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Hey! February wasn't too awful and March was even less so! We made it through Winter and now that it's Spring I think things will become not awful at all! It's great to be making progress again.
Back in February, computer problems struck again and sucked up all of my time and good humor so I skipped writing February's Journal. But it's not like I wasn't busy - I just kept plodding along working but again rewarded myself with time to work in the garden. If it took 2 hours to format a hard drive or an hour to do a virus scan - no problem - I went outside to dig, rake, plant, transplant, etc. while waiting for the task to complete. It seemed like a very therapeutic way to deal with all of the stupidness and reality that beset me.
There was in fact so much reality and stupidness that I got to enjoy a nice chunk of time outside and the yard is looking great from all of the attention.
Another nice thing that balanced out the hassles was the excitement of watching Floridata's traffic grow. On March 28, for the first time, we served 1 million web pages in a single month! By the end of the month we had topped 1.1 million pages and it was are real treat to reach this long awaited goal
Another happy even in March was when, with the help of friends and family, I finally got a new computer. At this very moment I'm joyfully typing this Journal on a nice new springy keyboard and making pictures on a crisp and color accurate monitor. As soon as I post this Journal I'll be able to get my programming stuff running and will get back to work on Floridata's new Discussions Boards and maybe some other new things too.
The weather wasn't too bad for the last couple of months either. North Florida enjoyed mild temperatures throughout most of February with the exception of a couple of cold snaps. A typical freeze for us here in Florida's panhandle (Zone 8) has temperatures falling into the high twenties (°F) for a few hours over night and it's no big deal. One night though, it got colder than predicted and burned the leaves of the Puerto Rico hat palm (Sabal causiarum) indicating that temps fell to around 20°F. Nearby the upper half of my bunya-bunya (Araucaria bidwillii) tree looks like it is dunya-dunya. Both are brown and raggedy but I expect them to bounce back and be looking pretty by mid-summer.
February's mid-month cold snaps were each preceded by rainstorms. Since then, there has been a storm or two every week. By the end of March the Big Cypress Pond out front was filled to the brim which has put an end to my "mining"the thick layer of mulch that covers the bottom. I didn't have a chance to rake enough before it filled but luckily my neighbor JM said I could rake pine needles from a stand of trees nearby on his property. I may get everything mulched despite high water in the Cypress Pond if I can accomplish it before the heat and mosquitoes move in.
We're lucky that this year a pair of those humongous gray herons are nesting in the swamp behind here. They regularly visit the Catfish Pond for dinner and if I very quietly approach the pond I get to watch them fish (I saw one take a 12 in catfish out of there). The pond itself remains alligator-free but two giant snapping turtles make their home there and are dominant predators. They present a real hazard to any baby ducks I might release as they will eat every one of them if given the opportunity. I really hope I get some ducks this year that aren't eaten...
For weeks now I've enjoyed watching the mockingbird who lives up on the hill trying to defend his huge stash of berries. This mockingbird is King of The Hill and he rules it like a tyrant. In his kingdom grow several large yaupon hollies, three Carolina cherry laurels (Prunus caroliniana), and the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo). By mid-February all are loaded with ripe fruit which is also when great flocks of migrating birds travel through on their return North for the season. These are some really hungry birds by the time they get here which is why I make an effort to plant things that will provide food for my famished feathered friends.
The problem is that the mockingbird doesn't like to share - especially food but also space. He regularly chases birds away from The Hill even when there isn't ripe fruit. He's a real "me bird" with a terrible temper. When other birds fly into his territory he squawks and chases them sometimes ripping out feathers.
It seemed like poetic justice when all of the small birds join together to outnumber and outsmart him out of his fruity treasure. One afternoon I watched as a couple hundred small birds (wrens or something) raided his kingdom to dine on the just ripened Carolina cherries. The flock would send in decoys to raid the trees drawing the mockingbird away in pursuit. The main part of the flock would then swoop in, each bird grabbing a berry and then flying off just as the mockingbird returned in time to see he'd been robbed. Over and over this happened until the flock had its fill and flew off leaving the mockingbird exhausted but not so much that he didn't fly to the top of a tree and sing his head off like he just had a great victory (he didn't - the little birds ate all the cherries but he still has a good supply of yaupon berries.)
Mockingbirds are the coolest birds and I love having this guy share his place with me even though he occasionally dive bombs my head and last spring tried to poop on me - intentionally (I'm not kidding) when I tried to look in the Leland cypress where I thought he had a nest and family. I probably won't try to do that again.
Now at the end of March it appears all of the critters are back for the season. In the evening toads are hopping all about and crunching underfoot while the whip-o-will's call to each other across the fields making me wonder why they don't just meet up and talk instead of yelling back and forth all night. Green tree frogs stick to the window screen at night as they lay in wait for tasty moths attracted to the light from my desk lamp.
During the day the window screen is patrolled by color-changing anoles that everyone here likes to call "chameleons" even though that's a different species altogether. I haven't seen any snakes yet though, which is perfect as far as I'm concerned because I don't much like them. I'm sure they'll show up sooner or later - except for maybe that one I stepped on and crippled last summer - I'd move if I were he... That incident reminded me of a holy card I had when I was in grade school that at had a picture of Saint Patrick standing on top of a snake. The snake's tongue was sticking out and its eyes were bugging and it afterward there were no more snakes in Ireland because St. Patrick drove them out. That's just what I did only I wasn't barefoot and I'm not a saint but I hope that the other snakes take heed and leave Leon County or at least my yard. No, I don't much like snakes.
Now that it's neatened up, the stuff that's already growing there can be appreciated without the overwhelming presence of the pampas grass. In one corner is a blue deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara ) whose "rescue" I described in my very first journal 5 years ago. It's recovered and now stands more than 6 ft tall and when mature will take over most of this area. For now though a large 'Natchez' crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) stands at the front of the bed and beneath it are Parson's juniper (Juniperus davurica 'Parsonii'), garlic chives(Allium tuberosum) and a downy jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum). Around the cedar is 'Indigo Spires' salvia, some 'Heavy Metal' panic grass (Panicum virgatum), spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) and one edge is lined with purple queen tradescantia (Tradescantia pallida). In the far corner is a 'Pragense' viburnum (Viburnum x pragense ), a clump of butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium) and a few Stokes asters ( Stokesia laevis). The pampas grass was too big and out of scale compared with the other plants and it's removal has greatly improved the looks of this area now that the other plants can be seen to good advantage.
In early March we began to have some regular rain making it a good time to plant new stuff where the pampas grass had once sprawled. In the very center of the bed I transplanted a big white angel trumpet (Brugmansia suaveolens ) from the backyard where it was getting cramped by a photinia hedge.
After years of procrastination I finally dug up a long suffering Mexican mock orange shrub (Choisya ternata) that had hung on to life for over a decade down at the dry desolate end of the driveway. This is a pretty little shrub whose white flowers have a wonderful citrusy fragrance. I don't know why I was so abusive to this great little plant so to make amends and reward it for its persistence, I moved it to a place of honor in the new bed where it will receive regular water, feedings and a comfy coat of pond mulch.
In April I'm going to fill in some of the spaces with some blue anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) for the hummingbirds and butterflies and some pretty purple skyflower (Thunbergia battiscombei) for me. Since I don't have a dedicated vegetable garden, I'm going to make room for a few pepper plants (Capsicum spp.). Then I just add water and it's done! ...except for defending it from the deer.
Out in the front I planted the last of the Texas sabal palms (Sabal mexicana) that I grew from seed a couple of years ago. I planted five of them way out front by the road. I hope that within my lifetime (if I live to 100) will grow into a grove of big burly palms to serve as a backdrop for a Chinafir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and plantings of chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) and red crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) that I have planted in front of them.
In mid-March we had another rainy period that I took advantage of to plant some seeds up in the Fence Garden. It is a little late in the season but I planted some Sugar Snap peas (Pisum sativum) because they're my favorite vegetable. I hope to have a whole fenceful of them alongside a miniature cucumber called 'Sugar Crunch Hybrid'. Along the perimeter of the garden I planted patches of two varieties of sunflower 'Chianti Hybrid' (dark red) and Evening Sun'' (oranges, golds, yellows, bronze). Alongside the sunflowers I put in some okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) which, next to peppers, are my favorite summer vegetable. Yes, I know they are slimy and weird but for some reason I love them and the best ones (as usual) are those fresh from the garden.
My current favorite (healthy) sandwich now is tomato, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil leaf with olive oil - mmmmmm. I planted two kinds of basil (Ocimum basilicum), sweet (regular) and Genovese (the big leafed one) to make certain that I had a good supply (it's too expensive and wilty when bought at the store).
Just for fun I planted some nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) too whose flowers are edible (anything so colorful must surely be nutritious). This is a great plant for kids to grow, they have big round seeds and were a part of my first garden when I was five. I've only grown them a couple times in the fifty years since and decided I'd try the dwarf double flowered 'Jewel Mix'. I know the bunnies and deer are going to enjoy eating this stuff but I think I planted enough that I might get to share a little of the crop with them. But just in case I'm also going to install another set of my deer bafflers in April to discourage their presence.
In Bloom
The Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), another native of the southeastern United States, is doing fine though. This evergreen vine is one of the first plants to bloom here, producing bright yellow flowers in late January. Even now at the end of March it is still blooming and still beautiful. In mid-March the wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) bloomed and although in this warm climate it can be an aggressive nuisance there is no denying its spectacular beauty or fresh fine fragrance. At the very end of March the native cross vine ( Bignonia capreolata ) exploded with hundreds of trumpet shaped flowers in tight cluster making it easy to understand why the hummingbirds admire this vine so very much.
Last fall I had the foresight to plant some spring flowering bulbs and I was sure glad I did. In late January some of them, like the spring starflower (Ipheion uniflorum) were already blooming. Later in succession came some of my old favorites that I haven't grown since moving to Florida 20 years ago. When the grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.), crocus (Crocus vernus ) and daffodils (Narcissus spp.) bloomed it was like seeing old friends after a long time apart.
When I was a kid it was such a happy sight to come across tiny colorful crocus peeking from the edge of a patch of melting snow - these floral gems meant that winter (and school) would be over soon. Even though they only last a few weeks I really enjoy these little spring bloomers and I intend to plant some more this fall - tulips too!
People sometimes ask me to recommend a shrub that blooms throughout the year. There really aren't many that bloom all of the time but there are some excellent ones that bloom a lot of the time. At my house that includes the tea olive (Osmanthus fragrans) which has bloomed nonstop here since the end of September. Another is a red selection of loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) that is growing out front. It began around the first of the year and is still going at the end of March. The more typical white loropetalum on the other hand did not begin blooming until mid-March (but it's very pretty and worth waiting for).
The star of the spring bloomers in this part of the country has to be the azaleas (Rhododendron spp.). The early varieties begin blooming in late February followed by a progression of colorful cultivars that lasts until mid-April. Incredibly showy flowers, inexpensive, fast growing and easy to propagate it's no wonder that they are so popular. A relative, the native or pinxter azalea (Rhododendron canescens) also begins blooming here in March. It's a native of our wetlands here in Florida 's panhandle where it's often called bush honeysuckle - a reference to its wonderful fragrance which when combined with that of the nearby wisteria might just be the best non-food smell in the universe.
March and April are definitely the most colorful months around here and if it weren't for the huge amounts of pollen produced by the local flora this would easily be the best time of the year. Mild temps, low humidity, cool breezes and few to no mosquito, February and March is a nice time to be in North Florida. Come to think of it, with a little Flonase ® (or other prescription strength anti-histamine) this IS the best time of year!
That's it for winter and that's all for my latest Journal. Thanks for taking the time to read this thing all of the way to the end and also for your visits over the past couple of months. We still haven't hit the big time but it is an incredible milestone to reach the 1 million pages per month goal! If you all keep visiting and bring your friends with you we may be able to do even better in April!
OK, now that I have this Journal finished I'm going back to work on programming the new Discussions forum - I am - really!
Have a beautiful Spring, be good and grow.
Jack - March 2005


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Shark Tank S04E11 HDTV x264-2HD
Here's a new episode of ABC's reality series "Shark Tank".
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NTi – SiNGLE FiLE DOWNLOAD

subset: commoncrawl


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After suffering a stinger in the San Antonio Spurs recent win over the New York Knicks, point guard T.J. Ford will sit out the rest of this season (indefinite leave of absence) and is considering retirement.
Ford has had an injury-plagued NBA career including spine and neck injuries.
"While this was a tough decision to make, it is what is best for me and my family at this time," said Ford. "I have been blessed to play alongside wonderful teammates for great coaches and organizations from high school, to college, to the NBA. Regardless of what the future holds, I will carry the experiences, the friendships and the memories with me forever. The support I've received from family, friends and the fans has been humbling and I am looking forward to evaluating my professional options following this season."
"The entire organization has enjoyed having T.J. Ford in San Antonio this season," said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. "I congratulate him on all that he has achieved as a player and fully support the difficult decision he was forced to make. T.J. has a bright future ahead of him and will always be a member of the Spurs family."
Ford signed with the Spurs this season and played back-up point guard to Tony Parker. He played in 14 games for San Antonio and averaged 3.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game. He provided a steady hand and a veteran presence with the Spurs' second unit.
With Ford sitting out the rest of the season, expect rookie point guard Cory Joseph, and Gary Neal play increased minutes at the back up point guard position. Also, with the trade deadline approaching, one has to wonder if San Antonio will make a move to sign or trade for a point guard.
This season has been hit hard by the injury bug for the Spurs. Manu Ginobili, and Tiago Splitter have sat out games due to injuries.
What do you have to say Spurs fans?
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Heron's Nest Pub FB page for upcoming events!!Wed, 02/18/2015 - 09:52 — admin
Check out the Pub's FB page for all upcoming events!
Authentic Experiences in our area!Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:42 — admin
Inspire your vacation planning with these 8 Authentic Experience ideas!
These activities are all situated within 10 minutes drive from our cottages! All of these experiences are for the whole family and will help you understand and appreciate even more our beautiful area, while having loads of fun. Take your pick(s)! Follow the link for more details of each experience. You can also give us a call for more info!
Shiretown Beer Micro-BreweryFri, 01/13/2012 - 07:14 — admin
Heron's Nest Cottages are very proud to welcome Shiretown Beer on the site of the cottages. We are looking forward to a great collaboration with the only micro-brewery on this side of the Baie des Chaleurs.
Facebook for latest news!Wed, 10/09/2013 - 14:51 — admin
Please visite our Facebook page for latest news and activities at the cottages and pub!


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Once again today I'm going to be taking a look back at a recent Oscar lineup and explaining what my vote would have been in each of the big eight categories we all follow so intently each season. I previously mentioned that potentially I could do this once a week with previous Academy Award ceremonies, and while I'm going to be truing to do that, time will still tell. Again, if nothing else, this gives you an interesting look into my cinematic tastes. Over the course of the year you can sort of get a feel for what my current favorites are, but now we can look to the past a bit more.
Alright, here goes nothing:
Best Picture – Moneyball
The nominees here for this ceremony were The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, and War Horse. Obviously The Artist took it in real life, and Drive would have been my clear pick had it been nominated, but if I had been a voter my choice would have been between The Descendants, Midnight in Paris, and Moneyball. At the time, The Descendants would have been my pick, but now I think I lean towards Moneyball, so that would wind up getting my vote for Best Picture.
Best Director – Alexander Payne for The Descendants
I'd have voted for Nicolas Winding Refn here for Drive, but unsurprisingly he wasn't nominated. The actual nominees were Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris, Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist, Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life, Alexander Payne for The Descendants, and Martin Scorsese for Hugo. Without Refn, I don't have anyone I'm too wild about, but I think Payne might be the best of the bunch. The aforementioned Refn is easily my personal pick overall, but Payne is my choice of the actual nominees.
Best Actor – Brad Pitt for Moneyball
In a perfect world, I'd have seen either Michael Fassbender rewarded for Shame, Ryan Gosling in the lineup for Drive, Tom Hardy cited for Warrior, or Michael Parks in for Red State and subsequently any of them would have been my vote (likely Fassbender), but such is life. The actual nominees here though were Demián Bichir for A Better Life, George Clooney for The Descendants, Jean Dujardin for The Artist, Gary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Brad Pitt for Moneyball. The choice of these […]
Tag Archives: Terrence Malick
The 84th Academy Awards: If I had been a voter
Once again today I'm going to be taking a look back at a recent Oscar lineup and explaining what my vote would have been in each of the big eight categories we all follow so intently each season. I previously mentioned that potentially I could do this once a week with previous Academy Award ceremonies, and while I'm going to be truing to do that, time will still tell. Again, if nothing else, this gives you an interesting look into my cinematic tastes. Over the course of the year you can sort of get a feel for what my current favorites are, but now we can look to the past a bit more.
Venice Film Festival to include Malick, De Palma, Nair, Lee and Redford!
by Terence Johnson
HollywoodNews.com: Hot on the heels of the Toronto International Film Festival announcing their titles comes word from Venice about the films to be featured at the 69th Venice Film Festival.
With 60 films, the selection includes a wide range of anticipated titles such as Terrence Malick's To the Wonder, Passion from Brian De Palma and The Company You Keep directed by Robert Redford, as well as 20 films from female directors. Surprisingly, Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master is not included in the lineup, might this mean it will be skipping the festivals? Check out the full list after the jump!
Competition Films
Something in the Air, Olivier Assayas (France)
Outrage: Beyond, Takeshi Kitano (Japan)
Fill The Void, Rama Burshtein (Israel)
To the Wonder, Terrence Malick (U.S.)
Pieta, Kim Ki-duk (South Korea)
Dormant Beauty, Marco Bellocchio (Italy)
E' stato il figlio, Daniele Cipri (Italy)
At Any Price, Ramin Bahrani (U.S., U.K.)
La cinquieme saison, Peter Brosens and Jessica Woodworth (Belgium, Netherlands, France)
Un giorno speciale, Francesca Comencini (Italy)
Passion, Brian De Palma (France, Germany)
Superstar, Xavier Giannoli (France, Belgium)
Spring Breakers, Harmony Korine (U.S.)
Thy Womb, Brillante Mendoza (Philippines)
Linhas de Wellington, Valeria Sarmiento (Portugal, France)
Paradise: Faith, Ulrich Seidl (Austria, France, Germany)
Betrayal, Kirill Serebrennikov (Russia)
Out of Competition Films
L'homme qui rit, Jean-Pierre Ameris (France) *closing film*
Love Is All You Need, Susanne Bier (Denmark, Sweden)
Cherchez Hortense, Pascal Bonitzer (France)
Sur un fil, Simon Brook (France, Italy)
Enzo Avitabile Music Life, Jonathan Demme (Italy, U.S.)
Tai Chi 0, Stephen Fung (China)
Lullaby to My Father, Amos Gitai (Israel, France)
Shokuzai (Penance), Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Japan)
Bad 25, Spike Lee (U.S.)
The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Mira Nair (India, Pakistan, U.S.) *opening film*
O Gebo e a Sombra, Manoel de Oliveira (Portugal, France)
The Company You Keep, Robert Redford (U.S.)
Shark (Bait 3D), Kimble Rendall (Australia, China, Singapore)
Disconnect, Henry-Alex Rubin (U.S.)
The Iceman, Ariel Vromen (U.S.)
Horizons Sidebar
Wadjda, Haifaa Al Mansour (Germany)
Khanéh Pedari (The Paternal House), Kianoosh Ayari (Iran)
Ja Tozhe Hochu (I Also Want It), Alexey Balabanov (Russia)
Gli equilibristi, Ivano De Matteo (Italy)
L'intervallo, Leonardo Di Costanzo (Italy, Switzerland, Germany)
El Sheita Elli Fat (Winter of Discontent), Ibrahim El Batout (Egypt)
Tango Libre, Frédéric Fonteyne (Belgium, France, Luxembourg)
Menatek Ha-Maim (The Cutoff Man), Idan Hubel (Israel)
Gaosu tamen, wo cheng baihe qu le (Fly with the Crane), Li Ruijun (China)
Kapringen (A Hijacking), Tobias Lindholm (Denmark)
Leones, Jazmin Lopez (Argentina, France, Netherlands)
Bellas Mariposas, Salvatore Mereu (Italy)
Low Tide, Roberto Minervini (U.S., Italy, Belgium)
Boxing Day, Bernard Rose (U.K., U.S.)
Yema, Djamila Sahraoui (Algeria, France)
Araf (Araf – Somewhere in Between), Yesim Ustaoglu (Turkey, France, Germany)
Sennen no Yuraku (The Millennial Rapture), Koji Wakamatsu (Japan)
San Zi Mei […]
Terence Malick's "To the Wonder" revealed!
By Joey Magidson
HollywoodNews.com: With the big announcement yesterday of the titles that will be debuting/playing at the Toronto Film Festival, the first Plot Synopsis for Terrence Malick's new film "To the Wonder" was revealed.
The film stars Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Olga Kurylenko, and Javier Bardem, and seems to be Malick's most overt relationship drama in some time, though there are still rumblings that it's also his most experimental one as well (which would actually be saying something). After the jump you can see the short summary of the picture, and it sets things up very nicely. I may not have been big on 'The Tree of Life' last year, but I recognize his talent, and this one has my attention in a big way. You can find the synopsis below.
To read more go to AWARDSCIRCUIT.COM
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Which Stars will be in Cannes? – Marion Cotillard, David Cronenberg, Robert Pattinson…
By Roger Friedman
HollywoodNews.com: We're getting closer to the announcement of what's going to happen in the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. We already know two things: Wes Anderson is opening the festival with "Moonrise Kingdom" and Woody Allen is not going with the newly named "To Rome with Love." But here are some thoughts from various sources. They do say "Rust & Bone" with Marion Cotillard is in. So, too, is David Cronenberg's "Cosmopolis" with Robert Pattinson of "Twilight" fame. High on everyone's list is Walter Salles's film of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road."
Another name mentioned is popular Cannes filmmaker Michael Haneke, with "Amour" starring Isabelle Huppert. Then there's the matter of Terrence Malick. He has two movies in post-production, one with Ben Affleck and Jessica Chastain (among others) which was thought to have been finished before "Tree of Life" was released. Any more ideas? Let me know at email@example.com
To read more go to www.showbiz411.com
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Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News
John Shaffner Elected Chair of Art Directors Council
HollywoodNews.com: – Production Designer John Shaffner has been elected to a three-year term as Chair of the Art Directors Council, effective immediately, replacing Thomas A. Walsh, who continues in the position of President of the overall Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800).
Shaffner was formerly Vice-Chair of the Council, a position now filled by Corey Kaplan. Also elected to the Art Directors Council was Jack Fisk. The ADG has four craft councils: Art Directors; Scenic, Title & Graphic Artists; Set Designers & Model Makers, and Illustrators & Matte Artists.
Shaffner has just completed four years as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He presently works as Production Designer on Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Mike & Molly.
Fisk was nominated for an Oscar® and a BAFTA Award for his work as Production Designer on There Will be Blood. He was Production Designer on Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life and on Malick's next film, as yet untitled.
New members recently elected to the other craft councils include Ben Nowicki of the Scenic, Title & Graphic Artists Council and James Hewitt of the Set Designers and Model Makers Council.
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Meryl Streep, "War Horse" and "The Descendants" in today's Oscar news – AWARDS ALLEY
By Sean O'Connell
hollywoodnews.com: The awards race has kicked into high gear. The National Board of Review kicked things off. The Critics' Choice Movie Awards extends the madness tonight. And we still have the Golden Globes (with host Ricky Gervais) and, of course, the Oscars on the horizon.
As a result, a lot of little pieces are shifting into place as campaigns jockey for prime position. Let's run through the Oscar news of the day as we get ready for tonight's CCMAs, which is bound to pull the awards race into focus … or sending it careening in a completely different direction.
– "The Iron Lady," with Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher, plans a theatrical expansion right before the Golden Globes.
– EW's Oscar expert Dave Karger wonders if the "War Horse" Oscar momentum is fading.
– Fox Searchlight, meanwhile, is upping its campaign for the editing and cinematography on Alexander Payne's "The Descendants."
– We reported earlier that the Oscars could leave the Kodak Theatre in time. Now THR says that the ceremony could end up at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live.
– Douglas Trumbull, the visual effects wizard whose resume includes such masterpieces as "2001," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Blade Runner," will receive the the Gordon E. Sawyer Award for his body of work and technical innovation in cinematic visual effects. The presentation will occur at Feb. 11th's Scientific and Technical Awards.
– The Internet Film Critic Society announced the winners of their 5th Annual Movie Awards, giving the top honor (Best Drama) to Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life." Malick also won the Best Director prize. Other awards went to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" (Best Comedy), "Drive" (Best Action Film), and "Attack the Block" (Best Horror or Science Fiction Film). George Clooney picked up the award for Best Actor for his performance in "The Descendants," and Rooney Mara won Best Actress for her role in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
– And finally, Steve James' excellent documentary "The Interrupters" took home the top prize at Cinema Eye Honors in NY. The ceremony honors nonfiction works. Too bad James' film isn't eligible for an Oscar this year.
Awards Alley brings you the best Oscar coverage. Click below to read our exclusive interviews with:
– Harvey Weinstein
– The cast of "The Artist."
– Kenneth Branagh for "My Week With Marilyn."
– Bennett Miller talks "Moneyball."
– Sir Ben Kingsley and Chloe Grace […]
"The Tree of Life" tops with Online Film Critics Society – AWARDS ALLEY
By Sean O'Connell
hollywoodnews.com: Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" led the Online Film Critics Society's year-end voting with seven nominations, so it's no real surprise that his meditative drama emerged victorious when the group tallied its votes.
The film took home the prize for Best Picture as well as trophies for Best Director (Terrence Malick), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Editing and Best Cinematography.
Here's the most surprising fact: No other film won more than one award.
The other three acting winners were Michael Fassbender winning Best Actor for his performance in "Shame;" Tilda Swinton's work in "We Need to Talk About Kevin" won the award for Best Actress; and Christopher Plummer received the Best Supporting Actor prize for his work in "Beginners."
The full list of winners of the 15th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards are below:
Best Picture:
The Tree of Life
Best Animated Feature:
Best Director:
Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life
Best Lead Actor:
Michael Fassbender – Shame
Best Lead Actress:
Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin
Best Supporting Actor:
Christopher Plummer – Beginners
Best Supporting Actress:
Jessica Chastain – The Tree of Life
Best Original Screenplay:
Midnight in Paris
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Best Editing:
The Tree of Life
Best Cinematography:
The Tree of Life
Best Film Not in the English Language:
A Separation
Best Documentary:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Special Awards (previously announced):
To Jessica Chastain, the breakout performer of the year
To Martin Scorsese in honor of his work and dedication to the pursuit of film preservation
Awards Alley brings you the best Oscar coverage. Click below to read our exclusive interviews with:
– Harvey Weinstein
– The cast of "The Artist."
– Kenneth Branagh for "My Week With Marilyn."
– Bennett Miller talks "Moneyball."
– Sir Ben Kingsley and Chloe Grace Moretz for "Hugo."
– Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin."
– David Fincher, Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara on "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."
– Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer for "The Help."
– Tate Taylor for "The Help."
– Gavin O'Connor for "Warrior."
– Gary Oldman and Colin Firth for "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."
– Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody for "Young Adult."
– Steve McQueen for "Shame."
– Glenn Close for "Albert Nobbs."
– Seth Rogen and Will Reiser for "50/50."
For complete Oscar and Film Festival coverage, visit our Awards Alley for the latest news items, reviews and interviews all season long.
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News
HollywoodNews.com's Top 10 Movies of 2011 – AWARDS ALLEY
By Sean O'Connell
hollywoodnews.com: You hear this complaint almost every year: "This was a terrible year for film." It's often made by moviegoers who didn't go out of their way to find unconventional, challenging (and frequently rewarding) cinema.
A simple scan of the films we've included in our annual Top 10 list – as well as the 10 follow up titles – will tell you that there were plenty of films worth celebrating in 2011 … and there will be even more coming next year.
But before we jump ahead, with the New Year arriving in a few days, let's run through the best films we managed to see in 2011. We expect our coverage for most of these movies to extend into January and February as the Oscar race continues. But for now, these are the movies that moved us most. If we missed any, let us know in our comments section:
Hollywoodnews.com Top 10 Movies (in alphabetical order):
"The Artist"
Michel Hazanavicius' silent comedy made a loud splash at the Cannes Film Festival last spring, and its Oscar train hasn't really slowed since. Jean Dujardin is spectacular as a fading silent-film star challenged by the arrival of the talkies, while Berenice Bejo (quietly) announces her arrival as a talent to watch. This throwback to Hollywood's Golden Age was a modern treat, and it just might be the movie to beat in the Best Picture race.
"The Descendants"
George Clooney shows off his versatility playing a real estate baron wrestling with a complicated land deal as he also contends with a family tragedy. Alexander Payne directs "The Descendants" with his usual precision, though the bulk of his heavy lifting was completed in the casting. The ensemble is one of the best you'll see on screen this year.
"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"
A late entry into the awards race, Stephen Daldry's post-9/11 heartwrencher (so far) has divided critics with its borderline manipulative treatment of tragic subject matter that's still to raw for certain audiences. But there's no denying the emotional impact of Thomas Horn's performance as Oskar, a special needs child coping with his father's death, and Daldry lends him tremendous support in Sandra Bullock and the legendary Max von Sydow.
"The Help"
The little-blockbuster-that-could. Tate Taylor's adaptation of close friend Kathryn Stockett's novel wowed summer crowds who wanted to learn the inspirational story of a fledgling journalist who wanted to tell the untold story of her Southern caretakers. […]
Good Films you missed – 13 Assassins, The Skin I Live In, Tree of Life, Warrior
By Scott Mendelson
HollywoodNews.com:This is the third of several year-end wrap essays detailing the year in film. This time, it's about highlighting the good or great films that slipped under the radar somehow. Some got rave reviews and wide releases but stiffed at the box office while some never made it out of limited release. All are worth tracking down and all are, with one exception I will point out, now available on DVD/Blu Ray/download/etc. And nearly all of them are not hardcore independent films, but seemingly mainstream dramas and comedies that would have likely merited a wide release even a few years ago. Once again, these will be in alphabetical order.
13 Assassins
Like pretty much all Magnolia titles in the last few years, the majority of the film's initial profits came from their OnDemand services, with Takashi Miike's truly epic samurai drama receiving on a token theatrical release in a few major cities. No matter where you see this one, it's a surprisingly compelling shades-of-grey morality play. At its core, it's about the morality of committing murder, political assassination no-less, in the name of dispatching a regional ruler who may be too evil to eventually wear the crown. For the first two thirds it is a character study and a classic samurai drama. But the entire last third of the picture unleashes one of the longest and most impressive non-stop action sequences I've ever seen. If for no other reason than it's last 40 minutes, 13 Assassins is a must-see action picture.
Attack the Block
If you read any blogs that travel in the 'geek circles', this may be the most talked-about movie that nobody saw this year. The film premiered early in the year to rave reviews from the Faracis and McWeenys of the world, but it's token limited release from Sony Screen Gems on July 29th, a weekend with six new releases. Needless to say, it died and never really expanded. Is the film as gloriously awesome as you may have read elsewhere? Not quite. It doesn't break much new ground, but it does what it intends to do very well. The young kids are all quite good and the aliens they encounter are all the scarier for their sparse use. This is just a rock-solid genre entry that is just different enough to […]
Online Film Critics go with "The Tree of Life," "Drive" — AWARDS ALLEY
By Sean O'Connell
hollywoodnews.com: If the critics had any say, Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" would be a shoo-in for a Best Picture nomination next year.
The film topped this year's "Sight and Sound" poll of international critics. It landed on the lists of multiple critics' organizations. And earlier this morning, the ethereal human drama was announced as the leading nomination grabber from the Online Film Critics Society (of which I am a member), which recognized Malick's picture in the categories of Best Picture, Best Director (Malick), Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Cinematography.
Joining "The Tree of Life" in Best Picture for the 15th annual OFCS awards are Michel Hazanavicius' "The Artist," Alexander Payne's "The Descendants," Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" and Martin Scorsese's "Hugo".
Malick, Hazanavicius, Refn and Scorsese were joined in the Best Director race by "Melancholia" director Lars von Trier.
"Drive" was the second most nominated film, picking up six mentions including the aforementioned Picture and Director as well as Best Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Best Adapted Screenplay, Editing and Cinematography. Brooks was nominated alongside John Hawkes in "Martha Marcy May Marlene," Nick Nolte in "Warrior," Pitt and Christopher Plummer in "Beginners."
In Best Supporting Actress, the nominees were Chastain, Melissa McCarthy for "Bridesmaids," Janet McTeer for "Albert Nobbs," Carey Mulligan for "Shame" and Shailene Woodley for "The Descendants."
Woodley and Mulligan's co-stars shared nominations in the Best Actor slate, George Clooney and Michael Fassbender respectively, who were nominated alongside Jean Dujardin in "The Artist," Gary Oldman in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and Michael Shannon in "Take Shelter."
The Best Actress category features Kirsten Dunst in "Melancholia," Elizabeth Olsen in "Martha Marcy May Marlene," Meryl Streep in "The Iron Lady," Tilda Swinton in "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and Michelle Williams for "My Week with Marilyn."
The full list of nominees for the 15th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards are below. Winners will be announced on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012:
Best Picture:
The Artist
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Best Animated Feature:
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Kung Fu Panda 2
Winnie the Pooh
Best Director:
Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life
Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive
Martin Scorsese – Hugo
Lars von Trier – Melancholia
Best Lead Actor:
George Clooney – The Descendants
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Michael Fassbender – Shame
Gary Oldman – Tinker Tailor Solider Spy
Michael Shannon – Take Shelter
Best Lead Actress:
Kirsten Dunst – Melancholia
Elizabeth Olsen […]


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Material Creative: design out of New Zealand
The Material Creative site is packed with their interior, illustrative, design and event projects. I am just utterly sold on their eclectic, creative vibe.
By Julia A in New Design on Friday 10 December 2010
The Material Creative site is packed with their interior, illustrative, design and event projects. I am just utterly sold on their eclectic, creative vibe.
By Zolton in New Design on Thursday 22 April 2010
From the company that brought us Style Your Garage Door, comes Style Your Door, full-surface, high-quality photo films that will transform any the doors in any home into a teeming world of wild, wild fantasy.
By Camilo Smith in Cool Travel on Friday 2 October 2009
Frontera 96 is a Mexico City retail and art space run by a design collective in the always hip Roma neighborhood. They sell t-shirts inspired by Mexico City indie rock bands, like Hello Seahorse! and Los Rebel Cats, with a revolving slate of groups coming in to sign autographs from time to time. The store is only open Friday through Sunday.
By Zolton in Architecture on Wednesday 15 July 2009
Designed by — and named after – the iconic architect Frank Gehry, Toronto's FRANK is a tasty complement to the Art Gallery of Ontario, located, as it is, within the building's beautiful surrounds. The interior design is stunning: modern, chic, and urbane, it's a work of art in its own right, featuring modern Danish furnishings and an installation of Frank Stella's work. And the restaurant itself benefits from the oversight of executive chef Anne Yarymowich, who has created a small but delightful menu, showcasing local wines and seasonal ingredients.
By Zolton in Cool Travel on Tuesday 9 June 2009
There's something to be said for staying in a hotel room that's bigger than your Brooklyn apartment. Yup, it happens so rarely that when you come across it, you kinda want to hang inside, bask in the space, and imagine that this really is your life. 365 days a year. Ah ha, then you wake up. Anyway, I stayed recently at the beautifully designed Hotel Omm in the Eixample district of Barcelona, surrounded by the glitzy, sparkling shops that dot the landscape and by the disarmingly original Gaudi buildings that tower spectacularly above the skyline. It's quite a sight. [photo by Alison Zavos]
By Julia Hennock in New Eco on Thursday 20 November 2008
Fancy a fern in the face? The Sky Planter will fulfill your greenest fantasies. It is designed to conserve water, save floor space and puzzle visitors. An internal reservoir system to feeds water directly to the roots, so no water evaporates or drips. And somehow the soil is 'locked in'. Woo!
By Derrick Stembridge in New Products on Thursday 26 June 2008
An elegant, generously-proportioned and original storage system, based on a juxtaposition of chests, the Ligne Roset Playtime makes it possible to create large-scale settings, or smaller pieces such as sideboards, chests and TV units. Playtime is fitted furniture, with the dimensions able to be adjusted to fit your living space.
By Gerry Mak in New Design on Sunday 8 June 2008
Mark Mothersbough, jack of all trades, most famous as frontman of iconic 80s band Devo, has recently started designing wallpaper and rugs, which are available from Walteria Living.
By Kate Barnett in New Products on Wednesday 12 March 2008
You may already be aware of Marimekko, a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company responsible for interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories. Chances are some of you have a throw cushion or two with their bold signature poppy print. What I never realized was the range and scale of their product collections: from […]
by Kenny Ong
© 2015 Lost at E Minor | Image Attribution | Privacy Policy


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The Extreme Olympic Hercules® Grip Bar by York Barbell is a great option when considering thick bar training. The larger diameter gripping area of these thick bars can often resemble a truck axle and many lifters report that on the first use it felt like picking up weights for the first time again. It is known that training with thick bars will stimulate more muscle fibers in the hands and forearms due to the increased maximal contraction of the muscle you are working as well as the surrounding muscles.
The York Hercules Fat Bar features a monster 2" (50.8mm) thick knurled bar for ultimate grip training to increase forearm strength and size. This 7' Olympic Fat Bar weighs 52 lbs which is about 7 lbs. more steel than the average bar. This thing is a monster!
The Hercules Grip Bar compared to a standard grip bar.
Shipping Included
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Results 1 to 13 of 18
Thread: dan's junkyard
February 14th, 2009 #1
dan's junkyard
hi all!
i've been browsing in this forum for quite some time, and i had my toughts about posting stuff seeing such professional works here, but i have to start somewhere... i wanna use this thread as a sketchbook kinda thing, were i post more or less often more or less finished stuff. the first one was inspired by a photo made by Mehmet Akin (not an exact copy, just liked the picture), for the second i used various photo references, and the pirate head was made after i saw the pirated from the great Andy Bergholtz (didn't try to copy it, just liked the style)
- Similar Threads
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Last edited by dan0891; February 14th, 2009 at 12:48 PM.
Hide this ad by registering as a memberFebruary 14th, 2009 #2
also, since i started to play with chavant clay lately, and i saw a lot of you guys make awesome traditional sculpts, i thought i post some first tests of a laser scanner i built at home (really cheap and easy way to digitalize your models for further refining, rendering or anything else inside a 3d package) i personally want to use it to take the workflow a bit away from the pc... the scanned statue (anatomy model made by Andrew Cawrse www.freedomofteach.com) could use another view from beyond to avoid bugs between the legs, also a much more detailed version could be achieved, but its only made for testing reasons. more info if you like to built an own here - http://www.david-laserscanner.com/
Last edited by dan0891; February 22nd, 2009 at 04:17 PM.
The Following User Says Thank You to dan0891 For This Useful Post:
February 14th, 2009 #3andrei cirdu
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- Timisoara. ROMANIA
- Posts
- 421
- Thanks
- 37
- Thanked 91 Times in 31 Posts
cool stuff! That homemade 3dscanner is amazing!
February 14th, 2009 #4
I've know about David for years... but I've never seen a result as good as that! Great stuff
--[[ Sketch/Model-book - Recent Work - Website - Dune Font TTF Download ]]--
February 14th, 2009 #5
thx guys! i only made a few tests, but it seems quite usefull...
February 15th, 2009 #6
Hey dan,
Your sculpts are amazing. I also tried to get away from the pc.
so I bought the dvd 'mastering the human head - skull ' by Andrew Carwse.
There he sculpts a skull with waterbased clay. Really cool dvd, I ve nearly finished my skull, and will post it here soon.
Does anybody know when the next dvd will be released?
'mastering the human head - muscle'
I cant await to put the muscles on my skullsculpt
February 16th, 2009 #7
hey mick,
thanks, im glad you like them ! i bought that one too, in fact every product they release, i hope they release the new dvd soon. i try to make a skull every other week or so, its a very good training i think.
February 17th, 2009 #8
This is some really beautiful work! I have seen your images on another site.
February 20th, 2009 #9
hey man!
fantastic sculpts, great expression in the characters!
February 22nd, 2009 #10
thanks a lot for the comments guys! i appreciate it!
February 22nd, 2009 #11Registered User
- Join Date
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Amazing and owesome, Dan..
February 11th, 2013 #12
hi guys,
its been a while lot of work, almost no free time, but i managed to finish some stuff, so I thought i post it here. hope you like them
The Following User Says Thank You to dan0891 For This Useful Post:
February 13th, 2013 #13
Wow! The level of detail to these is absolutely incredible! I really love the Samurais and I think you've done a spectacular job in capturing the detail of their armour. These would make some really impressive bronze sculpts I think.


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Fantastic Four Vol 1 76
this wiki
10th Anniversary
of the Marvel Database
- We're about to become-- the first human Micronauts!
Appearing in "Stranded in Sub-Atomica!"Edit
Featured Characters:
- Fantastic Four
Supporting Characters:
- Galactus
- Psycho-Man
- Indestructible One (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- United States of America
- Microverse
- Reducta-Craft
Synopsis for "Stranded in Sub-Atomica!"Edit
Tracking the Silver Surfer to Microverse, Reed, Ben and Johnny battle the Silver Surfer, however their battle is interrupted by the Psycho-Man who sends his Indestructible One to try and capture the Surfer. However when it attacks the four heroes the Surfer leaves Reed, Ben and Johnny to fight the creature alone.
While in the Earth dimension, Galactus' hunger grows and prepares to consume the Earth if the FF cannot bring him the Surfer in time.
Back in the Microverse Reed and the others battle the creature to their personal frustration when the creature becomes intangible whenever they try to attack it. The creature eventually disappears, the Surfer returns realizing that he has a responsibility and decides to return to Earth to aid Galactus, while Reed and the others decide that it's best to deal with the Psycho-Man before he can launch another attack on the Earth.
- Psycho-Man previously appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #5. He will appear again next issue.
- No trivia.
See AlsoEdit
- Write your own review of this comic!
- Discuss Fantastic Four Vol 1 76 on the forums
- Cover gallery for the Fantastic Four series
- Images from Fantastic Four Vol 1 76
Recommended ReadingEdit
- None.
Links and ReferencesEdit
- None.
|Like this? Let us know!


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BONDO DC Salim Muhamud has ordered the police and chiefs to arrest parents who fail to take their children to school.
Muhamud decried the high dropout rate of girls during their transition to secondary school level in the district. "I have directed the police chief in this district to ensure that enrollment rate of the girls through the academic ladder remains positive," the DC said.
Muhamud directed chiefs and their assistants to form a committee of 10 people at village level in a bid to revive the failing academic standards among the girls from the region. He warned that parents who fail to heed the directives will be arrested and charged in court. He was speaking yesterday in Bondo town. He blamed boda boda writers for luring schoolgirls into illicit sex as a result of which the girls drop out of school due to pregnancy.


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I am rooted, but i really do not want to have to install a custom ROM as I hate the tacky Vodafone logo on boot and power off. It almost makes my phone look like one of those cheap £20 ones you can get that are terrible compared to this!
Is there an app that can do this on the play store like this one, as I really do not want to have to flash a custom rom as I have got everything set up just the way I like it apart from the Vodafone logo.
Edited by george109, 25 February 2013 - 06:13 PM.


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Enrico Letta appointed Italian premier
ROME Italy's president has appointed Enrico Letta as premier, asking him to try to form a government to end Italy's political paralysis and set the country back on the path of reform and economic growth.
Letta, a 46-year-old longtime center-left lawmaker, told reporters Wednesday he accepted the job er knowing it's an enormous responsibility and that Italy's political class "has lost all credibility."
He must now form a cabinet that can win broad, cross-party support and win a vote of confidence in Parliament.
Letta's improbable candidacy came after the chief of his Democratic Party, Pier Luigi Bersani, resigned after failing to form a government following inconclusive February elections and then failing to unite the party behind a candidate for president.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Italy's president summoned Enrico Letta, the No. 2 leader of the Democratic Party, for consultations Wednesday amid indications he would be tapped to form a government to end Italy's political paralysis and set the country back on the path of reform and economic growth.
The office of President Giorgio Napolitano said in a statement that Letta, a 46-year-old longtime center-left lawmaker, had been asked to come to the presidential palace at 12:30 p.m. (1030GMT).
Letta's improbable candidacy for premier came after his own party chief, Pier Luigi Bersani, resigned after failing to form a government following inconclusive February elections and then failing to unite the party behind a candidate for the Italian presidency.
Napolitano was eventually re-elected to an unprecedented second term as president. His core task is to end the political stalemate that followed the elections, which left the Democrats and their allies in control of the lower Chamber of Deputies but not the Senate.
Letta's first job would be to put together a cabinet that can win broad, cross-party support and pass a vote of confidence in Parliament.
Napolitano spent all day Tuesday meeting with representatives of Italy's main political parties to sound them out on who could garner the support of the two main blocs in Parliament, the center-left Democrats and the center-right People of Freedom party of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Napolitano reportedly was choosing between Letta and Giuliano Amato, a 74-year-old two-time premier, both of whom have broad support. The third-largest vote-getter in the February elections, the upstart anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, has vowed to be in opposition to any government.
After meeting with Napolitano on Tuesday, Berlusconi didn't show his cards, saying only that his People of Freedom Party wanted a "lasting and strong government." Letta has one thing going for him as far as the center-right is concerned: He's the nephew of Berlusconi's longtime right-hand man, Gianni Letta.
Enrico Letta, for his part, laid out the party's priorities after meeting with Napolitano, calling for urgent measures to address the grave recession in the euro-zone's third-largest economy, where unemployment is at 11.6 percent and youth unemployment at 37.8 percent; and to enact a series of reforms including a reduction in the number of parliamentarians and passage of a new electoral law.


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Luanda — The French artist DJ Jess Thursday in Luanda recognised the Angolan electronic music hit in Europe, being promoted in international shows.
DJ Jess was speaking during a press conference held at Journalist Training Centre (Cefojor), in Luanda, ahead of an international show "Electronic Union", set for 23-25 November in Luanda.
Alluding to the Angolan music style, like "Ku-duro" and others, the French DJ said that it (music) has been performed in electronic style R & B, Hip Hop and Underground successfully.
The artist added that during his stay in Angola he will also exchange experience with local DJs in order to learn of the rhythms and know some artists whose songs are played in European night clubs."


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Can you use Pandora on an ios device and have it stream to the Libratone Zipp? Do you need a special app to make it work?
- Asked by Megan B from Atlanta
Libratone Zipp Portable AirPlay Speaker
Product No Longer Available
1 Answer from the Community
No special app is required for the Zipp, however Libratone does have an app out that you'll want to get for it (a FREE app). Otherwise, the speaker works off of the standard Airplay technology, so proximity then becomes the factor.
As of now, I have been successful using Pandora, Rdio, Netflix, and Hulu with the speaker, so to answer your second question, yes, it is compatible.
- Answered by Sam G from Eagle River


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Recent Comments
- 1 year ago I always used 3M stuff when fixing my house. This would be a step up from duct tape.
- 1 year ago Yay Stuff!
- 1 year ago I have a left hand. Does that count?
- 1 year ago Curious to try the tab extension in Chome.
- 2 years ago Thanks for the chance to win! I'm curious to find out how the eye scrolling works after the software is fully baked.
- 2 years ago Well, this gives me the excuse to stop being a shlub and join Android Central. Been listing to the podcast for a while,...
- Member for
- 2 years 7 months


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"Beauty is not much, if the woman with it does not know how to act".So goes the famous proverb.
But seasoned cardiac surgeon Sunil Gunness who spends most of his days mending cardiac patient's heart through open heart surgery at the Pamplemousses cardiac centre has a more or less identical philosophy on the new heart he has been giving to his patients these last thirty years.
"A new heart is not much if the patient who gets it does not know how to act. In fact, ùost of them do not even know if they can exercise and what type of exercise is fit for their condition they cannot manage their stress and they are unaware of the types of diet they have to follow", says Sunil Gunness.
It is a well known fact that 80% of heart attacks, stroke and diabetes, and some 40% of cancers could be avoided by changing lifestyle and cutting out the risks that come from a bad lifestyle.
The result of bad lifestyle on cardiac patients is all too evident at the cardiac centre.
"Those who have had angioplasty come back to us after around one or two years with other blocked heart arteries. Those that I bypass comes back after five or six years with arteries that have again been blocked. In fact, with a good lifestyle they should not have come back again" explains the cardiac surgeon.
He has had ample time to ponder over this situation as he sits in the utter silence of his operation theatre, nodding his head to a rhythm known only to him as he mends the heart of young adults as well as older folks to the tune of around 600 open heart operation per year.
He has lately devised a formula with the help of the Heart Foundation which he presides.
"We are taking all our patients who have had open heart surgery by batch and teach exercising, stress management and appropriate diet for their condition" says Dr Sunil Gunness who works with volunteers of the heart Foundation.
For stress management, he has recourse most particularly to meditation.
But oin Mauritius, there is a bias against meditation, for its origin is foiund in the Vedas written some thousands of years before Christ and adopted by Hindus.
"I have to convince many patients that meditation has nothing to do with religion. It is today highly scientific and is used to reduce not only stress, but to boost the immune system, regulates the heart beat etc. In France, doctors are now following a one year course in meditation to better help their patients" says Sunil Gunness.
Dr Gunness and his team are quite satisfied with the results obtained so far. But the fact that these free courses are being run only at the cardiac centre of Pamplemousses is an obstacle to some patients living in the south or East of the island.
"We are relocating and will open centres for such courses in different parts of the island soon" says Sunil Gunness.
But his dream is more ambitious. Presently, the Heart Foundation is looking after those who have had open heart surgery or angioplasty. He would like to touch each and every family in his endeavour ro change life style and prevent 80% of heart attacks, stroke and diabetes, and some 40% of cancers.
Read the French version of this article in l'express dimanche.


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Suikoden Tierkreis Zodiac release on DS
Suikoden fans around the world received great news with the recent Famitsu magazine. Suikoden Tierkreis was recently trademarked by Konami America, and low and behold they have confirmed plans to release Genso Suikoden Tierkreis on Nintendo DS. Suikoden had not been heard of since Suikoden V was released in April 2006.
Suikoden Tierkreis means Suikoden Zodiac (Tierkreis = Zodiac in German). As usual, it provides many of the things past Suikoden's have, such as several races along with the 108 stars. A new Popas race has been confirmed. Though if you read closely there seems to be something different about the 108 stars in this one; they do not share the same fate as the previous 5 sets of 108 stars.
Battle screens have shown that there are 4 members in the party, much to the chagrin of Suikoden lovers. This is a step back to the days of Suikoden IV, and the main issue with having just 4 characters in battle is that with 108 characters it is hard to develop said character's even with 6 characters in your party. Having 4 limits your flexibility, though there is said to be an Alpha position for a fifth character. Maybe this is similar to the support character's of past Suiko's? Character's are said to have their own unique abilities in battle, along with of course unite attacks.


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This magnificent soundtrack perfectly captures the grandeur of Edward Zwick's 1994 film. It sounds the way a Montana sunset looks: big, wide, far-reaching, and full of color. In fact, the music is so good most viewers were able to overlook Brad Pitt's acting. This is such a powerful soundtrack that sound editors frequently use portions of it as an early trailer score for other films. Composed, conducted and produced by James Horner, Legends makes use of the fabulous London Symphony Orchestra, as well as fiddle and Japanese wood flute that will remind listeners of Horner's other famous works: the soundtracks to Glory and Titanic. --Charles R. Cross
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Land Leasing
Public and private entities may apply to the Commission for leases or permits on State lands for many purposes including marinas, industrial wharves, tanker anchorages, harvesting of timber, dredging, grazing, mining, oil and gas, and geothermal development.
For example, developers of marinas along the State's navigable rivers, natural lakes, and bays are required by law to acquire a lease of the State's land at the marina site. Private landowners who wish to install a recreational pier adjacent to their waterfront residence must likewise obtain a lease.
For work in harbors and waterways, dredging permits are issued to both public and private parties by the Commission. If the dredged material is to be used for a commercial purpose, a royalty is charged by the Commission.
Unsold school lands remain in counties from Del Norte and Modoc in the north, to San Diego and Imperial in the south, and may be leased to private parties to generate revenue for the State's retired teachers. Forested school lands are being managed to produce self-sustaining yields of timber, while other school lands suitable for grazing or farming may be leased to ranchers and farmers.
In the early 1900s, the State reserved certain mineral rights when school lands were sold. These mineral interests may be leased for mining operations, and royalties collected for removal of sand, gravel, precious metals, trona and other minerals.
Applications for the use of any of these lands can be made to the Commission. They must include an outline of the proposed project, supporting environmental data, and payment of appropriate fees. Staff then reviews such applications and makes recommendations to the Commission for action.


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Credits & Info
- Uploaded
- Aug 15, 2009 | 3:49 AM EDT
Plenty more like this here!
Author Comments
Rated 5 / 5 stars
without the music this would be retarded...
im sorry but its the plain and simple truth... if it weren't for the music this flash would be nothing. but that's ok because you based the flash around the music and since thats the whole point it is therefor NOT retarded but awesome. :DDDDDDD
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Great flash!
It had great animation and energy.. pretty intense. Plus I love that frickin song badass..
Rated 5 / 5 stars
Propane Nightmares.
Can't go wrong with that! Great song.
The animation was incredible. The plot was amazing, but predictable. The plot twist when he got shot by LemonClock was also not a surprise. But the animation and detail was too good. The only part I didn't like, was the white stuff. I mean, that didn't make sense. At all.
Anyways, I was gonna give it a ten anyways, cause, I mean, Propane Nightmares, dude.
Rated 3.5 / 5 stars
i love the style of animation but
i think you could of done a better jb on the guns i mean the gun had holes in it
Rated 5 / 5 stars
awsome work
i must admit your work is unic and unbelievable the song was just fucking awsome and well... i have no word to discribe but i can tell you this you can use this type of animation for madness day if you want but im just saying people may.........wait people will reconize your work and will boost uop the good votes.
just think about it an well the choice is yours-------------exellent work.------------


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Better with Bacon: 13 Bacon Dishes We Love in Chicago
We love the dishes where the bacon is everywhere and nowhere, so all you can detect is the haunting aroma of smoke and the salty profile of the cure. But we are not immune to the pleasures of the occasional bacon overload, just so long as each calorie-laden fatty bite is worth the extra mile on the treadmill. More


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Zapatista Women's Stories$19.95
The untold story of women's involvement in the Zapatista movement, the indigenous rebellion that has inspired grassroots activists around the world for over two decades.
Midnight Notes Goes to School
Report from the Zapatista Escuelita$6.95
Out of the Mexican southeast, a new society is emerging, one based on communal lands, recuperation of indigenous culture, gender equality, cooperative self-defense, organic agriculture, and food,...
Grabbing Back
Essays Against the Global Land Grab$20.00
As climate change ravages the earth, the wealthy elite try to grab as much of the world's diminishing resources as possible. Grabbing Back is a collection of interviews, dispatches, and...
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As climate change ravages the earth, the wealthy elite try to grab as much of the world's diminishing resources as possible. Grabbing Back is a collection of interviews, dispatches, and...
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The Winter We Danced is a vivid collection of writing, poetry, lyrics, art and images from the many diverse voices that make up the past, present, and future of the Idle No More movement....
Islands of Decolonial Love$14.95
In her debut collection of short stories, Islands of Decolonial Love, renowned writer and activist Leanne Simpson vividly explores the lives of contemporary Indigenous Peoples and...
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Undoing Border Imperialism combines academic discourse, lived experiences of displacement, and movement-based practices into an exciting new book. By reframing immigrant rights movements...
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Aboriginal rights are often assumed to belong to the broader category of human rights; Kulchyski makes a powerful argument against this. On the contrary, indigenous people across the world need...
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A bold and irreverent observer of life among Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest, the daring, versatile, funny, and outrageous Sherman Alexie showcases his many talents in Blasphemy,...
Border Wars$14.95
Post-9/11 security anxiety. A renewed war on drugs. Inaction on immigration. Economic collapse. All of it makes for a combustible brew, and the fire is burning hottest on the Southwestern...


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IT is Thursday morning and it's market day at Lubao market in Kakamega East district.
The main highway from Kakamega to Webuye traverses the trading centre famous for its dog market which is the biggest in East and Central Africa. The market, which lies at the north-eastern side of Kakamega town, neighbours Kambi ya Mwanza market and GK Shikusa Prison.
On the northern part is the main market where dogs, cows, goats and sheep are sold, while the southern side has shops for retail businesses.
Lubao was started in 1952 and got its name from several sign posts installed in the area to show directions to neighbouring centres.
There were many timber businesses at the market which contributed to its name. In 1972, Lubao became one of the biggest markets famed for dog auction apart from the traditional sale of cattle, goats, sheep and chicken and other merchandise.
The dogs for sale are brought in from neighbouring towns like Kapsabet, Eldoret and Timboroa in the Rift Valley province. Dogs provide security to most families in the region, making the market price range from Sh700 to Sh1,500. When there is scarcity, the dogs cost between Sh1,500 and Sh2,000.
Most of the dogs sold here are the traditional breeds and it is rare to sport an exotic dog. Wycliffe Otenyo, who sells dogs, says the business has enabled him to pay his wife's college fees at a teachers' training college. "I started my business in 1987 and l have bought a motorbike to help me move around and it is my main source of income," Otenyo said. Dog traders face many challenges including long distances they cover in search of the animals and price fluctuation.


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Aquasana Water Filters – Water Contamination
Drinking water contamination and the effects it has on our health.
Contaminants in Drinking Water – Water Filters by Aquasana
News and analysis on water filtration from Aquasana by Sun Water Systems, Inc.
Bottled Water Quality Investigation: 10 Major Brands, 38
In EWG's Bottled Water Quality Investigation, 38 pollutants are found in 10 brands of bottled water. Read more to learn about bottled water vs. tap water.
Big Berkey Water Filters : Blog – Contaminants In Our Pure
While doing some research for my blog today, I come across an AP release stating that tests on 10 leading brands of bottle water turned up many of the same
Bottled Water Full of Cancer-Causing Contaminants? – Blogs
Bottled Water Full of Cancer-Causing Contaminants? Sierra Blogging Post Archives
Bottled water – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bottled water is drinking water, carbonated water, mineral water, distilled water, spring water, artesian well water, or de-ionized water packaged in plastic bottles
Cornell Cooperative Extension: Water Quality: Bottled Water
Bottled Water Information . Serious health and safety problems in bottled and tap water in the U.S. are uncommon. Well water is safe if private wells are regularly
Bottled water sometimes has contamination on tap | Crikey
Bottled water is constantly promoted as pure and natural, but research shows it undergoes an industrial bottling process that actually increases risks of
Your 'pure' bottled water has contaminants, too
Tests on leading brands of bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants, including cancer-linked chemicals three times higher than California's health
CDC – Bottled Water – Drinking Water – Healthy Water
Education and information about bottled water, standards for bottled water, compromised immune systems, immunocompromised persons, reverse osmosis
Study finds contaminants in bottled water – Los Angeles Times
Tests on bottled water turned up a variety of contaminants often found in tap water, according to a study released Wednesday by an environmental advocacy group.The
Test Results: Chemicals in Bottled Water | Environmental Working Group
EWG's Bottled Water Quality Investigation finds dangerous contaminants in bottled water. Learn more about the chemicals that can cause harmful health effects.
NRDC: Bottled Water
Isn't bottled water safer than tap water? Is bottled water actually unsafe? Could the plastic in water bottles pose a health risk? How can I find out where my bottled
Water quality information- Are there any regulations for mercury
Most comprehensive health information source on drinking water. Presented by APEC Reverse osmosis drinking water filters systems


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Bradley Cooper has been making tons of movies lately. His latest, Limitless, was number one at the box office, and his next film, The Hangover 2, is on everyone's list of movies they can't wait to see. Cooper could be adding another film to his resume very soon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he is in talks to star in the remake of the 1994 film The Crow.
The film centers around a slain rocker who is returning from the dead to avenge his death. The original star in 1994 was Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee. Reports say Cooper recently flew to Spain to met with the film's director, Juan Carlo Fresnadillo, and it is being developed rapidly. Mark Wahlberg has been linked tot he film as well, but he recently dropped out, leaving the spot open to Cooper.
Can you picture gorgeous blond Cooper as a gothic rocker? We think he can pull it off, do you?


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What's so good?
By Anu Rana | Dec 14, 2012 | Total plays: 13,671
In an interview with Spin, Houck relays, "My life, to be honest, sort of fell apart. And in the process of getting it back together, these songs came. I couldn't ignore them."
I can't ignore this track either. A few moments after "Song for Zula" begins, you just know. The wavering strings and shuddering electronics massively build anticipation for every instantly gratifying moment to come.
It's easy to imagine Houck staring out the ocean, singing from a place of quavering acceptance of all that's beautiful and all that's tragic. Yes, this song is that big. It wells up in your eyes, shivers down your spine and demands complete attention.
I have only one qualm. We have to wait until March 19, 2013 for Muchacho to release via Dead Oceans, though I have no problem replaying this track over and over.


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The Department for Work and Pensions said around 3500 victims of mesothelioma will be able to apply for the funds. Ministers said the move would bring hope to former workers in heavy industries, who struggled to find an employer or insurer to sue for damages because firms become insolvent.
But John McClean of the GMB union said it only represented 75% of the potential compensation that the victims should receive.


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Morocco/Western Sahara
Human rights conditions were decidedly mixed in Morocco, as a 2011 constitution containing strong human rights provisions did not translate into improved practices. While Moroccans exercised their right to protest in the streets, the police often dispersed them violently, and protest leaders and dissidents risked imprisonment after unfair trials, sometimes based on the many laws repressing speech that have yet to be revised in light of the new constitution.
In January 2012, for the first time, an Islamist became prime minister, after the Hizb al-Adalah wal-Tanmiya (Justiceand Development) party won a plurality of seats in legislative elections. Moustapha Ramid, a well-known human rights lawyer, became justice minister. On July 31, Ramid declared in a television interview that among Morocco's 65,000 prisoners there were no "prisoners of opinion," a statement contradicted by the incarceration of rapper al-Haqed and student Abdessamad Haydour for their peaceful speech.
Freedom of Assembly, Association, and Expression
Inspired by popular protests elsewhere in the region, Moroccans have since February 2011 held periodic marches and rallies to demand sweeping political reforms .The police tolerated many of these protests, spearheaded by the youthful, loosely organized February 20 Movement for Change, but on some occasions attacked and beat protesters severely.
Seddik Kebbouri, president of the Bouarfa section of the independent Moroccan Association for Human Rights, served eight months in prison following his conviction in an unfair trial for his alleged role in a May 2011 demonstration that ended in rock-throwing and property damage. A royal pardon freed Kebbouri and nine co-defendants on February 4, 2012. A Casablanca court on September 12 sentenced five protesters to between eight and ten months in prison on charges they assaulted police at a street protest on July 22, even though the court relied on confessions that the defendants claimed had been beaten out of them.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Hundreds of suspected Islamist extremists arrested in the aftermath of the Casablanca bombings of May 2003 remain in prison. Many were convicted in unfair trials after being held in secret detention and subjected to mistreatment and sometimes torture. Since further terrorist attacks in 2007, police have arrested hundreds more suspected militants, many of whom were convicted and imprisoned, not for having committed acts of terrorism, but for belonging to a "terrorist network" or preparing to join the jihad in Iraq or elsewhere.
Police Conduct, Torture, and the Criminal Justice System
Moroccan courts continue to impose the death penalty, but Morocco has not executed anyone since the early 1990s.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez stated he was granted unimpeded access to prisons and prisoners. He noted the "political will" among authorities "to build up an institutional culture that prohibits and prevents torture and ill-treatment." However he also stated he had received"credible reports of beatings [by police] (with fists and sticks), application of electric shocks, and cigarette burns." Mendez concluded: "In practice, the safeguards against torture do not effectively operate because 'there is no evidence' torture has happened and so the confession or declaration remains on the record and no serious effort is made to investigate, prosecute, and punish perpetrators."
Courts deprived defendants in political cases of the right to fair trials and in a number of cases ignored their requests for medical examinations following their allegations of torture, refused to summon exculpatory witnesses, and convicted defendants based on apparently coerced confessions.
Twenty-five Sahrawi civilians faced a trial before a Rabat military court for their alleged role in clashes that caused fatalities on both sides in and around El-Ayoun in November 2010 between security forces and Sahrawis. At this writing, the trial had yet to begin, even though 22 of the defendants had spent nearly 2 years in pretrial custody.


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Cllr Paul Bettison is among 63 outstanding councillors throughout the country selected to proceed to the final of the 2013 Cllr Achievement Awards, taking place on Monday, February 25.
He has been nominated in the Judges' Special Award category alongside councillors from Staffordshire, Essex, Plymouth and Dagenham.
"I have no idea why I've been nominated!" he chuckled. "But it's wonderful, it's great to be shortlisted. Whether or not I win, the fact that somebody's noticed enough for me to be on the shortlist is a great privilege and honour."
Cllr Bettison has worked on the regeneration of Bracknell for more than 12 years and mentors other council leaders across the country.
A panel of judges, including councillors and local government experts, will determine the overall winners of the 11 awards up for grabs at this year's ceremony and will announce the results on the night.


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2 allegedly involved in violent home invasion back in court | Crime
Two of the six suspects connected to last month's violent home invasion were back in court Tuesday morning.
Kristopher Hughes faces eight felonies, including first-degree sexual assault and armed robbery.
The 20-year-old waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the court entered a not guilty plea.
He's being held on a $50,000 bond.
Demarco Mallit also entered a not guilty plea. He's accused of two felonies, including attempting to conceal items taken during the robbery and harboring a felon.
After three Madison police officers testified, a judge determined there is enough evidence for Mallit to stand trial.
The other four suspects allegedly involved in the home invasion were in court last week.


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Procter & Gamble and Tide Detergent: Protect kids from toxic laundry pods
On September 13th 2013, as I was doing my family's laundry, my 15-month-old grandson bit into a Tide Detergent Pod he mistook for candy and nearly died. He began to go into respiratory distress, and became lethargic. He became violently ill almost immediately with severe vomiting and diarrhea, and was rushed to the emergency room where he was thankfully saved. I learned shortly after that over 5,700 children across the country have become dangerously ill from mistaking these types of laundry pods as a brightly colored, edible treat.
Now I'm asking Tide to stop making laundry pods look like children's candy so this doesn't happen to other families.
The pods are designed to attract consumers, but to many kids, the bright colors and bite-size chemicals are easily confused as something edible like candy. And while Tide does have a warning that the pods may be harmful just like other detergents, they know that's misleading as it understates the real risk. Tide markets these pod products as being unique compared to other detergent formulas specifically because of the concentrated power of the chemicals inside and the fact that they dissolve as soon as getting wet -- whether by water or child's saliva. That's why pods like these are so toxic and sicken children by the hundreds every single week.
Tide knows there is a problem, but I think they need to take additional steps to show real results, not just cover themselves from lawsuits. In July, they announced more safety warnings to their packaging including a label on the top resealable container, but the problem is that actual pods still look like candy to a toddler outside of the package. And the way so many people transport these pods when going outside of the home to the laundromat or machines downstairs in the basement of the apartment building is not in the bulky container.
Tide must know this since it's one of the biggest reasons customers use the pods instead of carrying around big containers of powder or liquid detergent! They need to add an extra layer of wrapping on each individual pod so they're safer to transport once out of the store container.
I know Change.org is a great place for consumers like us to come together to win campaigns. There was even one that got Tide to stop using a carcinogen as an ingredient in some detergents! I believe that with enough support from consumers and parents concerned for their families' safety, Tide will listen and change their detergent pod packaging to look less like candy by adding an extra layer of protection around each pod and more clear warnings to reflect the real risk these pods have been proven to carry. Will you join me by signing my petition?


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Millie's Diner
Millie's Diner has been serving good food right since 1989 and has garnered international fame for it's innovative cuisine. Dinner menus change every 3 weeks and their wine & beer lists feature a large & varied selections from around the world. Saturday & Sunday brunches are considered the best in the city and the Sunday Night Concert Series brings in musical acts with a free, family style meal provided with each paid admission. Millie's web site is updated constantly and provides the latest lunch & diner menus, wine & beer selections, catering information and a host of links to the world beyond. Open Tuesday thru Sunday for lunch & dinner. Closed Mondays.


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Planning a party is not as easy as it sounds. It does involve a lot of attention, effort and organizational skills. One wrong step can ruin the entire event, so it is important to prepare a checklist even before the prep stage. The few things which have to be kept in mind while planning a party are listed below.
The main occasion behind planning a party is always the most important thing one needs to take a note of. One needs to make the primary reason behind organizing an event very clear, be it a fundraising event, a promotional party, a birthday party, and so on.
The second most important factor would be, to make a list of the invitees. If it is a party meant for business expansion, the list should feature important business contacts. If it is a private party, it should be restricted to friends and relatives.
Another very important point one needs to consider is the budget set for the party. One should never exceed the budget, because that might end up causing some serious problems, in the future. Agreeing upon the budget is a necessary measure to prevent overspending.
Every guest expects a proper invitation, and it is important to get the word out in a more or less conventional manner. In a time of emails and tweets, it is still preferable if an invitation card is couriered to the people being invited.
The other thing one needs to decide upon is based on the type of the party. If it is a birthday party of your child, you can preferably arrange for a magic show, or a clown who will amuse the kids present there. If it is a marriage reception, one can arrange for a wedding singer to create a special ambience.
It is also very significant to choose the correct type of food and drinks, suitable to the occasion. For instance, if it is a business party, one would necessarily arrange for wine but this is not applicable to children's birthday parties. The organizers are also expected to be very particular about the food, which is a very important part of any party. Eating out places in Nottinghamshire, is also dependent on several factors like the quality and variety of food and beverages.
The timeline of a party is a very important point which has to be noted. It maintains an order of the events. In a birthday party for instance, a magic show should follow the cake-cutting event, and likewise everything should be maintained in an order.
It is also very important to select a suitable location for the party, to suit the mood. For instance in Nottinghamshire, the top restaurants are often preferred over other venues by regular party-goers.
The host is also expected to attend to every invitee personally and greet them. The invitee should not feel out of place, while attending a party.
Little but basic details are also to be taken care of, like parking facilities to the availability of conveyance, while planning a party.
Many of the above-mentioned things might appear insignificant initially, but nonetheless these little details are to be taken care of to make the party a success.


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Okay, one more copycat high-rise drawing...this will be my last (at least for now.)
I think I finally "got it," though - this is the first one I love enough to have up on my wall or something. It's the only one that actually uses two-point perspective somewhat correctly, and I like all the random colors in it. I like that sometimes the watercolor is bleeding a little bit outside the lines, and the "stilts" lines are a little wobbly. I like that the telephone wires go right through the little city. I like the lone crane. I've been debating which building I would live in and, though green is typically my first choice, I think I have to go with the building with the fire escape, because I love them. I want to sit on the fire escape playing Moon River like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I would also consider using my fire escape to cuddle up with Hugh Jackman like in Kate & Leopold. Fire escapes clearly have several very practical uses, and I want a piece of that pie.


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Last year, chef Gordon Ramsay topped the Forbes list of The Highest Earning Chefs at $38 million.
But when it comes to aiding others in making money by helping to save their restaurant, as Ramsay is featured doing on the hit Fox show Kitchen Nightmares, some suggest Gordon Ramsay is almost a complete failure.
Kitchen Nightmares is the reality television series in which chef Gordon Ramsay is invited by the owners to spend a week with a failing restaurant.
According to Radar Online, during the first two seasons alone, Ramsay visited 21 different restaurants all over the country and all but two of them have closed down — equaling just a 9.5% success rate.
Radar Online News Editor Amber Ryland concedes that the restaurants featured on Ramsay's show were already failing and a week with Ramsay is hardly long enough to save these businesses.
But Ryland argues that Ramsay's dismal failure at recovering restaurants only illustrates what a manufactured sham the genre of reality TV is, and claims many shows have been exposed for being scripted.
Ryland notes there have been four more seasons of Ramsay helping struggling restaurants and his success rate has progressively improved.
Season 3 and Season 4 had Ramsay visiting 23 restaurants, 13 of which are now closed giving him a 43.5% success rate — an improvement of nearly 35% from the first two seasons.
Last month, Radar Online reported Chappy's, in Nashville, Tennessee, appeared on the Fox show during Season 6 but has since closed down and owner John "Chappy" Chapman blames Chef Ramsay, who called the restaurant "bland" and Chappy "a joke," for his failed business.
"This is a very sad day since we have worked so hard," he wrote on his Facebook page.
"We shouldn't have done Kitchen Nightmares. We have spent several months struggling to come out of a negative situation."
Ryland points out that Chappy's is the only restaurant out of 12 from Season 6 that has closed so far, and Season 5 and 6 are the most successful yet, with a combined success rate of 77%.
The production company for Kitchen Nightmares, ITV Studios, issued this statement to Radar:
"Kitchen Nightmares aims to help struggling restaurants succeed. Gordon Ramsay, who holds nine Michelin stars, offers solutions in a bid to help turn failing restaurants around. Restaurant owners choose to take part in the programme to receive the benefit of Gordon's expertise – it is always their decision as to whether they follow his advice."
A few months ago, Ramsay walked off the set of the May 10th season-finale episode of "Kitchen Nightmares" featuring Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Ramsay claimed the owners, Samy and Amy Bouzaglo, were incapable of listening. Emotions got so heated on the set during filming, the police were actually called to intervene.
Amy's ended up closing temporarily, which ignited a hailstorm on social media, where Samy and Amy continued their battle with online critics on Facebook.