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Expert: Roger Ebert's Own Ailments May Have Desensitized Him
Roger Ebert's own battle with a life-threatening disease may have desensitized him to the pain of others, psychologists tell PopEater a day after the famed film critic came under fire for a comment about the death of 'Jackass' star Ryan Dunn.
"People who have survived numerous hardships and tragedies as Roger has, often times are either extremely sensitive to the pain and tragedy of others, or can become hardened to the pain of life including the pain of others," explains clinical psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere. "Roger Ebert has stared down death and pain and may now have a more tough-as-nails, survivor approach to life."
In his battle with cancer, Ebert has been through a series of surgeries, first to remove his malignant thyroid in 2002, then his salivary glands in 2003 and his jaw in 2006. He is clearly no stranger to adversity and he has looked death in the face on numerous occasions. That, Gardere tells us, could be the reason he lacked a sensitivity switch this week when discussing the death of Ryan Dunn.
Hours after Dunn was killed in a car accident, Ebert posted the news of his death, followed by "Friends don't let jackasses drink and drive."
The Internet responded with a collective "Ouch!" and reaction from fans and critics was immediate and harsh.
Dunn's 'Jackass' co-star Bam Margera called Ebert a "piece of sh*t" and the blogger Perez Hilton lambasted his insensitivity. One comment on his Facebook page read: "Mr. Ebert, your comments yesterday showed a true lack of tact and your inability to relate with the human race. I cannot believe you would, within 24 hours of the incident and before an autopsy, make such a deep and hurtful remark."
Celebrity expert Cooper Lawrence of the Scott & Todd show on PLJ told us that Ebert's remarks were positively shameful.
"Completely insensitive! Even if he feels that way, where is his compassion? Why would you do that moments after the person dies? He's had his own personal tragedy you would think he would know to use discretion before saying anything that would further hurt those who loved Ryan Dunn," Lawrence told us. "More importantly, it was NOT his place to weigh in. Just because you critique someone's work does not give you the right to publicly critique their death."
Many other reactions were unprintable, even by 'Jackass' standards.
The film critic backpedaled on Tuesday afternoon, writing on his Chicago Sun-Times blog: "I have no way of knowing if Ryan Dunn was drunk at the time of his death. I don't know what happened in this case, and I was probably too quick to Tweet."
Crisis managers say that Ebert is doing the right thing, but there is more to be done.
"He seems to be backing away from it already by saying he tweeted to soon. Ebert should apologize for being flip and insensitive about the breaking news. It was a terrible accident and this didn't make it any better," Public Relations executive and crisis guru Scott Tangney of Makovsky and Company tells us. "There is a time and a place for delivering a message. Thoughtfulness counts in these matters."
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- Tuesday 21 JuneBy Engine8
It ain't libel or slander if it's true. Grow the hell up Hollywood. Live in real life and not reality TV.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy JT
My problem with this article is, the line
"Celebrity expert Cooper Lawrence of the Scott & Todd show on PLJ told us that Ebert's remarks were positively shameful."
REALLY? this guy is a "celebrity Expert"???? What kind of job is that?
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy CLB
Exactly-I think it's known from his own pictures that they were quite drunk, but now we must look to the likes of Perez Hilton and Cooper Lawrence to tell us what we can say or not say.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy sundog410
I agree with Roger, and he shouldn't back down. Dunn tweeted a photo of him and his buddies drinking shortly before the wreck, and if he wasn't totally drunk he was impaired. Also, he went through a guard rail, so his car was traveling at excessive speeds. I'm just glad that he didn't hit another vehicle and kill some innocent people.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy darcy
I think what Mr. Ebert said was insensitive, but after what he has gone thru trying to live, he might have been angry at what he thought was someone seemingly throwing away their life and the life of a friend.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy Elizabeth
While it is sad for the families it doesn't make Ebert wrong. Whether you have one drink or 10 your impaired and if his friends were truly friends they would have stopped him from getting behind the wheel. Having died does not make your wrongs suddenly right and had they lived they would still be just as wrong for drinking and driving. Losing a loved one is unthinkable and horrible but this could have been prevented. Hopefully it helps to teach others.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy rose
They say we die the same way we lived. I believe it.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy GR
Actions can have consequences. Sad as this is HE decided to drink and drive and take another person with him. Glad no more innocent people were involved. My sympathy to their families and friends. So unnecessary.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy muttley
I am sure he never did any drinking and driving..being in the industry during the 80's....His condition can be brought on by a constant exposure to tobacco and alcohol mix..hmmm?
Screw you hypocrite
RIP Ryan..
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy layla
When you drive drunk you put everyone, including yourself, at risk. Thousands of innocent drivers and pedestrians are killed every year because of an idiot a** drunk driver. Ironically, the drunk driver usually survives the incident. As harsh as the truth is, Roger Ebert was correct in his statement. Glad no innocent bystanders were hurt.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy Carole
All the so-called friends who were there partying with him, allowing him to drive off and crying hysterically now should be the ones taking the heat, not Roger. Shame on all of you who were there and didn't stop him from driving. All your "boo-hoo's" aren't going to take away the guilt you feel.
- Tuesday 21 June
it can be summed up simply.... you live by the sword you die by the sword.... simple. that's exactly what i told all of my teenage boys this morning. it IS sad that people obviously watched him walk out and get into his car like that.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy Anne
Oh, please, Ebert was just talking the truth. Sorry for the guy's death, but HE BROUGHT IT ON HIMSELF AND KILLED A FRIEND........ Ebert shouldn't apologize for anything.
AND YES, friends shouldn't let friends drink and drive. Obviously he either didn't have any real friends that night, or they were also equally wasted.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy RT
They were shameful. And mean-spirited and stupid. But it's Twitter. It's a device tailor-made for mouths whose brains haven't engaged. I mean, rilly people, haven't any of you heard that sometimes a thought is better left unexpressed? How many times are we going to read about some yoyo making a hotheaded,impolitic remark and then having to publicly apologize to Ukranians or the Pope or his mom or his parole officer, before we all realize that Twitter is a moronic utensil and stop using it?
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy dagger
when u look like a mutant u prob shouldnt say anythng
- Tuesday 21 June
I personally don't feel that what he said was so horrible as well. What happen was sad and tragic but I don't feel this should of been so blown out there and he is entitled to feel anyway he wants. It may not be nice or right but everyone will have something to say about everything that happens now a days.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy Jem
Two words, Truth Hurts!
- Wednesday 22 JuneBy Tim
Ole Halloween mask face Roger Ebert needs to shut his mouth. He is an alcoholic and a dry drunk. He is an insensitive @ss. You may think that Dunn is an idiot for driving "while intoxicated",which we don't know because humans LOSE alcohol in their system hours AFTER drinking, but remember that he has parents, siblings spouse family & friends who love him. To the people who are ripping into him, I sincerely hope that people do the same to you when you die.
- Tuesday 21 JuneBy ri lady
what the HELL is wrong with his mouth he looks ridiclious !!!!
- Wednesday 22 JuneBy mhdjlHigh Rank Vote downVote upReport this
If you would actually read the article, you would know that he has undergone numerous surgeries, including having his jaw removed, because of cancer.
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By Lindsay Toler
By Lindsay Toler
A strong MetroLink booster, Stanley is excited about the proposed north line, which will wind from West Florissant Avenue to Natural Bridge Road and into Wellston. Stanley flips to a slide of Natural Bridge. He then tells the story of a constituent who opposed running the line down the middle of Natural Bridge, preferring to use a railway corridor located three blocks north. "I fell to the ground clutching my throat," says Stanley, "got back up, gained my air back and said, 'Hang on a second. You're coming home from work. You get off the MetroLink, and you forgot to get milk. If you're at the railway corridor, where do you get that milk?'" The constituent couldn't answer. Stanley explained that if the line ran down Natural Bridge, which is more than wide enough, an individual could jump off MetroLink, grab the milk at a grocery, then hop a bus to wherever.
"I made them think," he says.
Then Stanley moves on to the future of residential downtown developments, in crumbling districts and in thriving areas like the Central West End. He stresses the importance of mixed-use developments, buildings with ground-level retail and residential above. His favorite residential development is the Louderman Lofts on Locust. His office is across the street. "I can walk out and, within two blocks, I can go to the hardware store, I can have lunch, I can go to the dry cleaners; just down the street I can go to the pharmacy. I can go to a restaurant. I can go to Famous-Barr. I can go to a men's clothing store, and the list goes on and on. I can do all those things because that's such an urban building."
New high-rises, he said, should offer a wide range of units that are affordable, not only to empty-nesters with money to burn, but to twentysomethings with a craving to live in the city.
"When I first came here," he says, "I couldn't believe the size of the units people were building. What created a market in places like Denver or Toronto was smaller units -- first-home buyers. And nobody's hitting that market. Nobody." Developers tend to balk, he says, at middle-income condos. "'They say, 'Well, I'm not sure. They're only making $40,000.' But they're buying a unit from you! What are they going to do, go upstairs and steal somebody's TV? No. They're going to be vested in the property. And that's going to be a wonderful thing for the city, because instead of living in O'Fallon in a townhome, they'll be able to walk to work."
"All those things are baby steps to success," Stanley concludes. "Now you've got bikes downtown, and you've got people walking, you start to see people thinking differently about the street patterns. But there's tremendous resistance down there."
Stanley can only push so hard, says Todd Swanstrom, a professor of public policy at Saint Louis University and co-author of Place Matters: Metropolitics for the Twenty-First Century. "One of his central dilemmas is, 'If I push too hard, I may frighten away the developers. But if I don't have standards, the land may not acquire its highest and best use,' to use the phrase of the planners." Swanstrom says that Stanley has to build a case for planning. "He needs to almost start from scratch to legitimize it. And that is a hard case to make, because everybody assumes that whenever you talk planning, you're talking about restricting what developers can do."
But Stanley is determined to change the mindset. Later, during a discussion in his office, he cites as an example a current project that developers Steve and Mike Roberts are creating surrounding the old Enright School on Union Boulevard. The Roberts brothers are investing heavily in north St. Louis, and Stanley has been working diligently to guide the project. It proposes twenty new homes to complement the Enright School, which the brothers are transforming into condominiums. Stanley says the initial plans were for a row of single-family homes, but they were turned in on themselves to create a kind of gated community. Stanley showed the Robertses a way to build the homes to better serve the residents: "If you put the houses facing the school, you have this wonderful muse, with little iron gates that open up, with spectacular oak trees."
The difference is small -- just one little development on the north side -- but building projects accumulate, Stanley says, and soon enough a sea-change takes effect. "When you see the Enright project built, I feel I've accomplished something, because that will set the standard for everybody else."
At the A.G. Edwards forum, Stanley pauses and looks at the group of architects. "I urge you -- I charge you -- with this assignment," he says forcefully. "I'd like you all to get people to think like this."
Rollin Stanley is driven. He used to collect vintage cars but sold all of them except for his 1961 Alfa Guilietta. He's raced go-carts at speeds of 120 mph. When he's cycling, he dresses as if he's riding in the Tour de France. He's a hockey nut, too, who doesn't mind showing his Canadian stripes. Last year, when the Blues hosted Vancouver in the 2003 NHL playoffs, Stanley made sure to attend the game in a Canucks jersey.
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It's not a moment, it's a movement
But, the flip side of the coin is less shiny, rearing an ugly head. Although the Movement set out to bring peace to a city that has certainly suffered from some civil unrest, the reason(s) it was chosen still remains true
Have a Hart this Father's Day and fill dad's 'Plastic Cup' with comedy
Speaking of dads… Recently, CP2 caught up with Lynn where the 37-year-old comic explained in living color, how he got his start, the future of his career, why the Mid-West (specifically Cleveland) is one of his favorite regions to perform in and his anticipation of becoming a first time father.
Local business owner 'toys' with natural products
After Renee's passing, Toy came to the realization that "It's not who has cancer, but who doesn't have cancer? I honestly think that there's no way that we're getting cancer from cigarettes alone.
Was Mayweather Pacquiao the 'Fight of the Century' or dupe of the decade? Cleveland weighs in
Times have changed. In a sport where brawn once reigned supreme, boxing has become all about the Benjamins. Just ask any passerby on the Las Vegas strip.
Mayweather-Pacquiao match to be 'fight of the century'
To the dismay of many, there is no contractual agreement binding either fighter to participate in a rematch making it a single-bout affair.
Introducing the FLOTUS
Clevelander got the honor of introducing First Lady Michelle Obama
Don't fight the 'temptation' Leon will make you woo-woo-woo with all 'The Things Your Man Won't Do'
If you see me walking down the street and you start to say hi, each time we meet. Walk on by... Leon's got no time to chat. He's all about taking care of business and taking care of the Things Your Man Won't Do.
CP2 popped the question to Kevin: Read his 'hartfelt' answer
Hart went from being the best man no one wanted in "Think Like A Man Too," last year to best man extraordinaire in this weekend's "The Wedding Ringer."
Don't get it twisted... Chubby Checker's on a rescue mission
Thinking of not checking him out at the Rocksino? 'Fur'get about it
"We're gonna come to town, light a match to the Rocksino, burn it up and leave!" - Chubby Checker
ACTION ALERT: Muslim civil rights group calls on people of all faiths to join rally tonight outside Cleveland City Hall
Rally for police reform to be held tonight in front of the FREE stamp prior to 7 p.m. City Council Meeting at City Hall. Peaceful protesters urged to come out, support and dress the part.
Lookin' for gold? We know all the right places
Tailored to local Cleveland businesses, the Holiday Gold Hunt will offer a fun chance to win free gold and explore the city.
Community mourns Marah Avenue murder victims
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Mover and 'Shaker' native Colson 'MGK' Baker goes 'Beyond the Lights'
One of the things that's interesting that I never tell anybody is that me talking about Cleveland a lot was originally a problem for us. That's why with "Wild Boy" the first thing I say in the whole entire verse is Cleveland; and I say it again in the next line to make sure you understood it. It was kind of just a rub in the face of everyone who told me that I couldn't do that. And that record ended up going platinum.
Damon Wayans Jr. channels his inner Wasabi... And he ain't talkin' hibachi
Take your entire family out to see "Big Hero 6" this Friday, Nov. 7. A great family movie, for the entire family – not just the kids.
A group so cute they'll make you... 'Blush'
The gap between new and old school music has definitely widened in recent years, with new school getting the short end of the stick on the "real music" meter to which Victoria replied, "naturally with the advance of technology, music production will be enhanced.
C.rack I.n A.merica
How one story from the 'Webb' revealed a 'Dark Alliance'
Looking for something to do this weekend? Then you should definitely go "Kill the Messenger." Check this out in theaters now. You'll leave talking about it.
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Berry Gordy shares his 'muse' ical gift
There's always been this rumored romance between Berry Gordy and Diana Ross. How much does the show delve into that? Oh it totally goes into it. That's pretty much what the show is about.
Tommy Davidson hits the Improv stage live and 'in living color'
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Mentoring takes on an unlikely 'fashion' and Alaina Carpenter's the 'model' teacher
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Bone gets its grown man on
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'Get on Up' to see James Brown get down
Soul singer's biopic released this weekend
Taking on the role of James Brown is "42" star Chadwick Boseman who has some pretty big dancing shoes to fill. Not only does Boseman fill them, but his cup runneth over.
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You know, I've never had a heckler. I've always felt like, when you love on that audience, that audience is going to love back on you. So, when someone gets out of line,
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Friday, June 20. In the film, Cedric takes on the task of being his friend's best man at a Vegas wedding. When asked if Hart, who's divorced in real life, has ever been a best man himself he looked puzzled before answering,
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The Cooler the Bandits the better the documentary
Call and Post hosts the coolest bandits ever
This is a sincere tale told through excellent cinematography of four friends who admittedly made some bad decisions and paid for it with a greater part of their lives using brotherhood, family, video cameras and the will of God to get them through. Their struggle is all too relatable to so many in our community and is not only a must-see, but a must-discuss.
The Cooler the Bandits the better the documentary
Call and Post hosts the coolest bandits ever
This is a sincere tale told through excellent cinematography of four friends who admittedly made some bad decisions and paid for it with a greater part of their lives using brotherhood, family, video cameras and the will of God to get them through. Their struggle is all too relatable to so many in our community and is not only a must-see, but a must-discuss.
Tony Roberts will make you laugh your teeth loose!
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There are a host of issues with Black boys and how they're fairing in our educational system.
E.C. School Board attempts to give Fambrough and Branch the boot
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It was 'A Good Thanksgiving'
"I knew what was happening when I got off of the freeway and saw everyone in line," Jarvis said. "I needed a turkey too, so I decided to pull over and join the crowd."
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As an educator, he has an obligation to advantage of teachable moments. If he felt there was misconduct displayed in his neighborhood, this was his teachable moment.
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Pneuma Life was founded as a result of Ruth's own real life experiences.
Choosy lover Montana Moore gives a tour of her private aisle
"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…" Nope, not the tale of Gilligan, but just as equally goofy and altogether lovable is flight attendant Montana Moore in the David E. Talbert rom-com film "Baggage Claim," out Friday.
Baggage Claim interview/CP2
"Baggage Claim" is the story of Montana Moore (Paula Patton), an unlucky in love flight attendant who desperately wants to get engaged by the time her younger sister's (Lauren London) wedding rolls around. By the way, that's only 30 days out!
Ancient 'Islamic Treasures' make way for 'Young, American and Muslim' authors
Step inside the Special Treasures Department and one would be hard pressed to find decorated guards standing at attention, white-gloved prim and proper professionals and a room temperature so cold you could see your own breath.
Cleveland's caught in Conya's 'Transition'
Ohioans, do yourself a favor and come check out a few of your very own in a delightful, tasteful and intimate atmosphere.


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Geek Speak
Geek Speak is where the world of Geekdom comes alive.
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New 'Sharknado 2′ sneak peak, or when subway sharks attack!
SAN ANTONIO — I'll see your pitiful "Snakes on a Plane" and raise you one sharks-on-the-subway clip from "Sharknado 2: The Second One." In this scene from the sequel to 2013's unholy glory "Sharknado," our returning hero Fin (Ian Ziering) shares a tender moment (go ahead, call it a bro-ment) with his bro-in-law Martin (Mark […] [Read More]


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Either Bradley Cooper was coming down with a serious fever at last night's Valentine's Day premiere in Hollywood, or the Hangover hunk seriously needs to work on his tanning technique. It's gotta be tough to work around manicured stubble, but you can't just rub, spray or stick a lamp on your cheeks and forehead, dude. When you ignore the ears, jaw and neck it's just…yow. Hopefully it's the kind that wipes off fast!
Take a closer look at Coop's inconsistent orange aura in the gallery below.
[Photo: Getty Images]
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A battery charging apparatus anticipates usage and thus provides a charged battery available for use. In addition the charging regimen employed substantially eliminates memory effects in NICAD batteries. The battery charging apparatus comprises a power supply for generating a controllable battery charging current which is responsive to battery status. A plurality of calendars, stored in PROM, are user selectable to form a custom calendar. User specific event dates may be added to produce a composite calendar. A microprocessor maintains a real time clock calendar and executes a calendar algorithm. Upon the occurrence of a composite calendar event date, the microprocessor generates a control signal for initiating the battery charging current. The microprocessor also produces a status message display. Message data is stored in PROM and is used to generate a video signal for monitor display. The video signal is also coupled to an RF modulator for TV receiver display. Upon cessation of charging, due to completion or malfunction, battery identification and charging data are stored in memory to form a battery history.
1. A battery charging apparatus comprising:
a power supply for generating a battery charging current;
means for coupling said charging current to a battery responsive to a control signal;
a memory for storing a calendar, a calendar dated event, and a control algorithm; and
a microprocessor for executing said algorithm and generating said control signal a predetermined time in advance of an occurrence of said calendar dated event.
2. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said battery charging current has opposite polarities for charging and discharging said battery responsive to said control signal.
3. A battery charging apparatus comprising:
a battery charging current source;
a controllable coupling, responsive to a first control signal, for coupling said charging current to a battery;
a memory for storing a calendar, calendar dated events, and a control algorithm; and
a microprocessor for executing said algorithm, said microprocessor generating said first control signal at a predetermined time in advance of any one of said calendar dated events, and generating a second control signal on an occurrence of any one of said calendar dated events.
4. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor includes a clock generator for generating a real time clock calendar.
5. The battery charging apparatus of claim 4, wherein said microprocessor generates said control signal upon coincidence of a real time clock calendar and said calendar dated event.
6. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control signal generation is responsive to a status of a battery to be charged.
7. The battery charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein said control signal generation is inhibited upon said battery status being indicative of a charged battery condition.
8. The battery charging apparatus of claim 3, wherein said microprocessor generates a message waiting indication upon occurrence of said calendar dated event.
9. The battery charging apparatus of claim 3, wherein said microprocessor generates a display message signal upon occurrence of said calendar dated event.
10. The battery charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein said display message is generated from a plurality of messages stored in a memory.
11. The battery charging apparatus of claim 9, wherein said display message signal is a video display signal.
12. The battery charging apparatus of claim 11, wherein said video display signal is coupled to an RF modulator for generating a signal for viewing on a TV receiver.
13. The battery charging apparatus of claim 3, wherein said algorithm records, in said memory, information relating to a status of said charging apparatus upon completion of battery charging.
14. The battery charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said algorithm records in said memory information relating to said battery upon completion of charging said battery.
15. The battery charging apparatus of claim 14, wherein said information comprises a code identifying said battery.
16. The battery charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein said identifying code indicates said battery type.
17. The battery charging apparatus of claim 15, wherein said identifying code indicates a number of said battery.
18. The battery charging apparatus of claim 14, wherein said information comprises charging data for said battery.
19. The battery charging apparatus of claim 18, wherein said charging data comprises a cumulative total of charging operations.
20. The battery charging apparatus of claim 18, wherein said charging data comprises a cumulative total of rejuvenation operations.
21. The battery charging apparatus of claim 3, wherein said calendar dated event is generated responsive to an algorithm which combines a selected event from a preprogrammed event calendar with user derived event dates.
22. A battery for powering portable equipment, comprising:
a battery housing having at least one energizing cell; and,
indicia disposed on said housing for non-contact sensing by an external sensing means, said indicia representing data enabling automatic selection of battery charging parameters.
23. The battery of claim 22, wherein said indicia additionally comprises data which precludes charging a non-rechargeable cell.
24. A battery charging apparatus comprising:
a power supply for generating a charging current for at least one battery type responsive to a control signal;
a non-contact means for sensing an indicia disposed on a surface of a battery coupled for charging and generating therefrom data indicating said battery type; and,
a microprocessor coupled to said sensing means and generating said control signal responsive to said data generated by said sensing means.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/326,882 filed on Oct. 21, 1994 now abandoned.
This invention relates to the field of battery charging, and in particular to microprocessor controlled charging.
When nickel cadmium (NICAD) battery powered devices are repetitively operated with incomplete battery discharge/recharge cycles, a reduction in dischargable battery capacity may result. This loss of capacity is known as memory, a condition wherein the dischargable capacity is progressively reduced. In practical terms, for example, a user of a NICAD powered camcorder may experience reduced operating time or low-voltage cutoff. The problem of incomplete discharge is exacerbated if the battery is stored attached to a device which has significant current drain. When a camcorder is turned off, for example, the microprocessor in the camcorder is sustained by current drawn from the battery which may be considerably greater than the inherent self discharge effects in most batteries. Lead acid batteries are not subject to the memory effects of nickel cadmium cells. However, lead acid batteries suffer a reduction in capacity if allowed to remain in a discharged state. This reduction in capacity may result from the formation of sulfate on the lead plate surfaces reducing the plate area and thus the charge and discharge capacity.
The reduction in dischargable capacity in nickel cadmium batteries, or memory effect, can be substantially eliminated by an effective discharge followed by full charging. Many battery chargers incorporate some form of user initiated discharge/recharge cycle. FIG. 1 shows a typical microprocessor controlled battery charging. AC power is converted to DC in power block 10 which provides high current capability for battery charging, and a regulated supply for the control circuitry. The charging current is coupled to the battery via a charger output 40. The charger output 40 comprises control elements, for example a series pass transistor for charging, and a shunt connected controlled load to provide a "refreshing" discharge. An integrated circuit (I.C.) controller 30, typically having a PWM output, is coupled to the pass transistor to provide control of the battery charging current. The charger is controlled by a microprocessor 20 which monitors the AC supply, battery connection and battery status, for example, battery potential, charging current, cell temperature etc. Although this typical charger provides both charging and battery refreshing, these functions must be initiated manually. Hence the typical charger of FIG. 1 provides an incomplete solution to the problem of battery memory since the user may inevitably fail to utilize the "refresh" cycle until diminished battery capacity becomes apparent. Furthermore, users of rechargeable battery powered equipment are unlikely to adhere to a regimen of preventative battery conditioning to maintain the battery in peak condition.
There are other secondary cells which endure discharged storage, do not suffer from memory effects, and are capable of rapid recharge. However, even with batteries such as these, the user's expectation of immediate, instant use is frustrated if the battery is not charged and ready for service.
An inventive battery charger and camcorder coupling system is disclosed where a camcorder is mated with appropriate connectors of a coupling or docking unit. The connectors provide DC to power the camcorder and provide audio and video output connection for coupling to external monitoring devices. The docking unit is AC powered, comprises various sub-systems, and also provides for charging and conditioning of more than one battery by means of an inventive method. The unit also provides connection capability to a display device at baseband, via video and audio inputs, or at RF, via a modulated RF output. The RF modulator is coupled to an active antenna loop-through which permits a permanent T.V. antenna connection and facilitates camcorder viewing without changing antenna cabling at the TV receiver. The inventive battery charging system may be controlled by manually operated front panel switches or via a remote control unit. The status of the docking unit is displayed on a display panel with control functions selected from a menu based display with prompting. The status is also provided as a base band video signal for monitor display and as a modulated RF signal for TV receiver usage. A hand held IR controller may control the docking unit and camcorder via a direct docking connection, or control may be provided to each component via an IR transmitter which forms part of the docking unit. The battery charging apparatus comprises a power supply for generating a controllable battery charging current; and a microprocessor for executing a calendar algorithm having at least one predetermined event date and upon an occurrence of the event date, generating a control signal for controlling the battery charging current.
FIG. 1 shows a microprocessor controlled battery charging system according to the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an adaptive battery charging system according to an inventive arrangement.
FIG. 3A shows a battery charging and camcorder coupling system according to an inventive arrangement.
FIG. 3B shows the inventive battery charging and camcorder coupling apparatus depicted in FIG. 2.
FIGS. 4A-4E and 4G depict various exemplary methods of battery identification.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an inventive method.
An inventive battery conditioning charger 100 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a power supply 101, which converts AC power into various DC supplies for battery charging, camcorder power, and internal circuit power. The DC charging current and camcorder adapter power is coupled to a charger adapter output 102. The charger adapter output contains current control elements such as series pass transistors for supplying a charging current, and controlled loads for dissipating a discharging current for NICAD battery cell conditioning, refreshing or rejuvenating. The charger may charge batteries of various cell chemistries and may automatically determine the cell type by sensing battery case identifiers. One or more batteries of the same type may be demounted from the camcorder and plugged into connectors B1 or B2 for charging. The adapter output DC is also available via connector 108 which connects to the camcorder in place of the battery. A suitably equipped camcorder may be powered by the adapter via interface connector 110. Interface connector 110 may provide charging current for a camcorder with battery attached. In addition to DC powering, connector 110 provides a data I/O connection which allows camcorder control commands to be input and battery use data to be retrieved from a mounted camcorder or battery for use by microprocessor 120. Connector 110 also provides audio and video coupling.
A microprocessor 120 is utilized for control and monitoring of the battery and charging process. Microprocessor 120 is coupled to the power supply, the charger output, the camcorder, a memory 121, a local display 115 and an on-screen-display generator 125. An illuminated indicator and acoustic sounder 107 are driven by an output from the microprocessor. The microprocessor receives user control commands via manual controls 111, 112, 114, or from a remote control unit, for example IR remote 300, via receiver 106. A data input output connector 129 is provided which allows the user to couple, for example, a personal computer, "lap top" or note book computer to access data, for example the consolidated calendar or battery life data, or to input additional user specific event dates.
Battery charging may be initiated manually, however, automated charge initiation is provided based on events stored and accessed by an adaptive calendar algorithm resident in memory 121. The microprocessor 120 maintains a real time clock calendar function which is referenced to a quartz crystal oscillator X1. However, it is known that a real time clock may be synchronized by reception of a suitable broadcast time reference, for example, as transmitted by the Public Broadcasting System.
Memory 121, comprises a factory programmed PROM 124 which contains a plurality of calendars. The user may make selections from the plurality of calendars and an advantageous algorithm constructs a custom calendar from the choices. For example, the user may select a calendar appropriate to the country of residence. This calendar may, for example, be combined with the calendar of a foreign country. This combination of calendars may be further combined with a specific holiday or religious schedule or the like, to produce a custom calendar. Events listed to occur in the custom calendar may be tagged, or annotated to produce specific or unique actions. For example, if an overseas calendar has been included in the custom calendar, automated initiation of, for example, battery charging may not be required and may be inhibited on overseas event dates. However, manual operation may be selected at any time and will over ride any calendar generated occurrences during that day.
The inventive control method, illustrated as a flow chart in FIG. 5, is resident in the program storage PROG 123 of memory 121. The control method is executed in conjunction with the real time clock calendar, and generates charge initiation dates appropriate to the user's custom calendar, for example, New Year's eve, 4th July, 5th November, Christmas, etc. Thus, the battery is charged and the camcorder is ready for immediate use based on custom calendar derived events.
In addition to the factory programmed calendars, memory space USER DATA 126 is provided for storage of user entered calendar events such as birthdays, anniversaries and special events. The advantageous method merges the user events with the custom calendar to form a consolidated or composite calendar. In addition to the execution of events derived from the composite calendar, the inventive method adaptively modifies the occurrence of automatic charge initiation based on actual battery usage data monitored by the microprocessor. The advantageous method is described with reference to flow chart of FIG. 5.
The operational status of the charger, batteries and camcorder is indicated by display 115. Display 115 is driven by the microprocessor and may also display the internal real time clock calendar or a listing of upcoming event dates. Upon the occurrence of an event, originated by either the consolidated calendar or charger status, a message is generated for display by display 115. Indicator 107 functions as a message waiting indicator and may be accompanied by a defeatable alerting audible beep. Indicator 107 may indicate an event occurrence message in a first color and a warning message in a second color, for example, red.
An event occurrence which resulted in the generation of an information message on display 115, may also cause a message, which is stored in PROM 124, to be read and coupled for video formatting by an on screen display (OSD) generator 125. The PROM may contain multiple information messages, and warnings. The OSD generates a signal at connector 103 capable of display on a video monitor, and also provides an input to RF modulator 130. The RF modulator 130 generates a signal capable of TV reception and has output is coupled to an antenna amplifier and mixer 135. Thus the charger status, etc., may be viewed on a television receiver 400.
FIG. 3A illustrates an inventive battery charger and camcorder coupling system. A camcorder 200 is shown mated with appropriate connectors of a coupling or docking unit 100. The connectors provide DC to power the camcorder, audio and video output connections 103, 104 and 105 respectively for coupling to audio and video monitoring devices. The docking unit is AC powered and comprises the various sub-systems described with reference to FIG. 2. The docking unit 100 also provides for charging and conditioning a plurality of batteries, for example, two batteries by means of an inventive method. The unit also provides connection capability to a display device at baseband, via video and audio inputs, or at RF, via a modulated RF output. The RF modulator 130 is coupled to an antenna amplifier 135 which provides an antenna loop-through thus permitting a permanent T.V. antenna connection which facilitates camcorder viewing without changing antenna cabling at TV receiver 400. The inventive system shown in FIG. 3A may be controlled by manually operated front panel switches 111, 112 and 114 or via a remote control unit 300, for example a hand held IR controller. The status of the docking unit is displayed on a display panel 115 with control functions selected from a menu based display with prompting. The status is also provided as a baseband video signal for monitor display and as a modulated RF signal for display on a TV receiver. The hand held IR controller 300 may control the docking unit and camcorder via a direct docking connection, or control may be provided to each component via an IR transmitter 117 which forms part of the docking unit.
FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary control panel for the adaptive battery charger and camcorder coupling system 100. The unit may be controlled by manually operated switches which permit control of mode selection by scrolling through various menus displayed by display 115. For example, switches 111 and 112, may be rocker switches having a spring biased center off condition. Pressing in the appropriate arrow direction causes a display cursor to move, or the display to scroll in the selected direction. The desired function may be selected by activate button 114. Similarly the displayed menu of control options may be accessed, scrolled through and selected by IR remote control unit 300 coupled via IR receiver 106. The information shown on display 115 is also available for viewing on the video monitor or TV receiver 400. Connector 109 provides audio and video connection of camcorder signals for coupling to the monitor video output 103 and audio outputs 104 and 105. The signals are also coupled to RF modulator 130 for TV receiver viewing. The display messages may be inhibited, however, battery and charger warnings are not defeatable.
The consolidated calendar, comprising the user's custom calendar merged with user specific dates, is monitored by the algorithm. The algorithm generates a charge initiate command based on the occurrence of a consolidated calendar event. However, in the event of battery failure detected during charging, it is beneficial to provide the user with time to take remedial action. Hence charging is advantageously initiated several days prior to the event date by means of a look ahead feature in the control method or algorithm.
Various methods are known for determining battery charge or battery capacity together with various charging current control methods. Furthermore data may be read from the battery to determine the cell chemistry and method of charging required by the battery type. However, data resulting from such battery evaluation methods may be accessed by the algorithm for processing by the microprocessor to adaptively determine the charging requirements based on the actual battery condition. For example, the battery may be fully charged and require only trickle or top up charging, whereas a fully discharged condition may require fast charging, and a partially discharged battery may benefit from a refresh or rejuvenate and recharge cycle. During periods with no calendar events, and no significant battery usage, the battery may be topped up every fourth week, for example, or may be subject to refresh or rejuvenation cycles.
Battery identification is required to enable the charger to determine the battery chemistry employed i.e. NICAD, Nickel hydride, Lead acid, etc. and may provide identification of a battery within a battery type. Various methods of identification are known, for example, batteries are available equipped with a microprocessor, memory and data communication capability. These are referred to as smart batteries. However, in a consumer product environment, a preferred technique should represent a minimum cost solution, with additional parts, and thus costs, included in the charging device rather than the battery. Since there are so many more batteries than battery chargers smart battery chargers are more cost effective than smart batteries. A non-contact sensing method is also preferred in consideration of reliability with user multiple operations. In addition non-contact sensing may be less exacting of mechanical alignment between the battery and charger. Various exemplary non-contact battery identification methods are illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, which depict the sensing of passive indicia. FIG. 4A illustrates the utilization of push out holes H, S, S, S, located in the periphery 501 of battery 500. The periphery 501 of battery 500 may be positioned within an opto coupler 520 illumination path, as depicted in FIG. 4B. Hence the opto illumination may be coupled to the opto receiver via hole H, 510, or blocked by solid S. The use of four push out holes, may for example, permit 15 different battery identifying codes to be detected, where an 16th combination i.e. no holes is reserved for new, originally supplied batteries. A further non-contact sensing method for battery identification is depicted in FIG. 4C which employs a bar coded pattern 540 adhered to the battery housing. The bar coded pattern may, for example, vary in transparency or reflectance thus permitting reading by the methods shown in FIG. 4B or 4D. A bar code indicia may provide ten or more characters which may identify both battery type and identifying number or letter combination. FIG. 4D illustrates a further non-contact sensing method where a series of reflective patches 540, for example, reflective tape adhered to the battery case or periphery 501. Reflective patches 535 reflect illumination, generated by opto transmitter 530, back into photo sensor 531. A further exemplary technique is shown in FIG. 4E which employs mechanical sensing contacts 550 which touch battery mounted conductive pads 560. FIG. 4G illustrates an exemplary positioning of passive reflective or conductive indicia. In a camcorder application the battery supplied with device may be unmarked, and when sensed may cause the generation of a specific unique identification. Batteries supplied as spare parts or replacements, may be produced with a standardized mounting and mechanical foot print. Thus, by the use of coding as described, a smart charger may determine the correct charging parameters for a specific type of battery and the user may number or identify multiple batteries.
FIG. 5 illustrates in flow chart form, parts of the inventive method which allows the user to construct personalized calendars. The user may enter specific event dates which are advantageously combined with the custom calendar to generate a consolidated or composite calendar. The consolidated calendar is compared with a real time clock (RTC) and upon coincidence, an "on time" or event occurrence signal is generated. The occurrence of consolidated calendar events may be advantageously anticipated by the inventive method. The anticipation or look ahead period is predetermined and may be provided by calculation which generates a modified or early real time clock, or by a similar calculation which generates an early version of the consolidated calendar. FIG. 5 illustrates event anticipation by generation of a modified, or early real time clock. Upon coincidence with the early real time clock (ERTC), the anticipated event is tested to determine if the battery, coupled for charging, is already charged. If the battery is not charged, charging is initiated in anticipation of the yet to occur event.
In the FIG. 5 flow chart the user starts at step 800 and may make various selections and enter specific event dates. At step 805 selections may be made from a first calendar of named events preprogrammed and stored in non-volatile memory. Similarly at step 810 the user may select events from a second preprogrammed events calendar. Further preprogrammed events calendars, not illustrated for simplicity, may be provided for user selection. These user selected calendars and parts thereof are combined in date order at step 815 and generate at step 820 the user's custom calendar.
At step 825 the user may input specific calendar dated named events which are merged, or combined, with the custom calendar at step 830. The result of step 830 is the generation at step 835 of a consolidated calendar. Thus the consolidated calendar represents the amalgamation of the various user selections from the pre-programmed calendars with the users own specific events.
The consolidated calendar of step 835 is tested at step 845 for equality to, or coincidence with, a real time clock (RTC) from step 840. If test 845 is NO the consolidated calendar event has not occurred and the test condition is looped back to test coincidence at the next increment of the RTC 840. The real time clock may be selected to increment the output time at various intervals, for example, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, one hour or daily. In the interest of flow chart simplicity only one test 845 is illustrated, however, a plurality of tests may be utilized coupled to variously incremented RTC outputs. When there is coincidence between the consolidated calendar and RTC, YES is generated at 845, thus indicating an "on time" event occurrence.
Event anticipation or "look ahead" is advantageously provided by step 850 which generates an early real time clock ERTC. The period of the anticipation is preset, for example, for automated battery charging a period of 7 days may be suitable. The consolidated calendar is tested at step 855 for coincidence with the ERTC from step 850. If test 855 is NO, the anticipated event has not occurred and the test condition is looped back to test coincidence at the next increment of ERTC 850. If test 855 is YES, the anticipated event has occurred causing the battery to be tested for a charged condition at step 865. If the battery is charged, step 865 tests YES and the test condition is looped back to wait for the next anticipated consolidated calendar event at step 855. Thus a YES at step 865 adapts or inhibits calendar generated initiation to avoid unnecessary battery charging.
If step 865 tests NO the battery is not charged and a control signal is generated at step 870. The control signal may be utilized to initiate battery charging. Following generation of the control signal a test is performed at step 875 which tests for a charged battery condition and for the occurrence of a charger or battery malfunction. If step 875 tests NO, the test is looped back to the input of step 875. However if step 875 tests YES, data is stored, for example, data relating to battery type and identification, charge status of battery and status of the charger. In addition to data relating to battery and charger status a cumulative total of charges and rejuvenations is also stored and updated. Thus a history is established for each battery charged. The battery charging history may be viewed on the charger display, TV screen or may be accessed via the data port by an external personal computer. Hence, the user or service technician may obtain battery life records.
A further adaptation to the calendar generated charging is provided by a timer function invoked at step 860. When test 855 is YES, a timer at step 860 is started which has a period, for example, of 4 weeks duration. Upon expiration of the exemplary 4 week period, the timer generates an input to test step 865. Thus, during periods without anticipated event activity the timer provides charge initiation, via steps 865 and 870, correcting self discharge effects in the battery. An anticipated event occurrence, YES at step 855, causes the timer to be reset restarting the timing period.
The inventive method provides the user with the ability to generate a custom calendar which may be advantageously combined with user relevant dates. The control method advantageously anticipates calendar events and initiates battery charging. However, unplanned, spontaneous, device usage, resulting in battery discharge may be accommodated by the algorithm which may modify, or ignore calendar generated initiation based on actual battery condition.
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text: OK - updated the source tree via CVS on the P133/32 MB. Built the kernel successfully now, and it booted -- no worries there. Now I'm doing the "make build" in /usr/src/. It's taking forever, which of course is what I expected.... ;P My question is: suppose tomorrow a patch is released for some binary, take mount for example. OK, so after I do the CVS update of the source... do I really need to do this huge "make build" again? If so, will it take just as long (24+ hours), or will make not rebuild the rest of the system unnecessarily? One other question while I'm at it: when the make build is complete, have all the updates already been applied by that point or is there something else that needs to be done to finalize the upgrade (similar to a "make install")? Thanks.


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Shadow Puppets (2007)
Starring: Tony Todd James Marsters Jolene Blalock
Learn more about Shadow Puppets:
Format: DVD
Manufacturer: Video Treasures
Sku: 204542473
Category Keywords: Horror Movies Thriller
See more in Horror
You Can't Hide from Your Own Shadow.
|Jolene Blalock (Star Trek: Enterprise) James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) and Tony Todd (Candyman) star in this creepy chiller about a group of strangers who awaken in a locked asylum ward with no idea of who they are or how they got there. They are half-naked, cold and frightened. And they are not alone. Who has erased their memories? Why have they been imprisoned? And what is the supernatural force that is slaughtering them one by one? The answers wait deep in the darkness where a beast hungers to feed, escape is virtually impossible, and the shadows of sanity may hide the most shocking revelations of all.
"...if your a fan of films like Cube and the likes of Saw. It might be one you would like to add to your DVD collection. The Horror Review
Editor's NoteWhen your shadow climbs out of the dark and tries to kill you, it's time to run. But what if you are trapped inside an abandoned asylum with eight other strangers all facing the same fate? And worse, you can't remember who you are or how you got there. James Marsters (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER), Jolene Blalock (STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE), and Tony Todd (CANDYMAN) star in this horror film about memory and what lurks behind it.
Cast & Crew
|James Marsters
|Jolene Blalock
|Natasha Alam
|Tony Todd
|Bob Crowe - Producer
|Dalton Cole Young - Art Director
|Jonathan Hale - Cinematographer
|Kristen Ridgway - Production Designer
|Luke Hutton - Editor
|Michael Winnick - Director
|Michael Winnick - Writer
|Ross Goldfarb - Executive Producer
|Ross Nykiforuk - Original Music By
|Starla Christian - Editor


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Women in Entertainment 2010 - Power 100 List
When Comcast COO Steve Burke ended months of speculation Nov. 19 and announced the new NBC Universal executive team in a corporate memo, guess whose name he mentioned first? It's no surprise that Bonnie Hammer received a big promotion in the year's most closely watched Hollywood shake-up. Her cash-cow divisions — which now include USA Network, Syfy, E! Entertainment, G4, Chiller and Sleuth — are predicted to generate $20 billion in revenue this year and throw off $2 billion in profit. The value of USA alone is estimated at $11.7 billion.
In short, as NBC bleeds money and Universal struggles at the box office, Hammer's thriving assets are at the heart of the Comcast-NBC Uni deal.
But when asked recently over green tea at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills whether she has followed the endless media coverage of the deal, Hammer deflected the hype surrounding her ascension. "I try not to read it … or buy into it," she says. "The minute you're visible, there are going to be bullets, for big reasons or no reason at all."
Dressed in a form-fitting black dress and funky costume necklace, Hammer is warm and engaging but never loses her focus. It's a hallmark of her management style.
"I stay under the radar and say, 'Everybody, we have a job to do,' " she says. "When you have a 17-year-old at home, you learn to work despite the noise."
Hammer wisely shut out the noise five years ago, when she first suggested USA's "Characters Welcome" slogan — and was met with a resounding "Huh?"
"Development thought it was an OK tagline, but it didn't resonate in terms of where it could go," she recalls.
Hammer says her approach to original programming is similarly calculated. Each of her series is grounded in a singular character with a lovable dysfunction (think Monk's case of OCD) or has an upbeat — or what she calls a "blue sky" — tone, meaning it's funny without being an outright sitcom.
The Hammer formula has produced cable's most enviable slate: USA's Psych, Burn Notice, In Plain Sight, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains and White Collar are six of the top 10 scripted shows on cable. The rebranding also has revolutionized the network's scripted development process and turned the generic basic cabler — whose own research before the revamp found that regular viewers were embarrassed to reveal they watched the network — into the No. 1 cable network in all demos for five years running and NBC Uni's most valuable division.
Despite the active year, the Queens native says she has prioritized her life outside the office and marvels at the relative peace she's able to enjoy on the East Coast.
"By not having to socialize [in Los Angeles], there's some distance," says Hammer, who commutes daily to Manhattan from her home in tony Westport, Conn., where she goes by her husband Dale's last name, Heussner. "What I love about my life at home is, until pretty recently, nobody knew what I did," she says. "They knew I was a working mom who took the train every day into the city."
Hammer earned a master's in media and technology at Boston University and launched her TV career in 1976 as a production assistant on Infinity Factory, a PBS kids show about the metric system. That led to a gig as an associate producer on Zoom for WGBH Boston.
Up the ladder she went, first on This Old House, then executive producing a local morning show. She spent two years in Los Angeles producing Alive and Well, a daytime syndicated/cable hybrid lifestyle series, before returning to New York for a programming job at Lifetime. In 1989, she jumped to USA as a programming executive. She has run Syfy (then the Sci Fi Channel) and USA since 2001 and 2004, respectively.
"The minute you're visible, there are going to be bullets, for big reasons or no reason at all."
Hammer is channeling her programming prowess into an even more ambitious slate on USA. She recently greenlighted Eden, a dramedy about two brothers who are hotel concierges; Wild Card, more of a drama, set in a Las Vegas casino; and Over/Under, a Wall Street procedural she is particularly excited about.
"It's a step edgier than anything we've done," she says. It's that attitude that has vaulted Hammer to her new position. "We can't be complacent," she says of the competition. "They're right on our tail."
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- Gwen Stefani And Gavin Rossdale Split After Nearly 13 Years Of Marriage
- Get Ready for Lord Dominator, Wander Over Yonder's New Extreme Bad Guy Who Happens to Be a Gal


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In their New York Post column, Dick Morris and Eileen McGann write of the search for a true social conservative in the 2008 GOP field -- something missing from the top-tier McCain, Giuliani, Romney, Gingrich candidacies, they write. In Sunday's Washington Post, Chris Cillizza and Shailagh Murray reported that John Weaver and Beth Myers, the lead political strategists for 2008 Republican aspirants John McCain and Mitt Romney, "met more than two decades ago in Texas while working on the gubernatorial campaign of Bill Clements. Both Weaver and Myers were deputy campaign managers in Clements's victory over Democratic Gov. Mark Wells White. Their boss? Karl Rove." LINK
2008: Republicans: McCain:
In an interview on "Political Capital with Al Hunt," Sen. McCain said he would judge any surge proposal based on the assessments of people such as retired Army General Jack Keane, who has called for at least 30,000 additional troops. "'If it's not sufficient in the view of experts such as Keane, 'then I cannot support it,' he said. Bloomberg's Ken Fireman has the story: LINK
The Los Angeles Times' Peter Wallsten writes about the 2008-Iraq nexis, with the focus on Sen. McCain. LINK
The AP's Liz Sidoti revisits Sen. McCain telling AEI, "I have presidential ambitions, but they pale in comparison to what I think is most important to our nation's security. If it destroys any ambitions I may have, I'm willing to pay that price gladly." LINK
2008: Republicans: Romney:
The Boston Globe's Scott Helman has former Gov. Romney addressing the shift in his political views by telling a gathering of influential Christian conservatives and GOP donors in Sea Island, GA: "Now, I wasn't always a Ronald Reagan conservative. Neither was Ronald Reagan, by the way." LINK
The Hartford Courant examines the Mormon factor. LINK
2008: Republicans: Brownback:
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) will declare his presidential candidacy on Saturday, Jan. 20 in Topeka, KS. Brownback, who is hoping to surprise his better-funded GOP rivals in the Iowa caucuses on the strength of his support among pro-life conservatives, has timed his announcement with the annual March for Life, which takes place in Washington, DC on Monday, Jan. 22. LINK
2008: Republicans: Hagel:
Newsweek's Jonathan Alter makes the case for Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) as a Republican critical of the Bush Administration's handling of Iraq. LINK
2008: Democrats:
In this week's New Yorker, Jeffrey Goldberg dissects the foreign-policy views of Clinton, Obama, and Edwards and concludes thusly: "Obama and Clinton appear thus far to the the Party's strongest potential candidates, and each brings strengths to the debate. Obama's foresight on Iraq may be one of his most potent weapons, just as Clinton's expertise, and essential centrism, will be an asset to her candidacy. For now, though, Edwards has something that the others lack: a position on Iraq that resonates best with the party." LINK
Ben Smith of the New York Daily News offers up classic Schumer in his final column for the tabloid before heading over to "Politico." LINK
"'If you're going to quote me on this, make sure you use the whole quote,' he began. 'I won't say a bad thing about Obama. I think he's intelligent and understands people.'"


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Shannon Cochran, Jeff Still and Estelle Parsons in the national tour of "August: Osage County."
A confession: I've never seen a production of August: Osage County. Until yesterday evening, that is, when I caught the explosive opening night performance of the national tour's Chicago engagement, currently playing at the Cadillac Palace through Feb. 14.
I don't know where I was or what I was doing when Tracy Letts' ground-breaking play premiered at Steppenwolf in late Summer 2007. Out of it, like Weston family matriarch Violet on one of her early morning drugged-out binges, apparently. And I never got my act together to see its triumphant run on Broadway. So, when people were ranking it among their top 10 lists for the decade and citing lines from it ad nauseum on twitter, it was like some elite theatrical club I wasn't privy to. Sad, sad, sad.
But there I was last night, third row center(ish), ready to see what all the hub-bub was about, and eager to end this shameful omission from my theatre-going list.
As much as I struggled to remain objective, expectations were mile-high. And after a slow opening, particularly the very first scene, I grew worried. However, the show gradually found its footing, mostly in the second act, and took off.
It's a dense 3.5 hour drama, exploring the complex and extremely dysfunctional dynamics of the Weston family — a rural Oklahoma-based clan of bitter, broken people. Beverly, the family's patriarch, has mysteriously disappeared, forcing everyone, including the three Weston sisters, to gather at the Weston homestead to support the pill-popping Violet as they await his hopeful return (and silently dread the unthinkable). Deeply rooted family secrets and long-held rage bubble to the surface, coming to an explosive boil — thanks, mostly, to Violet's caustic and relentless verbal abuse.
This cast really delivers. I could go on about them all, but let's focus on the two leads: Violet and Barbara. I've read countless interviews and features about Estelle Parsons' work ethic and age (she's 82). The fact that she's an octogenarian has little to do with her performance: Violet Weston is ageless, as is Parsons. She's such a masterful actor, grand theatrics aren't necessary to make an impact. But when she turns it on in act two, watch out. Her voice booms, her finger points, and the family withers around her feet. This is a master acting lesson in restraint and power.
As Barbara, the eldest Weston daughter, Shannon Cochran is perfectly built for standing up to Parson's Violet. A tall, handsome woman with the coarse voice of a truck driver, Cochran rips into her role with courage and heartbreaking vulnerability. At times her delivery veers into sitcom territory, but she quickly pulls it back. And the fact that Cochran resembles Laurie Metcalf makes the confrontations between her and Parsons seem like one majorly intense episode of "Rosanne."
The only weak link, for me, is the young actress playing Barbara's daughter, Jean. Perhaps she was directed to play the role as if she was perpetually high (she liked her weed), but her approach comes off as bizarre and affected — which is at odds with the overall tone.
But this production isn't 100 percent perfect. The Cadillac Palace is far from the ideal venue for this intimate show. Even sitting in the third row, with that moat of an orchestra pit separating me from stage, I felt removed from the action. As a result, the actors had a hell of a time keeping things natural while projecting, and I'm sure director Anna D. Shapiro had her work cut out helping this cast strike that balance — as this tour has been booked into some pretty large theatres. The mic pacs helped a bit, but this piece is much better suited to a cozier space. Also: the fight that ended act two didn't have the impact I would have liked. I've seen my share of authentically staged combat scenes in Chicago shows (this city seems to excel in this arena — we like our violence), so I expected more. And maybe it's blasphemous to say: but the final scenes leading up to the powerful ending moment seem under developed.
Yet, with those minor quibbles, it's not hard to see why Letts won the Pulitzer. The play is like an onion — you can keep peeling away at it to get to the core, which makes for great post-show cab ride conversation. Aside from the obvious concepts of dysfunction, generational change and family dynamics, the themes that seem to drive most of the action — at least to my theatre companion and me — are escape and avoidance. Pills and alcohol provide an easy means for escape, and we often conceal secrets and maintain lies to avoid the ugly truth. Rather than just ripping it off like a Band-Aid and coming clean, as humans we tend to stamp down our dark emotions so they fester and rot — and eventually consume us. So, yeah, a warm and fuzzy discussion to end a Tuesday night.
This is one of those theatrical experiences you CAN NOT MISS. If you haven't seen this show, go! But be warned: it's 3.5 hours long, but it flies by. I was surprised by the number of whiny babies leaving the Palace: "I have to be up so early tomorrow!", "I didn't know it was THAT long!", "Why didn't you tell me it was a nine hour long play?", etc., etc.
As I imagine Violet Weston would respond to these folks: "Oh, shut the f*ck up already!"
"August: Osage County" plays through Feb. 14 at the Cadillac Palace. For more information, visit broadwayinchicago.com.
11 Comments
Too bad you didn't have a chance to see it at Steppenwolf as Tracy Letts initially intended. Not only was that infinitely more intimate that the Cadillac Palace, but his father Dennis Letts masterfully sucked me into the story completely through his first act monologue.
And while I'll bet Amy Morton's Barbara could go toe-to-toe with Estelle Parson's Violet and then some, I'm thrilled to know that Shannon Cochran offers a strong Barbara.
Great review. Can't wait to see the show yet again!
Hopefully, you'll have an opportunity to see Amy Morton in another Chicago production in the near future. She's a breathtaking actress.
But now I'm looking forward to seeing Shannon Cochran. Thank you for that!
Want to come to Des Moines and review it? Free tickets and you can blog for the Civic Center!
It says it's in January but the show's here next month?
[…] 4) August: Osage County | Broadway in Chicago: Why is this on my list when this Pulitzer Prize-winning play's been around for a few years? Well, I finally caught the show in its remarkable national tour, starring the formidable Estelle Parsons and an explosive Shannon Cochran. And, like Billy Elliot, the show more than lived up to the hype. […]
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May 18 2009
Simic/Wang Sign At D1 UniversitiesPosted by Roy under Athletics
Two Seward County Lady Saints Volleyball players signed their NCAA Letters of Intent last week to compete at Division 1 Universities next season. Jelena Simic, arguably one of the best players in school history signed to play at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida this fall. Simic is the All-Time kills leader at Seward County and is the first player to ever record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. She was the Region 6 Most Valuable Player this season and will look to follow in fellow Serbian and friend Ana Kokanovic's footsteps as the Atlantic Sun player of the year for the Eagles. Ami Wang will play for Hampton University next season after signing her national letter of intent to play for the Pirates Wednesday. Wang will join a Pirates team who fell in the quarterfinals of the MEAC tournament last season. Wang led the Lady Saints in hitting percentage in 2008 making just 6 errors in 80 attacks. With Simic and Wang moving on, the rest of the Lady Saints are closing in on just 3 months until the start of the 2009 volleyball season.


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By Todd Nelson
Healthcare organizations are awash in data and reports. But a spreadsheet is not necessarily synonymous with business intelligence. HFMA's Value Project defines business intelligence as the ability to collect, analyze, and connect accurate quality and financial data to support organizational decision making. The goal is to move beyond just generating reports and numbers-and turn data into actionable information that helps us move the dial on quality and cost.
To get to true business intelligence, providers should adopt three strategies.
An enterprisewide data strategy. Providers need to ensure the accurate and consistent calculation and reporting of data across the organization. For instance, Boston's Partners HealthCare has ensured uniformity in reporting. The organization's office of clinical affairs uses a three-color system-green, yellow, and red-for its quality dashboard to indicate whether the health system's facilities are above, at, or below performance goals. Information is arranged to allow easy comparison between Partners' facilities and against peer organizations.
A clear line of sight. The alignment of systemwide goals with department-level and individual performance metrics helps keep an entire organization on track. Bellin Health System balances its systemwide scorecard across five categories: effectiveness, efficiency, engaging others, growth, and teamwork. A cross-functional, interdisciplinary leadership team works with brand and unit leaders to translate systemwide scorecard measures into metrics that cascade down to the individual goals of front-line staff.
Information availability. Information should be available to inform front-line decision making, as close to real time as possible. At HFMA's recent Leadership Conference on Value, we heard several examples of how organizations are encouraging collaboration among clinical, financial, and operational leaders to improve value. Critical to these collaborations is easy access to needed business intelligence. For instance, financial and clinical leaders at Chicago's Rush University Health System are collaborating to coordinate the care of patients with specific clinical conditions or needs (e.g., patients needing bone marrow transplants). Using business intelligence, Rush staff were able to identify variation in practices, and then improved outcomes and reduced costs through standardization.
An organization's ability to deliver timely data will be driven largely by the degree to which data collection and analysis can be automated. For example, Rush was able to hardwire standardized practices into its electronic health record so staff could reference the guidelines at the point of care. In addition, Rush is able to analyze the impact of the initiative from a clinical and financial perspective by tracking cost and quality metrics.
Although following these strategies will get you a long way toward your destination, we must not lose focus. To create truly intelligent hospitals and health systems, we must do more than invest in technology. We also need to ensure that our staff are prepared to deliver on the service that our patients and their families expect. So let's put the intelligence back in business intelligence. We must remember that templates and numbers and safety alerts are important, but at the end of the day, we are people serving people.
Todd Nelson is technical director for senior financial executives/accounting, HFMA, and a former hospital CFO (email@example.com).
American Express: Streamlining Supplier Payments and Boosting Revenue
Deloitte: Realizing the Potential of Your CDI Program
Suzanne Whitworth, director at Deloitte & Touche LLP, and LaVerne Romberger, MSN, CCM, CCDS, clinical operations manager-Seton Healthcare, share leading practices for maximizing the potential of clinical documentation programs under value-based care.
RevSpring: Customizing a Technology Platform to Drive Patient Payment
Martin Callahan, Senior Vice President, Healthcare Solutions, RevSpring, describes key industry trends affecting how patients engage with the revenue cycle and ways payment processes are changing as a result.
KPMG: Readying for Healthcare Today and Tomorrow
Dion Sheidy, a partner in KPMG's Healthcare Advisory practice, discusses healthcare's changing landscape and how having the right advisor can help organizations navigate challenges and opportunities.
Huron Healthcare: Readying Your Organization for Transformation
Gordon Mountford, executive vice president, Huron Healthcare, discusses business imperatives for undertaking transformative change.
Xtend Healthcare: A Custom Approach to Optimizing Revenue Cycle Performance
Tom O'Neill, CEO of Xtend Healthcare Advanced Revenue Solutions, discusses key areas where organizations risk revenue leakage and ways they can use outsourcing to better protect cash flow and support accurate payment.
KeyBank: Helping You to Realize Your Strategic Vision in Changing Times
Victoria Terekhova, senior strategist for Enterprise Healthcare at KeyBank, discusses key challenges when developing long-term strategy in a rapidly changing industry, and the role the right banking partner can play in helping healthcare providers navigate the opportunities before them.
SSI: Preparing the Revenue Cycle for Changing Payer Roles
Availity: Connect to the Future of Healthcare Information
Deloitte: Leveraging IT for Value-Based Care Transformation


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Hey UAW. Take a 25% paycut or end up taking a 100% paycut. Wake up already!
They deserve a raise. Look at what a great job they are doing running the city.
Good luck on getting that rate on a refinance. I have a 781 credit score and got denied.
is their new business model going to be. Gas is cheap again make more SUVs!!!! Would not be suprised. It is unreal how stupid these executives are.
We gave them CC Sabathia. That is good for a few playoff losses/chokes.


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Lovely lodge accommodation in beautiful woodland surroundings well kept grounds. We ate in the clubhouse one night which was very good also enjoyed coffee on more than one occasion. We thought that the evening entertainment was poor on the one night that we did go in. It was country style singing medley. We did not enjoy at all. Location great with open countryside views and short drive to the beaches and local walks.
Area is very expensive and not good value for money. Very little to do but we have our dog so enjoyed walking on the beaches where dogs are allowed all year round. The park is also expensive and I felt the holiday was not good value. We could have hired a cottage for less money in the area. Although the accommodation was ready staff at reception stood around until the clock chimed 4 and then all the guests had to queue out of the door in the rain to get the keys. They were not particularly friendly. The park boasts good walking from the camp but most of it is on very busy roads with no path and it's dangerous. Won't return but we did enjoy doing very little.
Excellent location and our lodge was beautiful. Close by to excellent pub grub. Quieter than the larger holiday parks but that suited us.
the chalet was good not enough coat hangers per person, take your own, the parking was really bad not enough car spaces, the last time we were at the park there was an adult only bar, this time we could not use the bar as there was never enough tables and we were there in june
Very nice place , our chalet was excellent ,clean and had loads of space for a small family.
My children loved the play ground ,soft play and the pool.
One small problem with the bath was fixed within the hour when i mentioned this to reception which was great. My only complaint is i would of liked a gym on site ,and the restaurant was a little pricey for what was on offer .
Overall a great place and we had a lovely holiday of which we would go back.
The food in the restaurant wasn't very good, ours was burnt and there is no air con so it was very stuffy. Holiday park facilities seemed dated.
I have stayed before in the log cabins and it was fantastic this time I was in the concrete chalets and they are in need of a referb the manor and staff were again great no complaints about them at all
We had a great time. I didn't want to leave and will definitely return.
6-12 June 2015
The camp site was great, staff lovely and very helpful. Have already decided to go back in next couple of years and take our granddaughter.
Excellent camp----kept very clean .
All staff (right down to the litter pickers) seem very friendly & polite
Always a friendly word--makes a lot of difference to the overall feeling.
Area of camp very good for touring around the district-- Lovely part of Cornwall.
Fabulous location with beautiful surroundings with lots to do. Will definitely be returning!
Lovely site, very clean. Staff, especially the lovely Scottish lady on reception, were really helpful and friendly. We stayed in the glades lodges, which I highly recommend. They were large and had all the necessities you would expect with a great verandah. Outside furniture could have done with being cleaned, we had to do this ourselves before we could use it. Fab pool, good food, my children enjoyed the evening entertainment. Only issue I had was that we paid a premium for our 4 night break because of half term, and we were asked to put all the bins out, strip all the bedding on the last day. At that price I wasn't chuffed about doing the housekeeping before I left. Couldn't see that the cleaners actually had much left to do. Otherwise great park and we would return.
The site is really nice as is the area.
Had a great time, was central to all the places we wanted to visit. The caravan was clean and well equipped and the staff were all friendly and helpful.
it was a good choice of venue within easy reach of lots of interesting places.


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Fury at terror suspect's bail
A former Sydney baggage handler facing terrorism charges has been granted bail even though police allege that he helped another suspect flee. more
Pain and pride of Janelle Patton's parents
The loving child and courageous woman who fought to the end for her life had been lost in the search for what motivated someone to kill Janelle Patton, her mother said yesterday. more
I saw Murdoch make handcuffs: mate
A former mate and business partner testified yesterday that he walked in on the accused killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio as he was making handcuffs out of cable ties. more
Bush denies new Iraqi leaders are his puppets
George Bush has dismissed claims that Iraq's new government is a puppet of the US filled with exiles, and has promised it full sovereignty. more
Rice pledges investigation into Hicks, Habib
US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice has pledged to thoroughly investigate any mistreatment of Australian detainees at Guantanamo Bay. more
It was a family visit about a renovation, says Obeid
The welcome-home party for NSW Labor MP Eddie Obeid turned sour when he stepped off a plane and into the furore over his taxpayer-funded time away from parliamentary duties. more
Rabbitohs' revolution rocks league
Just a day after sacking Paul Langmack as coach, South Sydney have lured Penrith's chief executive, Shane Richardson, to the club. more
Raising Helen
This model take on motherhood is more misery than fun, writes Paul Byrnes. more
Tempo profit revised to just $42,000
Investors are growing more nervous over the future of the cleaning and security company Tempo Services and its embattled founder, John Schaeffer. more
Banks' crisis plans weak: survey
More than 30 per cent of Australia's banks are unprepared for a significant disruption to their IT systems, such as a serious virus or act of terror. more
A borrowed 10-year-old dress and a laid-back Australian attitude have swept model Jennifer Hawkins to victory in the 2004 Miss Universe competition. more
Miranda Devine
We need a new dam, not threats from the Premier's water usage 'Punisher'. more
The world has become an extremely dangerous place and a will for peace has become crucial for Islam and the West, writes Pervez Musharraf. more
Hamish McDonald meets people who were on the front line at Tiananmen Square 15 years ago and asks them how China has changed. more
The torch relay at Telstra Stadium tomorrow night has sparked a ban on unruly Bulldogs and Roosters fans. more
Flights of fancy
Message Sticks is an annual indigenous arts festival held at Sydney's Opera House. Aysha Leo takes a look at By the River and talks to curator Johnathan Jones.
Culture on a personal scale
A day at the Manyallaluk Aboriginal community is more like a big family picnic day than a paid tour, writes Lindsay Murdoch. more
Visual Arts, Business, Chemistry
Check out our subject-by-subject study guide to the 2004 HSC. more
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Students attending Wisconsin's technical colleges have a new option for continuing their education.
The Wisconsin Technical College System has entered into a transfer agreement with Ottawa University that allows technical college students to transfer up to 80 credits towards a bachelor's degree program.
Ottawa University will also accept students who have already earned an associate's degree from a Wisconsin technical college.
Ottawa University, based in Ottawa, Kan., has campuses in Brookfield and Oak Creek. The two Wisconsin campuses offer bachelor's degrees in 15 majors and master's degrees in Business Administration or Human Resources.


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Sorry but looks like crap compared to my pc! Putting your hands on the screen just seem to block what you see. And so you think mobile gaming will take over, no way. Screens are way way to small. And they don't have the power of a good PC!
Square Enix announces Deus Ex: The Fall, coming soon to iPhone and iPad
Square Enix has announced Deus Ex: The Fall for iPhone and iPad. Set in the same time period as their console and PC game Deus Ex: Human Revolution, The Fall combines a first-person shooter with third-person, cover-based mechanics. Players take on the role of Ben Saxon, a man who was betrayed by his employers, trying to find out what happened to him. Ben can make use of a host of augmentations that allow him to do things like see through obstructions, become invisible, and punch through walls to attack enemies.
The announcement video shows off some of the gameplay, including the touch controls. These controls include multiple movement options, either using virtual thumbsticks or tapping on your destination, which the developers say is easier for some gameplay on the iPad. Square Enix hasn't announced an exact release date for the game yet, but promises that it will be released "soon".
Source: Deus Ex YouTube channel
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Reader comments
Square Enix announces Deus Ex: The Fall, coming soon to iPhone and iPad
It doesn't look as good as a PC, because it isn't a PC. Or a Mac for that matter.
The issue here is that while it ceritanly raises the bar for iOS games, it greatly lowers it for the Deus Ex franchise, known for its complexity. Statements like "We wanted to make it as easy to play as possible" have greatly angered fans. Its no joke that the YouTube announcement video has 95% dislikes...


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Faculty and staff on both the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses can call each other through 5-digit dialing. In addition, Okanagan campus faculty and staff can also call Greater Vancouver using their on-campus phones without incurring long distance charges.
Last reviewed2/25/2014 10:02:32 AM
UBC Directory
Faculty, staff and department contact information
Online Phone Bill Access
Monthly telephone bills for each department
All local calls require our area code (250) as well as the 7-digit telephone number. For local and long distance dialing, the outside access number is 8.


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'Manufacturing Makes It Real' Tour Sponsor Featured for Their 'Cool Tools'
ShopBot, the Durham, NC, manufacturer of CNC routers, was recently featured on Kevin Kelly's "Cool Tools" site and on the very popular blog, Boing Boing.
ShopBot was a Silver Sponsor of our 2010 "Manufacturing Makes It Real" Tour. And like every other manufacturer in North Carolina, they're invited to participate in the ongoing "Manufacturing Makes It Real" Network.
The next MMIR Network event will be May 16th at 1:30 p.m. at Glen Technical Fabrics, 1831 N. Park Avenue, Glen Raven, NC. MMIR Network events are free and open to the public, but space is limited: RSVP today!


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I Blame Eve: Freedom from Perfectionism, Control Issues and the Tendency to Listen to Talking SnakesWhen Eve ate the fruit, we lost out on the perfect life. But that doesn't stop us from trying, does it?What would happen if we stopped trying to be perfect and started trying to be his? In this encouraging book, Susanna Foth Aughtmon helps you find out what it means to be honest about what you crave in life and let go of your deep need to be in control. With a skillful blend of Scripture, insight, and humor, she shows you the freedom of embracing the unique path God has laid out for you. The study questions included will help you or your small group make the most of this fun and fascinating book. Buy I Blame Eve
Download your FREE I Blame Eve 6 Week Book Study Leader Guide
My Bangs Look Good and Other Lies I Tell Myself: The Tired Supergirl's Search for TruthDiscover the real truth about yourself–and God. In a world full of half truths and outright lies, it's easy to fall victim to the Liar himself. We believe all sorts of lies about ourselves and God. Armed with razor-sharp wit and biblical truth, Susanna Foth Aughtmon reveals the honest truth about lies like…God is disappointed in me…God can't change me…God doesn't hear me and I need to be good so God will love me and many more. If you have ever felt undervalued, overlooked, or not good enough for God's love, this book is for you. Includes questions for group or individual study. Buy My Bangs Look Good
All I Need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans: The Tired Supergirl's Search for GraceYou know the pressure. To have the perfect Christian life and the perfect family. To be the perfect friend. To look perfect in those jeans. To be a supergirl. Instead of feeling good about yourself, you're left stuck in the gap between who you are and who you long to be. Susanna Foth Aughtmon knows what it's like to be a tired supergirl, fighting the enemies of pride, worry, jealousy, busyness, loneliness, and many more. With humor and courage, she lays bare those times in her own life when she found it a challenge to live the life God wants for her. But even tired supergirls have a secret weapon: God's Truth. With God's help, all of us can win the day against every nemesis we encounter. Buy All I Need is Jesus
Download your FREE All I Need is Jesus 6 Week Book Study Leader Guide
Available from Guideposts!
Authors: Renee Andrews, Susanna Foth Aughtmon, Gwen Ford Faulkenberry, Tricia Goyer, Sharon Hinck, Rebecca Barlow Jordan, Erin Keeley Marshall, Dianne Neal Matthews, Camy Tang, Lisa Watson
Experience a closer relationship with your Savior
Each page of Mornings with Jesus 2014 begins with a Scripture quote, followed by an uplifting devotion that demonstrates how Jesus' life and teachings apply today. With humor, humility and grace, the writers share insights and reflections that you can relate to.
You'll also find Faith Steps that you can practice throughout your day, to help you carry the words of Jesus with you and make them real in your life.
When you read Jesus' words and think about His lessons and miracles, you'll feel your relationship with your Savior grow richer and deeper. You'll find more strength, courage, joy and peace to meet the challenges of each day.