text: Get Ready For States! 18. March 2018 Administrator Events (0) Dear Band Families, What an exciting weekend our concert bands had the first week of March. The concert bands had a SWEEP of SUPERIOR ratings allowing all FOUR of our concert bands to attend the State Contest! NRHS is the HOST for State Contest on April 20-21st. Therefore, we will need MANY volunteers to ensure the weekend flows smoothly. Though we will not know the performance schedule until we are closer to contest date, please consider signing up NOW for your volunteer position (please sign up for more than 1!). You WILL be able to see your concert band member perform. Signing up early ensures that you will be able to help out in the area you enjoy! Please follow the signupgenius link below to sign up for the State Contest. If you have any questions about any volunteer positions, please call: Amanda Kost 440-864-6543 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054EAFA729A02-omea1 Thank you in advance for your help! Amanda Kost


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Temperature for August 1997
In August 1997 the average high temperature in Harlingen, TX was 96.7°F, and this was 1.8°F warmer than the average of 94.8°F. The hottest day in August 1997 was 22 August when the temperature reached 100.4°F. Overnight the average temperature in August is 76.3°F and in 1997 the average overnight temperature was 0.4°F cooler at 75.9°F.

subset: commoncrawl


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|Left to right: China Glaze "Dorothy Who?", OPI "No Room for the Blues", American Apparel "American Denim"
|Left to right: China Glaze "Dorothy Who?", OPI "No Room for the Blues", American Apparel "American Denim"
Everytime you post, my jaw drops to the floor and I have to rummage around to find it again... This looks AMAZING.ReplyDelete
LOL thank you so much! xDDelete
these are beautiful! i've had a similar pattern on my "nail to do list" for a while but nowhere near as pretty as this. you did an awesome job!ReplyDelete
Thank you very much! I keep a to-do list as well haha! Now I just need to master making consistently clean lines like you do x)Delete
Looks amaaaazing, especially with the gradient underneath! The glitter part!ReplyDelete
Thank you! :D I wish I could have gotten a better picture of the glitter catching in the sun!Delete
AHHHHH I LOVE THISReplyDelete
This is beautiful, I love the wave pattern!ReplyDelete
Thank you, it's a really beautiful pattern!Delete
Sooo beautiful, love the pattern!ReplyDelete
Thanks so much Katie! :)Delete
You are VERY talented!! I love this!!! :) xxReplyDelete
Thank you very much! <3Delete
These are amazing! I think I've mastered the hombre but this adds the extra edge I was looking for! I'm going try it on my own nails soon.ReplyDelete
Just wanted to say -- I randomly saw this post on the internet a while ago, and it's been at the top of my bookmark list for months now. I've done this design only once (in white and purple-pink) and have yet to get around to doing it in blue. I still look at it now and again. Lovely work! Very inspiring.ReplyDelete
Thanks for leaving a comment! They make my day!
Please do not use this section to drop links that are irrelevant to the post's content. I reserve the right to remove these. If you'd like to contact me, please e-mail me.


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I did a 3 day detox!
I am by no means an expert, and am just sharing MY experiences. I hope this will inspire you to start detoxing yourself.
Detoxing your body has a ton of benefits and is good for your mind, body and health. The main reason why I wanted to try out a detox was to get rid of all the toxins, but also to boost my immune system. And I think that worked fine!
I thought about buying detox cleanse juices, but that would've cost me a fortune. So I prepared by doing a lot of research on healthy detoxing (check my Pinterest board if you're interested!), wrote down some key ingredients, went to the market, got myself a sh*tload of fruit and veggies and borrowed my sisters' juicer. (You could also use a blender for these juices.)
After that, it was time to get started! Before starting the cleanse, you have to start flushing your body with fluids (two days prior to the start date of your detox). After your juice cleanse ends, you can't immediately hurry to the closest snack bar but make sure you start going back to eating 'normal' meals slowly. It's okay to have three meals a day, but try to stick to healthy food.
I want to share my juice plan (which I just made up as I got along), but please don't follow this as your plan. Everyone's different and needs adjusted meals. Listen to your body!
» glass of half warm water with the juice of 1/2 lemon
» Breakfast juice: 1/2 cucumber, 1 apple, 1 cup of spinach, 1 kiwi
» Lunch juice: 1/2 cucumber, 1 cup of cranberries, 1 pear, 1 banana (don't put the banana in your juicer, but add it later and blend!)
» Snack juice (serves 2 people): 3 oranges, 2 apples, 1 pear, 1 kiwi
» Dinner juice: 1 stalk of celery, 2 carrots, 1/2 zucchini, 1 apple, juice of 1/2 lime
» Late night snack: 1 banana
» 2l water
» green tea with the juice of 1/2 lemon
» Breakfast: 1/2 cucumber, 1 stalk of celery, 1 apple, 1 cup of spinach, juice of 1/4 lime
» Lunch: 1/2 cucumber, 1 carrot, 1 pear, 1 kiwi, juice of 1/4 lime
» Dinner: 3 oranges, 1 pear, 1 banana, 1 kiwi, 2 apples
» Late night snack: 2 carrots + sleepy time tea
» 2l water
» green tea with the juice of 1/2 lemon
» Breakfast: 1/2 cucumber, 2 cups of spinach, 1 apple, juice of 1/2 lime
» Lunch: 4 tomatoes, 1/2 cucumber, 1 stalk of celery
» Snack: 1 cup of grapes, 1 cup of cranberries, 3 oranges, 1 pear
» Dinner: 1 stalk of celery, 2 carrots, 1/2 zucchini, 1 apple, juice of 1/2 lime
» 2l water
The morning juices were awful (click to see what I looked like drinking the first one, haha!). The first two days I had a rough time drinking them, the flavour was just so unusual, nothing like I've ever drank before. I think it's because of the celery. I'm not a huge celery fan :) Apart from that, it wasn't that hard to persevere. Although I was feeling very hungry and sometimes even weak, and I encountered occasional headaches. I knew in advance this was possible. That's why I chose to do this detox during my vacation. I didn't have any big plans during those three days other than working from home, crafting and reading.
After the third day, I got up the next morning and was so happy I could finally EAT something again and nibble on some real food. At the same time I felt revitalized and so full of energy! (And in the next week, I noticed my skin getting a lot better. I had less breakouts and my skin looked a lot clearer! That must've been from all that water and all those vitamins getting in my belly :) )
This three day detox was definitely not that easy for me, but I'm going to make this a yearly habit.
Let me know what you think about juice cleanses. Are you a fan? Do you have any more suggestions or tips for me?
Talk to you soon!


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I can now offer up my latest chapter of 'A Journey With Frodo'. This one concentrates on a press con which took place in Los Angeles during the run up to 'Return of the King'. Obviously there were lots of interviews during this but I've decided to concentrate on one particular round-table interview with several journalists as it's very in-depth - I've also included their interview with Sean because I love the interaction between him and Elijah at the end! Also, it includes what is probably my favourite of Elijah's quotes about the films in reply to "How will you surpass this?" Whenever people ask if Elijah gets fed up of constantly being questioned about LOTR, I always remember his words.
In Frodo's Journey, Frodo, Sam and Gollum reach The Black Gate.
For anyone unfamiliar with my pet project, 'A Journey With Frodo' (a work in progress) is the story of Elijah Wood's experience in becoming Frodo, from back in 1998 when the LOTR movies were just a whisper up to the triumphant Oscars of Feb 2004. In reliving Elijah's journey, and mine, I am using everything I can lay my hands on - behind-the-scenes material from the various dvd's, magazine articles, books, internet sites, tv coverage, word-of-mouth info, etc. Previous chapters can be found here "A JOURNEY WITH FRODO" You'll need to scroll back to get to Chapter 1:)
Hope you enjoy this new chapter:
5th December, 2003 - ROTK Press Conference, Los Angeles:
Wadsworth Theatre, Westwood, Los Angeles
On Wednesday, Dec. 5th, Jeffrey Overstreet joined several other privileged film critics, including Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films), Andrew Coffin (World), Steve Beard (Thunderstruck), Jeremy Landes (Christian Spotlight), and Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) to talk with members of the cast and crew for the year's most ambitious, exhausting, and gloriously realized film:
Round Table Interview with Elijah Wood:
Jeffrey: "Do the movies look different to you three years later? Are you seeing things in them you didn't see early on?"
Wood: "It doesn't feel like there is that much distance between working on the movies and the movies coming out, because every year we've gone back to do pickups. Every year that we come and talk about these films and every year that we see these movies it feels pretty recent in our history. I think if I were to go back now and watch Fellowship and watch Two Towers, I think I might have a slightly different review on them and see them from a slightly more open perspective, but I think pretty objective about them anyway just because there is so much of these films that a) we don't know what it's finally going to look like when we see it, and b) certainly for films 2 and 3, the stories are so separated that there's a good two-thirds of each film that I had no concept of what was happening to the other characters because I was so focused on my own journeys. For the first time I saw Two Towers and the first time I saw Return of the King it was sort of like watching a movie that you weren't a part of because there is so much new coming at you."
Jeffrey: "You spent so much time in Tolkien's world and seeing through his eyes, has his view of the world, his views on spirituality, his views on right and wrong influenced your own thinking? Do you find his view of the world appealing or discomforting?"
Wood: "I certainly agree with him. I think in playing a hobbit, I was at the very center of his ideology, his perspective of what was good and what was wrong with the world. He wrote hobbits and certainly the Shire as all that is good and pure in the world. I sort of agree with his perspective on the fact that there all these wonderfully good and pure things that are being threatened by Mordor which is in my estimation the modern world threatening all that is good and pure.
Those themes that are very important in the story to Tolkien became very important to me. I think I agreed with them before, but especially after working in New Zealand. I think those things resonated even clearer. Working in a country that is so lightly populated and is so pure in terms of its ecosystem and its nature. There are bits of New Zealand where there are no people at all, and it is just sheep and landscape. I think we all learned—if we hadn't already—I think we all had a relatively good perspective of the earth and the fact that it's being threatened. But after living in New Zealand and working in New Zealand I think we all have a better perspective of the state of the world and that it needs to be saved and preserved."
Steven D. Greydanus: "You play a hero in this film who sacrifices all that he has in him but ultimately fails. He succumbs to the addiction of the Ring. And he is saved from the fate of Gollum and Isildur by chance or fate or providence or whatever you want to call it…"
Wood: "It's mercy. It's in the book: It's Frodo's mercy for Gollum that destroys the Ring. Had Frodo killed Gollum, he would have possibly gotten to Mount Doom and he would have kept the Ring for himself and the world would have been doomed. [It was because] he saw a kinship in Gollum and had an understanding and an empathy with Gollum that Gollum stayed alive and ultimately impeded upon Frodo's own destruction, which destroys the Ring"
SDG: "There is also the theme running all the way to the first film where Gandalf says to Frodo, "There is another will at work… in the finding of the Ring, that it came to your uncle that you were meant to have it … and that is an encouraging thought." Given the way that the ring was represented almost as an addiction, and that is certainly how Andy Serkis played him… as an addict… I wonder if you have any thoughts about the Ring as a metaphor for addiction, particularly in regards to the common idea among addicts of a need to acknowledge a higher power to overcome the addiction. Is faith in a higher power necessary for overcoming addiction?"
Wood: "Whoah! That was well done, by the way! I'm very proud of myself for being able to hold that all in !I certainly give credence to that in life. I'm not sure it pertains to Frodo's particular journey. The way that Frodo gets through is ultimately in his will and his courage and his own inner strength and belief that gets him through. It's also Sam as well, belief in Sam, his love of Sam. It's the love in his heart and the good in his heart that holds the evil at bay for as long as it does. I don't think there is anything else that he looks to to free him of this addiction."
Jeremy Landes: "What about calling on the name of Elbereth?"
Wood: "Well, yeah… calling on the light of Elendil. But I don't know that there is any higher power that he believes in to help him get through. I think it really is about, if anything, Sam."
Press: "Frodo is unable to go back to the Shire. But Sam carried [the ring] for a while and he was able to go back and live his life…"
Wood: "Sam did for a brief moment carry the Ring, but he didn't carry the Ring. It is that experience of having been burdened by that evil for that period of time that has permanently etched away at Frodo's soul. That is something that he can never get back. There is something sacrificed in the destruction of that ring, a piece of Frodo. It is almost like a loss of innocence. He's gone back home war-torn, like someone who has seen the atrocities of war and then come home and their home doesn't look the same to them anymore and they can't find the same pleasures that they used to because they've experienced something so horrid. Although Sam was there with Frodo and certainly experienced his fair share of the atrocities of the journey, he doesn't know that, what that Ring did to Frodo. He never experienced the true weight and the profundity of that."
Press: "I noticed the marks on your neck as you got closer to Mount Doom, almost like a stigmata…
Wood: "It's because the Ring gets heavier, and keeps getting heavier and starts to tear at Frodo's neck. With Sam being able to go home at the end, he never lost a bit of his soul. He never lost what makes him Sam. He never lost his purity. Frodo did."
Jeremy Landes: "Do you have a "Sam" in your life that helps keep you centered and accepts you unconditionally."
Wood: "I've got a few people in my life that keep me centered. All of my friends … and my family. In a lot of ways, Sean is Sam to me. We may not see each other every day and I may live in a different state now. But there is a real truth to the relationship that we had in comparison to Frodo and Sam. Not as intense as that, but we became brothers. We love each other very much despite differences."
Jeffrey: "What about role models? You have a lot of acting ahead of you, we hope. You'll be recognized as Frodo everywhere you go, I'm sure. Is there any actor who has gone before and been through similar levels and success and familiarity who you would like to follow their career arc for yourself?"
Wood: "I really admire Johnny Depp's career. It's never been about celebrity or fame. He's definitely had a certain amount of fame, but he does what he wants to do, and he tends to only work on projects that he's really passionate about, which has always been my philosophy. He's done that really well. It doesn't matter how big or small the project is. It's always just about the role and the quality of the project. He leads a very good example in Hollywood today for the right way to go about one's career. There are a few actors that I think embody the same [thing], that never really let me down … I think they always choose things that they really believe in and only do it for the work and have their private lives. He's also brilliantly mixed his own life privately with the work that he does. You never really see stories about him, these days anyway. You don't see him in the public eye too often. He works very hard at keeping his private life separate. I think he's a good inspiration.
I'm also really inspired by Viggo, in terms of personally someone I know, his work ethic. On the set, he was a constant inspiration to all of us. The man gave 110 percent every single day. He's also such a giving individual and a kind-hearted man, and a brilliantly talented actor, painter, photographer…"
Steve Beard: "At the end of the filming process, did you feel in leaving New Zealand––"
Wood: "Did I feel like I was leaving for the Gray Havens?"
Steve Beard: "Yes! Was there any kind of a similarity?"
Andrew Coffin: "And can I add to that … what will you take with you [now that the project is over]?"
Wood: "We've wrapped like five or six times! [laughs] But I'll speak of two of them because two of them are very significant."
"The first time we finished the films [laughs again], we wrapped up principal photography. At that point we did not know that we would be coming back for pick-up shots. As far as we knew, the films were over. I don't know that when I left I felt like Frodo felt because I think Frodo felt… shed of all that burden and he is at peace. And to me, there was a real sense of mixed emotions. I was leaving my family and people I'd become really close to, and a country that I loved, and a way of life that I'd gotten so used to. And I didn't know what my life meant anymore at home, in my own daily life. So it was difficult. Great in that I could finally get home and relax and feel that peace, but that peace didn't come without its consequence."
"Then we wrapped again on the pick-ups of the third film, which is another significant thing for us because it was literally the last time we were in New Zealand for filming ever. That was really hard. In some ways that was more emotional because we'd already gone through the difficulty of wrapping the first time and then we got lulled into this sense of security that we'd have to come back every year. And that was great! We got so used to saying, "See you next year!""
"And then suddenly, we were on the brink of the end, and I didn't know what to do. I got there and it was this reunion and it felt like I never left and suddenly I saw actors leaving. Each actor was given their own farewell. I would go to each of them. I would watch them and all of them would cry and the whole crew would be present. And I thought, 'I don't want this to happen to me. I don't want to have to go through this. I don't want to go through the process of having to say goodbye to everyone in this way. As beautiful as it is, it breaks my heart and I don't know if I'm ready for it.' It came time to do it and I had to make a speech in front of the crew and I couldn't articulate what I wanted to say, I was so overwhelmed with emotion. Leaving that was very emotional and very sad and moreover difficult to comprehend, as much as it was sinking in, I couldn't get my head around it. And now we're at the brink of the end again as we say goodbye to these movies in terms of their release."
"Throughout all of these years and various ends and saying goodbye that we've done, the thing that rings true, and now I'll come around to your question, brilliantly! [laughter all around] is that the thing to take with us at the end of all this is the friendships made. It is the thing that will endure for years and years when these movies are in the film history books. The Fellowship will carry on. There's something really hopeful and beautiful about that. We can certainly rely on that. It is the thing that I personally am most proud [of] and feel most blessed to be able to take away from the last four years—that sense of family and closeness with the actors and the crew. I've never felt anything like that."
Andrew Coffin: "Did that have to do with the intensity of the process or from the story itself?"
Wood: "Both, in a way! The story called us to have these relationships for the characters, but the two months we had before the filming really secured the friendships, and then the process of making these movies… we were there for sixteen months, and spent all of our time together, and consequently all of our free time as well."
Press: "The majority of this group would call this the greatest trilogy ever made. Do you have any sense of "How will I surpass this?""
Wood: "I don't really want to surpass it. It was its own experience. I would hate to surpass it, to try to do something better than that. I think that means I wouldn't have appreciated it enough. It will endure in my mind and my heart for the rest of my life."
Jeremy Landes: "What were you thinking about with that last smile?"
Wood: "You know what they cut out though? It's not there… [he then grins and gives us all two thumbs' up.] They cut out the thumbs!"
[This gets laughter for a long time.]
[getting serious] "That smile had to encompass a lot. It's essentially supposed to be peace. Frodo finally has [found] the Frodo we remember from the Shire, shed of that loss of innocence that he had. The innocence has returned. It's all of those things. That's all I was thinking of, trying to be as pure and peaceful as possible."
Round Table Interview with Sean Astin:
Press: "I heard one critic say that … [regarding Peter Jackson's perspective on] the movie, at the end of the day there was only one guy who really understood that this really wasn't Frodo's story, but it was Sam's story… and that was you. Is that right?"
Sean:[seems surprised, muses quietly:] "Um… hm… critics!"
[laughter around the table]
"I don't agree really with that. To me, I was the advocate for Sam. I am the ambassador of Sam. In my interpretation of Sam, I wanted to be strong."
Press: "But would you say it is Sam's story, or is it the Ring-bearer's story?"
Sean: "The story's the story. I think that Frodo sacrifices more than Sam … by degrees. It's probably the hardest thing of the adaptation, really. There were tricky things technologically to accomplish, and logistically there were a lot of things that were a challenge. But … if you want the movie to connect with people, on some level they have to really care about the characters. One of the biggest challenges was dramatizing the sacrifice of Frodo and the torment of Frodo. Short of having Elijah get addicted to heroin or starving him for months on end … how does a serious committed actor communicate [that idea]? [It's the same] with Gollum who is supposed to be the real expression of those ideas in the extreme—he has to be animated, because you want to service that gaunt, emaciated, tormented idea. In the writing, in the literature, you can go into these ideas. I think that Sam wouldn't have wanted to be thought of as the hero of the story. Tolkien saw Sam as his surrogate [and] I think Peter does too. And Peter has a New Zealand stoicism and reserve. And Elijah … has been the lead in the movie—he's on the posters and he's the Ring-bearer. They thought that … if he wasn't more proactive, it would be unsatisfying for people on some level. I don't think it has to be one over the other. I don't think you have to choose one sort of hero."
Press: "But Sam is the one who has to live in Middle-Earth with this knowledge. The rest of them—except for Aragorn, who becomes the king—the rest get to go away. Sam has to live in Middle Earth with the knowledge of the journey. Sam goes back to Hobbiton. He's got the burden of knowledge."
Sean: "I kinda like what you're saying: You say "a burden of knowledge." If Hobbiton is a place, an ideal, worth wanting to manifest real human life, now … it can't happen without some awareness of what's going on in the real world. It's maybe a little bit sad that children just can't be children in a pure kind of world where there's no danger and there's no threats. But it's the responsibility of the mature to preserve the sanctity of a world worth living in with that knowledge. I think Sam is the beneficiary of his experience and he does get to survive. Part of the punishment of longevity is having to endure loss in real life. So he has to pass through those experiences like anybody who lives."
Andrew Coffin: "What are Sam and Frodo fighting for?"
Sean: "I think a lot of times Sam is fighting for Frodo and Frodo is fighting to save the Shire. One of my favorite lines—a lot of people are talking about how "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you" is one of the great cinema lines in cinema history. But then the line that Frodo has where he says, "We set out to save the Shire, Sam, and it has been saved, but not for me…", that's a pretty powerful line. When Elijah said that line, I, Sean, heard it with a kind of newness and a kind of wonder. Every time he said it … even when I said it right now … there's almost this idea that 'I guess that's what Sam really was doing.' I don't think Sam was really aware of that. I think Sam was fixed on helping Frodo. Somehow… I don't know if a Freudian analysis is appropriate, but I think on some deep level, that wasn't in the forefront of his mind, Sam knew he was doing his duty to be there for [Frodo.] I don't think he had … this idea of what was really at stake. Frodo sees the vision in Galadriel's mirror of the scouring of the Shire. Sam doesn't see that."
Press: "How do you conceptualize Sam's relationship with Frodo? Are there any relationships in your life that you can project [onto that]—a brother, best friend, caretaker, mentor? Who was Frodo to Sam?"
Sean: "The prism that I looked at the relationship through was what Peter said to me in my first in-person audition with him. He told me about the British army in the first world war. These officers would have assigned to them an enlisted attendant or aid, and how those "batmen," as they were referred to, were characterized by their loyalty and their bravery and their sense of duty. On some primal level, I just understood that. I really understood that. Being deferential to 'Mr. Frodo' was very comfortable for me, and I sort of attribute it to working people. The idea of being polite and serving others is one that is really ennobling to the spirit. Those ideas are what I gravitated to. If I'm really honest with myself … I've been disappointed in myself and my own inability to be more like Sam with my friends. I don't know if I can in order to survive, in order to be a good husband and a good father and have a career. I try, in moments, to manifest the better angel of my nature with my friends, but I'm not as good a friend to my friends as Sam. It's a little bit hard to be the sort of emblem, to portray the character as an emblem for those things, and to know in my own life that I can't. Or maybe, if I can, it's going to be somewhere in my future when I'm more mature."
Press: "Sam and Frodo are buddies. Why does Sam call Frodo 'Mr. Frodo'?"
Sean: "Basically, Sam's father worked for Frodo's uncle as a gardener. Have you ever had a gardener? There is an amazing kind of reciprocity and mutual respect when you don't know how to cultivate your own soil. You want to walk out and look at a nice garden and when somebody's doing that for you, you tend to appreciate them. But there's something about it—Does the gardener just walk in the door? Does the gardener just walk in the house? No. There's something about when [a person] tends the land for somebody … it's class-based. There's some feudal inheritance there. The lords of the land figure out the economics of it, but it's the peasants, it's the serfs who work the land. That working class ideal is alive in the spirit Sam. And to call [Frodo] "Mister" is a sign of respect, but it's not something that puts him necessarily in a sort of subjugated role, because there is mutual respect. The key is mutual respect. So Mr. Frodo shows that Sam has the dignity of himself…"
[Elijah Wood has just entered the room and crept up behind Sean Astin. He interrupts:]
Wood: "You're my manservant, and you know it!"
[laughter breaks out as Sean looks astonished]
Wood: "So stop yakkin' off."
[Sean gets up and embraces him (in a rather subservient and humble way) as the press applaud the unexpected conclusion of the interview.]
FRODO'S JOURNEY continued : THE BLACK GATE
(All comments from dvd commentary unless otherwise stated)
Elijah: "This is new! I think, and I felt this with the extended version of the first movie, that these moments actually help to make the movie a more complete story."
Andy: "Yes, sure."
Elijah: "It includes elements of the books that were left out of the theatrical release that I completely understand why they were left out of the theatrical but as a fan of the books and just as a fan of film in general it helps to make a more complete, full-bodied story."
But for all their cunning we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams.
And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest. Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone.
He's not alone. Sam went with him.
Did he? Did he indeed? Good.
Elijah: "Gandalf is almost a narrative character, it pushes the narrative of the story along and as a guide for everyone else and I think that was an added challenge that we never had to come in contact with. He sort of speaks the story at certain points and that's a challenge as an actor."
Sean: "Well, several characters do it at different times, I mean Galadriel does it in narration of the prologue which is such a stunning way to introduce the movies, and then …"
Elijah: "But he's the one character that does it consistently through each chapter."
The Black Gate of Mordor!
Sean: "Straight from Alan Lee's illustration of the front cover of the book."
Elijah: "I love how Alan Lee's work is so prevalent in this film, and in the first, some of the major grand shots are literally taken from …"
Sean: "Well Peter would have a large version of the sketch, or of the illustration, brought to set and would pose us exactly like the characters were depicted from Alan Lee's imagination."
Andy: "Like when Frodo's holding Sting and holding Gollum's head back and I've got my legs wrapped round you, that's exactly how it was illustrated."
Oh save us!
The two hobbits gazed at the towers and the wall in despair. Even from a distance they could see in the dim light the movement of the black guards upon the wall, and the patrols before the gate.
'Well, here we are!' said Sam. 'Here's the Gate, and it looks to me as if that's about as far as we are ever going to get.' (The Two Towers ~ The Black Gate Is Closed)
My old gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he could see us now.
Master says to show him the way into Mordor.
So good Smeagol does, Master says so
I did.
That's it then.
Elijah: "I also love this movie for its connection to men and to humans and really getting behind that. And I was so impressed by how much it makes you get behind that emotionally – that's one of the movie's greatest achievements."
We can't get past that.
Look! The Gate.
It's opening!
I can see a way down.
Sam, no!
Elijah: "Soldiers do wear eyeliner, I just wanted to point that out. They do."
Andy: "Easterlings particularly."
'Master says: Bring us to the Gate. So good Sméagol does so. Master said so, wise master.'
'I did', said Frodo. His face was grim and set, but resolute. He was filthy, haggard, and pinched with weariness, but he cowered no longer, and his eyes were clear. 'I said so, because I purpose to enter Mordor, and I know no other way. Therefore I shall go this way. I do not ask anyone to go with me.' (The Two Towers ~ The Black Gate Is Closed)
I do not ask you to come with me, Sam.
-I know, Mr Frodo.
I doubt even these Elvish cloaks will hide us in there.
At this point on the commentary, Sean relates the now-famous wig story. Andy describes it as the "worse hissy fit I've ever seen in my entire life" despite Sean's protestations to the contrary.
Elijah: "It was a difficult day, just period. It was a difficult day in terms of really hammering down the emotional intensity of the scene, I think Peter had a difficult time trying to impart that onto us, so there was a lot of miscommunication, a lot of unclear elements as to where the scene was going and then that coupled with the wig coming off . and that being a technical thing and losing the momentum of the scene – it was just a whole variety of things."
No Master! They catch you! They catch you!
Phillipa Boyens: "What was the name of that little hall where we shot the top of them?"
PJ: "The top was shot in Manapouri."
PB: "I remember turning up there and you were shooting The Black Gates of Mordor and there was a notice posted on the door "No Play Centre Today – LOTR Shooting".
PJ: [Laughs.] "It's just a bigger play centre!!"
Don't take it to him.
He wants the precious. Always he is looking for it.
And the precious is wanting to go back to him. But we musn't let him have it.
No! There's another way! More secret. A dark way.
Why haven't you spoken of this before?
- Because master did not ask.
He's up to something.
Are you saying there's another way into Mordor?
Yes, there's a path …
And some stairs.
And then …
…a tunnel.
But for this choice he could recall no counsel. Indeed Gandalf's guidance had been taken from them too soon, too soon, while the Dark Land was still very far away. How they should enter it at the last Gandalf had not said. Perhaps he could not say. Into the stronghold of the Enemy in the North, into Dol Guldur, he had once ventured. But into Mordor, to the Mountain of Fire and to Barad-dûr, since the Dark Lord rose in power again, had he ever journeyed there? Frodo did not think so. And here he was a little halfling from the Shire, a simple hobbit of the quiet countryside, expected to find a way where the great ones could not go, or dared not go. It was an evil fate. But he had taken it on himself in his own sitting-room in the far-off spring of another year, so remote now that it was like a chapter in a story of the world's youth, when the Trees of Silver and Gold were still in bloom. This was an evil choice. Which way should he choose? And if both led to terror and death, what good lay in choice?
(The Black Gate is Closed : The Two Towers)
He's led us this far, Sam.
Mr Frodo, no!
He's been true to his word.
PB: "This is another beat in the story about the relationship and the way in which the relationship between Frodo, Sam and Gollum changes and evolves and this is the moment when, instead of listening to Sam, Frodo chooses to follow Gollum or Smeagol and it's very significant and these points and the way in which that relationship developed was very carefully plotted out by us."
Lead the way, Smeagol.
Good Smeagol always helps.
"I don't really want to surpass it. It was its own experience. I would hate to surpass it, to try to do something better than that. I think that means I wouldn't have appreciated it enough. It will endure in my mind and my heart for the rest of my life."
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text:
Green diet which we will present today is designed for those people who don't eat meat or for people who like to reduce meat intake and want to get rid of excess weight without starvation.
This diet, this green diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and will provide you enough vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients which are important for your body and nutrients that will clean the body of toxins without feeling hunger.
Diet plan:
After waking up: Glass of freshly squeezed juice.
Breakfast: Fresh fruit
Snack: (Pick one) Fresh salad OR one toast with whole wheat bread with a glass of milk OR just vegetable soup.
Lunch:(Pick one) Freshly cooked vegetables and potatoes OR cooked rice with one piece of cheese and one slice of whole wheat bread.
Snack: Fresh fruit.
Dinner: Mixed vegetable salad.
Although we eat almost same food everyday, that small diversity in the food is important, so if you consume potatoes for lunch, following day eat rice for lunch etc. When it comes to morning juices and mixed salads, those things also are good to be changed, so if you drink one morning lemon and orange juice next day prepare juice from some other fruit, like kiwi, banana, apple etc. or if you eat cooked broccoli and cauliflower with olive oil and seasonings one night for dinner, following day prepare mix vegetables for example, like carrots, green beans, corn etc. Try to prepare different food from this small amount of choices as more as possible. There are many fruits and vegetables so keep in mind, diversity!
Also, physical activity during the diet is recommended and welcomed. You don't need to run with miles, just one morning or night walk, combined with few joggins per week is enough to keep you active.
Important to know:
- Potatoes are always eaten with salad without bread.
- Don't combine the fruits with anything else, with whipped cream for example so to eat them as dessert. Eat them fresh.
- There is no portion control on fruits and vegetables, you can eat them as much as you want.


text:
LG 4k smartTv will not recognize serviio
Ok i have an LG 4k SmartTv and it has not been able to recognize my serviio under DLNA since the 1.5.2 update. I am at a loss of what i need to do. Any ideas?? It worked perfectly before with no issues and then one day it updated (i believe) and ever since then i cannot get it to show up on my tv. I can get other servers to show up on my tv from my computer but i really like my serviio best. Need help lol


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We're pleased to announce that we've recently received more Sonodyne monitors on a special European deal, which will allow you to make unbelievable savings. Our latest delivery has brought in some b-stock SM50Aks for just £449 for the pair (usually £669), new SM100Aks for £640 per pair (usually £998) and the largest and bassiest SM200Aks for just £780 (usually £1270)!!!
Sonodyne monitors are renowned for their clarity and are extensively used across the world, most notably as the monitor of choice in the Indian film industry. In this offer, they represent some of the best monitors out there for the price and simply have to be considered if within your budget - this really is a cracking deal! Check out Music Radars review of the SM100Aks - CLICK HERE!


text:
9 Reasons Why ISIS Won't Bring the United States Down
Follow Us!
I'd be scared of the sleeping giant that is our country. Especially after everything that has happened in Beirut and Paris. ISIS? Quake in your boots as we stand tall. We have hope. We're impenetrable. You may even shake up a few buildings and take a few lives, but the rest of us will continue to soldier on as if you never existed, and here's why —
The HOPE Program Will Look at ISIS and Say "We Don't Care What You Do"
There's a reason why we're all about hope. The American dream. Aspiring to succeed. To make it in this world — nay, in our country. To be an inspiration to others all over the world.
We collaborate. We assist. We help. We focus on the greater goal. Our love letter to France was only the beginning, honestly, but here are nine other reasons why we'll never fear what you can do to us:
- The Joy of Starting the Journey of Home Ownership — There's no better feeling than getting that mission going. Whether it's home renting or an RTO. Here's why we keep moving on even through the midst of terrorism.
- Buying a New Car and Driving Off Into a New World — You remember that feeling, right? The feeling of opportunity. That feeling of success as you take the keys to your new car, put it in the ignition and drive off. We like it, too.
- Being an Entrepreneur and Following Your Dreams — We're not called the "Land of Opportunity" for nothing! Hence why CBB supports that dream in full force here.
- There's Hope to Getting Yourself Back on Track — Sure, that credit score's a bit spotty. But there are options as always here in the U.S., and we'll never let go of that.
- Advocacy. Truth. Justice. and Humanity. — We uphold a great discipline in our nation that encircles what we call the law. And the law serves you as it shows right here.
- Getting Financially Rewarded for What You Put In — Let's talk about taxes (since we're getting to that point). You deserve it.
- One of the Most Important Pieces of Property — Your identity. A serious crime, it is, ID theft. But here in our nation, we've got things covered.
- And Here We Are, Getting You Into That Home — Ultimately, every American deserves a home. And nothing will take that away. How's that possible?
- Because America Is Our Home — Find out right now why we're always going to be there, serving our citizens, and making this exact truth known to the world….
ISIS: You Have Nothing. You See Nothing. You Are Nothing.
Has no one ever learned about our resolve after 9/11? Does ISIS not know that wherever tragedy hits, we'll be there to strike the hardest blow, a blow that'll rupture the heart of terrorism unlike anything you've ever seen?
And, no, it's not a bomb. It's not a missile. It's not an aircraft carrier, it's not an army of hungry soldiers looking to fight for freedom and redemption for all of us. This one act we can do to stop all terrorism is this simple choice —
We're going to live, hope, and pursue the American Dream regardless. Without fear. Without pain. Without unnecessary anger. We urge any or all to learn more about the HOPE Program today. Because you, ISIS, won't ever shake us. And you can't shake our American spirit.Share
Follow Us!


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Hi and welcome to Day #2 of Stamp Anniething's March release!
Who's done with winter and ready for Spring? We are!!
Meet our newest stamp,
Julie will be available in the store FRIDAY along with the other 2 stamps we will showed you this week!!
Here is the card I made with Julie
I started this card with a standard A2 card base and added the mat cut with the Jaded Blossom Card Mat Dies.
I used the Stitched Circle and Scallop Circle Dies to cut the center mat and trimmed off the one side.
I stamped and colored Julie with Copic markers and added her on pop dots to the mat.
I stamped the sentiment around the edge of the circle and added some hot rocks with my I-Rock.
To finish, I added the banners cut with the Flag Dies 2.
Copic Markers
Skin- E51, E21, R20
Hair- E33, E25, E79
Shirt- YR21, YR15, YR04
Pants- B95, B97
Bike- YG03, YG17
Basket- E51, E31
She will be available in the STORE Friday!
Thanks for joining us for our March Release
and have a great day!


text:
Sci-Fi writer, Short story scriber, journalist, bear wrestler. All rolled up into one sexy beast.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Award Winning Diner Great Place to Sit and Eat
Find the article from the website here: http://www.mcwthisweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090902/MCWTW05/90826068
The slogan on the cover of the menu at the Country Coffee Shop in the Mendham Village Shopping Center on Route 24, is, "Where Friends Meet to Eat!!" and customers who come inside will get no better friend in the diner, which is comfortable and cozy, than owner, John Paxos, who comes right over to his customers and says hello.
"We have almost all regular customers who come in here," Paxos says, who runs the diner with his father, cousins and sister, "[and] I know, I'd say, 90% of the customers by first name, and they know my name."
The space, nestled in the corner of the Mendham Village Shopping Center, was already an established eatery before John and his "pop" Andrew bought it 12 years ago from its former owners.
"It was always some kind of place to eat," Paxos says, "They called it the Mendham Eatery at one time. But since the mall was built, it's been a place to eat—for forty something years."
The area inside the diner has your comfortably typical diner look to it. There are your typical diner stools right at the counter where people can pick up a quick coffee or a meal. There are the typical booths where people can sit and face each other while they eat. There's the typical cake on the countertop underneath the glass, the typical specials of the day posted on a whiteboard, and even the typical U2 music playing on the radio in the background. Just about the only thing not typical about this place's diner décor are the dogs that layer the walls, many of which may look familiar to some of the frequent customers.
"The dogs?" Paxos says about the various pictures of man's best friend that cover the walls, "Just one of my customers. He's a canine photographer and he came in and asked if he could put up some pictures to drum up a little business. He puts in the Invisible Fence for people, and he's also a canine photographer, so after he puts up the fence, he'll ask, 'hey, do you want me to take a picture of your dog?' So a lot of these [pictures] are [of] local dogs in the area."
Kids often want to sit next to their own dog when they come in, and it adds to the whole "homey" atmosphere that the Paxos' family is trying to portray.
"We try to focus on being a family oriented type of business," Paxos says, "I gave a great staff and I couldn't do business without them. One of the managers is my sister, and the other is my cousin."
The menu itself is also quite in the vein of diner food, with breakfast specials like double fried egg sandwiches, pancakes, and even healthy options, like the Egg White Vegetable Omelette, served with dry toast and homefries.
Lunches and dinners range in the same diner fashion, with seafood, sandwiches, pita pockets, and again, a waist watcher option with meals like Tossed salad with Turkey Breast, hard boiled eggs, and Chicken salads.
They also cook up specialty items, including home cooked meals and chicken sautés. In fact, anything not on the menu that you want, they'll cook it right for you if you ask for it.
"You come in here and you can have anything you want," Paxos says, "If you're looking for something, we'll make it for you."
One of their main selling points, though is their burgers, which Paxos holds in very high regard.
"We have the best burgers around," Paxos says, "We have a nice, juicy, 8 oz. burger. It's big and juicy and we cook it on the Charbroil and the thing is just delicious. I can't eat a whole one."
With its great atmosphere and great selection, it even won the 2008 Daily Record Reader's Choice Award for best coffee shop.
"I put up flyers, approached regular customers, and talked to the employees to vote online," Paxos said, who wants to win the same title again this year, "I put out flyers again this year and I'm trying to beat the drum to get it going."
If Paxos sounds like he knows a lot about the business, he does—he's been in it for 35 years. He originally started out in East Hanover but came over to Mendham for one reason.
"Mendham's a great area," Paxos says with a smile.
Country Coffee Shop
WHERE: Route 24, Mendham, New Jersey
HOURS: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
CUISINE: Diner food
PAYMENT: Cash only
PRICE RANGE: Breakfast $3.25 to $10.95; Lunch $4.25 to $11.95; Dinner $6.95 to $10.95; Desserts $2.75 to $5.25
RESERVATIONS: Sit down and eat
DRESS: Casual
ATMOSPHERE: Lively, warm, and friendly
THE SCENE: Nestled in the Mendham Mall on Route 24, this award winning diner has a wide assortment of meals to choose from
DELIVERY: No
ENTERTAINMENT: No
TAKE-OUT: Yes
PARKING: Free in lot
OWNERS: John Paxos
Posted by Rich Knight at 3:10 PM
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Thursday, August 27, 2009
Review: Speed Zone
Talk about not judging a game by its cover. I was all set to hate Speed Zone from the get-go. Just looking at the box art, the first impression I got was that this was Hot Wheels Leading the Way in outer space. But let me tell you, Speed Zone is freaking awesome, as it has enough addictive gameplay to make you come back for more even after you've missed your objective for the fifteenth time in a row and just want to beat it already so you can go to bed.
The beauty of this game doesn't lie in the graphics, though (Really, they're just okay). Nor do they lie in the subpar techno music that thumps throughout the game like a grating buzzsaw. No, the beauty of Speed Zone lies in the "In the Zone," meter that builds up whenever you drive over the speed limit, which is like, 200 mph, or some other ludicrous number like that. Cruising around in the solo mode, you race to beat the target time designated to you at the beginning of each level. When you do this, the only way you can beat your time is pretty much to hit every single speed boost and not crash into anything. This can be quite nerve racking as even the slightest miscalculation can send you hurdling into the great blue yonder. But staying perfectly on track and hitting all of the speed boosts is easier said than done, especially if you're using anything other than a Classic or a GameCube controller.
That's right, this being a Wii racing game, of course they give you more than a million (Or, you know, just six) different ways to play the game, including tilting the Wii mote to its side and steering with it, playing with the wheel that came with Mario Kart Wii, playing with the nunchuk, or just using a regular controller. Personally, I'd pick the final method, because the other ones just don't cut it, as using the controller as a steering wheel is always too sensitive. It was with Mario Kart Wii, and it is with this game, too.
But once you get the hang of using the controller, you'll find yourself staying on the track more and not flying into objects. In fact, play it long enough (Which I certainly did) and you begin to memorize the tracks out of necessity, remembering where all of the speed boosts are so you can beat your best time and move up the pyramid, which is how you advance in this game—moving up a pyramid. All of this is in Solo mode, though, which is fun enough on its own. But there's also a split screen racing mode (With up to 8 players) or a battle mode, where you pick up power-ups and blast away at other racers. Really, you're getting three games in one with this title here, as all three modes are so wildly different.
If I have a few complaints with this game though, it lies in the fact that it's really not all that futuristic. Sure, it takes place in outer space, as the tracks have red moons on them and holes in the floor, but even with all of that, it just doesn't FEEL futuristic. Maybe it's the fact that you're driving cars instead of hover crafts. F-Zero felt futuristic on the Super Nintendo, as the hovercrafts made you really feel like you were zooming over and around spacey terrain. And so did Wipeout, with its claustrophobic tunnels and pulse pounding soundtrack. But Speed Zone just feels like you're driving around in space with zero-gravity tires or something. I mean, I shouldn't have to make up a story in my head about why you're able to drive cars in outer space (And so fast), but I did. And I think none of this would have really been a problem if they just made the vehicles hover crafts instead of cars. It might be cliché, but it works.
Also, once you crash your car, you're pretty much toast, because you lose soooo much momentum in the process. Sure, Speed Zone gives you a lot more legroom than a lot of other racers to crash. But there's nothing worse than flying down the speedway at 500 mph and then bumping into a wall or a ceiling and going back down to 100. That really sucks hard. Plus, other than the gimmicky usages of the Wiimote and the steering wheel, Speed Zone could probably be on any other console and doesn't really have anything going for it that distinguishes it from being a 360 game, other than the slightly last-gen visuals, I guess.
Other than that though, Speed Zone is an overall enjoyable thrill ride with a great, split screen multiplayer mode, smooth gameplay, and an addictive feel that just can't be beat. Don't let the box art fool you, people. Speed Zone shouldn't be missed.
Posted by Rich Knight at 8:20 AM
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Deli Offers Speed and Friendly Service to the Neighborhood
Stand outside the Wicker Basket in the Mendham Village Shopping Center on Route 24, and the place just screams deli. From the glowing Boar's Head sign on the window, to the customers who walk in empty handed, only to walk out minutes later with a giant sub or a salad in their hands, everything about the Wicker Basket tells you in very distinct words that this is a deli, and we are here to serve you.
"We just try to give the people quite a bit of what we can," says Glenn Schmidle, owner of the Wicker Basket along with his wife, Mary Ellen, "Good service, good stuff, and hopefully, they'll keep coming back."
Inside the Wicker Basket is a very inviting atmosphere that has enough floor space to allow big lines to form and not feel crowded or closed in. This is intentional as the lines at the Wicket Basket can get quite long sometimes.
"The line may look long, but we blast them out," Schmidle says, "Our motto is, the Wicker is quicker."
Part of the reason for this is because many of the same customers come in everyday ordering the same meals, allowing Schmidle to already know what to have ready for them in advance.
"There are people here all the time, the same people every day," Schmidle says, "And I can have [their food] ready for them. I think that's what people like. Before they get to the counter, we have it all done and ready for them. They'll get their sandwich or their Taylor Ham or their coffee, [and it will be] just sitting on the counter when they come in."
Other than the ample floor space, there's the deli counter that has various meats and salads—from Asian Chicken and pasta to Chicken Caesar—behind it. There are also a variety of chips available for quick and easy pick up on the shelves. The menu features sandwiches of all kinds, including breakfast sandwiches like the Taylor Ham Egg and Cheese, cold sandwiches like the Sloppy Joe with Turkey or roast beef, and hot sandwiches, like the Pizza Sandwich. Added items on the menu include more salads for the more health conscious customers, and more burgers, "with like, millions of things on it," Schmidle says.
Along the walls are soda freezers on one side, and unopened sodas in boxes on the other, sitting atop steel wire shelves and waiting to fill the freezers. But those drinks aren't the ones that most people who are familiar with the Wicker Basket come to get.
"We have the Half&Half." Schmidle says, "Half iced tea, half lemonade. Kids line up in the morning to get them before they go to school."
For those who haven't been to the Wicker Basket in awhile though, they may notice some very immediate changes.
"We fixed it up like seven months ago," Schmidle says, "President's Weekend. We closed for a week and did it."
These changes—brighter lights, a sign with a cartoon man with big eyes smiling at a sandwich, more modern look—are all part of Schmidle's way of giving back to the community.
"We just try to keep up with the times," Schmidle says, "I just wanted to put something back. Instead of just taking from the business, I wanted to put something back [into it]. Now, when somebody comes in, they're like, 'It's new.'"
These new things don't alter the history of the place though, which goes back quite some time.
"This was the first store in this mall," Schmidle says, "and it's been like, 45 years, and the store had been the same and never changed."
Glenn Schmidle's parents bought the store 21 years ago from its original owners, who had already changed it from being a cheese store to a deli before they got there. Glenn took over the shop when his parents retired and has been running it with his wife ever since.
"Being here for that long, it seems weird," Schmidle says, "Kids who came here in strollers are driving now. They're going off to college. We saw them as little kids and [I think] that's pretty cool."
The Wicker Basket
WHERE: 86 E. Main St. Suite B (Kings Supermarket shopping center), Mendham
HOURS: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Closed on Sundays
CUISINE: Fresh deli, salad, grill items, breakfast sandwiches and bagels
LIQUOR: No
PAYMENT: Cash only
PRICE RANGE: Breakfast, $1.75 to $7.50; salads, $3.95 to $7.50; sandwich and wraps, $4.95
CATERING: Yes
ATMOSPHERE: A great little hometown deli
PARKING: Large lot
OWNERS: Glenn and Mary Ellen Schmidle
Posted by Rich Knight at 7:51 AM
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
What Is the Most Dangerous Animal in the World? (Better Luck Next Time, Sharks)
Find the article here: http://flisted.com/84026/what-is-the-most-dangerous-animal-in-the-world-better-luck-next-time-sharks/
Jaws is a really good movie and it made Steven Spielberg a star. After its release, a lot of people were afraid to go back in the water, and for good reason. But sharks really aren't THAT bad. I mean, they made Shark Week for us.
And as it happens, they're even lightweights at Sea World, losing out in terms of being an ice cold murderer to… jellyfish. Which animal is most likely to ruin your sh*t?
Well, jellyfish kill around 100 people each year to a shark's paltry (laughable, even) 30-100. I mean, seriously, even bees are more dangerous than sharks, as bees cause over 400 deaths each year. Do they have a Bee Week? They do not. Bee Movie, certainly though.
More impressive still are the dangers of scorpions, which kill at least 5000 people each year. You'll never guess number one, though. Unless you've read about Africa in the past, I don't know, ten years.
The high number of deaths that come as a result of mosquito bites are those mostly in Africa that carry diseases such as Malaria. Mosquitoes by far outrank the number 2 most dangerous animals in number of deaths, causing over 2 million deaths every year!
Snakes, scorpions, crocodiles, and elephants also kill more people than sharks.
Posted by Rich Knight at 7:56 AM
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Asian, Big-Boobed Queen, Minka, Looks Sad, Bored With Her Job
Find the article here: http://flisted.com/84033/asian-big-boobed-queen-minka-looks-sad-bored-with-her-job/
Number one Asian big-boobed queen, Minka, doesn't look like she's enjoying her job of being porn star goddess anymore. In a recent, I guess you could call it, movie shot, Minka is seen looking generally disinterested and bored as she, um, goes to work. The glitz, the glamor of having 60 pounds of silicone strapped to the front of you – where had it gone? Minka did not know. Sad, sad picture, after the jump.
Minka has never really looked excited in her job. While some porn stars will at least make the effort to sound like they love what they're doing (See: Ava Divine), Minka has always had more of a "look-at-me" quality to her. But recently, her heart just is not in it. Just take a look at her here. I know she's not getting any younger, but still. It shouldn't be depressing to watch.
Posted by Rich Knight at 7:48 AM
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Sunday, August 16, 2009
Real Heroes: Firefighter Review
I really wanted to love this game. Firefighters are pretty much the unsung heroes of our time, and the idea of a first person firefighting game for the Wii is a highly appealing concept that could really set the Wii ablaze (Sorry, bad pun) if pulled off effectively. But alas, Real Heroes: Firefighter is anything but heroic, as many contributing factors make it just your average Wii game with a few shining moments here or there but not enough to burn a hole in the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere (Sorry again, no more fire puns, I promise).
Let's start off with the graphics, as they're sure to be a sore point for this game. I've never been a graphics whore in the past and if the graphics on a great game are subpar, then I'll usually turn a blind eye to them and note the game's other stellar qualities instead. But this game seriously looks like a Nintendo 64 game; better stated, this game seriously looks like Goldeneye 64, which wouldn't be so bad if so much of the gameplay didn't rely on scoping out the background for what you have to do next. There were instances where I seriously had no idea what I was doing because the graphics are so last (last) gen, which led me to be frustrated as the game clearly tells you what you're SUPPOSED to be doing, but since so many objects blend into the background, I had a hard time deciphering how exactly I was supposed to do it. All this made me want to do was put the game down and let the building burn to a crisp, as it really didn't matter to me after awhile since I wound up getting so frustrated in the end.
But the graphics aren't the only reason why I was frustrated, as the clunky controls added to my overall dissatisfaction as well. The reason why a FPS like Halo works (Even though I hate it) is that the control sticks really aren't all that far apart on the X-Box controller, making aiming and moving around not much of a problem and easy to pick up and play after only a few rounds of fragging. But using a Wiimote and nunchuck combo just doesn't bare the same results as many times with Real Heroes: Firefighter, if I didn't point the Wiimote directly at the sensor, my character would be shooting water aimlessly all over the place instead of where I intended to shoot. Never is this more of a problem than when you're trying to rescue people from a burning room and you're spraying everywhere but at the flames themselves. You have no idea how many times I was burned to bits just because I wasn't hitting what I really wanted to hit. It's aggravating because I was really trying, and the more I seemed to try, the less I seem to hit. Arg!
Also aggravating is the fact that sometimes, I had no idea what the game wanted me to do next, as the arrow that shows you where to go, while helpful, only achieves so much. One example of arrow malfunction is when I was supposed to clear a doorway so my partner could get into the room, but no matter what I tried to do, I couldn't figure out how to do it. A dresser was blocking the doorway, but I couldn't push, break, or shoot it with my water, so I had no idea how I was to go about moving it, even though the arrow kept pointing towards the dresser the entire time. In fact, I STILL don't know how to open that door. My poor partner is still standing outside the building somewhere while I'm writing this article, stranded because of poor communication with the player.
But that's not to say that everything about this game bothers me, as it does have some plusses that truly save the day. The objectives, for one (besides the ones you get stuck at), are pretty fun, as you'll be tasked with doing everything from rescuing workers from a flaming building, to breaking down doors with an ax, to getting on an actual fire truck and shooting out flames from the top of it. You know, fireman stuff.
And surprisingly, one thing that this game isn't lacking, even though your only villain here is fire, is variety, and it gives you enough objectives to make you want to continue playing—until you get stuck, of course. Also, the voice work is commendable, as James Marsters (Better known as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Futurama's John Di Maggio, and comedian, Jaime Kennedy, add nice little perks to the game if you can actually pick out their voices.
Not only that, but the fire is actually a pretty formidable foe and it's really quite scary when it starts exploding out of control all over the rooms, hitting the ceiling, walls and floor in an instant just when you think you've got everything under control. If this is what real firefighting is like, then hats off to the boys and girls in yellow and black for not soiling their suits every time they go on a mission, as even in a game with poor visuals like this one, the fire is pretty intimidating as it snakes around the halls and floors.
All in all, though, with confusing graphics, sloppy controls, and difficult to complete objectives, Real Heroes: Firefighting doesn't reach the spiraling heights that you're hoping it will. But it's still a promising introduction from upstart company, Conspiracy, all the same, and the price is certainly right at only thirty dollars. I'd like to see what they could do with a bigger budget and a few more folks on their team. A sequel with more money backing it could definitely bear great things.
Posted by Rich Knight at 2:40 PM
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Forget Guitar Hero 5, I Want Christian Rock For The PC! Yeah!
Guitar Hero not Christian Rock enough for you? Then the Family Christian Store has the perfect game for you. It's JAMBand, which, if you asked me what I THOUGHT that could be, I'd probably think something along the lines of Phish or the Grateful Dead, but nope, JAMBand has all of your favorite Christian Rock bands including Avalon, DC Talk, and um...other bands, too! JAMBand supports up to four singers and two musicians which is actually kind of cool, and it uses peripherals already on the market, such as G Hero guitars, drum sets, and microphones.
Not present though are Christian Rock bands that are skirting the lines, like As I Lay Dying, Flyleaf, and P.O.D. My thoughts on all this though? Well, judging by all of the commercials I see on TV for Christian Rock compilations and seeing the huge audiences that show up to them, I guess there's actually a pretty big market for it, so this may not be such a bad idea after all. I mean, I wouldn't play the game, but I don't live in the Midwest, either, so yeah. The game comes out on August 25th (The day after my birthday!) and will be available for the PC. No word on whether this is going to come out for the consoles but I pretty much damn well doubt it. Check out the clip below.
Posted by Rich Knight at 9:52 AM
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Monday, August 10, 2009
The Lone Believer Left at Applebee's
Find the article on the website here: http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/the-lone-believer-left-at-applebees/
It's Thursday night. Work is off my back for the day. Friday is just ahead and the air is crisp and cool as I head to meet my friends at our designated weekly spot for copious calorie consumption: Applebee's.
Once inside — after our hellos and "Work sucks'" — two things are bound to happen: 1) One of my friends is going to order mozzarella sticks, half-off (cause it's late); and 2) Somebody's going to criticize and make fun of me because I'm Catholic. Every single person I hang out with is an atheist, from my best friend to casual acquaintances.
Usually, it starts with a comment from my best friend, "Rich, why are you always following that BS? It's such a scam." Other times, it will be one of my other friends who still can't believe I spend Saturday nights from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in a big steeple house with an organ player and a guy in a long robe and some black shoes: "You're still going to church, man? What a waste of time!"
Fortunately, I can usually rely on my girlfriend to have my back. She's not technically an atheist, as she still prays sometimes, but then she drops a bombshell like, "I still share a relationship with God… I just don't think there's an afterlife."
Don't think there's an afterlife?! What kind of a relationship is that?!
"Well," she'll say, twirling her wrists as if that explains everything, "I know God exists, I just don't think there's anything after we die."
To which I ask, "Then what's the point of doing all that praying in the first place, if you don't think there's an ultimate purpose afterwards?"
And she'll just shrug.
Shrugging a lot these days
As a 25-year-old life-long Catholic, I find myself shrugging a lot these days too, but it wasn't always this way. It started when my best friend started denying religion altogether, becoming, as he puts it, a militant Atheist. He is very persuasive, and when he turned his back on religion and discovered it to be what he calls "the greatest sham in history," he easily persuaded my friends to do so as well, one by one. Except for me.
But it isn't easy being the lone believer at the Applebee's table.
The shrugs just keep on coming…
"Rich, how can you possibly believe in the Bible and evolution when the two contradict each other?"
"Do you really believe there was an Adam and Eve?"
"Well, if you don't believe in stuff like Adam and Eve, then why do you still go to church?"
No shrugging this time. "Beats me," I tell them. "Why? Does it bother you?"
Honestly, I think it might. I've never been a traditionalist, so not taking the Bible literally is hardly enough for me to relinquish my faith that God is real.
Why draw a line in the… carpet?
Most of my atheist friends are atheists because they say science, which they believe in, is inconsistent with all religious claims. But even Pope Benedict XVI says that the clash between evolution and creationism is an "absurdity."
But really, why should I have to say anything at all? Most of my atheist friends are atheists because they say science, which they believe in, is inconsistent with all religious claims. But even Pope Benedict XVI says that the clash between evolution and creationism is an "absurdity" and that evolution makes too good of an argument to be pushed aside as bunk. He says that everyone should take evolution into serious consideration, both spiritual and non-believer alike. And I agree.
The truth is, I sometimes think my friends are atheists because they're young, and the notion that they will someday be lying on their deathbeds never crosses their minds. Though I'm young as well, a part of me has always thought about what might happen to me after I die. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that I was raised in a religious home, but I see that same interest in other areas of my life as well.
For as long as I can remember I've been passionate about comic books and gaming, both of which are filled with genesis (origin) stories and life-or-death choices that are often laced with hints of redemption. In X-Men, the characters would sometimes fight a giant villain named Apocalypse; one of my favorite video game systems of all time was the Sega Genesis. Since I was a child, without knowing it, I was drawn to secular forms of entertainment that were steeped in religious themes — and I guess it followed me into adulthood.
Ironically, even though I'm the religious one at the table, in many ways I feel much less certain about my own beliefs being the only truth out there than my atheist friends do about the truth of their non-belief. Despite my doubts, I have faith that something out there created us. My science-be-thy-name friends all cite the Big Bang theory, and I won't dispute that. But why couldn't some entity like a god have created the Big Bang itself? I have a hard time believing that that's not a possibility. But that doesn't mean my friends and I have to draw a line in the Applebee's industrial carpet to separate us.
My militant friend likes to tell me that I've been "fooled by randomness." If that's the case, then there's a lot of randomness to contend with in the universe. Take the human eye, for example. How random is it that all those pieces fit together to make the eye function? Are Shakespeare's Hamlet and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony ultimately only shining examples of extreme randomness at work? Or, for that matter, is it random that my non-believing crew and I met each other, became great friends despite our differences, and gather — like clockwork — at a New Jersey Applebee's to share mozzarella sticks and debate faith, reason and God? I have my doubts. But even if it were random, one thing I'm sure of is that there's no place on earth I'd rather be every Thursday night.
Posted by Rich Knight at 5:20 AM
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Sunday, August 9, 2009
Chester Resident Works To Help The Families Of Morris County Troops
Full-time veterinarian, owner and director of the American Animal Hospital on Sussex Turnpike in Randolph, and host of the weekly channel 12 News show, "The Pet Stop," Dr. Brian T. Voynick, is a busy man with a lot on his plate right now. But he still finds time to aid local military and their families through the Morris March for Military families, which is a march hosted by the United Way of Morris County and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Morris Program and takes place on Sunday, September 27th at the County College of Morris from 8AM to 12 PM.
"I'm a graduate of Leadership Morris class of 2008," Voynick says, "and I got to know about the March for Military from [Leadership Morris Program Leader] Joe Nazzaro."
Voynick, who has been a veterinarian for 27 years now and has been on News 12 for almost 12 years, didn't need an incentive like publicity to make him want to do this for the United Way.
"I just wanted to do whatever I could," Voynick says, who has been working with News 12 on ways to promote the walk on his TV show, "Due to insurance reasons, the County College of Morris was one of the only county colleges in the country where you weren't allowed to have pets on campus…until two days ago [on August 7th]. I got in contact with [County College of Morris] President, Ed Yaw, and I said, 'I think it's really unfortunate that the school doesn't allow dogs on its campus.'"
That "badgering," as Voynick calls it, got Dr. Yaw to allow dogs on the campus for that one day on the 27th, as long as the pet owner has their dog on a leash and can bring proof that their dog had a rabies vaccination in the past few years.
"So now, dogs are allowed to participate in the walk," Voynick says.
The walk is all part of United Way's, Project Frontline Morris plan, which brings the community together to raise awareness and help for military families.
"Everybody should want to help the troops by any means we can," Voynick says, "Sometimes, with our busy schedules, we forget that it's the troops overseas that allow us to live the lives that we have over here."
Following the Morris March for Families, Voynick will also be doing another walk the following week for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as he works with them as well, being on the board.
"This isn't much for me to offer," Voynick says about the work he does for various foundations, "I think it's our obligation [to help]."
To find out more about the United Way of Morris County, visit their website here: http://www.uwmorris.org/
Posted by Rich Knight at 11:10 AM
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Johnny Cash To Be Latest Dead Musician To Join The Guitar Hero Series
Following in Jimi Hendrix's footsteps (Though, any fan of the Man in Black himself would probably have me lit up in a ring of fire if they heard me say that), is Johnny Cash, who's going to be in the latest Guitar Hero 5. The song that he'll be performing will of COURSE be "Ring of Fire," since the Guitar Hero series very rarely features songs that haven't already heard to death by now, and he'll likely be one of the bosses or play-along characters like in the last game. Johnny Cash tribute artist, Terry Lee Goffee, has provided the motion capturing for him in the game, so you can expect all of the smug looks and smooth head gyrations of the musician who once legendary played to convicts in California's Folsom State Prison.
Now, for my thoughts. I like Johnny Cash and all, and I'm happy that he's in the game, but how many more Guitar Heroes can we expect before we start to suffer Tony Hawk malaise, which is also made by Activision. Sure, the first three games were fun, and the fourth game, as you'll see in my review: http://cinemablend.com/games/Review-Guitar-Hero-World-Tour-13037.html, had me swooning when I played it. But in between that game and this new one coming out, we've had collection packs of old songs, DS games, and just about any other title that can make you say, "Alright already, no more. No more." Alas, the games just keep on coming in the G hero series and they don't look like they'll be stopping anytime soon. Hopefully, DJ Hero will raise the music genre out of its, been there, done that, slump. But until then, Mr. Johnny Cash, everybody!
Posted by Rich Knight at 11:07 AM
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Raynor Country Day School
Policy on Diabetes Management
Raynor Country Day School is committed to complying fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and any other applicable laws and regulations pertaining to children with disabilities.
Children with diabetes Type I or Type II who attend Raynor Country Day School may require assistance with diabetes management. The management regime of every child with diabetes may be different and, for this reason, it is the view of Raynor Country Day School that one Policy cannot dictate the particular protocol followed by Raynor Country Day School for all individuals. Raynor Country Day School will make an individual assessment of the special needs of each child with diabetes on a case-by-case basis and will work with families to provide reasonable accommodations to children with diabetes in accordance with applicable laws. Successful participation and accommodation of the children depends on an actively cooperative relationship and ongoing communication between the parents or guardians of the children and the school.
Parents or guardians who wish to enroll a prospective child with diabetes for school or camp should submit a complete application for the child at least one month ahead of the scheduled start date for school, camp, or other school activity or two weeks for daily events such as field trips, to permit adequate time for the staff to meet with the parents or guardians of the child to examine the individual needs of the child on a case-by-case basis and to take appropriate steps to comply with pertinent laws.
Within two weeks of the child's admission to a particular school session or program, Raynor Country Day School will send to the parents or guardians an application packet identical to that provided to all children including a copy of this Policy, a Diabetes Management Plan Form, a Physical Examination Form, and a Release. A reasonable time (i.e., twenty (20) business days) prior to the beginning of any session or program, the parents or guardians of a child with diabetes will send the Health Supervisor at Raynor Country Day School a completed Diabetes Management Plan Form, typewritten in easy to understand terms, detailing care necessary for the child's safety; a completed Physical Exam Form, and a signed general release identical to the release required of all children regardless of disability.
For current children who should require treatment for diabetes for the first time during any session, parents or guardians of these children should immediately notify Raynor Country Day School, submit the completed Management Plan Form as set forth above, and comply with the remaining aspects of this Policy with sufficient time to allow Raynor Country Day School to make good faith efforts for admission to and/or continuation of the session consistent with this Policy.
Because each child's care is different and the activity levels of each child may be different, this policy should not be construed to prevent Raynor Country Day School from working with health care professionals and the child's guardians and/or parents in an effort to expedite the child's admission or improve the child's experience.
Parents or guardians will be available at Raynor Country Day School's request to attend and participate on the first day of a session with the child and, if deemed necessary by either party, to attend a prior run through of the first day, and to continue to meet with and advise the staff working with the child about their proper diabetes care. Parents will be available by phone or have other emergency contacts (which may include the child's health care provider) available by phone each day that the child is participating in a session to answer questions from Raynor Country Day School or the child regarding the child's management of diabetes care and to approve particular actions related to proper care when necessary.
Parents or guardians will provide specific information and training about the child's diabetes and particular needs related to diabetes care to Raynor Country Day School, and will permit the child's personal health care providers to share information with Raynor Country Day Camp staff and other health care personnel when necessary to assure the child's safety and compliance with the child's Diabetes Management Plan.
Parents or guardians will promptly inform Raynor Country Day School of relevant changes in the child's health status. The parents or guardians will provide, along with instructions about proper maintenance or use of all items, all supplies and equipment necessary for the child's safe participation in all activities.
Parents or guardians will provide and properly maintain all supplies and equipment for the child's diabetes and assist with proper disposal of equipment and supplies. Parents or guardians will provide written permission to undertake the steps indicated on the child's Diabetes Management Plan and Physical Exam Form, and will provide all applicable releases in writing two weeks before a child joins any session or program at Raynor Country Day School.
Training Camp Personnel
In accordance with applicable law, including those regulations enforced by the applicable Department of Public Health, if a child with diabetes applies for any session or program, Raynor Country Day School will arrange for either the Health Supervisor (or a certified diabetic educator) to provide basic training to the appropriate personnel at Raynor Country Day School. That basic training will include a general overview of diabetes and typical health care needs of individuals with disabilities, recognition of common symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and ways to get help quickly. The person assigned to do the training will also provide assistance and respond to inquiries from parents about any matter or concern related to the care or treatment for a child with diabetes.
Any staff who are working directly with children with diabetes will have received training that enables Raynor Country Day School to provide all care required to comply with applicable law. Such training includes (but may not be limited to) an overview of diabetes, general information on how to recognize signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, diabetic care practices related to glucose monitoring and regulating glucagon and insulin administration, including by insulin pump. In addition, depending on the unique needs of the child, training may include information about dietary requirements for diabetics in general and particular information about dietary requirements for particular children, and training and guidance from parents or guardians of children about any reasonable accommodations needed by a child as identified in each child's Diabetes Management Plan (which is to be provided by the parent or guardian to Raynor Country Day School at least twenty (20) business days prior to any session) and related documents. Parents or guardians must provide information and training necessary for staff to be trained with regard to any unique needs of their child.
Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
Parents or guardians will check the child's blood sugar levels each morning before the child arrives at Raynor Country Day School to ensure they are within the established "target range" in the child's diabetes Medical Management Plan. Parents or guardians agree to be available to be contacted as deemed necessary to provide information, assistance, or guidance so that Raynor Country Day School satisfies each child's Diabetes Management Plan. If the child self-identifies, or camp staff recognizes symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, the staff will assist the child to check blood sugar and treat the symptoms. Raynor Country Day School will assess the level of assistance or supervision that is reasonable depending on the individual needs of the child in the particular situation and provide whatever assistance is appropriate in the situation consistent with the Plan and applicable law.
Further, parents or guardians will furnish all appropriate meals and snacks for the child, and will ensure that the carbohydrate content falls within the proper amounts set forth in the Diabetes Management Plan so that the totals will be predetermined and calculated by the parents. Carbohydrate values will be calculated and provided on labels on each food item provided by the parents so that the staff may monitor the appropriate use of insulin and insulin pumps or other equipment to administer insulin.
At the onset of any symptom of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, the child will notify the staff that the child needs to have a glucose test. Should the staff or nurse notice any symptom(s) of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, the staff or nurse will take steps reasonably consistent with the Diabetes Management Plan.
Insulin and Insulin Pumps
Children with diabetes are responsible for arriving at Raynor Country Day School with all necessary supplies. Children may carry their own medical supplies and snacks in a safe fashion that meets local code or safety standards for the care and disposal of medical supplies so that these supplies are in close proximity to the child. To that end, children with insulin pumps are expected to come to Raynor Country Day School with a fully functional pump, back-up insulin and syringes, and glucose tablets for low sugar episodes, and any other equipment necessary for that child. When the child cannot hold these supplies, the supplies will be held at the administrative office, health office or by a staff member.
Nothing in this process shall prevent Raynor Country Day School from exercising its discretion for the benefit of the child. This policy is not intended to provide fixed rules for dealing with all care involving diabetes; however, the policy sets a minimum standard for ADA compliance. This policy is not intended to serve as a contract with any individual child. The policy may be modified and/or updated at any time following prior approval by the Department of Justice during the pendency of the Agreement in the case identified below 1, but may be changed without prior notice by a written statement to individual children. Absent written notice from Raynor Country Day School, no representative of Raynor Country Day School, other than the School Administrator, is authorized to make written or oral representations regarding the statements contained in this Policy. Should you have any questions, the School Administrator or Health Supervisor will be happy to answer your questions or help you get the information you need.
1Settlement Agreement Between the United States of America and Raynor Country Day School, Speonk, New York, D.J. Nos. 202-52-123 & 202-52-124, 2008.


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Long Shadows
8 comments:
- Matt said...
I never realised you were so tall.
as always.
- Dec 22, 2008, 8:57:00 AM
Based upon the bottom picture your dad is either very flexible, or he is holding your purse.
- Dec 22, 2008, 9:15:00 AM
- Sophia said...
Matt - I'm almost that tall :)
Michael - He's holding my camera bag!
- Dec 22, 2008, 11:12:00 AM
- Mermanda said...
I love this! You should frame that pic of you and your dad. :)
- Dec 22, 2008, 1:29:00 PM
- Ashley said...
How fun. Home is great.
- Dec 22, 2008, 1:43:00 PM
- Amanda. said...
Yay! I loveeee shadows.
They are so neat.
- Dec 22, 2008, 7:33:00 PM
- Mama Kat said...
Merry Christmas!! I just stumbled into your blog when I searched gluten free cooking...my daughter was recently diagnosed with an allergy to gluten and I'm on a mission to learn as much about it as possible.
Not to mention find some edible gluten free meals! Nice to meet you!
- Dec 26, 2008, 1:40:00 AM
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- Oct 25, 2009, 9:40:00 PM


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To provide support in all areas of human resources including recruiting, benefits, training, employee relations, recordkeeping compliance and special projects while maintaining a workplace environment consistent with the values and mission outlined by executive leadership of Ventura Foods, LLC. Benefit Administration: Maintain local Ultralink benefit census file through Secova, processing new hires, terminations, and employee changes. Verify receipt of required proof of dependent status documentation is on file. Assist employees with benefit questions or issues including basic and supplemental life insurance, evidence of insurability, and beneficiary changes. Verify and prepare for payment monthly invoices for medical and supplemental life insurance, Send monthly benefit accrual to HQs' HR as required. Provide 401K audit information and long term disability information as requested. Provide assistance to employees regarding kiosk use. Main contact person for location to deal with account representatives from vendors (i.e. medical vendor such as Aetna, benefits online vendor - Secova etc. ) when issues arise. Will be point person for coordination and implementation of HR initiatives (such as Wellness, 401(k) design, open enrollment and administrative changes).
On Boarding: Schedule & conduct new hire orientations including preparing orientation packets and benefit information and I9 documents, and E-Verify. Ensure all items are complete per the new hire checklist. Schedule required new hire orientation trainings via Alchemy for required HR & safety trainings.
mSP/Frontline Staffing: Sourcing, screen, manage and maintain all non-exempt applicants using mSP (Applicant Tracking System).. Optimize recruiting/sourcing tools to proactively recruit talent and minimize time-to-fill. Maintain applicant status updates in the system, schedule interviews, assist with recruiting & hiring processes. . Initiate background checks using mSP. Schedule pre-employment screenings of external candidates, (i.e. drug & alcohol tests, and pre-employment physical) and ensure that all are completed prior to start date.
Unemployment Claims Management: Complete all informational requests for unemployment claims for non-exempt employees. Provide updates to HR Manager on claim status & hearings.
Compliance: Maintain employee personnel and medical files per Ventura's filing template. Review I-9 documents and maintain file as required. Perform an annual I-9 audit. Maintain all employee changes including address, phone, department, job title, status changes, and salary changes in ADP and the HRIS system. Provide misc. HR reports and analysis' as requested such as EEO audits and/or reports.
Leave Management: Update and maintain non-exempt employees attendance records to ensure compliance with our Attendance Policy. Provide information to HR Manager, Dept. Managers and/or Supervisors when violations of policy occur. Provide FMLA, medical leave, and funeral leave paperwork as needed. Ensure documentation is received and leave is tracked accordingly. Lead and local expert for usage and maintenance of Integrated Leave Management system (once in place).
HRIS System: Data entry, ensure data integrity, and provide reports as requested.
Safety: Assist in safety program administration and reporting. Facilitates workers' compensation filings, compliance and reviews; provides loss reports to Safety Administrator.
Assist in planning, managing, and communicating of special projects and employee events. This may include open enrollment, employee recognitions, trainings, employee wellness, employee meetings, FLDP, The Edge, Employee Appreciation Week, Christmas Party, Annual Picnic, etc.
High School Degree or GED equivalent. Minimum of 3 years experience in human resources administrative support role. Ability to respect and maintain the confidentiality of the Human Resources department at all times. Above average communication skills both verbal and written to be effective with all employees. Maintains a positive professional image under pressure. Computer literate with experience in Excel, Microsoft Word, and PowerPoint. Working knowledge of basic principles & practices of HR administration. Above average people skills. Must be well organized and able to multi-task in a fast paced environment. To provide administrative support to the Human Resources Manager in all areas including recruitment, training, benefits, employee assistance, recordkeeping compliance and special projects while maintaining a professional workplace environment consistent with the values and mission outlined by the executive leadership of Ventura Foods, LLC.
Prolonged Sitting 90%
Prolonged Standing/Walking 5%
Climbing, Crawling, Pushing, Pulling, Lifting (25lbs.) 5%
Finger-Hand manipulation (e.g. 10-key, typing) 90%
Prolonged VDT use (Video Display Terminal) 90%
Other Safety Hazards: slipping and fall hazards 5%
This position is currently not accepting applications.
To search for an open position, please go to http://venturafoodsllc.appone.com