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Research Article
Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors from Vietnamese Blumea balsamifera L.
Version of Record online: 4 JAN 2012
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.3710
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phytotherapy Research
Volume 26, Issue 8, pages 1178–1181, August 2012
Additional Information
How to Cite
Nguyen, M. T. T. and Nguyen, N. T. (2012), Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors from Vietnamese Blumea balsamifera L. Phytother. Res., 26: 1178–1181. doi: 10.1002/ptr.3710
Publication History
- Issue online: 22 JUL 2012
- Version of Record online: 4 JAN 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 17 OCT 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 13 OCT 2011
- Manuscript Received: 29 JUN 2011
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2011-01-28 14:35:00
A just released 545 page report from the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission is getting very low marks. The Wall Street Journal's website shows 39% of those who responded gave it an "F" and 60% gave the report a "D". Bend Financial Advisor Bill Valentine, with Valentine Ventures, says the report was very partisan. The six Democrats on the 10 person Commission supported its findings; the 4 Republicans refused to endorse it. Valentine says the report names villians like big banks and Wall Street; but leaves out the consumer: "The institutions; as it were the drug dealers in this situation were highly responsible for the reckless behavior in this crisis. But the drug user also has a responsibility as well. And I use the metaphor to describe the fact that for 25 years in this country, we've gotten away from the hard lessons that were learned during the depression." Valentine says those lessons are things like the value of saving, the proper use of debt and the importance of good credit. He believes this report could have been an opportunity to educate the American public, but was instead a waste of time and taxpayer money.
King Solomon Lane closed between Ferguson Road and King David. (7/25)
Jones Road closed between Butler Market Road and Bennington Lane. (8/18)
Round-About Construction:
Murphy Road and Parrell Road closed with detours. (9/30)
Powell Butte Highway at Neff and Alfalfa Market Roads (8/31)
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I don't make New Year's Resolutions. I don't think I ever really did, but the last decade or two would have been enough to stifle that impulse. I've just been too aware that I don't have that much control over what happens in my life.
Discuss the article on the Forums.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Symptoms
Discussion in 'General Symptoms' started by MEKoan, Aug 13, 2009.
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By roger Date: Jul 16 2013 Views:
Eternal Descent: Heavy Metal Heroes is a game slated for release soon onto iOS with Android, PC and consoles getting a copy of the game next year. This particular game meshes heavy metal music with a fantasy theme and places it in an endless side-scrolling brawler type of game.
The game itself is actually the brainchild of British guitarist and comic creator Llexi Leon, players will have to fight relentless amounts of monsters as you try to make your way to Hell, all with a heavy metal soundtrack banging in the background. The heavy metal aspect to this game is really focused upon with musicians from other heavy metal bands making cameo appearances throughout the game.
The soundtrack, if you are familiar with heavy metal, will feature original songs from bands such as Joe Satriani, Arch Enemy, Wayne Static, Periphery, Andrew W.K. to name a few. Unfortunately though, iOS will be getting the game first this year while everyone else has to wait. The good news is, even though we have to wait, we can at least see how it will play on mobile from the iOS version ahead of time.
Source: androidnews
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Arkansas Tech Board Approves $11.6M CDI Bid for New Facility
by Lee Hogan on Monday, Mar. 24, 2014 12:16 pm
This artist's rendering shows the location of a proposed academic, student support and administrative facility on the Arkansas Tech University campus. The Board of Trustees awarded an $11.6 million construction contract to CDI Contractors in March. (Arkansas Tech University)
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Forum - View topicWhat's your favorite anime/Japanese music and why?
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Posts: 105
I like the music from Garden of Sinners. I enjoy the orchestral quality of the music, as well as the use of vocals. I think that the music complements the themes of the films that they are associated with.
I especially like "Sprinter" as the tempo and rhythm seem to match the lyrics.
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|[EDIT: Put reasons. -TK]
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Posts: 5
Location: Australia
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|My personal favorite anime soundtracks are Cowboy Bebop, like everyone else, Lupin III A Woman called Fujiko Mine tv soundtrack (which I have yet to have found anywhere), Samurai Champloo, Riding Bean, and Redline. These are all great, but for japanese music, I listen to Perfume. I listen to quite a bit, and these girls are my favorite. Their songs are mostly upbeat electro, with vocals autotuned to hell (but really, who isn't these days). There songs feature some "engrish" which I know some people find annoying, but I still love them to death.
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Posts: 530
I am currently listening to Zone's Secret Base, I believed this is the ED song for Anohana.. I can't seem to stop listening to it, its nostalgic and sad all at the same time. I just love it.
I've been listening to Chata's songs before. I used to play her Nagareboshi's song nonstop before I came across Secret Base. I also have been listening to this one particular song of hers I don't know whats the title I just found it on youtube and its something like Trip by the Sea the piano piece in it is a fantasy!
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Posts: 151
|the soundtracks for angel beats! and CLANNAD, just because they are so emotional and sad
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Posts: 96
Location: Pittsburgh
|I really like Megumi Hayashibara's Infinity from Lost Universe, because it is a very comforting/energetic tune that snaps me out of a bad mood.
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Posts: 40
|The ones made by Susumu Hirasawa, because he's the best, not only is he great at composing, even in weird ways, he has a huge weird imagination and his works are soulful, the only musician which I can identify, as when I hear a work he made and it's otherworldly, it couldn't have been anyone but him who made it.
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Posts: 30
|I like all songs from GRANRODEO.Those and Death Note OP.1 and ED.2.I don't know why i just like J-rock and the rhythm of the songs.Forgot to say this but i also like all songs from Hironobu Kageyama.He's just a legend.
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Posts: 38
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei has some very good music both the many theme songs & the score captures the mood of the show well.
while not featuring much in the actual show, the character album is a very good listen. Each song manages to fit the personality of the character, helped by the fact that the original performers are singing.
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Posts: 5
My favorite Japanese music as of lately has been anything by Koda Kumi and Ayumi Hamasaki. I've been addicted to them as of lately!They're music has such a variety. And I also enjoy listening to their old music then comparing it to how it is now. Its so interesting to see the change.
I also love Japanese indie artists such as Hiromi (aka Rainbow), May J., and MiChi. They are so underrated but so talented! Its amazing how powerful their voices and music are
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Posts: 43
Location: Manila, Philippines
Chou - Amano Tsukiko.
I first heard this from the game Fatal Frame. I don't really know why but I just got suddenly attracted to this song. I always play it on repeat whenever I read manga.
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|Hi, I am really not too familiar with Japanese anime music but since I came across with this, I tried to search and listened. I think, for me ,Hakuouki OP songs are pretty good music as well:)
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Laily Long
Posts: 1
Hmm,I love all the songs in Inuyasha, since i saw it, the songs are in my phone for all my school life.
Every Heart, it has Japenese version and English version, the are make me so relax;
Derest, Ayumi's voice is so nice;
And also some light music, the melody is so beautiful.
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text:
The Draftby Wil Mara
View All Available Formats & Editions
It's draft time in the National Football League. For high-ranking team executives, this means long days and sleepless nights, endless negotiations, and determining which young men deserve to become millionaires and which do not. Careers will be made with the stroke of a pen, but mistakes are costly.
Baltimore Ravens General Manager Jon Sabino has turned a/p>
It's draft time in the National Football League. For high-ranking team executives, this means long days and sleepless nights, endless negotiations, and determining which young men deserve to become millionaires and which do not. Careers will be made with the stroke of a pen, but mistakes are costly.
Baltimore Ravens General Manager Jon Sabino has turned a weary, ragtag organization into a gridiron dynamo, culminating in two consecutive Super Bowl victories, and now they're poised to make NFL history with a third consecutive championship. New talent is the last thing on Sabino's mind, so this year's draft will be little more than a formality.
Or will it?
With less than two weeks until draft day, Sabino receives crushing news---Michael Bell, the team's starting quarterback, has been involved in a season-ending auto accident. Baltimore's two backups cannot possibly fill Bell's cleats, no other available free agents reach Bell's skill level, and the Ravens' volatile owner insists that he wants the third Lombardi Trophy above all else—even if it costs the team down the road.
So Sabino is forced to pursue Christian McKinley, the best quarterback prospect to come along in a generation, who will assuredly be taken with the first pick. But that's a task easier said than done, especially when the other general managers will stop at nothing to keep him from winning yet another Super Bowl ring.
The San Diego Chargers, who own that pick, are not interested in McKinley but are willing to offer it to the highest bidder. Other teams want it; need it. Now Jon Sabino has to jump into the fray, which the media has dubbed the "McKinley Sweepstakes," and he may find the competition tougher than even he can imagine. It could very well be the make-or-break moment of his career, the fork in the road that leads him and his team either into the history books or back to the tepid hell of mediocrity. And then there's a young man in the Philadelphia projects whose arm is just as good as McKinley's--except that he wants nothing to do with the NFL. He'll have to face an old family secret and bitter legacies if he ever goes pro. But he just might be the salvation Sabino needs.
NFL fans will delight in this insider's entry into the general manager's head office, sweat through draft negotiations, strategic alliances, and gamesmanship, and revel in pure NFL glory. The Draft is sports fiction at its best, combining solid insider information and an unmistakable passion for the game with the awesome power of storytelling; a potent mixture that will keep football fans riveted to every page.
Editorial Reviews
"Must reading…for any football fan."Bill Polian, president of the [Super Bowl Champion] Indianapolis Colts
"The Draft is a fascinating novel about what can go on behind the scenes in an NFL front officethe intrigue and maneuvering. It is terrific reading for the fan who wonders how these trades and deals are made." Ernie Accorsi, general manager of the New York Giants
"A smartly crafted and highly engrossing novel about deals, decisions, and desperation in the world of pro football. The characters are marvelously drawn, and the writing is razor's-edge sharp. If you are a fan of this game, then The Draft is one book you absolutely must read."
Peter Golenbock, author of Landry's Boys
"There couldn't be a better time for a book like Wil Mara's The Draft. It gives fans a glimpse into parts of the NFL that they wouldn't see otherwise. I was very impressed by Wil's attention to detail, and by the great storyline he created. As a former player, I can honestly say he really nailed it. The emotion, the excitement, the suspenseeverything is right here. I was amazed."
Jon Harris, defensive end and first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, 1997 NFL draft
Product Details
- 9781466859166
- Publisher:
- St. Martin's Press
- Publication date:
- 12/03/2013
- Sold by:
- Macmillan
- Format:
- NOOK Book
- Pages:
- 288
- File size:
Read an Excerpt
The Draft
By Mara, Wil
Thomas Dunne BooksCopyright © 2006 Mara, Wil
All right reserved.
Chapter One
April 2006
Seventy-nine-year-old Phyllis Smith knew it was dangerous for her to be driving. The medications had robbed her of the privilege. She was frequently tired, and her reaction time was slow. Nevertheless, she had to get to the supermarket. If that new caregiver—the one with the two kids and the sleazy-looking boyfriend—had come early this morning like she'd been asked, this wouldn't be necessary. Nearly a year had passed since she was last behind the wheel. She still had the hulking black Mercedes Don bought her. She knew she should've surrendered her license at some point, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
The images in the street were fuzzy at best. She could see colors and make out most shapes, but details were impossible. It was fairly busy already, the sun coming up, people moving about. All that really mattered, she had convinced herself, was the car ahead of her. She could more or less make out where it was since her depth perception wasn't too bad. She simply kept back a good distance and drove slowly.
The dizziness began as she approached the intersection where Light Street met Pratt. At first it felt similar to the pleasant numbness associated with being slightly drunk. Then it heightened to a gentle swirling sensation. Afterthat, she would say later in a deposition that precluded a sizable payout from her insurance company, she couldn't remember a thing. It all happened so quickly.
There was only one vehicle sitting at the intersection that fateful morning—a blue Jaguar XJ6. A beautiful machine but unremarkable in this affluent Baltimore suburb. The driver wasn't looking in his rearview mirror. If he had been, perhaps he could've reacted in time. Instead he was fingering through his CD collection, trying to decide whether to go with Randy Travis or Clint Black. Maybe even some of that Bruce Springsteen stuff everyone around here liked so much.
Meanwhile, Jack Harris, a carpenter from nearby Glen Burnie, was on his way back from Home Depot, where he'd picked up a load of railroad ties. He had the window down, elbow out, and was whistling to Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line." He'd come down Pratt hundreds of times. He knew the intersection was dangerous, knew there'd been dozens of accidents there. But that didn't make him slow down as he approached it today. Seeing that the light was green, he didn't give it another thought.
Phyllis Smith's tiny body slumped over the wheel when she lost consciousness. The Mercedes swerved crazily for a moment, but not sharply enough to avoid the Jag. Upon impact it lurched into the intersection, giving Harris no time to react. On pure reflex he tightened his grip on the wheel and jammed the brake. The tires screamed, burning on the pavement. His truck swung to the left, and the back end began to drift forward. But the distance required to avoid the collision just wasn't there. In fact, Harris would realize with great irony much later on, the accident probably wouldn't have been half as bad if he'd just stayed on course. He would have smacked the Jaguar in the rear, spinning it sharply but probably leaving the driver relatively unharmed. As it turned out, the bulk of the impact delivered by a payload of railroad ties was absorbed by the Jag's door and, unfortunately, by the person on the other side of it.
When it was over, a horn was blaring and someone was screaming. Harris looked up but couldn't see anything because of the white smoke blowing from his radiator. He checked himself quickly and found no signs of injury. His arms were already aching—the punishment for the understandable reaction of tightening his muscles—but there didn't appear to be anything broken or otherwise out of place.
There was no way the other driver could have been as lucky.
Trembling, he got the door open and stepped outside. He was faintly aware of a crowd beginning to form along the fringes. He could feel their eyes on him and suspected that some of them were already forming their judgments. Big guy, plaid shirt, swollen belly. Probably a drunk. Typical.
He started toward the crumpled Jag, then stopped. The tinted window was gone and the driver was nowhere to be seen. But the blood was there—a dark red stain down the side like cranberry juice.
"Oh Christ . . ."
Now the real terror came. Harris hadn't been in an auto accident since he was a teenager, driving his father's sky blue Chevelle in the rain. The tires lost touch with the road, and the car fishtailed into a pair of garbage cans. He wasn't hurt and no one was with him. But he was petrified at the thought of what his father would do. As it turned out, the old man was pretty teed off but mostly thankful.
Many years had passed since then, and Jack Harris had developed the common assurance that auto accidents happened only to other people. You saw them on the news when they were particularly bad, read about them in the paper, or heard of them at the local diner. But they didn't happen to him. They were part of a different reality, nothing to do with his. He was fifty-four, after all. Far too old and too wise to get into that kind of a mess.
The blood running down the wrinkled metal, however, transmitted a different truth. My God, Harris thought, this is really happening. That's someone else's blood trickling down the side of the damn door like rainwater. Something about the movement of it made it all the more unbearable.
He willed himself forward, determined to do something useful. As he got to the door he saw the driver for the first time. It was a fairly large young male dressed in a jogging suit. He lay on his side across the front seats. He sort of looked like he was sleeping. His clothing sparkled with bits of glass.
Harris was faintly aware of sirens in the distance. For some reason it made him think that he shouldn't move the victim. He went around to the other side, where he found more blood, spattered on the inside of the window. At this point he began crying—something else he hadn't done in ages—and reached for the door handle. To his surprise it released, albeit with a protesting creak. He brought the door back gently, took one look at the driver's face, and froze.
Any of the other people standing nearby would have recognized the guy just as quickly. Now the situation shifted from unreal to surreal. This can't be right, Harris thought. But of course it was—some people really did win the lottery, whereas other got hit by lightning. Those were the extreme ends of reality's spectrum. No explanations, no sense or significance. Sometimes things just happened.
And for whatever reason, on this bright and chilly morning in April, Jack Harris, master carpenter and father or three, drove his beloved Ford pickup into the side of a dark blue Jaguar occupied by Michael Bell, the starting quarterback of the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
Ironically, the same day began very quietly for Jon Sabino, the Ravens' general manager. He awoke at the usual 5:00 a.m., showered, shaved, put on khaki slacks (almost standard for NFL front-office personnel) and a polo shirt bearing the Ravens' logo. He moved about quietly so as not to wake Kelley, his wife of eight years. Then he went in to check on their two-year-old daughter, Lauren. She was lying peacefully on her side, wearing a tiny Ravens T-shirt and hugging a stuffed tiger. Her blanket, a hand-knitted gift from one of Kelley's college friends, lay nearby; Lauren had a habit of uncovering herself during the night. Sabino pulled it over her and brushed away the soft brown hair that had spilled onto her face.
It was still dark when he stepped outside. Dark and cool, but not cold like April could sometimes be in Maryland. The moon was full, casting everything in an eerie neon glow, and the North Star shone brightly. After he locked the door and reset the alarm, he paused for a moment, as he did every morning, to admire his neighborhood. It was an American paradise—a world of castles and glistening lawns and BMWs.
Jon had earned a scholarship to the University of Maryland, where he majored in business administration with a minor in sports management. He also played football and baseball, but he was realistic enough—even though the admission was a bitter one—to know he did not possess the natural skills required to be a pro in either.
Nevertheless, upon graduation with honors, his love of sports led him to seek a position with a pro team. The general manager of the Washington Redskins admired his determination and gave him an entry level position assisting the scouting staff. Jon worked like a dog over the next four years and eventually became a full-fledged scout in the northeastern region. The logistics of the job could be brutal—eighteen-hour days, traveling for weeks on end, living in hotel rooms, eating in restaurants, watching one talented-but-not-quite-talented-enough player after another while trying to maintain focus and freshness.
In spite of the strain, it was at this phase of his career that his true gifts began to emerge—it didn't take long for the Redskins to realize he was a natural at judging and evaluating others. The players he recruited weren't flashy or dramatic, but the steady and reliable quality was there. An unusually high percentage of his recommendations ended up being drafted and making starting squads. Two even became Pro Bowlers. Jon's philosophy of placing such a high value on character was somewhat uncommon, but his reasoning was irrefutable—football skills are easier to teach than integrity. As a result, his recruits were more mature, more disciplined, and more driven, and thus hurdled the kind of barriers that stopped most "flash-in-the-pan" talents cold. Coaches liked working with Jon's picks, administrators liked dealing with them, and the fans loved them.
Jon moved through the ranks quickly, becoming Washington's head scout when he was only thirty-four. The politics within the non-public side of the NFL, he quickly learned, were brutal, but he learned how to play that game, too. It was all part of the competitive nature of the league. He made few enemies and had a knack for knowing when to be invisible. He fit in and became part of the greater dynamic. Soon other teams were scouting him. He was eventually offered the position of vice president of player personnel with the newly ordained Ravens. The Ravens' leadership was looking to fill some key roles with youthful, energetic individuals. It was not only a step up but an opportunity for him to return to his hometown. Since the Redskins didn't have a similar position to offer, they reluctantly let him go.
The Ravens weren't exactly a new team, but in fact the transplanted incarnation of the Cleveland Browns. In 1984, the Baltimore Colts moved to Indianapolis in the middle of a snowy March night. Then, in 1996, Art Modell, the Browns' owner at the time, was offered a sweet deal from the city of Baltimore. Modell uprooted his organization and headed for the East Coast, rechristening his club after the classic poem "The Raven" by Baltimore resident Edgar Allan Poe.
Hopes ran high until it became obvious the former Browns, who had struggled through the '90s thus far, didn't fare much better as the Ravens. In their first season they won only four games, suffering from overall mediocrity and the oppression of not one but two powerful rivals—the Broncos and the Jaguars. They didn't show much improvement the following season, either, winning only six games as they landed in last place in the AFC Central.
During those inaugural years, two keys developments took place—Jon displayed tremendous ability as an evaluator of talent and as an administrator, and the Ravens' current general manager, Harry Colby, displayed tremendous ability as an incompetent idiot. He was a petty, power-crazed bureaucrat who insisted on having final decision over all personnel matters even though his experience in that area was minimal. He rarely heeded the advice of his underlings and even ignored the recommendations of his coaches, some of whom were veterans. The fact that most of the staff couldn't stand him didn't help much, either. So, at the end of three straight losing seasons, Modell showed Colby the door. His replacement, it was decided, would be the popular forty-two-year-old Sabino.
Jon inherited a bitter, war-weary group of players, front-office personnel, fans, and local sportswriters. The latter crucified him even before he made his first decision. And those who had toiled in the organization for years and were hoping to take the next step up the ladder began circling like vultures, watching for signs of vulnerability, waiting for a huge screwup so Jon would make a quick exit.
But he kept a level head and didn't take any of it personally. He understood the frustration and wanted to see the team succeed as much as anyone. He had studied the strengths and weaknesses of other teams through the years, collecting information that would be useful when this day came. He allowed himself the typical freshman mistakes and learned valuable lessons from each one.
He soon came to learn that the title "general manager," like most other titles in the NFL, was without clear definition and ambiguous at best. Some GMs were businessmen, others were football men. Some had strong skills in marketing and promotion and would busy themselves with issues concerning everything from merchandising to ticket sales, whereas others knew the X's and the O's. Some did a lot of the front-office hiring, others delegated it. Their duties varied from team to team, and the best ones focused on their strengths.
Jon decided to take this sensible route. Knowing his pedigree was in football personnel, he brought in good people to take care of the things he didn't know rather than allow pride to rule the day and try to be a renaissance man. To some this was a sign of weakness. He hoped the men who had been largely responsible for bringing him here would interpret it as a sign of honesty, a dignified attempt to put the team's interests before his own. He kept tabs on what was going on, but he allowed his directors to direct and didn't meddle. And as his understanding of the pro football universe and his place in it began to crystallize, everything turned around.
In the first season under his guidance, which included a new head coach, two new scouts, a handful of new trainers, and even a new videotape librarian, the team went 7–9. Not a miraculous record, but a step in the right direction. The more fair-minded writers took note of the fact that a number of the players Jon had either signed from free agency or acquired through the draft were making significant contributions. One, a guard that Jon plucked from the third round, not only made the starting team but was elected to the Pro Bowl. Another, a defensive back, made the second team that same year. Even the most skeptical observers had to admit the Ravens were getting better.
During his first off season, Jon knew his central priority was improving the team's offense, and in a slick free-agent maneuver that would eventually grow to historic proportions, he managed to lure hot young quarterback Michael Bell away from what seemed like a done deal with the Denver Broncos. It was on that day, the talking heads determined, that the Ravens became a force. Bell, who'd spent his first three seasons with the Jaguars, had developed into a dynamic and confident leader with devastating pass accuracy and a slippery quickness that would have made Fran Tarkenton proud.
The next year the Ravens leaped to the top of their division with a 10–6 record and a wild card spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately their fledgling team was still too inexperienced to handle the pressures of playing on that level, and they were eliminated in the first round by the Jets. But they were on a roll, and the fans and media were rolling right along with them.
In Jon's third year, the Ravens made their statement. Completing their offense with a high-priced wide receiver and a pounding, powerhouse fullback, they stomped their way to a 9–0 record before losing their first game, by a field goal, to the Patriots. Two more losses to Miami and Tampa Bay completed an unbelievable 13–3 record and home advantage throughout the playoffs with a first round bye. Now Jon's name was being freely intermingled with the word "genius." His gift for creating powerful chemistries was no longer deniable. Sports Illustrated ran a nine-page article on him—"Savin' the Ravens: Are They Losers Nevermore?"
In spite of the fact that the team stalled on the road to the Super Bowl by losing 24–17 to the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, one thing was clear—the Ravens were headed to the top. Less than a week after the season was over, experts across the nation were picking them as next year's favorites.
Their faith was well placed—in an unforgettable march to the championship, the Ravens' defense allowed fewer points in a single season than any other team in league history while compiling their second 13–3 record. Then they hurdled three playoff games and authored a 34–14 Super Bowl victory over the Buccaneers. The next season they reached the top again, crushing the Panthers 42–7.
Only six other teams had won back-to-back Super Bowls—the Steelers, the 49ers, the Cowboys, the Dolphins, the Packers, and the Broncos. And none had managed a third. Many said it couldn't be done; it was impossible in the free-agency era. Free agency had, after all, been implemented to arrest the development of dynasties. But somehow, it appeared, the Ravens were building one anyway. Either enthusiastically or bitterly, the fans and the media were forced to admit Baltimore looked like the best team again. A third straight championship was within reach, and Jon wanted it more than anything he'd ever wanted in his life. It gave legitimacy to everything he'd ever done, justified all the hard work and years of toil he'd invested. It would lend solid, undeniable credibility to his "genius" tag and silence the few remaining doubters once and for all. His detractors were running out of things to say, his colleagues were boiling in their own jealousy (which, Jon could not help but admit, he enjoyed tremendously). To do something great in professional sports was one thing. To make history . . . well, that was something else. Sometimes just the thought of it kept him awake at night.
Best of all, it was possible—the core of the club was still together, they were all still young enough to remain in top form, and there had been no changes to the coaching staff or even the front-office personnel. The chemistry remained; it looked very much like the Baltimore Ravens were on their way to making history.
After all, only a cruel twist of fate could stop them.
The Ravens' offices were located in a magnificent modern facility in the Maryland suburb of Owings Mills, a twenty-minute ride from the stadium. They were well secured and off limits to the public.
At the front gate, Jon waved to Gary Stone, the Ravens' head of security. Stone possessed a deep loyalty to Jon, who hired him. They had been classmates in high school and kept in touch when they went to separate colleges. Stone joined the FBI shortly after graduation and traveled overseas for a few years. When he returned to the states, he left the agency to be a private investigator but found the work distasteful—too many sleazy divorce cases—and wanted out. Jon heard about this and happened to be looking for someone reliable and experienced to work for the team. He wanted either ex-military or ex-FBI, which was a common criteria when it came to security positions in the NFL. Stone was the perfect choice.
They briefly exchanged small talk, then Jon pulled through the gates and into his space near the front of the main building. Access required a security code on a keypad. Once inside, he turned everything on, then went to a small locker room reserved for the coaches and front-office echelon. It was similar in appearance to any scholastic locker room, with rows of steel boxes, wooden benches bolted to a tiled floor, and a set of showers.
Morning workouts had been part of his routine since he was a teenager. They were common not only to the players but to everyone who worked for an NFL club. The prevailing attitude throughout the league seemed to be that workouts were the proper way to start the day. They certainly were for him. A good workout provided the stamina he needed to get through the demanding twelve-to-sixteen-hour days without those sloggy, low-energy periods. And the solitude afforded him the opportunity to collect his thoughts and focus on current priorities.
After he showered and dressed, he returned to his paneled office. It was less dramatic and luxurious than one might expect for a man in such an exalted, high-profile position. It was relatively small, with a walnut desk and a computer, a few framed photographs of Kelley and Lauren, and three large windows overlooking the practice field. There was no wet bar, no cabinet humidor filled with Cuban cigars, no plush deep-pile carpeting. Most general manager's offices were like this one. Contrary to common belief, high-ranking team executives weren't pampered by any means. The only true luxury item Jon had was a new Volvo sedan, and even that was leased by the team. If a GM wanted toys, he had to buy them himself.
Early April was draft time, and for a general manager that meant busy. As Jon got into his comfortable leather swivel chair, he remembered how he used to think when he was a kid, like any other ordinary fan, there was very little activity in a professional football club during the off season. It didn't take him long to realize this was dead wrong, especially for the administrators. Pro football had its "down time," but in positions like his it was only for a few weeks at the end of spring. Early September could also bring a simmering once everything was in place and attention turned to the players and the game. When that was over, however, a very different game began. This was the game the fans never saw and barely heard about. Perhaps it wasn't as glamorous, but it was just as tough, just as competitive, and the stakes were just as high. A young athlete's entire future was decided by the stroke of a pen. Millionaires were made in afternoon meetings. The power was tremendous and, for some, corrupting.
Preparation for each year's draft was particularly demanding. Technically the process began years before, when the scouts were reviewing players early in their college careers. By January, a team would begin to assemble their draft board, which was usually nothing more than a collection of names on a wall. These were the players a team deemed capable of playing in the pros. Of the tens of thousands of college players in the country, a mere two hundred or so would be considered. A team had to base their choices on two factors—what they needed, and what was available. It was nothing more than a guessing game, plain and simple. In most cases, someone other than the head coach made the final personnel decisions, but usually that person conferred with his coaches when determining his teams most urgent needs. If a coach utilized a system that required a large tight end who could block, then such a tight end became that much more valuable in the draft. Putting together the final draft list was in part a slow process of elimination. Beyond the board of college prospects, a team would also assemble boards of both semipro players and those who were of pro quality but, for one reason or another, were not playing for any team at the moment. And, as with the college boys, each pro team had staff whose job it was to keep the information on all such players fully updated.
Jon took a heavy folder from his desk. On the first loose-leaf page was a neatly handwritten list of the Ravens' desired picks, arranged in order of preference. The desk was usually locked as a standard security measure—insider information on a team's draft was worth a small fortune and treated like a military secret during wartime. This year, however, he doubted anyone would be interested. Due to last year's second Super Bowl victory, the Ravens naturally had the last pick in the draft's first round. By that time most of the surprises would be over and most, if not all, of the premium talent would be gone. Every now and then a gem would slip into the lower rounds, but those cases were rare and usually the result of a player who greatly exceeded expectations rather than an oversight on the part of the scouts.
Jon tuned his radio to a '70s station and reviewed the list for what seemed like the hundredth time. There were two, actually—a "wish list" made up of players he'd love to get but didn't expect to, and then a "reality list," which he was studying now. He was still comfortable with it, sure that the player at the top would be available when their turn came. That player was Bryan Engler, a tackle from Florida State. The Ravens weren't in desperate need at that position, but the coaches felt they lacked depth. One of their present tackles, Craig Little, would probably retire in the next year or two, and Frank James, another veteran in the same position, was also mumbling about calling it quits. So they needed to think about his replacement. Engler, if they could land him, would fill the role nicely.
Jon was thinking about the next player on the list, a wide receiver from North Carolina State, when the phone rang. Surprised, he glanced at his desk clock: 7:04. Odd that anyone would be calling this early, he thought. It wasn't often they had business so urgent that it needed attention at this hour.
"Hello? Oh, hiya, Tommy. What are you doing up at this hou—what's that? No, I haven't put on ESPN yet. Why?" When Jon heard and absorbed the fateful news, his stomach tightened. He asked if it was a joke.
It wasn't.
Copyright © 2006 by Wil Mara. All rights reserved.
Excerpted from The Draft by Mara, Wil Copyright © 2006 by Mara, Wil. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Meet the Author
Wil Mara, a lifelong fan of the National Football League, is the author of more than seventy-five books. He has written both fiction and nonfiction, for both children and adults. Aside from his "NFL novels," he also wrote the 2005 disaster thriller Wave, which won the 2005 New Jersey Notable Book Award.
Wil Mara is the author of more than seventy books for adults and young readers, including Wave, which won the New Jersey National Book Award. His work has been translated into more than a dozen languages.
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Two of the best friends are Blight and Cupcakes, they walked to their goody high school. They lived in a modern Equestria where the world changed to techology world. So they used magic to open their lockers. They waved the stallion. The popular mare named,"StarLight." She got all face of cupcakes,"Hey, that is my coltfriend! Too bad you dont have one!" Cupcakes shouted as they turned back their path,"I have one! he is cute, kind, smart, strong too!" Starlight laughed,"Prove it." <p> Blight told her best friend,"But how we prove to her!" They were in Blight's house. Cupcakes thought about and she said,"Your dad is experminetal labs!" Blight nodded. And she went in the computer. She used the magic to type out the command make a stalloin. They added what they wanted hin to be. Now they are called for dinner. They left computer. But the computer alarm blared,"Warning overload!"
I love pro football, and I love reading books about it. There aren't many novels about football, so when I saw this one I thought I would take a chance and get it. This was one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the insider's view of the pro football draft, and the story kept my interest until the end. The character of Jon Sabino was great. I would recommend this for anyone who likes professional football. I read it in two nights.
Baltimore Ravens General Manager Jon Sabino has been toasted as the latest genius as his team has won the last two Superbowls. He plans to make history with a trifecta and many professional football pundits make the Ravens the favorite the three-peat.------------------ During the off season, the star quarterback Michael Bell is injured in an accident that leaves him out for the season and the team without a strong player at the key position as neither the back up nor free agency provides the leadership needed to go all the way. Jon knows the best chance lies with the upcoming college draft by taking a chance on a rookie adapting to the NFL right away, which he believes Wolverine Quarterback Christian McKinley can as he has the talent and played well in the major bowls and Big Ten games. However, without him the Ravens go nowhere. To get him means working a deal with San Diego who has the first draft pick and is willing to sell the rights to the highest bidder of the McKinley Sweepstakes. Sabino plans that to be him at all costs.---------------- Though the intrigue elements (industrial espionage and a quarterback thinking of passing on the pros) seems more like a forced throw into coverage, NFL fans will enjoy the look behind the scenes of a successful professional football franchise. When the plot focuses on Sabino¿s efforts to insure an opportunity for the historical third ring, the tale is fast-paced and fascinating when the story line focuses on other characters like a rival General Manager, it becomes time to punt. Still since much of the tale centers on Sabino trying to keep from being sacked, football fans will enjoy THE DRAFT especially with its parallels to Brady (Michigan QB) and Roethlisberger (bike accident).------------- Harriet Klausner


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Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Bulawayo
Career-best added bonus for Williams
May 5, 2013: Sean Williams said his personal career-best score was the last thing on his mind after his match-winning unbeaten 78 that finished the six-wicket win for Zimbabwe and levelled the three-match ODI series in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Bulawayo
Razzak's towering six, and Shakib's frustration
May 5, 2013: Plays of the day from the second ODI between ZImbabwe and Bangladesh
Zimbabwe v Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, Bulawayo
Williams drives Zimbabwe to series-levelling win
May 5, 2013: Sean Williams guided the Zimbabwe chase to a successful finish, after Vusi Sibanda laid the foundation
Logan Cup 2012-13
All-round Tuskers crush Rhinos
Feb 8, 2013: A century from Bilal Shafayat, a knock of 87 from Sean Williams, and a combined effort by bowlers helped Matabeleland Tuskers clinch an innings-and-104-run victory over Mid West Rhinos in Bulawayo
Zimbabwe tour of West Indies 2012-13
Price dropped from Zimbabwe limited-overs squad
Jan 29, 2013: Ray Price, the left-arm spinner, was dropped from Zimbabwe's limited-overs' squads for the upcoming tour of West Indies, but he would join the team for the two-Test series that follows the ODIs and the Twenty20s
Mid West Rhinos v Matabeleland Tuskers, Logan Cup 2012-13
Tuskers pull off impressive chase in dramatic game
Nov 30, 2012: Mid West Rhinos made the highest total of the match at Kwekwe Sports Club but still lost to Matabeleland Tuskers because of a shambolic first innings
World Cup 2011
Sibanda replaces Williams in Zimbabwe squad
Mar 5, 2011: Sean Williams, the Zimbabwe left-hand batsman, has been forced to pull out of the rest of the World Cup with a fractured thumb and will be replaced by batsman Vusi Sibanda
Castle Logan Cup 2010-11
Tuskers crush Eagles to take top spot
Oct 30, 2010: A round-up of the fourth round of Castle Logan Cup
Zimbabwe v Ireland, 3rd ODI, Harare
Mooney and O'Brien give Ireland consolation win
Sep 30, 2010: John Mooney's allround effort helped Ireland seal a 20-run consolation win in the third one-day international against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club
Zimbabwe XI v Ireland, ICC Intercontinental Cup, 3rd day
Williams, Dabengwa help Zimbabwe XI take lead
Sep 22, 2010: Centuries from Sean Williams and Keith Dabengwa gave Zimbabwe XI the first-innings lead against Ireland on the third day as they finished on 506 for 6
Zimbabwe XI v Ireland, ICC Intercontinental Cup, 2nd day
Ireland edge attritional second day
Sep 21, 2010: Sean Williams' unbeaten 88 formed the backbone of Zimbabwe XI's 175 for 3 as they replied to Ireland's first innings total of 465
Zimbabwe news
Ebrahim, Williams to leave Tuskers?
Apr 7, 2010: Matebeleland Tuskers could lose their star batsmen Dion Ebrahim and Sean Williams after local media reported that the pair are at loggerheads with coach Robin Brown
Stanbic Bank Twenty20 Series
Easy wins for Mountaineers and Eagles
Feb 12, 2010: A summary of the first round of games from Zimbabwe's domestic Stanbic Bank Twenty20 series.
Faithwear Clothing Inter-Provincial One-Day Competition
Mountaineers race to third straight win
Oct 5, 2009: A round-up of matches in the Faithwear Clothing Inter-Provincial One-Day Competition
Kenya v Zimbabwe, 5th ODI, Nairobi
Masakadza leads Zimbabwe's 5-0 sweep
Feb 4, 2009: Zimbabwe sealed the five-match series, a lopsided battle of the minnows, with a seven-wicket win in Nairobi to record a clean sweep
Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI, Mirpur
Raqibul helps Bangladesh level series
Jan 21, 2009: Bangladesh, with their backs to the wall, put in a much-improved performance to square the series 1-1 after edging past Zimbabwe by six wickets in Mirpur
Zimbabwe in Bangladesh 2009
Waller and Mutizwa named for Bangladesh tour
Dec 19, 2008: Batsman Malcolm Waller and wicketkeeper Forster Mutizwa are the two new faces in the 15-man Zimbabwe squad, which was announced today, for the tour of Bangladesh in January
Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Harare
Hapless Zimbabwe crushed once more
Nov 22, 2008: It has not been a particularly encouraging day for cricket's minnows. First Bangladesh were routed by an innings-and-129 runs in Bloemfontein while, in Harare, Zimbabwe capitulated to their fourth-lowest ODI score of 67 against a clinical Sri Lanka who, w
Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe 2008-09
Zimbabwe braced for rare home series
Nov 19, 2008: Zimbabwe take on Sri Lanka in Harare in their first home international in almost a year
Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe 2008-09
Williams backtracks once again
Nov 18, 2008: Sean Williams, the former Zimbabwe Under-19 captain, has once again backtracked on his decision to turn away from Zimbabwe by making himself available for their series against Sri Lanka
How much is a century against Zimbabwe worth? (56)
Cricket stats need to take into account various contextual factors relating to players' and teams' performances if they are to be meaningful
Why Kumble could work out better for India than Greg Chappell did (52)
He understands the Indian mentality better and doesn't have to deal with star players on the wane
More headaches for struggling South Africa (43)
As South Africa's slump gets deeper after the triangular series exit, ESPNcricinfo looks at three areas that need special focus and could possibly salvage them
'The dream is to come back and play for three to four years' (39)
Mohammad Asif is playing club cricket in Scandinavia as he strives for a Pakistan comeback and to rebuild his career in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal
What's the verdict on the pink ball in Indian conditions? (27)
Visibility is good, so is durability, and while it does swing a fair amount, it ought to spin as well


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That is such a worthy cause!!! Me?!!! I donate money to Sam Simon!!! Got to go.
The way you serve God depends on if you're playing singles or doubles.
Wow, after so many years of being on the losing side this guy still gives it up for the Confederacy. I wonder if he's also a Cubs fan.
Kate, you're the reason why some people think women shouldn't vote.
Thanks for the heads up!
If you can't rewrite history then what's the point of winning?
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We clear up the BREXIT for confused Americans wondering why the global economy is collapsing this time.
BEEP! BOOP! ZAP! Video games aren't for my dad anymore! Because he's dead.
Insanely twisted and messed up stick figure families... holy sh*t...
with a slight motion of his hands, he appeared to remove and then reattach his thumb repeatedly
Mission: Unwatchable, now in glorious Italian 3D!
There are hundreds of stories happening on the World Wide Web. Let me tell you, that's a very wide web. Our goal at Weekend Web is to bring you the latest headlines from around the Internet. We go into the very bowels of message boards everywhere and find out what millions of online citizens have to say.
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I've campaigned with mixed success over the years to make commercial real estate agents desist talking sharebroker gibberish of the "going forward" ilk.
Wellington Airport annual profit rises 29% on passenger growth
Profit rose to $12.5 million in the 12 months ended March 31.
RMA reforms running into heavy weather at select committee
The main issues could potentially be dealt with by a National Policy Statement under the RMA.
Wellington Airport applies to extend runway
The airport is seeking permission to build a 350-metre runway extension in a bid to attract long-haul flights from Asia and the US at a cost of $300 million.
Wellington Airport looks at $75m bond offer
The company is considering an offer of up to $50 million unsecured, unsubordinated, fixed rate bonds.


text:
English football has lost its attacking edge, claims Arsenal boss Wenger
Arsene Wenger believes the Premier League has "lost something" with many
teams now adopting a more cautious approach - but vowed to find the answer as
Arsenal look to get themselves back into the title race.
The Gunners finally ended the stubborn resistance of Bolton when substitute
Nicklas Bendtner struck a winner with six minutes left at the Emirates Stadium
The visitors - who could only name three outfield substitutes following a spate
of injuries and suspensions - adopted a very deep 4-5-1 formation, which for the
best part of an hour Arsenal struggled to break down.
It is an all-too familiar tactical conundrum which now greets the leading
coaches as teams seek to cancel any potent attacking threat rather than attempt
to stand toe to toe - which leaders Liverpool discovered to their cost in a
goalless draw at Stoke.
Critical: Arsene Wenger is bemoaning Premier League opposition
"I sit on the bench and I try to put myself in the position of [Bolton
manager] Gary Megson and straight away I understand," Wenger said.
"Then after I think we have to be good enough to create the chances if the
opposition only defends.
"It is maybe one of the weaknesses of the top Premier League sides this year
that teams have learned only to defend away from home, the leading clubs have
all struggled with that - even Manchester United, with all their offensive
Wenger added: "The Premier League has definitely lost something. When I
arrived here in 1996, everybody had a go at you and there was space up and down
the flanks. Sometimes you lost the game, but you could see more chances than
"You go back 10 years and everybody played a strict 4-4-2. This year I cannot
remember any team coming here with two strikers, except Hull who played like
that just at the start, but slowly they came back and became like the other
The Gunners boss, though, maintains the new challenge is just how to beat such
stubborn resistance with creative flare.
On target: Nicklas Bendtner celebrates his winner against Bolton with Bacary Sagna
"What is interesting in the game is that every new problem you face the teams
have to work to find the answer," he said.
"That problem will only be temporary I think because it will force the teams
to work on movement, the technique and the creative side.
"It is important that these teams do not get away with only defending any more
and they have to start to take risks as well."
Arsenal forward Robin van Persie felt yesterday was "not a proper game of
football" - but believes the Gunners, who remain outside the top four in fifth
place, showed their focus to finally break through a stubborn defensive
He said: "The confidence is coming back now because we lost points earlier in
the season which was not so clever. I think we will learn from that."
Bolton boss Gary Megson, meanwhile, maintained with the personnel he had
available, there were no other options for how to approach the game.
The Bolton boss said: "The way we dropped into our own half is not how we like
to play, and we certainly can't do that all the time, but we felt it was
something which was forced upon us.
"We wanted to be solid, then go get the ball back and play from there, but you
are playing against top class players.
"From a club of our ilk, coming to the top four, you really don't have much
choice, especially away from home, in the way that you look to play."
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text:
Updated Hot Tags NASA Climate Change Mars Diabetes Jupiter
Marijuana continues to be a controversial substance, something that could do bode good and not. It is something that is up for debate and a topic that needs to be addressed in the presidential debates though a new study links it to something that could harm oral care.
Foodies are likely to experience a slight change in satisfying their taste buds the next time they head on over to a nearby restaurant following the new guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration to curb down salt consumption.
Pediatric concussion rates in the U.S. may be widely underreported, according to a new report from CHOP and the CDC.
Migraines are episodes that can affect both males and females but a large study published in the BMJ claims that women may be a high risk of cardiovascular diseases or even death if they are not properly addressed.
Which do you prefer, rare or well-done, for your steak? If you choose your steak to have a thick and charred crust, you will be warned then that charred meat could cause cancer.
Sulfur dioxide is highly toxic -- and is being emitted in the air more than you expect.
Folks who happen to experience severe pain may eventually be prescribed to turn to Morphine for needed relief. They come in many types and would depend on what is prescribed by a doctor.
Tobacco smoke can increase the potential of certain bacteria such as the Porphyromonas gingivalis to build a camp in the mouth, therefore fight against the body's immune system.
Green tea contains a molecule that can combat rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study.
Google search trends are increasginly becoming more helpful in medical research.
New York to implement salt content alert in restaurants with over 15 chains.


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Bill Rancic Defends His Wife Giuliana After Fashion Police Controversy: 'I Tried to Get Them to Release the Footage' 42 years, 2,191 covers and 55,436 stories from PEOPLE magazine's history for you to enjoy
Latest News!
- Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian Celebrate Khloe's Birthday with Kim, Kourtney and Kylie
- Read the Cover Story: Matthew McConaughey: Love, Family & What I've Learned
- Romance in Rome! Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston Take Their Jet Set Relationship to Italy
- IKEA Issues Voluntary Recall of Dressers and Chests That Have Killed 6 Children
- The Daily Show Faces Backlash After Abortion Joke
On Newsstands Now
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Pick up your copy on newsstands
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People Top 5
LAST UPDATE: Tuesday February 10, 2015 01:10PM EST
PEOPLE Top 5 are the most-viewed stories on the site over the past three days, updated every 60 minutes
- March 29, 2010
- Vol. 73
- No. 12
'All Girls Dream About the Prom'
A Mississippi School Board Cancels the Dance Because Senior Constance Mcmillen Wanted to Bring Her Girlfriend
While a few classmates support Constance ("They understood it wasn't my fault; it was the school's fault," she says), most blame her. "You've ruined my senior year," charged one in a text. Says Shea Moore, stuck with a $450 pink dress: "It's great to stand up for what you believe in. But when it affects many more negatively, it's time to back down." Constance, a straight-A student, won't back down, though she wishes the outcome were different. "I wasn't trying to make it to where everyone couldn't go. I was trying to make it to where everyone could."
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BBC News 24, Sky News, CNN we live in an era where news has become almost instantaneous. This free course, ICTs: Information, will look at how news is gathered and the technology used for its dissemination. You will also be encouraged to examine how information might be manipulated by questioning its reliability.
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- demonstrate a knowledge of the different types of storage media for digital data
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- demonstrate an overview of the historical development of ICT in video recording, newsgathering and new dissemination
- compare the merits of different media as sources of news
- discuss issues of trust and authenticity in information sources.
- Duration 20 hours
- Updated Thursday 17th March 2016
- Introductory level
- Posted under Information and Communication Technologies
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- Learning outcomes
- 1 Bringing the news on the back of a horse
- 2 From newsreels to real news
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- 5 Signal transmission
- 6 Trust
- Conclusion
- Keep on learning
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- Acknowledgements
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Comments about 'Vince Rampton, son of late governor, to be Cooke's running mate'
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Cooke - Rampton 2012!
- 11:34 a.m. April 19, 2012
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The best two Governors we've had in years were Cal Rampton and Scott Matheson I hope the people wake up and try a change this year!
- 2:35 p.m. April 19, 2012
- Like (4)
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Excellent news!
- 3:19 p.m. April 19, 2012
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Unlike what some people may believe, during the six years I served on the Salt Lake City Board of Education (80s and 90s), the LDS church only once attempted to exert its influence and that was pertaining to LDS church property that abutted Ensign Elementary School. I was never approached by any LDS official or member in an attempt to influence my votes or propose any policy changes based on Mormon principles.
- 4:41 p.m. April 19, 2012
- Like (3)
- Report abuse
I am a conservative. In the Federal elections I will vote Republican. However Utah politics has been high jacked by right wingers and as such I cannot support Republicans for State Office. Gayle Ruzicka, president of the Utah Eagle Forum has garnered a group of Utah politicians who do not represent me nor do I believe do they represent Utah. When you have Carl Wimmer pushing a state gun instead of focusing on problems that are occuring within our State; we have a problem. When we have politicians trying to hide what the do and trying to limit our access to thier communications, when we have politicians saying they know better than I do what needs to be taught in the schools, when we have politicains trying to war with the federal government vs. working with them we have a problem. Utah politics needs to be reformed. Until then I will be an independant voice in Utah elections.
- 9:13 a.m. April 20, 2012
- Like (1)
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text:
Independence Day: Resurgence
It's just dull and hollow—a massive waste of time and money.
It's just dull and hollow—a massive waste of time and money.
Nicolas Winding Refn's latest provocation is often productively brash, even if it is ultimately more preposterous than it is satisfying.
"The Ballad of Narayama" is a Japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty. What a space it opens…
Patrice Leconte's "Monsieur Hire" is a tragedy about loneliness and erotomania, told about two solitary people who have nothing else in common. It involves a…
Ken Loach's "I, Daniel Blake" wins the Palme d'Or at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.
Barbara Scharres on the cats of Cannes 2016.
An article about Roger Ebert's reviews getting republished in the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chaz Ebert remembers the late Paul Cox and shares an article about Cox speaking with students at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.
A report by FFC Seongyong Cho about Andrew Ahn's "Spa Night," which recently played the Jeonju International Film Festival.
FFC Gerardo Valero returns to "The Shawshank Redemption" to investigate how it remains the #1 film on IMDb.
Christine Swanson on "The Miki Howard Story"; Who's afraid of female Ghostbusters; Trump is wrong on Muslims; Remembering Anton Yelchin; How "Silicon Valley" nails Silicon…
A recap of Wednesday night's open of AFI Docs with Alex Gibney's "Zero Days" and highlights of what's to come.
"Gung Ho" is advertised as a clash of cultures after the Japanese reopen the automobile factory in a small Pennsylvania town. That sounded promising. I guess I was hoping for one of those movies made out of loving attention to detail, in which we and the Japanese would both be treated like eccentric laboratory specimens. What I got was a disappointment, a movie in which the Japanese are mostly used for the mechanical requirements of the plot, and the Americans are constructed from durable but boring stereotypes.
I think the fault is in the screenplay, which tells a story that can be predicted almost from the opening frames. The people who wrote this movie did not bother, or dare, to give us truly individual Japanese characters; there is only one who is developed with any care.
Nor did they think much about how a Japanese automaker might really impact on a small American town. The movie feels more like an attack on labor unions than a clash of alien cultures, and the message seems to be that the American car industry would be as successful as the Japanese if our workers were willing to work for $8 an hour, seven days a week, with unpaid overtime, just because of their patriotic pride.
If there is life in the movie - and there is a good deal - it's because two of the actors labor manfully to create more than the script provides them. Michael Keaton plays the local workers representative, the go-between who's supposed to represent management to the workers, and vice versa. And Gedde Watanabe plays the Japanese plant manager, a man whose oddball humor and quiet intelligence make him rebel against the home office. Watanabe and Keaton conspire to outsmart the owners and the workers and save the plant, and they also conspire to almost save the movie, by adding unexpected twists and turns to the dialog. They're good.
The movie, alas, is not. The story begins with Keaton going to Japan on a mission to convince the Japanese to locate their factory in his little town. These opening scenes are so slack-jawed and sophomoric that the movie hardly recovers from them. Keaton gets lost in Tokyo, right? So we're supposed to laugh at the sight of him wading into a rice paddy to ask directions, right? Wrong. And it's not funny when he acts like an insulting lamebrain in his presentation to the Japanese executives. Comedy shouldn't try to be funny; it should allow us to find the humor for ourselves. "Gung Ho" doesn't give us that chance.
Anyway, back in Hadleyville, the assembly line starts up, and right away there are problems, because the Japanese expect the Americans to behave like the Japanese. The Americans get restless, you see, when they're not given sick leave, asked to work free overtime, and constantly get shouted at by Japanese managers. They could complain to their union, except, in an earlier scene, the union representative has been shouted down at a workers meeting. The guys are so happy to have jobs that they're non-union.
As I was watching the tension develop, I got restless, because, from what I read, this is not the way the Japanese run their auto factories in this country. Couldn't the movie find humor in a more realistic treatment, instead of depicting the Japanese in such insulting, one-dimensional details? And, for that matter, was it necessary to show the American workers as a monolithic crowd that apparently hangs out together all of the time, 24 hours a day, so that a Fourth of July celebration can be turned into a workers' meeting and nobody is absent? Keaton and Watanabe give promise of what the movie could have been like. In one good scene, they get drunk together at the bowling alley, and Watanabe sings the company anthem while Keaton restrains him and reassures the patrons, "He'll be back, folks; there's a midnight show." Keaton is a fast-thinking, wisecracking actor, sort of a young Jack Nicholson, who was good in "Night Shift" and is good again here.
Watanabe is a more subtle discovery. He was the hapless foreign exchange student in "Sixteen Candles," a one-dimensional role, but here he's funny, complicated and surprisingly likable. He is an American whose Japanese accent slips all over the place before it is sort of abandoned at the end, but his character is believable in a sea of phoniness.
Examples of the screenplay's desperation: There are not one, but two, fistfights in lieu of dramatic development. Scenes on the assembly line are choreographed like music videos. A girlfriend is introduced for Keaton, and then inexplicably dropped. Some scenes are played as if the movie were realistic, others as if it were a sit-com, still others as if it were slapstick. George Wendt, playing one of the guys on the assembly line, is demoted to janitor, and then turns up in every scene clutching his broom like a spear-carrier at the opera; he is given nothing to do except act as a proletarian mirror for every twist of the plot.
The movie was directed by Ron Howard, whose last credit was the enchanting "Cocoon." He should have started this movie with a rewrite.
This message came to me from a reader named Peter Svensland. He and a fr...
The new "Ghostbusters" film brings a battle between distorted nostalgia and the power of a child's imagination.
A tribute to the life of a great young actor gone too soon.
Roger was a tireless advocate for the films he loved. Sometimes that gave a film a little boost. Sometimes his praise...


text:
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
A gentle, pleasant read,
This review is from: The Python Years: Diaries 1969-1979 Volume One (Hardcover)
The 600 pages were apparently edited from about five times as much original material. I think the amount chosen for inclusion should perhaps have been reduced by about half again as there are many accounts of "Python" meetings and other business meetings. That said, the diaries make a gentle and pleasant read for anyone who was around during the Python years and has an interest in the making of Monty Python and other projects in which Palin was involved. There are some insights into the personalities of the Pythons and the stresses and conflicts which emerged in the years following their initial success. The book becomes more interesting as the years pass and some well-known non-Pythons like George Harrison become part of the story though the analysis of characters and current events never attains any depth. Palin comes across as a thoughtful, likeable man, who clearly makes a great deal of money during these years but for whom money is not the primary motivation. To sum up, the book is an enjoyable bed-time read, though not a book to return to once read.
Review Details
Location: London, England
Top Reviewer Ranking: 63,588


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