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Thursday, 23 February 2012
The Descendants (2011)
13 comments:
- Dan O. said...
Clooney and everybody else included is great but it's really Payne who shines as the writer bringing out some funny humor but not without forgetting about the real rich moments of human drama. Good review, as usual. A good film but not as great as I was expecting.
- 23 February 2012 at 03:10
- Roderick Heath said...
Well, thanks for finding this a good review, although you clearly don't agree with it, Dan.
- 23 February 2012 at 15:42
- J.D. said...
"Speer, who proves to be hardly nefarious, but also clearly possesses all the moral fibre of an egg noddle."
That bit made me laugh out loud. I do like Payne's films, esp. SIDEWAYS, which I felt was a nice throwback to Bob Rafelson's films from the '70s. I will admit to being curious about this new one. I've read reviews both pro and con but yours is definitely one of the most eloquent. It certainly has piqued my curiosity even more to check this one out.
- 24 February 2012 at 03:17
- Roderick Heath said...
JD, it's interesting that you bring up Rafelson. I can never stop thinking about how snarky and phony Payne's films are compared to Rafelson's best works, and others by the best American New Wave filmmakers who are generally either forgotten or patronised by people who think Payne's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I like aspects of Election and Sideways very much, but Payne constantly violates their texture so he can pull off some silly joke or shallow piece of misanthropy. Like those films, The Descendants is hardly a bad movie, but I find Payne's gifts absurdly over-hyped.
- 24 February 2012 at 13:01
I think possibly I liked it slightly more than you, didn't dislike it, didn't like it that much, were it not for all of the critical attention I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Overall I didn't find either of the two main threads in the movie (the land, the dying wife/alienation from kids) terribly compelling. I think you nailed the part I perhaps liked least - the goofball Sid, he just seemed to be there to pop up for comic relief every now and then, I kept wondering why Clooney would even tolerate having him along for some delicate family moments.
I am starting to get the idea that Clooney has learned how to act, I liked him in The American and Fantastic Mr. Fox (yes, it's animated, but I still thought he was really good, as much as you can determine that by just voice), and again in this one.
- 24 February 2012 at 14:20
- J.D. said...
I read an interview with Payne where he said that he considers most of his films comedies which is a pretty telling comment and what ultimately separates them from a filmmaker like Rafelson. I don't think Rafelson ever considered any of his '70s output to be comedies (well, maybe HEAD) and really only used comedy to a limited degree in his films and often uncomfortably. In comparison, Payne is a much more lightweight filmmaker but I still like his stuff.
- 25 February 2012 at 02:06
- Roderick Heath said...
Patrick: well, all in all it sounds like we had the same experience, even if my report on it is more aggressive. I've actually been a fan of Clooney's for a long time, it's simply that his recent run of "serious" roles has often been so tiresome. But I agree his vocal performance in Fantastic Mr Fox is excellent. I still think he's most naturally a comedic actor. And JD, I do hear you, but the genre definition isn't so really important, I don't think: even an out and out comedy from the '70s like Slap-Shot feels infinitely more authentic to me than Payne's films.
- 25 February 2012 at 03:34
- Robert said...
"Ambling melancholia" is the perfect description. The entire movie lands hard in a rut early on and never spins out of it. I was captivated initially by the uniqueness of place, but by the end I was frustrated by this abandonment of any moral thrust: it is revealed that Speer, the very man who'd cuckolded Matt, is to receive a giant wad of cash when/if Matt signs over the land, turning Matt's dilemma away from grandiose save-the-land and/or make-the-family-rich concerns to a more personal why-would-I-willingly-give-anything-to-this-creep concerns. And then Payne promptly and unreflectedly tosses all this under the plot bus with the whip of Matt's pen, with no further comment on the Speer character. (Forgive if I missed or misinterpreted something, it's been awhile since I saw it -- but it sure bugged me in the viewing.)
- 1 March 2012 at 06:51
- Roderick Heath said...
Rob: in fairness to the film, it does try to demonstrate how the issues are only linked in Matt's head, as Speer derides the notion he was sleeping with Elizabeth to advantage himself in the deal. The scenes depicting Mike and family exploring the land and realising how valuable both the personal and cultural value of such unspoilt territory is, compared to the proposed development which was a good modern environmentally conscious, anti-big capital people are supposed to automatically deride and abhor, are supposed to explicate Mike's later decision. But the drama is all still based in the same popular but trite and cliched idea that realtor/developer = slimy douchebag just as pristine unspoilt land < development. Speer's violation of Mike's patriarchal domain is equated with the impending rape of the land by the forces the smarmy and shallow Speer represents.
- 1 March 2012 at 14:17
- Robert said...
I see that correlation, the one between his decision and the evil that Speer represents -- well said. But I sure do wish they'd have at least followed up on the comeuppance end of the bargain (re: Speer's link to Elizabeth) and given us something to look at besides a crystal blue lagoon and a bowl of ice cream.
- 2 March 2012 at 02:59
- Belgie said...
Love the characters! Sad story but enough humour and unique story makes it more than a story about death. Really more of a story of memories and new beginnings.
- 7 March 2012 at 13:59
I liked the film, highly regarded the performances, much of the writing, and the smart use of the Hawaiian locales. The sub-plot about the island real estate was somewhat of a distraction, but when the film stayed the course it was affecting. As always you peel away the gauze here most persuasively.
- 11 March 2012 at 16:42
- Roderick Heath said...
Another Pyrrhic victory for cranky Aussie film critics!
- 11 March 2012 at 22:07


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When the game was first shown last month, game maker Nippon Ichi Software did not disclose which platform it was headed for. This week, Nippon Ichi did: The Paradox of God and the Fate Revolution is PS3 bound.
The Disgaea Team Has A New PS3 RPG (And No, It Isn't Disgaea 5) [Siliconera]
Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dopaminergic Enhancement of Learning and Memory in Aphasia
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- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The purpose of this study is to determine whether levodopa, in combination with a high frequency language training, is effective in boosting naming performance in patients with aphasia.
Cerebrovascular Accident
Drug: levodopa
Phase 4
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Dopaminergic Enhancement of Learning and Memory (LL_001, Project on Aphasia)
- Boost in naming performance (percent correct) through levodopa as compared to placebo [ Time Frame: immediately after each treatmentphase ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Brain activity pattern in successfully trained patients [ Time Frame: immediately after each treatmentphase ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Stability of naming performance after one month and six months post treatment [ Time Frame: from 1 month untill 6 months after treatment completion ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
|Study Start Date:
|January 2005
|Study Completion Date:
|December 2008
|Primary Completion Date:
|February 2007 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Drug: levodopa
Our prior work shows that d-amphetamine and the dopamine precursor levodopa markedly improve word learning success in healthy subjects. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, we probe whether daily administration of levodopa, coupled with several hours of language training every day, will significantly improve naming abilities in patients with aphasia as compared to placebo administration. We furthermore examine with magnetic resonance imaging which brain regions need to be functionally intact for a dopaminergic improvement of language therapy.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 75 Years
|Genders Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria for patients with aphasia:
- Unilateral cerebrovascular accident (stroke) in the territory of the arteria media
- Time post onset: > 6 months
- Aphasia with anomia
- Age between 18-75 years
- Premorbid right-handedness
- Primary language: German
Exclusion Criteria for patients and healthy controls:
- Known allergy to levodopa or tartrazine
- History of medication/drug abuse
- Acute nicotine withdrawal or > 15 cigarettes per day
- > 6 cups/glasses of coffee, caffeine drinks or energy drinks per day
- > 50 grams of alcohol per day
- Severe hypertonia (systole >180 mm Hg)
- Severe arteriosclerosis
- Diabetes, asthma, or glaucoma
- Severe hearing disability
- Evidence for severe hippocampal damage
- Premorbid depression or psychosis
- Medication with dopamine agonists or antagonists
- Parkinsonian symptoms
- Changes in anticonvulsive medication during the week prior to study enrollment
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00102869
|Dept. of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster
|Muenster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, 48129
|Study Director:
|Caterina Breitenstein, PhD
|Dept. of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
|Study Chair:
|Stefan Knecht, MD
|Dept. of Neurology, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
Additional Information:
Additional publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Rainer Girgenrath, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00102869 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|LL_001, Project on aphasia
|Study First Received:
|February 3, 2005
|Last Updated:
|October 4, 2013
|Health Authority:
|Germany: Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices
Keywords provided by University Hospital Muenster:
language acquisition
stroke recovery
aphasia treatment
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Cerebral Infarction
Brain Diseases
Brain Infarction
Brain Ischemia
Cardiovascular Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Communication Disorders
Language Disorders
Nervous System Diseases
Neurobehavioral Manifestations
Neurologic Manifestations
Signs and Symptoms
Speech Disorders
Vascular Diseases
Dopamine Agents
Dopamine Agonists
Anti-Dyskinesia Agents
Antiparkinson Agents
Central Nervous System Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Neurotransmitter Agents
Pharmacologic Actions
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Therapeutic Uses
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on October 13, 2015


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There's been a sudden up tick in the number of images of Michelle Williams floating around thanks to some recent developments in her personal life (Dark hair! Suddenly single! Blah blah blah!). We don't care about that stuff much, but seeing all the pictures of Ms. Williams got us thinking...and wondering What Would She Wear?
The yummy mummy is quite petite and practical too, you'll never see her in obvious designer pieces or loud garments. She favors emerging designers like Behnaz Sarafpour, Derek Lam, and Philip Lim (and often can be found sitting front row at their shows). Keeping the clean lines and sophisticated color palette Williams wears in mind, for today's story we picked a few fun, fashion-forward pieces that we imagine she might like.
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1. Forget Me Knot Silver Ring ($50, builtbywendy.com)
Delicate and a little preppy, this silver ring by Kiel Mead seems like the sort of unpretentious jewelry Williams wears.
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The second we saw this equestrian-style wool hat from In God We Trust, we knew it was the sort of thing you see on Williams' head at Sundance.
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- Northern New York Newspapers
- Watertown
- Ogdensburg
- Massena-Potsdam
- Lowville
- Carthage
- Malone
- NNY Business
- NNY Living
- NNY Ads
MASSENA The Business Development Corporation for Greater Massena has named businessman Thomas Sullivan as the new executive director of the agency funded jointly by the town and village.
Daniel S. Pease, chairman of the BDC board, said he was authorized to negotiate a contract with Mr. Sullivan following an executive session at last weeks meeting.
We met this morning, and were able to reach a deal, he said.
Mr. Sullivan will work a minimum of 25 hours a week with an annual salary of $34,000.
Tom is an accomplished businessman and over the years has chaired and been a member of numerous boards and foundations throughout the north country. He provides the BDC with proven managerial skills and business acumen, and the board looks forward to great accomplishments as we tackle the challenges of job creation and economic revitalization, Mr. Pease said.
Mr. Sullivan replaces Michael V. Almasian, whose resignation was effective Friday. Mr. Almasian and his family are moving to Connecticut.
Mr. Sullivan, the owner of Sullivans Office Supplies, is optimistic about the BDCs effort to stimulate economic growth in the community.
We can stimulate local purchasing, Mr. Sullivan said. That will create jobs.
He said he knows the improvement of Massenas economy is not an overnight process and will take some time.
Its going to be a process that will evolve, he said. We will take it one step at a time. We will walk before we run.
With Massenas recent struggles in terms of economic development, Mr. Sullivan is aware of the need to attract more businesses.
The 53-year-old earned a bachelors degree in industrial management and marketing from Clarkson University, Potsdam, after obtaining an associate degree from SUNY Canton.
He credited the work of his staff at Sullivans Office Supply as well as his wifes business, Seasons, with giving him the opportunity to take the BDC post.
Mr. Sullivan was selected from a field of four finalists.
We were impressed by his proven business success and his management experience. He showed a great deal of enthusiasm, Mr. Pease said. Were very excited to see what he can do to streamline the office and move us to the next level.
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My expectation is we will find with his ability to prioritize that 25 hours a week will be a huge bang for the buck. We may give him more administrative assistance down the road, Mr. Pease said.
He said much of Mr. Sullivans work in his first few months on the job will be connected to the downtown coalition, an effort to revitalize Massenas downtown corridor.
Thats taking a tremendous amount of time right now. Were also working with a number of contacts for prospective businesses in the industrial park, Mr. Pease said. Well continue to manage those contacts to see if we can meet their needs. Theres quite a bit going on at the BDC right now.
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PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) - Red Claws point guard Shelvin Mack's tenure with Maine lasted an enitre 10 games. The team's leading scorer and playmaker signed with the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards second-round pick in the 2011 NBA draft averaged 20.1 points a game and 7.1 assists per contest in leading Maine to a 7-4 record during his time with the Red Claws.
Mack was acquired by the Red Claws with the fourth overall selection of the NBDL draft five days after being released by Washington on October 28th.
Mack played in 22 games for the Wizards during his rookie, season averaging 3.6 ppg and 2 assists in just over 12 minutes of action.


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Lucis Trust / Fêtes et Réunions / Forum / Archive du Forum / 2010 / London
World Goodwill Seminar - London
Saturday, 6th November 2010 — from 1.30- 5.30 pm
The Spirit of Money and the Divine Circulatory Flow
...all the time, the one humanity—no matter what the place of residence, what the colour of the skin, or what the religious beliefs—is clamouring for peace, justice and a sense of security. All this, the right use of money and a realisation on the part of many of their financial responsibility (a responsibility based on the spiritual values) would rapidly give them... The time has now come when money must be re-valued and its usefulness chan-nelled into new directions... It is therefore essentially a question of right education and correct training in world citizenship (Externalisation pp.626--7) )
An afternoon of talks, discussion and meditation focusing on ways to redeem our personal and collective use of the energy of money.
1.30 Opening Remarks
Christopher Houghton Budd - Can Finance Breathe with the Gods? Understanding the Spirit in Finance.
Christopher Houghton Budd, Ph.D., is an economic and monetary historian with a doctorate in banking and finance (Cass Business School, London). He works independently in many contexts ranging from mainstream to 'alternative', central banks to organic farms. He is particularly interested in the economic and sociological work of Rudolf Steiner. He writes frequently on economic affairs, and has published several books, including Prelude in Economics (1979), Of Wheat and Gold (1988), The Metamorphosis of Capitalism (2003), Rare Albion – a Monetary Allegory (2005), and Finance at the Threshold (2010).
Group Discussion
3.15 Tea
3.50 Panel with two co-workers discussing their experiences with money
Josh Ryan-Collins - Reconnecting Economies – Putting People First
Josh joined the New Economics Foundation in 2006 and is a researcher working in the Business, Finance and Economics team where he is leading research on monetary reform and research into alternative and complementary currencies, including timebanking, local paper currencies, mutual exchange schemes, commercial barter and interest-free credit models. Josh is also developing a programme of work on creating a more sustainable housing system in the UK and also on wider reforms to the financial system and a new macro-economic model to enable the transition to a low-growth economy.
4.55 Closing Remarks
5.30 Close
There is no charge for admission. This event is funded entirely by donations so your contributions are most welcome.
World Goodwill is an activity of the Lucis Trust, a registered educational charity. The Lucis Trust is on the Roster of the UN Economic and Social Council.