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The report everyone who opposes alternative energy investments cites doesn't hold much water; as a matter of facts, more people are employed in the US wind industry than in the coal industry: http://blog.mlive.com/green-blawg/2009/07/green_jobs_mean_job_loss_not_l.html
In fact, a recent Johns Hopkins study finds quite the opposite: http://bit.ly/cgrecS
Finally, if you're against subsidizing fuels, your target should be fossil fuels, not alternative energy, as fossil fuels get 12 times more subsidies: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-29/fossil-fuel-subsidies-are-12-times-support-for-renewables-study-shows.html
Look at the facts. Wind, even off-shore wind, will cause significantly less harm than fossil fuels.
First, it would be political suicide for any politician in any Great Lakes state to suggest anything remotely like what you propose. Next, the resource is much more valuable as a magnet for business as opposed to an export. People cannot do business or even live without water. If they want it, they should move here, much like people who wanted warmer temperatures and sunnier climates moved to where they exist. We should not give up our most valuable natural resource for mere cash. Finally, the Great Lakes Compact absolutely forbids what you propose.
The difference is that in 1896, banks had capital to use to buy those assets. In 2008, the banks were in as much, if not more, disarray than the domestic auto industry. They had no liquidity to use to buy any auto assets:
"'In many cases banks are de-leveraging or shrinking or are reluctant to raise the extra capital needed to take advantage of business opportunities,' Scott M. Polakoff, senior deputy director at the Office of Thrift Supervision told the Senate." http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2008/07/16/how-bad-is-it-the-bank-liquidity-problem/
There would likely have been very little "swooping" by any bank towards what was left of GM, Chrysler and the suppliers.
Ford was fortunate to have refinanced its operations just before the credit crunch hit (which is why it didn't need the federal loans). But, it was making significant changes to its operations, too, which would have benefitted it, regardless. However, had GM and Chrysler not gotten the loans from the Feds, those companies' bankruptcies would have taken many of the auto suppliers with them, which would have likely dented Ford's ability to operate, if not kill it altogether. Sen. Reid has a valid point. As others have pointed out, $12 billion is a small price to pay to avoid many billions more in unemployment costs, which all comes from the same source, us.
One more point, before you put this entirely on Dems in Congress (if you are inclined to think this was a bad idea), the loans for GM and Chrysler received bipartisan support (I think at least ten GOP senators voted in favor) and the GOP didn't filibuster it like they have done for virtually everything else in this session of Congress. If they didn't want to see it happen, it was within their grasp to stop it dead in its tracks. They didn't stop it so if you believe there's a need to blame someone, look at both sides of the aisle. And those banking on Reid being gone in January may be counting their chickens too soon: http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1361666
Does anyone really think that if we as a nation collectively put our talents and resources together we cannot solve this riddle? We won two world wars, sent a man to the moon, cured polio, etc. But something that requires a technical response is beyond our capabilities? I heartily reject such notions.
What is lacking is the political will to see this through. Either because of intense lobbying from entrenched energy interests, the lack of appetite to sacrifice any little bit of what we perceive to be our birthright as Americans, or any number of factors, we have been unable to see this through. Our corporations are focused intensely on quarterly profits, so they have no long view. Our political leaders, who are supposed to be taking a long view on behalf of the public good, only focus on the here and now and on the next election or 24-hour news cycle. This is not conducive to strategic thinking about energy or anything else, for that matter.
The secret is that there are thousands of people, engineers, entrepreneurs, investors, who have been plugging away at this problem for decades. With paltry and halting support from our government (while it massively subsidizes fossil fuels), technology has advanced nonetheless. These people work day in and day out to take us toward that goal, despite the best efforts of our competitors and policymakers to sabotage their efforts. They will eventually succeed.
The thing that will force the issue is that by 2050 there will be nine billion people on this planet. Most of the easily obtainable fossil fuels have been exploited and while significant amounts of oil and coal still exist, the cost of retrieving those resources will increase, due to the technical complexity of obtaining it and the increased competition from abroad. Necessity will focus our attention (eventually) like a laser beam. I am confident that human ingenuity will win out. The question is whether that ingenuity will bring profits from those technologies to overseas ventures or here at home. It really is our call. But it certainly is doable.
Perhaps the better question is whether we, as a people, have the will to become energy independent.
The truth is that the subsidies and tax incentives you claim to discredit is merely a very small amount of money shifted away from traditional incentives that the United States government has given to the petroleum and coal industries for decades. It tries, but fails, to put alternative energies on an even footing. It just tips the scales just a little less worse for solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative energy technologies. http://www.misi-net.com/publications/IJGEI-V27N1-07.pdf
The amount taxpayers subsidize the petroleum industry, for example, runs from $15 to 25 billion annually n the form of tax breaks and direct subsidies. A similar amount of support has been paid to this industry since the 50s. The amount is striking given how profitable these industries are. Nuclear is subsidized even more that coal and petroleum, by the way.
Solar has plenty of "legs" and is invaluable to provide a healthier mix of energy to take us away from being so dependent on fossil fuels, much of which is being bought fom countries who support terrorists trying to kill us. Anything said to the contrary simply fails to reflect the complete truth.
Your facts are not right, nor are they relevant. BP's liability for the cost of cleanup liability is not capped, only its damages, under the Oil Pollution Act: http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/04/post_17.html
Congress has been attempting to raise the cap on damages to third parties, but Sen Inhofe (R-OK) is putting a hold on increasing it to $10 billion.
BP could, I suppose, declare bankruptcy to avoid liability, but it makes so much money, it simply can't. So, what is going on with GM is irrelevant.
If you want to complain about government dollars used to clean up and rehabilitate former industrial properties, you should start where it began - with Governor John Engler: http://bit.ly/cLzj1m
This is money that was already allocated to take care of GM's "bad" assets, so it's really not new money. Better that the sites be rehabbed for future use than left alone and causing more blight. The brownfield program that started under Engler is an unabashed success. Kudos to the Obama Administration for using the ideas of a former GOP governor to help Michigan.
Since starting my own blog on the MLIVE.COM environmental page last June, I've enjoyed reading your entries. Good luck on your future endeavors!
How did Spain fare? Well, the report you cited doesn't seem to hold much water: http://blog.mlive.com/green-blawg/2009/07/green_jobs_mean_job_loss_not_l.html
Where to start . . .
1. Yes, climate changes all the time on Planet Earth, but it looks like we're heading towards conditions that have never existed while man was on Earth. If you think there is a natural cause, what is it? The amount of CO2 in the atmoshphere has increased by 35 percent (and growing) and it is the most common greenhouse gas. Models show that this will cause increased warming and the predictions have held true. So what alternative explanation do you have? While there "may" be other explanations, none offered explain the current situation and as I stated in my initial post, what's the worst thing that happens if we try to reduce greenhouse gas levels and it turns out they do not cause global warming? We become more efficient and use less fossil fuels and reduce our need to buy them from people who want to kill us.
2. If global warming were gradual, then I suppose man and other life could evolve and migrate. However, the speed of warming is unprecedented in human existence and spcies will not be able to adust over time. It is moving too quickly.
3. The melting ice caps will give us more water. No doubt. What does that bode for coastal cities and populations?
4. If my neighbor insists on letting his dog crap on my lawn, day after day, who should be responsible to clean it up? I figure it's my neighbor. However, you suggest "that If you think the sky is falling and rush to pass laws to stop carbon and methane releases, then " YOU " should help come up with salutions [sic]." It seems to me that if you want to operate and continue emitting greenhouse gases, and greenhouse gases can cause environmental catastrophe, then, just like my neighbor and his dog, the ones sending it into the air should come up (or pay to come up) with solutions.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether you believe greenhouse gases cause global climate change or not. Most of the rest of the world does and will act accordingly. Our choice is whether we lead or follow, and followers rarely benefit financially from new economic circumstances.
On June 29, President Obama said: "The nation that leads the world in creating a new clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy." Truer words have never been spoken. But the companion quote should include that the state that leads the nation in new clean energy technology will lead the 21st Century economy here in the states. There's no turning back. We have to leverage our expertise at making things to this end.
If it's a scam, somebody better let these people know. I bet they'll feel pretty darned foolish after reading your post: http://www.logicalscience.com/consensus/consensus.htm
With respect to the Spanish university study cited by Russ Harding, there may be less than meets the eye there. The author has established a libertarian think tank and has taken money from Exxon Mobil. It may mean that his findings are less than objective and, thus, not as definitive as Mr. Harding suggests.
"And just where did that study come from? Professor Gabriel Calzada is the founder and president of the Fundacion Juan de Mariana, a libertarian think tank founded in 2005. He�s also a fellow of the Center for New Europe, a Brussels-based libertarian think thank than in recent years apparently accepted funding from Exxon Mobil." http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/03/30/green-jobs-ole-is-the-spanish-clean-energy-push-a-cautionary-tale/
For a detailed critique: http://greeneconomypost.com/debunk-spanish-study-green-jobs-1582.htm
Section 218 (wood stoves) is a prospective provision. That is, it seeks to replace older wood stoves as they are taken out of commission, but does not require that they be taken out. It assumes that these older wood stoves would eventually all be replaced, but over time, with better stoves. There is lso money set up for local governments to establish buy out programs. I don't read anything in that section that requires stoves to be taken out.
How do they do that? Well, subsection (b) lays out what the provision does: (1) require all wood stoves sold after the enactment of the bill to meet the specific standards; (2) requiring the wood stoves that are replaced by the new stoves to be taken permanantly out of the market by either being destroyed or recycled; (3) providing funds to loacl authorities to create programs to incentivize the removal of older wood stoves from service. You may read the final subparagraph -(b)(6) - as providing EPA broad powers to remove old wood stoves from service, and you may have a point as the wording appears quite vague. However, the entire program assumes the eventual replacement of older stoves over time either through attrition or incentives to install newer stoves. I doubt that nationally mandated replacement program would be consistent with the intent of Section 218.
It seems that with this section and Section 202, you are reading beyond the text to impute some nefarious purpose.
One thing true about ACES is that its does NOT (despite some comments on here) require people to retrofit their homes. That is an outright misreading of the bill. The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) provision (Section 202) is based on a State of Vermont program that provided incentives and support for retrofits that reduced energy consumption. It incentivizes retrofits, but does not require them.
Department of Energy and EPA will prepare guidelines and provide financing that homeowners and businesses, if they so choose, can obtain direct cash benefits, interest reate subsidies, and credit for retrofits that will reduce energy consumption.
One of the problems with paying for energy efficiency is that over the long term they are quite profitable, but there are up front costs that take ome time to recover. The REEP program seeks to speed up the return on investment and make energy retrofits more affordable. The country benefits because of the reduced energy use and redution in greenhouse gas emissions and the individual benefits from lower cost of operation. But, there are simply no requirements in the bill to require people to retrofit their homes and businesses if they don't want to.
There is plenty of support for the proposition that the poorest will suffer the most, if global warming trends are true. This appears true worldwide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g
According to EPA, this holds true for the United States, as the poor, very young and elderly will suffer the most: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25724805/
If one believes that Hurricane Katrina was an especially nasty hurricane because of the exceedingly warm Gulf of Mexico waters due to global warming, the people that suffered the most as a result were the poorest of New Orleans and surrounding affected areas.
You're not the only one who believes that this bill does not go far enough and is in fact pretty weak, but the best we can get right now: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beau-friedlander/this-is-not-the-climate-b_b_221242.html
Of course, you have plenty of people claiming this will bring economic armageddon: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Economy/wm1723.cfm
As with any negotiated piece of legislation, you are going to have critics from both sides of the equation. Compromise is absolutely necessary in order to pass anything in Congress.
The thing I have noticed over the years is that everytime Congress passes significant environmental legislation, lots of people claim that it will cause a collapse of our economic system. But, I have yet to see a piece of envionmental legislation that has done that. Instead, western economies hum along just fine. Then the next batch of legislation or regulation is proposed and we start all over again.
I think that what business actually wants is some certainty so that they can plan for their future expenditures and they also want to make sure they are playing on an even playing field. That is, they want to make sure their competition is also complying with the same laws and regulations as everyone else. The clients I have represented know that they breathe the same air and drink the same water as everyone else. They do not want to destroy the planet, because they, their children and their grandchildren live on the same planet as the rest of us. They just want to know that they are being treated fairly, consistently and with some ability to plan for what is going to be required.
Finally, I note, not without some significant amount of irony, that we have in fact had a collapse of our financial system and it had nothing to do with environmental and health regulations. It was done instead by the very people who normally claim that the sky is falling every time government seeks to pass environmental laws and regulations.
Europe is experimenting with something called "cradle-to-cradle" requirements. That is, that everything doing with a consumer item, including its packaging, has to be designed so that it can be completely reused at the end of its useful life span. The goal is zero waste. You can bet that if it takes hold in the EU, something like it will be tried here, as well.
I think you're right about goading. One of the problems with using nsome ew sustainable technologies are the up front costs. While the reduced use of resources make it cheaper to operate over the long term, the return on investment might be delayed by several years. Much of the thought on economic incentives involved figuring out ways to reduce the length of time between the initial investment on these technologies and realizing the economic benefits. One Maryland county has a system in place where if a resident invests in energy saving devices, the county would provide the initial investment, but the cost would be recovered over a term. During this period, the debt runs with the land, even if the house is sold in the interim. That type of creative financing and other types of incentives will need to be put in place to upgrade currently inefficient systems.


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"It's what we expected, but Brian is not joyful about this. No one is celebrating," said attorney Earl Ward. "We think it's a sad and unfortunate situation that one of baseball's greatest pitchers now has the potential of being a defendant in a criminal case. Although we think it's the right decision, no one here is celebrating."
Clemens has been vigorously fighting to clear his name since the release late last year of The Mitchell Report, commissioned by Major League Baseball and written by former Sen. George Mitchell and his staff, detailing allegations of illegal use of steroids and human growth hormone in professional baseball. The Mitchell report accuses Clemens of using the performance enhancing drugs.
Clemens has challenged the legitimacy of the report, saying in his opening statement, "I take great issue with the report's allegation that I used these substances."
Clemens attorney Rusty Hardin said in a statement Wednesday that his client knew from the start of the investigation that his choice to speak publicly on the matter and dispute the Mitchell Report, the decision to move the matter forward to a criminal case was inevitable.
"The fact that he chose to testify twice under oath while knowing the short-term consequences is clear proof of how strongly he believes he has done nothing wrong," Hardin's statement asserted.
"Roger will continue to fight these false allegations with every ounce of strength he has," he concluded.
Legal analysts have questioned Clemens strategy of choosing to testify in front of Congress to clear his name wondering if such testimony could expose him to legal jeopardy for lying to Congress about the alleged drug use as well as exposing himself to perjury allegations for testimony about events surrounding the allegations.
Congressional investigators confronted Clemens with a sworn affidavit from his close friend and former teammate Andy Pettitte who says that in 1999 or 2000 Clemens had told him about using HGH. Pettitte's wife also submitted an affidavit corroborating her husband's account.
In his opening statement Clemens acknowledged, "I am subjecting myself to possible criminal prosecution" by choosing to testify, and was forced to repeatedly tell the hearing that his pal Pettitte had "misremembered" their conversation.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Qualifications: All applicants must be in good academic standing, attending undergraduate courses in the Fall Semester, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants must be in good judicial standing. Applicants must demonstrate campus involvement, good customer service skills, and knowledge about the university. The ability to work as a team leader. The ability to adapt to new situations. Demonstrate interpersonal communication and public speaking skills. Ability to work with diverse populations. Enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Show Charger Pride Please Note: You cannot be an Orientation Leader or Resident Assistant to apply for this position. Job Requirements: Be a leader at all Week of Welcome events – get people excited, set the tone, encourage participation, and HAVE FUN! Assist in the preparation for Week of Welcome, which will require you to move-in (if you are an on-campus resident) early. Welcome guests with a smile. This includes swiping Charger ID's, handing out t-shirts and giveaways, and answering all questions. Announce winners of prizes during Tradition Events. Share knowledge about campus and available resources. Show school spirit at all times – you are the face of the University during these nine days, even when you are not technically working. Communicate with the team, new and returning students, event sponsors, and WOW Committee members. Assist with WOW recruitment and marketing (i.e. door knocking, announcing in class, hanging up posters/display boards, painting the UAH sign, chalking, etc.). Assist with set-up and clean-up at WOW Tradition Events. Work as a team and motivate each other. Meet new people at every event! Benefits: The opportunity to meet new students and make an impact on their first week on campus Gain and develop leadership skills WOW Apparel $200 Stipend No additional charge to move in early (for on-campus residents) Opportunity for rehire for Spring Week of Welcome (additional $100 Stipend)


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Sushmita Mukherjee as Gangiya still from the show Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo
Sushmita Mukherjee in Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo TV Show
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Well Done. Great Job. All the best for future projects.
She is a good actress.


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Shemitah & Climate Change
If we ignore God's will that we care for the earth now, we risk losing everything in the future.
By Adina Gerver
We Also Recommend
This commentary is provided by special arrangement with American Jewish World Service. To learn more, visit www.ajws.org.
In Parashat B'har, the Torah requires residents of the Land of Israel to desist from planting, harvesting, or pruning during shemitah, the sabbatical year (Leviticus 25:2-7). The Torah itself anticipates the extreme hardship inherent in these laws and promises to mitigate it: "[S]hould you ask, 'What are we to eat in the seventh year, if we may neither sow nor gather in our crops?'" God responds, "I will ordain My blessing for you in the sixth year, so that it shall yield a crop sufficient for three years" (Leviticus 25:20-21).
In case the promise of agricultural abundance is not enough to promote compliance, Parashat B'hukotai contains a warning for what will happen if the Israelites disobey these laws: "And you I will scatter among the nations….Your land shall become a desolation and your cities a ruin. Then shall the land make up for its sabbath years throughout the time that it is desolate and you are in the land of your enemies; then shall the land rest…" (Leviticus 26:33-34)
It is a chilling image and a kind of poetic justice: either follow God's laws of your own free will and let the land have its rest, or you will be exiled and the land will have its rest without your consent. Shemitah will take place either on your terms or on God's.
We can see a similar poetic pairing of reward and punishment in our relationship with the earth today: if we care for it, it will provide abundant gifts. If we fail to be thoughtful stewards of the earth, we risk a future without resources. If we don't let the earth rest, it will claim its own shemitah of sorts–climate change and natural disasters will prevent us from continuing to enjoy the earth's bounty.
One might think that spending this year–the year after shemitah–in Israel, I got to witness how an agriculture-centered economy continued to succeed despite letting the land rest for a year. Yet, the Israeli agriculture industry relies on rabbinic loopholes that allow the land to continue to yield produce during shemittah. While these legal loopholes prevent breaking the letter of the law, they do not preserve the intention of shemitah. Instead, the land continues to be worked to its maximum without receiving its sabbatical.
Did you like this article? MyJewishLearning is a not-for-profit organization.


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|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by Dave R. on 08/31/2010
I used to come here regularly for the good quality Mediterranean/Turkish at reasonable prices, but in the last year or so the quality of the food has substantially declined and the service has as well. Recently we ordered the salmon for dinner, which consisted of a tiny piece of overcooked fish surrounded by soggy vegetables for a whopping $19. Ridiculous. Also ordered the Doner, a pile of barely edible lamb meat that was so gamey I almost got sick from the smell alone. For almost $18 it came with a small cup of yogurt sauce and that was it! Hello? And as for the service? Hardly existent. Slow, slow, slow... I won't be coming back here again.
Posted by Anonymous on 03/28/2010
The food is delicious, the service very friendly and they have great pre-fix menu options for lunch,brunch and dinner,in short, with the summer approaching, perfect local place to go and enjoy their outside seating......
Posted by Mimi Mikkelman on 01/10/2010
i must have been to zeytins 5 or 6 times in the past 4 months; i consider it my 'local', and i like everything about it. i have special dietary needs -- i can only eat salads and veg -- and they never seem to mind that my meals cost about $15 at most. i go with my boyfriend or with guests, and they have always enjoyed the food and the quiet atmosphere with a nice low hum of talk. the turkish bread is divine; the wait-staff are all pleasant. the red snapper [says my bf] is excellent. it's dependable and consistent. i usually go for dinner. this past week, i took a friend for lunch. our total bill was only $27, but the staff couldn't have been nicer. i've been going regularly since june 09, and it's now jan '10. i recommend zeytins highly.
Posted by Natalie on 10/30/2009
I've been coming to this place for lunch for some time and while the food is pretty good, the service has been getting worse. My friend and I had a late lunch/early dinner there on a weekend and service was not good. We ordered wine but the waitress forgot about the order and was chatting with other staff at the bar. After having busboys get the waitresses attention, we finally got our wine after we finished appetizers. We asked for a coffee refill so the waitress took away our empty cups refilled them with coffee and brought the same dirty cups back. I asked how she knows which cup is whose and requested to bring clean cups and the waitress did not even try to hide her displeasure. Seems like the servers have no experience and spent most of the time in groups chatting. Even though, the food is good, overall experience was unpleasant. I am not going back, there are a lot of places with good food and service.
Posted by Mark C. on 10/26/2009
My wife and I just moved to the neighborhood and we checked this place out. The food was pretty good, we had a satisfying meal. But while waiting for a table we sat at the bar and the help behind the bar seem more interested talking amongst themselves. My wife, who studied in Istanbul, told me they were gossiping in Turkish. It was a weird night out, I guess we'll look for some other place to be our local spot.
Posted by Michael on 08/28/2009
Stopped for lunch after a visit to the Natural History Museum. The food was delicious, with subtle and interesting flavors. Nothing too heavy. The flat bread and olive oil were excellent. The zucchini pancakes were delicious. The roasted meat platter very tasty. The service, while not especially warm and friendly, was thoroughly professional and fine. I'll be back.
Posted by anonymous on 07/16/2009
Mediocre all around - food, service, value. My lamb was tough and dry. The one good thing was the outdoor seating which was very pleasant on a cool summer evening.


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Reconstructing Families on the Colonial Frontier
Reconstructing Families on the Colonial Frontier
John T. Humphrey, CGRecords kept during the colonial period can be difficult to find or they are often incomplete. This lack of information is a serious obstacle to research. This lecture explores strategies to get around obstacles by creatively using data found in the records that do exist.
John T. Humphrey, CG, a Pennsylvania native, is the president of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society and a past vice president of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. He was the former director of the National Genealogical Society Learning Center. In 2008, at the request of the German Embassy, he gave the keynote address commemorating four-hundred years of Germans in America in Williamsburg, Virginia. He has authored the sixteen-volume Pennsylvania Births Series, two family histories and numerous articles. His most recent publication is Finding Your German Ancestors: A Practical Guide for Genealogists.
During his career as a professional genealogist he organized and managed several national, state and local genealogical conferences. He will be the instructor for the German course at the Samford Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research in 2011.
Meetings are usually held at 7:30 P.M. in the Lecture Hall of:
Kilmer Middle School
8100 Wolf Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia.
Admission is free and visitors are welcome.
Kilmer Middle School
8100 Wolf Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia.
Admission is free and visitors are welcome.
Click here for a map to Kilmer Middle School
To contact our Vice President and Program Committee Chair with questions, comments, or suggestions, email email@example.com.


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Create your own great looking movies to share with family and friends in iMovie.
Learn how to create a polished, professional movie with iMovie for iOS, the easy-to-use video editing software for iPhones and iPads.
Create a fast-paced sports video, for the home team or the pros, with the friendly tools in iMovie '11.
Shows beginning videographers how to approach capturing, editing, and sharing a family vacation video using iMovie and their own videos and photographs.
Create a polished video with the iOS version of iMovie.
Shows how to organize, edit, and share videos using iMovie 11.
Covers the entire iMovie editing process for beginners and experienced users alike, from adding audio files to integrating text.
A Mac expert teaches new and experienced iMovie users how to create great movies for iTunes, YouTube, and personal web sites.
A comprehensive look at Apple's video editing software, from concept to final distribution.
How to plan for successful video projects, tips for shooting great video, and how to publish video projects to a variety of formats.
"I often watch the lynda.com videos on my laptop while working out on a stationary bicycle. The short length of the video segments helps to keep me motivated: "I'll quit at the end of this chapter." So far I have lost 25 pounds!" —Gail P.
more from our members »


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Updated at: 10/12/2012 11:41 AM
By: Reelz Channel
This October, horror movie fans get not one, but two supernatural horror movies to enjoy — the upcoming sequel Paranormal Activity 4 and Sinister. While horror fans are accustomed to flesh-and-blood killers like Friday the 13th's Jason and Halloween's Michael Myers (or, maybe not, considering they don't die very easily), both Sinister and Paranormal Activity 4 represent the current shift in horror medium to the supernatural, due, in no small part, to the success of the Paranormal Activity franchise. Movie fans have already seen what can happen between a masked psychopath like Jason going up against a supernatural killer like Freddy in 2003's Freddy vs. Jason (sorry for the reminder), but what about the supernatural vs. the supernatural? With both Sinister and Paranormal Activity 4 fighting for box office dominance this month, we decided to see which of the two supernatural entities was best — Sinister's soul-eating Bagul or Paranormal Activity's demon. Prepare your vote for a Pagan cage match!


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Sigma Delta Pi-zeta Chapter at UT
Posted: December 1, 2011
The National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society:
Sigma Delta Pi-zeta Chapter at UT
On November 13, 2011, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi - Zeta chapter was opened at he University of Texas at Austin. Professor Jill Robbins, Chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese that hosts the association, conducted the event and presided the initiation ceremony of the 26 students who joined it. Several faculty members of the Department accompanied the students in this important event.
Sigma Delta Pi strives to embrace the diversity that exists within the community of Latino and/or Hispanic undergraduate and graduate students on campus.
In order to better learn from our academic mentors, the Society will serve as a bridge between the students and faculty members. Its members are interested in create productive dialogues among students and professors. Communication is a key element to establish a creative and inspiring learning environment.
The purposes of this society are:
1. To foster the excellence in the study of the Spanish language and in the study of literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking peoples.
2. To honor those who have broaden the knowledge of Hispanic/Latino cultures in the English-speaking world.
3. To encourage university students to acquire a greater interest in and a deeper understanding of Hispanic/Latino cultures.
4. To help its members to find better ways in the attainment of their goals as young scholars and citizens.
5. To transform our knowledge of Spanish into a tool to serve those in need in the community.
Society's main contact: Leyla Olano,
Academic Advisor: Gabriela Polit-Dueñas,
Administrative Advisor: Elizabeth Hastings


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By tully | "Boredom at Its Boredest" by Michael Tully August 17, 2006 at 2:00AM
First of all, I'd like to send my own farewell to Bruno Kirby. I liked him in pretty much everything, but my favorite work that he ever did was on "The Larry Sanders Show," where he hilariously mocked his own persona. So long, Bruno.
Secondly, I revisited TALLADEGA NIGHTS last night with a batch of friends that hadn't seen it, and I have to say that it was wayyyyy funnier the first time. Still, I'm sticking to my word and campaigning for Sasha Baron Cohen for Best Supporting Actor. His performance is the stuff of legend.
Lastly, Christof Gebert and I were pointed in the direction of a lost 1980s masterpiece by the one and only David Wingo (side note: I've got my hands on a pre-mastered yet mixed copy of the Ola Podrida record and it is fucking GREAT). The film stars John Stamos, Vanity, and Gene Simmons. It is called NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE, and it might be the most insane thing I've ever seen. Seriously, this thing rivals TROLL 2, SLEEPAWAY CAMP, and NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER for the title of "So-Retarded-It's-Pure-Genius." I can't even describe it. But I will say, with 100% sincerity, that Gene Simmons delivers a staggeringly assured performance. His portrayal of Velvet Von Ragner, the evil hermaphrodite ("He's a hermaphrodite... Half man... Half woman!"), is terrifying and disgusting. And he gives it his all. What was he thinking??? If you're into movies like this--which, unfortunately, Gebert and I are--this is must-see entertainment. If you're not--which, hopefully, you aren't--run flailing from the box cover. It just might ruin your life.


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Article ID: 2823324 - View products that this article applies to.
The update that this article describes has been replaced by a newer update. To resolve this problem, install security update 2840149. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
(https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2840149/ )MS13-036: Description of the security update for the Windows file system kernel-mode driver (ntfs.sys): April 9, 2013
Article ID: 2823324 - Last Review: April 23, 2013 - Revision: 3.0
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text: We believe in fresh ingredient and customer's satisfaction. El Agave have been serving up delicious Mexican favorites such as Tacos, Nachos, Fajitas, Tortas and much more. We invite you to stop in El Agave and enjoy community's outstanding Mexican food in an wonderful atmosphere that you will have to see to believe.


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Participation in the Northeastern University Symphony
Orchestra encourages enrollment in the course Orchestra.
A course description can be found on the Northeastern
Registrar's Office website.
The course offered amounts to one credit and cannot be
taken pass/fail. However, as long as a member attends
practices and concerts, and makes an effort to learn the
repertoire, points will not be deducted. This course
is free of charge. Members with 19 credits or above
are still allowed to take Orchestra as a one credit
class without being charged the additional fee.
Registration for the class can be completed during the
open registration period of each semester. Once this
period is over, late registration can be completed via
the Office of the Registrar. In such a case, please contact
the E-board.
Students are not eligible for enrollment in Orchestra
during their co-op periods. In addition, alumni, graduates,
and faculty may not receive voting benefits.


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Best Canned Indian Food?
Are there any canned Indian food brands that you'd recommend?
I recall, about 10 years ago, having a canned saag that tasted okay, but I'm drawing a blank on the name. Even if they're cheap, I'd still prefer to not have to taste too many different brands to find one that I like, because I do recall that some brands aren't fit for human consumption.
If you want to expand your search to jarred foods, I have two recommendations: (1) Tiger, Tiger Tandoori paste and (2) Taj Ethnic Gourmet Punjab Saag Spinach Sauce.
The Patak brand is probably better known than the Tiger, Tiger brand, but I like TT's stronger tamarind note. The first time I marinated the food -- salmon -- I followed the instructions on the jar and thought the underlying flavor of the food was completely masked. Now, I combine one small container of Greek-style yogurt and 1/4 cup tandoor paste. Then, I marinate the fish no more than 2 1/2 hours.
With a name like "Ethnic Gourmet" I have serious doubts about the authenticity, but I like the taste. I brown the protein -- typically ground turkey -- and simmer the meat in the sauce, covered, for 20-25 minutes. With 5-6 minutes to go, I lift off the cover and put as much fresh spinach on top of the meat/sauce mixture as will fit. (I've even stuff more spinach that will let my cover fit back correctly, but the spinach cooks down and the lid seals just fine in a very short amount of time.) When the spinach is fully wilted, stir the mixture to distribute the spinach throughout the recipe. Incidentally, the instructions don't say to add more spinach; I just like to do this.
Go to your local Indian store and buy the shelf stable packs of MDH, Haldiram, or similar packed dishes. Much better than the stuff in a can. I cook Indian food at home but I always have a couple packs of the Haldiram Kadhi Pakora and Palak Paneer in hand for a last minute side dish.
I haven't found any good canned brands, but as boogiebaby recommends, there are boxed brands with good reputations: Gits, Haldiram's, Swad, etc. I usually have the Swad baingan bhartha and sarson ka saag on hand for quick meals. The kadhi pakora is okay; sometimes I keep a box to switch it up. The lentils and channa that Tasty Bite makes are also pretty good.
re: JungMann
I haven't seen the Swad ones around here.
The Deep brand frozen foods are also pretty decent.
re: scott123
The Haldiram shelf stable packs at my Indian store are $1.99. I've seen cans of Jyoti Saag at Whole Foods for $3.99. Not sure why you are under the impression that the canned items will be cheaper than non-canned.
re: boogiebaby
The Swad boxes at my Indian store are 99 cents each. If I buy them in Manhattan the price might jump to $2.99, but by unit weight, that's still cheaper than a can of tuna.
I've been amazon ordering canned food for my Aunt who doesn't live that close to any Indian stores and needed something that she could heat & eat. So far, she's really liked the jyoti brand. She adds a little salt & spice. She has tried the saag, rajmah, daal makhani & chole.


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That Amazing Mizzou Christmas Lights Show Doesn't Piss Off the Neighbors And Here's Why
Mizzou fans got into the Christmas spirit early when a Jefferson City teacher posted video of his holiday lights display choreographed to the "Missouri Waltz."
YouTube Chad Rizner choreographed 15,000 lights to shine to the Missouri Waltz.
Marching Mizzou plays the Missouri state song between the third and fourth quarters of MU football games, and Tigers know when to sway, clap and yell.
Chad Rizner took his school spirit one step further last week, choreographing 15,000 Christmas lights to "perform" to the MU rally song.
"You can tell each [lighting] channel what you want it to do, whether it's on-off, fading up or fading down, twinkling, shimmering," Rizner tells Daily RFT. "There's all different things you can have it do."
But if you're worried neighbors will rally against the Rizner family for blasting marching music, never fear. The music plays through FM radio on a transmitter, so you can only hear it in your car.
The adorable Rizner family
See also: Road Trip to the Cotton Bowl: How to Drive Through Oklahoma Without Killing Yourself
That said, Rizner knew his unorthodox display would draw traffic through his Jefferson City subdivision, which might annoy his neighbors.
"We bribe them with cookies," Rizner says. "I told them in the summer, 'I hope you like Christmas lights!'"
Families tell Rizner they stop by his house every night to watch his lights.
"Unless you're just a big stick in the mud, it's hard not to look at that and go, that's kind of cool," he says.
If you want to get into the Mizzou holiday spirit, drive to 4058 Newcastle Lane, Jefferson City, (or watch the video on YouTube) and follow these instructions:
Follow Lindsay Toler on Twitter at @StLouisLindsay. E-mail the author at email@example.com.
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Falcons Open Season with Eight Hard-Hitting Bouts
Oct. 12, 2013
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Backed by a mix of returning talent and promising prospects, the Air Force boxing team officially kicked off the new season on Oct. 11, with a round of Friday Night Fights in the Cadet Gym Boxing Room. Stephen Bittner claimed the first Boxer of the Week honor after closing the night with a decision in the 132-pound bout.
Without a single stop by the referees, all eight season-opening bouts were left to the judges' decision.
Bittner defeated Jamal Johnson in the final match of the night, as one of three lightweight bouts. Mateus Arcano opened the competition with a 119-pound decision over Adam Sumait, while Koah Huyn made his boxing debut with a 138-pound victory over Phil Smart.
Nolan Hebein recorded a 160-pound victory over Pedro Barrientes, while James Monk picked up a 165-pound decision from Nick Holgiun and Chad Turney decisioned Caleb McCullough at 185 pounds. Gytenis Borusas defeated Laurynas Galdikas in a 200-pound matchup, while Steven Bacchus-Grant won his heavyweight contest with Matas Leckas.
The team returns to action on Oct. 18 for another round of Friday Night Fights. Action is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m., in the Cadet Gym Boxing Room.


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Thursday, March 6, 2014
The following incidents were obtained from Goose Creek Police Department reports:
At about 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 27 a man called police after he saw suspicious subjects on foot who may have been breaking into vehicles on Pandora Drive in the Greenview subdivision. They appeared to be carrying a heavy object. The complainant was awoken by his dog barking. He looked out of the window of his residence and saw two men standing on the street. He opened the front door and saw the subjects looking in the bed of his neighbors pickup truck. A search of the area did not lead to finding anyone. The man whose truck bed was looked into by the subjects said nothing was missing.
A Harbour Lake Drive man was arrested after attempting to get rid of what police believed to be marijuana. A Naval Weapons Station Police officer requested assistance at the McDonalds on Redbank Road near the weapons station at about 8 p.m. on Feb. 26. The NWSP officer had the subjects detained when GCPD arrived.
The NWSP officer pulled over a vehicle for having expired tags. One of the suspects ran out of the vehicle into the fast food restaurant. The officer chased the subject into the bathroom, where he was attempting to flush a green, leafy substance. The subject refused to follow the officers verbal commands and the officer deployed his Taser. The subject had a digital scale on his person with green leafy residue. There was also a loaded .32 caliber revolver with four bullets under the passenger seat where the arrestee was sitting that was within arms reach. The gun was seized.
The driver of the vehicle cooperated and was issued a citation for having an expired tag. He was freed from the scene. The subject who fled was taken to the detention center. He was charged with simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest. An unlawful carrying of a handgun charge was also expected.
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The 22-year-old has joined Liverpool on a season-long loan.
Moses told Liverpool's official website: "First and foremost, I'm delighted to have made the loan from Chelsea to a big club like Liverpool.
"The most important thing is for me to be professional about it and I'm here to do a job for the club.
"The target is to get into the top four and for the club to compete in the Champions League - and I'm delighted to be here.
"The manager has done very well and the formation and players here will help me and I just want to gel in, get to know the players and play with them.
"There are a lot of quality players here - they're winning games and creating chances. It's a massive thing for me to be here."


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0 items
A drive in a stunning Aston Martin followed by an unforgettable Ariel Atom high speed ride
Valid until: 1/7/2016
Product code: UADA
Locations: 8
Driving an Aston Martin and riding shotgun in an Ariel Atom is sure to leave you bitten by the motor racing bug! Get behind the wheel of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, this car boasts beauty, sophistication and power. Aston Martin, the UK's most famous brand of supercar, have been making the best looking cars for years and the V8 Vantage is perhaps the best yet with gorgeous styling, luxurious interior and one of the best engine sounds you will hear. These cars typically have a paddle gear shift and an exhaust note to match!Then see how the professionals do it with a passenger ride in the supercharged Ariel Atom, a car that accelerates to 60mph in 2.89 seconds. With awesome acceleration and an unbelievable sense of speed and exhilaration, this is the car you'd want to be a passenger in when it's driven to the limit. The Atom has no body panels but that makes it all the more beautiful. As you're driven round you can see all the suspension and steering working away, it truly is a unique piece of automotive engineering. You'll also find out that it is very, very fast!
Your experience will begin with registration and safety briefing on circuit driving techniques. You will then typically drive two laps in the Aston Martin before being buckled in for a minimum of one lap as a passenger in the supercharged Ariel Atom. The exact number of laps and type of Aston Martin varies by location, please check on booking. The unforgettable experience ends with a debrief.Please note that the Ariel Atom may be replaced by the KTM Crossbow at the Loughborough location. The person driving the car will be required to sign a disclaimer accepting liability in the event of damage to the vehicle. The driver will be given an option to purchase damage waiver cover when booking to minimise their financial exposure should there be an accident. Drivers are under no obligation to purchase this optional waiver. Full details are available at the time of booking.
This experience runs on selected weekday or weekend dates, typically March to October, depending on location. Please check availability on booking.
You will be at the venue for approximately 1 to 2 hours.
The minimum age for this experience is 17 years old, apart from Great Tew where it is 18.The maximum height is 1.95m (6ft 5") and the minimum height is 1.52m (5ft 0"). The maximum weight is typically 120.6 kg (19 stone), other than at Oxford where it is 113.4kg (18 stone). You will be required to sign a health declaration on the day.A full and valid manual driving licence is required. If you choose Great Tew, the license must have been held for a minimum of 1 year. You will need to present this on the day.
This is for a voucher entitling the holder to any of the activities supplied by Activity Superstore up to the value stated.
Driving is on a one-to-one basis. There will be other drivers there on the day.
You are welcome to bring spectators on the day, please check restrictions at your chosen venue beforehand.
This activity is dependent on appropriate weather conditions
Customer service: 0371 384 1800
Free first class delivery
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Scondary non-SLI monitor with SLI config
Well, not sure exactly how to explain this, so I'll start in general. My system has three GPU's in it - two 9800GLX+ PCIe cards, and a 780a SLI on the motherboard. I have the 180.xx drivers on both WinXP and Linux (2.6.29 kernel, XFree86 4.7.0), and note a difference in the capabilities of display configuration.
In XP, I can turn on SLI, and the two 9800's will pair up and drive my primary display just fine, and I can *ALSO* run a secondary display on the 780a in NON-SLI mode. Note that this is not multi-monitor, and the release notes specifically state that it is a valid config . . . .
Now Linux . . . .
The SLI pairing of the 9800's works fine, *BUT* I can only get it to work if I disable the 780a - it appears that the driver can't comprehend that it isn't the same type of card, and it barfs *BOTH* the 9800's, and brings up only my secondary display on the 780a.
Considering that I have seen zero mention of hybrid support on Linux, would this not be an error in the driver, that it is trying to SLI link incompatible cards?
And for that matter, is there any way in the config to allow SLI to be active on *JUST* the 9800s and *NOT* the 780a, to give me the same display config as in XP - IE 9800's in SLI, driving the primary display, and a secondary, non-SLI display on the 780a? I have a hunch if the on-board was *NOT* an NVIDIA chipset, that this would work, but I have no options there . . . .
Oh, and I have downloaded the Beta drivers, but not tested yet. I am not encouraged, since the release notes make no mention of anything being different in the SLI area . . . .
Any insights folks?
- Tim
Re: Scondary non-SLI monitor with SLI config
Quick update - just loaded the 185.18.04 beta drivers. A little better, but still no joy. This driver no longer pukes with all three GPU's active, but will still not allow the non-SLI participating GPU to have an active display, nor will nvidia-settings admit to the existence of the second 9800, although adding the SLI options to the XF86Config file and seeing the results makes it pretty clear that it is working . . .
- Tim
Re: Scondary non-SLI monitor with SLI config
Hello? I see traffic on a lot of other topics . . . has nobody else wanted to do this, or do I somehow just smell bad or something?
- Tim
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Beaumont/Port Arthur
Twelve workers at ExxonMobil's Beaumont plant were injured when an explosion rocked the facility about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 17.
According to Beaumont Fire Department spokesman Brad Penisson, three of the 12 workers were critically injured and sustained severe burns as a result of the fire.
All were transported to local hospitals by ambulances — at least 10 of which could be seen entering and exiting the ExxonMobil facility about 11 a.m.
(press release)
More than 300 area youth from Texas and Louisiana recently gathered in Beaumont to compete at the Inaugural "Texas Super Showcase" Basketball Tournament, benefitting IEA – Inspire, Encourage, Achieve/Ben's Kids.
Hosted by the Beaumont Athletics Club, the three-day tournament featured 30 skilled teams, composed of players ranging in age from nine to sixteen.
The winners from the tournament were as follows:
Lamar University honored 110 employees with service awards at Lamar's annual staff recognition program. The Lamar Staff Advisory Council hosted the event April 17 in the Mary and John Gray Library University Reception Center.
Dorothea Titus was recognized with 35 years of service.
Employees receiving 30-year service recognition arePamela Kay Blankenship, Salvador Costa, Gail Davis, Cynthia Perkins, Jill Rowley and Joy Tate.
Earning 25-year awards are Diane Foreman, Ralpheal Guilbeau, Alma Morrison, Shaw Shang and Sam Tait.
Pecos artist Sally Chandler guided eighth graders from the Odom Academy of Beaumont as they painted a 13-foot-long, 6-foot high mural on the wall of the Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET) Tuesday, April 16.
"They're doing such a good job," Chandler said. "Yesterday, we spent most of the day talking about 'The Lost World' (Chandler's exhibit). There are 18 (children) and they each have their own space and each have their own stories."
The Lamar University Staff Advisory Council has honored President James "Jimmy" Simmons with the "Distinguished President Award," citing his inspiration and dedication during one of the brightest periods in Lamar's history.
Diann Brodnax, president of the Staff Advisory Council, surprised Simmons with a special tribute and the presentation of a plaque at the conclusion of Lamar's annual staff awards ceremony Tuesday, April 16.
Donna Blaisdell, executive assistant to the director of the Mary and John Gray Library, earned honors Tuesday as Lamar University's first recipient of The Texas State University System Staff Excellence Award.
Blaisdell is a resident of Lumberton and a 28-year veteran of the Lamar staff.
Five other LU employees earned Distinguished Staff Awards at Lamar's annual staff recognition program.
A Groves Police Department officer's squad car was struck from behind by an intoxicated driver last night (April 15) at 9:37 p.m.
A Beaumont man was sentenced to 10 years probation after pleading guilty to injury to a child Monday, April 15.
K.P. Jeanes, a former assistant pastor of the Woodlands Baptist Church, was originally charged with indecency with a child, but after talks with the young victim's family, prosecutors allowed Jeanes to plea to the lesser charge of injury to a child.
The youngster was 9 years old at the time of the offense.
Qiang Xu has been selected as Lamar University's 2013 University Scholar. President James Simmons announced the honor during a ceremony April 10 in the University Reception Center of the Mary and John Gray Library. The University Scholar Award is the most prestigious research honor bestowed upon a faculty member at Lamar.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating the deaths of 15 cattle found shot in a private property area of Mansfield Ferry Road in Vidor. Sheriff Keith Merritt said his office was alerted to the incident Monday, April 15, at approximately 8:50 a.m. by a concerned citizen traveling by the scene of the crime. According to a press release from Sgt. Chad Hogan, the cattle were all female and included several calves.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


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By Donald V. Calamia with John Quinn
One of my favorite summertime events each August is my visit to BoxFest, the annual theater festival that provides opportunities for women directors to showcase their work. The objective, of course, is to help these women find jobs � which, in years past, was difficult for females hoping to shatter this male-dominated profession. Given the low-budget and relatively risk-free environment of BoxFest, directors of all experience levels are encouraged to push their boundaries and stretch their comfort zones, knowing the result of their work will help build confidence and expand their skills � no matter how the audience responds to their project.
A fun wrinkle to the festival are the plays themselves: Each is an original script written by a local or national playwright, which adds to the pressure each director faces as she guides her production from start to finish. (New and untested scripts often have their own set of problems.)
While some women will rise to the challenge more successfully than others, their hard work and honest effort always result in an entertaining slate of short plays that should not be missed. And like the handful of women who blazed the trail before them, a lucky few may soon find themselves gainfully employed in their chosen professional!
This year, BoxFest Detroit 2011 features 10 plays and the work of 10 directors, split into five "boxes" that are performed on various days and times throughout the festival. So to ensure coverage of all 10 plays, I attended the Friday night opening (Boxes 1 and 4), and John Quinn caught the remaining three boxes on Saturday afternoon. CLICK HERE for the complete list of shows and performance times..
Box 1
The first box features a single one-act, Maybe by BoxFest Detroit Executive Director Kelly Rossi, in which four recently deceased friends find themselves in a holding tank in the afterlife. How they all got there in such short order is a mystery. Another is revealed when one woman asks the others, "Why are we even friends?" (You'll wonder the same thing.) As both begin to unravel, the question becomes: Will the truth set them free? Rossi's thoughtful script, staged by Crystal Reign Brock, offers four meaty roles for women, but it also presents a major challenge for directors: How do you bring a story to life that demands only three walls, four people and an empty room? Chairs are verboten, which means a director must be creative in where she places her actresses and how she moves them about the stage. (The ability to place actors on different levels is helpful in telling a story � for a whole host of reasons.) Unfortunately, I suspect a lack of rehearsal time kept the pacing somewhat slow, the dialogue often non-conversational and the characters inconsistent or not fully fleshed out. And there were numerous times when the women seemed uncertain where they should be standing. (There was a bit of "scooching" into place going on.) Still, Brock laid the groundwork for an engaging story that should snap, crackle and pop with a few more hours of intense rehearsal.
Box 2
Falling from Grace is a grim drama about the end of an extra-marital affair. Lou (Jonathan Davidson) is a successful executive in the family business, and Grace (Heather Sejnowski) is his infatuated sister-in-law. The emotions are raw and violent; director K Edmonds pulls taut, gut-wrenching performances out of her cast.
Contrast that with the surreal comedy Kill Me Please, in which a girl with nothing to live for seeks out a notorious serial killer. Hillary Sea Bard picked a winner of a script and married it to an endearing cast. Amanda Ewing and Josh Cousineau form a marvelous partnership and really sell this screwball comedy. Ewing, in fact, turns in one of the best performances of the festival.
Box 3
Live at the Orient Express is an odd tale of a woman who is repeatedly at the right place at the wrong time. What starts out as a casual meal between friends at a Chinese restaurant becomes a deadly chapter in a continuing story. The play is written and directed by Barbara J. Troy. The direction is successful; the script is problematical. We come into the middle of a conversation and spend so much effort trying to assemble the back story we never really catch up. Kudos to Molly McMahon and Jackie Strez for their graceful handling of ramen noodles with chopsticks without making a mess � or talking with their mouths full.
There is a tendency in directing a two-character scene to "over do it." In an effort to liven an essentially static scene, random blocking gets added without the underlying motivation to justify it. There is absolutely no random blocking in Kelly Komlen's offering, A Little Experimenting, a quirky turn on the traditional mother-daughter "talk." The script is well-written, the characters are well played. While the back and forth between Linda Ramsay and Mackenzie Conn has the realism of a mother and daughter at loggerheads, Conn is actually Ramsay's daughter. There's a challenge to peaceful family relations! So Mom, did Mackenzie take direction this well as a kid?
Box 4
Lifelong friends Jade (Heather Sejnowski) and Delilah (Kirsten Knisely) have shared many experiences together and fought many battles, but now they face the toughest challenge of all in Delilah by Len Cuthbert. Fighting a terminal illness, the two strongly disagree on Delilah's fateful decision to stop treatment that physically drains her � and will likely not have the desired outcome. Director Katie Galazka tackles the intimate subject matter with equal drips of humor and warmth. In short order, the characters must ride a roller coaster of emotions, and Galazka and her actresses navigate the ups and downs quite believably.
The somber tone of the first one-act is quickly replaced by a bright red nose and plenty of laughs, as a rather unusual couple finds itself in front of a marriage counselor. In Clown Therapy, Nina Mansfield mines a circus of laughs as Maggie (Nancy Cooper) accuses her clown husband, Frank (Jim Duncan), of being a fraud. One can only wonder what life experience prompted Mansfield to write this little gem, but director Barbie Amann Weisserman topped her by casting Cooper as the wacky, unhappy wife. Reminiscent of Sandra Gould, the second Gladys Kravitz in TV's Bewitched, Cooper steals the show as she describes their initial meeting � it was love at first sight on her part � to her stunning realization (and meltdown) four-and-a-half years later. Sonja Marquis as the counselor has little to do in the story except react � which she does well. And I'm not sure if Duncan underplays Frank or Cooper simply dominates the stage from start to finish. But all told, this was my favorite of the night.
Box 5
Three very pleasant one-acts fill this block.
AM or PM introduces us to a young woman and her ne'er-do-well ex-boyfriend. Hoping to win her back, he's gone out and found a job. He texts her to meet him in the park at two, but doesn't specify morning or night. He meant 2 a.m., and the job is not as wholesome as the young lady would like. This is a very broad but morbid comedy, and Megan Wright does Hillary Sea Bard's script proud. The engaging Paige Biggs and Casey Hibbert make us believe this improbable plot.
Death of a Snowman is a bittersweet little interlude between a motherless child and her come-to-life snowman. The theme is the fragility of life and the pain of loss. It is unfortunate it misses its potential here. Director Jackie Strez is dealing with an undependable (and, frankly, unnecessary) prop and poor costume construction. In addition, some awkward blocking, including a strange entrance and exit for Charlotte, stands out. It is also regrettable that Aaron Timlin's Snowman, who, it would appear, has some of the best lines in the piece, is hampered by costume and character voice, and at times is rendered almost unintelligible. The play is rescued by the wonderful work of Indigo Colbert as Charlotte. So convincing is her performance as the sad, wistful child I cannot begin to guess at Colbert's actual age. Brava!
This block is rounded out by another screwball comedy, Kung-Foolery, in which a young man's nutty preparations for his mother-in-law's visit may not be as crazy as they seem. It's a great script with great direction in the best tradition of broad comedy, and great performances by Michelle King, Ian Hector and Jean Pilon. Hector's approach to this funny, very physical material is consistently entertaining. So there's applause enough to go around, but especially for director Angie Kane Ferrante!
SHOW DETAILS: BoxFest Detroit 2011 continues at The Furniture Factory, 4126 3rd St., Detroit, Friday-Saturday through Aug. 20. Tickets: $10 per day or $30 festival pass. www.boxfestdetroit.com.
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