text: 5 Great funterrornation | 29/09/2011 | See all terrornation's reviews (7)This halloween special (which slots between series one and two) is a homage to the classic horror anthology.It takes place with a film crew making a suspiciously familiar show about haunted house's. The crew visit raven hill and it is here that the special gets rolling. There are four stories tied together by the subplot of the paranormal investigators. Each story has a character from the series reprising there role in both a funny yet sinister halloween themed tale.


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Boston Children's has launched the world's 1st program dedicated to offering hand transplants to children who qualify.
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The cause of the Cheonan's sinking remains a mystery. Pyongyang seizes Seoul's mountain resort facilities. The reclusive Kim Jong-il reportedly visits China in search of money. Hyundai reports a record profit. And a South Korean becomes the first woman to climb the world's 14 tallest peaks.
Top News: For five days South Korea mourned the death of more than 40 sailors killed in the sinking of a navy ship off the west coast after more than a month of rescue operations. Politicians and South Koreans all across the country lined up at makeshift alters set up around train stations and other public areas to pay their respects to the deceased sailors.
The media and analysts continue to speculate on what caused the 1,200-ton naval corvette, Cheonan, to spilt in half and sink near the western sea border adjacent to North Korea, most suggesting Pyongyang's involvement. North Korea has so far denied playing any part in the sinking of the ship.
Investigators tentatively concluded that an external blast caused the sinking, while the South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said that a torpedo attack was most likely the cause. Kim was the first South Korean official to identify a torpedo attack as the likely cause of the sinking, but he did not speculate on where the torpedo may have originated.
Pyongyang seized five South Korean owned facilities at a mountain resort in what appears to be in retaliation against remarks from the South against the North Korean leadership, as tensions heighten on the peninsula due to the sinking of the naval ship Cheonan. It also proceeded to expel South Korean employees working at the tourist site.
The North confiscated a culture center, spa and other facilities saying that the move was to make up for the losses it has seen since the South barred tours to the scenic mountain resort in 2008. South Korea suspended trips to the North, after a South Korean tourist was shot by North Korean soldiers. Seoul announced at the time that it would call off tours, which were once considered a lucrative source of foreign currency for the North, until Pyongyang agreed to a joint investigation into the case.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il is said to have made a secretive trip to China, the first in four years, in an effort to win economic aid from its long-standing ally China, according to South Korea media reports.
North Korea experts believe that the move could be a signal to the international community indicating that Pyongyang is willing to return to the negotiating table at the six-party talks aimed at dismantling the country's nuclear program.
Former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook was acquitted of bribery, after the courts ruled that prosecutors did not have conclusive evidence. Prosecutors indicted Han last year on the grounds of receiving $50,000 from a businessman in 2006 in return for a job. The former prime minister was a key aide to late President Roh Moo-hyun and considered a symbol of integrity during that time.
Money: International credit ratings agency Moody's Investors Service raised South Korea's sovereign credit ratings to A1 from A2 for what it called "an exceptional level of economic resilience to the global crisis."
The agency is the first one to upgrade Korea's sovereign credit rating to the level it was at before the country was hit by the Asian Economic Crisis in 1997.
South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor reported a record $1 billion earnings in the first quarter of the year, a fivefold increase in profits compared to a year ago.
The carmaker's sales jumped by 40 percent in that same period to 8.42 trillion won, recording a 37 percent increase to 842,037 cars.
South Korea's central bank raised its target for economic growth in 2010 to 5.2 percent from 4.6 percent citing a surge of demand from overseas markets and stronger domestic demand.
The Bank of Korea's growth forecast is the fastest in four years, after the country saw a 5.2 percent growth in 2006.
The central bank expects exports to grow by 11.9 percent this year, a jump from the previous forecast of 9.3 percent. The bank also indicated that the private sector would play a much larger role this year as the effects of the state stimulus package implemented last year begin to diminish.
Elsewhere: South Korean mountain climber Oh Eun-sun became the world's first woman to scale the 14 tallest peaks in the world.
South Korean media broadcasted the hike live across the country and flashed breaking news reports after the 44-year-old planted the Korean flag at the top of Nepal's Annapurna, the 10th highest peak in the world.
The country's president Lee Myung-bak sent a congratulatory message to Oh saying that she has demonstrated to the public what challenge means.


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This is a discussion on Gaston Glock does a "Hefner" and marries his GF, 51 years younger. within the Off Topic & Humor Discussion forums, part of the The Back Porch category; Blondes prefer Glock | The Firearm Blog...
"Each worker carried his sword strapped to his side." Nehemiah 4:18
Guns Save Lives. Paramedics Save Lives. But...
Paramedics With Guns Scare People!
Some women are such money grubbing scum, with no shame. Seriously. She has ONE motive for this and ONE only. Same as those shameless tramps who marry and live with heff.
Certainly Mr. Glock knows this. He has a right to spend his money how he see's fit.
"Just blame Sixto"
At least I know Mrs. Whec married me for my looks...
'Clinging to my guns and religion
It takes two to tango. Noone really knows what is going on between them. Besides, one way or the other a man pays for the attentions of a woman.
Ignorance is a long way from stupid, but left unchecked, can get there real fast.
What is the problem?
Like so many multitudes of GLOCK-a-holics & Glock Aficionados he much prefers an earlier generation.
He should have just signed a long term lease instead of buying.
Darn,guess this means Chaz's surgery was for nothing!
Nobody better be finding XDs hidden under her pillow.
Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse or Rapture....whichever comes first.
Que in Pink Floyd's " MONEY "
I cant blame him, My new wife is the same age as my oldest son.
And I do have shoes older than her!!!!
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on."
- Sir Winston Churchill


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What's in a Name?
Anybody who has spent any time in the church can tell stories of flat-out ridiculous attitudes and actions they have seen in the lives of God's people. There is nothing new under the sun. The book of Jonah exposes in …Read More
Deus Pro Nobis
As we enter the second decade of the twenty-first century, we have reached an all-time low in terms of our expectations for college students. Both parents and students seem to have ingested a lowest-common-denominator sedative that has led many to …Read More
Induction and Deduction with Reference to Inspiration
One feature of the evangelical doctrine of scriptural inspiration (and inerrancy) which is subject to considerable debate is the respective place and scope of induction and deduction in the task of ascertaining a truly biblical view of the subject. Dewey …Read More
Our Pasts Don't Have to Matter
During our election cycles in the U.S., we see a lot of headlines and hear a lot of talk about the past of candidates for public office. We wrestle with and quarrel about the question, Do their pasts matter? Usually, …Read More
Praying for Politicians
Having been a minister for twenty-six years and an editor of a church magazine for some of that time, I can safely say that there is no subject more likely to get you into controversy than the troubled relationship of …Read More
The Goodness of the Law
"Oh how I love your law!" (Ps. 119:97). What a strange statement of affection. Why would anyone direct his love toward the law of God? The law limits our choices, restricts our freedom, torments our consciences, and pushes us down …Read More
Guidelines for Separation
I stood at the graveside of a dear, gentle, gracious, and generous saint and looked around at the mourners. I was puzzled by the presence of a group of people who had been absent from the earlier church service. Then …Read More
Truly God, Truly Man: The Council of Chalcedon
It's hard enough to pronounce "Chalcedon." Getting to grips with its theology can be even more daunting. But the effort will be very richly rewarded. For the past 1,500 years, right up to the present day, virtually all orthodox Christian …Read More
A Rose Is a Rose
A rose is a rose is a rose. This dictum reinforces the adage that a rose by any other name is still a rose. The idea is that the essence of the rose is not conditioned by what name is …Read More
Mere Coincidence?
I've been interested in so-called coincidences since I was a child. In fact, my first research paper of any substance during high school was on the subject of coincidences. I recently ran across this old paper, which I wrote before …Read More
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Tales of Wrykyn and Elsewhere: 25 original stories
In 1905 P G Wodehouse wrote six stories, set in Wrykyn College and called Tales of Wrykyn. Two years before he had published a book with twelve stories and four essays called Tales of St Austin's, and no doubt meant to produce an equivalent Wrykyn book. Here it is at last.


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Humans Make A Comeback
by Allan Appel | Feb 21, 2013 1:23 pm
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Posted to: Arts & Culture, Visual Arts
Curators aren't supposed to display their own work in their shows. But if one your exhibitors has done your portrait in oil on canvas—wearing a stunning animal hat bursting out of the sun roof of your car—what's to argue about?
Gerri Davis painted that portrait of curator Kwadwo Adae and called it "Boomerang." The portrait now hangs at Artspace as part of a show Adae has assembled called "The Figure Eight."
The show itself reveals the many ways to represent the human figure. In the work of New Haven artist Jaclyn Conley, who plunks animals in beds, bowers, and other human settings, the show also seems to ask: Excuse me, can you tell me how a human is different from a non-human animal?
Believe me: You don't want this cat hopping up onto the comforter.
The Figure Eight runs through March 16 at Artspace at Orange and Crown streets. Click here for an overview of the show as conceived by Adae and brief bios of the artists. Be sure to take some human identity with you, or what you think passes for same, when you visit.
"Where do we draw the line between the animal and human figure?" Adae posed the question during a walk through of the sunny space late Wednesday afternoon.
Light poured down on one of the most surprising and resonant works, "Josh's Prayer," by Gaviero Umami. That is the nom d'arte of the sculptor duo Eoin Burke and Jim Dessicino, who live in New Haven but work in Brooklyn.
The painted fiberglass sculpture of a man meditating, especially one wearing not a Buddhist robe but a hoodie, depicts arguably one of the most human of human activities, perhaps a uniquely human activity. Unless someone has documented a bonobo or preying mantis meditating.
Adae, who has just established a teaching studio, the Adae Fine Art Academy, at 817 Chapel St., is curating his first show as a member of Artspace's Visual Arts Committee.
He said he was prompted to do a show on the human figure because walking through the galleries in Manhattan and elsewhere, he was struck by a preponderance of the conceptual and the abstract.
Humans need a comeback in art, Adae said, because "there will be infinite depiction [of the human form] as long as we are creating art of ourselves."
The figure eight is not only a type of knot and a bravura move for a skater, he noted. Lying on its side, it is also a mathematical symbol of infinity.
As he walked through Artspace, Adae seemed a bit like Adam naming the animals: "I have Sophia [Wallace] covering the real. I have [Gregory] Santos covering the abstract. I have Jaclyn covering the animal figure. I have Burke covering traditional figurative sculpture. Trevor and Ryan Oakes cover the scientific approach to the figure, like Brunelleschi and Leonardo."
Adae's public programming for the show is also a kind of evangelism for the human form. If you want to reacquaint yourself with it, Thursday night through the show's run, he's bringing over a dozen easels from his school that he sets up for instruction
The drawing class is free, the model is nude, and the easels are set up amid the art works.
Tags: Adae
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posted by: EileenE on February 25, 2013 9:26am
There's a terrific energy to this show. Not only is the art intelligent, thoughtful and creative but there is also a high level of craftsmanship and visual beauty. I can't always relate to some conceptual art shows but this one is totally accessible and celebrates the figure in unexpected ways. What I thought would be a quick look at the show turned into 20 min. of pure enjoyment.


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The long goodbye for Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Longwood residents react to Kucinich loss
CLEVELAND - A day after Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur took four of five counties in the newly redrawn 9th district, some in the Lakewood community are still in awe.
"I thought for sure he would get it," said Robert Wilhelm. "I thought he was well liked."
Dennis Kucinich, a two time presidential candidate, had nothing but praise for the people who came out and voted for him.
"This community gave me 75 percent of the vote," Kucinich said while talking to reporters at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. "I'm grateful for that, but you have to do well in all five counties. I did well in just one."
Some residents we spoke with in the Lakewood community said they will miss the congressman who they said was very accessible.
"I think he's done a lot for northeast Ohio," said Carolyn Miller, while jogging in Lakewood. "I know he's been in there and he's got a lot of power in the house and that's why he was able to get things done for us."
While waiting for the bus, Louis Lugo and his friend Michelle Brickman said they voted for the congressman in the past.
"I was always told that if I needed anything I could go to him," Brickman said.
Lugo remembered a time when Kucinich first ran for office and he and his girlfriend hit the pavement trying to help him get elected.
"He was trying to win his race for congress and I said let's work on it. Me and my girlfriend went campaigning for him."
The new district stretches more than 100 miles and covers about 47 percent of Kaptur's current district. Some believe that gave her an edge.
When confronted with that question, Kucinich evaded it.
"The reason why I ran was to try and keep a congressional seat in this community," he said.
There has been some talk of him running for office in Washington State, but Kucinich thinks that rumor came from the Kaptur camp.
"The people who were promoting that during the election used that as an issue to try and get people to vote against me."


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On Saturday night, Michael McDonald proved that all the hype is for real, as he knocked out the former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres. McDonald is now 5-0 in the WEC and UFC, and he has earned three finishes and two fight-night bonuses. He's now firmly entrenched in the top 10 bantamweights in MMA, but how high up is he? And what about Miguel Torres? How far does he drop down the rankings.
read more
Jon Jones and Rory MacDonald were not the only young fighters who made statements at UFC 145. Last night, Michael McDonald continued to prove just how dangerous he is by knocking out former WEC bantamweight champ Miguel Torres. McDo... Read Post
Former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (40-5) was upset in the first round by one of the UFC's youngest fighters in Michael McDonald (15-1), who knocked out Torres in the first round. What We'll Remember about This Fight For... Read Post
Two of the UFC's top bantamweights will wage war this Saturday night (April 21, 2012) as former WEC champion Miguel Torres battles top prospect Michael McDonald on the UFC 145 main card in Atlanta, Georgia. Miguel Torres is the form... Read Post


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317 South Vermont Avenue
Today there is often more to the photographic collections of many libraries than first meets the eye—a case in point would be that of the University of Southern California, whose digital database includes a "zoom" feature that allows for some extraordinary discoveries not at all evident in images initially found. An example of such serendipity would be the house built at 317 South Vermont Avenue between 1911 and 1914 by John N. Kirkland, an owner of the American Drug Company, which he had formed with his brother Derwent in 1907 and which merged with the Sun Drug Company in 1922. Almost indistinguishable in a circa-1930 panorama taken from the east side of Vermont looking west and northwest, the house reveals itself as we, like eagles, zoom in:
The John N. Kirkland house, built circa 1912 on a residential street, quickly became a lone residence on a busy commercial boulevard. Remarkably, the family remained in the house at least as late as 1944 and possibly into the '50s; 317 South Vermont was very likely standing at the time of Mrs. Kirkland's death on September 2, 1955. In 1910, the entire block seen above was an empty field originally belonging to the Schmidt family of 3440 Wilshire Boulevard. |
At the time that 317 was built, South Vermont was a narrower residential street not yet slated to become a primary north-south arterial road. Major street alterations in the planning stages during the mid-teens would abbreviate the domestic tranquility of the Kirkland house and its neighborhood, though it must be said that quite a few builders of big houses in the Wilshire District suffered from a similar kind of bad timing, simply a risk inherent in any real estate endeavor in a city experiencing growth as explosive as that of Los Angeles. The Kirklands were no doubt encouraged in the viability of their residential effort by the grand estate built around the corner in 1912—it was once at 255 South New Hampshire—by former Los Angeles mayor Henry T. Hazard. While the Kirkland family owned the house at least into the '40s, they appear to have rented at least parts of it from 1924, when it became home for a time to the Russian Arts Club. John Kirkland died in 1933, by which time Vermont was overwhelmingly commercial and undoubtedly heavily trafficked. Neither of these attributes would pry Mary Kirkland from her home; her 53-year-old son William, also in the drug business and apparently no longer married, was living with her at 317 in 1940 along with a lodger who seems to have been unrelated. (The Kirklands also had a daughter, Dorothy, born in 1893.) The house had been further subdivided by this time; there were now tenants at 317½, either within the main house or perhaps in former servants' quarters over the garage at the rear of the property. By 1942, it was Mrs. Kirkland and William who were listed in the city directory at 317½.
While it is unclear as to how long she might have stayed on Vermont Avenue, Mary Kirkland's house appears in vintage aerial photographs to have survived at least as long as she did. Mrs. Kirkland died at 93 in Los Angeles in 1955. Information accompanying the picture on which our top photograph is based and the one below, discovered after the panorama, indicates that they were commissioned by Mrs. Kirkland in 1928, perhaps to record the house for posterity, or with a plan to sell in mind, or perhaps as part of a scheme to market the house for commercial uses. After the Second World War, with Kirklands possibly still in residence in part of the house, the Pioneer Women's Organization for Palestine was at 317; later, offices of the Labor Zionist Movement of Los Angeles were there. A real estate operator specializing in junkets to Hesperia was listed at the address in 1956; two years later, a perhaps related enterprise, the California City Development Company, began promoting that famously hyped Mojave Desert community. Eventually, 317 South Vermont gave way to the inevitable parking lot—for a McDonald's that opened in 1971.


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Quote of the Week: "Unless we remember, we cannot understand." E.M. Forester
Writing Exercise of the Week: Write about a man in his 60s who wakes up on the beach. He's wearing a nice suit with a necktie and has an expensive gold watch on his wrist. On his feet are a pair of mismatched flip flops. Who is he and how did he get there? What happens next? Write for 10 minutes.
In the tool kit of life, there's always a monkey wrench.
"Throwing a monkey wrench" into something suggests a mishap, an unexpected turn of events. There are different thoughts as to the origin of the phrase, but the one I like best is this one:
In the early 1900s, factory workers would throw spanners (wrenches) into industrial machinery, which would grind to a stop. Clever, eh? After all, you can't work if the darn machine is broken. It's a guaranteed instant coffee break.
French workers did something similar by throwing their clogs (sabots) instead. I guess they went home barefoot, but that's how the word sabotage came about.
When it comes to writing, monkey wrenches are the best way for your characters to see what they're made of. What your character ends up doing (or not doing) reveals who they really are. The most successful books and movies are built one monkey wrench at a time. Just think about it.
Whether you're writing a personal essay (thinking about college, anyone?), writing a novel, or telling your memoir or life story, think about those moments when a monkey wrench turned everything upside down. Then write about it.
We're drawn to these stories because they're the stories of life. Monkey wrenches happen. When we read these stories, we gain the courage to see how we might face similar challenges in our own life, too.
Monkey wrenches can work for or against us. In literature, just as in life, there are always two sides. Action and reaction. Allowing and not allowing.
So here's a crazy, radical thought: why wait for that monkey wrench (or shoe or sabot) to drop? Why not grab a monkey wrench and throw it into a part of your life that isn't working and just bring it all to a stop?
I'm not proposing ruining or destroying anything that's good. I'm not suggesting you wreak havoc just for the heck of it or bust things up because you're bored and want to see what happens. But if you've been stuck in a routine, going through the motions of day-to-day life and feeling miserable or unhappy, consider the possibility of just stopping what you've been doing with a little monkey wrenching of your own.
What can you do that will shake things up, push you out of your comfort zone, help you rethink what you know? Monkey wrenches serve as a course correction—things were going one way, now they're going another. If there's something you're feeling unsatisfied about, something you want to change, go after it instead of waiting for it to happen to you.
This fall Darien will be teaching memoir, writing and publishing classes through Waimea Community Education. Visit waimeaeducation.com for more information.
Darien Gee is a national bestselling author based in Waimea. Her most recent novel is The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society. She also writes under the name Mia King. Visit her at dariengee.com and miaking.com.


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"I haven't sent you any air mail"
Aquil Copier has focused on the idea of landscape, and although the resulting mixed media paintings can be taken at face value as representations of a bird's eye view of our geography, there is also an element of scepticism. How truthful are maps and images? How do mass media, information technology and aerial photography make us feel as though we are constantly travelling without actually leaving our laptops?
Artist: Aquil Copier
+ 2x2p.com
Aquil Copier's latest show, I Haven's Sent You Any Air Mail, runs from October 25 though November 29 at 2 X 2 Projects in Amsterdam.
No Title (triptych)
No Title (five panels)


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Simms; Marie Drew
SIMMS -- Marie drew, 93, of Brooklyn, Queens County, passed away peacefully in Mahone Nursing Home on Monday, December 3rd, 2012 .
Born in Brooklyn, she was a daughter of the late Herbert and Ida (Baker) Smith.
Marie was a former counter clerk for Simpsons in Liverpool and an office clerk for Thompson Bros. (later Steel and Engine Products Limited -- STENPRO) as well as Mersey Paper Company. She was a member of Pilgrim United Church in Brooklyn, the UCW and was a Sunday school teacher for many years and served as superintendant. Family meant the world to Marie and she was especially proud of her grandsons Ryan and Joel. She will be fondly remembered as always having a smile, dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her daughter Cynthia (Rowen Shinder) of Moncton; her son John (Heather) of Brooklyn and her grandsons Ryan and Joel.
She was predeceased by her husband Clare and her sister Reta.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 from 7 until 9 p.m. in Chandlers' Funeral Chapel, Liverpool. Funeral service will be held Thursday, December 6th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. from Pilgrim United Church, Brooklyn. Lay Minister Peter Anthony officiating. Burial will be in Seaside Cemetery, Brooklyn. Family flowers only, donations may be made to Pilgrim United Church. Online condolences may be made to www.chandlersfuneral.com
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Messages of Condolence
Please accept my condolences with the passing of your Mum. I am sure you will miss her.
John, Heather and family
Sorry to hear of Marie's passing. She was a very kind lady. She taught me in Sunday School and also helped me when I was teaching. Hold onto the beautiful memories and know she is at peace.
Patti -
John, Heather and boys – So sorry to hear of Marie's passing. I will always have fond memories of her and you will too. Hold onto the memories – they will help you get through. Thinking of you all.
Dottie & Gary
Cindy and Johnny…so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. Our prayers and sympathy go out to both of you and your family.
I won't be able to come to the funeral because of my hip, but Paul will be there, but I will be thinking of you.Marjorie
My heartfelt love and condolences to the entire family.I know your Mom and Nana is in a much better place now, with her Lord and will always be watching over you. She was one fine lady and I will miss visiting with her when home.
Cindy, John & family….
My heart is very heavy with sadness and I am very sorry to hear of the passing of your mom. I want to express my sincere condolences for your loss.
Cindy… Thank you for all the many fond memories, chuckles, and laughter that we shared with your mom. She had a way of always making things seem "ok" with her kind words and gentle mannerisms.
I want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you across the miles more than you will ever know.
Marie was a wonderful person and she will always hold a very special place in my heart. My life has been enriched by knowing her……
With Love
Cathy -
John and family: We were sorry to hear about your mother. Our thoughts and our prayers are with your family.
sorry to read about your mum John,,Wishing you all the best ,
dennis & liz. -
John and Cindy and Family
Thinking of you in your time of sorrow.
Sorry to hear of your loss.Remember your mom well. -
Cindy, John and Family,
Sorry for your loss. Memories are so wonderful to have and no one can take them from you enjoy all that you have. She was a special person. -
Sending condolences John to you your family in the passing of you Mom.
John & Cindy and families we send our deepest sympathy to all of you. She was one of my Sunday School teachers and I have many good memories of Marie. God bless you all.
John, Heather – so sorry to hear of your mom's passing. We will be thinking of you as you deal with this difficut time. Hugs.
– Donna -
Sending sincere condolences to Marie's family. I knew Marie through the church and she was always friendly.
Bonnie -
Cindy and Family
So sorry to hear of your Moms passing. I remember my Mom (Dot Smith, Shelburne) always talking about your Mom from church meetings etc, she was a good friend. They thought it was great having daughters with the same name and how we used to play broomball together. Cherish your memories they do help as we lost Mom in 2010. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and you family at this difficult.
Cindy (Smith) Acker -
Cindy: I am sorry to learn of Marie's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you today and in the coming days. Marie was a lovely lady and will be missed by many. Sincere sympathy to your family.
so sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. May your good memories help you in your time of sorrow. Live, laugh, love… that's what our Mom's would want.
John and family: we were very saddened to hear of your Mom's passing. She was a very warm and lovely lady and will be missed for sure. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.
John, Heather and family: We were saddened to read of your dear mothers passing. She will be remembered for her thoughtfulness and love for her neighbours and family. She had one of those smiles that lit up a room and it seemed to be always present. She loved life and truly lived by the "Golden Rule".
My sincere condolences to the Simms family on the loss of your mom.Take care in knowing the memories of her will be in your hearts forever.
Cindy, John and families: My condolences on the passing of your mother. I remember her from Sunday School and other church activities and recall her ever present smile and gentle demeanor. Cherish your memories of her and a life well-lived.
John, Cindy and family,
So sorry to hear of the loss of your mom.Treasure the memories of her as she will be in your heart always.
John, Heather and family:
I am sorry you have lost your Mom. My sincere condolences. -
Cindy: I am sorry for your loss. My sincere condolences.
We send our heartfelt condolences to the whole family. Keep all those memories of great times in all your lives, and share them. It can be very comforting. Sincerely, Curtis & Linda
John, Cindy, and Family,
We are saddened to hear of Marie's passing. She was a
wonderful lady. We will always remember her beautiful and sincere smile, and her love of singing.
Our condolences,
Cathy & Rollie -
John,Heather & boys,sorry to hear of your mother's passing John.In my thoughts & prayers. Judi
Cindy; We are holding you and your brother's family in our thoughts and prayers.It was a privilege to have known Marie.She was a beautiful lady.
Love, Sheldon and Sheila -
John and family
So sorry to hear the sad news of the passing of your Mom, sending our heartfelt sympathy to all of you . -
Dear Cindy, John, & family,
Was so sorry to hear about Marie. I dropped into to see her once when she was in Mahone & everytime I'd be down in the area I'd say I should go see Marie sometime. Sometime never came & that is my fault. Marie was such a joy to be around. We sang in the choir together as well being in the UCW. I will miss her & Reta. They both loved having company come in to visit, & at that time I was only a few houses up the street. She had a good life & now has joined her sister, Reta. May God bless you all at this time of sorrow. Family was everything to her, especially her grandsons, she spoke very highly of them. Take care & know that someday we will see our loved ones when we are called home. God Bless
John,Cindy and family, Sorry to hear about your Mom. She was a great lady and she will be missed. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. R.I.P. Marie
sorry to hear about your loss …. keep all the memories forever in your thoughts
John, Heather and family. So sorry to hear about the passing of your Mother,Mother-In-Law and Grandmother. Now I know where your sons got there wonderful smiles from. Takecare… Big hugs to you all. xo
John,Heather and family, so sorry to hear about your Mom you are in our thoughts an prayers hold on to all your wonderful memories as they will help get you through the hard times. Gods Blessings
So sorry to hear of your loss. Thinking of you all, I loved your mother, she was a wonderful person with a great sense of humor. Visiting my grandmother will not be the same without her there! I am sorry that I can't be there tomorrow but you are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Vicki
Cindy, John and Family:
We are so very sorry to hear about your Mom's death. She was such a special, happy person and it was always a joy to be around her. You were so fortunate that she was able to live to the age of 93.
Marie will be missed, but there are wonderful memories of her from years gone by. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Will be in touch, Cindy. Take care.Patti and Dan
Cindy, John and Families
Sorry to hear of your mom's passing. She was always a joy to be around. Treasure all the great memories as they are yours to keep. My Sincere Sympathy to you all…..Bea -
John, Heather and Boys…..I was saddened to hear of your Mom's passing. Keep your fond memories of her always in your hearts!
My Sincere Condolences,
Teresa -
So very sorry to hear about your Mom's passing, she was a wonderful caring woman with a beautiful smile. I always enjoyed talking with Marie when I was on my walk. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Faye & Norman
John and family our thoughts are with you at this sad time.one of the good things you have had is that she lived a long life. i am sure you have many menories.
John, Heather & Family,
So sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. She was a very special lady. I enjoyed our time with her when our choirs would get together. She was always so positive, and always had a smile for everyone.
Please know that we are thinking of you at this sad time and in our prayers,
Lloyd & Judy -
Please accept my condolences in the loss of your mom,my thoughts and prayers got to you all at this most difficult time.
Dear Cindy and John:
So sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I have so many good memories of your mother. She was very lovely lady. Hang on to
your memories, for they are yours forever. Wendy and Fred Wamboldt. -
John & family
Sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. Our thoughts are with you.
Ricky & Martha -
John, Heather, Ryan & Joel
I am so sorry for loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
To Cindy and Family; My sincere sympathy on the loss of your dear mother. She was a very sweet lady and always a joy to be around. May God be with you and comfort your hearts at this sad time.
john and family sorry to hear of your mothers passing our thoughts and prayers are with all of you
So sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. She was such a special lady and so full of life. My thoughts are with you and your family.
On behalf of my mother and myself I would like to offer you our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
"Even though the flame has gone the warmth from it will always be felt." -
Dear John,Cindy and families,
So sorry to hear of your mom's passing. She was a lovely lady and will be missed by all. She had a beautiful smile . Our sincere sympathy to you and your families at this difficult time.
Thinking of you
Philip & Rose Decker -
John & Heather
Very sorry to hear about your mother's passing. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
I remember your Mom and " aunties" visits to Moncton from years ago. They always had such fun. I remember them both giggling up the driveway! Could hear their laughing before catching sight of them! My sympathy to you at this time. May fond memories and faith hold you. -
John & family so sorry to hear of your loss. my deepest condolences to you all,
Cindy and John,
I was so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. Thinking of both of you and your families at this time. Your mother was such a kind and sweet person. I know she will be missed. Take care. Ruth Anne
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Arc Of Ascent: The higher key
30/05/12 || gk
New Zealand's Arc of Ascent are on to their second album and things are pretty much the same. What we have here is some pretty derivative stoner doom that lies somewhere between Sleep and Om. There's very little variation in the songs with all six sticking roughly to the same tempo and style so that after a while, the album just starts to feel like one long song. This could have been good but honestly, the riffs here feel too familiar and like I've heard it all before. The melodies have a vaguely eastern tinge to them and the occasional guitar solo does help in breaking the monotony but it's not quite enough to lift this album up to essential listening material. "The Higher Key" is pleasant, easy listening for fans of the stoner doom genre but I doubt if that's what the band was going for.
5/10: A bit dull.
After going thru that crap, you most likely wanna read something way more interesting. You do, admit it.
Below are some links to most recent articles, take your pick.
Audio autopsy
- Misery Index: The killing gods
- Casualties Of Cool: Casualties of cool
- Crowbar: Symmetry in black
- Black Label Society: Catacombs of the black vatican
- Mastodon: Once more 'round the sun
- Aborted: The necrotic manifesto
- Whitechapel: Our endless war
- Septicflesh: Titan
- Tombs: Savage gold
- Nero di Marte: Nero di marte
- more


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In 1936, Emma and Fritz Glatzhofer opened Emma's Perennials selling field grown perennials on Plank Road in Naperville. For 35 years they earned a great reputation for growing the finest perennials in the Chicago area. Plants were propagated and planted in 4 by 12 foot beds and when ready, dug for customers.
In 1973, after both Emma and Fritz had passed away, their nephew, Rich Massat, and his wife, Carol, undertook the challenge of re-establishing Emma's Perennials excellent quality. After a few years of digging perennials for customers, the Massats found that it was impossible to keep up with the demand. They began propagation of perennials in containers, empowering Rich to offer plants throughout the season and maintain quality. Expanding the nursery by adding annuals, trees, shrubs, roses, natives, water plants, bulbs, seeds, and groundcovers was key to their success.
In 1976 the name was changed to The Growing Place and a goal was set to deliver uncompromising quality and selection. The production beds were converted to beautiful display gardens that are called Learning Gardens due to their user-friendly signage and nearly 1,000 varieties of plants.
Today, Rich and Carol still actively manage both locations of The Growing Place. They are proud of the 65 employees who have been with them for 7 years or more and the 14 employees, 15 years or more. They are especially pleased that their son, Michael, has joined them and oversees the Aurora location.


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Estradasphere, 2006-10-29
This show was witnessed by ex-staffer Syrrok.
Watching any Estradasphere show is something that is hard to put into words… And the one I witnessed this past Sunday has proven to be more difficult than ever in these respects. I rolled into Brick by Brick to watch the band. Much appreciation to the joint who pays real good attention to the bands and gives them all they need for a top-notch performance (I'm sure K does this at his new digs).
Estradasphere presents a musical landscape like no other, truly a musical orgasm on so many levels. I haven't seen the band in some 3 years due to a revolving line-up and other things that kept them from getting to San Diego. But the wait was over.
Prior to the gig I was drinking in the place when all of a sudden Timb (Estradasphere violin/horn/guitar/everything) taps me on the shoulder. "Hey Bob!". As we watched the opener Incubus-wannabe-thing Timb asked, "is this modern rock?". Then he lets me in on the deal that for their second set they are going to play their newest album in its entirety. This is a bit of a trend as just last week Iron Maiden did the same thing. I'm not complaining. So, showtime… Thinking of analogies, thinking of analogies… hmm… or a metaphor… or a… fuck…
Musical orgasm is all I can come up with. Watching this band perform that night was the closest feeling to sex that can come from watching and listening to a musical act. The joy present deep inside me when I'm making my own metal was staring back at my soul in those, what seemed like, very brief moments that evening watching Estradasphere. There was no bullshit, no in-between song banter, just 6 of the most insanely talented musicians truly demonstrate their art at a level I can't even comprehend.
All the bandmembers traded off solos that were "individuations" of the larger whole that was the show. Metal solos, jazz solos, shamisen solos, and a drumming backbone that shook the roof. There was not one word uttered by the band in 3 hours. It was clarity presented through music and that proved to be the most transcending of communication methods.
While largely their fans consists of music nerds, even the most self-proclaimed mainstream "I just like top 40" casual music fan cannot be taken aback by their performance. A live Estradasphere experience will make you want to learn more about music. The cohesiveness, the quality of the musicianship, the arrangements, the metal, the jazz, and the obvious love for it all in the very moment they are playing.
I walked into the place sometime around 21:00 and left around 01:30. It felt like 10 minutes.
This show was a 10. It still is and forever will be.


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Megalania Temporal range: Pleistocene, 0.04Ma |
Megalania skeletal reconstruction on Melbourne Museum steps | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Scleroglossa |
Infraorder: | Anguimorpha |
Parvorder: | Platynota |
Superfamily: | Varanoidea |
Family: | Varanidae |
Genus: | ?Megalania (see text) |
Species: | ?M. prisca (see text) |
Proposed binomials | |
Designation is controversial: EitherorMegalania prisca Owen, 1859[1] orEitherVaranus priscus Owen, 1859 |
Megalania (Megalania prisca or Varanus priscus) is an extinct very large goanna or monitor lizard. They were part of a megafaunal assemblage that inhabited southern Australia during the Pleistocene. They seem to have disappeared between 40,000[2] and 30,000[3] years ago. The first aboriginal settlers of Australia might have encountered them.[4]
The name Megalania prisca was coined in 1859 by Sir Richard Owen to mean "ancient great roamer"; the name was chosen "in reference to the terrestrial nature of the great Saurian".[1] Owen used a modification of the Greek word ἠλαίνω ēlainō ("I roam"). The close similarity to the Latin word: lania (feminine form of "butcher") has resulted in numerous taxonomic and popular descriptions of megalania mistranslating the name as: ancient giant butcher.
Owen introduced the genus Megalania to accommodate the species Megalania prisca. Its status as a valid genus remains controversial, with many authors preferring to consider it a junior synonym of Varanus,[5][6] which encompasses all living monitor lizards. As the gender of the genera Megalania and Varanus are respectively feminine and masculine, the specific name prisca (fem.)/priscus (masc.) follows suit.[2]
The genus Megalania is included as a synonym of Varanus by many researchers due to the relationships of the many Varanus species; M. prisca is closely related to other Australian monitors classified as Varanus, so excluding M. prisca from Varanus renders the latter genus an unnatural grouping. Ralph Molnar noted in 2004 that, even if every species of the genus Varanus were divided into groups currently designated as subgenera, V. priscus would still be classified in the genus Varanus, because this is the current subgenus name, as well as genus name, for all Australian monitors. Unless other Australian monitor species were each also classified their own exclusive genera, Megalania would not be a valid genus name. However, Molnar noted that "megalania" is suitable for use as a vernacular, rather than scientific name, for the species Varanus priscus.[2]
Several studies have attempted to establish the phylogenetic position of megalania within the Varanidae. An affinity with the perentie, Australia's largest living lizard, has been suggested based on skull-roof morphology.[7] The most recent comprehensive study[8] proposes a sister-taxon relationship with the Komodo dragon based on neurocranial similarities, with the lace monitor as the closest living Australian relative. Conversely, the perentie is considered more closely related to the Gould's and argus monitors.
The lack of complete or nearly complete fossil skeletons has made it difficult to determine the exact dimensions of megalania.[6] Early estimates placed the length of the largest individuals at 7 m (23 ft), with a maximum weight of approximately 600–620 kg (1,320–1,370 lb).[9] However, more recent and more rigorous studies give very different results from one another.
In 2002, Stephen Wroe determined that the species had a maximum length of 4.5 m (15 ft) and a weight of 331 kg (730 lb),[10] while its average length would have been around 3.5 m (11 ft), and mean body weight would have been between 97–158 kg (214–348 lb).[10][11] He concluded[10] that the earlier estimates reaching lengths of 6 m (20 ft) or more and a weight of several tons[12][13] were exaggerations based on flawed methods. A study published in 2009 utilizing Wroe's size estimates and an analysis of 18 closely related lizard species estimated a sprinting speed of 2.6–3 m/s (5.8–6.7 mph). This speed is comparable to that of the extant freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni).[14]
However, Ralph Molnar[6] in 2004 determined a range of potential sizes for megalania, made by scaling up from dorsal vertebrae, after he determined a relationship between dorsal vertebrae width and total body length. If it had a long thin tail like the lace monitor (Varanus varius), then it would have reached a length of 7.9 metres (26 ft), while if its tail-to-body proportions were more similar to that of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), then a length of around 7 m (23 ft) is more likely. Taking the maximal 7 m (23 ft) length, he estimated a weight of 1,940 kg (4,280 lb), with a leaner 320 kg (710 lb) being average.[6]
Megalania is the largest terrestrial lizard known to have existed. Judging from its size, it would have fed mostly upon medium to large sized animals, including any of the giant marsupials like Diprotodon along with other reptiles and small mammals, as well as birds and their eggs and chicks[citation needed]. It had heavily built limbs and body and a large skull complete with a small crest in between the eyes, and a jaw full of serrated blade-like teeth.[2]
Some scientists regard with skepticism the contention that megalanias were the only, or even principal, predators of the Australian Pleistocene megafauna.[15] They note that the "marsupial lion" (Thylacoleo carnifex) has been implicated with the butchery of very large Pleistocene mammals, while megalania has not. In addition, they note that megalania fossils are extremely uncommon, in contrast to Thylacoleo carnifex with its wide distribution across Australian Pleistocene deposits.
It has been suggested that, if one were to reconstruct the ecosystems that existed before the arrival of the humans on Australia, it would be desirable to introduce Komodo dragons to represent megalania.[16]
Along with other varanid lizards, such as the Komodo dragon and the lace monitor, megalania belongs to the proposed clade Toxicofera, which contains all known reptile clades possessing toxin-secreting oral glands, as well as their close, non-venomous relatives, including Iguania, Anguimorpha, and Serpentes.[17][18][19] Being a member of Anguimorpha, megalania may have been venomous and if so, would be the largest venomous vertebrate known.[20]
Claims of survival today and in stories[edit]
While there are occasional reports from Australia and New Guinea of giant lizards similar to megalania,[21] these reports only began after the species was first described and became publicly known.[6] There is no credible scientific evidence of the existence of a surviving population.[6]
- ^ a b Owen R. (1859). "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London" 149. pp. 43–48. JSTOR 108688.
- ^ a b c d Molnar RE (2004). "History of monitors and their kin". In King, Ruth Allen; Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis. Varanoid lizards of the world. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 588. ISBN 0-253-34366-6.
- ^ Green, Brian; Dennis King (1993). Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards. New South Wales University Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0868400938.
- ^ "Wildfacts - Megalania, giant ripper lizard". BBC. 2008. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
- ^ Lydekker R. (1888). Catalog of the fossil Reptilia in the British Museum (Natural History) Cromwell Road S.W. Pt. 1: The Orders Ornithosauria, Crocodilia, Squamata, Rhynchocephalia, and Proterosauria. London: The Trustees. Cited in Molnar RE (2004). "The long and honorable history of monitors and their kin". In King, Ruth Allen; Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis. Varanoid lizards of the world. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 45. ISBN 0-253-34366-6. )
- ^ a b c d e f Molnar, Ralph E. (2004). Dragons in the dust: the paleobiology of the giant monitor lizard Megalania. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-34374-7.
- ^ Lee MSY (1996). "Possible affinities between Varanus giganteus and Megalania prisca". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 39: 232.
- ^ Head, JJ.; Barrett, PM.; Rayfield, EJ. (2009). "Neurocranial osteology and systematic relationships of Varanus (Megalania) prisca Owen, 1859 (Squamata: Varanidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155: 445–457. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00448.x.
- ^ Hecht, M. (1975). "The morphology and relationships of the largest known terrestrial lizard, Megalania prisca Owen, from the Pleistocene of Australia". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 87: 239–250.
- ^ a b c Wroe, S. (2002). "A review of terrestrial mammalian and reptilian carnivore ecology in Australian fossil faunas, and factors influencing their diversity: the myth of reptilian domination and its broader ramifications". Australian Journal of Zoology 50: 1–24. doi:10.1071/zo01053. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
- ^ Wroe S, Field J, Fullagar R, & Jermiin LS. (2004). "Megafaunal extinction in the late Quaternary and the global overkill hypothesis". Alcheringa 28: 291–331. doi:10.1080/03115510408619286.
- ^ Rich T, Hall B (1984). "Rebuilding a giant lizard". In Clayton, Georgina; Archer, Michael. Vertebrate zoogeography & evolution in Australasia: (animals in space and time). Carlisle, W.A.: Hesperian Press. ISBN 0-85905-036-X.
- ^ Klein, Richard; Martin, Paul (1984). Quaternary extinctions: a prehistoric revolution. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. ISBN 0-8165-1100-4.
- ^ Clemente CJ, Thompson GG, Withers PC (2009). "Journal of Zoology". Journal of Zoology 278 (4): 270–280. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00559.x.
- ^ Wroe S, Myers TJ, Wells RT & Gillespie, A (1999). "Estimating the weight of the Pleistocene marsupial lion, Thylacoleo carnifex (Thylacoleonidae : Marsupialia): implications for the ecomorphology of a marsupial super-predator and hypotheses of impoverishment of Australian marsupial carnivore faunas". Australian Journal of Zoology 47 (5): 489–498. doi:10.1071/ZO99006.
- ^ Flannery, Tim (2002). The future eaters: an ecological history of the Australasian lands and people. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 0-8021-3943-4.
- ^ Vidal, Nicholas; Hedges, S. Blair (2009). "The molecular evolutionary tree of lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians". Comptes rendus biologies 332 (2–3): 129–139. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2008.07.010. PMID 19281946.
- ^ Fry, B. et al; Vidal, Nicolas; Norman, Janette A.; Vonk, Freek J.; Scheib, Holger; Ramjan, S. F. Ryan; Kuruppu, Sanjaya; Fung, Kim; Blair Hedges, S.; Richardson, Michael K.; Hodgson, Wayne. C.; Ignjatovic, Vera; Summerhayes, Robyn; Kochva, Elazar (February 2006). "Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes" (PDF). Nature 439 (7076): 584–588. Bibcode:2006Natur.439..584F. doi:10.1038/nature04328. PMID 16292255.
- ^ Barry C (2009). "Komodo Dragons Kill With Venom, Researchers Find". National Geographic News. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
- ^ Fry, B. et al; Wroe, S.; Teeuwisse, W.; Van Osch, M. J. P.; Moreno, K.; Ingle, J.; McHenry, C.; Ferrara, T.; Clausen, P.; Scheib, H.; Winter, K. L.; Greisman, L.; Roelants, K.; Van Der Weerd, L.; Clemente, C. J.; Giannakis, E.; Hodgson, W. C.; Luz, S.; Martelli, P.; Krishnasamy, K.; Kochva, E.; Kwok, H. F.; Scanlon, D.; Karas, J.; Citron, D. M.; Goldstein, E. J. C.; McNaughtan, J. E.; Norman, J. A. (2009). "A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) priscus". PNAS 106 (22): 8969–74. Bibcode:2009PNAS..106.8969F. doi:10.1073/pnas.0810883106. PMC 2690028. PMID 19451641.
- ^ "Australian Giant Reptilian Monsters - Queensland Reports". Retrieved 2012-03-22.


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NBA stars. Soccer's best. An urban field. A sweet game of pick-up futbol in the middle of a city, benefiting children everywhere.
Steve brings his passion to play in this innovative soccer match
that any sports fan will love.
Showcasing athletes from two sports, and raising funds for critical needs services for kids, Showdown is the beautiful game at its most creative.


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MARTIN KEOWN: Carles Puyol always gets a head start
Carles Puyol might only be 5ft 10in but that doesn't stop him from being a brilliant defender. With all that hair he doesn't look short and, in fact, he may be the perfect height. Shorter defenders like Puyol or Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen have shown they can easily handle tall strikers. It is all about getting the timing of their jumps right. Last week I watched Puyol getting up really early to win headers. If you do that and get up first, you're going to win the ball, because the attacker then has nowhere to jump except up into you. Head start: Puyol and Vermaelen may be small defenders but they will command Sometimes much taller players struggle to get real power on clearing headers because they sport are not jumping and arriving with the same momentum. Another thing Puyol does very well although it can also be his downfall is aggressive defending. Causing problems: Bendtner's strength and ability could pose Barca difficulty The Spaniard anticipates where the ball is going and attacks it early he doesn't wait for attackers to present him with an opening. But that high-risk strategy does mean errors creep in. I have seen him come for crosses and miss them, leaving gaping holes behind him. Consequently, I think Nicklas Bendtner's strength and aerial ability can cause him enough problems to make him take some unnecessary risks on Wednesday night. So it should be a good battle between the pair. Puyol: The thighs of Stuart Pearce, the heart of Desert Orchid and the hair of Bette Midler...Thierry hails Wenger effect but warns Arsenal that there will be no favoursBarcelona boss Pep Guardiola insists his team will attack as usual when they face Arsenal Pique: Manchester satellite dish were nicked... by the men who fitted them!ARSENAL FC
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The Trent Richardson trade is only looking better and better for the Cleveland Browns.
Trent Richardson flashes speed, power at Alabama pro day
Richardson knocks down Browns coach during drill
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Trent Richardson swept the Cleveland Browns off their feet -- or at least one notable member of the franchise.
The former Crimson Tide tailback probably left a lasting impression on Browns running backs coach Gary Brown Thursday during Round 2 of Alabama's pro day.
Richardson bowled over Brown -- a still-sturdy eight-year NFL veteran runner -- in a blocking drill. So a potential suitor -- the Browns have the fourth pick in April and need a running back -- at least knows Richardson packs a wallop.
"Any time someone's in my way, I'm going to try to knock them over," Richardson said. "Either they're going to hit me or I'm going to hit them. So nine times out of 10 I'm trying to throw the lick."
Brown was among the large assembly of NFL scouts, coaches and general managers who attended the workouts.
A possible top five draft pick, the physical 227-pound Richardson ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.45-4.49 range, according to NFL.com. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times.
Video of his hit on Brown quickly made the Internet rounds.
More importantly, Browns coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert were on hand for pro day, too. Richardson said he's scheduled to visit Cleveland, St. Louis and Tampa among others.
"Whoever wants me to come," he said, "I can't wait."
Richardson was perhaps the main attraction. The Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist had minor knee surgery before the combine.
Among running backs, only Southern Illinois' Jewel Hampton (26 repetitions) and Boise State's Doug Martin (28) did better on the bench press at the combine. Only Miami's Lamar Miller (4.40) ran faster than his range.
"I think he's probably the best running back in the draft this year," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "Probably one of the best players in the draft. I think that's based on his performance and his production and his consistency he's played with. The personal characteristics he has in terms of psychological disposition to be successful, which is really A-plus.
"I know there are some people that have some concerns about taking a running back high but with the salary cap changes in the rookie pool, you're not investing as much in a guy as you used to."
Only one running back -- Buffalo's C.J. Spiller (No. 9) -- has been a top 10 pick in the past three years. Richardson's former teammate Mark Ingram was the only back in the first round last year, going 28th to the New Orleans Saints.
"That motivates me a lot," Richardson said. "I want to set the bar high and put us back on the map and show them that we're very, very rare and that we need to be in the top five, top 10. We need to be up there high. A lot of teams try to beat up on us a lot of times.
Trent Richardson
Former Browns running back Trent Richardson is stepping into his new stomping grounds.
Has an NFL team ever so boldly waved the white flag two weeks into a season?
A group of diehard Browns fans at Bowling Green State University are considering a boycott after team traded Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts.
Former Cleveland Browns Running Back Trent Richardson was stunned by the news he had been traded not long after leaving the team's practice facility.
Fans are fired up after learning that running back Trent Richardson was traded to Indianapolis.
The Cleveland Browns have traded running back Trent Richardson for the Indianapolis Colts first-round 2014 NFL Draft pick, the team announced on Wednesday.
The biggest question of Browns training camp was answered on Tuesday by head coach Rob Chudzinski: Will Trent Richardson play on Thursday night? The answer is yes.
Trent Richardson's second NFL season has already started better than his first.
Browns running back Trent Richardson will not participate in the teams mandatory three day minicamp.


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Featured Article
Shares of The Hartford took a steep dip Tuesday, because of worries the insurer may have to raise more cash to pay back its obligations under the government's TARP program. Executives also said the recession continues to take its toll on policy sales. WNPR's Harriet Jones reports.
The Hartford reported its fourth quarter results, revealing net earnings of $557 million, or $1.19 per share. That compares to a loss of $806 million in the same quarter of 2008. The bounce back was largely due to improved investment returns. CEO Liam McGee told a conference call he expects continue modest improvement this year.
But shares of the insurer dipped as much as 6% on the markets, as analysts raised concerns about how The Hartford will repay its TARP loans – the company was hit hard by the financial meltdown, and required a $3.4 billion bailout.
For WNPR, I'm Harriet Jones.


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Strategic Thinking
30 Oct, 2011
Lionel Sosa created the first effective advertising to target a Hispanic-American audience.
In Lionel Sosa, ambitious entrepreneurs can find the ultimate lesson in the power of strategic thinking.
Best known for his role in the development of Hispanic advertising in the United States, Sosa has excelled in many other fields, from politics and publishing to fine art and, most recently, television production.
In almost every case, his triumphs can be traced to a keen understanding of prevailing market conditions, and an unerring feel for emerging trends.
And while his personal philosophy with respect to achieving success may strike some as the stuff of self-help happy talk, there's no arguing with what he's achieved.
"You have to set bold goals and believe in yourself," he said during a break from his most recent venture, a multipart PBS series on the northward outflow of refugees from the Mexican Revolution titled The Children of the Revolucion. "Expect good things to happen and good things will happen. Have a good attitude, work hard, recognize opportunity, and give it your all."
Sosa paid his dues as a $1.10-an-hour sign painter before founding his own graphics art studio in his hometown of San Antonio. The year was 1966.
As the firm grew, his client roster came to be dominated by local ad agencies. Sosa realized there was more money to be made in advertising. He got together with Lupe Garcia, Beverly Coiner and Warren Stewart to found a general-market advertising agency, Ed Yardang. Coiner came up with the name, in honor of an imaginary childhood friend.
"It was kind of a fanciful name, but that way we didn't have to worry about a title that included all four of our names," Sosa explained.
The firm grew steadily, and in 1978 Ed Yardang's solid creative work caught the attention of an aide to then-U.S. Senator John Tower, who was gearing up for a tough re-election bid and wanted to improve his standing among Hispanic voters. In what would prove to be an important event for Sosa, and Hispanic advertising in the U.S., Tower's campaign enlisted Ed Yardang for the campaign.
"Looking back on it, it was pure luck that we got that call at all," Sosa now says. "We had no political experience. To us, it was just another business opportunity. What we lacked in political savvy, though, we made up for with creativity and good hard work."
About the author
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World's craziest sinkholes
Published On: May 30 2014 11:55:38 AM CDT
Updated On: Jul 21 2014 01:40:55 PM CDT
A 120-foot-wide sinkhole has swallowed part of a city street in Florida. Here's a look at some of the world's craziest sinkholes.
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V for Vendetta Movie Better Than Book?
- Posted by Johanna on March 22, 2006 at 10:37 pm
- Category: LinkBlogging
I was afraid to say I liked the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen movie better than the comic. (I liked the cast and the action-movie approach, even if large parts of it were hard to make out, and I never got into the comic, in part because the treatment of women disturbed me.) Now, Mike Chary says the same about V for Vendetta.
All of this discussion of the film makes me interested in both going to see it and rereading the graphic novel. I'm just not sure which I should do first.
15 Responses to "V for Vendetta Movie Better Than Book?"
- John Jakala Says:
March 23, 2006 at 12:12 AMNo. I'd argue it's not even a good movie in its own right.
- Kelson Says:
March 23, 2006 at 1:26 AMAfter a disastrous experience with Starship Troopers, I've made it a policy to always wait until I see the movie, then re-read the book.
Going the other way just invites 2 hours of conscious comparisons. This way I can watch the movie mostly on its own terms.
FWIW, I liked the V for Vendetta movie, but it's been about a year since I read the graphic novel.
- Mark Says:
March 23, 2006 at 4:12 AMI'll see V for Vendetta tonight. I've read the GN and really liked it, so it'll interesting to see how the movie measures up. I have high hopes in this case.
Generally I always try to read the novel or graphic novel first. I like to be able to compare a movie to the source material and to see how they adapted it.
So the movie has to measure to the original source it draws from.
That said, I read that V for Vendetta takes a differnent aproach than the GN but is good on it's own right since the setting is more geard towards modern post 9/11 poltics than the British Thatcher area of the 80s.So I'm eager to form an opinion for myself tonight.
On a related note, Johanna, I thought the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen movie was well below average as an action movie on it's own right and a disaster as adaption of the GN. But I guess if you didn't like the GN in first place it's a different story when comparing it to the movie.
A movie that looked well me to on it's own even though it wasn't a good adaption of the original is I, Robot. The movie was quite ok to me as an action movie. Still it was a condensed, dumbed down version of Asimovs short stories.
sorry for the long blurb, I just noticed how long that post has become.
- Johanna Says:
March 23, 2006 at 7:17 AMKelson, good point, but I'm often more entertained by meta-media concerns like those comparisons than by the thing on its own. I just find it a rare thing that the more I read about it, the more I want to see it. Usually, it's the other way round, as too much reading gives me the feeling that there will be nothing new.
Mark, you're probably right about how the LEG movie compares to other action films — but I don't watch a lot of those usually.
- Jer Says:
March 23, 2006 at 4:37 PMI re-read the graphic novel about six weeks ago, then went and saw the movie this weekend. I'd say, see the move first, then re-read the graphic novel. If you read the graphic novel first you might just be too depressed to even want to see the movie at all (I always forget what a downer the book really is until I re-read it).
There are some big differences, but its a good film. I said somewhere else that it was a good movie and a lousy adaptation – I'm not so sure that that's right anymore. Thinking it over, its more like its not a very faithful adaptation – its not afraid to be its own thing while still hitting all of Moore's notes – but that doesn't mean its a bad adaptation, really. In particular, I prefer the movie's handling of Evey's imprisonment to the way Moore handled it in the GN – and both Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving give really good performances (Weaving especially, given that he's masked the whole time).
- Barry Says:
March 23, 2006 at 10:43 PMI actually thought LoEG the movie was kinda fun, as I had no expecations going in. And since it's been about 17 years since I read V, I didn't remember it at all, so I found the moviegoing experience to be an enjoyable one. So I would recommend seeing the movie first and then reading the graphic novel.
I look forward to reading your comments.
- Sebastian Says:
March 24, 2006 at 2:28 AMI haven't seen the movie yet, and I'd never got around to reading the comic, either. So yesterday I sat myself down and read the thing in one sitting.
The result? Well, I see where it could be made into a movie, but it would necessarily have to be quite different in places. Also, the comic wasn't that good, in my opinion. I've certainly read much better ones, though YMMV. The story was kind of murky and sometimes seemed more like a disconnected collection of scenes. Also I didn't like the art much. Not my kind of style.
I can see where people might like V, the comic, and it certainly isn't one of the worst I've seen, but it isn't what I look for in comics. It definitely isn't the kind of comic I'd buy, so I'm glad I only borrowed it. But I'm still going to watch the movie, since I suspect it actually might improve on what I felt were the comic's weaknesses: the looks and the lack of tightness of the storyline.
- Johanna Says:
March 24, 2006 at 7:10 AMJer, I'm leaning towards doing it that way. Although I just realized that with live stuff going on, I'm not even going to have a chance to go to the movies until next month. Hopefully it'll still be playing.
Barry, yeah, I should probably mention that I saw LEG for free, and that helped a lot in terms of enjoyment. :)
Sebastian, I think that the book hasn't necessarily aged well. I think of it as tied to a particular historical period, and its break in publication didn't do it any favors. (I wonder if something similar will be noticeable with Lost Girls?) In a case where you didn't care for it, you might be right about the movie improving on it. I'm curious to know what you think about the film.
- Andrew Foley Says:
March 24, 2006 at 12:37 PMI'm so glad to see someone else admit they liked the LXG film more than the comic…
As for V, I'd suggest seeing the movie and then reading the graphic novel. I did it the other way round and spent a lot of what was actually a fairly enjoyable movie going, "Well, that's not right, why'd they change that?"
I can understand why Alan Moore hated the adaptation, as it ignores or reverses pretty much every point he was trying to make, but it's still an enjoyable popcorn flick, and Hugo Weaving's performance alone is worth the price of admission, in my book.
- Jer Says:
March 24, 2006 at 3:42 PMAndrew –
Not to spoil anything, but do you really think that it "reverses" the points that Moore was trying to make? I think it shifts some of them, but I didn't see any that were really full-on reversed. Just FYI, my yardstick for "reversing the point" is, and has been since I saw it, Disney's "Little Mermaid" – a movie beloved by millions but hated by me because of how much they subverted the original message of the story.
- Björn Says:
March 25, 2006 at 6:29 AMI really thought I'd hate V for Vendetta as a movie, but I was amazed how well they translate many of the things I thought they'd leave out. V not removing his mask, torturing Evey, thing like these. So, from this angle Vendetta was a really good movie.
That being said, I didn't like the way the political side was handled in it. Truth be told, Moore's approach was a bit hamfisted as well, but I think that by giving V a clear anarchist background, at least you give the audience something to argue about. But by making V more or less a liberal or democrat, it becomes pretty harsh to really criticise what he does. The most interesting thing in the comic was, at least for me, always V's hypocrisy.
He claims to be a herald of the people, stating that people should never be ruled but effectively rule themselves. Do what's right, not what they are told to do. And yet, he forces anarchy on them. Nobody asked him to destroy civilization in Britain. He takes liberties he's unwilling to grant to others.
In the movie you have more of a people's uprising. V does not force anything upon them, but he awakens them. And they get away to easily. In the comic V blames the people (and rightly so). Being from Germany, one of the main things I learned in school is how wrong it was for the WWII generation to claim that they never knew what was going on.
Yet, here we have a population who was admittedly tricked into voting a fascist government, but who might very well have known what was going on when gays and muslims disappeared all of a sudden. In one scene with Stephen Fry as Gordon he makes a Benny-Hill-style parody of the leader of the fascists and all the people in front of the television smile knowingly. Likewise, they all know that their TV news are propaganda.
Maybe I'm too harsh here, but these people should be blamed. Their inaction is the root of the problem, their government is just the manifestation of it. And yet, the movie spreads the positive message that, well, they didn't really know and they were tricked, so we should cut them some slack.
Sorry, but pulling your punches there, that's just a cop out for me.
As I said, a perfectly good movie, but I think its politics, as soon as you give some thought to it, is just too simple…
- Björn Says:
March 25, 2006 at 6:32 AMShort clarification: With "the WWII generation" I'm refering to the general German population of that day and age.
- Andrew Foley Says:
March 25, 2006 at 5:13 PMJer–
The political points Moore was trying to make weren't reversed so much as they were ignored in favour of taking shots at the current American situation (a situation that deserves having shots taken at it and a change I personally didn't mind), so unless one's going with the broadest left/right view of the political spectrum, it's not saying the same thing Moore's V was.
As far as the reversing goes, the entire V/Evey interaction was, to my mind, completely the opposite of what Moore wrote, and it's right there in the opening voice-over, something along the lines of "Everyone else remembers the idea, but I remember the man." Not in the comic, she didn't.
This doesn't even really address the critical difference between the book and the movie, the one which reeks of Hollywood Producer lowest common denominator-ism, which I'm not going to go into here for fear of spoiling it.
I'm not saying it was a bad or unenjoyable movie, mind you. I quite liked it and depending on my mood, I could even see that there are/will be occasions I like it better than the book. But it's not saying anything close to what the book's saying, from where I'm standing.
- David S. Says:
June 14, 2008 at 9:13 AMI'm in agreement with the people who said that they understood why Alan Moore hated the film but can enjoy it in its own rights.
While the "V tortures Evey" scene was slightly altered, I thought the central message remained intact: Love is love and should never be legislated nor repressed. My main problem with what comes after it is why V tortures her in the first place: he was grooming her to be his "sidekick" then his successor, emphasizing the story's moral "You can kill a man/woman but you can't kill an idea." That message was watered down in the film IMHO!
- georgia Says:
May 18, 2009 at 9:08 AMi love the movie it may be becoming one of my favorite movies


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Cyclacel Enters Into A $20 Million Common Stock Purchase Agreement With Aspire Capital Fund, LLC
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Dec. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:CYCC) (Nasdaq:CYCCP) (Cyclacel or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company developing oral therapies that target the various phases of cell cycle control for the treatment of cancer and other serious disorders, today announced that it has entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC (Aspire). Aspire has committed to purchase up to $20 million of Cyclacel's common stock from time to time as directed by Cyclacel over the next two years at prices based on the market price at the time of each sale. Upon execution of the Purchase Agreement, Aspire invested $1 million in Cyclacel common stock at a per share price equal to the closing price of $6.29 on December 13, 2012 the date upon which the business terms were agreed to between Cyclacel and Aspire Capital.
"We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with Aspire who enjoys an excellent reputation as an investor," said Spiro Rombotis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cyclacel. "As we advance SEAMLESS, our Phase 3, registration-directed study, along with other clinical trials for sapacitabine, we plan to use the Aspire agreement to provide us access to funding as needed. If it reaches the market, sapacitabine could represent an attractive therapeutic alternative for underserved patients."
"After following Cyclacel for some years and more recently visiting Cyclacel's headquarters and evaluating the publicly-available data on sapacitabine during our due diligence process, it became clear to us that Cyclacel is an impressive company," commented Steven G. Martin, Managing Member of Aspire and Christos Komissopoulos, Principal of Aspire. "Cyclacel has been thoughtful and conservative in their development plan for sapacitabine. In addition, sapacitabine is a highly differentiated drug from competing molecules in terms of its novel mechanism of action, oral administration, partnering prospects, and promising survival data supporting the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 trial in AML. Cyclacel also has an experienced management team with a strong track record and deep knowledge of clinical and strategy issues in the oncology marketplace. We are very excited about this investment opportunity and have decided to support Cyclacel's development plan for sapacitabine and the rest of the Company's pipeline."
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By Maker Mayek
The recent visit to Juba by Honourable Tim Fischer (Australian Prime Minister Gillard's Special Envoy to South Sudan) absolutely started on a wrong foot. When I first came across the visit being reported by various media outlets in South Sudan, it really surprised me that Australia's first official visit to South Sudan was dominated by economic questions of diplomacy; mutual interests in trade. I thought that was normal – considering Australian Diplomacy's usual blunders on Africa. These past blunders will not be discussed here in case someone is curious to know. However, Peter Run, an Academic of South Sudanese origin (I believe) here in Australia re-activated my interest in the topic. In an article posted on Gurtong.net, Mr. Run whipped the South Sudanese media for "badly" reporting Mr. Fischer's visit. I am not sure, how it could have been reported, if the talks, as carried by the media, only centred on areas of economic mutual interests. Australia and South Sudan have a strong bond of people. This is an incomparable comparative advantage and should have been the crux of the talks. The event would have carried a silver lining if based in that context.
Mr. Run raised some very good points which I am not going to discuss all. However, I will discuss this statement and I quote, "Most South Sudanese know, Australia was one of the first countries to put soldiers on the ground and recognised South Sudan when it became independent. Given this long standing commitment, it is regrettable that South Sudanese currently seem to misunderstand the driving forces of Australia's interest in their country". Fair dinkum! This is what I understand from this statement. Mr. Run is proposing that, since Australia has had a long standing commitment in South Sudan, the South Sudanese media should have been more positive in reporting Tim Fischer's visit. Mr. Run was simply calling on the media to exercise 'Diplomatic Public Display of Appreciation – DPDA'. This is just as bad and tasteless as Honourable Tim Fischer's diplomacy.
Mr. Run was definitely right to say that Australia was one of the countries that sent troops to South Sudan on peacekeeping mission as well as readily recognising the independence of South Sudan. Really, this is what most countries do because there are always issues of image that follow, especially for influential countries of Australia's stature. Australia's contributions in the past may have been motivated by multilateral interests but they are not negligible. Of course, there are more compelling contributions that Mr. Run should have mentioned. For instance: the annual foreign aid that Australia provides to South Sudan. Most importantly, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd has always spoken well of South Sudan and defended South Sudanese Australians here in Australia with tooth and claw in the hour of need. Former Parliamentary Secretary, Honourable Bob McMullan also was another prominent figure that showed particular interest in South Sudan. That's just that.
This is why I think Honourable Tim Fischer's diplomacy was a wrong foot forward. South Sudan and Australia have a robust people –to – people relationship. That should have dominated the talks. Australia's South Sudan's population stands well over 25,000 people. This is an unbreakable 'umbilical cord' for furthering bilateral relations between the two countries. South Sudan for sure, would have been compelled to invoke the old adage, 'A friend in need is a friend in deed'. Australia's hosting of this massive number of South Sudanese is an unforgettable contribution and remains the fabric of relations between the two nations. Tim Fischer should have adopted this line. I call this 'Emotional Diplomacy'. There's nothing wrong with it as long as it is properly expressed. South Sudan would have been more inclined to discuss issues of mutual interests in trade and the media reports would have carried a bunch of goodies and pats on the back for South Sudan's dear friend. Bingo! There comes Australia's chance to secure its economic interests. South Sudan is aware of Australia's strengths in agriculture and agricultural technology, resource extraction and governance. South Sudan would have generously asked Australia to partake in South Sudan's development. Ah well, this wasn't so and I make my call, it is Australian Diplomacy's usual blunder on Africa.
Maker Mayek is a Lawyer in Australia and a postgraduate student of Diplomacy and Trade.


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If you want to take advantage of Microsoft's lapse in judgment, you can grab Ryse: Son of Rome for $40. We may even see more of this in the future, as Microsoft toys around with discount digital pricing on Xbox One.
Ridge Racer Unbounded is on sale for $5 and all of its DLC can be acquired for pennies on the dollar. Persona 4 Arena, Angry Birds: Star Wars and more on Xbox 360 are cheap too so, if you're interested, pop on over to Major Nelson's website for the full list of markdowns.
[Image: Microsoft Studios]


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WATCH: Dead Weather's New Video
In each of his... 32 (?) bands, Jack White makes a point of sharing, or even ceding, the spotlight with his collaborators. This is especially true with the Dead Weather, where Alison Mosshart handles the vocals and the vamping while Jack attempts to keep a low profile in back behind the drum kit.
Which would then make the just-released video for "I Cut Like a Buffalo," the latest single from Dead Weather's debut Horehound, a relatively Jack-centric affair.
Directed by White at his tricked-out new Third Man headquarters in Nashville and replete with trippy but lo-fi lighting effects and costumed dancers, the video once again shows there isn't much he won't try his hand at, and moreover, that Third Man serves more purpose than mere studio/record store/clubhouse. Intrigued?
WATCH:Dead Weather "I Cut Like a Buffalo" music video [via Spinner]