Frodo's Journey takes on a very dark tone, more so because Frodo keeps to the center stage and is pretty much manipulated by Gollum to mistrusting Sam. I don't know how comfortably that sits. It makes the situation all the more deadly. But also the characters are more oblivious to Gollum. The scenes in the Volcano are perfect. It's a dramtic ending and I don't have much of a problem with the way it's slightly changed from the books.
I have little problem with the multiple endings too. But further viewings do show a lot of fades to black, over manipulating the audience. But I can't really criticize that as there was so so much to squeeze into the last movie.
One part of this movie that I liked that isn't in the book but does bring a certain maturity to the characters and what they've been through is the scene in the pub near the end. The four hobbits sit together drinking and looking around at the alien place they find themselves in that used to be home. They have seen and been through some horrors that the people around them do not understand but they themselves do and the look in each of their eyes show a special understanding that only the fellowship could have. I believe this scene is meant to represent our Hobbits grown up as the scouring of the Shire wasn't included in the movie.
Favorite Quote: "There never was much hope. Just a fool's hope." - Gandalf
The Lord of the Rings: BookPosted by oldboy in : Books, Fantasy , 7 comments
It took a while to read but it was well worth it.
The Fellowship of The Ring
I thought The fellowship of the Ring follows pretty closely to what we saw in the movie version although events take much longer to unfold in the book than the movie with the passage of time being many years between the discovery of the power of Bilbo's ring and Frodo's journey. The opening pages go into some detail about Hobbit pipe weed, the history behind it which seems a little strange as an introduction to Hobbits and their culture but understandable since Tolkien was an avid pipe smoker.
The book later discusses in great detail the One Ring, it's history, it's power on man and others and why it can't be just hidden or thrown into the deepest sea. It beefs up the importance of the quest. Gollum's back story is discussed here too giving a fascinating insight into the character. Gollum's History is sprinkled throughout the movie trilogy, but here, having already been introduced in the Hobbit the character's back story is filled in by Gandalf to Frodo. There is a defining moment here where Frodo says it's a pity that Bilbo didn't kill Gollum, but Gandalf lightly scolds him on this, stating that who is he (Frodo) to decide who lives and who dies for life is not always just and it is through Biblo's pity on Gollum in the Hobbit that he receives the Ring unlike Gollum who killed for it. This is a defining moment for later in "The Two Towers" does Frodo remember Gandalf's words and spares Gollum himself which has an even greater impact on the story. The Birth of Gollum is seen to be not just through murder and the weight of the Ring but from himself becoming a trickster and listening in on peoples conversations which he should never hear in the first place, letting the private words of others poison his mind. There is certainly a lesson to be learned.
The Ring itself is far too powerful for anyone. It's the power more than the evil it possesses that is the danger. Having such great power, can a person control it or would they lose themselves into giving into their worldly desires. The abyss looking into the holder of the Ring so to speak.
The Tom Bombaldi chapter feels a little out of place in the Lord of the Rings and is pretty much a mystery, even to the characters themselves. A bit of a Deus Ex machina in a way. It's a rather frustrating Chapter to read in the book and I found the character to be a little bit annoying.
As usual Gandalf is coming and going and as with the Hobbit he is off missing much of the time on errands, dealing with other things that need his attention. Gandalf is one of those characters that's sometimes handy to have around in sticky situations and his absence is truly noticed when the characters no longer have him in their company, this certainly adds to the level of threat without him and I think Gandalf himself knows that the people of middle earth need to stand without his power at times. What he is really trying to do is level the playing field between the people of middle earth and Sauron. But he himself is not infallible. I liked the sense of foreboding he has with mines of Moria and what lies in wait for him. He tries to escape his own destiny but there are powers as great and greater as he. This didn't come across so much in the movie but here it's done very subtle.
Favorite Quote: "Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need. And he has been well rewarded, Frodo. Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so. With Pity. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." - Gandalf
The Two Towers
This book is split between Frodo and Sam's journey and Aragorn's Journey. Both stories are equally exciting but I'd personally would have preferred interchanging chapters, switching back an forth between characters.
We get a lot more of Saruman, less in league with Sauron and more wanting to take power for himself. But he is utterly fooled by his own making and has fooled himself into thinking he actually ever had a chance against Sauron. The battle of helms deep is rather short compared with the movie and there is more emphasis on the parley with Saurman and his twisted ways.
In the second half of the novel the focus switches to Sam as Frodo becomes more and more distant, not just to Sam but to the readers also. We read less of his inner thoughts and we too start to fee what Sam feels, not knowing what's going on. At this point things change. Sam becomes the real hero of the story. He perhaps became one of my favorite characters in LOTRs because of his devotion and love to his friend and master Frodo. He is even willing to forget all about the Ring, their quest, and let the world end just for the sake of his friend. To hell with the consequences, he aint leaving Mr. Frodo behind.
Mordor is a hellish place and there is a great sense of burden and doom as Sam and Frodo travel through these lands. It was at around this time as I read these bleak descriptions of the place that the March 11th earthquake in Japan had struck and there seemed to be a resemblance between the dark hopelessness described in these chapters as there was in the atmosphere of life and people that I saw as I lived in Japan in the weeks after the earthquake. Doom hanged in the air. Not only were there constant earth quakes but the threat of Radiation from Fukushima was becoming rapidly apparent. I couldn't help but associate these things with the images and dread described in Mordor. The thought that this journey to destroy the Ring would really be a one way journey but also no matter how dark things got there was hope inside these characters, in Sam. That's the beautiful thing about books and the places you read them in. They hold some significance to that time and place you're in and what you're going through at that moment. The place and time you are in becomes part of that book.
Favorite Quote: He peered out at that high stony place where all his life had fallen in ruin. 'If only i could have my wish, my one wish,' he sighed, 'to go back and find him!' Then at last he turned to the road in front and took a few steps: the heaviest and most reluctant he had ever taken. - Sam
The Return of the King
As with the other books the scenes are so detailed and vivid in the mind. What sticks out is the battle of Pellennor fields. The end of the Witch King. Sam and Frodo's journey flows smoothly on from the two towers andis quite compelling considering their predicament at the end of the Two Towers. It's the story I looked forward to completing most however The first part with Aragorn, Gandalf and Merri and Pippin is equally exciting and from their perspective there is a bleaker end for them midway through the book until all the characters return to the same page.
The story wraps everything up very well and by the end the Hobbits that return are a few feet taller figuratively and literally speaking. They're men, back from a war with the proof of it weighing on their shoulders. They finally come into their own as Gandalf and the Elves pass into the undying lands these Hobbits are the next race that grow up to defend themselves from the evils of the world. It's rather touching and fitting to see Sam get the ending the movie didn't have time to give him. But as noted already he is such an important character more so than the movies. He is a Ring bearer. He has carried it and he too has his own ending that brings a close to the world he came from.
The appendices at the end are a nice companion piece to the book and might have even deserved a book of their own.
For anyone who has only watched the movies the books go into such detail and explain the backgrounds on events that might have confused viewers. It certainly adds a richer experience to the films and you feel as you are part of something bigger after having read them.
Favorite Quote: There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach. - Book VI, The Land of Shadow
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone November 12, 2011Posted by oldboy in : Books, Fantasy , add a comment
My first Harry Potter book. After watching the series of movies I decided it was finally time to go deeper into this world. Why I have avoided it for this long was because I had believed it to be over hyped and rather than following mass culture I ignored it. Why? I will get to that. I really enjoyed "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone". Reading it is as addictive as people have said it was. I feel like I have been flung back into my youth, back to my days of primary school when I was a child reading the works of Roald Dahl , Enid Blyton, Jenny Nimmo and other children's story writers. It grabs the imagination in the same way and fills the mind with wonder. Therein lies my criticism I mentioned earlier. I've read stories like this before. Why is it that Harry Potter had such massive main stream success that other stories of a similar nature haven't? I think part of the reason is that there is an underlying mystery in these books, there is a longer thread in the story that still has to be spun and that's what has grabbed people's fascination. Who is Harry Potter? It's cleverly done. The story is funny and so descriptive in a minimal way that keeps the mind active and helps you to flesh out the setting in your mind easily.
Harry's story seems a little Darker in the book than the first movie. The opening chapter with the Dursleys shows that Harry has a really shi…. unpleasant life that conjures up thoughts of Oliver Twist. Living in the cupboard, getting punched by his cousin constantly, getting a used sock as a Christmas present. Poor chap. His past is also quite dark for a children's story unlike others I have read before. It is touching and sad how he sits in front of the Mirror of Erised night after night just to glimpse his family, his greatest desire. At this point of the story I felt a great maturity in the writing and it reminded me of a story in Paul Auster's novel "Oracle Night" in which a character views a picture of his family through a view-master toy night after night and gets lost to it. Here enters Dumbledore who represent the voice of JK Rowling, telling Harry that "it does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live". This was my favorite quote from the first movie too and it's so darn true. I sympathize more with this Harry than in the movie. He also comes across as a little more braver and honorable than his movie counterpart.It's impossible not to like Harry when he is a boy who has never had a proper Birthday or Christmas before. I think anyone reading can't help but feel something happy inside themselves when Harry experiences something with delight for the first time, be it food, presents, friendship. All the things he never had before which others take for granted. There's some philosophy there about appreciating the simple moments in life I'm sure.
Unlike the movie, having important dates of the 1st year term at Hogwarts such as Halloween and Christmas shown works well in chapter format and is more interesting than it was represented in the movie which tried to do exactly the same instead of mixing it up a little and moving the plot along. I think Rowling did a good job of representing Secondary school life for children as they are reaching that teens stage and can be more vulnerable and cruel. I remember my school people had bottles smashed over their head, so here's it's spells and charms instead then!
Things get wrapped up a bit too nicely at the end of the book. A lot of mysteries are explained in part by Dumbledore even though our main characters spent most of the book trying to figure out what was going on for themselves. In the end it had to be "told" to them. Why couldn't Dumbledore have explained about Harry's parents earlier. But that moment in particular is a sad moment when Harry knows why his parents died and why he lived. There is much wisdom spilled by Dumbledore. Basically, old wizards like Dumbledore are awesome. I love pretty much everything they say. Dumbledore has some great quotes in The Philosopher's Stone. One is near the end with his conversation with Harry. "The Truth." Dumbledor sighed. "It's a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution". One mystery is left untold though, as to why exactly Voldemort wanted to kill Harry.
The one thing I thought the movie did better than the book was the very ending. As the students prepare to leave Hogwarts Harry says he isn't really going Home. Meaning that with the Dursleys isn't his home, Hogwarts is. Or to mean that after having his eyes open to another world that where he goes back to is no longer home. In the book Harry just plans to have fun using magic on the Dursleys . The movie's ending is far more poignant.
I want to continue on this journey with Harry. I finished the movie journey and wanting more I have come to the books, the first of which has now made me want to read all of them! I have come a long way from my first impressions of Harry Potter many years back . I openly mocked it. Now I'm devoted to it and long may it reign.
Favorite Quote: "Humans do have a knack for choosing precisely those things which are worst for them" - Professor Albus Dumbledore
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 August 24, 2011Posted by oldboy in : Cinema, Fantasy , add a comment
It's a fitting conclusion to the series of films.The whole cast did a great job. Radcliffe and Watson hold up well against a mature supporting cast of characters. Grint has less to do and little time to tie up things between Ron and Hermione. This last movie is fully Harry's story and his alone. I think the only character that stands close in terms of the story is Severus Snape played with finess by Alan Rickman. Ralph Fiennes is clearly having fun been Voldemort and I was delighted to see Michael Gambon as Dumbledore onscreen again to mentor harry one last time. I really missed the character's presence in the previous movie
The Battle of Hogwarts was visually very impressive and well done.It's a modern day storming of a castle with Wizards and witches firing bolts from wands instead of shooting arrows. However the 3D adds nothing to the movie and what 3D I did notice was very little.
A lot is squeezed into Deathly Hallows Part 2 that could've been put into Deathly Hallows Part 1. I find parts 1 and 2 to be very different. Part 1 is edgy and full of drama between characters. Relationships are explored in greater detail. These take a back seat in part 2 with big action scenes throughout. With part 1 there's a greater emotional investment because time is spent with these characters when they aren't running about fighting other wizards and witches. In this regard it seems essential to split the movies to give the characters some screen time to grow but there is an imbalance between both parts. Whereas part 1 shifted into newer territory and seeing Harry, Ron and Hermione become adults, part 2 seemed to reverse and followed more closely with the tone of the previous 6 movies, action and fast plot delivery. Important characters do die in this movie but their deaths are glossed over and they lose much of the impact. If they had taken place in part 1 we'd have got an expanded scene from it, (just look at how they did Dobby in part 1) but here there's no time to do that with everything that's happening. It's tough to wrap up the story spread over 10 years of movies.
Now that I have answers to all my speculation about how this story would end it's not too far off where I saw it going. I had thought Snape was a good guy from early on. He's too obviously evil looking to be actually evil if that makes any sense. By the time I watched "Half blood prince" I was sure he was a double agent due to his secret conversation with Dumbledore been seen onscreen. By movie 7 I also thought Harry was one of the Horcruxs and it looked like Dumbledore implied that in movie 6. Although it was also possible that the last Horcruxwas another person, Ron or Herminoe. Which would have been a pretty devastating challenge for Harry to face. In retrospect, his own death would be a smaller price to pay since he is the hero of the story. I had thought either Ron, Herminoe or Harry would be killed off in this final story after hearing rumors during the books release that a major character would be killed off. When I finally saw this film it seems that they survived and although they each paid a price it maybe wasn't enough. In the most recent movies important characters were being killed off, Sirrus, Dumbledore. At this final stage I thought the only way to outdo the dramatic impact of those deaths would be to kill off one of the main 3 characters. The only death that has any real impact is Snapes death and when his character's true nature is revealed it's an even sadder ending for him, he had not only lost the woman he loved, he had the contempt of other characters including Harry, a boy he did everything to protect. Due to Snape been unable to reveal his true motives it makes him one of the most tragic characters in the series. So one of my favorite scenes was the redemption of the character through his memories. The other was Harry meeting his family members before his confrontation with Voldemort and them telling him they had never left him and they'll be with him till the end…
Voldemorts death was a little confusing as he seemed to start dying when the wand was taken off him. It lessoned the impact of his death as it came out of the blue. If a wand blast had gone through his chest then it's a definite killing blow, but what was it that killed him? Upon further investigation after the movie it seems the killing spell he cast rebounded back onto him since he was not the true owner of the wand which protects it's master, in this case Harry. Interesting to note that this is what happened to Voldemort when he tried to kill Harry as a baby too with the spell rebounding on him.
Harry not dying also was a bit confusing. But thinking about it, Voldemort was reborn from Harry's Blood in "The Goblet of Fire", so Voldemort couldn't kill himself (his own blood). Or either because Harry was the rightful owner of all 3 deathly hallows (although not in his possession) he was the master of death. Or either when he passed over to to the limbo between life and death part of Voldemorts soul inside harry had passed over also causing an imbalance which necessitated Harry's return.
I find that at this stage I need to read the books because I am definitely missing out on plot points that are presented but unexplained in the movie. Whether this is the fault of the film makers or that the books are so long I'm not sure, but to me the important thing is for the audience not to be in confusion. Even if this sacrifices some story elements from the book.The books shouldn't need to be read to understand the movies.
With all that said, I enjoyed this movie. I have enjoyed most of the series. As someone who wasn't a fan to start with, who wasn't blown away with the first movie my opinion has changed a lot and I'm glad but also a bit sad that the series has ended. In fantasy film I have the Hobbit Parts 1 and 2 to look forward to over the next 3 years but after that what fantasy film is there that can eclipse either of these franchises? None so far I'm afraid. As for the Cast, Daniel Radcliffe will be in a new Hammer Horror film "The Woman in Black" which I'm really excited to see revived in this century.
Favorite Quote: "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and above all, those who live without love." - Professor Albus Dumbledore
The Hobbit or There and Back again November 30, 2010Posted by oldboy in : Books, Fantasy , add a comment
This review is of the second edition edit of the Hobbit which links it closer to the Lord of the Rings.
In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins. He is taken on an adventure by a Wizard and some Dwarfs to fight a deadly talking Dragon called Smaug. Along the way they encounter trolls, Goblins, Elves and a strange creature called… Gollum
It reads like a children book and is definitely something able to be read by adults. What I mean to say it is written with a view to children and just by reading it you can sense it's a classical fantasy story from the 20th century written to appease the appetites of young minds before the Internet came along. Reading it is like wearing a familiar old glove. It closely matches the earlier fairy tales from my child hood and it's like something I have read long ago but in actuality it isn't. It's due to Tolkien's rich knowledge of fairy tales of times past that he was able to create something new but familiar while at the same time drawing on his own experience in that of the first world war (although he himself has stated the hobbit and LOTRs are not an allegory for the real world).
This is my first book by Author JR Tolkien and my first taste of "The Lord of the Rings" adventures in writing. What a pleasing experience it is and an addictive one at that. Having already seen the Lord of the Rings movies I find this story to be on a smaller scale to that story but of the same structure except bigger and far more complex. One might consider this the proto-story of what came later.
Bilbo comes across as a somewhat stuck in his ways person, comfortable with his life and with no interest in the outside world, the experience of this trip makes the character far more of a mature and noble creature but also one who can never go back to the person he was. Gandalf seems to know this adventure will change Bilbo for the better. Gandalf seems to have a sixth sense of most things beyond others but still is a wandering wizard of sorts and when he leaves the group on his own errands I started to truly feel the threat and serious danger Bilbo and the Dwarves faced.
The creature they are on the way to steal and possibly revenge on is Smaug the dragon. A fierce,witty and arrogant, which makes him of the the more interesting characters in the Hobbit.
The attack of Smaug on the village is so delicately describe as it is with Tolkien's writing you get a real sense of the event happening and I think this is a big help when filming and visualizing it. I can't wait to see Peter Jackson bring it to life.
The battle of the Five armies is quickly passed over in the story when Bilbo is knocked out but it's of minor detail to the main themes of the story. I imagine it will be expanded upon in the forthcoming movie.
Favorite Quote: "Victory after all, I suppose! Well, it seems a very gloomy business." - Biblo Baggins
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 November 24, 2010Posted by oldboy in : Cinema, Fantasy , add a comment
Harry Potter has transformed from a children's movie into an adult movie and I don't think I'll ever look at the characters in the same way again. Gone is the cuteness of the characters replaced by raw emotion of teenagers becoming adults. This is without doubt the darkest movie yet. It's scary. Everything is going from bad to worse and I kept worrying throughout the movie who was going to die next. For some reason I'm reminded of the 1985 animated Transformers movie where major characters were killed off.
I missed seeing Hogwarts and Dumbledore in this movie and their absence plus the darkness and maturity makes this unlike any other harry potter movie from before. Harry, Hermione and Ron's journey holds up the movie well which shows the finer acting skills of the main cast.
The opening action is fantastic and a real thrill ride during the chase. It's like nobody is safe anymore and between this movie and the half blood prince the bad guys have won out. Hogwarts run by Snape. The ministry of Magic under control of dark wizards. Harry Potter a wanted wizard and the rise of a fascist regime wizard state where muggles and half blood wizards are a lower class of citizen. This time I feel Umbridge fits in very nicely with this crowd. It just gets darker and darker, the visually bleak film and framing (parts remind me of 'The Road'), the soundtrack, the Heroes, the villains.
Again I'd like to mention the similarities of this and Lord of the Rings. 1. We have our heroes go on a journey to find the Horcruxes and the weapon which can destroy them. 2. The Locket, worn around the neck seems to have the same dark effects on the character as the "One Ring" does to whomever wears it in LOTRs. 3.Destroying all the Horcruxes will destroy"he who shall not be named" as it does destroying the One Ring and Sauron in LOTRS. My only guess is (and I stress this is a guess having not read the books) that Harry might be one of those Horcruxes from Voldemort's attack on him as a baby. Also I think this because of the way the Horcruxes reacted to Harry in "The Half Blood Prince".
Speaking of "The one who shall not be named" I was wondering why Harry was now using this to describe Voldemort when during the previous movies he unafraidly said his name.I learned that it is because in the books Voldemort has set up a magical tracking spell on anyone who uses his name which would enable his death eaters to locate them. It's little details like this that makes me interested to read all the books after I finish the movies.
Loved the animated segment and the story of the deathly hallows, it adds a further level of mythology to the series beyond Harry and Voldemort.
The Hero of this movie is Dobby! Not only does this CGI character look amazingly real he also has some funny scenes and pretty much saves everyone's asses a few times. Not annoying at all and it was a very pleasant surprise to see him return. I'm glad they gave his scene the top billing in terms of death. If they had showed other characters of importance dying onscreen I think it might have detracted from the impact and emotion of this one. It's quite beautiful and heartbreaking in a way. The beach itself reminded me of the beach in my hometown.
So now Harry Potter has broken his wand, then Voldemort doesn't need any super wand to use against him. Well Harry's pretty screwed at this point and it's going to be a blooming long wait I tells ya. 8 months. But undoubtedly part 2 is going to rule next summer.
Favorite Quote: "Such a beautiful place..to be with friends. Dobby is happy..to be with his friend…Harry Potter." - Dobby


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Opening Times:
Peak Season:
July 21st - Sept 9th
Food Served:
Monday - Friday : 12pm-2pm
Evenings: 6pm - 9pm
Saturdays & Sundays 12pm - 9pm
Sitting in one of the most beautiful spots of central Cornwall, The Golden Lion Inn & Lakeside Restaurant at Stithians Lake is the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing drink, a filling meal, or a quiet camping break in Redruth.
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subset: commoncrawl


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"The findings from our new study, as well as the earlier research on Streptoccocus mutans, will help propel the development of a diagnostic test that dentists can administer chairside to identify those at risk," said Dr. Caufield.
"Severe early childhood caries is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in underprivileged populations," added Dr. Li. "Much still needs to be learned about how the disease develops, and how it can be prevented. Our study will help to fill those gaps."
Co-investigators on the Lb study include Dr. Silvia Argimon, research scientist in cariology and comprehensive care; Dr. Charles Larsen, clinical assistant professor of pediatric dentistry, Dr. Untray T. Brown, clinical associate professor of pediatric dentistry; Dr. Robert Norman, research associate professor of epidemiology & health promotion; and Dr. Peter Catapano, Jr., clinical associate professor of pediatric dentistry, all of the NYU College of Dentistry. Dr. Catapano is also a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the NYU School of Medicine and director of the pediatric dental clinic at Bellevue Hospital Center.
Additional co-investigators include Dr. Paul O'Toole, senior scientist at University College, Ireland; Dr. Julian Parkhill, senior scientist at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; Dr. Rob Desalle, curator of the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics of the American Museum of Natural History; and Dr. Paul J. Planet, a research associate at the American Museum of Natural History and a fellow in the pediatric infectious disease division of the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons Children's Hospital of New York.
Drs. Caufield and Li are also focusing on how severe early childhood caries affects children living on American Indian reservations. They are participating in a series of outreaches to Indi
|Contact: Christopher James
New York University


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Hey guys I'm driving down from mass in a few days, I have a couple rides planned in pa along the way. But I'm thinking about a day trip, if anyof you could point me to any trail heads and or places to crash in my car that would be cool. On a side I love trails with hike-a-bikes. Thanks in advance
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What does BND mean in Airport Codes?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand BND in the Regional field in general and in the Airport Codes terminology in particular.
Bandar Abbas, Iran
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This course will familiarize you with the benefits of using insulated concrete forms, or ICFs, for mid-rise multi-family buildings, including outlining the advantages of using ICFs over traditional construction methods. It will also introduce you to the variety of form shapes, widths, and technologies that allow ICFs to meet the challenges of most concrete construction demands and design conditions today. Take the course.
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Survivor Fans vs. Favorites: Micronesia - ASS & A Half
NATALIE BOLTON - Rookie
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NATALIE BOLTON - Rookie
January 03, 2008, 05:20:53 PM »
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Re: NATALIE BOLTON - Rookie
Reply #1 on:
January 05, 2008, 06:03:54 PM »
Home Town:
Los Angeles, CA
Bartender/Personal Trainer
Natalie Bolton was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She works as a personal trainer and bartender. She's also had several odd jobs including a gym floor sweeper and busboy, and served as a missionary in Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Venezuela, Chile, Hong Kong and China. She previously fronted a rock band in Los Angeles, California.
Bolton enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and tinkering with her 1972 Cutlass Supreme. She enjoys boxing, sweating and being with her close friends. Bolton describes herself as self-reliant, bitchy and big-hearted. She indicates that, although she seems guarded, she is in fact a lover and nurturer underneath the surface. In her spare time she enjoys singing in her band. She believes her extensive world travel, athleticism, ability to read people and understanding of the human condition will be skills that will help her on SURVIVOR.
Bolton is currently single and lives in West Hollywood, California with her three birds, Libre, Sebastian and Prince. Her birth date is December 31, 1975.
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Re: NATALIE BOLTON - Rookie
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Re: NATALIE BOLTON - Rookie
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May 17, 2008, 07:41:55 PM »
Reality TV Interview w/ Natalie:
For the first time, the final four was all women with Natalie Bolton the last fan standing among a group of returning players on Survivor: Micronesia Fans Vs. Favorites.
Natalie says she wasnt ready for this seasons concept. I think I was the last person to realize the way the scenario was going to go down, the 32-year-old said of playing against previous contestants. Im standing on the mat and I see Parvati and Cirie and Ozzy. In my entrance interviews, I was talking about how Ozzy was the most amazing player. He is by far one of the best Survivor players ever. I firmly believe that and I still believe that. So when I seen him coming out Im like, Oh sh*t, here we go. This is gonna be a game. It was actually really nice to get to know them and get to know them as people and human beings and daily struggles and Im very thankful for it.
Each group of 10, separated by fans and returning players, Natalie says that the favorites had a much better camp than they did, which some of them (favorites) admitted after the tribal swap. When they came over to our camp, they thought, Oh man, you guys got the shaft. Were living in a cave, weve got fire. We have a front beach and a back beach. We had a beach (at the fans camp) where the water came up and we had no walking shore at all. So they even attest to us getting the shaft. So we were on many levels to the disadvantage.
For the first several weeks, Natalie may have been one of the least-featured players in the shows history until she turned on Jason Siska and made the comment where she said she wanted to floss her teeth with his jugular. With that, a Survivor villain was born. I dont even know where I came from, the fourth-place finisher said. I dont even remember saying the jugular comment, but man, I mustve been heated about something. Thats how I was pretty much throughout the game pretty opinionated. Natalie said it was a part of her strategy to keep her thoughts to herself early on in the game. I could not be opinionated and colorful in front of my tribe and in front of the other tribe. I needed to keep a really low profile because I know how animated and opinionated I am. And then finally, Day 20-some-odd-numbers in the game, my patience starts to wear. Im a little bit more hungry, Im a little bit more tired and Im a little bit more thirsty than I was six, seven days ago. Its like, you know what, you gotta make it happen. And also, theres a certain level of control that you feel when the numbers start to dwindle a little bit. You can control eight people a lot more than you can control 19 people. You cant bloom too early, youve gotta wait until you feel like you can have a little more control of the situation before you start mouthing off too much.
At the immunity challenge for the final five competitors, Erik Reichenbach won, which meant he couldnt be voted out. With that, it seemed Natalies fate was sealed and she would be sent home next. I knew I had to win that challenge and I didnt pull it out. I think that was the shooting challenge and I was right behind Erik on that. Had I had one more shot, Im from Texas, I shoot guns, so ugggh, you know. But I thought I was going home.
Then Cirie Fields came up with a great idea to try and convince Erik to give the necklace away to Natalie which he did, making the biggest blunder ever. That stupidest move was the most valuable move for me, and Im so thankful for it, Natalie continued. I absolutely, 100 percent thought I was going home. I was already down in the dumps; the tail was already tucked between my legs. Actually, I got a little bit heated with Cirie at that moment. They edited a lot of it out, but I was really kind of pissed off with her because I thought she was punking me. Im like, Oh now youre punking me? You want me to go talk to Erik, are you serious? Youve got to be joking. I thought she was screwing with me and then I thought, What do I have to lose?
At Tribal Council that night when Erik made his move, Natalie said she was shocked. Without sounding completely cheesy and ridiculous, when I took the necklace, I really felt like God was with me that moment. Because Im like, This is something that should never happen. And I felt like, Wow, if theres a moment in time that if you want something bad enough, it will come to you if you want it bad enough and you work hard enough for it. In that moment, I didnt even have it about me to think that he was stupid. I didnt have it about me to think, Oh my God, are you kidding me? How could he do this? I thought, Im so thankful for this right now because this never should have never happened.
With that, Natalie made it to the final four, but thats as far as she got when the three favorites Parvati, Amanda and Cirie voted her out next. That gave her a coveted spot on the jury of eight where she was given the opportunity to ask a question to the final two and hers was a doozy. I knew that Parvati was going to get my vote, Natalie said. I bonded with her, I connected with her. I appreciated the way she played the game with me. She stayed true to me. So I really didnt have a pointed question or a jabbing question for her. So I thought, You know what, Im going to screw with her a little bit. Im going to embarrass her, make her think on her feet and shes going to not even know that this is coming. So, say Parvati, how do you play the game of Survivor and have sex? How do you parallel that? Shes like, Wow, excuse me? And I got what I wanted. I just wanted to mess with her a little bit.
Natalie did cast her ballot for the eventual winner, Parvati, who took this seasons $1 million prize. Although its all over now, Natalie said that she would love to play the game again. I would get on the plane yesterday.
"Our fans are pretty good. They don't give away too much. Sometimes people love dropping spoilers, but our fans are good. They tend to do it in such a way that doesn't ruin it for fans who don't want to know."
--Phil Keoghan
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- Hotel Details
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Snooze Inn Inner City Budget Hotel Brisbane3 Stars
383 Saint Pauls Terrace Fortitude Valley Brisbane QLD 4006
Snooze Inn is located in the heart of Fortitude Valley, Brisbane's cosmopolitan inner suburb. Tourists can shop for fine opal jewellery at Quilpie Opals or visit the nearby Roma Street Parkland, which features themed gardens and recreational areas.
This hotel offers 27 rooms that are designed with guests' comfort in mind. Amenities included in the rooms are Internet access, flat screen TV and air conditioner.
Snooze Inn in Brisbane does not have a restaurant facility. Several restaurants are available in the surroundings where guests can enjoy a wide variety of local, regional and international cuisines.
Snooze Inn Inner City Budget Hotel Brisbane includes a business centre for the convenience of corporate travellers. Guests can enjoy a tour of MacArthur Museum, which documents the wartime heritage of the city.
Additional Information
- 1 km to the City Centre
- 1 km to the nearest Station (Brunswick Street)
- 12 km to the Airport (Brisbane)
Hotel Facilities
- Airport Transfer
- Internet Access - High Speed
- Non-Smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- Business Centre
- Internet Access - Wireless
- Parking Facilities (At Cost)
- Safe Deposit Box
- Faxing Facilities
- Laundry Facilities
- Reception
- Smoke Free Hotel
Room Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Colour TV
- Flat Screen TV
- Iron / Ironing Board
- Pay TV
- Shower
- Wireless Internet Access
- Bathroom Amenities
- Disabled Facilities
- Hairdryer
- Kettle
- Refrigerator
- Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
- Cable / Satellite TV
- Ensuite / Private Bathroom
- Internet Access
- Modem / Data Port Connection
- Safe
- Telephone
Snooze Inn Inner City Budget Hotel Brisbane Guest Reviews (8)
This hotel was very affordable, and was in a perfect location. Wouldnt stay here if you were wanting to spend time in your room though as it is quite small
Balke wrote on October 1, 2012
Quality for price range offered
Greg Hooper wrote on May 28, 2011
Great friendly place for a short stay,
stephen lawrence wrote on April 4, 2011
Hotel was ok for the price but checkout time was way too early so won't be staying here again.
Anonymous wrote on December 25, 2010
excellent value and good service. Lovely people here.
Nicholas seymour wrote on October 11, 2010
Other Recommended Hotels
|Quality Inn Airport Heritage Motel Brisbane
|4 Stars
|Oaks Felix Brisbane
|4.5 Stars
|Metropolitan Motor Inn
|3.5 Stars
|Soho Brisbane
|3.5 Stars
|Best Western Airport Hacienda Motel Brisbane
|3.5 Stars
|Astor Metropole Hotel Brisbane
|3.5 Stars
|Comfort Inn Airport Admiralty Motel
|3.5 Stars
Find similar hotels as Snooze Inn Inner City Budget Hotel Brisbane in Brisbane
Overall Guest Rating
Snooze Inn Inner City Budget Hotel Brisbane Guest Reviews
3 out of 5
This hotel was very affordable, and was in a perfect location. Wouldnt stay here if you were wanting to spend time in your room though as it is quite smallReview by: Balke
Date stayed October 1, 2012
4.4 out of 5
Quality for price range offeredReview by: Greg Hooper
Date stayed May 28, 2011
4.2 out of 5
Great friendly place for a short stay,Review by: stephen lawrence
Date stayed April 4, 2011
3 out of 5
Hotel was ok for the price but checkout time was way too early so won't be staying here again.Review by: Anonymous
Date stayed December 25, 2010
5 out of 5
excellent value and good service. Lovely people here.Review by: Nicholas seymour
Date stayed October 11, 2010
4.2 out of 5
For the price you pay, this place represents very good value for money and is in a very handy location being so close to Fortitude Valley railway station. We were there on a Saturday night so a bit of noise in the area from the nearby pubs and clubs. Bathroom was small, but okay. We paid extra for a queen size bed but it was uncomfortable because it was really just too single beds squeezed together with a hard wooden frame down the middle.Review by: Anonymous
Date stayed August 1, 2010
4.6 out of 5
Clean, quiet, value for money if all your looking for is a place to sleep close to the action.Review by: Matthias Schwarze
Date stayed June 18, 2010
4.4 out of 5
Good room for a good priceReview by: Tony Stella
Date stayed June 7, 2010


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The Pelican Brief
Rent, buy and watch the latest movies and TV shows online
blinkbox has more of the latest movies and TV shows than our competitors.
No subscription, so you only pay when you rent or buy a movie or TV show, from just 99p.
blinkbox is available on PC/Mac, tablets, consoles, smart TVs, set-top boxes and Blu-ray players.
Julia Roberts and Clive Owen steamed up the screen in Closer, and they're set to do it again with this thriller from Oscar nominee Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton). In Duplicity, Roberts and Owen play secret lovers who have given up their lives as spies to work for major corporations. Both want to get an innovative formula for their respective (and rival) companies that will earn the winner's employer millions. Duplicity also co-stars Oscar nominees Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti as the leaders of the corporations.
Drama, Thriller
Contains one use of strong language and moderate sex references
2 hours 1 minute
Tony Gilroy Tom Wilkinson Clive Owen Julia Roberts Paul Giamatti
PC, Mac, iPad, Android tablets, Windows tablets, Xbox, PS3, Chromecast, smart TVs, set-top boxes and Blu-ray players.
Windows PC (UK internet connection required to acquire license)


text:
I've been in the primary for a week now at about 72 degrees and the airlock is still bubbling right along. My OG was only 1.054 and I'm not used to it going so long. Has anyone else had a normal gravity beer go for so long?
I don't really brew anything "normal" so I'm not going to be horribly helpful in that respect. I have had a brew with an OG of 1.14 take close to 4 weeks to complete.
What is the current SG reading?
Just because the airlock is bubbling doesn't mean the beer is still fermenting. You should take a hydro reading if you really want to know!
1: Pilsen Ale (Pilsner made with US05)
2: Roasted ESB (mistake by the LHBS in recipe)
3: Hefeweizen
4: Hoegarden Saison
5: English Mild
You all are awesome for replying so quickly. I decided to put my fear of contamination aside and test it. I am at 1.012, which is where I hoped to finish. Upon tasting, the beer is fizzy and has a very thick, creamy head. I'm guessing the thick krausen is holding in the CO2. Me likey! I was a bit disappointed by the hoppieness as this is a pumpkin ale. Otherwise, a good brew. Should I go to a secondary or let it stay in primary for a while longer?
at a week, i'd definitely let it sit longer. as kyle suggests, another week or so, then bottle, carbonate for a week or 2, and cold-condition
So I just checked my gravity again, it's down to 1.004. I am a bit shocked that the attenuation was so high. Is this normal? I used Wyeast Aerican Ale II.


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Be sure to take clothing that can keep you warm and protect you from the cold weather at the top of the mountain, such as a cotton dress with an overcoat. Also wear hiking shoes and thick socks to stay warm and avoid slipping on the way.
In February, you can enjoy the traditional Chinese Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival, and appreciate local dancing and singing. At the same time, also experience various interesting traditions of China's New Year. Don't forget the beautiful snow-covered mountain, and be aware that since a great many tourists visit this month, tourist sites may be crowded. See our Huangshan Tours.


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Skylar Cannon's life has been an uphill battle.
She was born with a terminal disease that has attacked the voluntary muscles in her arms, legs and spinal cord.
The disease, which is called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, has confined her to a wheelchair and has prevented her from doing many of the things that most 13-year-old girls enjoy.
Yet, despite her setbacks, Skylar has meet her challenges head on.
A Shelby County man is dead, and Kentucky State Police are looking for whoever may have murdered him.
James "Jim" Duckett, 43, of 5300 Rockbridge Road in eastern Shelby County, was found Monday in his home by a family member who had stopped to check on him.
Police believe the suspect fled in Duckett's pickup truck, and though the truck was found late Monday night, the suspect remains at large.
Police would not say if they know who the suspect might be.
Joshua B. Spaulding of Bagdad was indicted for third-degree assault, resisting arrest, third-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree disorderly conduct, third-degree criminal mischief, harassing communications, no insurance and improper registration plates.
Gretchen Ann Pierson of Shelbyville was indicted for making false statements to obtain benefits over $100.
At long last we're are the end of an election season that compares to nothing in our lifetimes, an immersion as thorough and overpowering as technology would allow.
Millions of us decided to tune in this presidential year - heck, almost all of us even voted - and we were engaged by a debate that historically has been overly formal, too esoteric, vague and, well, just boring. Who believed half of what they heard? Maybe we still don't, but we've certainly listened more closely.
I spoke with Jo-Ann van den Berg-Ohms from Van Engelen Bulb Company the other day. Her family has been in the Dutch bulb business for five generations, so I trust her advice when it comes to bulbs.
She noted that bulbs are best planted once soil temperatures cool to about 55 degrees, so she tells people to wait and plant bulbs until we have had at least two weeks of sweater weather. If it is too cool outside without a jacket then it's just right for planting bulbs.
Drunken Driving
Brenda Reece, 54, of Shelbyville, was arrested Oct. 29 on Boone Station Road and charged with DUI.
William Shawn Fleming, 35, of Shelbyville, was arrested Nov. 1 on Henry Clay Street and charged with DUI and no insurance.
I don't normally fret about writing columns, but this one has been tough. How, after all, do you adequately muster the words to pay fitting tribute to someone who has spent much of her life taking care of our most vulnerable children and their families?
For more than a decade, Mary Simmons directed the Dorman Center, a special day care for at-risk children. If you had to make a list of some of life's toughest assignments, that job would be right near the top.
Today we should thank Cary Vowels for his service to the City of Simpsonville.
Vowels has been part of the Simpsonville City Commission for six years, and his contributions have been outstanding. His has been a voice both reasonable and resonant, and his impact serious. For that he deserves thanks.
But he also deserves congratulations for being a man of dignity and honor in perhaps his last contribution to the city.
"Over the River and Into the Woods," which opens at the Shelby County Community Theatre on Friday, is the directorial debut of Shelby County native Mark Burks.
The play is about a young man, Nickey, who is adored by his grandparents. When Nickey gets a promotion, the prospect of his moving ignites a series of hilarious events.
Michael Catapano, a teen new to the Shelby County Theatre, plays the part of Nickey. He is from New York and has a "great Italian-New York accent," Burks said.
When Barack Obama is inaugurated as the President of the United States in January, a group of Shelby County supporters will be there to cheer him on.
The Shelbyville chapter of the NAACP is organizing a trip to attend the inauguration ceremony in Washington on Jan. 20.
Local organizers are hoping that more than 50 people from the community will be there to "witness history in the making."
Debra Jordan, president of the local NAACP, said the inauguration of the first African American president is one of the most historic events in her lifetime.
Copyright © 2014
The Sentinel-News is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Shelby County and Shelbyville, KY, and the surrounding area.


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|Name: _________________________
|Period: ___________________
This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why is Mack so popular among the workers?
(a) He gets higher wages for them.
(b) He buys drinks for everyone.
(c) He sets up a charity for unemployed men.
(d) He knows how to tell a good joke.
2. Jay and Lizzie's house is located on __________________.
(a) Pier Street.
(b) Chapel Street.
(c) Ash Street.
(d) Bristol Street.
3. Companies will no longer hire Mack because _____________________.
(a) He is Catholic.
(b) He is lazy.
(c) He is a troublemaker.
(d) He is always late.
4. What is the name of the horse given to Jay by his father?
(a) Blizzard.
(b) Flash.
(c) Fireball.
(d) Aerik.
5. With whom does Lizzie attend the event advertised in the flyer?
(a) She goes with Lady Alicia.
(b) She goes alone.
(c) She goes with Jay.
(d) She goes with Annie.
6. Who does Jay Jamisson want to kill?
(a) His cousin.
(b) His boss.
(c) His father.
(d) His brother.
7. What does Lizzie wear to attend the event?
(a) A new ballgown.
(b) Men's clothing.
(c) A new afternoon frock.
(d) Her engagement gown.
8. Who joins the Jamissons in the deer hunt?
(a) Esther.
(b) Lizzie.
(c) Philip.
(d) Mack.
9. What does Delaney advise Mack to do?
(a) Open his own business.
(b) Leave town for a year or two.
(c) Get a job on a ship.
(d) Go back to school.
10. Who is the lawyer whom Mack sees in London?
(a) Clayton Hall.
(b) Edward Spence.
(c) Caspar Gordonson.
(d) Philip Maguire.
11. What is the nature of the crowd after the event Lizzie attends?
(a) Subdued.
(b) Quiet.
(c) Rowdy.
(d) Jubilant.
12. Who buys Mack and Dermot a drink for rescuing the girl?
(a) Cora.
(b) Fran.
(c) Camille.
(d) Elsie.
13. Why does Lizzie want to call off the wedding to Jay?
(a) She realizes that the man she really loves is Robert.
(b) She found out that Jay has been secretly seeing her best friend.
(c) Jamisson people have been investigating the coal on Hallim land.
(d) She needs more time to think about the marriage.
14. What is Lizzie's last name?
(a) Rosemond.
(b) Hallim.
(c) MaGuire.
(d) Baldwin.
15. Who is Sir George's wife?
(a) Lady Elaine.
(b) Lady Alicia.
(c) Lady Elizabeth.
(d) Lady Madeleine.
Short Answer Questions
1. Who of the following is NOT one of the last three people in the mines?
2. What is the last name of the person with whom Mack lives?
3. What is the name of Lizzie's home?
4. Where is Mack taken after he is captured?
5. Who is Mack's boss?
This section contains 390 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)


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"Say.....did you try the dish being served over there?!?"
That's what you'll be saying to others as you sample signature dishes from restaurants around Lancaster County, all benefitting such a great cause!
The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank distributes more than 28 million pounds of food and grocery products, equivalent to more than 23 million meals, every year to more than 800 soup kitchens, shelters, and food pantries in 27 central Pennsylvania counties. These agencies directly feed thousands of hungry families throughout central Pennsylvania.
Join WGAL 8, and help the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank end hunger in our area! For more information, click this link!
Copyright 2014 by WGAL All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Media Enhancement Kit with 6 River Rocks for Napoleon Fireplaces
Media enhancement kits are designed for random placement within the firebox as an addition to the log set, Crystaline™ ember bed, river rock kit, or any other media kit in the fireplace. This river rock display will add a touch of the outdoors to your fireplace and can be moved around any time to give the fireplace a dynamic appearance.
- For use with LHD45, LHD50, LHD50-2 fireplaces and GPF firepit
- Complements existing media
Time after time, Napoleon® has led the way with new and innovative, patented technology. When you install a Napoleon® fireplace, stove or insert you can rest assured that you will enjoy a lifetime of reliable performance year after year. With the wide variety of products Napoleon can satisfy the heating needs in any room of your home.
Additional Napoleon Links
Our SKU: Napoleon MEKR
This product is listed under the following manufacturer number(s):
- Napoleon MEKR
*Denotes a finish or option that has been discontinued
Installation Resource Center
Whether you are installing the product yourself or hiring a professional, our installation Resource Center has everything you need to get your project done. Visit the Installation Resource Center to get started.


text:
Top Apps
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Official Movie 1
Here is a look at some early gameplay for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky!
I am just about done with gamespot for good. They post 240p video as 720p, and bomb you with an ad per VIEWING so if you so much as refresh the page you get another ad. the autoplay feature is so irritating, it's solely for the purpose of ads. Gamespot doesn't "need" to use this intrusive method to make money, almost nobody else is so rude and blatant. Also your reviewers write like highschool kids, unimaginiative and unspohisticated, also your complete staff are all ugly/fat/irritating. What's with the british people?
Environments and graphics are amazing, but the gunplay looks a little iffy.
improved graphic nice game play, but i expect destroyed city or urban warfaer !!
nice graphics, good gameplay, well.. i think i'll gonna buy this game! heheh..
i am downloading it from Usenext at this moment, i am so excited
i am downloading it from Usenext at this moment, i am so excited
It seems good game with nice graphics.wait and see.
what kind of game is this
FPS games are a genre (dhaaa!) so u mates will find games ull like and some u wont, still got to keep it objective when ure posting a comment wich will be read by other players who have or haven't played the game. so... what STALKER series have to offer?? I must say that the more important feature is the enviroment. i havent found any other game who has what STALKER has to offer. The sounds of wind, tunders, mutants(dogs, birds, etc.), guns, russian lenguage all around gives a fresh air in a genre infested with English and Worldwars features. The dark site in wich Stalker takes place will nail ye to its reality. so its a great experience. about the bugs. i dont recall any game that has no bugs in our days... with an average of 30 patches per game after its release to say a number... but still got to get the essence of the game and what i has to offer. maybe if you could go and ride a truck or a chopper it will be more crysis style, but the esence of it is the disaster itself and how it influences the game experience. still i have doubts about the multiplayer feature, havent played it yet, think it might be quite demanding for a server due the variants that artifacts add and the size of the "stages" wich is mostly "open country style" that said, give it a try for 30 mins... you probably wont regret it!!!
Inverni, I don't believe that stalkers atmosphere is so special. Crysis has as many bugs, BUT it's a lot more fun to play it.And my pc is too old for crysis(Athlon 3000+;Radeon 9600pro 128mb;1gb ram), so I play on the minimal settings and still it's a lot more atmospheric game. People run like they should, hold their weapons like they should etc. And I'm not a 'graphics whore'. I play Counter-Strike 1.6( my personal favorite ) and it ain't pissing me off like stalker. Well, I got nothing against people that like this game. You like it - you play it. I'll pass.
TrunkMonkey9mm, I think we all realize the game has flaws, though it's debatable that they are THAT bad. What everyone really likes about it is the atmosphere and spirit. You can give a game all the polish in the world. Give it great animations, models, lighting physics, etc, etc, etc, but you can still have a sh*tty game. I think the correct word to describe a person like you would be 'graphics whore'.
The first one is no good. Picture is terrible.I mean character animation is "counter-strike 1.1" level, weapon models make me sick. The surrounding world looks blocky. Developers wanted to release the game in 2004, but they freezed the project for better times.The main mistake they did was keeping the old engine in the game while using advanced vfx and particle systems.That is the reason of constant glitches (even with the hi spec hardware) and crappy-looking picture.
I never had problems with the first game and the second will be even better.
It's gonna be fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!
The first one is definately a fantastic game. I hope this is just as atmospheric.
first one was amazing. this one looks similar which is awesome. cant wait.
I guess you haven't played the first one, fasbas. It's probably THE most unique shooter to come out in a long time. Calling it "another FPS" makes you sound fairly stupid. No offence.
it was just okay. another FPS in the list
didn't looked awesome
ihave been waiting for a long time for this, its gonna be awesome
yeah.... i will be waiting 4 u.....stranger......
the first one was awesome, i hope it gets more in depth with the character lifestyle.
i want this game pretty bad, and i second the guy below meh
i thing this game will great.
Hope it doesnt have as many bugs as the first one did
looks a lot like the first one but I still like it.


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Young Scientists From Around The State Will Compete For Top Honors At The 62nd California State Science Fair
Fair showcasing student innovation hosted by the California Science Center
LOS ANGELES, April 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 1,000 of the state's top middle and senior high school students will convene for the final round of competition in the 62 nd annual California State Science Fair, April 15-16, 2013 at the California Science Center in Exposition Park. Winners will take home a combined total of more than $50,000 in cash prizes. The presenting sponsors are Northrop Grumman Corporation and Chevron Corporation, with additional support from THE MUSES of the California Science Center Foundation and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Barbara Radding Morgan, an educator and former NASA astronaut, will serve as the keynote speaker. A California native, Morgan participated in the Teacher-in-Space Program and trained with Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger crew. She completed her first space flight in 2007 as mission specialist for the crew of STS-118. The keynote address will take place Monday, April 15, 2013 from 5:00-6:00 PM.
Ideas for projects often come from today's headlines or even real-life experiences. Here is a sample of the interesting titles submitted to this year's Science Fair:
- Coffee: Hazardous for Consumption?
- The Effects of Video Games on the Brain
- Designing a More Ergonomic QWERTY Keyboard Layout by Analyzing Punctuation Frequency
- Bio-Rusting: The Effect of Bacteria on Corrosion
Students representing 30 affiliated county and multi-county regional science fairs throughout the state have advanced to the California State Science Fair. The projects span 22 categories – from aerodynamics/hydrodynamics to zoology – in two age divisions and will be judged by a volunteer pool of some 350 scientists and engineers from private industry and higher education.
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Dorian Coleman - <i>Spring 2014</i> 2
I may be a bit biased because a lot of these spots are local to me, but I was into this video. Definitely not the craziest / burliest tricks, but Dorian is dialed, has the ability to spin the bars at will, and has really good bike control. I like it.Credit: Dorian
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