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Thu 31st Jan 2013 | News
Golaem Crowd 2.2 supporting Solid Angle's Arnold renderer.
Procedural rendering is now supported in Golaem Crowd 2.2, just released by the Golaem crew. Solid Angle's Arnold renderer enables some pretty fast rendering and simulation independent geometry and shader actions.
Recently, the Golaem Crowd simulation was used with Arnold by Mikros Image in Montreal to create spectators, walking armies and battle scenes in the movie 'Asterix and Obelix: God save Britannia'. Here are a few highlights of the use of crowd sims in the film, below.
The new Golaem Crowd Render, brings all Crowd rendering proxies together in a single installation so it can be deployed on whatever render farm you have, on an unlimited number of rendering nodes. Additionally, Golaem Crowd 2.2 brings in new procedural shaders for automatic diversity generation in the crowd creations. These are available for a while range of renderers, including Arnold as mentioned, mental ray, RenderMan and V-Ray.
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American Eagle's first shipment of new airplanes in some five years began last month as the Dallas-based regional airline took delivery of two new CRJ700s from Bombardier. Scheduled to accept two airplanes each month for about the next year, Eagle as of last month already flew 25 of the Canadian jets, all of which offered a first-class section as of July 2. The first-class sections of American Eagle's CRJ700s carry nine seats, leaving enough room in the main cabin for 54.
American Eagle expects to play a vital role in American Airlines' so-called Cornerstone strategy, under which it has decided to concentrate more resources in what it considers its critical markets–namely, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami. As part of the plan, American will continue to cut point-to-point flying to free its resources for those "critical" hubs.
American's strategy, which it unveiled last fall, directs Eagle to dedicate virtually all its new CRJ deliveries to New York, at both La Guardia and JFK International Airports. Initially, flights from New York to Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., and Minneapolis will all carry first-class service, while new CRJ700s–also equipped with nine-seat first-class cabins–serve certain flights between La Guardia and Raleigh/Durham and Toronto. The airline expects to start flying some new CRJ700s out of JFK next February.
Eagle offers first-class food and beverage service on any CRJ flight that lasts more than two hours. From Chicago O'Hare, customers now enjoy the option of first-class service on flights to Atlanta, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Newark, Houston, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Antonio and Salt Lake City. From Dallas/Fort Worth International, customers can fly first class to Cleveland, Milwaukee, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Bentonville/Springdale, Ark., and Little Rock.
American Eagle continues to launch new routes at a "record pace," including 16 in early April alone, adding new destinations at all its hubs except Los Angeles, according to outgoing president and CEO Peter Bowler. In April, revenue passenger miles rose 10.2 percent compared with the same month a year earlier, while available seat miles rose 9.8 percent. In May, Eagle experienced a 7.2-percent jump in RPMs on a 5.9-percent increase in ASMs. However, none of those figures includes precipitous declines at San Juan-based subsidiary Executive Airlines, where the parent airline decided to draw down capacity and move roughly half of its airplanes to Dallas, while focusing on feeding the Caribbean destinations to a greater extent from Miami and to a lesser degree non-stop from JFK.
In June, Eagle added new service from Miami to Gainesville, Fla.; from Dallas to Augusta, Ga.; and from Chicago to Manhattan, Kan., Allentown, Pa., and Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca, Pa.
Meanwhile, said Bowler, American Eagle received "a favorable" ruling on a series of arbitration cases involving the pilot groups of both the regional and major airline, resulting in the movement of "several hundred" high-time Eagle pilots to the mainline over the next two years. Thirty-five moved to American in June under the terms of a so-called flow-through agreement between the pilot groups, "and that is a good thing because it means our seniority chain is moving," said Bowler. "It also means we'll be a more attractive place for new pilots to come hire." One of the few airlines in the U.S. recruiting pilots, American Eagle expects to hire some 20 pilots a month "for the foreseeable future," said Bowler. "And the combination of the new pilots coming in at the bottom and some of our senior pilots going to American will improve our cost competitiveness and complement our already highly productive workforce."
Bowler, who announced his retirement in May, by late June continued to help transfer leadership of the regional to American vice president of marketing Dan Garton, who accepted the top spot at Eagle after serving in various executive roles with American since 1998. Garton served as Eagle's CEO once before, for three years starting in 1995. Bowler joined American in 1984 and held a variety of staff and line positions in the sales, marketing, human resources and information technology departments at American before moving to American Eagle in 1998.
Parent company AMR has also reiterated the possibility that it might divest itself of its regional subsidiary. It first announced the possibility of a sale in 2007, but it suspended its plan the following year due to unfavorable economic and market conditions.

subset: commoncrawl


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NEARBY BEACHESAsi Beach Sarsala Beach Turtle Beach
Sarigerme near Dalaman in Turkey
Tourism season for 2017 has started, all Tourism entrepreneurs in Sarigerme expecting a succesful year for all the Bars, Restaurants and Shops. The major tour operaters are very optimistic for the Big Hotels in the area such as Holiday Village Palace, Suntopia Tropical, Hilton Golf Hotel, Alinn Boutique, Alinn Club.
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On our excursion pages you can find many things to do from Turkish Bath to Boat Trips. There are also many Alternative Sports available in Sarigerme.Such as White Water Rafting, Tandem Gliding , Scuba Diving and many other activities to suit your adrenalin rush.
This way you can plan your Holiday so you can save yourself a lot of time and can spend it with your family members or have extra hours of sunbathing. Visit the page of our favourite small Hotels within the Village Quality B&B Hotel in Sarigerme.
Sarigerme is becoming a popular destination for those who are seeking a romantic wedding place where getting married can not be more easier with the professional wedding planners of first choice or similar tour operaters. A delightful idea for Wedding reception can be held after the wedding ceremony on a double decker boat where you can watch the stars whilst sipping your champaigne just before the barbeque.
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If you ask your self, So Now That I'm in Sarigerme, What Food Should I Eat, find out on our site about restaurants and gluten information available in sarigerme.
Cons and what to be aware of section did help alot in the past to many visitors to the area therefore we kept it up to date, as we hope that it will be helpful to many new holiday makers.
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Explore the area on foot or simply flag down a dolmush a turkish shuttle bus, make your Holiday more exciting in Sarigerme, visit the nearby Villages and see extrodinary views. Take your Camera and Sunglasses with you as will be needing them at all times as the daylight lasts many long hours in sarigerme.
There are Mosquitos in Sarigerme and plenty of them as it would be in any humid and hot country, find out how you can prevent them to be a nuisance to you and your loved ones during your Holiday. What brands are used and where to find and buy them in Sarigerme.
There are things one needs to do when on Holiday, this can be sunbathing, shopping, chilling etc. There are also stuff one needs to avoid whilst in a foreign country. Little things if avoided can result in extra peaceful and enjoyable holiday. Visit our very short Not To Do list.
You are not limited with staying in within Sarigerme boundries as there is lots to see within the surrounding area where you can book trips and things to do such as swimming with the Dolphins in Marmaris Town, only under two hours of pleasant journey. Playing and swimming with these creatures will be an incredible life long lasting sweet memory for you to take home.
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Reviews: Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Lithuania, Male, 31-40
- Novice Nomad
I arrived late evening.Very friendly staff. Very relax and calm hostel.If you will be tired,stay here.I was on thursday was quite and paid £12,however walk in price is £25 weekends ,booked price £21 I thing £21 or £25 is rip off,and £11-12 on monday-thursday is excelent price So its 2 price tags,- monday-thursday very good value for money, weekends-very expensive,and probably very crowd. I WAS SURPRISED how clean bathroom was.I really liked it.But no oven,just microwave.I liked kitchen
- Anonymous
- Lithuania, Male, 31-40
- Novice Nomad
Staff is friendly.Everything is excelent ,exept cooking facilities. Fridges is warm,i dont think they work .Hostel can buy big second hand fridges from charity companies.They normally selling for £30-40 quid.Some empty space can be used as loundry,as there is no place to dry your washed clothes . Atmosphere is fantastic .Friendly Australian receptionist .Cheap asian kebab shops . Barking is poor area by London standards,but its excelent place to start new life .Cheap rented rooms,cheap food
Hello and thanks for the review and the tips. We did buy the fridges from some charity shops and they work fine. I've just checked and someone had turned them down to 1 which is why they were a bit warm. We have dryers to dry clothes as its not a good look for the hostel to have clothes hanging everywhere. Georgia says hi but she also wanted me to point out that the hostel is in Upton Park and not Barking, which is miles away. We wish you good luck with your new start to life here.
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Fri 12th Jul at 8:15pm (doors at 7:00pm)
Joel Dommett
@ Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, Manchester
Also appearing: Andy Askins, Barry Dodds
This event has been and gone!
Catch the next one:
Check out the info below for future tour dates, and track them to receive alerts when they tour near you
Never miss another 'Joel Dommett' show
Barrel Of Laughs: Joel Dommett, Andy Askins, Barry Dodds
Please note that the artists appearing may be subject to change.
Joel Dommett
I'm A Celebrity...2016 runner-up, international globetrotter, English Comedian of the Year finalist, SKINS contributor and general heart throb, Joel Dommett is known for reducing sell out audiences into bouts of uncontrollable laughter. This five time winner of the Comedy Café competition is not to be missed. He has appeared on BBC Three's Impractical Jokers, ITV2's Reality Bites, BBC's Russell Howard's Good News and Sky1's Bring The Noise
'Manically funny act' (Three Weeks)
'Hilarious... delightful tales' (The Scotsman)
'Young, sharp and clever' (Sunday Times).
Joel Dommett tour dates
Andy Askins
Dark, dark humour and killer timing.
'An awful lot of charm. Although he looks mild-mannered and studious, he actually packs a wry, cheeky wit. There is, most definitely, something warmly alluring about him. His winning persona goes a long way...between the songs, the charming banter works well' (Chortle).
Andy Askins tour dates
Barry Dodds
This charming Geordie motor-mouth has audiences in the palm of his hand, even when discussing the most near the knuckle subjects. With material ranging from the supernatural to euthanasia, everything is delivered with a cheeky smile that wins over even the most stony faced of the audience.
Barry has been on the circuit for five years and has played all across the country, from London to Orkney. This young star is hotly tipped for big things.
'Hugely enjoyable... a ton of great stories... one to watch' (The Guardian)
'Razor sharp humour' (Metro)
'... the appealing and perceptive Barry Dodds... captivates his audiences with his energy, spirit and tantalizing wit. His mix of surprisingly uncanny and irrepressibly cheeky material leaves them wanting for more' (Funhouse Comedy).
Barry Dodds tour dates
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Venue Facts
Venue: Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
Website: frogandbucket.com
Phone: 0161 236 9805
→ Manchester Victoria 10 min walk


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The closest major airport to Viroqua, Wisconsin is La Crosse Municipal Airport (LSE / KLSE). This airport is in La Crosse, Wisconsin and is 47 miles from the center of Viroqua, WI. If you're looking for domestic flights to LSE, check the airlines that fly to LSE.
Search for direct flights from your hometown and find hotels near Viroqua, WI, or scroll down for more international airports or domestic airports. You can also browse local airports if you're a pilot.
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Sometimes our artists are inspired. And sometimes they stay inspired for an entire year... With our "Artist In Residence" series we curate year-long subscription style releases for one of the prolific artists on Joyful Noise.
Basic details of the residency are announced near the beginning of the year, and throughout the year as the artist creates these fine musical works, we press them and ship them to your door.


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Welcome Faculty and Staff!!!
The Teaching Learning Center is pleased to host the California Lawyers for the Arts for a special Otis Faculty/Staff seminar.
Room 307
Ahmanson Building
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
California Lawyers for the Arts empowers the creative professional community by providing education, representation and dispute resolution.
Experts will be on campus to discuss copyright law and intellectual property law for creative professionals. We encourage you to attend this informative session!
Speakers Include:
Attorney Nancy L. McCullough, is the principal of Law Offices of Nancy L. McCullough and a 10-year California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA) Board of Directors member. Former in-house counsel to Yahoo!, Capitol Records, and Sony, her current practice focuses on intellectual property, branding, digital technology, entertainment, and media law matters in transactional, advising, and pre-litigation contexts. Ms. McCullough advises prominent and emerging entertainment companies, designers (fashion, interior, web), artists (graphic, multimedia, recording), authors, producers (film, television, music), and technology innovators. She frequently speaks on IP topics for CLA and others: the American Bar Association, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, L. A. Film School, L.A. County Bar Association, and law schools.
Attorney Matthew Swanlund is senior counsel at McGuireWoods LLP in Los Angeles where he counsels individual artists, producers and creative companies in intellectual property matters, including product endorsement, visual art, literary arts, music, events production, motion picture and television. Mr. Swanlund has been a frequent guest speaker at CLA events on legal issues for artists. He is a former Arts Commissioner for the City of Santa Monica and former member of the Board of Directors for California Lawyers for the Arts. He currently serves as Board President and legal counsel for WISH Charter Elementary School.


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Thu 26th Jun 2014 7:00amPorthcawlsurf's Porthcawl - Coney Beach Surf Report
7.30am Thursday. Still flat and more of the same for the rest of the day. Strong offshore wind too
View the Porthcawl - Coney Beach Surf Report and Forecast. Porthcawlsurf's Reports have received a total of 1356403 views.
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Show and Tell: Camille Young's Espera
May 04
// Pedro Cortes
After getting my package from Fangamer, I ripped it open to find this box. It's a sturdy bit of purple cardboard, with a nice print on the lid of the box. Be sure to check out the close up photo in the gallery, where you can also see the wax seal that Young placed on the ribbon. It's a great little print that I wouldn't mind having on its own. As it says on the box, I got the 20th Espera. While not in the lower numbers, I'd say that 20 out of 150 ain't too bad. That's right, Espera is limited to 150 pieces, which is a pretty small run. I paniked a bit when I saw how few of her there would be, but as it turned out I had no problem getting her. Good thing too, as I already have enough stress ordering Portrait of Pirates on a monthly basis. Don't need to add to that! So here is Espera! If Terra's pose looks familiar, that's because Young was inspired by La Montagne, by Aristide Maillol. Young managed to capture the thoughtful gaze of the original in her sculpt of our esper heroine. As mentioned in the intro, this is actually a two piece set, with Terra being separate from her base. I'm not quite sure what the base is supposed to be, but it resembles a beast with wings. Perhaps one of the summons? Here you can see the 'head' of the base in greater detail, along with what looks like scales and feet. The casting by the folks over at Mana Studios is great, as they managed to recreate so many tiny details, such as the aforementioned scales and feet. Zoomed in shots in the gallery show they even added an indentation on the base where her hand is supposed to rest. I'm also quite fond of the ice blue resin used for the base. It really stands out on my desk. Here are some additional shots of smaller details, like Terra's hand in her hair. It's amazing how both Young and Mana Studios were able to put so much life into such a small figure. Of course, Young's paint job has a lot to do with making Terra look as great as she does. Look at the highlights in her hair, the separation of her toes, the color and intensity of her eyes. I absolutely love it. My only complaint is how delicate she feels. That has a lot to do with her size and the material used, so I wouldn't say that it's a flaw, per se. It's just that I'm extra cautious when I handle her with my clumsy meat hooks. It can also be a little annoying to get her sit just right on her base, but as long as you have hand and foot matched up to the proper indentations, you shouldn't have a problem getting her to sit right. If you're interested in Espera, you're in luck! She's still in stock over at Fangamer. You can pick her up for $70. Now, that may seem a bit pricey, considering that she's pretty small. However, you have to consider that this is handmade and hand-painted, not your usual mass-produced figure that was made by soulless machines. This is a work of art and Young deserves every dollar for her hard work. If you dig good artwork by excellent artists, please consider supporting Young and Fangamer as a whole.
One of my favorite websites to spend my hard-earned cash is Fangamer. Independently owned and operated by a dedicated group of Earthbound fans, Fangamer has sold some of the best video game clothing and merchandise for t...
i-Gear updates; Filling those gaps in your collection
May 27
// Cristian Alvernaz
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Playmobil toys perform Joy Division's Transmission
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// Rio McCarthy
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R2-D2 wood burning heater brings steampunk stylings
Jan 28
// Crystal White
U.K. eBay seller kidsrusje has created a one-of-a-kind R2-D2 wood burning heater that is sure to boost your nerd cred (or catch your house on fire.) This little R2 definitely looks like he's got some steampunk influence going...
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Kittyzilla's plush Cobra Commander helps the kids!
Dec 09
// Crystal White
Most people are aware of Etsy, a site where artisans can sell their own creations. Many times Etsy can be filled with the horrors of arts and crafts gone wrong, but other times they get it very right. Cue Kittyzilla's plush C...
Zombie My Little Pony just wants to cuddle you, then eat your brains
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// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
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Blade Runner chess set makes me want to get my think on
Oct 22
// Pedro Cortes
While not technically a toy, this is entirely too cool for me not to post here. As you might remember from the Lego Blade Runner post I made a couple weeks back, anything that brings me back to the seminal sci-fi movie makes ...
Lego ships from Knights of the Old Republic
Oct 18
// Crystal White
Someone's got a lot more patience than me. Stephan de Prouw posted on his Tumblr that he built a to scale Harbinger and Ebon Hawk ship from the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The best part? He did this...
Lego Blade Runner customs leave me moist and wanting
Oct 07
// Pedro Cortes
I love me some Legos. While a lot of the pre-made sets that toy stores carry look nice, I've always preferred making my own designs based on what ever twisted fantasy that's running through my head at the moment. To this day ...
Sillof's Samurai Wars blends Star Wars and Samurai, or just points out the obvious
Sep 20
// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
George Lucas gleaned a lot of his inspiration from Star Wars from Japanese cinema and history. Most notably the plot from Akira Kurosawa's 1958 film "The Hidden Fortress" or Kakushi toride no san akunin forms the ba...
CrazyDevy makes a Master Sword, but not for Link
Sep 17
// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
To be fair, the original Master Sword that came with Fortress Maximus was a little lacking. It looked nothing like the image pictured above, which was a little disappointing, but not worth balking over when you'd spent as muc...
Fansproject Protector pre-order, but wait, there's more!
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// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
So after all those articles I posted about the Shadow Scyther Armor, I'm sure you all think I had forgotten about it's properly colored cousin, the Protector Armor? Heck no! As a matter of fact, I'm here to tell you right now...
Custom Shaun of the Dead plushies have got red on them
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// Robert Oden
Guys, I have just squee-ed so hard I pulled a muscle. It's difficult to find words to express how much I love the movie Shaun of the Dead. It's a slacker film, romantic comedy, and an awesome zombie picture all in one delicio...
iGear's Jet looks RAMiliar, er familiar
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// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
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Plan an awesome exit strategy with Mid Warp Skywarp custom
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// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
You know, in the Transformers cartoon and comics, a lot of the characters were given powers by the writers that never actually manifested in the toys. They were simply a way of engaging "play patterns" with kids, so...
Fansproject Shadow Scyther has color! Were you taking bets? The winner is-
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// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
Everyone! Everyone's a winner! No seriously. All weekend, those in the Transformers know have been trying to determine the final color of Fansproject's Shadow Scyther (yes, I'm aware the image says "Scythe," it's no...
Fansproject Shadow Scyther has nothing to do with Pokemon, but Transformers
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// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
Poor Leah got all excited this morning when she saw something labeled "Scyther" show up in her newsfeed. Unfortunately for her, it had more to do with my Transformers obsession than her Pokemon obsession. Much like ...
Frog Mario plush is all d'aww and such
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// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
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Jul 09
// Jonathan Tubbs
I've always been a fan of stop motion animation, no matter how cheesy some of it may be. You just have to appreciate the work that goes into it from these patient creators. And with poseable figures like the Figma series, the...
Crazy Devy gives Devastator new waist, shoulder, movie head
Jun 14
// Nabeel "Touya" Mohammed
I warned you. I warned you about the crazy guys over at Crazy Devy. They are absolutely certifiable in their mad love for all things related to Transformers character Devastator. Just this weekend they've unleashed three new ...
Impossible Toys releases video of G1 Arcee, The G1 fans rejoice!
Mar 17
// Anthony DePasquale
Arcee was, until her recent Animated toy debut , one of the very few G1 characters to not have her own toy. Now, this figure has been teased at for for quite a while. We've seen prototypes and CG renders, but now we've got a ...
Hannibal Lecter My Little Pony scares me half to death
Mar 01
// Karen Gellender
I've seen some weird and sometimes even disturbing My Little Pony customs in my time, but Hannibal Lecter of The Silence of the Lambs fame here takes the cake; a cake made out of brains, naturally. Pony brains- the brains of ...
Life-sized TMNT Turtle Van is hotter than an oven-fresh pizza
Feb 24
// Robert Oden
If somehow fortune ever sets fit to smile upon me in a way that I become a rich man, I won't stay that way for long. Why? Well shortly after buying this house, I'm going to the Volo Auto Museum in Chigago and throwing m...
Modern design meets traditional wood with Solidboys
Feb 12
// Matthew Kaplowitz
Over on a nice little blog called Saltnpaper, an interesting combination/ experiment of modern design elements has been mixed with traditional woodworking to create the unique and whimsical "Solidboys."Set for relea...
IGear TF-007 Ark Playset final pictures are shown! Wave of nostalgia comes over the internet
Jan 16
// Anthony DePasquale
Remember when you were a kid? You had that big play set of that Power Rangers base as a kid and all their various adventures happened in there. Well, now we've got one for Transformers. To be specific, it's the Autobot base r...
It's time for some more custom Touhou: Figma Advent Cirno
Jan 08
// Anthony DePasquale
I will be the first to admit, I don't know a lot about Touhou Project. But, what I do know a lot about is great customs, and this, Ladies and Gents, is one great custom. Those two swords are just the tip of the iceberg for th...
Dress as a Cucos to win in Kid Robot's costume contest
Oct 16
// Jason Millward
Recently we previewed Kid Robot's upcoming Cucos blind box figures. This is a set of characters so good that I'm going to be buying them like mad to get all of the ones that I want. Those gingery Village of the Damned twins a...
The best looking Hunter figure from Left 4 Dead I've ever seen
Sep 10
// Eva Duenas
You might recall when I wrote about the Left 4 Dead sack boys that I've a huge fan of this game. While there are people whining and crying about them making a second one, I'm one of those who is looking forward to it. There h...
The most amazing World of Warcraft papercraft ever
Apr 28
// Eva Duenas
Online MMO's can be the most addictive things out there. We know that Koreans go crazy about MMOs, as well as everyone knowing about World of Warcraft. It doesn't take a player to know how someone can get addictive to the gam...
Patch Together's On Demand service brings NeoNeve and more
Sep 24
// Colette Bennett
When Miller Song, owner of Patch Together, told us in our exclusive interview with him about the concept of their OnDemand serivce, we were excited to say the least -- this was a way to see more artists' creations finally jum...
More steamy Star Wars from Sillof's Workshop
Jul 15
// Qais Fulton
It's been a while since we've heard any rumblings from the direction of Dr. Sillof's workshop, and as we all know, when the scientists get quiet there's trouble brewing. With a bang and a puff of smoke the lab door has creake...
Brian Chan's Origami: So much win in such little paper
Jun 25
// Rio McCarthy
My first reaction to these was, "Holy crap, that's amazing!" My second reaction was, "I ... could never make that, even if I tried!" But how awesome would it be to have either of these guys sitting on your...
Custom Delights: "agg" Cassididdy
May 14
// Rio McCarthy
Flickr user "agg" Cassididdy (Kid Robot forum user agg) has created some of the most amazing custom work I've seen in a while. As a frequent user of the KR forums, he has participated in many toy trades including on...
Ico versus fan creativity: Protect the Princess
Mar 30
// Lauren Wainwright
I hope you remember Quasimodox and his beautiful rendition of Pyro from Team Fortress 2, because I have a treat for you all. Remember that PS2 game Ico? Well a few weeks ago while I was on holiday I got a nice little email fr...
Show and Tell : The Almighty Tomopup Plush
Mar 26
// Rio McCarthy
This week, it's my honor to be the one who puts on Show and Tell. This is a piece that really means a lot to me, as it's something I made myself and although I haven't been an editor for very long, I have thoroughly enjoyed m...
Fez plushie is stuffed full of cuteness
Mar 08
// Brian Szabelski
So maybe you have heard of Fez, which may or may not be the greatest PC indie title to ever be created. While the game's still being finished up and readied for your computer by the fine folks at Kokoromi, you can enjoy the a...
Check out this incredible custom Samus Aran figure
Feb 27
// Dale North
What's better than a full health bar, 255 missles, and Hi-Jump Boots? Not much, but this custom Samus Aran Metroid figure definitely is. The (vintage spoiler) heroine of Nintendo's Metroid series of games has never looked as ...
Phoenix Wright plushies? My life is complete!
Feb 26
// Colette Bennett
I have to be careful when surfing Deviant Art. Much like Ebay, I could idle hours of my life away there without realizing any time had passed. Sometimes it's a good thing though, because I stumble across amazing artists selli...
Super Mario awesome: custom toy collection
Feb 25
// Brian Szabelski
Everyone loves a good custom toy, now and then. But when it's a custom toy based off your favorite game of all-time... well, you take notice.Kidrobot forum member agg completely has my attention right now, thanks to an impres...
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Andre 3000 Says New Artists Excite Him, Still No Plans for an OutKast Album
Andre 3000 is continuing to pop up.
After speaking with GQ recently and appearing on songs with Young Jeezy, B.o.B and the Gorillaz, the OutKast member sat down with The FADER and spoke on new artists, his connection to Drake, and the possibility of a new OutKast album.
"I've been excited about what new artists are bringing to rap," he told the site. "I notice how it's really just a continuous conversation, a lineage thing. In high school it was all about A Tribe Called Quest and Souls of Mischief, and Too Short and 8Ball & MJG and UGK for us. And we just kept the torch going."
He also commented on Drake, who has not been shy about his admiration of Three Stacks.
"Now I talk to Drake, and I know he had to be like ten when he was listening to what we were doing," Dre joked. "You just never know who's listening until you hear a connection. I didn't even know Drake dug my music, I just liked him as a rapper because I felt he had a balance. I didn't even know that he grew up listening to me. But it's cool to know that it's a real lineage thing. I'm happy to see Kanye and Wayne and Drake and all these new artists. They inspire me in a way because they reach back and they say, 'Hey, we want to get you on these songs.' I don't rap every day. I don't sit around writing raps like that. And when these artists call, it's kind of like they get me going. And I really wanna just be good for them. I want to impress them or have them be happy to say, 'Okay, he did well on my song.' I don't want to be messing their song up."
And, of course, the veteran MC had to address OutKast and whether or not he and Big Boi would be collaborating again any time soon.
"We're not on the roster or on a schedule with a label to put out an OutKast album," he re-stated, following up on the recent interview with GQ where he also said there were no plans for a new album from the duo. "I can't say if or when we will, but I'm going to be in Outkast forever in some kind of way. I can't really say Outkast is over so it always trips me out when these things get on the internet, and [people] go, Andre said there's going to be no more OutKast. There's no plans for an OutKast album right now. Next year will be 20 years as Outkast, which is—I'm still amazed at it. I'm happy that we've been around that long. Happy that we have people that still care about OutKast." —Adam Fleischer


text:
MiraCosta College is no longer subject to a warning issued in January 2008 that it could lose its accreditation.
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, informed MiraCosta in a June 30 letter that the warning is lifted, the college announced yesterday.
The warning had been issued amid deep divisions among staff and college trustees, after the college board of trustees signed a $1.6 million resignation deal in 2007 with former president Victoria Muñoz Richart following a controversy over the illegal sale of palm trees on campus.
When the accrediting commission issued the warning, it called for MiraCosta to improve relations among board members and to foster more collegial relations between the board and the larger college community, among other recommendations.
Since then, some trustees from that period have left the board, and the Oceanside college has a new president: Francisco Rodriguez, from Cosumnes River College near Sacramento.
The accrediting commission will give the college a full review next spring. The review is repeated every six years.


text:
230 Taylor Notion Road
Cape Carteret, North Carolina
United States
County: Carteret
Phone: 252-393-6500
Connect to: Library Web Site✔ Online Catalog
Library details: Western Carteret Public Library is a Public library.
This library is affiliated with Craven-Pamlico-Carteret Regional Library System (view map) .
Permalink: https://librarytechnology.org/library/11869
(Use this link to refer back to this listing.)
See also: Directory of Public Libraries in the United States
|Technology Profile
|Product Name
|Year Contracted
|Current Automation System
|WorldShare Management Services
|Previous Automation System
|Previous Automation System
|The library's automation system is hosted by the vendor through an Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) arrangement.
|libraries.org ID
Record History: This listing was created on Oct 13, 2004 and was last modified on Jul 19, 2017.
Updates: Corrections or Updates? Registered members of Library Technology Guides can submit updates to library listings in libraries.org. Registration is free and easy. Already registered? login. Or, you can report corrections just by sending a message to Marshall Breeding.


text:
Recent Posts
- Path of Exile: The Fall of Oriath launching this Thursday for Xbox One
- Battlefield 1: Revolution bundle out for console, PC
- Bungie releases launch trailer for Destiny 2
- Yakuza 6: The Song of Life editions detailed, new gameplay trailer up
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance story trailer released for gamescom
Fancy A Date?
Daily Archives: December 17, 2012
Sega releases launch trailer for AM2 fighters
Sega has released a new trailer for the three AM2 fighters that were recently released on Live Arcade and PSN, Fighting Vipers, Sonic the Fighters, and Virtua Fighter 2. The brawlers are available for $4.99/400 MS Points each and have been updated to support online play.
Street Fighter X Mega Man available for PC, Mega Man 1-6 3DS bound
Mega Man turns 25 today, and as with Street Fighter, Capcom has plans to celebrate the anniversary all year long. To kicks things off, the free PC Street Fighter X Mega Man crossover platformer announced last week is now available at Capcom-Unity.com. The game features eight levels themed after Street Fighter, and eight fighters to battle as end-area bosses.
NeoGeo X Gold Limited Edition Set to launch this week
Retro gamers looking to relive SNK's golden years will be able to get extra nostalgic later this week when the NeoGeo X Gold Limited Edition Set launches at select online retailers. The $199.99 set includes an Arcade Stick and two systems, the Station, a reproduction home arcade entertainment system (AES), and Handheld, which houses 20 pre-loaded games and can be docked in the Station.


text:
Zoe Saldana wore a floral Givenchy skirt and simple black shirt on the red carpet at tonight's MTV Movie Awards in LA. It was a pared-down, but elegant look for Zoe — what do you think of her pick? Make sure to weigh in on all the evening's fashions in our MTV Movie Awards fashion and beauty polls. Zoe is among the many celebs presenting golden popcorn at the awards tonight, a list that includes Brad Pitt, Melissa McCarthy, and Kim Kardashian.
Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt


text:
Buy a Print
Charles V, King of France
by Frederick Bromley, after Marie Louis Adélaide Boizot
line engraving, possibly early to mid 18th century
Framed prints
All available prints may also be ordered in frames, or on stretched canvas, for delivery anywhere in the World. Prices start at £65.
Print Orders
Please note that not all of our portraits are available as digital prints. Print orders take an average of 3 working days for delivery in the UK and 7 working days overseas. Framed print orders might take a little longer.
Paper sizes and types explained here
Terms of Purchase
All prints offered for sale here are for display purposes only and not further copying or publication. If you wish to reproduce our images, you must obtain suitable materials and permission - available simply and exclusively from our Rights and Images Office.
The Print On Demand service is also available in-store at the National Portrait Gallery. Please call 0207 306 0055 ext 4224 for further information and assistance.
Every purchase supports the work of the National Portrait Gallery.


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Cork And Chroma BrisbaneArts & Crafts Painting
44 Montague Rd, Kensington Grove, QLD 4101
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Please Call Us For Enquiries, Somerset Dam, QLD 4312


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|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
|« Date » · « Thread »
|Rob Weir <robw...@apache.org>
|Re: Proposal for use of funds collected by SPI
|Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:02:21 GMT
On Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 3:29 PM, Wolf Halton <email@example.com> wrote: > Summary: SPI has been collecting moneys for the OpenOffice.org project > for quite a while. They wanted to help the project and their help is > appreciated. Now that we are part of the ASF family, we have some > important choices to make. > > First and foremost, we must request SPI to stop their collections > efforts. AOO cannot receive the money directly as ASF does that. > Second, we need to find out how much they have collected so far. > Third, we need to decide how we would like to use the money they have > collected. > In general, it would make sense to use the funds for holding > or supporting events, with guidance from the ASF Conference Committee > > travel assistance with guidance from the aptly named > Travel Assistance Committee > > and possibly marketing with help from the Trademarks Committee > and Marketing Committee > > We absolutely cannot pay people to develop our software with > the money, per ASF rules. > I volunteered to move this forward and I would like your feedback, > maybe a general poll of what you, the community, would like to do with > the money. > When OpenOffice.org was collecting the funds, it told contributors that the funds would be used for certain purposes. You can see the language that was used here: http://web.archive.org/web/20100105132519/http://contributing.openoffice.org/donate.html I think we have latitude to use the funds for any purpose that is listed there, *and* which is also something Apache is able to spend money on, per charter and per policy. As you mentioned, we cannot use the funds to pay for developers. But the other uses listed there, like travel assistance for conferences, etc., makes sense to me. Hopefully, if there is no objection to that general outline, we can go ahead and transfer the funds. I think the goal should be to transfer the lump sum balance to Apache, and them disburse individual payments from that fund rather than to make individual requests to SPI. We should look to get the lump sum, and them use ASF mechanisms for approving the detailed disbursement plan, and that might occur over a longer period of time. Also, when you contact SPI, be sure to thank them for their past efforts in helping OpenOffice.org collect donations in the US. They did a fine job and we are grateful for that work. But the reason for using SPI was to enable easier collection of donations from US residents. Now that we're at Apache, a US-based non-profit corporation, this help is no longer needed. -Rob > Once I have some idea of your wishes, I will connect the dots to close > this issue. > > Cheers, > > Wolf Halton > > -- > This Apt Has Super Cow Powers - http://sourcefreedom.com > Advancing Libraries Together - http://LYRASIS.org
|View raw message


text:
Tim Scott of South Carolina was sworn into office Thursday on a historic day that saw him become the first African-American United States senator from the South since Reconstruction and the upper chamber's only current black member.
As the only current African-American Republican member of Congress, Scott's elevation from the House of Representatives to replace former Sen. Jim DeMint makes him a national figure just two years after he arrived in Washington following the 2010 tea party-fueled elections that gave his party control of the House of Representatives.
"Amazing," said Scott, his mother standing by his side, after being sworn into office by Vice President Joe Biden.
DeMint, who resigned the Senate to lead the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, and fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina escorted Scott into the Senate for the swearing-in on the Senate floor. It was followed by a ceremonial swearing-in in the ornate Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol.
In a reflection of the significance of Scott's promotion, both for the nation and for a Republican Party seeking to become more diverse, dozens of news photographers and TV cameras recorded the ceremonial event, more than those for other new senators. (Miami Herald)
Related Posts


text:
Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in Korean Adolescents With Depression
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified March 2011 by Hallym University Medical Center.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Hallym University Medical Center
Bundang CHA Hospital
Myongji Hospital
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Hallym University Medical Center
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: March 9, 2011
Last updated: October 4, 2011
Last verified: March 2011
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
|Study Status:
|This study is currently recruiting participants.
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|March 2012
|Primary Completion Date:
|No date given


text:
With all of the hype surrounding the 3G iPhone, we can't forget about other phones out there like the BlackBerry Thunder which has been labeled as RIM's "iPhone Killer." Boy Genius Report (BGR) claims to have received an official product shot, and if it's legitimate, it confirms that the phone will be touchscreen. This is a whole new route for RIM to take with their devices because up until now, their phones haven't had an on-screen keyboard. Take a look at the image below (from BGR):
Notice what else is missing besides the keyboard? The trackball! If people will be scrolling with their fingers, there's no need for the trackball. It looks pretty slick, doesn't it? At this point it's believed that Verizon will be the exclusive carrier for the phone, and it's expected to launch sometime in September. There's been no word yet on the cost of the phone quite yet.
RIM is pretty bold for coming out with a touchscreen device. I know of several people who like the features of the iPhone, yet would never switch from their BlackBerry, simply because they like the keyboard. Is this a smart move for RIM to make to try and attract more of the casual users since most of their subscribers use the devices for business purposes?
Source: Boy Genius Report


text:
It seems like my baby has difficulty passing his stool. His face usually turns red and sometimes he grunts or makes other noises. He has bowel movements regularly, but I'm still concerned. Could he be constipated?
- Keisha
It's normal for infants to strain when passing a bowel movement (pooping). Going is more of a challenge for them because they are lying flat, and therefore don't have the forces of gravity to help move things along.
At first, breastfed babies tend go more often than formula-fed babies since breast milk is more easily digested. At around 3-6 weeks of age, though, breastfed babies may start having fewer bowel movements, sometimes only one or two a week. Formula-fed babies usually continue to have daily bowel movements.
As long as the stool remains soft (regardless of how frequent the bowel movements are or if there is straining), your baby probably is not constipated.
Babies who cry when passing a bowel movement or have hard or pebble-like stool might be constipated. If you think your baby's constipated, talk to your doctor, who may recommend giving your baby a little extra water or 100% fruit juice to soften hard stool. Never give a baby laxatives, suppositories, or enemas unless instructed to by a doctor.
If your baby's symptoms do not improve or if he has signs of illness like vomiting, fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, or blood in the stool, call your doctor right away.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: January 2014
|American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) The AAP is committed to the health and well-being of infants, adolescents, and young adults. The website offers news articles and tips on health for families.
|AAP Pediatric Referral Department Use this website to find a pediatrician in your area or to find general health information for parents from birth through age 21.
|Zero to Three Zero to Three is a national nonprofit organization that promotes the health and development of infants and toddlers.
|Diapering Your Baby Babies may use up to 10 diapers a day! Get the basics on how to diaper like a pro.
|Your Child's Checkup: 2 Months Find out what this doctor's visit will involve and what your baby might be doing by the second month.
|Feeding Your 1- to 3-Month-Old Whether you've chosen to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby, your infant will let you know when it's time to eat.
|Your Child's Checkup: 3 to 5 Days Find out what this doctor's checkup will involve a few days after your baby is born.
|Constipation Constipation is a very common problem among kids, and it usually occurs because a child's diet doesn't include enough fluids and fiber. In most cases, simple changes can help kids go.
What to expect when coming to Akron Children's
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text:
Edit: After half day, my wife's Mac started having the same problem. I have then applied the solution that I found in the Apple
How to Upgrade Mac's System Software
System software is the soul of any computer system. MAC systems are no different with excellent system software, but with time, they do become obsolete and are replaced with the new ones. The up-gradation of system software on MAC machines affects the behaviour of the machine in terms of the performance of certain processes and programs. Further, they also add new functions and features into existing programs of your MAC computer.
Following is a step by step guide of MAC system software upgrades using different versions of operating system, as the procedure for opening 'Software Updates' menu can be different on different OS X versions of the MAC machines:
MAC system software upgrade using OS X 10.3 and above
- Click and open the 'Apple' Menu.
- Open the option of Software Update in the Menu.
- In the software update, select the upgrades that you wish to download.
- Click on Install.
- Click 'Check Now,' when using version OS X 10. 3.
- The software update check in OS X 10.5 and above can run automatic updates. These checks normally run in the background and your MAC system prompts you whenever an update is available.
MAC system software upgrade using 10.2.8 and Under
- Click and Open the Apple Menu.
- Open System Preferences in the Menu.
- Choose 'Software Update' in the View Menu.
- Click 'Update Now.'
- Select your desired items that you wish to install.
- After selecting them, click 'install.'
- Then, you will be prompted for your administrator account log in and password. Add the details accordingly.
- After that, you will be prompted by your MAC computer to restart your machine. Restart the machine for new upgrades to take affect.
MAC system software upgrades using a standalone installer
- Open your web browser in your MAC computer.
- Log on to the website of Apple Support Downloads.
- Choose the preferred system software update that you wish to install on your MAC computer.
- Click download.
- After the download is completed, restart your machine for the new system software to take affect.
Tips for system software Upgrades
- There is a possibility that you do not need some of the system software updates in the software update window. By going into the system preferences in your Apple menu, and there in to 'Software Updates,' you can hide these updates.
- Your software updates can be scheduled by deploying your software update pane. You can set the intervals, after which, you want the system to check for the upgrades. By default, the system search for updates after every 1 week.
- Use a standalone installer if you wish to install updates on two or more computers. Standalone system installers should also be deployed in case of an update at a later time.
For more such informative guides, please log on to http://www.mac-reviews.net and find a unique world of useful tips and tricks for your MAC machine. No matter what issue you face regarding your MAC machine, just log on to this website and get an instant solution.
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Macintosh OS


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Focal Points: Screenplay Theme, Structure & Characters
Ray Morton
One of the most common flaws that I find in many of the scripts that I read is a lack of focus - a misplaced emphasis on the wrong elements in the wrong places at the wrong times. This is a problem because movies require focus. Without it, they cannot be effective.
There are several reasons for this: The first is that, unlike novels, which can take as much time as they want to tell their tales, movie have limited amounts of time to unfold. Given this limitation, movies need to make their points as quickly and efficiently as possible. They don't have time to wander. The second is that, because of their expansive nature, novels are free to indulge in multiple characters and storylines, plotless character study, and all manner of narrative diversion, digression, and sidebar. Films, on the other hand, work best when they focus on a single character (or set of characters) in a single story with a strong plot told in a (relatively) straightforward manner. Finally, because they engage readers on a subjective level, novels can use a wide range of techniques - action, description, travelogue, inner voice, etc. - to tell their stories. Because their presentation is objective, movies have a more limited palette - they tell their stories exclusively through action. (By action, I don't mean car chases, although they are perfectly acceptable when warranted. Instead, I am referring to dramatic action - behavior, choices, reactions, things said and unsaid, and, of course, physical action). By definition, action requires precision, economy, and pacing.
All of these things require focus - the clear statement of a clear theme and the dramatization of that theme in a well-crafted, tightly constructed plot.
Since the screenplay is the blueprint upon which a film is based, it is the screenwriter's job to begin providing that focus from the very first draft. As important a task as this is, it is one many writers have trouble with. The results of this, unfortunately, are unfocused scripts that, while they often contain terrific ideas, characters, and situations, are often unwieldy, confused, and, at times, incoherent. Such confusion makes these scripts hard to read, understand, and ultimately to care about, which, in turn, severely limits both their commercial and creative potential.
So, in order to help you produce a script that is as sharp and clear as you can make it, I humbly offer the following tips:
Make sure that you have a clear grasp of your theme
The theme is the central idea that underlines your story - it's the point you want it to make; the lesson you want it to teach; the message you want it to convey. Since the theme is the foundation upon which the rest of the story is built, it's important for you to have as clear an understanding as possible of just what it is you want your piece to say. If you don't know it already, it's important that you take the time to figure it out. Once you've gotten a handle on your theme, write it down in one or two simple sentences on a post-it. (This may sound a little gimmicky, but it requires great skill to distill a complex idea down into such a compact form. If you can achieve that degree of focus in your theme, you will be able to achieve it in your script as well.) Stick the post-it up on your computer (or on the cover of your notebook or across the top of your yellow pad) so that you can refer to it constantly while you are writing. In the same way that the North Star helps sailors stay on course, your thematic post-it will keep you steering true when you are in danger of wandering.
Make sure that all elements in the script reflect the theme
Once you know your theme, it is vitally important to then tether all of the script's elements to it. First make sure that your protagonist and his/her arc are appropriate for the theme. In accordance with the basic rules of drama, this usually involves establishing a character that embodies a position that is the exact opposite of the one the theme champions and then have that character journey along a path that will land him at exactly the point the theme is trying to make by the end of the story. For example, the theme of the classic 80's comedy Tootsie is that men need to learn to treat women as people rather than as objects. At the outset of the story, Michael Dorsey, the protagonist, is established as a player who treats women casually and is insensitive to their needs - exactly the sort of person that needs to learn the lesson the theme seeks to impart. In the course of the story, Michael comes to realize just how badly men in general (and, by implication, he himself) treat women. Eventually, he heeds the theme's lesson and begins treating women well. Next, make sure that the plot dramatically illustrates the protagonist's journey (and thus, the story's theme) and that nothing that happens in the story inhibits that journey (and, thus, contradicts the theme - mixed messages may abound in life, but there's no place for them in drama). If your script includes subplots and supporting characters, they should provide some sort of useful amplification or counterpoint to the theme.
Make sure your premise is established early and clearly
The premise is the dramatic concept from which the rest of the story flows - it's the set-up, the hook, the jumping off point for the rest of your script. Without a premise, a script would have no framework. Instead of being a tightly constructed piece of drama that grabs the reader, thrusts him into a tense and exciting situation and hurtles him along a path full of twists turns and reversals until finally arriving at a powerful, inevitable resolution, a script would instead be nothing more than a long string of loosely-connected events meandering along with no beginning, no resolution, and no ending. For this reason, it is vital that you establish your premise clearly - so we know what the story is about - and quickly so that it can grab us right from the get-go.
Make sure that there is a logical flow to the story
This may sound like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised as how many scripts founder because their stories unfold in an illogical, haphazard, or convoluted manner. To prevent this, make sure that the events in Act I establish and flow from the premise. Make sure that the complications that arise in Act II flow from the situations that are set up in Act I. (Do not make the mistake that so many writers do and start a whole new story in Act II. If you can't figure out a way to logically complicate the elements from Act I, then you need to set up different elements.) Make sure that the events that occur in Act III resolve the complications that have been developed in Act II and make the thematic point that you want your script to make.
Always focus the plot on the protagonist
The plot should always center on the lead character and should chronicle his journey. Any other characters should either support the protagonist or the antagonist or else drive the plot. If they do not serve any of these functions, then they should be eliminated. Supporting characters should never have storylines of their own that do not somehow involve the main character.
Avoid extraneous subplots
Subplots should be included in a script only if they have some sort of direct relevance to or impact on the main characters or the main plotline (i.e., they show another necessary side of a character or they provide some sort of necessary exposition or they set up a necessary plot twist, etc. Notice I keep using the word "necessary"). Irrelevant or unrelated subplots should be avoided at all costs, especially if they focus on anyone other than the main characters. Avoid creating a separate movie within a movie, which often happens when disconnected subplots are allowed to run wild.
Do not let your antagonist hijack your script
This is an especially big problem in action scripts. As antagonists are often much more colorful and flamboyant than protagonists (and so are usually a lot more fun to write), it is easy for an author to get carried away when writing them to the point where the script ends up being more about the villain than it is about the hero. Remember that the antagonist's role in a story is to foil the protagonist, not steal the movie from him.
Keep it moving
Even a script that has a great premise, a fascinating plot, and engaging, compelling characters can still lose an audience if it goes on too long, wanders too much, or stops too often to smell the roses. It's important to always keep the plot moving and that means you have to be willing to bite the bullet and cut out any bits - jokes, gags, action, dialogue runs, color, and moments - that do not serve to propel the action. This is often a very difficult thing for writers to do because it is often these bits that are dearest to their hearts. But if including them causes your reader to lose track of your story, then you have to heed the old saw and "kill your darlings."
I hope that these tips will help you keep things "in focus."
Good luck and happy writing.
© 2004/2009 Ray Morton. All Rights Reserved.
About Ray Morton
Ray Morton is a writer, script consultant, and script analyst. A senior writer for Script Magazine, he writes its bi-monthly "Legends of Screenwriting" column. Morton's first book, King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon, was published in 2005 and his latest book, Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film, has just been published by Applause Books. Both are available in bookstores and online at Amazon.com. Morton is available for script consultation and can be reached at
[email protected]
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text:
In the northwest corner of Champlin tucked away on the corner of Dean
Avenue and Independence Avenue, nearly 20 actors have been hard at work rehearsing for their upcoming production of "Pilgrim's Progress" at Divine Love Fellowship Church. The group, operating as the En Morphe Theatre Company, has staged the show for numerous performances in the spring and fall for the last two years. According to director Margaret Baird, this may be the final curtain call for "Pilgrim's Progress," at least for a while.
Margaret and her husband, Pastor Paul Baird, have been operating the non-denominational church in Champlin since 1975.
"The theatre has been a part of it almost since the beginning," said Margaret who was bitten by the theater bug at age 6.
She was involved in drama throughout high school, studied theater courses at the University of Minnesota and performed in summer stock plays as well as at Theater in the Round in Minneapolis.
"I was headed to Valencia College in California, a school for the dramatic arts, when the Lord Jesus got a hold of my life," states Margaret about the merging of her interests. However, she initially thought she would have to leave behind her talents and love of theater to marry Paul and serve in the ministry they were building.
She spent more than a decade working as a drama and speech teacher in an A.C.E. Christian School in Minneapolis, meanwhile exploring the concept of "drama as ministry." She has written and directed a number of productions since.
"Pilgrim's Progress," written by John Bunyan in the 1600's piqued Margaret's curiosity as the first allegory ever written using such qualities as Hypocrisy and Faithful as actual characters within the storyline.
Additionally, the storyline is one of the most popular, following the main character as they travel in search of the celestial city, guided and tempted by others along the path, called "The Way." Sound familiar yet? If not, it should since many classic tales take a page directly out of "Pilgrim's Progress" – tales such as "Wizard of Oz" and "Lord of the Rings."
Margaret adapted the book to the script that took shape in the form of John Bunyan becoming a character who narrates the show. All the actors have participated in the show since its first staging. Chuck Rudie, of Maple Grove portrays Bunyan while Andy Vansloun portrays Christian, who is the main character journeying on "The Way" seeking the celestial city to unload his burden.
The audience meets the other actors along the way portraying sometimes up to four or five different parts. To keep it fresh, the actors often appear in masks, which is part of the inspiration for the theater company name — En Morphe — which means "to change masks, like and actor that plays many parts."
Christian encounters ghouls, an 8-foot giant and a winged beast. Margaret says her son, Billy Baird, "does all the athletic stuff with the giant and things."
The overall effect is a spectacle created around Christian's pilgrimage from the City of Destruction to the Gates of the Celestial City. He and his companions, Faithful and Hopeful encounter Evangelist (portrayed by Pastor Paul), Interpreter, Giant Despair and many of the characters Bunyan saw in his "dream." In this Christian fantasy they meet with "temptations, toils and snares guided by the Voices of Scripture to show them "The Way."
"It's pretty entertaining," said Margaret. "People have come and been blown away by the quality of it."
Margaret says the production is entertaining for all ages. Ron Powell, a member of the church who assists in publicity for the show believes the show appeals to individuals of all religious backgrounds as all people can identify with the storyline.
If you go…
Pilgrim's Progress will perform Friday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. as well as Saturday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. Located at Divine Love Fellowship Church, 564 Independence Avenue, Champlin. Info: 763-576-0866 or www.enmorphe.org


text:
Microsoft, always looking for any way to tout good news about Windows Phone, claims that it outsells the iPhone in seven countries. But is that really the case? It's not as clear as it first appears.
Yesterday on the Official Microsoft Blog, Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Corporate Communications, had this to say about Windows Phone:
"Windows Phone has reached 10 percent market share in a number of countries, and according to IDC's latest report, has shipped more than Blackberry in 26 markets and more than iPhone in seven."
Impressive stuff, especially for an operating system that has been bobbing along with a market share in the low single digits. Shaw didn't say in which countries Windows Phone outsold the iPhone, so the New York Times did some digging. Nick Wingfield asked IDC analyst Kevin Restivo for details, who told him that IDC found that Windows Phone bested the iPhone in Argentina, India, Poland, Russia, South Africa and Ukraine in the fourth quarter. The seventh country:
"...is actually a group of smaller countries, including Croatia, that IDC lumps together in a category called 'rest of central and eastern Europe.'
Still a win is a win, isn't it? Well, yes and no, the Times reports. In three of the markets, Ukraine, South Africa and "rest of central and eastern Europe," sales are exceedingly small, with fewer than 100,000 Windows Phone devices shipped.
A bigger issue is that the IDC numbers don't necessarily reflect total smartphone sales in the seven countries, because of thriving gray markets in some of them. The Times reports:
"IDC's numbers also reflect only the official number of cellphones imported into the countries. Mr. Restivo said that in some countries, like Argentina, high government taxes mean there is a very significant gray market in cellphones, which IDC doesn't track. So it is hard to know actual market share in those places."
Ah well. Saying Windows Phone has outsold the iPhone in seven countries makes a nice talking point for Microsoft, anyway.
One interesting point about Windows Phone sales is that Restivo told the times that Windows Phone sales tend to be strongest in areas that have been traditional strongholds for Nokia. So that shows that the Nokia deal has paid off to some extent for Microsoft.
Still, Microsoft's smartphone OS is struggling. A recent IDC report says Windows Phone/Windows Mobile had a 2.6% worldwide market share in the fourth quarter of 2012. And a recent Gartner report mirrored that, with the number at 3%.
The saying goes that when life hands you a lemon, make lemonade. And that's exactly what the latest Microsoft blog touting Windows Phone's success is.


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A SECOND man has been arrested in connection with an assault in which a 59-year-old suffered a serious head injury.
Police were called to Princess Street in Great Harwood around 4.30pm on Monday, after reports of an eight-man brawl in the street.
One man was taken to hospital, but has been discharged.
Police are investigating the events which led up to the incident.
Det Sgt Kathryn Cussans said: "We are asking for anybody who was in the area who might have seen anything at all to contact us.
"A 17-year-old man was arrested on Monday afternoon on suspicion of a section 18 assault and a second man, aged 26, was arrested on suspicion of the same offence."


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PORTLAND, Ore. (TheStreet) -- All-wheel drive is an underrated feature during a particularly snowy winter, but it comes in particularly handy around this time of year when those gray clouds suddenly douse much of the country with rain for weeks at a time.
According to the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, wet roads account for roughly 1.13 million crashes each year, 75% of all weather-related crashes and 18% of vehicle crashes overall. That number shrinks only somewhat to 707,000 crashes, or 47% of weather-related crashes and 11% of all crashes, when you narrow wet-pavement incidents down to just rain.
Still, those crashes in rainy conditions injure more than 330,000 people each year and kill 3,300. That's roughly 50% of all weather-related injuries and deaths. To put that into perspective, that makes rain more dangerous to U.S. drivers than snow, ice and fog combined.
Even if you make it through the worst rainstorms unscathed, they're more than enough to severely affect your commute. Light rain reduces traffic flow 2% to 13% percent in light rain, while heavier rain slows things 6% to 17%. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, where rain is a much an absolute truth as the sun rising and setting, or in Florida or along the Gulf Coast where even storms just passing through can play havoc, everybody else's spring showers are just your standard nightmare.
Automakers are well aware of the perils of wet weather and have been getting better about offering features such as all-wheel drive without taking all of a car buyer's money. We consulted with the folks at Kelley Blue Book we came up with five vehicles that can help you drive straight through those spring downpours for less than $25,000:


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Indian Railways: Some Thoughts for the new Minister
1. Defining the Mission: The Mission of Railways should be to enable transportation of people and freight in chosen traffic segments in the most efficient and sustainable way. While the importance of 'efficient' is easily understood, the term 'sustainable' will require the Railways to operate on a commercial basis. Only then will it be able to generate sufficient resources to ensure that the services provided are continued in the future. This clarity will be essential given the woolly definitions practiced by the UPA with its minister, Mamata Banerjee once asking a question and answering it herself: "Should commercial viability be the only criterion to judge this need of connectivity? Or, should social responsibility be an important consideration? I prefer the latter" With this level of confusion it is clear that the imposition of socialism in an essentially commercial organisation is leading it to nowhere. No wonder Super Fast here could mean less than 50 kmph average speed. Accident rates continue to be high. Non renewal of assets leads to unacceptably high levels of 'sweating' them leading to fatigue. This is one of direct cause of accidents and delays (necessitated by slowing down due to weak systems).
2. Defining the Role: Given the size and economically complex nature of the country, the share of Railways in upper class long distance travel can be expected to diminish over the years. At the other end, other than in urban commute situations, share in short distance transportation too can be expected to diminish as it lacks the flexibility offered by road transport. In freight other than parcel, the higher flexibility offered by road has resulted the Railways already being an effective player only in bulk and long distance. Thus in the coming years, role of Railways will be to offer effective and efficient solutions in the field of transportation in the following traffic segments:
Medium Distance – all classes
Long Distance – lower classes
Urban Commute Networks
Long Distance
Parcel services riding on passenger services
3. Lending Focus – Operations: Today Railways are treated as department with multiple functions performed and accounted for together. Operational function of the Railways needs to be kept separate from the other functions. Operations should exclusively concern itself with the Network, leaving out all ancillary services like Catering or Production. Operations should be guided by the considerations of: Service, Safety and Speed to its Consumers – both Passengers and Freight users. There should be no talk of privatising any of these as the private sector in India does not simply have the necessary wherewithal to manage this. On the other hand internally the System has built up enough competencies that with proper management can be raised to serve future needs. Within this, the three principal considerations of Service, Safety and Speed should require full and balanced attention in both the short and long term.
4. Production Arms: Production Units should be corporatized (not necessarily privatised) and spun off. They should be given a clean balance sheet, and Operations should deal with them on 'arm's length' basis through long term purchase plans. In the first year firm orders should be placed to increase offtake. This could possibly be to the full extent of available capacity in a one year time frame. For the next five years, orders need to be farmed out based on capacities, price, and financing. These could be suitably broken up into firm orders and options. With a clean balance sheet and definite order book, these organisations should be able to access finance from the markets – equity as well as debt. Energies need not be wasted by trying to privatise these organisations. Internal Management through deputation, delegation of powers and encouragement to develop human resources in the long run should ensure effective management. Where required technology upgradation can be effected from other global majors through joint ventures with global majors. Essentially once spun off and provided autonomy with the appropriate control systems, there should be no further budgetary support for these arms. In fact if handled well it could be even possible to fund capital expenditure for procurement entirely outside of budget. Politically it should be possible to push through this restructuring as long as the interests of the current labor force are adequately protected. One way to manage this could be to treat the current work force in Railway's rolls and depute their services over say five years. In meantime the organisations can develop their own structures.
5. Service Arms: Service arms like IRCTC and some others like Concor are already corporatized. This should be carried to its logical conclusion. The organisations should get autonomy and Operations should deal with them at arms length through Service Level Agreements. IRCTC should be further broken into Ticketing Services Organisation and a residual one dealing with Catering Services. Technology requirements / upgrades for the former can be intensified with the resultant focus. Again here too there should no further budgetary support. As in the case of Production units, to make it politically palatable, employee interests can be covered by a system of deputation for a limited period.
6. Urban Commute Networks: These have a different set of issues when compared to the rest of the network. Effectiveness as well as Commercial Viability requires close alignment with the States' as well as Local Bodies' plans. A totally different approach will be necessary than what is currently being followed. In some cases, spinning them off into separate organisations under a State Government's control may need to be examined. Issues concerning these should be actually treated as pertaining to Urban Development rather than that of a standard Railway Network. Some of the initiatives will need to be integrated with local public transport systems. For example providing high speed short distance / commuting network around Delhi can help decongest Delhi as well have the potential for systematic urban development of places in Western UP, Haryana.
7. Step up Investment on Network: With the sole attention of core organisation on the Network, this has to be strengthened as a mission. The following can be set as priorities:
Dedicated Freight Corridor
Capacity Augmentation on all High Density Routes – additional lines, selective electrification, de-bottlenecking
Track Maintenance and Renewal
Completion of all projects on hand with IRR of say 15% and above within one year – disproportionate allocation of funds for these, while putting on hold for two – three years all the political, low viability projects
8. Management Culture: Once it is appreciated that the Railways needs a Management Culture rather than a Departmental one, many other small but still significant pieces will fall in place. For instance Railway Budget need not be presented separately. Share of Railways in the Total Budget is after all no longer what it was in the past! The sight of a minister reading out a long winded speech full of platitudes while everyone else is reading it in the same hall is so archaic today! If this is still required for political reasons, at least the culture of reading out trains and stoppages in a parliament speech should stop. The Minister should cover the broad points and leave all Operational and Project details to the Railway Board and the regional networks to announce / deal with.


text:
Ecycling, recycling, and salvaging use out of your old electronics
The fast pace of technological innovation seems to have fallen right in step with the human need for novelty. That iPod that seemed so shiny-new and "modern" such a short time ago is now a little scratched but still serviceable. Or maybe it's been dropped one too many times and isn't useful. Many people with a green conscience hang on to slews of outdated and broken electronics because they know such items shouldn't be directed to the landfill, but they aren't sure what to do with them.
You can find some advice on computer takeback programs and recycling options on our Conscious Consumer Marketplace Computers page. It's updated with some new information from the New York Times.
- The National Center for Electronics Recycling has a search box to connect you with recycling resources in your area, along with a ton of useful information about Ecycling.
- My Bone Yard Electronics Takeback is a service that will take back your old computers, laptops, and mp3 players
- Gazelle is an online marketplace for buying and selling used electronics.
And just to redefine your definition of "no longer useful," watch this video from Why, That's Delightful about salvaging parts from your old VCR (via Treehugger)
Tags: Computer, Ecycle, Electronics, Mp3, Takeback« Back to Blog


text:
We're an inquisitive bunch here at Eyeful and the best way to find out if our customers are happy is to ask them.
Here Sean O'Hara, MD of Anpro Holdings shares his experience of working with Eyeful and talks about why he's happy to recommend us to others.
Tags: Eyeful Customers, Eyeful Presentations, Podcast, PowerPoint, Storytelling