text:
Why should I diversify my fixed income investments?
Diversification is a basic investing principle that can help maximize returns and reduce volatility. Many investors own a mix of asset classes (e.g., stocks and bonds) but aren't diversified within these asset classes, particularly within fixed income.
Let's look at why it's important to own a diversified range of different fixed income securities.
Investing Across Fixed Income Sectors
Although you are probably aware that stock and bond returns differ dramatically, you may be less aware that different types of fixed income investments have provided widely varying year-to-year returns.
The chart below ranks key fixed income sectors by total returns for each year from 2006-2015.
As the chart shows:
|In 2011, Treasuries was one of the best performing sectors, up almost 10%.
In 2006, however, Treasuries was the worst performer, with a return of about 3.1%.
Looking at U.S. Treasuries across all 10 years, it's clear the sector has been on a wild ride. It was one of the worst performers in 2006 and then the leader in 2007 and 2008, but fell behind again in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, US Treasuries were once again a top performer, but the very next year they plunged to the bottom before landing in the middle in 2014.
Because it's impossible to predict with any certainty which sector will "win" in any given year, it's important to diversify your investments across sectors. But even the Aggregate, which is focused on investment-grade securities and based on the Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, may not be the best choice. While the Aggregate was never one of the bottom two sectors, it was in the top two only once, indicating a potential opportunity for superior returns by diversifying into additional sectors.
Correlations Between Fixed Income Sectors
It's likely that you've diversified your portfolio across asset classes like stocks and bonds in part because their correlations are low — meaning they tend not to move in the same direction at the same time. But have you diversified your fixed income portfolio to take advantage of lower correlated sectors of the market?
The chart below shows a matrix of fixed income correlations for the 10-year period from 2005 to 2014.
As the chart shows:
Just as you would expect, the returns of most fixed income sectors have historically shown low or even negative correlations to the returns of the stock market.
Perhaps less expected, the returns of many fixed income sectors have had low or negative correlations to other fixed income sectors. This means that combining different fixed income sectors in a diversified portfolio may help decrease overall portfolio risk.


text:
PPC Account Manager - leading indie agency
- Recruiter
- Ultimate Asset
- Location
- London
- Salary
- £37500 - £40000 per annum + agency bens
- Posted
- 16 Mar 2013
- Closes
- 13 Apr 2013
- Ref
- 11062/001
- Contact
- Oliver Brown
- Business Type
- Agency
- Specialism
- Digital, Search Marketing
- Contract Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
PPC Account Manager
Top independent agency
to £40k
My client is a leading independednt agency with over 40 years heritage. They are looking for a top PPC AM to handle their key paid search accounts
You'll lead the research and analysis of all sectors, grasping new market trends and seasonal fluctuations.
You'll create and set up new paid search campaigns for our clients and think laterally to ensure the correct keywords are used for these campaigns.
You'll keep your eye on the market and competitors, ensuring all new opportunities for you and the team are communicated back to the company.
You'll perform a proactive analysis of AB test and recommend any changes needed to the campaign.
You'll analyse the click path and multi-channel attribution to further optimise the campaign.
You'll use qualitative and quantitative analysis to monitor your campaigns.
You'll look after daily campaign optimisation and analysis and implement recommendations to clients where required.
You'll help guide and manage expectations for our clients and demonstrate a creative approach to briefs when developing proposals.
You'll report performance and developments to your clients on a weekly and monthly basis.
You'll present campaign developments and performance analysis to clients face to face on a regular basis.
You'll have a full understanding of PPC editorial tools (e.g. Marin and Google Editor) to provide support to the rest of the team.
If you are a junior search manager or planner with 3-5 years experience already at a media agency and fancy taking that step up with extra responsibility, then get in touch. This is a great chance to join a different type of agency , one that prides itself on its work and its staff retention
To apply please call me on 07585 703 642 or email email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Bargaineering - http://www.bargaineering.com/articles -
Side Gig Thursdays: Danny Diamond, Family Magician & Balloon-Twister
Posted By Jim On 11/15/2012 @ 7:15 am In Personal Finance | No Comments
This week's Side Gig Thursdays [3] is about one of Bargaineering's long time readers – Danny Diamond. I've known Danny for several years now and while we haven't kept in touch as much lately, we corresponded quite a few times over the years (I remember his first website a few years ago, there was a lot of flashing and music on it!). I knew that he had a successful side gig as a magician and this series was, in part, inspired by that and all the other readers I knew who had interesting work on the side.
Today, we'll learn about how a creative director stretches his creative muscles as a magician and professional balloon twister!
What is your day job?
Creative Director for a media and events company.
What is your side gig?
The Magic of Danny Diamond [4]! I'm a Children's and Family Magician and Balloon-Twister.
How much does it make each month?
I will say that I am fortunate that my main job does pay pretty well. And my "side gig" this year will gross about 35-37% of what my main job grosses for me.
How did you start doing your side business?
It grew from a hobby. I was always interested in magic as a kid, and while my interest dimmed a little through my school years, it definitely was rekindled shortly after college. At that point I started to get more into it as a hobby and quickly realized that the material needed to really excel at this hobby – books, dvds, props, etc. – could get pretty expensive.
I initially thought I would just try to put together a show for kids, and earn enough money to support my hobby. As I started doing more and more shows, I began to realize that I had a gift for working with and performing for kids. My shows became more popular and the phone calls, emails and referrals became more and more frequent. It's been nearly ten years now since doing my first paid show and every year has grown from the previous – this year being a personal best year-to-year increase in both profit and show volume.
How do you find clients?
Well, these days, a large percentage of my shows are from referrals or repeat shows for past clients. Others find me by searching online. I have a pretty good online presence, when it comes to my magic business. I also noticed early on, that most magicians have very BAD websites! So I tried to make mine clear, well-designed, and professional-looking.
I know some GREAT magicians that have TERRIBLE websites! If a client stumbles upon a very cheap-looking website, that's the first impression they get of that magician – if the site looks amateur, they will assume HE too is amateur, and he likely won't get their business or even a phone call. I also have an active and informative Facebook page for my magic business and I am always inviting past clients to "like" my page and to post feedback and photos.
I also do a select number of highly-publicized shows, such as "Kids Event" expos in the area. I will sometimes do those shows as donations or for trade, in exchange for the ability to pass out my cards after my show and for the advertising they do. I select these shows carefully, choosing the ones closest to my home, in order to promote myself to as local a crowd as possible. I am also not bashful about marketing myself and handing out information after my shows. And finally, I am friends with a few other performing magicians in my area – so occasionally, when they can't take a particular gig, they will offer it to me.
Do you have a plan to try to turn it into your full time gig?
Yes. But I am cautious. I have a wife and two young kids to care for and that makes me a little cautious to take the big leap from part-time to full. Ideally, I would like to maintain my current full-time job, but decrease the time I am in the office, even if that means taking a slight pay-cut. I have the type of job that can be done remotely, and that's the direction I want to take in the future, to allow me more time to take more gigs.
What resources did you rely on in starting the business?
I learned my trade (performing magic and entertaining in general) from books and DVDs as well as live conventions and lectures, and by speaking to established pros in my industry. As far as finance and business in general, I read a lot of books and magazines such as Think and Grow Rich, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and Success Magazine and their audio cds.
And of course, I read a lot of personal finance blogs and articles online. I also have a 45 minute commute to and from my day job, so I listened to a lot of books on CD about finance, self-motivation and business in general.
How much do you invest back into the business? Going to conferences, education, etc.
It fluctuates a bit. In years past, I would buy a LOT of dvds, books, props – more than I needed. As my show established itself, I already had the materials needed, so I would buy a bit less each year. My book and video library became more and more filled out over the years, and therefore, I would buy less of those items annually. Last year for example, I put back about 20% of what I grossed – that included dry-cleaning, videos, books, props, conventions, marketing materials, etc. But I also made a big investment last year and purchased some inventory from a magic shop that was closing it's doors – so that made last year a bit of an anomaly, I suppose. This year I am likely investing only 8-10%.
Do you have any advice for people looking to start something on the side?
Figure out what you do better than most people – maybe even better than everyone! What skill do you have that most others do not? What service can you offer that others can't?
I truly believe I am better at entertaining kids with magic than 99% of the population. That may sound arrogant, but to quote Liam Neeson in Taken, "what I do have are a very particular set of skills". I know I can do something that most people can not. So I figured out how to get my abilities noticed and figured out how to properly go about the business-side of offering my abilities to the public. Also, I believe specializing has helped me a lot.
I am not a magician who does "magic for everyone and all occasions!" I see that on a lot of magicians websites and business cards. I feel like if you try to do everything, you can never really reach the top of your game in one particular area. I like to refer to myself as a "children's and family entertainment specialist". Knowing my strength and target audience, I can focus all of my energies more effectively, instead of trying to do everything and spreading myself too thin.
What is the funniest story you have being a magician? (or two stories!)
I don't have any one big, great story that I can think of – but there are a lot of little things that have happened over the years. Halfway through an outdoor show, while doing a routine I call "Doggy Bag", I turned around to see the family dog with his leg high in the air, peeing directly only my $300 suitcase-table I perform off. Not funny at the time, but kinda funny now, I suppose.
I have also had kids say and do a lot of funny things. After handing a kid a balloon-sword after one show, he proceeded to thrust his sword at my groin while loudly boasting "haha!! I stabbed the magician in the weenie!!".
One other funny and cute story happened after a Holiday Magic Show at a library. A 7yo girl, who helped me with a trick, told me after the show that she got a Crayola Crayon Maker for Christmas. Well the next day, I get a phone call and they just say "Hi Danny". I reply "Hi….how can I help you?". The person says "It's Grace". Not placing the name, I ask "oh, um, where do I know you from Grace?". She says "I was at your magic show…um, my Crayon Maker broke so you have to fix it with magic, ok?". Haha! This 7yo girl, Grace, found my business card (that her dad took) and thought to call me, the magic-guy, to work my magic and fix her broken toy! I thought that was cute.
As always, we hope you enjoyed the interview and if you know someone who would like to talk about their side gig, let us know [5]!
Article printed from Bargaineering: http://www.bargaineering.com/articles
URL to article: http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/side-gig-thursdays-danny-diamond-family-magician-balloontwister.html
URLs in this post:
[1] Tweet: http://twitter.com/share
[2] Email: mailto:?subject=http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/side-gig-thursdays-danny-diamond-family-magician-balloontwister.html
[3] Side Gig Thursdays: http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/tag/side-gig-thursdays
[4] Danny Diamond: http://www.dannydiamond.com
[5] let us know: http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/contact-me
Click here to print.
Thank you for reading!


text:
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
Lens Correction error message
Started Apr 6, 2013 | Discussions
Shop cameras & lenses ▾
chris_uk • Contributing Member • Posts: 757
Lens Correction error message
I was trying to apply the Lens Correction filter to this shot from a D800 and this error message appeared. Does anyone have an idea why? Is it to do with the file size?
Many thanks
Nikon D800
Reply to thread Reply with quote Complain
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads


text:
Construction workers and subcontractors on McCarthy projects across America wore wearing red today in support of the American Heart Association (AHA) National Wear Red Day®. This effort is designed to focus attention on the number one killer of women – heart disease. McCarthy is one of the largest commercial construction companies in the U.S. and a strong supporter of AHA efforts nationwide.
"Many people don't know that heart disease is the number one killer of women," said McCarthy Chairman/CEO and American Heart Association Western States Board Member Michael Bolen. "While construction was historically a male-dominated industry, that is changing fast and we hope that by wearing red and getting the word out among our employees and business partners, we can further increase awareness and support for this important cause. We can all be champions in the fight against heart disease and stroke by understanding our risks and working together to build healthier and more active lives."
To help spread the word, McCarthy provided literature about heart disease in women at the firm's jobsites and office locations for all to review and share with women in their lives. Among the many McCarthy project teams participating in the event are the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center in Oakland, Calif.; St. Jude Medical Center Northwest Tower in Fullerton, Calif.; San Diego Mesa College Math and Science Building in Clairemont, Calif.; Mercy Joplin Replacement Hospital in Joplin, Mo.; and San Jacinto River Authority Surface Water Facility in Conroe, Texas.
McCarthy is utilizing its "Heart Hats" community involvement program, in conjunction with the firm's award-winning McCarthy Build for Life health and wellness program, to motivate staff and increase awareness about the dangers of heart disease. Each year, McCarthy Heart Hats volunteers donate countless hours of in-kind services and monetary contributions to improve local communities.
About McCarthy
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest commercial construction companies in America. A true builder, McCarthy is committed to the construction of high performance green buildings; progressive job site technology; and safer, faster and more cost-effective execution. In 2010 the firm launched McCarthy Build for Life to encourage all employees and their families to strive toward optimal mental, physical, financial and emotional well-being. In 2012, McCarthy was honored as a Platinum-level Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work, McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. The firm has full-service offices in Atlanta, Albuquerque, Collinsville, Ill., Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Newport Beach, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and St. Louis. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.


text:
|Good, old fashioned family fun enjoyed at Palisade's Old Fashioned Christmas
|Written by Wauneta Breeze
|Thursday, 13 December 2012 17:04
Brittnee McKinney, daughter of Brian and Jessica McKinney, sits on Santa's lap to share her Christmas wish list while Santa's Elf listens in.
By Sheri Hink
The Wauneta Breeze
Over 100 people took part in Palisade's Old Fashioned Christmas last Saturday, Dec. 8.
The afternoon kicked off with Bingo, sponsored by the C.S. Club, at the Legion Hall. Ray Ridlen called Bingo to a full room.
At 1:30 p.m. CT the kids joined in the fun when they sat down to watch the movie, "Brave."
The movie was sponsored by the Friends of the Library, popcorn was donated by SWPPD and the Lions Club provided pop for the movie watchers.
After the movie Santa himself arrived to join the festivities. Santa had gifts for the young and old, thanks to a little help from his elves with the Friends of the Library.
Well over 90 people were in attendance for the prize drawings.
After the visit from Santa and drawings for prizes from the Friends of the Library, the crowd moved to the Legion Auxiliary Hall for a soup and dessert supper sponsored by the Hamlet Union Church.
The day's finale was the lighting of the town's Christmas tree.
|Last Updated on Thursday, 13 December 2012 17:07


text:
Count and Classify
Count and Classify: Animals
Count and classify animals by their habitats and abilities. Help your child work on sorting skills with this count and classify animals worksheet.
Categorization: How Many Hats?
Help your child sort and classify an array of fun hats in this categorization worksheet. Your kid will count the number of brown, feathered, or decorated hats.
Count and Classify: Kids
Help your child sort these kids using counting and classifying skills. Your child will count, and learn to group and identify by characteristics.
Count and Classify: Fruits and Vegetables
Count and classify your produce beyond fruits and vegetables. Try this fruits and vegetables worksheet to increase your child's sorting skills.
Categorization: Food
Blossoming foodies will enjoy our gastronomically focused categorization worksheet. Kids will sort food and drink by type in this food categorization worksheet.
Count and Classify: Vehicles
Count and classify different kinds of vehicles in this worksheet. Kids will identify what vehicles pictured have wheels, can float, or are green.
Categorization: How Many Toys?
Kids will sort and classify toys in this categorizing worksheet. Help your child sort toys by type and uses in this toy categorization worksheet.
Count and Classify: Furniture
Your child will use his powers of deduction to count and classify the furniture in this worksheet. Count and classify the furniture pictured with your child.
Count and Classify: Shoes
Your shoe-obsessed child will learn how to count and classify his shoes in this worksheet. Count and classify with your child using these exercises.
Categorization: How Many Shapes?
Young geometry enthusiasts will enjoy sorting and counting the shapes in our categorization worksheet. Your kid will gain early math skills with this worksheet.


text:
MSU biofuels expert makes list of Top 100 People in Bioenergy
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Bruce Dale, a Michigan State University professor of chemical engineering and materials science, has claimed the 22nd spot on the list of the Top 100 People in Bioenergy.
The list, which was compiled by Biofuels Digest, was based on a readership poll; readers submitted 15,000 entries.
Dale, who also is editor in chief of the highly ranked journal Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, is one of only two academics who ranked high on the list.
His profile cites: "Second among all academics in this year's poll is Dr. Bruce Dale at Michigan State who, in addition to being a noted pioneer in cellulosic ethanol, has been out in front in terms of opposing some of the excesses of indirect land-use change theory, the measurement of which has bedeviled efforts to stabilize the demand for various biofuels feedstocks and fuels."
"Having worked my entire career to develop sustainable biofuels, I am honored to be placed among a group of very fine people," said Dale. "I am particularly grateful to be here at Michigan State University, where we have such a strong commitment to the bioeconomy."
Biofuels Digest comprises the BiofuelsDigest.com news website, Biofuels Digest Asia, the daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter and the Biofuels Digest Newswire. Decision makers at more than 7,000 organizations read these publications to find products, services and partners. Digest publications have a combined readership of more than 75,000.
To access the Top 100 list, go here.
Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.


text:
May 30, 2016
Gov. Ronnie Musgrove said Monday that the state Legislature reduced the "death tax'' in 1998 and he wants to finish the job if he is elected to a second term.
Musgrove said eliminating the inheritance tax would take about $30 million a year out of the state budget, but would have the benefit of allowing small businesses and farms to keep more money and create more jobs.
The governor spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Capitol press corps and Mississippi State University's John C. Stennis Institute of Government.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
This is a potential security issue, you are being redirected to http://nvd.nist.gov
Last updated: 5/27/2016 7:57:45 AM
CVE Publication rate: 21.13
NVD provides four mailing lists to the public. For information and subscription instructions please visit
NVD Mailing Lists
Integer overflow in the (1) rb_ary_splice function in Ruby 1.8.4 and earlier, 1.8.5 before 1.8.5-p231, 1.8.6 before 1.8.6-p230, and 1.8.7 before 1.8.7-p22; and (2) the rb_ary_replace function in 1.6.x allows context-dependent attackers to trigger memory corruption via unspecified vectors, aka the "REALLOC_N" variant, a different issue than CVE-2008-2662, CVE-2008-2663, and CVE-2008-2664. NOTE: as of 20080624, there has been inconsistent usage of multiple CVE identifiers related to Ruby. The CVE description should be regarded as authoritative, although it is likely to change.
By selecting these links, you will be leaving NIST webspace. We have provided these links to other web sites because
they may have information that would be of interest to you. No inferences should be drawn on account of other sites
being referenced, or not, from this page. There may be other web sites that are more appropriate for your purpose.
NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed, or concur with the facts presented on these sites. Further,
NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be mentioned on these sites. Please address comments about
this page to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Disclaimer Notice
& Privacy Statement / Security Notice
Send comments or suggestions to email@example.com
NIST is an Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce
NVD Services Version 3.5
Full vulnerability listing


text:
Hey everyone,
Former Zenkaikon guests The Slants are coming to town!
The show is this Sunday, April 17 at Tritone (21+).
The Slants are the first and only all Asian American dance rock band in the world. Sounding like a cross between The Killers, Depeche Mode, The Bravery, VNV Nation, and Daft Punk. Check out the music here:
Hope to see you there!


text:
A GameStop employee fired for discussing piracy and RapeLay in a college newspaper says that he was canned in order to avoid costing the videogame retailer "millions of dollars."
Derek Littlejohn told Kotaku that following publication of The Globe article, his District Manager was contacted by a GameStop Vice President, who said he was getting calls about an article in the Globe, which the VP thought alluded to the British tabloid of the same name. Littlejohn's manager told him that he was fired because "people were threatening to boycott and picket GameStop, which would cost the company millions of dollars."
Littlejohn indicated that the author of the Globe piece, Ann Straub, was a friend of his, but that he "Didn't know she was gonna cite me as an employee of Gamestop, which is what they were able to use as for firing me…"
Littlejohn summed up the situation, "So in a nutshell: You cost us millions of dollars, gtfo."
GameStop would not, of course, directly comment on Littlejohn's situation, but did offer the boiler plate rhetoric:
However, I can confirm that like all other Fortune-ranked, publically-traded corporations, we have very clear company-wide policies that include protocols for associate interactions with the media and elected officials. With over 40,000 employees in 17 countries, we communicate those protocols during the onboarding or hiring process. Each employee signs off on that they have read and understand those policies when they are hired.


text:
- By TVweb | Jun 4, 2012
- 0
Hugh Dancy has already signed on to play FBI agent Will Graham in the series, which will explore how Graham was mentored by Lecter, before he was locked away. Hannibal Lecter was considered one of the top psychologists in the country before his darker side was discovered, and the good doctor offers his assistance to the profiler as he tracks down a dangerous serial killer.
Bryan Fuller wrote the pilot script for this 13-episode series. We reported back in March that David Slade is directing the first episode. Bryan Fuller will executive produce alongside Martha De Laurentiis.
It isn't known when shooting will commence for the series, which NBC announced last month will debut in midseason.


text:
Take the "What Kind of Shopper Are You?" quiz on the CVS Facebook Page, and you will be emailed a 20% off shopping pass coupon for CVS Pharmacy stores. The Shopping Pass is good toward non-sale items, and expires three days after you complete the quiz.
Be sure to also check out the CVS Coupons and Deals for the week.


text:
Print or e-mail your favorites and plan your perfect visit to NYC today.
Learn more about the five boroughs that make up New York City with our complete guide.
Discover what to do, where to stay and what to see in New York City with our planning tool.
Get ready to take on New York City with Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo.
Enjoy Shakespeare in the Park, the Museum Mile Festival, Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks and more.
Download your free copy or order a guide online today.
Wireless Internet is available at locations throughout NYC—including many parks and libraries.
Get tips, maps and everything else you'll need during your stay.
These NYC-centric mobile apps put the City at your fingertips.
See NYC's iconic sights at discounted rates.
Get the best prices at NYC's bars, clubs and restaurants.
Stay in New York City and save with these offers.
New York City is made up of five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Each one has enough attractions—and enough personality—to be a city all its own. Learn more about them with this guide.
Chef and co-owner Jean Adamson, who worked at LES success story Freemans, offers more fatty comfort foods on her weekly changing menu at Vinegar Hill House. Her tender butternut-squash tart with robust farmstead blue cheese was made memorable by golden, flaky pastry; wispy ribbons of pappardelle were coated with a sweet rabbit-and-bacon ragù.{/I} The cozy, tavernlike restaurant, located in the forgotten namesake Brooklyn neighborhood, may not be worthy of destination status. It"s Freemans light, and we"re okay with that.
Find more restaurants & bars at Time Out New York


text:
Don't get me wrong, my faith in humanity felt torn and frayed well before two women I know got almost everything they own ripped off by a heartless thief who hot-wired their U-Haul in the dead of night. "I want my panties back!" bellowed my suddenly bereft friend over Facebook.Buy on AmazonBuy on iTunes
The truck hasn't been found. The thief will probably get away unpunished. And that doesn't count the dozens of folks I know who couldn't spare any crash space for another homeless friend. Not even her so-called best friend would lift a finger or shift a coffee table.
Now is the winter of discontent—bigger than mine, I submit, bigger than yours, bigger than ours. Tough old world? Always has been? Well, sure, shucks. But not like this. Factor in Katrina, factor in Bush's laissez-rot toward the vets coming back from his war. But it's trickled down (the one thing that has). It's reached the street level, the interpersonal level. We're circling our wagons. We're hardening our hearts.
How delightful and how warm, then, to find New Orleans' own Johnette Downing praising and prescribing for the next generation. She wants kids to read, and so they should. She spreads out the magic of reading in such tunes as "Readers Are Leaders," and even if I'm not completely convinced, I want to be. The playing, never less than tasty, pushes the gentle didacticism and could stand on its own should Downing ever decide to make music for grown-ups. I'm happiest with Gina Forsyth's fiddle, but Downing, self-producing, multi-tracks herself into a mini-orchestra with string things, voices and "percussions."
Some of the songs are actually stories. Said stories feature lazy, greedy snakes, crawfish and possums, outshone by valiant and selfless oysters, crabs and deer. Hey, I know this record is supposed to sell the young ones on the idea of the future. But can I stand under its awning awhile? Life's better here.


text:
Palm Cove accommodation
Located in Tropical North Queensland, Palm Cove is a small beach community twenty minutes north of Cairns.
Surrounded by the Daintree Rainforest and sheltered by the Great Barrier Reef, the area provides visitors staying at hotels in Palm Cove with a year-round tropical paradise. Whether you want to trek the Rainforest, explore the wonders of the Reef, shop til you drop in Cairns, or simply enjoy sand between your toes and waves lapping at your feet, Palm Cove has it all.
Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa is a five-star resort situated at the southern end of Palm Cove. The resort provides visitors looking for hotels in Palm Cove with a peaceful and picturesque getaway, set only footsteps off the beachfront. Guests can choose from a range of beautiful and spacious rooms and apartments, and enjoy access to the resort's extensive facilities, including restaurant and poolside bar, three swimming pools, and large day spa.
For visitors looking for hotels in Palm Cove that provide the privacy of self-contained apartments, Coral Coast Palm Cove, Accor Vacation Club Apartments is an excellent choice. Choose from a range of spacious apartments, only a short walk from the beach and Palm Cove Village. The village is made up of a variety of boutique shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, and is the perfect setting to while away the hours on lazy summer days.
Grand Mercure Rockford Esplanade Palm Cove provides guests with a magnificent getaway overlooking the Coral Sea. Guests can choose from a selection of beautifully-appointed studios and one or two bedroom self-contained apartments, each with a large private balcony. The resort features a freeform lagoon-style swimming pool, fitness centre, restaurants, cafes and boutique shops.


text:
Everything you need to know to get you moving
At some point early on, a beginner learns that 99.9 per cent of runners are pleasant, helpful people. This realisation usually dawns when a beginner meets a veteran at a race or on a training run, and the veteran starts sharing his or her enthusiasm for and knowledge of running. That's how runners are. And that's why, for this guide, we asked this question to a number of experienced runners of various ages: what do you know now that you wish you knew when you started? Whether you're just starting out, or have been running for decades, you'll learn something from their answers.
Every beginner asks at least a few of these questions at some point. Here are the answers:
How do I get started?
Start walking for an amount of time
feels comfortable - anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Once you can walk for 30 minutes
easily, sprinkle one- to two-minute running
intervals into your walking. As time goes on, make the running intervals longer, until you
are running for 30 minutes straight. Beginner schedules.
Is it normal to feel pain during running?
Some discomfort is normal as you add
distance and intensity to your training. But real pain isn't normal. If something feels so bad that you have to run with a limp or otherwise alter your stride, you're probably injured. Stop running immediately, and take a few days off. If you're not sure, try walking for a minute or two to see if the discomfort disappears. If it doesn't disappear, consult your GP. More about injury.
Do I have to wear running shoes, or are other trainers fine?
Running doesn't require much investment in gear and accessories, but you have to have a good pair of running shoes. Unlike all-round trainers, running shoes are designed to allow your foot to strike the ground properly,
reducing the amount of shock that travels up your leg. They're also made to fit your foot snugly, which reduces the slipping and sliding that can lead to blisters.
What's the difference between running on a treadmill and
running outside?
A treadmill 'pulls' the ground underneath your feet, and you don't meet any wind resistance, which makes running somewhat easier. Many treadmills are padded, making them a good option if you're carrying a few extra pounds or are injury-prone and want to decrease impact. To better simulate the effort of outdoor running, you can always set your treadmill at a one per cent incline.
Where should I run?
You can run anywhere that's safe and enjoyable. The best running routes are scenic, well lit, and free of traffic. There also soft: choose trails or smooth grass rather than roads. Think of running as a way to explore new territory. Use your watch to gauge your distance, and set out on a new adventure each time you run. Talk to other runners about the routes they run. The more
varied your routes, the easier running will feel. More about running surfaces.
I always feel out of breath when I run. Is something wrong?
Running causes you to breathe harder than usual, so some amount of huffing and puffing is normal. Most of that out-of-breath feeling
diminishes as you become fitter. Concentrate on breathing from deep down in your belly, and if you have to, slow down or take walking breaks. If the breathlessness persists, ask your doctor about the possibility that you may have asthma.
I often suffer from a stitch when I run. Will these ever go away?
Side stitches are common among beginners because the abdomen is not used to the jostling that running causes. Most runners find that stitches go away as fitness increases. Also, don't eat any solid foods in the hour before you run. When you get a stitch, breathe deeply, concentrating on pushing all of the air out of your abdomen. This will stretch out your diaphragm muscle (just below your lungs), which is usually where a cramp occurs.
Should I breathe through my nose or my mouth?
Probably the latter, which will allow you to
get as much oxygen as possible to your
working muscles. However, some runners breathe through their noses during training runs, believing that this keeps them more relaxed. Do what works for you.
Hi there,
loving reading all your comments, currently on week 2 of running and feeling like its never ending!!!! But thanks to all your stories ive got a bit of hope back!x
hi there i am a 37 yr old engineer with dodgy knees and a bad back lol i have been running a bit in the gym (yes on a treadmill ) i know this doesnt really help me get a feel but i REALLY want to be able to do the london marathon in 2012 i have applied and fingers crossed ....anyway heres my point should i start traing on cross country just to build up my stamina and distance with less chance of getting run over ! or should i start as i mean to go on and train just on road surfaces ?? as the london marathon is all road i was just wondering
ps all your previous answers have made good reading
HI Tony,
As you know already that you have "dodgy knees", I'd make sure that you combine regular running with lots of strengthening work for the core, glutes, hamstrings, quads and calfs. The stronger you can get to protect those knees, the better!
On top of regular strengthening work, try to spend some time focusing on your technique before you start increasing the miles significanlty.
I found a good running strengthening and technique program here: http://www.howtobreathewhenrunning.com/
These tips are good, I can recommend them, I've been running from some years and aiming for very long distances!
Anothe site I recommend is www.fromthecouchto5k.com, very interesting also.
Shoes are surely one of the hottest topics you should never disconsider.
Enjoy running,
Thank you very much Dr Obodo for completing those on my behalf, really appreciate it, and the ex love spell you cast for me is really working .Today, daunte and I have been in contact, such a positive turn around as we now have civilization (miracles do happen) although I'm not sure were we go from here nor is it exactly the desired result, nonetheless I wanted to thank you sincerely from the depths of my heart, for this step in the right direction and I look forward to changes in the coming weeks.You have a gift that is truly amazing and I find it very endearing that you use own gift to help others in their journey throughout what I believe is a temporary life and everyone out you can contact Dr Obodo @ (email@example.com +2348155425481) if you beleive miracles do happen
Heart felt wishes,
Many thanksAnnabelle
Great guide for beginners!
Visit the official Runner's World page
Follow Runner's World on Twitter
Click here
Other Natmag-Rodale Sites
Run For Charity
Injury Clinics
About Runner's World
Run Hub
Runner's World is a publication of Hearst Magazines UK which is the trading name of The National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. Registered in England 112955. All rights reserved. Runner's World, Part of the Hearst UK wellbeing network
Website powered by: Immediate Media Company Ltd. | © Runner's World 2002-2016 | Version 2016.4.1.0


text:
May 24, 2016
On Wednesday November 10, at approximately 7:45PM, the Tallahassee Police Department responded to a reported robbery at 3111 Mahan Drive (Tropical Smoothie). Upon arrival, officers learned that a suspect entered the business brandishing a firearm and demanding money. The employee complied with the demand and the suspect fled the business.
At approximately 8:00PM, the Tallahassee Police Department responded to a second reported robbery at 209 North Magnolia Drive (Tropical Smoothie). The suspect was armed with a firearm and demanded cash from the employees. The employees complied with the demand and the suspect fled.
No one was injured during the robberies. Based on the preliminary investigation it appears the robberies are related and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the Tallahassee Police Department at (850) 891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 574-TIPS (8477). Remember, Crime Stoppers does not want your name, just your information. You could be eligible for a cash reward.
Black male, 5'9"-5'11", thin build, 20-25 years of age. Last seen wearing a dark jacket and long shorts.
WCTV has included surveillance pictures of the suspect.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Until the fairly recent initiative to re-introduce a tram service in some major towns and cities around Britain, the Blackpool Tramway was the last to survive in England. Since 1885 electric trams have been operating along the entire length of Blackpool promenade, extending to Fleetwood in 1898. The line runs for 18 kilometers (just over 11 miles) and, during the summer season, up to 65 cars may be in service. The early trams used to pick up the current from a slot between the rails but this proved unreliable when sea water and sand interrupted the supply causing inevitable breakdowns. By the end of the nineteenth century the trams were serviced by overhead electric cables, despite many concerns about the potential dangers of this method.
Not surprisingly, tram cars have appeared in a number of guises throughout the last 120 years, and have been given some amusing nicknames. At the beginning of the twentieth century there were the 'toastracks', a rather primitive design of tram that was effectively a row of benches on a mobile platform. With no sides, no top, and no central walkway, this must have been quite an exciting way to travel, especially for the conductor who had to hang off the side of the car to collect fares! In the 1930s these were eventually replaced with an open top, deep-sided car resembling the shape of a boat, and were affectionately known as the 'boats'.
By this time many tramways elsewhere in the country were disappearing in favour of trolley bus services, but Blackpool were convinced that the tramway remained the most efficient and reliable form of transport. A new, fully enclosed carriage came into service in about 1933, so streamlined and comfortable that it was named the 'railcoach'. The luxury trams of the 1950s, the Coronations, proved expensive to maintain and almost the entire stock were eventually scrapped, but the experimental 'Progress Twin Cars' developed at the end of that decade were a success and still run today.
The first double decked tram, the enormous 'Dreadnought' appeared just before the turn of the century, and successfully operated along the promenade for over thirty years. At the end of the 1934 season this mighty tram was superseded by the 'Balloon' - the double deck version of the smart new railcoach - and many of these are still in use today. Modern versions of the double decked tram were built between 1984 and 1993, and they continue to provide a regular service throughout the year.
Blackpool Transport Services continue to operate the Blackpool Tramway, providing a service to some seven million passengers for 362 days every year. Although no museum exists in the town, some of the vintage cars can be seen during special events and the preserved Dreadnought, Coronation, and Boats put in seasonal appearances every summer. As the most popular seaside resort in the north of England, there is much more to Blackpool than slot machines and amusements. For the many in search of charm and nostalgia, what could be more memorable than riding the Blackpool Tramway in a 1930s tram car and arriving at one of the resort's beautiful Victorian piers.


text:
Business Case for Diversity, My Foot
May 27, 2016
Pension tension
By Mark Schoeff Jr.
|As House and Senate lawmakers ready pension reform proposals, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.'s Bradley Belt is bluntly telling big business what it must do: keep plans funded at all times. But will the pressure on corporations just make them abandon the defined-benefit system altogether?
Renewed energy
By Janet Wiscombe
|A spate of high-profile crises forced Royal Dutch Shell to take a hard look at its management structure and how it cultivates talent. Fortunately, says global HR executive Rick Brown, the company found that it had a deep reserve of employee loyalty on which to build.
Promise fulfilled
By Michelle V. Rafter
|A Canadian bank's partnership with Electronic Data Systems is a testament to how human resources outsourcing is living up to its pledge of freeing HR departments from workaday tasks to focus on strategic issues.
State of the Sector: Health care benefits
By Charlotte Huff
|Struggling with surging premiums, more companies are delving into high- deductible plans aimed at getting employees to think twice about making frivolous treatment decisions.
Between the Lines
Job board blues
The success of Craigslist highlights a larger issue--that big changes are ahead for the online job listings business.
| Reactions From Readers
Money matters
"Try telling dishwashers that what they do makes a difference and therefore their pay raise is being declined."
In This Corner
Heroic measures
Quick fixes and cheap remedies won't stop a serious disease. In the workplace, the same advice applies.
Fallout from the AFL-CIO split
Employers who hope that the breakup will weaken union organizing efforts are mistaken. Also: Heartland outsourcing. Happy shareholder returns. RIP for the rat? A prescription for better pricing. Sites that click with job hunters. Good times for grads.
Come for the political rants, stay for the job listings
The secret to the success of the highly eclectic online destination called Craigslist may be that it's not really an employment site, which means it draws the passive candidates recruiters covet.
Health Care Benefits
A little green goes a long way
Firms use cash, paid-up premiums, HSA contributions and other incentives to target employees who normally do not participate in wellness programs: the ones who need them most.
Straight talk about the switch from stock options
Getting information out early may help workers better see how shifts from stock options to restricted stock and performance-based stock units will affect them.
Retailers boot up e-learning
When training cycles take four months, but many employees stay on the job for six months, it's clear why some retailers are turning to shorter online courses.
The trouble with integrity tests
A new appellate court ruling means that companies will have to be more careful about the tests they use to gauge an applicant's honesty.


text:
KOLKATA: The World Gold Council, the market development organisation for the gold industry, has appointed Somasundaram PR as managing director, India. Somasundarum PR (Som) will be based in Mumbai, where he will be responsible for leading the World Gold Council's activities across the Indian market. Som has joined World Gold Council as managing director for India from 1st January 2013.
Som has over 27 years' experience of diverse industries and sectors. Som joins the World Gold Council from Lakshmi Vilas Bank, where he was Chief Executive Officer. Before that, he spent eight years at Standard Chartered Bank in India where he held senior positions including managing director of Standard Chartered - STCI Capital Markets, the securities arm of Standard Chartered Bank. Som has also gained valuable experience of other sectors having spent over 13 years with Hindustan Unilever ( HUL) in a variety of national and international roles, as well as working at Tata Consultancy Services. Som is a qualified chartered accountant.


text:
Lt. Gen. James J. Lovelace, Jr., USA, Ret., and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, USA, Ret., the co-chairs of the Army Chief of Staff's Retiree Council, met April 26 with Gen. Raymond T. Odierno and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III to discuss the concerns of the 1 million-strong retired community and to offer retirees' continued support to the Army.
Expediency is rarely associated with government bureaucracy. Yet expeditious action is exactly what Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel provided after meeting at the Pentagon with representatives from veterans and military service organizations, among them the Association of the United States Army's Assistant Director of Retiree Affairs Sgt. Maj. Leroy Bussells, USA, Ret.
A bright light has been shown on a problem that has lurked in the shadows of our Army for too long.
The problem is sexual harassment and sexual assault, and a series of sexual assault cases across the military services has highlighted its magnitude to the American public and our Congress.
The Army announced June 25 that 10 brigade combat teams based in the United States are slated to be reorganized by the end of Fiscal Year 2017.
AUSA's chapters are located world-wide. Their mission is to support our Soldiers and the civilians and families who work alongside of them in the local community. To learn how you can become involved click here.
Find a Chapter
Membership is open to all components of the Army, families, government civilians, companies and concerned citizens. To join click here.
Become a Member
AUSA works diligently on Capitol Hill ensuring that our Soldiers and their families are taken care of. AUSA is also a watch dog for government civilian's issues. To learn more about our work on Capitol Hill click here.
Legislative Action Center
Click here to order back issues of ARMY Magazine or AUSA News, a Family Program's product or buy an item from the AUSA estore.
Visit the Marketplace


text:
APR 17, 2013 - USA Today
A Must Read - Share
These teams may not feature the big names, but they are very evenly matched.
Editor's Picks
Show More
Show Less
Hey you have no friends!!! Get to work and start inviting friends to help build your Comunitee. Click Here to invite friends.
© 2011 Comunitee, Inc.


text:
Buffer Zone Ruling Aftermath: Street Scene At Clinic, New Bill Filed
The 35-foot "buffer zone" outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is gone, struck down by the Supreme Court's buffer-zone ruling last month. But a bill filed today in the Massachusetts Legislature would restore some added protections to staff and patients at the state's reproductive health centers.
Among them, Planned Parenthood writes, is police power to issue a "dispersal order" when a group has impeded access to a facility; a prohibition on using "threat or force to intentionally injure or intimidate" someone trying to enter or leave the facility; and a "clear passage" section that bans impeding anyone trying to come or go.
An opinion piece in the Boston Globe today argues that no anti-abortion protester has ever been arrested for committing violence, and that the buffer zone "restricts and punishes not violence but expression."
The author might want to take a look here on socialdocumentary.net at the evocative photos shot at the clinic on Saturday by B.D. Colen, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning medical reporter who teaches documentary photography at MIT. True, no physical violence. But you can imagine what it's like to be a desperate young woman who has to navigate through dozens of protesters and "counselors" to get into the clinic.
The photo set's "Photographer's Statement" includes a heart-wrenching letter from a former student of Colen's, who speaks to the emotional effects of laws and rulings that can make an agonizing time even harder. An excerpt:
"No one gives us – young and old women – enough credit about how terrifying that whole process is – with or without protestors. When they changed the laws to force a woman to look at the sonograms before they'd do the procedure, I cried. I remember being asked if I wanted to see the sonograms – I remember saying no and meaning it. I'm glad that at the time my voice was heard and my opinion was respected. What a cruel unnecessary law. What a lack of understanding that law demonstrated…
"I wish I was in Boston right now. I'd sit out there on that street after work or on my weekends.
"People think that women who have unwanted pregnancies are stupid or careless. That's so far from the truth that I want to laugh instead of cry. I wasn't stupid or careless – and even if I was, that shouldn't matter. Women's bodies are built to get pregnant. No birth control is 100% effective. I always knew my body was a fighter and stubborn as hell. Now I have concrete proof.
"The opponents of choice seem have no concept of the sheer number of people they're hurting, the number of women, and also the other people an unwanted pregnancy affects. It's never just the mother. Although people should care about her freedoms and health and ability to make an informed decision, they should think about all the other people impacted by her decision.
"My first and most important deciding factor was that I couldn't do what continuing a pregnancy at that point would have done to the resulting child. Period. And after that, I couldn't do that to myself. I wanted a family when I was ready for it – halfway through MIT was definitively not the time for it. And beyond that – I couldn't do that to my (ex) boyfriend, couldn't do that to my parents, couldn't do that to my siblings, couldn't do that to my now ex's parents who I knew and cared about.
Read the full post in the Photographer's Statement on the photo page here.


text:
Staff Blog
Staff Picks
Win Stuff!
Special Sections
E-mail Newsletters
News Blog
News Home
City Desk
Cincinnati vs. the World
News Archive
Opinion Home
Politics/Issues Blog
Kathy Y. Wilson
We, as Humans
Worst Week Ever!
On Second Thought
Curmudgeon Notes
Living Out Loud
Music Home
Music Blog
MidPoint Music Fest
Live Music Events
Spill It
Minimum Gauge
Arts Home
Arts Blog
Art Events
Visual Arts
Curtain Call
The Big Picture
Film Home
Movies Blog
Movie Reviews
Eats Home
Reviews & Features
Cooks in the Kitchen
The Dish
Local Restaurants
Local Happy Hours App
All Blogs
The Morning After
CityBeat Staff Picks
Event Calendar
Music Calendar
Arts Calendar
Submit a Listing
Restaurant Week
Margarita Madness
CityBeat Events
20th Anniversary
All-Star Weekend
The Beer Issue
Annual Manual
Best of Cincinnati
Camp Guide
Cool Issue
Dining Guide
Drinking Issue
Election Coverage
Fall Arts Preview
Focus On Education
Fringe Festival
Green Issue
Hibernation Guide
Love List
MidPoint Music Fest
MPMF Visitors
Summer Guide
Weekend Warrior
Year in Review
Sign-up for E-mails
What should I be doing instead of this?
On Second Thought
Brouhaha at the BBC and Al Jazeera
Ben L. Kaufman
0 Comments · Monday, February 2, 2015
As it is with any news medium where neutrality is a goal, complaints increasingly focus on word choice and allegations of political correctness rather than overt story bias and slant.
by Kelsey Kennedy
Posted In:
at 01:55 PM |
'Downton Abbey' Season Four, Episode Seven
Bringing the latest in uppity British television
Upstairs: Upstairs is busy with rigidity and drama this week, and it's about what it's always about: bribery and corruption. The big pig debacle is teaching all of the upstairs cast about life and hard work. Mr. Blake and Mr. Gillingham are in the same room with Mary, and things get heated. Mr. Blake finally exits, but not without leaving a trail of sexual tension behind him. Nobody knows how Robert is "getting on" in America because he is slowly becoming an insignificant character on the show and in the family. Mr. Blake handles Mary's child (what's his name/he's never around) and Mary is obviously super turned on by that, as told by the widening of her eyes. Edith and Mary have been rather nice to each other lately, but oh how I miss the rotten cattiness. Isobel Crawley is encouraging Branson to find socialism again, but he finds Sarah Bunting instead. Bunting, the political teacher with a pretty smile, seems to be a fitting replacement for Sybil. Maybe. As always, I am still grieving over Sybil and Matthew, and it might still be too soon for me. Too. Soon. Aunt Rosamund, who is usually an ice cold bitch, is keeping Edith's secret baby a secret. Which is really, really hard for her. Still no word from Michael Gregson, and the Dowager Countess finds out about the secret baby because that woman doesn't miss a beat. Rosamund reassures Edith with, "You are not happy, but at least free". Cousin Rose is caught with Jack Ross in public again, and Branson's feathers seem ruffled. Remember when Matthew used to swoop in and rescue Rose (and the entire family) from insufferable embarrassment? This time, however, Rose is not just partying and making a fool of herself. She seems to truly enjoy Ross's company (or at least the thrill of it). When Ross seems weary of the situation, she comforts him by saying, "Isn't it time people knew there are bigger and better values than the mean spirited ones they live by?" Later, when she finally reveals she is ENGAGED, it seems she only wants to get married to a black guy to piss her mother off. Downstairs: Is anyone else getting sick of how bitter Daisy has been over Alfred? Now Alfred wants to marry Ivy, and Mrs. Patmore is tweakin' about handling this much drama. Ivy is in the exact same situation as Daisy was with William in seasons one & two. Minus World War I and awkward family guilt trips. Mrs. Patmore has become somewhat of a guidance counselor and authority figure for the younger staff, and it's an enjoyable dynamic. She may pretend to hate it, but on the inside she loves being that maternal figure in Daisy and Ivy's life. After Daisy says goodbye to Alfred, Mrs. Patmore expresses her pride: "If you were my own daughter, I couldn't be prouder than I am now." Anna finally confesses to Mary that Lord Gillingham's valet Mr. Green, was her rapist. Lord Mary's realization gave me chills, mainly because I'm not used to seeing that much of a reaction from her. After some sleuthing, Mr. Bates totally knows Mr. Green was the one who raped his wife, and he plans to do something about it. Mary Convinced Mr. Gillingham to relieve Mr. Green from his duties, but HE'S DEAD AND BATES PROBABLY KILLED HIM. Mr. Molesley and Miss Baxter share a tender moment about feeling "fragile" and their loyalties to Thomas, the mischievous under butler. Until next week, "Life kicks the stuffing outta ya sometimes, doesn't it?" – Molesley
On Second Thought
Covering Mandela in '63
Ben L. Kaufman
0 Comments · Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Listening to BBC after Nelson Mandela died left me sleep deprived. It was virtually nonstop from midnight to 5 a.m. on WVXU, and BBC demonstrated how a first-class news organization covers a major story.
Curmudgeon Notes
Curmudgeon Notes 7.10.13
'Business Courier' redesign, Quebec rail disaster and more media musings
Ben L. Kaufman
0 Comments · Thursday, July 11, 2013
I'm undecided about the value of the redesigned Cincinnati Business Courier print edition. Previously, the weekly was helpful to a general reader who wanted to follow corporate doings and influence in Cincinnati. Now, I'm less sure of its usefulness.
by Jac Kern
Posted In:
at 01:52 PM |
I Just Can't Get Enough
Jac's roundup of pop culture news and Internet findings
Remember The Greatest Event in Television History, the 15-minute special on Adult Swim in which Jon Hamm and Adam Scott remade the intro to '80s detective series Simon & Simon, shot-by-shot? If not, watch the clip here, and stick around after the credits for the original theme song to truly appreciate the attention to detail. Well, as you'll hear from impeccable host Jeff Probst in the clip below, he lied to us last year. It wasn't the greatest event in television history. THIS IS: That's right, Adam Scott and Amy Poehler (with help from Horatio Sans) recreated the beginning credits to Hart to Hart, another '80s detective drama. Here's the original: Flawless. If your significant other suddenly begins behaving differently — working late hours, cancelling plans, hanging out with new people you've never met, being secretive — there's a possibility he or she may be cheating on you. You have two options: confront your loved one with honesty and concern and try to repair your relationship or call Cheaters. Now in its 13th season, Cheaters really is one of those bottom-of-the-barrel shows.First of all, Spoiler Alert: Yes, they're cheating on you. No one's paying a camera crew to document some anticlimactic shit. Secondly, people (myself included) actually watch these public, messy splits as entertainment! Who would sign up for this? For those classier than I who've never seen the show, here's the gist: Cheaters sends a surveillance crew to investigate a suspicious complaintant's partner. After a few days of "detective work," the show's host brings the evidence to the complaintant and offers them the chance to confront the cheater (generally in a very public and/or embarrassing situation). Of course, they do. Madness ensues. Cheaters' longtime host Joey Greco rose to iconic status when, during the confrontation of a woman's cheating boyfriend, he was stabbed in the gut by the fleeing boyfriend. Later evidence suggests the stabbing might have been staged, but Greco will forever go down in reality TV infamy as the man who would take a knife to reunite a woman with the man who cheated on her…or something. Sadly, Greco stepped down as host in 2012, a fact I was not aware of until this weekend when I caught the show during some late-night channel surfing. It turns out Grecs has been replaced by a younger host with a certain L.A. coke junkie dead-eyed je ne sais quoi. Something about him screams, "I've got roofies in my pocket, and I'm not afraid to use them."After a few scenes, it was reveled this fresh meat's name was none other than Clark Gable. At first I figured this dude was taking notes from porn star James Deen or countless other celebrity hopefuls who simply borrow a Hollywood icon's name. But no. Gone With The Wind's Clark Gable had a grandson and that guy is hosting Cheaters. (Thankfully, the show's wordsmith of a narrator lives on.) According to Gable III's Cheaters bio, he is a model/actor who also enjoys surfing, racing dirt bikes and volunteering with charities. According to IMDB, his only completed acting credit is a 2001 movie, Ordinary Madness, in which he played "Skateboard Kid." For some reason, the bio neglects to mention that, like his Cheaters predecessor, Gable also has experience with knife fights — Gable was stabbed at an L.A. house party in 2008. Ever had a totally insufferable coworker, a person whose mere presence awakens your most inner demons? Imagine having to make cheery smalltalk with the bitch on television. Since apparently we Americans couldn't quite get it right, BBC is making a new Elizabeth Taylor film, Burton and Taylor, starring Helena Bonham Carter as Liz and Dominic West and Richard Burton. But you won't find Lifetime, the network behind that Lohan monstrosity, playing the whole "coulda, shoulda, woulda" game, because they're on to the next one: Anna Nicole Smith, to be precise. Lifetime actually was smart about this one — by making a movie about a star like Anna Nicole, you don't need to worry about casting a star that can actually act. Though she does have the sedated baby voice down to a T. And who knew people popped pills in their cocktails like Alka-Seltzers? I'm just happy/terrified the clown face makes an appearance. TrimSpa, baby! Hey, want to see Daft Punk without their helmets? HBO's Girls will likely have a long shelf-life, but 38 seasons? Writer/Producer/Director Gail Lerner looks into the future of Lena Dunham's painfully hip lost girls with this hilarious parody. Via Nylon: Now it's time for: Hold Up, Y'all, Cincinnati's On the TV! Food Network's Restaurant: Impossible will be filming at Aponte's Pizzeria in Mason this Wednesday-Thursday. On the series, the beefy Brit Chef Robert Irvine offers business advice, new recipes and $10,000 in renovations to struggling restaurants. Aponte's 2.0 will re-launch to a fully-booked house Thursday evening. And, while not on television, A Tavola's tricked-out pizza oven was named one of America's "coolest" by Food and Wine magazine. See a full slideshow here.
by Ben L. Kaufman
Posted In:
2012 Election
Media Criticism
Barack Obama
Mitt Romney
at 10:46 AM |
Curmudgeon Notes 10.31.2012
Media musings from Cincinnati and beyond
• After weeks of dreary campaign coverage and soul-destroying political ads, here's a day brightener. Jian Ghomeshi's long-format interview radio show, Q, scored a rare interview with J. K. Rowling. She was in New York promoting her first adult-audience book, The Casual Vacancy. Among other things, Ghomeshi asked why she courts news media criticism by giving so few interviews. "Well, I just don't think I have that much to say." And why do the news media make so much of her reluctance? "That's because the media is very interested in the media," she said. I laughed so hard I had to sit down in our northern Ontario cabin. Q is a morning program and evening repeat on Canada's CBC Radio. Q is heard here at 9 p.m. weekdays on WVXU. • Further proof that life as we know it revolves around Cincinnati: the Oct. 29 New Yorker's essay on the fraud of voting fraud begins with Hamilton County. We're the perfect example of GOP supporters trying to intimidate voters. A key point made by reporter Jane Mayer's sources: photo IDs might deter someone impersonating a genuine voter but you don't corrupt an election that way. You need massive — if subtle — manipulation of the vote count. • So, is anyone confident your vote will be counted accurately? We don't get a receipt showing how our votes were tallied. Any retailer can give us a receipt showing what we've paid by charge or debit card. So where are the reporters asking Boards of Elections why it can't give us a receipt and editorials demanding this accountability? Receipts won't prevent corrupt officials, employees or hackers from going into voting-counting computers after we vote, but it might deter some. • Hamilton County Board of Elections assures the Enquirer that its voting machines are secure. No computer-based anything is secure. Computers are more or less vulnerable to external hacking and surreptitious insider reprogramming. Worrying about GOP ties to voting machine companies doesn't make me a conspiracy crank. It matters because of Romney's links to the current equipment provider. In 2004, the then-provider of our voting machines was "committed to helping Ohio deliver its electoral votes to the president (Bush) next year." That was Walden W. O'Dell's promise. He was chief executive of Canton-based Diebold Inc., which made voting machines Ohio used in 2004. W carried Ohio that year. • GOP efforts to restrict voting is second only to the Republican commitment to ending a woman's access to abortion. It's not new. In all of this year's reporting about Republican voter suppression — photo IDs, phony "official" mailings misdirecting voters of color, etc. — didn't find references to William Rehnquist before he was Chief Justice of the U.S. Google is rich with Rehnquist's dark history as a GOP operative. This came from a files.nyu.edu post about John Dean's book, The Rehnquist Choice. The folks at New York University said "Dean was a member of Nixon's cabinet, was Nixon's counsel in the Watergate affair and played a prominent role in selecting Rehnquist as a Supreme Court nominee. He writes that Rehnquist was part of roving 'squads' of Republican lawyers who went from precinct to precinct, confronting and harassing black and Latino voters." Here's what Dean wrote on pages 272-273 of The Rehnquist Choice: "Collectively, these witnesses described 'squads,' or teams, that moved quickly from precinct to precinct to disqualify voters, confronting black and Hispanic voters standing in line at the polls by asking them questions about their qualifications, or holding up a small card with a passage from the U.S. Constitution and demanding that the voter read it aloud; also photographing people standing in line to vote." "All told, the Democrats produced fourteen people who swore they had witnessed Rehnquist challenging voters. In rebuttal, the Republicans produced eight witnesses who claimed they had not seen or heard of Rehnquist challenging voters — but none of them could testify that they were actually with Rehnquist during any entire election day, nor did their testimony cover all the elections involved in the charges . . . The evidence is clear and convincing that Rehnquist was not truthful about his activities in challenging voters." • Most Americans tell pollsters they rely on TV for their news. Next Tuesday, these viewers will take their rich opinions and impoverished facts into the voting booth. This recalls Mr. Whig, the fictional alter ego of a great Enquirer editorial page editor, Thom Gephardt, who frequently muttered, "I fear for the Republic." • Much as I have followed campaign coverage, I have little or no idea of what Obama and Romney will do to create jobs, ease immigration problems, provide and pay medical professionals to care for millions to be covered by Obamacare, wean us from deadly coal, cope with problems associated with fracking for oil and natural gas, make the wind blow and sun shine, reduce or slow global warming, bring Palestinians and Israelis closer to a peaceful two-state resolution, deal with the Taliban when it returns to power, etc. Despite what I hear from any liberals/progressives, Obama hasn't disappointed me; I wrote nothing on that blank slate in 2008. It sufficed that he wasn't McCain. In his way, Romney increasingly recalls Nixon in 1972 with his "secret plan" to end the Vietnam war. He had no plan. That was the secret. Deja vu all over again. • Mark Curnutte's Sunday Enquirer post-mortem on the lethal street culture of revenge among some young black Cincinnatians is as current as perps who became victims soon after he interviewed them and Amanda Davidson took their photos. • CNN.com "unpublishes" reporter Elizabeth Landau's story linking women's hormones to political choices. CNN says the story wasn't edited adequately. The study by a Texas academic concludes that ovulation makes women feel sexier. Ovulating single women are likelier to vote for Obama (liberal) and ovulating married women or women in other committed relationships are likelier to vote for Romney (conservative.) I wonder if CNN pulled the story because some subjects are beyond inquiry, like women's abilities for math and science or racial/ethnic differences in various pursuits. Then there is the whole fantasy about "unpublishing" an online post. You can get to the original story — replaced by an editor's note on CNN.com — at poynter.com or dailykos.com. • The Seattle Times seeks to restore readers' trust after it published free ads for the Republican candidate for governor and for supporters of a state gay marriage referendum. The ads make the paper part of each group's propaganda machine. There is no other way to say it. Good luck to reporters who have to cover those campaigns. Maybe someone should create the "Almost Darwin Awards" for news media bent on self-destruction. You don't know Darwin Awards? Look it up. The awards are as funny as Seattle Times' claims to virtue are cringe-worthy. After the paper's ethical pratfall and a newsroom rebellion, the Seattle Times turned its fact-checkers loose on those free partisan ads and gave the ads a rating of "half true." (T)wo ads that were checked contained two true claims, one mostly true, one half true and two that were false, the paper and Poynter.com said. • Newsroom rebellions rarely go public like that by Seattle Times journalists (above). Years ago, then-owners of the Minneapolis Tribune and Star supported relocation of the Viking/Twins stadium from the 'burbs to downtown. Here's what the New York Times said in its obit of the publisher, John Cowles Jr.: "Opponents, including staff members at The Minneapolis Tribune, thought it was a clear conflict of interest for the owner of a newspaper to take a public position on an important local issue it was covering . . . (S)taff members placed an ad in their own paper disassociating themselves from the company's involvement."• Fifty years ago, we almost had a nuclear war over missiles in Cuba and en route on Soviet freighters. Regardless of where U.S. ships turned back the freighters, it was the real thing, no Gulf of Tonkin or Weapons of Mass Destruction fraud. I was at UPI in London and the Brits were very, very frightened; in a nuclear war, both sides' missiles could be overhead and Soviets would attack Britain's RAF and Royal Navy nuclear strike forces. I went to the U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square. The crowd was hostile. Least threatening were those carrying or wearing what is now known as the "peace symbol." Then it was the much more potent and timely totem of Britain's Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. • Half a century later, that British CND symbol is a meaningless design for feathered earrings and leather-thong necklaces. But turn the symbol upside down so that the "wings" tilt up. You have the Brits' Vulcan "V-bomber." It was the heart of their Cold War airborne nuclear deterrent during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vulcan bases would have been targets in any nuclear exchange. • Only a coverup is juicier than the original scandal, especially in broadcasting. BBC is tearing itself apart over the sex scandal. Arrests have begun: Convicted pedophile and BBC TV entertainer Gary Glitter is the first. Hundreds claim a leading children's program presenter and colleagues molested hundreds of girls at BBC studios, children's hospitals and other locations. The focus of the probe, Jimmy Savile, is dead. His victims — including women at BBC — offer explicit tales of his harassment and abuse. BBC execs are accusing each other of lying or misleading parliament; Scotland Yard is beginning to ask why police didn't act sooner on repeated reports and complaints about Savile and other abusers at BBC. • AP says New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. last week reiterated his support for the Times' new CEO, Mark Thompson. Thompson, who was BBC's director general until last month, has been under scrutiny over the BBC's decision to cancel its major investigative program about Savile sexually abusing youngsters. AP says Sulzberger told Times staff that he was satisfied that Thompson had no role in canceling the explosive program. As with all scandals and coverups, we will learn what BBC and Scotland Yard knew and when they knew it. Lovely.
On Second Thought
Off the Record, for the Record
Ben L. Kaufman
0 Comments · Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The perils of "off the record" were never clearer than when President Obama sought the Des Moines Register endorsement last week.
by Mike Breen
Posted In:
Music Video
Music History
at 09:57 AM |
This Date in Music History: April 3
Madonna and The Coasters create controversy and Social Distortion's Mike Ness turns 50
On this day in 1989, Pepsi dropped Madonna as a spokesperson after complaints about her "blasphemous" video for the single (also used in the Pepsi commercial campaign) "Like A Prayer." The Vatican condemned the video for its imagery of burning crosses and Madonna kissing a black man, while religious groups called for a boycott of all Pepsi-affiliated products. The soft drink manufacturer caved and cut and run from the Pop princess. But Pepsi gave Madonna a nice parting gift — the company was so eager to get away from the controversy that they let her keep her $5 million (yes, million) advance. Thirty years earlier, another music-related controversy erupted in the U.K. when the BBC decided that The Coasters' song "Charlie Brown" was not fit for airplay. Was it that the Peanuts comic strip was too controversial? Peppermint Patty's sexuality has always been a topic of debate. Were they afraid the youth of England would all mimic Charlie Brown's sparse curly-Q hairdo, essentially killing off the hair-care product industry? Was Pigpen's personal hygiene deficiency deemed a bad influence? Nope — the BBC was worried about the song because it contained the word "spitball" and they were fearful kids all over would be inspired to destroy society with saliva-drenched missiles. Unlike Pepsi, the Beeb reversed its decision a couple of weeks later, apparently realizing how ridiculous the "ban" was.Here are clips relating to both controversies. Watch at your own risk! Click on for Born This Day featuring Richard Thompson, Sebastian Bach, Doris Day and Mike Ness.
Read More
Minimum Gauge
John Peel, Chris Brown and Naked Cowboy
Mike Breen
0 Comments · Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Many of us found it unusual that Pop star Chris Brown was all over the Grammys, considering charges he beat girlfriend Rihanna on Grammys weekend in 2009. But it probably didn't inspire bloodlust.
Minimum Gauge
Pope-Mo-Beatle, Hank Dub and Raging F Bombs
0 Comments · Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Beatles, once designated "Bigger than Jesus" by John Lennon, are now Vatican-approved. Perhaps because of the changing culture (or maybe designed for an approval-ratings boost timed to "Beatles Week" on American Idol), the Vatican newspaper honored The Beatles with special editions timed to the 40th anniversary of their breakup.
Clubs and Bars
Music Venues
The Morning After
Just Visiting
Visitor's Guide
Best of Cincinnati
Dining Guide
Bar Guide
About Us
Contact Us
Be an Intern
Work Here
Privacy Policy
Commenting Guidelines
Advertise with Us
Download Our Media Kit
Contact Us
National Advertising
Nashville Scene
Washington City Paper
Creative Loafing Atlanta
Creative Loafing Tampa
Kansas City Pitch
Her South


text:
Weight Loss News in Review – Week of May 16
Each week, DietsInReview.com will recap the hottest headlines in weight loss, diet and health news to keep you informed of news you can really use.
Sex and the City Two is coming out next week, which means fans of the show will not only be curious to see what the girls are up to… but how do they stay in such great shape?! Here are some of their secrets.
Biggest Losers Run Marathon – Week 18 Recap
Our Biggest Loser correspondent Amanda Arlauskas gives you the lowdown on the Biggest Loser Marathon this week.


text:
All cheats for this game by platform: PC
bMPCheats=Enabled 2Then, press [~] or [Tab] during game play to display the console window. Enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function.
|Third person view
|behindview 1
|Unlimited ammunition
|mpcheat paramsammo 1
|No clipping mode
|mpcheat ghost
|Disable no clipping mode
|Weapon select
|mpcheat changeclass <weapon name>
|Start game alone1
|start <level name>
|Spawn indicated item or NPC1
|summon <item or character name>
ak" (AK47)NPC names
"ak74su" (AK74SU)
"ar" (SAW)
"at4" (American rocket launcher)
"b" (Benelli m390 combat shotgun with 7 slug rounds)
"f" (Fists)
"g" (M16A2 with grenade launcher)
"gp" (AK47 with grenade launcher)
"m4a1" (M4A1)
"m4m" (same as "sf" but with different grenades)
"m9" (pistol)
"mos" (Mosin-Nagant sniper rifle)
"r" (Grenades)
"rpg" (Rocket propelled grenade)
"rpk" (OpFor machine gun)
"s" (M81 sniper)
"s24" (M24 sniper)
"sf" (M-4 silenced, 203 attachment, 4x zoom, 2 frags,1 smoke, 2 flash, 1 fire grenade)
"spr" (Silenced weapon with 4x zoom)
"svd" (Dragonov sniper rifle)
"v" (AK siris modified weapon)
agp_characters.npc_flight crew
Related Links


text:
Communicate! Home
Search Summaries
Submit Summary
Keyword List
Epstein Award
Synagogue Management
Contact Us
Wish Boxes are part of an ongoing tikkun olam effort based in our religious school. On opening day families are given art supplies, including stickers with quotations from Jewish sources and scholars connected to tikkun olam, to use in decorating a box,. Approximately every six weeks a Wish List is sent home from a different community organization or agency detailing the items they need on an ongoing basis. Families fill their boxes with items from the Wish Lists and with items the synagogue collects regularly (hygiene products for a local shelter, soda can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, children's books for a Cleveland elementary school, etc.). On a designated day, students bring the Wish Boxes back to school, where they are emptied, sorted and packaged for delivery by our seventh grade Tzedakah Council. The empty boxes are returned home with a new Wish List from a different organization and the cycle begins again.
The Wish Boxes have been a successful program for us in many ways. First, by soliciting suggestions of worthy organizations from our religious school families, we are linking their Jewish lives with their secular philanthropic/volunteer activities. Second, our seventh graders have become intimately aware of the impact a small school can have on the community and increasingly understand their roles as stewards for the world around them. Third, by providing families both with lists of relatively inexpensive items (socks, paper towels, crayons, etc.) and a convenient way to store and deliver them, we have made "making a difference" easy. Finally - and most importantly - we have helped a number of different organizations around the greater Cleveland area fulfill their missions of service to the community.
RESOURCES: Wish lists from September, October, November, April, and May; Making the Boxes
SUBURBAN KOL AMI 450 Households
216-991-0700 216-991-0705
E-mail: email@example.com
Tell (Email) a friend about this summary: 2445
Communicate! Email Address: email@example.com
Copyright © 2004-2007,
Union for Reform Judaism


text:
Pic of the Day!
Beyonce is making us love the color Green. Camel toe in living color
Beyonce Camel Toe - Camel Toe Photos - 3 This is the third photo in this Beyonce Camel toe gallery. Big thanks to the wonderful world of zoom in photography which allows those of us who missed this Beyonce performance to enjoy the show anyway. The Beyonce camel toe show.
Check out "Miley Cyrus Camel Toe - Camel Toe Photos"
You may also enjoy these Pictures


text:
BKE Boutique Lace Back Top
SALE $17.00 was $34.00 Item #55460BTQM738
Sorry, this product is currently not available on buckle.com.
- 3/4 sleeve metallic front top
- Scoop back
- Layering piece(s) sold separately
- Self: 85% Rayon, 15% Metallic Fiber. Lace: 95% Nylon, 5% Spandex.
- Machine wash cold water with like colors. No chlorine bleach. Reshape when wet, lay flat to dry. Low iron if needed.
- Made in Canada.
Have a Question?
Email Guest Services.
- Body length 28" on size medium.


text:
Back in 1974, way before all those Priceline.com ads,
before the recurring role on 3rd Rock from the Sun, before Rescue 911,
T.J. Hooker, and all the Star Trek movies, it's fair to say that
William Shatner's acting career was boldly going nowhere.
The years after the original cancellation of
Star Trek saw the former Captain Kirk (by his own admission) taking every
single acting job that was offered to him. This certainly explains appearances in
movies like Horror at 37,000 Feet, Big Bad Mama, and The Devil's
Rain. (To be fair, other Trek alumni weren't doing much better.
See Night of the Lepus. Or better yet, don't.)
Given this career slump, it's not terribly surprising that Shatner
would end up in Florida doing a trashy flick for a former director of
drive-in exploitation fare.
The amount of low budget trash filmed in Florida in the
60's and 70's truly boggles the mind. Among the enormous pantheon
of Z-grade drive-in directors working out of Florida was William Grefé,
whose most notable films of the era were Death Curse of Tartu, Sting of Death, and The Wild Rebels.
By 1974, however, he was about to take one of his final stabs at the exploitation genre.
It's unclear exactly how Grefé came to cast William Shatner in a
movie, but one thing is certain:
Impulse, the end result of their collaboration, is a hilariously awful mix of
kitsch and sleaze that no self-respecting bad movie fan should go without seeing.
When the movie opens, it's 1945, so everything's in black and white.
(Because, as we all know, there was no such thing as color film back then.)
We know it's 1945 because a radio report subtly informs us
that "occupation troops have begun landing in Japan!"
We pan across a fireplace and see a samurai sword [?]
on the mantle, just as a man with heavily tattooed forearms lifts the weapon and unsheathes it.
As he sweeps the blade across the frame, the
Florida drive-in exploitation taint is officially confirmed as
we recognize this to be William Kerwin, the star of Herschell
Gordon Lewis gore-fests like Two Thousand Maniacs! and
Blood Feast. Kerwin here is playing a character I'll call Sarge,
because he's wearing a jacket with sargeant's stripes on the sleeve.
Behind Sarge, there's a middle-aged woman
in a black nightgown sleeping on the couch, but she awakes
when Sarge starts shouting like a samurai about to commit hari-kari.
Slurring her words like crazy, the woman tells
him to stop "playing soldier" and to come over and start playing
something else. Sarge puts down the sword, gulps down his drink,
and belches. (I wonder if he's supposed to be drunk.)
He climbs on top of
the woman as she laughingly jokes that
this is "the first time I've done this!" Sarge looks at her quizzically,
then rears up and lets out a big throaty laugh. I guess this is the sort
of joke that's really funny if you're drunk. Also, being an idiot
doesn't seem to hurt, either.
We immediately cut to a nearby bedroom and
see a freckle-faced boy who's a dead ringer for Opie Taylor. He's in bed sleeping,
but he begins to stir when he hears Sarge's boisterous laughter. Back out on the couch,
the couple start drunkenly making out in the loudest way possible.
Sarge decides to start a fire in the fireplace, but the woman calls him "nuts"
for doing this because it's summertime. "I'll show you!" he says.
No, that's okay, I don't need any proof
that you're nuts.
The fireplace roars to life and
Sarge proudly calls this "a fire to make love to." Then he
claps his hands together and says, "Why don't we get going?" Quite the
charmer, isn't he? Luckily for him, the woman he's with is a real trailer park
slut, because this comment only makes her all the more eager to get it on.
Just then, the
young boy wanders out into the living room, and his dubbed-in voice
shouts, "Leave my mother alone!" Mom pushes Sarge off and asks the kid
why he's not in bed, letting the audience know that this is
her son Matt (who will eventually grow up to be William Shatner). Sarge points to
Matt and slurs, "That yours?" Then he drags the kid over, climbs back on
top of Mom, and laughingly tells him, "Come on, I'll show ya how it's done!"
Eee-yuck. (At this point I was hoping Matt's
presumed-MIA father would return home from the war so they could
all re-enact that "1921" number from Tommy.)
Mom smacks Sarge, but he just laughs it off and shoves
Matt to the floor. Sarge then starts roughing up Mom, which stresses out Matt,
leading to our first glimpse of his signature move:
He starts sucking on his pinky finger [!!] like Dr. Evil, all the while getting a look of very
obvious distress on his face. Matt runs over to the fireplace
and grabs the conveniently established samurai sword so he can
stab Sarge in the hip. Or something. Anyway, it's enough to draw Sarge's
attention away from Mom.
"You didn't hear it /
You didn't see it / You won't say nothing to no one / Ever in your life..."
Sarge gets up and starts staring down the point of the blade at Matt.
He threatens Matt that he'll "whack ya good!" which is not something I would say
to someone pointing a sword at me. Sure enough, Matt runs Sarge through with the
blade, causing Sarge to gasp, "Ya crazy kid!" before collapsing to the ground and
instantly dying.
I hope that, with the way I've described things,
I haven't given the impression this event is exciting in some way.
Because it isn't. In fact, the whole sequence is shot with the camera positioned
behind the flames in the fireplace, which I guess is supposed to be artistic.
And by "artistic", I mean it artistically covers up how poor the stabbing effect is.
Mom calmly looks down at Sarge's
body, and then there's a close-up of Matt's face with a big dew drop of a
fake tear rolling down his cheek. His mother says, "Oh my God, Matt, what have you done?"
while sounding more like she's scolding him for
putting an empty milk carton back in the fridge. In response, Matt gets a faraway look and
just starts sucking on his pinky again. Mom must find pinky-sucking to be
utterly terrifying, because she lets out a blood-curdling scream
as we cut to the opening credits.
"I demand the sum...
of one meel-yun dollars!"
We see the title of the movie spelled out in big blocky
letters similar to those used to render the logo for
The Flintstones. Two pairs of little knives appear on either
side of the title, which I guess are supposed to act as quotation
marks [!]. The title then cracks on one side and starts to split apart.
I guess this is so nobody misses how much this movie is supposed to be
ripping off Psycho.
We cut to Matt as an adult,
sitting in a restaurant and smirking Shatner-like into the camera
as he smokes a tiny cigar in a Shatner-esque way. The movie is in
full color now, allowing us to fully
appreciate the parade of hideous 70's fashions that William Shatner
will be displaying throughout the movie. In this scene,
he's got on a blue corduroy jacket worn over a white shirt with huge high collars.
(It's almost like he saw his friend
DeForest Kelley in the aforementioned Night of the Lepus and said to
himself, "Hey! I can wear tackier clothes than that!")
The Big Giant Head himself.
Vaguely Persian music fills my ears as we pan over to the object of Matt's
lustful gaze, a belly dancer performing her act.
The opening credits continue, and it's not helping matters that the light
orange titles are superimposed over the belly dancer's skin, thus rendering
them nearly unreadable. (Unfortunately for those involved in this film, it
doesn't make them totally unreadable.)
In case there's any doubt that we're in for a
sleaze-fest, we now get gratuitous close-ups of the belly dancer's jewel-encrusted
navel as she gyrates her hips and shoves her bosom into the camera. She comes
up to Matt and shakes her groove thing right in his face. Then she gets down on her
knees, wraps her long scarf around his neck, and does a little
boobie shake for him. Matt just squints and keeps smoking.
Eventually, he uses the scarf to pull her closer
and whisper something in her ear. The two of them then engage in what
can only be described as one step up from a lap dance, while everyone
else in this otherwise wholesome-looking restaurant just looks on with big
approving grins.
Finally, the belly dancer moves away, spinning around a few
times under the disco lights and walking offstage.
Everyone bursts into applause, and hilariously, the applause we hear
is obviously from a group of people about ten times larger than what we see here.
We cut to the belly
dancer getting off work. She hops into her
convertible and there waiting in the passenger seat is Matt. Since she doesn't
immediately go for her can of mace, we can only assume she was expecting him.
This is confirmed when the two share a passionate kiss while she fondles his big collar.
Nearby, a middle-aged blonde woman is sitting in her car and
looking upon Matt and the belly dancer with equal parts disgust and
disapproval. As the two of them drive off, the older woman just sits there,
stewing in her own juices.
The next day, we see Matt and the middle-aged woman (whose
name is Helen) walk out of what I think is supposed to be her house, but
really looks like a castle [!].
Helen is still fuming, while Matt is trying to convince her he wasn't with anyone
last night. They both get in her car and Matt finally cops to
being out with a woman, but pretends she's just a friend. Helen scoffs at
this, memorably noting that "Nobody's just friends with a belly
dancer!" In response, Matt silently starts the car and drives off.
A sign she
might not be interested anymore: She raises the drawbridge on you.
We hear him desperately trying to
convince her that nothing happened as they pull up to
a small lake in the middle of nowhere. Helen says she's had enough of his jive,
because, apparently, she's been financially supporting him for months, going so far as
to buy all his clothes. (Well, now we know who else to blame.)
"Hell," she says, "I even buy your shaving cream!" Coming this Christmas,
it's William Shatner: Male Gigolo!
Matt reacts to this by switching into full-on James T. Kirk mode,
anxiously pressing his knuckle to his lips as she
yells at him. Finally, he grows tired of hearing her, resulting in this exchange
of dialogue that wouldn't be out of place in a Rat Pack movie:
Just then, Sammy and Dino wandered past, and Dino even flicked a lit
cigarette butt at the two of them. I swear this is what really happened.
Anyway, Helen hauls off and smacks
Matt, telling him to "Go back to your belly dancer!" and calling her a tramp
over and over again. This causes Matt to get a faraway look
in his eyes and flash back to the night he stabbed Sarge.
(Oddly, Matt remembers the stabbing as if he also saw it through the flames in the
Back in the present, Matt has finally gotten
tired of Helen yelling "Tramp!" fifty times in a row and grabs at her
throat. She retaliates by scratching his face, which was a bad idea, as
this clearly sets his phaser on kill. She tries to escape,
but he pulls her head down on his lap and begins strangling her. She
practices unsportsmanlike conduct by giving him "the claw", but Matt
rips a page out of the Mike Tyson fight book and starts chewing on her hand [!].
Finally, she goes limp.
Male gigolos know the
secret: Middle-aged widows are delicious!
Matt composes himself and
rests Helen against the passenger side door.
He lights up another little cigar, and with a shake of his head and a smile
he says,
"Oh, Helen... I tell you..." After a
second or two, he looks over at her
and starts to get concerned because she might be a little bit dead.
He calls out her name a few times before finally getting an inkling that
if you stop a woman from breathing, she'll probably die.
Horrified, he jumps out of the car
with a Shatner-rific look of agony on his face. He twists
around and slams his face and hands against the roof of the car, making a
noise somewhat similar to sobbing. Eventually, he turns around
and gets an evil idea. A thundering ominous chord and a zoom-in on the lake
illustrate this idea with the subtlety we've come to expect from this movie.
Matt looks
around to see if he's being watched, then pulls Helen's body over into
the driver's seat. He turns the ignition, slides the car into gear, and
lets it roll forward into the lake. Hmm, I wonder if this is what
happened to Nerine. (Yeah, yeah, it's a cheap shot. But don't act like
you weren't thinking the same thing.)
"Oh God.. that
'Go climb a rock' t-shirt... What was I thinking?!"
After water begins to fill the car, we cut to Matt
as he starts sucking on his pinky. And trust me, it looks
even goofier than when the kid did it. The director
then notices he hasn't put anything sleazy on the screen in a whole two minutes,
so we're treated to several lengthy close-ups of Helen's corpse floating
inside the car.
Matt heads back to his motel room (being
a con man and all, he pretty much lives there). He stares himself
down in the mirror until he has a dizzy
spell and stumbles backwards. He then starts belching and
heaving like he's about to puke, and I have a hard time not sympathizing
with him. He chokes it down, however, then grabs his suitcase and marches
out, apparently on his way to getting the heck out of Dodge.
The eternal question- is an incredibly bad movie worth a detailed,blow by blow 7 page examination? Of course it is!! Shat forever!!!!
The clip of Shatner's tirade against the balloon woman can be found on YT, under the title "William Shatner: He Says What We Think"...def a classic moment!
Murry Chang – "Captain America's patriotism, in the author's mind, was of the kind that stemmed from loyalty to certain values and id...
Murry Chang – I'm with you. I wasn't really interested in this until he brought up Equilibrium and Dark City, two of my favorite film...
maarvarq – The person I saw this with and I quite enjoyed it, but it could have been better. I agree that the military base massacr...
danbreunig – Daw, thanks so much, kind sir. It just goes to show that not all nerddoms need today's headlines or to be made within t...
Latest Comments
Popular Right Now
All articles posted to the agony booth are the sole property of the author(s). Please do not copy/reproduce entire articles without permission. Screencaps from movies and TV shows are used for non-profit, fair use purposes of parody and commentary.
Star Trek and all related images and trademarks are the property of CBS Studios, Inc.
Reviewer icon artwork provided by Tai Porto, Aaron "McKnackus" Rivera, and Magdalen O'Reilly.


text:
Images: MACS-4 DET B awarded for excellence [Image 2 of 3]
Photo by Cpl. Kenneth Trotter
Lance Cpl. Andrew T. Hanna, an air traffic control navigational aids technician with Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment Bravo inspects equipment on a XX. MACS-4 received the Marine Corps Aviation Association's Edward S. Fris Award for Marine Air Command and Control Squadron of the year on May 17, 2012 at the 2012 MCAA Symposium and Reunion in Oxon Hill, Md., to recognize their contributions and success as an air control squadron.
This work, MACS-4 DET B awarded for excellence [Image 1 of 3], by Sgt Kenneth Trotter, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:05.17.2012
Date Posted:05.17.2012 00:19
Photo ID:581794
Size:5.87 MB
Location:IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP
Gallery Images
Associated News
MACS-4 dually recognized with prestigious awards