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Athy U16 v Portlaoise 10/01/2015
Athy 27 – 12 Portlaoise
Athy U16s overturned a first half 0-12 deficit to overcome a committed Portlaoise team in this Phase 2 Leinster League game. Athy played into a gale in the first half and had restricted Portlaoise to a single try before Portlaoise eventually forced their way over to extend the lead to 12-0 with the last play of the half. However this lead seemed anaemic in the conditions and within two minutes of the restart Athy had their first try when centre Billy Doyle scored after quick ruck ball was worked quickly wide. Soon after Athy scored again, this time No.8 Martin Maloney breaking from a scrum to outrace the defence to make the touchdown. Cormac Moore's conversion tied the game. A rare excursion into Athy's 22' by Portlaoise was repelled and the subsequent clearing kick, chase and follow-up tackles put the Portlaoise fullback in all sorts of trouble. Moloney benefitted with the touchdown for a 17-12 lead. By this stage Athy were dominant and the next score was the result of quick hands from the backs, winger Cian English breaking a number of tackles to dot down in the right corner. The backs created the fifth and final try with early passing giving English the space to beat the last defenders on the outside for a 27-12 victory.
The seeds of this victory were laid in the first half with the pack leading the way. In this Eoin Cooney had no equal, consistently achieving shoulder contact in the tackle and driving attackers into the ground or backwards – then into the ground. In the backs centres David Considine and Billy Doyle were excellent in defence when it was required and showed great awareness in attack. An excellent performance and result from a hard working team hitting its stride.
Athy U16 v Newbridge 06/12/2014
6th December 2014
Athy 24 Newbridge 0
Athy claimed their fifth league win of the season with a comprehensive 24-0 victory over Newbridge on Saturday. However this was not a facile win and Athy had to work hard for that scoreline against a competitive Newbridge side. In fact it was Newbridge who began strongest and for the opening 15 minutes Athy found themselves defending a series of strong surges. However the defensive line hit hard and every ball carrier was driven back until Athy secured a key turnover and finally cleared their lines. The failure to convert this pressure into a score seemed to drain Newbridge of confidence and fortify the Athy men. Now it was Athy's turn to attack and immediately they upped the pace and kept a width to their attacks that had the Newbridge defence at breaking point. After a number of quick rucks the ball was moved wide where centre Seamus Lacey forced his way over in the left corner. Cormac Moore hit the huge sideline conversion. Athy kept up the pressure and scored again when Spencer Loughman drove over from a ruck, taking advantage of a stretched defence to score in the right corner. Cormac Moore surpassed his first effort, landing the monster conversion from the right touchline to give Athy a 14-0 halftime lead.
Athy continued to press in the second half but a determined Newbridge team held firm and at times forced Athy onto the defence. Midway through the half Athy grabbed their third try when quick ruck ball was moved wide where winger Cian English touched down for a 19-0 lead. There was time for one more score. From a scrum number eight Martin Maloney went up the blindside and found Jack Smith who carried on the move. The flanker made good ground before finding hooker Ronan Black just outside the 22 meter line. There was a lot to do but a crafty sidestep put Black into space and from there he scorched the defence to dive into the corner. Next up is the final league game of phase 1 where Athy travel to Portlaoise hoping to secure a place in the top tier of phase 2.
Athy U16 v Longford 29/11/2014
29th November 2014
Athy 28 Longford 12
Athy U16s continued their march up the league table with an impressive 28-12 victory over Longford in the Showgrounds on Saturday. Athy sought to control this game from the first whistle and after the opening minutes it was clear that Athy had an expansive, high tempo game plan based around power in the pack and speed and skill in the backs. This multiphase approach was paying dividends and only some excellent Longford defending prevented and early Athy try. Longford for their part were much more direct, choosing to either kick or use one up runners to build up the play. It was from one such speculative kick that Longford scored first – a defensive slip followed by a fortunate bounce helping them to a 7-0 lead. However from that score onwards Athy simply took over. Firstly second centre Seamus Lacey burst through a gap to level the scores then prop Spencer Loughman powered through a ruck to splash down at the sticks to make it 14-7 to the home team. Next up was flanker Seamus McKenna who, benefiting from great work from fellow backrow Jack Smith, dismissed two attempted tackles to score under the posts for a 21-7 halftime lead. Athy kept the pressure up in the second half and were unlucky not to score before Longford snuck a try with some close in drives to make the score 21-12. Still Athy persevered and after more near misses and close calls a wonderfully sweeping move ended with winger Cian English scoring to make it 28-12. This was Athy near their fluent best with the entire squad of players contributing to an accomplished team effort. In a pack that was in no mood to take a backward step McKenna and Martin Maloney were ubiquitous. The backs tore into the space out wide, Cormac Moore benefiting most from the good work inside.
Athy U16 v North Meath 15/11/2014
15th November 2014
Athy 24 North Meath 0
After a couple of stern encounters Athy U16 got back to winning ways with a 24-0 victory at home to North Meath on Saturday. Athy sensed that this might be their day and began positively in the near perfect conditions, enjoying the bulk of possession and territory. However despite this the Athy attacks lacked penetration and were all too easily negated. For their part the forwards over committed at ruck time allowing the defence to comfortably outnumber the secondary attack. If this sin was venial in nature the sins of the backs were positively cardinal. All too often the inside backs took far too much out of the ball and seemed happy to pass only after using up yards of space. When not taking too much out of it the backs tended to drift across the pitch, giving the Meath men the simplest of tasks to follow them into the wide channels. On the occasions when the ball made its way across the backline the winger found himself with no space and plenty of defenders to negotiate. Despite this the handling was secure and a few enterprising loops and switches created opportunities. However several tries went abegging – a David Considine effort was disallowed for an off the ball infringement and a simple 3 on 1 ended with a race away interception which Seamus Lacey did well to haul down on the half way line. Just before half time the same man produced the first try of the game when a good kick chase was rewarded as he collected a loose ball and went through some weak tackling to touch down under the posts.
The second half continued in the same vain with Athy again having the better of things. From a scrum number 8 Martin Maloney broke to the blindside and carried through a tackle to score. The pressure continued and Eoin Cooney was unlucky to be denied a try after appearing to burrow over. The pack was making serious inroads at this stage and Caoimghin Bradshaw finished off a series of strong carries to bulldoze over for a try at the posts. All continuity was lost when a serious looking injury to Cathal Ryan meant a long delay and the game continuing on another pitch. On the resumption Athy scored another try when good early passing gave winger Cian English the space to score in the corner. Ciaran Fennessy was the next to try his luck and sparkling feet brought him into the 22 where he released a rampaging Bradshaw. However the pass was correctly called forward and the big prop, much to the relief of the final defender, was asked to pull up. North Meath, to their credit, fought out the remainder of the match and Athy did well to keep them scoreless, aggressive line speed and solid hits key to keeping them out. A strong looking bench augurs well for the season ahead and two of the stronger performances came from those ranks; Ben Loughman tackled strongly and Cormac Moore looked comfortable under the regular stream of high ball. Tyler Perse looks a good addition and did well on his home debut. Birr next week will tell a lot about where this team's ambitions lie. The unfortunate Cathal Ryan looks to be fine and may even report for duty next week.
Athy U16 v Tullamore 11/10/2014
11th October 2014
Athy 17 Tullamore 10
Athy U16's began their Leinster League campaign with a well deserved 17-10 win at home to Tullamore on Saturday. The 12.30pm kick off gave enough time for the sun to burn off the morning's lingering fog and the match was played in a near blaze of autumnal sunshine. The early exchanges indicated that this would be a step up from any area games played to date and so it proved with the physicality of the collisions a feature throughout. Tullamore began brightly with their pack using a succession of first up runners to gain ground, only good line speed and brave tackling in defence halting their momentum. However eventually the pressure told and an infringement at ruck time led to the first kick at goal which the Tullamore outhalf had little difficulty negotiating. Athy responded from this setback with a series of wide plays that stretched the Tullamore defence with only an inaccurate final pass or desperate tackle ending the move. However Athy persisted and the tactic soon bore fruit when Athy deployed a number of close in carries to crash through the under-resourced fringe defence. Eoin Cooney dotted down close to the posts giving David Considine a straightforward conversion for a 7-3 lead. Athy spent the remainder of the half on the attack, opting to run a number of kickable penalties but a strong Tullamore defensive effort held them out.
The highly entertaining fare continued in the second half with both teams fully committed and it was clear that the next score would have a large bearing on the outcome. It came to Athy. When an initial attack broke down quick ruck ball was swiftly moved from left to right and Cian English made the most of the space on the outside to race in from the half way line for a 12-3 lead. The pace of the game refused to drop and Tullamore brought themselves right back into it with a well worked try in the left corner. An excellent conversion brought the scoreboard to 12-10. The final twenty minutes were top notch stuff and have set the bar for performance levels for the remainder of this campaign. Athy seemed to relish the high stakes rugby. To a man the entire team upped the aggression and both scrumhalf Ciarán Fennessy and outhalf Considine made good ground in the ensuing chaos. The away team penalty count rose as Tullamore hung on and it was no surprise when Ben Loughman scored to push the lead out to 17-10. Athy played the remainder of the game camped in the Tullamore half and came up just short on three separate occasions as Martin Moloney and Cormac Moore were unfortunate to narrowly miss the touchdown.
Athy should benefit enormously from this outing. The lineout and line speed in defence are areas of rapid improvement and should nicely complement the strong fundamentals in place. The alignment of the newly constituted backline was, understandably, a little flat in attack and only remarkably quick thinking allowed the ball to get wide. Finally, from this observer's point of view the team would be better served to concentrate on themselves rather than get distracted by influences beyond their control – this as much as anything may well determine how their season pans out. One hopes that the next time they have the opportunity to deny a team a losing bonus point they have the wherewithal to tap over the simple three points in the final minute. In the pack Ronan Black, Caoimhghin Bradshaw and Jack Smith made their mark while in the backs Liam Hubbock put long term injury behind him with a fine game.
Athy U16 v Skerries 25/10/2014
Athy under 16s gave a strong Skerries team a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter of this Leinster League game at the Showgrounds on Saturday, then matched them from the remaining three quarters to eventually trail by those 14 points at the final whistle. On a dry day with firm turf underneath this was always going to be a fast paced match and so it proved with teams looking to play a wide, expansive game. Skerries attacked from the off and it wasn't long before they began making inroads into the Athy defence. A series of direct carries found little resistance and only desperate scramble defence saw Athy win a turnover penalty near their try line. However soon Skerries were again breaking tackles for easy yards and this time they made no mistake with the ball moving sharply wide for the right winger to score. The conversion, into a tricky wind, floated effortlessly over the crossbar. As the first quarter drew to a close Athy were beginning to awake and made their first forays into the Skerries half only to be undone when an attack broke down with the ball falling kindly for Skerries who clinically raced in to score under the posts for that 14-0 lead.
Despite this setback Athy were up and running and beginning to find space with ball in hand. One cut into the drift defence saw outhalf David Considine beat the first line and round the fullback only to be caught by a wonderful ankle tap yards short of the try line. Unfortunately the offload didn't go to hand and the opportunity was lost. However Athy were now more than matching their opponents and it was no surprise to see Martin Moloney and Seamus Lacey combine out wide for the latter to dot down under the posts for a 14-7 interval score line.
An excellent second half saw both teams continue with attacking intent but it was Skerries who pounced first to extend the lead, their forwards powering through close in to lead 19-7. Back came Athy and good work from the forwards saw them camped on the Skerries line. However a number of pick and goes were repelled and eventually Skerries were able to affect a turnover and clear their lines. Both teams began to tire and it was encouraging that Athy chose this moment to produce the try of the match. A series of offloads around midfield eventually led to centre Cian English getting the ball in space and he made good ground before releasing winger Billy Doyle who in turn raced into space before offloading to Seamus McKenna. The big flanker had done a lot of work in supporting the move and had more to do as covering defenders looked to halt his progress. None came close and the try in the corner left the score line 19-12. The game was back in the melting pot but it was Skerries who had the final say with their forwards powering through tired tackles before releasing their backs, a swift transfer through the hands allowing their right winger to squeeze into the corner for the final score line of 26-12.
This was a step up in class for Athy and they will be disappointed to be caught cold at the start of what turned out to be an even contest. However there is little doubt that they belong at this level, if the squad come away from this game with that belief it will have been a good day's work. In the first half Kyle Loughman showed glimpses of his power with some good carries and in the second Seamus McKenna relished the physicality in the forwards.
Athy U16 v Portlaoise 27/09/2014
Athy U16's unbeaten start to the season continued with an impressive 43-14 win against Portlaoise on Saturday. Portlaoise kicked off in glorious conditions, the slight breeze on their backs the singular element. Athy started brightly and their ambition soon paid dividend when left wing Cian English broke clear of a few despairing tackles to score the game's opening try. Soon after quick ball moved wide early put the same man into space and this time his pace saw him race in from the half way line to score. Both tries were unconverted and this allowed Portlaoise back into the game when a speculative punt up field bounced wickedly and into the hands of the onrushing attack for a touchdown under the posts for a 10-7 score line. Soon after another speculative punt, this time from Athy, had the same effect with David Considine collecting his own kick before feeding prop Eoin Cooney who made light of the remaining 30 meters to touch down near the posts. Athy were playing well at this stage and two more tries before half time sealed the points. First, centre Billy Doyle cut back against a stretched defence to dot down, followed quickly by number eight Martin Moloney who found space out wide to score with the final act of the half. Athy kept the pace up in the second half and soon after the restart Cooney scored his second when bursting through the close in defence before racing from the 22 to score. The quality dropped for a while and the scoreboard froze as fatigue and substitutions took the pace and accuracy out of the game. However with 6 minutes remaining Athy refocused to produce the score of the game. The attack started from deep within the Athy half with a number of good carries and layoffs. The move could have petered out only for a sumptuous reverse pass by Considine to keep the attack flowing, finally arriving with centre Ben Loughman who timed the final pass to perfection for Billy Doyle to grab his second try of the game, dotting down in the shadow of the posts. The final play of the game saw Portlaoise mount a series of spirited attacks, culminating in the forwards crashing over for a try that was well converted. A good display from Athy with the rush defence and breakdown play an encouraging feature. Jack Smith, Ben Loughman and Dean Murphy put down real markers of intent.


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[Date Index]
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comparable sizes across BubbleCharts
I am trying without success to make sizes of bubbles comparable across
charts created by BubbleChart[]. Also, many of the Graphics options
(such as Ticks) do not seem to work with BubbleChart despite claims in
the documentation to the contrary. Advice?

subset: commoncrawl


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Microscopic image of a crack in a piece of steel in the place of bending.
Unlike most other trees and plants, Brazilian Grape Tree (also known as Jabuticaba) does not use branches to grow fruits. It's so badass that it grows fruits (and flowers) directly on the trunk. The fruit is used to make jellies, drinks and can be eaten raw.
…is to leave their leashed dog behind the closing doors of a lift.
via simplepimple.com
This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.
America's biggest drugstore chain Walgreens is welcoming new members in its Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens, offering a number of attractive benefits to all who join. The company invites everyone to join their membership programme across 8,000 locations in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Walgreens is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois with over 5,200 people working there alone and many more in local stores. Established in 1902, Walgreens is over 100 years old. Their stores were originally connected to local groceries, but lately also opened as standalone locations.
You have probably heard that Megaupload.com has been shut down. In case your are looking for an alternative solution, here is a list of 14 free file-hosting services you can use instead.
12-year-old boy rescued his sister from a charging moose by using a skill from World of Warcraft game
The boy saved his sister's life by drawing the moose's attention away from his sister on himself and then dropping on the ground pretending dead thereby making the moose lose interest and walk away. This skill is accessible to gamers at level 30 of the game.
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Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper. The U.S. Constitution was also drafted on hemp paper. Both were later copied onto parchment.
Surveyed at the World Economic Forum, 469 experts and industry leaders created a list of top 50 global risks for 2012. The list includes very common risks, such as income disparity, terrorism and cyber attacks, but it also includes some that most people will totally neglect.
These risks are volcanic winter, militarisation of space and unprecedented geophysical destruction, among others. They way you relate to these risks is that they are factored into policy making by governments and financial institutions that lend money to us, including banks. In some way, we pay for these risks.


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Communities developing resources and competencies for using their languages
Foundational understanding for language development work of all kinds
Publications, fonts and computer tools for language development, translation and research
SIL offers training in disciplines relevant to sustainable language development.
7,099 languages are spoken or signed. CLICK for map of world languages & regional websites.
SIL's dedication to language development past and present
Despite the fact that most countries and indeed their societies are multilingual, their educational systems tend to function in only one or two languages, due in part to the long-standing fallacy that national unity is built around a single language. Against this fallacy we would argue that using one language and excluding many others actually creates divisions, inequalities and inequities, because it means that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are forced to learn—or teach—through a language in which they are not proficient…It is our aim to promote organized, collaborative progress toward incorporating learners' languages and cultures into education for quality, equity and liberation.
- Dr. Carol Benson and Dr. Kimmo Kosonen, from the introduction to Language Issues in Comparative Education
(June 2013) A new collection of studies addresses the challenges faced by students and teachers whose mother tongue is other than that used in their country's schools. The goal of Language Issues in Comparative Education: Inclusive Teaching and Learning in Non-Dominant Languages and Cultures is to contribute to more inclusive and relevant education for all. Several of SIL's senior literacy and education consultants contributed research to the volume, including Kimmo Kosonen, who served as co-editor with Carol Benson of Stockholm University. Leila Schroeder and Stephen L. Walter each authored a chapter.
Studies from twenty-two international education experts cover a variety of situations representing thirteen countries in four world regions:
The chapters in Language Issues in Comparative Education were expanded from papers presented at the 55th Annual Conference of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), held in Montreal in 2011. The theme of that conference, "Education is that which Liberates" is reflected in the book.
Table of Contents
Foreword from Sheldon Shaeffer, Consultant and Former Director UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok
Introduction by co-editors Carol Benson and Kimmo Kosonen: Inclusive teaching and learning through the use of non-dominant languages and cultures
Part I: Language-in-education policy issues
1. Jessica Ball and Onowa McIvor: Canada's big chill: Indigenous languages in education
2. Kimmo Kosonen: The use of non-dominant languages in education in Cambodia,Thailand and Vietnam: Two steps forward, one step back
3. Stephen A. Bahry: Language in Afghanistan's education reform: Does it play a role in peace and reconciliation?
4. Birgit Brock-Utne: Language and liberation. Language of instruction for mathematics and science: A comparison and contrast of practices focusing on Tanzania
Part II: Community and parent voices
5. Laura Menchaca Bishop and Prema Kelley: Indigenous Mexican languages and the politics of language shift in the United States
6. Karla Giuliano Sarr: "We lost our culture with civilization": Community perceptions of Indigenous knowledge and education in Senegal
Part III: Classroom practices and teacher voices
7. Gowri Vijayakumar, Elizabeth Pearce and Meherun Nahar: First language-based preschools in Adivasi communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh
8. Janelle M. Johnson: Teachers as agents of change within Indigenous education programs in Guatemala and Mexico: Examining some outcomes of cross-border professional development
9. Rebecca Stone: Effective activities to support teachers' transition into the MTBMLE classroom in the Philippines
10. Pauline Rea-Dickins and Guoxing Yu: English medium instruction and examining in Zanzibar: Ambition, pipe dreams and realities
11. Nuzzly Ruiz de Forsberg and Alícia Borges Månsson: Implementation of local curriculum in Mozambican primary schools: Realities and challenges
12. Kerry White: Culture as a vehicle, not a bridge: Community-based education in autonomous regions of Nicaragua and in the Navajo Nation, USA
Part IV: Researcher voices
13. Leila Schroeder: Teaching and assessing independent reading skills in multilingual African countries: Not as simple as ABC
14. Stephen L. Walter: Exploring the development of reading in multilingual education programs
15. Carol Benson: Towards adopting a multilingual habitus in educational development
Language Issues in Comparative Education is number twenty-four in the Sense Publishers series Comparative and International Education: A Diversity of Voices. The first several chapters are available for free download.
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Bungee Cord w/Locking Clasp, Black, 72"Item#: YYSP-KTKLGLC10 | Model#: LGLC10
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Unemployment in recession-mired Greece continued its record-setting rise in March, reaching 26.8%, up from a revised 26.7% a month earlier.
Figures provided by the country's national statistical authority set the total number of unemployed in March at 1.3 million. In March 2008, just before Greece's finances imploded forcing it to accept international bailouts in return for harsh austerity measures, only 390,000 people were jobless.
SAB chairman on extended sick leave
Brewing giant SABMiller's executive chairman Graham Mackay has been given indefinite medical leave. The company revealed in April that Mackay had undergone surgery for a brain tumour.
SABMiller added that deputy chairman John Manser will continue as acting chairman, and has stepped down as chairman of the audit committee to focus on the role.
Cash machine theft trebles in one year
Theft of cards and PINs at ATMs has trebled in the first four months of this year against the same time last year.
Financial Fraud Action UK says there were 7525 incidents from January to the end of April, compared with 2553 in the same period last year. It said the numbers appeared to be increasing every month. Police say the rise is partly because more secure chip-and-pin cards have cut the scope for hi-tech fraud.
- More about:
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Backroom Exclusives 11, Scene #04
- : 06/24/2008 |
- : 16:47 min |
- : 1886
Scene Info
Hunky corn-fed red-head Blu Kennedy returns to porn with more muscle than ever! Blu's freckled-face innocence fades away when he bring Kai Ford back to his pad for some afternoon sex. Before you know it the jeans come off and hard-ons flop out. Hungry for some man-ass, Blu eats Kai's hole then rolls him over to stick his cock in deep. They suck, fuck, gyrate and masturbate to climax.
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Backroom Exclusives 11
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Volume 11 contains 5 smoking-hot scenes including red-headed it boy Blu Kennedy with Kai Ford, a big-dicked 3 way starring Hot House Exclusives Ethan Wolfe and Ross Hurston with Lucas Knowles, Luke Cassidy with Shane Frost, and lots more!


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© The Financial Times Ltd 2016
FT and 'Financial Times' are trademarks of The Financial Times Ltd.
The Financial Times and its journalism are subject to a self-regulation regime under the FT Editorial Code of Practice.
March 28, 2007 12:03 am
Quanta Computer, the world's largest manufacturer of notebook computers, will start making ultra-low-cost computers that could be sold in developed markets for as little as $200 this year or the next, according to its president.
The Taiwanese contract manufacturer is already producing a laptop developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers that will be distributed to children in third-world countries – under a non-profit project called One Laptop Per Child – for as little as $150.
But Michael Wang, Quanta's president, said on Tuesday that the concepts developed through the OLPC project could be applied to create commercially viable machines that are cheaper than anything on the market so far.
"We will definitely at the right time launch a commercialised product similar to the OLPC," he said in an interview with the Financial Times, adding that several of Quanta's customers were seeking to launch such a product.
Quanta designs and manufactures the computers sold by the world's largest branded companies, including HP, Dell and Acer.
Mr Wang's remarks follow Dell's launch last week of a desktop computer in China selling for as little as $336. Other big technology companies have also announced plans to give more people in low-income countries access to computers, including Intel's low-cost "classmate" PC and computer kiosks supported by Microsoft.
But Mr Wang said the low-cost machines would not remain limited to developing markets. "There are a lot of poor people in developed countries, too," he said.
Quanta has now created a new business unit for "emerging PCs" with the explicit aim of creating a new market for the low-cost machines.
He said the cheapest models were likely to be sold without hard disks, have small screens and run on open-source software, like the OLPC version.
Alvin Kwock, an analyst at JP Morgan in Taipei, said:
"OLPC has kick-started a debate over the question: What is needed in a PC?" He estimated that the new ultra-low-cost machines could expand the global PC market, which now measures 250m units a year, by as much as 10 per cent.
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Many of our customers are genealogy buffs and most of you have troves of family photos and treasured books you want to preserve. Here are three events of interest. The Library of Congress, the American Library Association, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, in celebration of Preservation Week 2011, are sponsoring free public webinars and demonstrations. For two events you'll only need to be at your computer; for the third you'll have to be in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 30.
The webinars ( web-based seminars) are "Accidents Happen" (Tuesday, April 26) and "Preserving Your Personal Digital Memories" (Thursday, April 28).
The Washington event is called Pass it On: Personal Archiving Day at the Library of Congress. It is a free public event on Saturday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will provide information about preserving personal and family photographs in both digital and non-digital form.
Read on for details and registration.
Accidents Happen: Protecting & Saving Family Treasures: a free public webinar
Where: your computer internet browser
When: Tuesday, April 26, 1 pm CST
Accidents and disasters happen. Are your family treasures stored safely in your home or elsewhere? How do you save your photos when they've been submerged in flood water? What do you do if your books smell mildewy? What if your basement floods or worse? Attend this session to learn answers to these questions and more.
Nancy E. Kraft, Head of Preservation at the University of Iowa Libraries, will provide tips and tools for checking out possible hazards around the house, dealing with mold and salvaging keepsakes, documenting damage for insurance purposes, and keeping your family safe.
For information and registration: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webinar/pres/042611.cfm [2]
Preserving Your Personal Digital Memories: a free public webinar
Where: your computer internet browser
When: Thursday, April 28, 1 pm CST
Digital photos, electronic documents, and other new media are fragile and require special care to keep them useable. But preserving digital information is a new concept that most people have little experience with. As new technologies appear for creating and saving our personal digital information, older ones become obsolete, making it difficult to access older content. Learn about the nature of the problem and hear about some simple, practical tips and tools to help you keep your digital memories safe.
Bill LeFurgy, Digital Initiatives Manager with the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program at the Library of Congress, will lead this webinar.
For information and registration: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webinar/pres/042811.cfm [3]
Pass It On: Personal Archiving Day at the Library of Congress
Where: Washington, D.C., Room 119, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 1st Street. S.E., between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street
When: Saturday, April 30th, 11 am-2 pm
This event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are needed.
Library staff will be on hand to talk directly with individuals about how to manage and preserve their pictorial treasures. (Please, for security reasons, do not bring collection materials to the event. No appraisals will be provided.) There will be videos and printed information available.
For more information about the event, go to http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/news/events/presweek2011/index.html [4]
For information about visiting the Library of Congress see http://www.loc.gov/visit/. [5]
Photo image: Flicker cc: Digital Scrapbook for Dad, by meglet125
[1] http://www.hcpl.net/users/barbara-m
[2] http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webinar/pres/042611.cfm
[3] http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/upcoming/webinar/pres/042811.cfm
[4] http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/news/events/presweek2011/index.html
[5] http://www.loc.gov/visit/.
[6] http://www.hcpl.net/category/locations/tomball


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Through a variety of collection strategies, the UC Santa Cruz Library makes available (for lease or purchase) materials in multiple formats to support the University's research and instructional programs. The primary emphasis for the library's circulating collection is on making the materials needed for research and instruction available for use by our primary user community (faculty, students, and staff) at their moment of need.
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Answers Home
» Breeds
» Breeds G-M
» Maltese
how do I find the Matese group?
I want to find the group that talks about the Maltese breed. How do I find that?
Asked by
Member 606118
on Mar 17th 2008
in Maltese
- This question is closed.
Best Answer
You mean on Dogster, right?
First of all, you need a pet page to join a group.
Once you have a pet page, you can go to the "groups" tab at the top of the page and click on "search groups" Type in your search criteria and then click submit. You will find what you're looking for if it is there.
Good luck and have fun!
Gray Dawn Treader answered on Mar 17th.
Other Answers
Here is a maltese forum www.dogster.com
here is a maltese group
Millie ~In Loving Memory~ answered on 3/17/08. Helpful? / 0


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Reformer's drive to change Indonesia state firms hits roadblocks
By Janeman Latul
JAKARTA (Reuters) - On an overcast Saturday in early January, the man in charge of modernizing Indonesia's state companies suddenly lost control of his prototype electric sports car and ploughed into the side of a mountain in East Java.
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan was unhurt, but the $300,000 bright red "Tucuxi", dubbed "Indonesia's Ferrari" by local media, was a write-off.
It looks like his chances of pulling off an ambitious reform of the bloated state sector are heading the same way.
More than a year after his appointment, most of Iskan's initiatives to fix state firms have either been revoked or blocked by parliament or remain stuck in ministries, according to government and parliamentary documents obtained by Reuters.
"The political challenge is still huge," said Iskan, who started his career as a journalist and still writes a regular column in his newspaper, in an interview. "Life is like that. It's difficult to make this country better."
Iskan has abandoned plans to start mass production of the privately funded Tucuxi, named after a type of dolphin.
But criticism over the crash -- he is being investigated by police for driving an unlicensed car on public roads, although no charges have been filed -- dented his reputation and further sapped his political capital, making it even tougher for him to battle powerful vested interests.
It is a frustration that, according to those close to him, is motivating the media mogul to consider standing as a candidate in next year's presidential election despite being viewed as a rank outsider. Continued...


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This time of the year is a transition period almost everywhere, but not just for the smallies. The forage transitions, too. If the prevailing forage in your lake or river is some kind of baitfish — shad, alewife, panfish — it's likely that they're moving towards the shallows. When they make that move, they do it in huge schools, and they tend to stay deep.
It's popular to think that's because the water is clear and there's a lot of sunlight penetration. I disagree with that a little bit. Sunlight might cause some of it, but more likely it's caused by their need to stay in their preferred temperature range. No matter what causes it, however, you can have a ball catching the smallmouth bass that are trailing along underneath them. And, you can catch those smallies the most fun way there is — on top.
It's not hard to do. Use your electronics to find the bigger schools of forage. Try to find the deepest ones that are out there, whatever deepest means where you're fishing. It doesn't matter if they're up near the creeks and cuts or if they're out in the middle of open water. The smallmouth aren't relating to structure at this time of the year. They're relating to the forage.
Once you find a good school, toss a topwater popper over the top of it, make sure you create a ruckus, and hang on. It doesn't matter how deep the forage is or how deep the smallmouth bass are. They'll come up for your lure. The water's real clear at this time of the year in most places so they won't have any trouble seeing what's going on.
I'd guess they think there's a crippled baitfish that's gone to the surface, but that's just a guess. None of us knows for sure. What they think doesn't matter, anyway. All we really care about is what they do. Actually, they probably don't think at all. They just react out of instinct.
Their surface attack is incredible. It's like an old-fashioned commode flushing. I don't care how much experience you have doing this, you'll jerk your popper away from the first couple that strike. You can't help it. But once you hook them on top they stay on top during the fight.
If you think smallies can't tail-walk like a largemouth, you'll know better after you catch a few of them like this. Believe me, they can. When they stop doing that they'll sometimes flip in circles. They never stop, even when they're right alongside the boat. Quitting isn't in their nature.
Don't worry too much about what lure you throw. It's important to try to match the hatch as best you can with size and color, but this isn't rocket science. If you're in doubt go with a shad looking Rebel Pop-R. They've been around forever. There's a reason for that. One of them will get you through most days on most waters. That's pretty much all I ever use.


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Science Pub-Hawai'i: Using crowdsourcing to make travel meaningful
February 13, 2014
HONOLULU — Each year, millions of tourists visit Hawai'i. However, many of their trips may not directly benefit our local communities. By tapping into crowdsourcing — asking lots of people to contribute ideas — travelers can become agents of social change.
At the Feb. 24 Science Pub-Hawai'i, Thomas Kohler, an associate professor of Marketing at Hawai'i Pacific University, will discuss how to use crowdsourcing to create social innovation. Kohler is the founder of travel2change, a nonprofit that connects travelers and locals to create change here and abroad. He will share research around the crowdsourcing platform provided by travel2change.
Through crowdsourcing, local nonprofit organizations and community members are invited to submit ideas for meaningful travel experiences. The best experiences are then offered for travelers to join. Last year, one project invited tourists to walk along the main highway on the Big Island to pick up debris, raise awareness of the situation and promote better trash disposal choices.
"The pool of meaningful travel experiences inspires travelers to use their passion to create a positive impact during their trip to Hawai'i," Kohler said.
Organizations — including businesses — increasingly employ crowdsourcing to harness the collective energy and creativity of large numbers of contributors. While the number of crowdsourcing social innovation platforms is increasing, many fail to engage a critical mass of users who are both willing and capable to participate, according to Kohler.
"To tap into the crowd's creativity and knowledge, we need to learn how to design crowdsourcing platforms that engage users and let them achieve their goals," said Kohler, whose research has been published in journals including MIS Quarterly and Harvard Business Manager.
In addition to presenting his research at Science Pub-Hawai'i, Kohler and travel2change will also kick off the 2014 Hawai'i Challenge to find ideas for meaningful travel experiences that benefit communities in the Islands.
Presented by HPU, Science Pub-Hawai'i is held on the waterfront outdoor stage at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Aloha Tower Marketplace, at 6 p.m. This well-attended informal showcase of research and scholarship is for people who like to learn and discuss timely topics. The event is free, and though no RSVP is required, Science Pub friends are encouraged to let others know they're coming via Facebook, www.facebook.com/sciencepubhawaii. Seats fill briskly so consider arriving early to enjoy Gordon Biersch's acclaimed food and drink.
Learn more at www.hpu.edu/sciencepub-hawaii.


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Movies & TV / Columns
The Big Screen Bulletin 06.08.09: The Return of the Living Bulletin
Nether Regions
Nether Regions will be on ongoing segment of the Bulletin that showcases film that have been discontinued on DVD, are out of print in the United States, are only available in certain regions outside the United States, or are generally hard to find. You might ask "Why should I care about a film I have no access to?" My goal is to keep these films relevant because some of them genuinely deserve to be recognized. Every time I review a new film I will have a list of those I covered previously below so you can see if they have been announced for DVD release, or are still out of print.
The Heartbreak Kid
Starring: Charles Grodin, Jeannie Berlin, and Cybil Shepherd
Directed By: Elaine May
Written By: Neil Simon
Theatrical Release Date: December 17, 1972
Missing Since: 2005-2006
Existing Formats: VHS and DVD, only on used
Netflix Status: Not Available/Can Be Saved in Queue
Availability: It will cost you unless you have a computer
When the Farrelly brothers remade The Heartbreak Kid in 2007, they almost completely missed the mark on what made then original such a success, not to mention so hilarious. On the surface, and at first glance, it appears that the Farrelly's did an adequate job in tackling that 1972 comedy. It does not take long to realize that the Ben Stiller vehicle lacks the heart and the satirical edge necessary to fully respect the premise. Elaine May's approach to Neil Simon's The Heartbreak Kid proves that subtlety and feeling go a long way. It remains a classic to this day.
I saw the remake before I had the opportunity to watch the original. I knew that the original existed, but finding a copy was difficult. Experiencing the first vision of a story on film after you have already endured the recycling is interesting to say the least. I found myself expecting, and in some cases looking, for the same flaws of the 2007 venture. As the movie progressed, I was laughing more and more, and realized that I wasn't searching for imperfections any longer. I observed that beneath all the jokes and gags, The Heartbreak Kid is actually a very intelligent piece of cinema.
This tale of tragedy begins with Leonard Cantrow (Charles Grodin), a man who works in sporting goods, who is trying to have sex with his girlfriend Lila Kolodny (Jeannie Berlin). She is saving herself for marriage, so what does Lenny do? He marries her, and gleefully anticipates the wedding night as Lila's parents are more than willing to give her away. It is a happy day, but then reality hits during the car ride to the honeymoon destination. Lenny and Lila are heading to Miami Beach for sun and relaxation. At first, the energy level is high, with both singing and excited. Lenny is excited about rounding the bases, while Lila is thinking about their future.
On the way to Miami, she talks about looking forward to the next 40 or 50 years, and to a guy who rushed into the marriage, this thought it scary. Lila spills egg salad on her face, sings the same songs over and over, and demands constant updates on how pleasurable the sex is. Once they arrive at Miami Beach, both are ready to soak in the sun. Lila refuses lotion, and pays the price with nasty sunburn all over her body. This incapacitates her for a couple days. In the meantime, Lenny has been swept off his feet by a beautiful blonde bombshell named Kelly (Cybil Shepherd). She greets him with the sun beating down on her back, and she quickly scurries into the ocean with the waves bouncing around her. To Lenny, this is a life changing moment. His solution is to divorce Lila in favor of Kelly, but all does not go according to plan.
It might not seem all that hard, but the task of being mean to someone and transforming that into a funny situation is not easy. Many filmmakers screw this up, and that is what Director Elaine May was confronted with for The Heartbreak Kid. The screenwriter, in this case Neil Simon, and Elaine May must walk fine lines with the characters. They cannot be too cruel or too nice. Leaning too far into one territory would cause the entire objective to collapse. This is the theme that lays at the center of The Heartbreak Kid. It is a story about how we treat one another, packaged in a satire about the institute of marriage.
The role of Lenny requires the character to be fairly harsh towards Lila. It is an escalation from Lenny thinking he made a mistake to Lenny taking steps to correcting that mistake. Charles Grodin captures these shifts in attitude perfectly. Initially just the reaction on his face says it all as the car trip to Miami does not seem so fun after the newlywed excitement wears off. After the expressions of annoyance fade, Lenny's temper is tested as Lila constantly interrupts sex with questions. Once Kelly enters the fray, Lenny is determined to drop Lila and embrace Kelly. The fact that Grodin portrays Lenny as not a total jerk makes the film effective. He has made some bad choices, but there are traces of desperation in Lenny that make it harder to dislike him.
Playing Lila meant taking on the most risk. Elaine May's daughter, Jeannie Berlin understands that she must evoke the irritating qualities of a woman (that a man would notice) without going overboard or exaggerating heavily. What makes Berlin's performance so remarkable is how Lila is exposed in a different light as Lenny's quest goes deeper and deeper. Lila represents a character that is ordinary, flawed, and most importantly human. Sure, she smears egg salad on her face, but what fun would it be living with someone that possessed no quirks or faults? Lenny, like many males, is searching for that perfect "10" of a woman, and doesn't comprehend that Kelly's flaws will arise soon enough.
It goes without saying that some men get married, and are miserable with their partner until they die. Divorcing is a big step, and doing so would be a painful hassle, so they stick with it. Kelly Corcoran needed to be the type of girl that could push a man like Lenny over the edge from not just wanting a divorce, but moving forward to obtaining one for real. In only her second role as an actress, Cybil Shepherd followed the acclaimed Last Picture Show with The Heartbreak Kid. It is certainly believable that a gorgeous college student like Kelly could drive a man bananas. Her looks have enabled her to tease and tempt men at her will. She has her father wrapped around her finger, and compared to him, Lenny is an easy catch. Guys are so mesmerized by her beauty that they fail to observe the big picture.
Kelly's father, Mr. Corcoran, is almost definitely an early inspiration for Robert De Niro's Jack Byrnes in Meet the Parents. He is a father who has never been faced with legitimate competition for his daughter. He wants nothing to do with Lenny the moment he meets him. He sees him as a distraction. When faced with the possibility that Lenny may not go away he says, "There isn't a damn thing I like about you." Eddie Albert earned an Oscar nomination for his contribution here, and who could blame the Academy? The look of sheer disdain on his kisser is priceless, and it is during those scenes where Mr. Corcoran utters no dialogue that makes Albert's turn so hysterical.
The Heartbreak Kid was Elaine May's sophomore effort as a filmmaker. She directed a grand total of four films, and this might not be the first time you see her on this segment. The movie chronicles a disastrous marriage. How fitting that a marvelous "marriage" occurs between May and screenwriter Neil Simon (The Odd Couple, The Goodbye Girl). Simon's script is a brilliant example of dark satire that is restrained to the point where the director can mold it appropriately. A female at the helm was a wise and wonderful choice to highlight a story from a man's perspective. She and Simon grasp how the characters can maneuver and evolve in this brand of comedy.
The Heartbreak Kid is not a masterpiece. The excuses Lenny unloads on Lila when she is recuperating in the hotel room are so ridiculous that even the slightest investigating from Lila would reveal the truth. Regardless, watching Lenny rush out of the room, dressing and brushing his teeth simultaneously, makes the implausibility of the explanation tolerable. The fashions and music (from Cy Coleman and Burt Bacharach) are a bit dated, but still contain charm. It is criminal that a film nominated for 2 Oscars, 3 Golden Globes, and one that appeared at #91 on AFI's 100 Years…100 Laughs list is not on DVD.
The opportunity for a double dip upon the DVD release of the remake was ready and waiting, but here we are, and a comedy classic has been discontinued on DVD, and is extremely hard to find. Of course, you can watch the movie in its entirety on Google video, and that is better than nothing, but the picture quality is not respectable, and observing Grodin's subtle reactions is a significant aspect of what makes his character so funny to watch. You can unearth out of print copies of this on Amazon used, and probably on auction sites from $60 – $300. The VHS goes up to $35.
Final Rating = 9.0/10.0
The News Bulletin
Up, Up, and Away
I knew that The Hangover would do better than people anticipated, but I only found out how many TV spots they were using too late. I would have predicted them higher. Nevertheless, I did say that Up would retain the top spot, and its nice to see that in a summer where most blockbusters have been knocking each other off week by week. I'm sure The Hangover will continue to do well in upcoming weeks. I'm really shocked at how bad Land of the Lost performed considering how much it was hyped. The rest are holdovers except My Life in Ruins which made a small splash. Drag Me to Hell took a heavy dip as expected, Dance Flick is on its way out of the top 10, and Angels & Demons continues to hang on slowly. Its overseas numbers are struggling too because of such fierce competition. Next week we have The Taking of Pelham 123 and Imagine That, but neither will be tough enough to get #1. I'm betting on The Hangover and Up battling once again with Hangover taking it due to word of mouth.
Trouble in Hobbitland
While there was a hint of anxiety in his voice, del Toro told us, "Believe it or not, I try not to follow that because it would make my nights a little too disturbing. So, you know, I'm gonna keep working every day designing and writing with Peter [Jackson] and Fran [Walsh] and Phillipa [Boyens] until somebody tells me the lawsuit is going to affect that, you know? Other than that I try not to be a part of it." When asked if there was any news yet on the "Hobbit" casting front, del Toro replied, "Not yet but soon enough. We are about to start getting closer to that."
This is the right attitude for Del Toro to have right now, but it will not be easy with the vicious media we have today. It seems to me that Lord of the Rings persistently pops up in the news with someone complaining about being owed money. If we take a trip down memory lane, Peter Jackson's involvement in The Hobbit was in jeopardy because he felt he was not given all the money he had coming. Now, the Tolkien estate is upset. What exactly went down with the checks? Obviously New Line is owned by Warner Brothers now, and they will pay, and they will settle with the estate, because if they don't, a lot more money will be flushed down the drain. Still, this possibility has existed for awhile now. The Hobbit's journey to the big screen has been a rocky one, and if it were scrapped due to a financial dispute, it would be a damn shame. On a side note, Del Toro says the search for who will be playing Bilbo Baggins has been narrowed down to one, and the announcement will be made soon!
Big Filmmakers Like Metal
Originally it was rumored that Fincher would be at the helm for the whole shebang, but I like this idea better. I love anthology films. Anyone who read my review of Paris, Je T'aime can attest to that. This should serve the material better, and allow multiple directors to flex their muscles in short segments. With so many known directors on board, the marketing department could have a field day. I still need to see the Heavy Metal movies. I promise I will soon. They reside on my Netflixe queue waiting to be noticed. After listening to Trey Parker and Matt Stone give their opinions on the mini-commentaries for the South Park episode "Major Boobage", I am even more curious to see them. I'm still surprised that Heavy Metal is being attempted again. Obviously an audience is out there, but I never would have thought we'd see it again until it was announced months ago.
Shia Defends Bay
"I can tell you what I gained from Michael Bay's films. It's escapism." He compared "Revenge of the Fallen" to John Ford's classic historical yarn "Young Mr Lincoln", and said: "There's a bit of John Ford in Bay, and then there's a bit of like, f**cking "Looney Tunes", you know?" Shia went on: "I don't know of anybody that shoots action like Michael Bay. Nobody shoots women like Michael Bay. He is shameless about it. And the world wants that. Middle America wants the shameless, exploitive, escapism film. That's what they want. They want big, bad, sexy and fast."
Shia LaBeouf has always been outspoken when it comes to defending his movies. I remember when Disturbia was released, he dismissed comparisons to Rear Window immediately. His words were "That would be like comparing The Cincinnati Kid to The Hustler. Michael Bay is a quick filmmaker. He keeps things going very fast. Patience is not a common word for him. Bay has given the world numerous duds, but I have to side with LaBeouf here. Bay is constantly bashed, but people keep seeing his films, and they constantly make money, so he at least has that going for him. Most of the people who make fun of Bay, will go see this sequel. Escapism is something middle America wants, but Bay's "shameless" qualities are also his biggest flaw if you ask me. Also, comparing Transformers 2 to Young Mr. Lincoln is a crime in my book. John Ford is rolling around in his grave.
A Return to Blade Runner?
"We don't take any of the canon or copyrighted assets from the movie," said David Bausola, founding partner of Ag8, who said he hoped the series would debut later this summer and that the first episodes would depict events about two years into the future. "It's actually based on the same themes as 'Blade Runner.' It's the search for what it means to be human and understanding the notion of empathy. We are inspired by 'Blade Runner.'"
Fans of the books probably know that K.W Jeter wrote 3 sequels, and that the 1998 film Soldier is supposedly set within the same universe. According to Wikipedia, this is to be a sort of prequel, set during a point in time before 2019. I think this is a good idea because Ridley Scott is involved, and Wikipedia also says brother Tony Scott is helping out. The fact that they are aimed at the Web at least says that the number one priority is not cash. They could have easily combined the shorts into an anthology film or something. I have always been a fan of the movie, but I am not as crazy about it as others are. I have planned on buying it, but do I want the briefcase or just the regular case? These are the questions I face folks. Of course, when/if I do splurge, it would have to be the Blu-Ray. I first saw it on VHS and the picture was terrible. I'll have to keep an eye out for these shorts, but its nice to know Ridley is returning to an old property.
The 20 Second Sermon
David Carradine's death certainly caught me by surprise. I had just watched Kill Bill 1 & 2 a couple of days before the news hit. My sincerest condolences go out to his friends and family. Dolph Lundgren says Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables is not cheap. The budget is $70 million if you were curious. This should not be a shock. ¾ of the budget must be the checks for the all-star cast. Tobin Bell says Saw 8 is being conceived as the final chapter. What happened to two separate trilogies? Now they're going to 8? That seems like a fantasy if you ask me. The theater gross declines with each sequel. A remake of Schwarzenegger's Commando is in early development. A worse idea could never come across a studio execs desk. They will completely miss the point if they go forward with it. Quarantine 2 is on the way, but it will have no connection to [REC] 2, already set to be released in Europe later this year. Since I have yet to see any of these films, this news means little, but I plan on renting them soon as [REC] was announced for official region 1 release finally. Spider-Man 4 Producer Todd Black made some comments regarding the possible villain choice for the new film. He mentioned that it was "New York-centric", and commenter's suggest Lizard or Kingpin. Until I see the trailer, I'm gonna say who cares? Apparently the rumored Exorcist remake is off, but the real story will be adapted. God, please, end this franchise, I beg you! I also congratulate God of Carnage for winning Best Play, Best Director, and Best Actress (Marcia Gay Harden) at the Tony Awards!
The DVD Release Rundown for May 19th
DVD Headline of the Week
WWE: Macho Madness – The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection – This is the box set I have been waiting for, and if you're a wrestling fan, it is a must purchase. All other DVDs take a back seat to this one this week. Preorderable
Gran Torino – Director Clint Eastwood helms another winner that he also stars in. His performance is terrific, and his two Hmong co-stars become tolerable, but everyone else is weak. The plot, while not unique, is molded in an elegant and gripping way with a suitably moving ending. Buy it Used
Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music (40th Anniversary Director's Cut) – This seems to be the definitive edition of this event, and if I had the money, I'd absolutely pick up this deluxe Amazon version. I'll have to save for this one. Buyable
The International – Director Tom Tykwer and Clive Owen craft an intelligent, stylish, and gripping thriller. Naomi Watts struggles, but the rest of the cast is superb, the action is fantastic, and the ending is appropriate. Not his best work, but still solid. Buy it Used
Reaper: Season 2 – I don't usually display TV releases, but this is show is so underrated that couldn't help it. Sadly, this will likely be the last release for it as a 3rd season has not been approved.
Crossing Over – Harrison Ford leads a good cast in this Crash like hyperlink drama about immigration and its consequences. The film has its moments, but tries too hard to be moving and incorporates way too many coincidences. Director Wayne Kramer does ok, but falls short. Borrow
The Jack Lemmon Film Collection – This set contains 5 movies: Phffft!, Operation Mad Ball, The Notorious Landlady, Under the Yum Yum Tree, and Good Neighbor Sam. Not exactly his most popular efforts, but this might have some hidden jewels.
Fired Up – Since this movie looked terrible in theaters, I doubt I will give it much a chance on DVD, unless of course it winds up on a bunch of worst lists. I would have to see how bad it is then.
Nobel Son – Blockbuster has had this to rent for awhile now, but tomorrow it is available to own. I need to catch up on my Rickman, this and Bottle Shock specifically.
Strike – About a pizza delivery guy who is a great bowler, but also has a girlfriend. Tara Reid with pink hair makes me scared of this movie, but it seems like a great future STV nightmare.
Puppet Master Box Set – You get 8 discs, but the price tag comes in at $90, and that is pretty steep for this series.
Spinning into Butter – Sarah Jessica Parker stars with Beau Bridges in this New England set movie about a hate crime at a college and the investigation that followed. Yay.
The Critic's Quickee
Terminator Salvation – Is this the start of a new trilogy as has been reported and planned? Well, I hope not because I fear we will see 2 more films that recycle what we have seen in this new installment. Salvation is not a bad film, but it is certainly not great either. I don't know if I'd even call it the best effort from Director McG because this is about on par with We Are Marshall. The acting in this sequel is outstanding though. The Terminator franchise has dealt with frequent bouts of re-casting, but they have always managed to perform adequately despite that. Christian Bale picks up where Nick Stahl left off well, Bryce Dallas Howard was a fine fit for the Claire Danes role, and Anton Yelchin even grew on me as Kyle Reese. The biggest problem in this movie is the action, and in a Terminator film that is just as important as the story. McG includes plenty of car/motorcycle chases, gun fire, and explosions, but every action sequence is mediocre. Not one really stands out. The film is very loud (meaning it makes noise for no reason) and has a bunch of big robots, but nothing really gets your blood pumping fast. The crew seems content to remind us around every corner that they invented new "Terminator" machines. McG and his screenwriting team require the viewer to suspend disbelief, which definitely grows irritating. John Connor survives a helicopter crash, a steep jump into the water, and then even gets stabbed through the chest. I believe it was Erik Luers and I who joked that this film would basically be deleted scenes from the previous movies, and you do get that feel, but it goes further than that when we see a scene ripped right from the T2 teaser trailer with the machines being made. The only plot thread that we do not know what will happen is the one involving Marcus Wright, which was ok I guess. Sam Worthington does his best in the role, but in the end Salvation lacks the oomph and pizzazz of the other installments, even T3. I expected this to be much worse, and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't, but I attribute the strengths to the cast, who really brought their A-game. Arnold's semi-cameo was ten times better than Patrick Stewart's in Wolverine. They regurgitate the one-liners, which are not needed, and one of my problems with this is how the machines are always ready to kill without hesitation, but not when they get to John Connor. They just beat him up for awhile until he can be rescued. 6.5/10.0
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – Now, maybe this goes without saying, and maybe I going too far, but I seriously hope that young kids are not watching this and picking up historical facts because this could definitely screw them up and skew their view of certain figures. I hated the first film, and if there was any conceivable way to make the sequel worse, that is accomplished here. I can see the studio execs building the idea: "So we have to make a sequel because the first film made so much money, and in this movie, everything we did not make come to life, will come to life here. Oh, the plot? Well, we can think of something dumb to tie it all together later." I realize this is harmless, and that some movies are just meant for entertainment, and not intended to be taken seriously, but so much of this film just made my blood boil. The storyline is so incredibly lame, and it's as if Director Shawn Levy and his screenwriters were binging on things in museums to spring to life. None of it is done well, none of it makes sense, and it is all stupid. Hank Azaria is the lead villain, and is the very definition of excruciating in every scene. His voice sounds like Stewie from Family Guy. For anyone who saw the first film, you had this tablet that made all the museum pieces come to life, and my question is, what is the range on this tablet? The reason I ask is because almost everything in Washington D.C. comes to life, and conveniently, no one hears or sees anything. Ben Stiller reprises his role, and his character has become rich through these little inventions like a glow in the dark flashlight, but he would rather be a security guard. Now, trust me folks, not one soul on the planet would want to be a security guard when they had all the money they dreamed of. Stiller's character even speaks monkey at one point. Yes, believe it. His partner during this battle is Amelia Earhart, played by the optimistic Amy Adams. Let me tell you, she has been hiding her body from us because she sports a pair of tight pants that are very sexy. And I predicted this really dumb twist with her at the end that I won't reveal. And if I was running around with Amelia Earhart, I might find time to ask her how she died because, you know, it is still a mystery. Three cast members from The Office pop-up, Jonah Hill's contribution is limited to what we see in the trailer, and Ricky Gervais is also involved again, and should have been in it more. Stiller looks bored, the dialogue is dull, and the special effects are overwhelming. I would admit to people that this is mindless fun, but the story is so chaotic and confusing that I don't know how anyone could relax to have fun. This movie exists only because the first film made money. That is a common trend in Hollywood, but this sequel is proud of it. Final Rating = 2.0/10.0
Drag Me To Hell – I am usually a harsh critic for horror because I feel most of it is trash and fans simply are desperate to like something. Thankfully, Sam Raimi unleashes a zany, cheap scare filled story for the world to enjoy. Make no mistake, this is not inventive, fresh, or all that creepy. Raimi does one thing that makes this effective. It's not the acting, the direction, or the twists. He instills just a tiny bit of comedy, and does not take the substance too seriously. True, this is more in the vein of The Evil Dead 1, which was unsure of just how funny it wanted to be, but because this is not straightforward and somber, the film is enjoyable. Like his debut picture, Raimi at times seems hesitant to go full scale in zaniness, and it shows. An example is whenever Christine is alone, and it is left to her and a shadow effect to frighten the viewer. Some people like that more than an over abundance of wacky, but the major problem with this is that it tight rope walks that line between horror spoof and horror. Nonetheless, I had an excellent time with this. Raimi stages his thrill sequences so much better than most directors would. The first attack in the parking garage, the scene with the fly on her face, and the exorcism are brilliant. The graveyard finale is too. Alison Lohman is an extremely competent actress, who does marvelous here. Reggie Lee is an actor I recognized from Prison Break, and plays a similar type of sleazeball here. Justin Long does his usual adequate work as the boyfriend attempting to understand what is wrong with his woman. These roles are not important, but should be given to a capable actor, and normally they are not. Long does fine. Christopher Young deserves a lot of credit for the thrills and suspense in this movie because his score is dynamic and enlivening. Raimi knows how to pace this sort of film, after all it brought him to the dance, and he shows little signs of weakness for the genre. I saw the ending coming a mile away, but it was still satisfactory. I was however, extremely disappointed with the absence of Bruce Campbell, who turned down a role because of the show Burn Notice. Final Rating = 8.0/10.0
What Have I Done?
Last week's Bulletin was a very rare missed article in all my years of being here. I mean, I've gone on vacation before, but that was planned. Having Appendicitis was not apart of my weekly schedule. So that's what prevented me from finishing my news report. After getting the surgery, it was too late to finish the rest off. I'm sure you were all in tears.
My week since then has consisted of movie watching, TV show watching, and more movie watching. Oh, and I got plenty of writing done as well. I would love to tell you about all kinds of new films I watched, but in truth, the Star Trek: Original Motion PIcture Collection Blu-Ray box set consumed my life, or rather the extras did. After that, I completed my DVD review for Valkyrie. Before my stomach problems, I did see two remakes that were better than their originals: Christopher Nolan's Insomnia (2002) and Phillip Noyce's The Quiet American (2002). Both pictures capitalized on the original's strengths, and corrected the mistakes. I also watched Philip Kaufman's The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), a truly superb drama with Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche.
I listened to a few new albums also. Eminem's Relapse is quite good. When it comes to interludes and skits on rap albums, they normally annoy me, but his are usually funny, so those weren't bothersome. A few tracks are humdrum, but for the most part, Eminem is back bringing his A-game after the horrible Encore. Relapse has a bunch of memorable songs. What could be the best album of the year so far is easily Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown, a masterful rock opera that never weakens for one second. After the brilliant American Idiot, I never thought they had another equally as awesome effort in them.
So, I'm back to my normal self tomorrow hopefully as I get the stitches taken care of. Sorry for those who missed me last week.
Based on the Trailer…
Newest Trailers
The Twilight Saga: New Moon – Boy does this look retarded. The sequels will no doubt increase the hatred for this series. The were-wolf morphing is truly awful looking. I say pass. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
Toy Story 3 – This is an early teaser, but it still gets me excited. I can't wait for this, and I've heard it is fantastic from footage screened early. It has a tough act to follow, but I have faith. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
The Final Destination – What a dumb title. Why not just say "Final Destination 4"? People see these movies to watch the creative ways of dying. End of story. All the installments have been mediocre with a possible exception of the first film. This looks dumb. The well has run dry. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Shrink – Kevin Spacey stars as a shrink who has his own issues. I don't know. This looks like it could be funny, but some of the acting looks too exaggerated for the tone they want. Maybe I'm wrong. It could be decent. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans – Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, and Werner Herzog. Hell yes! This could be bad or good, but I have faith in Herzog to elicit the best from this quirky cast. This story looks bizarre, but with Herzog, a trailer is never as good as the full feature. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
June Releases
The Taking of Pelham 123 – The new film by Tony Scott, starring his buddy Denzel, John Travolta, and James Gandolfini. Can Tony dust himself off from the decline his career has taken? Travolta makes a neat villain, so only time will tell. This thriller seems mediocre to me at first glance. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Moon – This has traveled the festival circuit, and it does look intriguing, but it also reminds me a lot of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I love Sam Rockwell, but I'm not sure yet. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
$9.99 – A stop motion animation film that is very much geared towards adults, and is based on the short stories of Etgar Keret. This is right up my alley, so I'll be seeing it for sure. It looks to be funny, engaging, and heartfelt from this footage. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
The Proposal – This is an example of a romantic comedy I loathe. Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock are the stars. Yay. Watch this preview and tell me you cannot predict how this ends. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
Tetro – Let us hope that this is better than Youth Without Youth. This was effective because it still has me wondering what exactly the film is about. I am intrigued by the black & white choice with smidgens of color, and Vincent Gallo as the star should be interesting. I'm crossing my fingers. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Cheri – This is a turn of the century story about a French courtesan and her young lover. It is directed by Stephen Frears, and somehow he managed to make a movie with Michelle Pfeiffer that will not go DTV. Am I in a bad mood, or do all these trailers seem bland? Trailer Rating = 5.5/10.0
Whatever Works – Woody Allen writes and directs a new comedy with Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood, among others, and it looks hysterical. It seems like Allen and David are such a logical combo to make a comedy, and I hope this is as good as the trailer. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Year One (Super Bowl spot) – Jack Black and Michael Cera are hunter-gatherers set in the ancient world. This looks mildly amusing. Both actors should provide the laughs. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Super Bowl spot) – I was little late with this one, but it's too early to tell how good or bad this will be anyhow. I'm betting it's more bad than good. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – During the first few seconds, I thought I had clicked on the trailer for Armageddon. I see robots, explosions, and the LaBeoufster. Other than that, what is happening is anyone's guess. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2) – I thought the first previews were absolutely horrendous, but this trailer actually shows more than explosions, which is nice. I am a little more enthused about this sequel now…just a little. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
My Sister's Keeper – Cameron Diaz shows she will not be counted out after What Happens in Vegas because she stars in this film with Abigail Breslin, which looks very good from this footage. When a trailer manages to tug at your heart strings, then you know the film has the chance to be solid. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Imagine That – Eddie Murphy delivers another bland looking comedy vehicle. Like anything he stars in lately, it will probably suck. This strikes me as close to Liar Liar, but oh well. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
July Releases
Public Enemies – This is my type of film. You have Michael Mann, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and a bunch of tommy guns. I am so there. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Bruno – This is the red band trailer. It looks really funny, and I'll definitely be seeing it, but I do question the legitimacy of the "real situations" they display. We all heard the rumors after Borat. Regardless, Cohen is hilarious. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
G-Force – Is Disney greenlighting anything that can be 3-D now? They also seem to love talking animals. This looks so gigantically awful. Will Arnett is in this, and that makes me sad. Wow. Trailer Rating = 1.0/10.0
I Love You, Beth Cooper – The new film from Chris Columbus starts out promising, and Hayden Panettiere looks good, but this reeks of like 20 other high school comedies. Count me out. This is disappointing from a guy who normally understands what it takes to make a solid kid movie. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0
Adam – A quirky romantic comedy where one has a disability of some sort. One of these comes out every so often. This looks like it could provide some laughs, but I doubt many will see it. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Orphan – Well, if there is a chance of Vera Farmiga nudity, I'm there, and Peter Sarsgaard is cool, but this looks like The Omen with a girl character instead of Damien. In other words, this evil child outline needs to have a break. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Funny People – The new dramedy from Judd Apatow starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and others. This looks very funny and touching at the same time, and that's what Apatow does best. I hope this can salvage what if left of Sandler's dignity. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – This was a great book, the darkest of the set, and this trailer rocks. I'm anxious to see this. The franchise has not decreased in quality, and here's hoping this continues that trend. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2) – Yes, I am a bit skeptical of the director, but this looks very good. This teaser gave me hope that Yates knows what he's doing. The comedy part at the end was terrific. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
August Releases
G.I. Joe (Super Bowl spot) – Oh my Lord. This looks ten thousand ways of awful. I cannot believe that the cartoon I watched as a child, has been adapted in this way. Holy schnikes. Trailer Rating = 2.0/10.0
Taking Woodstock – If this wasn't directed by Ang Lee, I would probably not be interested, but it is, so I'll be seeing it for only that reason. I must agree with Mr. Luers and say this looks like Ang Lee's Almost Famous. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra – I'm sorry, but this is not anything remotely similar to the fun show I watched as a kid. I may be older, but I know a travesty in the making when I see one, and this has all the markings. This looks like total and utter horse dung. I don't know how else to phrase it. Trailer Rating = 2.0/10.0
Julie & Julia – Starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, this is based on 2 true stories, one is of Julia Childs. These women are great actresses, and even though Streep's accent seems a bit off, and the story strikes me as disjointed, I have a feeling this will be terrific. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
District 9 – Peter Jackson produces this Neill Blomkamp feature. This guy was originally slated for the Halo film, but this is not far off. The trailer certainly gets your attention, and has a Signs vibe to it, which I like. Color me intrigued for now. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
H2 – The Rob Zombie Halloween sequel looks a lot better than I anticipated with a definite Friday the 13th/Pamela Voorhees vibe going on (as Mr. Luers told me). I really hope this turns out well because Zombie deserves more respect as a filmmaker. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
The Boat that Rocked – I love music, so this is right up my alley. It's about a radio station on a boat, one that helped give rock music to the world. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Nick Frost. Trailer Rating = 8.0/10.0
Inglorious Basterds – Many expressed disappointment with this, but it is a WWII film from Tarantino, so what were you expecting? I think it looks awesome. I can't wait to see it! Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
September, TBD, and Beyond Releases
Surrogates – Here is another film that has the potential to be very good, or very bad. The director is Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), so I hope this is solid. Bruce Willis looks bizarre, but maybe that's a positive, and the plot has echoes of other sci-fi flicks, but you never know, this might surprise us. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
Planet 51 – This could be a fairly amusing CGI film. The animation looks nice, but this has few voices, and no real clue as to how funny it will be. I am still unsure, but it might be good, and it might not. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Where the Wild Things Are – I know this production had loads of trouble, but this looks outstanding by the trailer. I can't wait to see it. The creatures look good and Spike Jonze usually doesn't disappoint. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Sherlock Holmes – Guy Ritchie is sending mixed signals with this one. I am anxious to see it, but this trailer shows an action film, and call me old fashioned, but I kind of prefer the mystery to outweigh the action. However, Rachel McAdams looks damn sexy and Kurrgan is involved, so those are both positive points. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself – This is just a teaser, but you know what you're getting when Madea is the main character of a film. This is what keeps Perry relevant, so logically he continues to make films with her. This is somewhat humorous, but nothing I'm interested in. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt – A generic looking courtroom thriller complete with generic title. Jesse Metcalfe, or John Tucker from John Tucker Must Die is not a good actor, and aside from Michael Douglas outshining everyone as a scumbag attorney, I have no reason to see this. Trailer Rating = 4.0/10.0
Extract – Mike Judge is delivering another comedy set in the workplace, and I can't wait. Ben Affleck has a cool look going on, and Jason Bateman is usually golden in comedies these days, so this should be terrific. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
Astro Boy – A lot of bright colors, fancy CGI, an all-star cast, and not much else. I realize fans of the many TV series' will be excited, but this character just translates as ordinary to the big screen. Trailer Rating = 5.0/10.0
Fame – This looks…..just like every other dance flick we've seen in the past decade, only this is a musical. Yay. The Wayans are parodying movies likes this for goodness sakes! This is a skip it, and I'm not talking about the girl toy from the 90's. Trailer Rating = 2.5/10.0
9 – This looks amazing, and the song in the background only makes me want to see it more. This will be a mighty tough year for Pixar to reign supreme in. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
The Perfect Game – Though I'm not a baseball fan, I always enjoy watching the Little League World Series. The problem with this film, despite a bad title, is that the preview reveals way too much, so hopefully it has more going for it besides the story, which I'm sure is inspirational. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Antichrist Lars Von Trier, the director of Dogville and Manderlay, is behind this new psychological thriller/horror effort. It just might be decent, but with Willem Dafoe, one never can tell. Trailer Rating = 7.5/10.0
More than a Game – If this focuses on the entire high school team, and not just LeBron James, it could be a very decent documentary. The trailer certainly spreads the wealth, so that's good. Trailer Rating = 7.0/10.0
New York, I Love You – The first film, Paris, Je T'aime was one of the best films in recent memory that few knew about. So I am very excited about this second installment. The cast and directors look amazing. It should be a terrific experience. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
2012 – This teaser has been circulating for awhile, but I felt the need to rate it anyway. Roland Emmerich tackles another disaster epic, this one showcasing a flood. Gee, we have never seen any movies about cataclysmic floods before. I suddenly long to watch Knowing again for originality. Trailer Rating = 6.0/10.0
The Princess and the Frog – It's about time Disney returned to hand drawn animation. This looks to be a lot of fun, and very much in the spirit of the classic tales they used to adapt when Walt was around…maybe he still is. Trailer Rating = 8.5/10.0
The Road – This is based on a Cormac McCarthy novel, the same person who wrote the book to No Country for Old Me. I had no idea this was about the end of civilization. I am disappointed somewhat, but it could be good since Viggo and Charlize are the leads. These types of storylines always have the potential to be terrible though. The release date for this has already been pushed a number of times. I hope the final cut is better than this trailer. Trailer Rating = 6.5/10.0
Nine – The new musical from Rob Marshall (Chicago) looks to be infused with Fellini-esque qualities, which is a good thing. The cast certainly qualifies for the all-star label, and story looks entertaining, so I'm there. This should be fantastic. I mean come on, Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Day-Lewis are just the tip of the iceberg. This is one of my most anticipated for 2009. Trailer Rating = 9.0/10.0
Other Stuff to Read
The Best Movies of the Alphabet
The Best and Worst Bond Films.
411 June Roundtable – This month Owain J. Brimfield continues as roundtable host and compiles the thoughts of the movie zone staff on the summer releases for June!
The MeeThinks Friday FreeThinks – Thanks again to John Meehan for providing my banner here, and for the Alphabet feature.
Also, keep an eye out for more comic book character timelines in the future. Here are the first two:
The Ultimate Batman Timeline
The Ultimate Daredevil Timeline
411 My Space!
The 411 Wrestling Zone
The 411 Music Zone
The 411 Politics Zone
The 411 Games Zone
The 411 Boxing Zone
The 411 MMA Zone
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"The plural of Chad is Chad?"
–From the movie Recount