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You don't need Enterprise Edition for that!
Enterprise Edition is crazy expensive but the features are crazy cool. How can you achieve the same effect without having to buy Expensive Edition? Come and find out.
Create SQL FCIs with AGs cross site with no SAN rep???
Multi Site Tier 1 HA solution: 5 parts (1 Windows Cluster, 2 lots of cluster storage, 3 SQL FCI's & 4 AG's)
Did You Vote Today? A DBAs Guide to Cluster Quorum
One of the most important aspects of maintaining uptime with both availability groups and clustered instances of SQL Server is dealing with quorum. This session will cover multiple versions of Windows on how to approach, configure, and manage quorum.
In Database Automation We Trust
Why can't DBAs seem to trust automation for the Database? Here's how to overcome that mistrust and conquer database automation.
Succeeding as a Remote Worker
With over 15 years of experience as a semi-remote Lead DBA for a medical system, running a consultancy firm, producing SQL Cruise events and balancing a personal life Tim Ford has a pocketful of tips to share in making "remote" work for you.
Patch Management Strategies for SQL Server Deployments
Patching is often the cause of most of our downtime be it hardware, Windows, or SQL Server. This session will guide you around pitfalls to increase your uptime and reliability while managing your downtime related to patching and updating
The Necronomicon, SQL Server Book of the Dead
Has your SQL Server or Databases been taken over by a malevolent force? Worry not, for we shall open the pages of The Necronomicon, SQL Server Book of the Dead, and through its Ancient scripture and verse resurrect them back to life.
Using SQL Servers AlwaysOn Availability Groups
In this session we will look at the features which are provided with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and 2014 as part of the "AlwaysOn" features including site to site configurations to allow of a large scale high availability solution.
Advanced SQL Server 2012 HA and DR Architectures
In this session I'll cover advanced HA and DR architectures for SQL Server 2012 that also enable you to scale-out certain workloads.
Always ON Overview & Field Experience
The introduction of Availability Groups in SQL Server 2012 and the flexibility this gives administrators is truly awesome. In these session we will cover what Availability Groups bring to the table
Enabling Flash to Support Mission-Critical Applications
In this session we will discuss how using flash with intelligent caching can allow an economical mix of flash and HDDs to be used to provide huge performance gains
Monitoring and Performance Tuning for AlwaysOn
SQL Sentry will present their revolutionary new software which provides enhanced visibility and manageability for advanced AlwaysOn topologies.
SQL 2012 Always on Deep Dive
Always On Availability Groups offer a huge leap forward in terms of high availability. This sessions is a demo based introduction to the high availability changes in SQL 2012 emphasizing key features and benefits.
Using SQL Server 2012s Always On
In this session we will look at the features which are provided with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 as part of the "AlwaysOn" features including site to site configurations to allow of a large scale high availability solution.
War stories from implementing SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn
I will illustrate how SQL AlwaysOn can be used as a tier 1 solution. I will go through the barriers and misconceptions that I tackled whilst implementing it within the real world.
A Preview of High Availability in SQL Server 2012
Mission critical is a major focus of SQL Server 2012. There are quite a few changes in this release to ensure that you maximize your uptime and reliability when it comes to SQL Server. This session will start preparing you for what is coming.
Perk up your performance!
Join X-IO to learn how customers like Redknee and Temenos are combining SQL Server 2012 with X-IO intelligent storage to generate higher performance at significantly less cost. Learn why storage is on the verge of a revolution.
SQL 2012 Always On-Deep Dive
Always On offers a huge leap forward in terms of high availability. This sessions is a demo based introduction to the high availability changes in Denali emphasising key features and benefits.
Sql user group leaders present an A-Z of nuggets
Sql user group leaders present an A-Z of nuggets
Using SQL Server 2012s Always On
In this session we will look at the features which are provided with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 as part of the "Always On" features including site to site configurations to allow of a large scale high availability solution.
SQL Server Community presents : The A to Z of SQL Nuggets
The leaders from every SQL user group across England, Scotland & Wales have got together and created the definitive dictionary of essential SQL know-how, and crammed all of this into a single fast paced romp through the SQL alphabet.
SQL Server Denali-Always On Deep Dive
SQL Server denali offers a huge leap forward in terms of high availability. This sessions is an Introduction to the changes in Denali and a demonstration of the key features and benefits.
SQL Storage for the real world
With a myriad of options available, choosing the most appropriate storage solution for your company can be challenging. This session will give you a brief introduction to the technologies available, and what to focus on when making the decision.
28 Weeks later - How to scale-out your MS Business Intelligence environment
The SQL Server provides much functionality that increases the scalability and flexibility of your solution by distributing data and jobs among low-priced commodity servers.
So Many High Availability Options, So Little Time
This session will compare and contrast the various SQL Server high availability options and discuss the things you need to do - both SQL Server and non-SQL Server - that you need to do to achieve availability.
Whats new in SQL Server "Denali"?
This presentation will cover all of the new engine and tools features coming our way in the next major version of SQL Server.
How to Perform a SQL Server Health Check
You will learn about a comprehensive checklist you can use to verify a SQL Server's health, which you can use to help you determine if the instance is running optimally and is highly available.
Oracle for SQL Server DBAs
If you've only ever chosen to use Microsoft database products then there's a chance you might hide a curiosity deep down about the Oracle database platform; or like me a few years ago be told that your next big production system will use it and now's the time to upskill. This session introduces some key concepts and differences about the Oracle database platform to people like myself who are used to the UI-heavy Windows-based database world and hopefully make you curious enough to want to at least give it a try when you get back home.
High Availability in the Real World!
What HA options will help me in reality?
Achieve SQL Server 2008 High Availability and Disaster Recovery - technical case study
Achieving application uptime of 99.99% is not an impossible task, can be accomplished if you apply right procedures at right time!
Real World SQL Server High Availability
The advantages, disadvantages, pitfalls and benefits of the various High Availability options in SQL Server.
Virtualising SQL Server
This session provides details on approaching a SQL Server virtualisation project.
High Availability in SQL Server 2008
Database availability is important to every DBA and selecting the right solution to satisfy availability requirements can be a difficult choice. Attendees will be presented with an overview of each technology and complementary technologies enabling them to make better choices of availability solution.
Implementing Clustering using SQL Server
How to plan, install and configure a clustered SQL Server
How to approach zero downtime database upgrades
SQL Server High Availability and Disaster Recovery Overview
Effective usage of SQL Server 2005 Database Mirroring
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Look back: Superstorm Sandy wreaks havoc
Published On: Oct 30 2012 05:10:20 AM PDT Updated On: Sep 30 2013 01:23:44 PM PDT
Take a look back at the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.
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Stir It Up: DIY holiday gifts: Start nowSteve Legato Photo
A bottle of homemade Raspberry-Lime Liqueur says "Happy Holidays" from the heart. The photo and recipe are from "Edible DIY: Simple, Giftable Recipes to Savor and Share" by Lucy Baker.
Are you perennially shocked by Christmas decorations hanging in stores before Halloween? Do you rail against holiday tunes on the radio before Thanksgiving? Cringe at toy ads during the World Series? If you like to make holiday gifts, and if you like the gifts you make to be of the edible variety, you will see those early holiday displays as a personal reminder. They may be screaming, "Buy this!" But you are hearing, "Get cooking!"
There are two reasons to start cooking, stat. First, many holiday gifts (liqueurs, extracts, flavored vinegars and, don't laugh, fruitcakes) need several weeks for flavors to mellow. Second, making gifts ahead of time lessens stress closer to the holiday.
When looking for recipes to make as gifts, keep in mind:
n They should not require refrigeration. In the run-up to the holidays, you will need your refrigerator for more important stuff. Like eggnog.
n They should have a long shelf life. What's the point of making a recipe that says "Will keep for up to five days"? It essentially requires that you hand a friend your gift and then stand there while he eats it.
n They should be simple. Holidays are complicated enough.
When packaging your gifts, use clean jars and bottles with tight-fitting lids. Canning jars in sizes as small as 4 ounces are sold at the supermarket. Affordable bottles, tins and other packaging can be found online; one source is www.specialtybottles.com (206-382-1100).
You can find gift recipes galore in "Edible DIY: Simple, Giftable Recipes to Savor and Share," by Lucy Baker (Running Press, 2012), a compendium of 75 year-round gifts. The liqueur and seasoned salt below are from the book. The vanilla extract is from my files.
Raspberry-Lime Liqueur
Yield: 8 cups
4 cups (18 ounces) fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) raspberries
4 cups vodka
¾ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
Combine raspberries, vodka and lime juice in a large glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to combine. Store in a cool, dark place (like the back of a closet) for 2 weeks, shaking the container halfway through.
Simmer water and sugar together over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool. Add to the vodka mixture, cover, shake to combine and store in a cool, dark place for 2 more weeks.
Line a fine mesh sieve with cheesecloth. Strain the mixture into a pitcher, discarding any solids. Pour into bottles. Label with the date and instructions: "Sip on the rocks or mix with seltzer or sparkling wine. Store in a cool, dry place for up to a year."
Recipe from "Edible DIY: Simple, Giftable Recipes to Savor and Share" by Lucy Baker (Running Press, 2012)
Lemon Salt With Fennel And Red Pepper Flakes
Yield: about 1 cup, or 2 (4-ounce) jars
¼ cup freshly grated lemon zest
¼ cup coarse kosher salt
¼ cup flaky sea salt, such as fleur de sel
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, lightly crushed
2 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread zest on a baking sheet. Bake about 10 minutes, or until dry to the touch, stirring halfway through. Remove from the oven and allow zest to cool completely.
In a medium bowl, combine salts, fennel seeds and red pepper flakes. Add dried lemon zest and stir until evenly distributed. Divide between 2 (4-ounce) jars with tight-fitting lids. Label with date and instructions: "Excellent on meat or poultry, especially pork or chicken. Store in a cool, dry place up to 6 months."
Recipe from "Edible DIY: Simple, Giftable Recipes to Savor and Share," by Lucy Baker (Running Press, 2012)
Vanilla Extract
Yield: 2 cups or 4 (4-ounce) bottles
8 (6- to 8-inch) vanilla beans, or more (see note)
2 cups gold rum
Using a small, sharp knife, cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise. Place all pieces in a large, clean jar and add rum. Cover and store in a cool, dry place for at least 4 weeks and up to several months.
Drain through a sieve into a pitcher, saving the soaked beans. Pour the extract (including any dark sediment) into clean jars or bottles. Add a few of the soaked beans to each container. Label with date and instructions: "Use as you would store-bought vanilla extract. Store at room temperature for up to a year."
Note: To use a 1.75-liter jug of rum, add at least ¼ pound vanilla beans. "Grade B" or "splits and cuts" are fine — and cheaper. Best prices are online, for example at www.beanilla.com (888-261-3384).
Marialisa Calta is a syndicated food writer who lives in Calais.MORE IN Food & Dining
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HOUSTON Luby's Inc., operator of the namesake 128-unit cafeteria chain, is under fire again from its largest independent shareholder, Ramius Capital Group LLC, which wants Luby's to form a more independent board and to seek strategic alternatives for the company, including a possible sale. Ramius Capital, which through its funds and subsidiaries holds 7.1 percent of Luby's outstanding stock, nominated today four candidates for Luby's board of directors, including three restaurant ...
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Talking Points: Stand up and sing with John HarrisonJeb Wallace-Brodeur / Staff Photo
John Harrison, Twinfield music teacher and director of the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir, sits in his music studio at his home in Plainfield.
PLAINFIELD — John Harrison's studio is sparsely furnished but the sounds he's making fill up the space.
He pivots back and forth between two keyboards, first playing a brief part with his right hand, then watching the notes dance across the computer screen.
His Roland electric piano is overlooked by portraits of some of the great composers of the gospel tradition, hunched over their own keyboards. He has just one more little bit to add to the recording.
"It's something that I'm working on for the school," he says.
The school is Twinfield Union School, where Harrison is an encouraging musical presence. A multi-talented musician, when he's not teaching students at the K-12 school in Marshfield, he's helping organize community shape note sings, or traveling to the south of France to teach gospel singing.
He's always composing; and when he's done composing, the songs may find their way into the repertoire of the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir, which Harrison helped found and now directs.
"I see gospel music as being at the root of the American choral music. It is incredible that out of such a terrible thing as slavery came this transformative musical tradition that is the basis for a particularly American music."
It's been 19 years since the choir grew from seeds planted in the pews of the Montpelier Baptist Church, where the church's music committee voted to open up their fledgling gospel choir to the community at large.
"We had Andy Shapiro and Rev. Fred Shapiro, who were both blues and jazz lovers," recalls Montpelier resident Beverly Keck, who has been with the choir from the beginning. "John was singing with a group of people around a piano out in Plainfield, and both John and Andy knew each other and we joined together. That's when we became the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir."
By all accounts the early days were an adventurous time of challenging transformation.
"I think there were maybe 30, 35 people to begin with, and we were learning to sing in this style of African-American music," Keck says. "And they were just telling us to 'close your eyes and sing. Feel the spirit of the music moving through you.' That's what we we're hoping to share. That gospel spirit moving through the music."
Martha Winthrop, another longtime choir member, recalls: "I remember John's sister Jane (Bradley) said to me, 'There's someplace I want to take you and we're going to do something and you are going to really, really, like it. I've been coming ever since."
Harrison was first tapped as a singer in the choir. This was a bit of a departure from his years of singing rockabilly and new wave music with the New York City band Hoy Boy and the Doys, and performing sketch comedy with the likes of Broadway legend Bebe Neurwirth and comedian Denis Leary.
Instead, singing gospel allowed him to use his childhood training in a traditional English-style choir school in Princeton, N.J.
"We wore surplices, but underneath we wore gray pants and blazers with the choir insignia," Harrison says. "You received medals at each stage of your progress. It was very competitive and a great musical education. We actually got paid. And the better we were the more we got paid."
While Harrison had achieved some success in the New York City worlds of music and improv, he found himself drifting, and at the end of his first marriage he moved to Vermont to be close to family here. It was part of his own personal search that brought him to gospel music.
"My brother had given me a record of traditional gospel music," Harrison says. "He got the music right from the beginning."
These days the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir has grown so large that the choir has split into two sections. There's a big choir, which performs with a full band at four public concerts a year and smaller a cappella choir that also performs at such diverse locations as Burlington Jazzfest and the Chittenden Correctional Facility.
Increasingly, Harrison is teaching the choir his own compositions, and several of them are included in the repertoire of the choir.
"I feel like John is writing from a part of truth in his own life," says Keck. "This is honest music coming from his heart. I have a feeling that people are going to be singing these songs for a long, long time."
Harrison hesitates to call the choir a ministry. In fact, the rank-and-file members embrace all forms of religious belief, from born-and-raised Baptist to Buddhist.
"It is a reflection of my own faith which is flexible and very personal," Harrison says. One need only listen to his composition, "Gospel Train," to get a glimpse into 21st century gospel music in the making:
The train I ride made of air.
The train I ride, ain't even there.
Ain't no coal. It's all soul.
The train I ride.
The Montpelier Community Gospel choir rehearses every Monday night at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Montpelier at 7 p.m. All are welcome, and there are no auditions.
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A Florida man who burned a cat and bit its lip off could be sentenced to five years in prison on Monday, WPBF 25 News has learned.
Angel Roman, 29, pleaded no contest last month in the unusual animal-cruelty case, Orlando television station WESH reported.
MUGSHOTS: Who Got Arrested In South Florida?
Last year, WPBF reported that Roman's Palm Coast roommates went out of town and asked him to watch their pets. When they returned, he told them he had killed one and burned and bit another. Two other cats were missing and also presumed dead.
The Cat, named Oreo, survived and was adopted and renamed. WESH reported that the new owner now calls the animal Phoenix because he rose from the ashes.


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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you weren't already aware of it, all you have to do is take a look around you and take notice of all of the pink.
Pink, the color and ribbon associated with breast cancer, is making an appearance in department stores, grocery stores, airplanes and buildings.
But how many of those products are really helping breast cancer organizations?
"If the label says, 'Money will go to support breast cancer,' well, what does that mean?" Barbara Brenner, the executive director of the advocacy group Breast Cancer Action, told Daily Finance. "If it says it will support breast cancer awareness without being specific, it's not going anywhere."
Daily Finance said that the pink Swiffer sweeper was a product that had uninformative packaging. The label on the product didn't include information on how purchases will support breast cancer causes. Daily Finance also reported that, according to a Procter & Gamble spokeswoman, the company will make a 2-cent donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation if a customer uses a specific coupon.
Daily Finance also says to be aware of the fine print on products, which could include donation caps.
"Consumers could be buying a product, and if the maximum has been reached, their product purchase doesn't help," Samantha King, the author of Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy, told Daily Finance.
One of the products Daily Finance looked at was Herr's Whole Grain Pretzel Ribbons. The company caps its donations at $15,000.
However, despite capping donations, some companies still stand by their attempt to raise awareness and money for breast cancer causes.
Hershey Co. told Daily Finance that aligning with breast cancer is a way to both be competitive in the market and also support a cause. The company is selling Bliss chocolates with pink packaging and will donate $300,000 this year to the Young Survivors Coalition.
"We see it not only as a competitive business strategy, but one that fits in with our corporate values," Hershey spokeswoman Jody Cook told Daily Finance. "We know the pink ribbon resonates well with our customer, and our main target for the Bliss brand is women and mothers, so it's a perfect fit."


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Students at the University of Massachusetts get their school year off to a healthy start -- setting a world record for the world's largest fruit salad.
About 500 students and staff at the university's Amherst campus sliced, pitted and peeled about 150 varieties of fruit to make the salad, which weighed in at 15,000 pounds, according to The Associated Press.
The salad, mixed in a 15-foot diameter swimming pool, included 20 different varieties of apples, 19 varieties of melon, peaches, bananas, oranges, berries and other more exotic fruit like quince and passion fruit.
A Guinness World Records representative certified the record.
Montreal's McGill University held the prior world record with a 11,197-pound fruit salad, Chicopee TV station WWLP reported.


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Although she was recently recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with her first nomination in 20 years of eligibility, Linda Ronstadt said the honor doesn't really matter because she's never been defined by one style of music.
Appropriately, it's Ronstadt's amazing trek across many different musical genres that chronicled in her new book "Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir" (Simon & Schuster). Ronstadt shares stories from all the genres she's covered, from rock, pop and county, to jazz, operettas, bluegrass and the selections from the Great American Songbook.
Ronstadt, a third generation Mexican-American from Tucson, Ariz., also writes about her passion for performing and recording Mexican folk music, which has held deep, personal meaning for the singer since her childhood.
"Mexican-Americans have had a tremendous influence on this culture in every way -- food, music, clothing styles, literature -- every way you can think of, but there's still an effort to keep them invisible," Ronstadt, 67, told me in a recent interview. "I just wasn't going to let that part of me remain invisible. It's a huge part of me, culturally, emotionally and socially, and I wanted to have that part of me represented."
Ronstadt's entry into the business in the mid-1960s in Los Angeles was remarkable -- not so much for the extraordinary people she encountered -- but the ordinary musicians that she would meet, who, like her, were on the cusp of superstardom.
Among them was a 16-year-old Jackson Browne; Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon -- all members of her backing band that would go on to become the Eagles; and Jim Morrison and his band, The Doors, in the group's early years.
Ronstadt and her band, the Stone Poneys, were oddly enough hired as The Doors' opening act after the band's signature song "Different Drum" became a big hit in 1967.
The singer admits her first impression of Morrison -- before her band became The Doors' opener -- wasn't the greatest.
"I remember seeing Jim Morrison and The Doors play at the Whiskey a Go Go, and I thought the band was great and the singer was terrible," Ronstadt recalled, bluntly. "I remembered saying at the time, 'Gosh, if they could get a good singer they could really have big hits."
As it turned out, Ronstadt ended up hanging out with Morrison and one of the band's wranglers on tour, and, she says, his drunken exploits would often lead to trouble.
"I hate to speak ill of the dead, but he was a terrible alcoholic who threw up every day, mostly on his pants -- which were made out of snakeskin -- and he wore the same hair every day. I just didn't get the appeal myself since I didn't care for his singing," Ronstadt recalls. "He was sweet when he was sober, but that was not for very long periods of time during the day."
While Ronstadt doesn't have any problem with people who use drugs, she's long felt that alcohol is the most damaging mind-altering substance. From a personal standpoint, the singer says she never drank, because she discovered early on that alcohol made her violently ill.
"People who smoke pot, they seem to get along just fine. I don't understand why they don't make it legal everywhere," Ronstadt says. "I think all drugs should be legal and people can just take their chances. The worst drug is alcohol. Nothing gets you more stoned than alcohol. If all drugs are legal, probably the same number of people would be getting stoned, but they wouldn't have to steal your TV set in order to get the money to do it. We'd have a lot more control, and a lot more ability to educated people about it."
While the book predominantly covers her musical career, Ronstadt is more than happy to discuss her some of her personal viewpoints that aren't necessarily expressed in her memoir.
As an advocate of music education, and she's afraid the de-emphasis of such programs in schools is a huge detriment to society.
"Art is there to identify our feelings and help us process our emotions. It's there to help us get through our day. All the arts are important. Dancing, singing, visual arts. They're all really important," Ronstadt said. "But we all live in a culture where we seem to delegate our art to professionals, and it's a shame. We need our heroes to inspire us, but then we need to do it ourselves and we're not doing it in our culture. We're raising generation after generation of tone-deaf children that can't even sing 'Happy Birthday.'"
Music, Ronstadt said, isn't just there for enjoyment, there are other benefits, too, especially with the human brain.
"There's such good science that says pitch is tremendously important in memory storage," Ronstadt explained. "That's why we have a song to learn the ABCs, because we wouldn't be able to learn 26 unrelated characters without having a song to help up remember them. But when we're not teaching music in the schools, it's a shame. These kids are growing up without pitch and they can't learn as well. When I go to work in schools with children and they sing something, they can't sing on pitch. They can't sing a melody. The results are going to be catastrophic. I think in education, it's starting to show up already."
Parkinson's diagnosis
In August, Ronstadt revealed in an AARP Magazine interview that she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the end of 2012. She's been sensing for years that something was wrong, and in fact, the last time she performed in public was in 2009.
Effectively, the degenerative disorder of the central nervous system has robbed Ronstadt of her ability to sing, and sometimes she even finds speaking difficult.
"I have a hard time even calling the cat," Ronstadt said. "I have a hard time speaking for a long period of time now and I can't really project my voice. I have a little part of my speaking voice, but I don't have a very expressive speaking voice anymore. I tried to do the audio version of my book, but I couldn't do it."
At current, Ronstadt says examining different treatment options for the disease.
"It's a long, bewildering journey to find what works out there," Ronstadt observed. "I found something that works a little bit that isn't a drug but a vegetable extract. It doesn't cure it. It doesn't make it go away, but it doesn't have the side effects that the drugs have."
One big problem Ronstadt has in the treatment of the disease is the generalized approach to it.
"I think there are lot of different versions of Parkinson's disease out there and a lot of different causes, and different people respond to different things," Ronstadt said. "What big pharmacy doesn't allow for is medicine as an art. They want one thing that's going to clobber the disease over an 80 to 90 percent range of people, and often those things have some very undesirable side effects.
"Instead, they should develop one little thing, like a vegetable extract that works for 20 percent of Parkinson's sufferers, and something else that works for 40 percent," she added. "But the drug companies want to have the biggest return on their money since we live in a capitalistic society and culture. I think there are other ways of looking at it."
But while Ronstadt has hard time speaking physically, that doesn't mean she's lost her sense of expression and becoming a voice, in the inspiration sense, for issues she cares deeply about. And while she admits she probably wouldn't author another book with her viewpoints ("I think it's easier to write a book with personal stories than a book about ideas," she said), Ronstadt will certainly keep expressing her thoughts in a public forum.
"The thing I'm most interested in is immigration reform, because that is making so many people's lives so excruciatingly miserable and it's so unnecessary," Ronstadt said. "It's having a tremendous impact on the cultural at-large when there are people living amongst you who are not able to have a piece of the full economic pie and having full access to education. They have worry about getting a good job, and also have to worry about getting thrown in jail or deported, that's a terrible thing. That's bad for a society as a whole. We have to figure out a way for those people to be assimilated without turning them into permanent underclass so they can have depressed wages and be exploited."
Linda Ronstadt thrilled for the chance to live out 'Simple Dreams'
Although she was recently recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with her first nomination in 20 years of eligibility, Linda Ronstadt said the honor doesn't really matter because she's never been defined by one style of music.
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"I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Robert Frost
A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust": And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Teamwork makes the Dream Work!


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Il Mito East to open at former site of Osteria
Chef Michael Feker will open a second Italian restaurant, called Il Mito East, in the Knickerbocker Hotel early next year.
That space, at 1028 E. Juneau Ave., was the site of the fine-dining Italian restaurant Osteria del Mondo for 16 years, until its closing in April 2011. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
Submit your Polish Fest photos to our festivals gallery
If you find yourself at Polish Fest this weekend, or if you have photos from any other festivals this summer, send your best selfies and party pics to firstname.lastname@example.com. You'll see them live in Tap Milwaukee's reader photo gallery. Be sure to say hi to Tap correspondents, Heather and Brandon, who will be at Polish Fest on Sunday, too. »Read Full Article
New books examine Battle of Gettysburg
The world "can never forget what they did here," President Abraham Lincoln declared in his memorable 1863 address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg.
One hundred and fifty years later, as the Gettysburg National Military Park and its Pennsylvania neighbors prepare for an influx of visitors, Lincoln's words ring true. »Read Full Article(1)
Dazzling Glinda ensures a bewitching 'Wicked'
Watching Hayley Podschun's captivating Glinda on Thursday night at the Marcus Center, I realized how much this ambitious sorority girl from Oz has in common with the musical in which she co-stars with Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West.
Like the dazzling Glinda, "Wicked" knows how to milk an entrance, fill a room and put on a show. This is the same tour that was here in 2010, and the production values in evidence then continue to impress, from the lavish Edwardian costumes and matching steampunk set to the spectacular lighting design and 14-piece pit orchestra. »Read Full Article
Gaiman's new book a beautiful collision of memory, mortality
If you ask me, I'll tell you that "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" is Neil Gaiman's portrait of the artist as a young man. With this book, Gaiman has crafted an achingly beautiful memoir of an imagination and a spellbinding story that sets three women at the center of everything.
If you ask me, I'll tell you that this is not only a creation myth (of imagination, of a meaningful life, of the universe), but also a wonderful fairy tale with some truly creepy moments. Set in the English countryside of Gaiman's childhood, the story's middle-aged narrator (an artist) flees a family funeral, retreating "toward a house that had not existed for decades." He ends up at the pond at the end of the lane where he first met the Hempstock women (Old Mrs. Hempstock, Ginnie and Lettie), a trinity of females who recall when "the moon was made," who can "snip fragments of time," and who are "not in the fabric of the universe," but "outside of it." »Read Full Article
Journal Broadcast Group a partner in Sykes' conservative event
Journal Broadcast Group, owners of WTMJ-AM (620) and WTMJ-TV (Channel 4), is partner in an awards event for conservative women.
The committee to choose the winner of what is being called the Right Women Awards, was announced Thursday on Charlie Sykes' WTMJ-AM show by Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. »Read Full Blog Post(33)
Questions for the dining critic? Now's the time to ask
Journal Sentinel dining critic Carol Deptolla will answer your questions about the local dining scene in a noon chat. Share your good or bad restaurant experiences, questions, recommendations or changes you've noticed while dining out and she'll respond during the chat.
Submit your question here, and check back during the lunch hour to see her response. »Read Full Article
A sometimes stinging Venice Biennale
Venice, Italy — Every two years, this ancient and liquidy city is deluged by the art world, making it seem more unreal than it already is. Curators, collectors, critics and artists cram onto the Venetian islands for a three-day preview of what is effectively the Olympics of art, the Venice Biennale.
Attired like something out of "The Talented Mr. Ripley" – tailored and European and with all of the ingratiating and insinuating implied by that reference – many of the well-heeled dash like 8-year-olds sprinting for Space Mountain when the gates open each day. »Read Full Blog Post(1)
On Tap this Weekend: Polish Fest, Underwear Bike Ride, MAM After Dark Block Party
This weekend is going to be a wild ride. Here are Tap Milwaukee's top event picks for you to add to your calendar. »Read Full Blog Post
Hank Willis Thomas talks about Question Bridge
How do you know when you are a man? Why is it so difficult for black men in this culture to be themselves? Why wouldn't you be happy with your son being gay? Do you really feel free?
These are some of the questions that black men have asked other black men through a video-mediated art project called "Question Bridge: Black Males," by Hank Willis Thomas and Chris Johnson. »Read Full Blog Post
24 hours: More fun stuff for Milwaukee's weekend to-do list
7:30 a.m. Friday
Milwaukee Indyfest really gets rolling Friday at the Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park. Music, carnival rides, IndyCar runs and, yes, rickshaw racing. »Read Full Article
On Tap for Today: Superman, HartFest, Polish Fest and more
Hello, Friday. We've been waiting.
Superman turns 75 but you wouldn't know it to look at Henry Cavill, the star of "The Man of Steel." The newest movie in the Superman franchise opens today and Duane Dudek has the review. »Read Full Blog Post


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By Kristin Arnold, THELAW.TV
Identity thieves ruin the financial lives of millions Americans every year. Often, the signs that you're a victim hit you light a truck. You go to the ATM and there's no money left in your account. Or you get a call from your bank's fraud department about charges that you certainly didn't make.
But, very often, identity thieves get away with their crime for far too long because the crime isn't so obvious.
"The faster you find out that an thief stole your identity, the easier it is to stop the bleeding," said attorney Brian Albert of legal information website THELAW.TV. "Identity thieves have become more crafty. They are committing their crimes in ways that, at least temporarily, conceal their actions. That's why we all need to be vigilant about paying attention to our financial life."
Here are 11 tell-tale signs that someone stole your identity:
1. New accounts appear on your credit report. If your credit report contains accounts that you didn't open, someone else probably opened those accounts in your name.
2. There are unexplained withdrawals and charges on your statements. Banks don't typically make mistakes with withdrawals and charges. If you didn't make that suspicious-looking charge, a thief probably did.
3. You haven't received your bills, statements, or other important mail in a long time. This is a sign that someone probably submitted a change of address form for you. They're having your mail sent to their address.
4. You've received calls from debt collection agencies about products or services you didn't buy. When thieves steal your identity, one of the most common things they do is open a credit card and run up the charges. But, they never pay the bills. That'll lead to debt collectors calling you. After all, it's your name on the account.
5. There are checks missing from your checkbook. That's an obvious one. No explanation needed.
6. You apply for credit or a loan and are turned down. Most people who apply for credit know whether they're going to be approved or not. It's sort of like proposing marriage. You usually know the answer ahead of time. So, if you were expecting an approval and your credit app is denied, you better check your credit report real quick.
7. You get higher-than-expected interest rates. If you were expecting a certain interest rate, and you get hit with something higher, it's likely that there's something unexpected, and bad, on your credit report. Probably something you don't know about.
8. You receive a thank you gift. Some banks still send thank you gifts -- or thank you notes -- when you open an account. You may want that toaster that arrived in the mail. You may also want to check with the bank that sent the toaster and find out who opened the account.
9. Extra bills show up in the mail. If someone opens an account in your name, you're going to receive the bills.
10. Your new debit card doesn't show up. If someone changes the address on your bank account, your new debits cards won't arrive (when your current card expires).
11. You receive a strange email. You may get an email that you think is spam. Or it may looking like those phishing attempts that you're always deleting. But, it may be a legitimate email, from a legitimate bank, because that bank thinks you opened an account with them (when, in fact, a thief opened an account in your name and used your email address).
Now that your identity was stolen, your credit is threatened, and your life is spiraling, what's next? As a victim of identity theft, you need to act fast to minimize the lasting effects.
Here's what you need to do now:
1. You need to contact each of the major credit agencies -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion -- and let their fraud departments know that you were a victim of identity theft. The faster you call, the faster the credit agencies will be able to flag adverse items that could end up on your credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you 90 days to place an initial fraud alert. In most cases, you'll be entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each agency. Examine these reports carefully and notify the agencies of any discrepancies.
2. Close all accounts that were targeted by the identity thief -- or those that the thief opened in your name.
3. File a police report where the crime took place.
4. Continue to monitor your credit reports.
5. Consider "freezing" your credit reports.
6. Report the case to the Federal Trade Commission.
7. You may also need to contact the Postal Inspection Service (if the identity thief submitted a change-of-address form with your name), the Social Security Administration (if you believe your Social Security number is being used fraudulently), and the Internal Revenue Service (if the thief may be using your information for tax purposes).


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Solar Charge Regulator CX40 with LC Display
Battery State-of-Charge display LCDCharge and discharge status displayAcoustic load disconnect pre-warningLoad status indicationChoose between 3 load disconnect algorithmsboost/absorption/float PWM-regulation (series type)Prepared for DIN rail mountingAutomatic 12 / 24 Volt detectionIntegrated temperature compensationCovered terminals (up to 16mm² wire size)Full solid-state protectionProgrammable nightlight function The CX series is a sophisticated solar charge regulator family with exceptional features in this price range. Beside a perfect PWM regulation with integrated temperature compensation the controllers provide extraordinary display-, programming- and safety functions. The battery state of charge is clearly displayed with a bar chart, as well as energy flows from and to the battery and the load status (e.g. overload, load short circuit). The deep discharge protection function can be set up to three different modes: voltage controlled, SOC controlled or adaptive (fuzzy logic).Acoustic warnings are built in, as well as a programmable nightlight function.The CX also provides a built-in excess energy management function which means that in combination with especially designed loads (e.g. Phocos Solar Refrigerators/Coolers SF32E, SF50E) it is possible to make use of excess energy which would be lost otherwise because of the overcharge protection of the battery. A better utilization of the solar system is the benefit.The compact case design is prepared for DIN rail mounting (mounting device available as an accessory).
Technical data Charge current max.: 40 A Load current max.: 40 A System voltage: 12/24 V Self power consumption: < 4 mA Dimensions (wxhxd): 89x90x39 mm Type of protection: IP20


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MKC Concept takes Lincoln design cues
Published On: Jan 14 2013 03:15:20 PM PST
Lincoln hasn't officially announced plans to mass-produce the MKC, but don't be surprised if something very similar shows up soon.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to our Terms of Use.


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Grace Potter, Nocturnals to play Jan. 20
Bluesy rock singer and musician Grace Potter and her band, the Nocturnals, will perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Pabst Theater, 144 E. Wells St.
General admission tickets are $30 the day of the show, $27.50 in advance, on sale at noon Nov. 16 at the box office, (414) 286-3663 and pabsttheater.org. »Read Full Article
In Tandem's 'Burying the Bones' needs more flesh
When the lights come up on M.E.H. Lewis' "Burying the Bones," which opened Friday night at In Tandem Theatre under Chris Flieller's direction, a young woman is sleeping peacefully. Her husband comes into the room and lovingly stands over her. The soft light suggests another dawn for a couple who surely have a bright future ahead of them.
Guess again. »Read Full Article
Milwaukee Film Festival picks: Day Ten
Rain and movies go together like ... well, you pick the metaphor. But you don't need bad weather to attend the Milwaukee Film Festival Saturday. Here are reasons to do so.
- "Sign Painters" (4:30 p.m., Oriental Theatre) Documentary directed by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon that Art City writer Mary Louise Schumacher calls "a dive into the toolboxes and tricks of the sign painters" who "change the urban landscape with their own hands and who defy the kind of washed-out sameness that has crept into American cities."
- "The Angels' Share" (4 p.m., Fox-Bay Cinema Grill) Cannes Festival Jury prize-winning comedy by the usually dour Ken Loach about a troubled youth who discovers he has a nose for quality whisky and hatches a scheme to steal a rare spirit. Watch the trailer below.
- "Spinning Plates" (4 p.m., Oriental) Documentary about a struggling Mexican restaurant, a family-style community landmark and the nouvelle cuisine of Chicago's Alinea whose chef was stricken with a cancer that threatened his senses of taste and smell. What starts out as a foodie film ends up a portrait of struggle, perseverance and triumph. Watch the trailer below.
- "An Evening With Paul Attanasio" (7:30 p.m., Oriental) Paul Attanasio, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of "Donnie Brasco" and "Quiz Show," executive producer of "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "House, and brother of Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, appears at a career retrospective conducted by Jonathan Jackson, the festival's artistic and executive director.


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Sateen Ankle Pant
Style: 570069525
Out of Stock
Sateen cotton pant is slimmed with top-stiched panels, stitched with gold metallic thread and sparkles with rhinestone rivets on the front pockets. 98% Cotton, 2% Spandex. Machine wash, cold; line dry. Or dry clean. Imported.
- Sits below the waist.
- Slim leg.
- Button front with zip. Belt loops and back hip darts. Button-through flap pockets in back.
- "Feel beautiful" message inside the waistband.
- Inseams: regular 30", short 27.5", long 32".
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Lighten up: Milwaukee Comedy Festival ahead
The Milwaukee Comedy Festival plans to lead up the annual comedy festival with, what else, comedy events.
The kick-off begins July 25 and runs through July 27 with shows at the Underground Collaborative, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave., in the Grand Avenue Mall. A meet-and-greet with performers and festival staff and a comedy showcase is planned for July 31 at the Next Act Theatre, 255 W. Water St. »Read Full Article
UWM honors visual effects Oscar winner Jim Rygiel
Jim Rygiel's road to winning three Oscars started at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which the Kenosha native attended from 1973 to 1977.
In ceremonies Friday, Rygiel, who won a visual effects Oscar for each film in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, was given the UWM Chancellor Recognition Award for having "demonstrated excellence." Earlier in the day, Rygiel met with UWM film students. »Read Full Article
Florentine Opera begins new season with lush 'La Traviata'
Milwaukee's Florentine Opera Company raised the curtain on its 80th season Friday evening, ushering in the season with a grand production of Verdi's "La Traviata."
"Traviata" is the tragic tale of a dying courtesan willing to give up everything for love. She is convinced by her lover's father to end the romance, but he relents at seeing his son's pain over the loss. The lovers reunite shortly before her death. »Read Full Article
Soulstice goes time-traveling with 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile'
Paris, 1904. A 25-year-old German physicist walks into a bar, where he'll eventually be joined by a 23-year-old Spanish painter. Albert Einstein, meet Pablo Picasso, courtesy of Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile."
A huge hit at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater 14 years ago, "Picasso" is back, in a staging by Soulstice Theatre that opened Friday. »Read Full Article


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"Storage Wars," which follows teams of bidders looking to score big in the high-stakes world of storage auctions, returns for a fifth season and the gloves are off!
Jarrod and Brandi find themselves fighting to keep their business afloat. Darrell Sheets continues to teach his son Brandon about the business of buying. Rene Nezhodah and his wife Casey will do whatever it takes to gain respect from the veterans, and Ivy Calvin pulls no punches at the auction or at his store.
In a world where cash is king, the art of storage buying has never been more valuable.
"Storage Wars" is produced by Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company, for A&E Network. Executive producers are Thom Beers, Philip D. Segal and Jeff Conroy. Jeff Bumgarner is co-executive producer. A&E producers are Drew Tappon, Fred Grinstein and Brad Holcman.
Sign up for email updates and never miss an episode of Storage Wars
Storage Wars features modern-day treasure hunters and bidders in the high stakes drama of storage auctions. Rivalries run deep and family drama high as the business of buying has reached critical mass. Shop Storage Wars DVDs, t-shirts, and fan gear at the A&E store for all your favorite Storage Wars merchandise.


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3/4 Sleeve Berry Floral Cardigan
Style: 570068777
Out of Stock
Cardi in our limited edition floral looks pretty in pinks—the Very Berry and Begonia coloring spring. Hammered silvertone dome buttons dot the hidden snap placket. 100% Rayon. Hand wash, cold; lay flat to dry. Or dry clean. Imported.
- Contoured stretch fit.
- Jewel neckline. Inside of placket reinforced with grosgrain ribbon. Finely ribbed at neckline, cuffs and bottom. 3/4 sleeve.
- Hits at the upper hip (21.5" from shoulder).
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Port Authority® Youth Pro Mesh Cap. YC833
Breathable and comfortable, this cap has a great pro look, complete with a contrasting grey underbill.
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May 1, 2013 —
It's almost impossible to think about Sullivan County (www.scva.net [2]) without recalling a little music festival that put the town of Bethel on the map during a rain-soaked three days in 1969. Since then, music lovers have flocked to the region seeking to rekindle memories of that event, or create new ones in honor of it.
While many styles of music were represented at Woodstock, I think it's fair to say that country music was not at the forefront. But flashing forward to present day, country is alive and well in Sullivan County where the genre is huge. In recent years, the grounds of the original festival consistently sell out with concerts at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (www.bethelwoodscenter.org [3]) featuring country performers, and local radio station Thunder 102 (www.thunder102.com [4]) has become the number-one country station in New York and Pennsylvania.
Last weekend marked the eighth annual concert and celebration of lightning hot country music, courtesy of ThunderBash, held on the Big V Tours stage at Monticello Casino and Raceway. Created by the team at Thunder 102 and sponsored by Bethel Woods, Crystal Run Healthcare and the M & M Auto Group, ThunderBash has become a tradition and draws thousands to Sullivan County each year with its glowing roster of talent. Although the event lures big names in the industry, it's the local connection that creates the ties that bind, and popular on-air personality Paul Ciliberto never lets us forget that it is the residents who make ThunderBash the "biggest bash in Sullivan County since '69." Aided and abetted by Mike Sakell, The River Reporter's readers' favorite celebrity of 2012, and by Michelle Semerano, the station invited "Mr. Nashville" Billy Block to host ThunderBash this year. It was a nice moment when Block was honored by Town of Thompson Supervisor Anthony Cellinni, who announced to the crowd that April 27 would now officially be known as "Mr. Nashville-Billy Block Day."
The bash began with a big welcome to spectators by Bold Gold Media Group's Vince Benedetto and Cellinni, followed by the Marine Corps' presentation of the colors and newcomer Alyssa Sartup's rendition of the national anthem. The show featured plenty of homegrown talent including Cathy Paty, Jason Casterlin and Brian Dunne, all of whom are (IMHO) stars on the horizon. Local boys-make-good Ken and Barry Somerville were also on the bill and the wildly popular duo now splits their time between Monticello and Nashville, writing and recording for themselves and well known giants in the industry. Even though the brothers have experienced a meteoric rise in country music, they continue to play local venues whenever they can and are always on hand for fundraisers like ThunderBash.
Tickets for the concert were offered to the public at no charge, but folks were asked to make a donation once there, benefiting the St. Jude Research Hospital and the Sullivan County YMCA (www.middletownymca.org [5]). More than $10,000 was raised for the organizations, and a pair of tickets to the Country Music Association (CMA) Music Fest in Nashville was awarded to one lucky winner, who will have the opportunity to see superstars Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum, among others.
As the excitement mounted, Tommy Steel took to the stage and entertained with a solid set of hits, as the band's fans flocked to the stage, prepping the crowd for southern rock faves Iron Cowboy. Cowboy's motto "country music with horsepower" makes sense when you hear them, and front man "Big John" Davis never disappoints. Davis and company rocked the house and brought the audience to its feet before headliners Steel Magnolia hit the stage. Duo Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones formed the band in 2009 and have already been nominated by the Academy of Country Music as Top Vocal Duo. Their gorgeous harmonies and incredible stage presence have made them an "overnight sensation" and their performance was stellar, showcasing their musical talent as well as their incredible chemistry with each other and their topnotch band.
I've seen a lot of concerts over the years, but it still amazes me how giving country artists are. Whether just starting out or already established, these men and women (and ThunderBash itself) always remind me of "lightning in a bottle," capturing something powerful and elusive and then being able to show it to the world.


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Tempe, AZ (KPHO) -- A 5-week-old kitten is safe after spending several days stuck in the ceiling of a recreation center in Tempe.
Libby was underweight -- weighing just 1 pound -- but otherwise in good shape after being pulled to safety, Arizona Humane Society spokeswoman Bretta Nelson told KPHO.
The orange tabby managed to get caught in the ceiling of the Pyle Adult Recreation Center.
"For days, employees could hear her little cries, but were uncertain as to where they were coming from," Nelson said.
Staff members eventually called the humane society for help.
When emergency animal medical technicians arrived, they had to figure out the best way to reach her.
They decided that cutting a hole in the ceiling would work best, Nelson said.
The hole left behind will now be turned into a trap door in case any other furry friends get stuck there again, Nelson said.
AHS staff member Andy Gallo was eventually able to get to Libby and pull her out.
"Best, most destructive, most rewarding and hardest rescue to date," Gallo said.
Libby is now in foster care with her rescuer and will be up for adoption once she gets up to 2 pounds and can be spayed.


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The USB Drive Shop
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The USB Drive Shop at Pinnacle Promotions features USB drives in a wide assortment of colors, sizes and even memory capacities, making them the perfect gift or giveaway for any occasion. Companies can select colors that match their logo perfectly, or simply choose a bold color in order to attract attention to the sleek and shiny design. They are ideal for increasing brand awareness as well as for encouraging employee relations, the top two programs when ranked according to purpose. Additionally, commercial models have come a long way since they first appeared on the market in the United States in 2000. And as the technology continues to develop and expand, so do the features in our collection. Recipients will appreciate their new found ability to store their work in a safe, remote place in order to prevent work from being lost in case their computer is damaged. So add this sense of security to your next marketing campaign today and reassure your audience that they can depend on your brand.


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Janssen thrilled character gets shot at redemption in 'Taken 2'
Actress reprises role of Lenore in sequel to 2008 blockbuster
Even though her days as Jean Grey and her formidable alter ego, Dark Phoenix, appear to be over in the X-Men movie franchise, Famke Janssen is intent on remaining a force in Hollywood -- both in front of and behind the camera.
On the heels of the release of her writing and directorial debut with the family-centric comedy "Bringing Up Bobby," Janssen is ready to take audiences by storm again with "Taken 2" -- the hotly anticipated sequel to the 2008 action thriller about Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), a retired CIA operative who goes to extraordinary lengths to save his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), after she is kidnapped by sex traffickers in Paris.
Janssen reprises her role as Lenore, Bryan's ex-wife and close mother to Kim, who figures much more prominently in the sequel's plot.
In a recent interview, Janssen said the reason the second "Taken" film took so long to make was largely because of the huge response to Neeson's performance in the first one.
"I think we were all pleasantly surprised at the success of the first 'Taken' movie, and at what point people started thinking about a sequel I don't know, but I do know that Liam became so incredibly popular and in-demand after the first one that one of the reasons for the delay was his schedule," Janssen told me. "We're all incredibly grateful that it finally came together when it did, and Liam's career has taken off so nice since the first one. It couldn't have happened to a nicer person."
Janssen is thrilled to take part in "Taken 2" for several reasons, not the least of which was getting the opportunity to work Neeson and Grace again. But from her character's standpoint, it offered Lenore a shot at redemption after coming off as a huge thorn in her ex's side in the first film.
Janssen said that some fans took her performance so close to the heart, in fact, that they didn't have very many kind words to say to her in public.
"I wasn't the most particularly liked character in 'Taken' and I have to agree with people," the 47-year-old beauty said with a laugh. "Lenore wasn't the softest, nicest person. Clearly, she's a particular sort of character, and having just directed a film of my own, I understand more than ever what certain roles characters have to play in a film and their importance to a storyline."
Putting it simply, Janssen said Lenore had to be unlikeable in "Taken."
"Somebody had to be the catalyst for this entire plot to happen in the first place," Janssen said. "The fact that she told the daughter to go to Paris and she gets taken and put into a prostitution ring as a result made her a very unlikeable character."
Opening in theaters Friday, "Taken 2" finds Bryan in a much better place with Lenore and Kim, who are both undergoing huge changes in their lives. Kim has a boyfriend, much to her over-protective father's chagrin, and Lenore is going through an emotional crisis since her marriage to her second husband is falling apart.
Encouraging Lenore and Kim to get away, Bryan invites them to meet him in Istanbul, where he's wrapping up another security detail. But waiting in the wings is Murad Krasniqi (Rade Serbedzija), an Albanian crime lord who is seeking revenge against Bryan for killing his son -- one of the many people in the first film who paid dearly for their crimes as Bryan searched for his then-kidnapped daughter.
The main difference in "Taken 2" is that Bryan and Lenore are kidnapped by Krasniqi, and Kim, spared another trauma, covertly communicates with her father to help them find a way to escape.
Janssen believes the drastic turn of events -- coupled with Lenore's personal troubles -- will help audiences warm up to her in "Taken 2."
"She's a much softer character this time," Janssen said. "She's going through some troubles in her life with a divorce, and there's hope of a rekindling of a romance between Bryan and her, so there are some added layers to this film, which is fun."
Janssen has no doubt that as a whole, people will respond the same way to "Taken 2" as the first one, because once again, Bryan not only confronts fear -- he beats fear back into submission.
"Post-9/11, people felt powerless and riddled with fear, so the notion of this man taking charge and protecting his family and going after these criminals is something audiences really wanted to see," Janssen observed. "There's definitely some kind of correlation between the times we live in and the plot of the film."
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34 Holiday Ideas for Gifts in a Jar
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Latest Comments
"This is perfect!! I can't wait to get started on my own cute little kitchen herb garden...when I get my own place, that is"
"Very intresting of what projects can be done with tp. We use them a lot for projects with children and this one will be this week project. Though, i think the colors can be more traditional with green and red or maybe golden colors with the green tree. I am sure the children will chose the traditional, but personally i like this one. Can be placed in any wall and every season."
"How cute are these fun and colorful little birds! I really like how easy they are to make. Can you really make a flamingo like mulberrygalprinces s says you can? That would be so cute to make. I love the idea of making several kinds of birds. My stepdad loves birds, so I can see making all kinds of these for him to add to the christmas tree or just to decorate the house."
"What a fun and festive way to use up a pile of paper clips that you never use! I love that you made them in various colors. I think it is so neat to use magnets on them too. You could use them to hang pictures from on a refrigerator or file cabinet."
Friendship Mobile and Frame
By: Roxi Phillips for Krylon
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The cute friendship mobile and frame from Krylon make great best friend gift ideas! Whip up a handmade mobile and matching frame to give to your best buddy. Make sure to include a picture of the two of you!
- Krylon Brights - Bright Blue (#9920)
- Krylon Brights - Bright Pink (#9921)
- Krylon Brights - Bright Orange (#9922)
- Krylon Brights - Bright Yellow (#9923)
- Krylon Brights - Bright Green (#9924)
- Krylon Short Cuts® Aerosol Paints - Gloss White (#SCS053)
- Dimensional glitter fabric paint
- Chipboard letters
- Embroidery Hoops: 8", 4"
- Chipboard flowers (Maya Road Chipboard Blossoms III)
- Picture Frame
- Ranger Industries non-stick Craft Sheet
- Ribbon: 1" stripe (5yds), 3/8" organdy white (3')
- Rub-Ons: Friends
- Terrifically Tacky Tape: 1/4"
- Transparency Film
- Paint chipboard flowers and letters with Brights Pens; let dry. Lay flowers on non-stick craft sheet and fill openings with dimensional glitter paint; let dry completely then carefully peel off craft sheet leaving paint intact in center of flower openings.
- For mobile, wrap embroidery hoops with striped ribbon, secure with Tacky Tape. Attach hoops together by tying with a bow at top. Use outside of large hoop as a template and cut circle from transparency film; adhere to back of hoops with Tacky Tape. Arrange letters and flowers on transparency and secure with Tack Tape.
- Attach two flowers to each of three 8" lengths of organdy ribbon, and adhere to back of large hoop with Tacky Tape.
- For frame, remove glass from frame and spray with Gloss White; let dry. Embellish border of frame with Brights Pens.
- Adhere chipboard flowers to frame with Tacky Tape.
- Apply Rub-Ons according to manufacturer's directions.
- Insert glass and photo back into frame.
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Is shopping for décor and home furnishings not in your budget this year? Before deciding that you can't afford to redecorate, consider a cheaper alternative -- used items.
Garage sales, yard sales and flea markets can provide hidden -- and affordable -- treasures. And searching through sales for just the right item can be addicting for some.
Shelley Kincaid recalled getting out of a moving car one time when she saw four Persian rugs on the lawn of a woman's garage sale. Kincaid, who is also an interior designer, said she knew they were Baluchi rugs and were selling for $15 each. Kincaid bought all four for $60. She brought them to her favorite rug dealer and sold them to him for $1,200."It pays to be an educated consumer," she said.
Kincaid, author of "The Garage Sale Decorator's Bible: How to Find Treasures, Fix Them and Furnish Your Home," has been shopping at garage sales for 20 years. Before then, she had never been to garages sales.
"It was a long-distance move gone bad, and we lost everything in that move," she said.
She said movers destroyed their belongings. Their newly built home sat empty.
Kincaid started going to garage sales to find items for her new house. Then she got hooked.
"I decided that everything in my home I would buy from garage sales," she said.
It took her a couple of months worth of sales to fill her house, and she hasn't stopped since.
"You can buy brand-new things for pennies on the dollar," Kincaid said.
She said garage sales are good for people's budgets. Shoppers can buy things at garage sales, or even fix them up like Kincaid does, and sell them for a higher price.
Kincaid considers herself a professional garage sale shopper.
"Professionals are called dealers. These people make a very handsome living. I'm a professional because I have made a living on this," she said.
Kincaid compiled a pricing guide based on her experiences so she knows what items go for. She said it helps sellers price their items and buyers with their bargaining power.
She said negotiating on price depends on what the item is. For example, if a new toaster is selling for $7, Kincaid said she can probably get $5 for it.
"My rule of thumb is half. I'll offer them half of what the price is marked," she said.
At the same time if the price is right, she'll pay it. She found a Bombay chest with inlay for $15 and gladly paid the asking price. She later had it appraised for $1,200."Most people expect when you're hosting a sale for people to bargain with you," Kincaid said.
Good, Bad And Ugly Garage Sales
A drive-by can tell shoppers a lot about garage sales, especially if they are looking to hit several in one day.
If it's "late in the afternoon and they have a ton of nice stuff, you know it's priced way too high because the stuff wouldn't still be there," Kincaid said.
On the other hand, if there is only one card table set up, people are going to pass on it.
For good selection, it's good to hit them early. "However, the seller probably won't bargain as much early in the day. Later in the afternoon, the bargaining ball is in the buyer's court," she said.
Kincaid has a wants-and-needs list that she brings with her to sales.
Chris Heiska, founder of YardSaleQueen.com, buys on impulse without a list.


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