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Monthly Archives: July 2014
Rental Corner: "Wolf Children" is more than what it seems
"Wolf Children" is very much a movie that proves what is missing in today's animated venues. Not just originality but subtly placed messages of deeper meaning. On the surface, it seems like a typical "coming of age" story but that's only scrapping the surface. I'd go as far to say its more compelling and dynamic than "My Neighbor Tortoro" or if not, at least on par with its mystical wonder and multiple morals that can give viewers their own interpretation of what this movie is about and what its trying to say. But yet, it all connects and gives something everyone wants in the end.
The story concerns a young college student named Hana who falls in love with a new student. But when he tells her the secret that he is a werewolf, she looks past the fur and fangs and sees him as who he is; someone to love. No sooner they have two children and upon unfortunate fate, her lover gets killed while giving into his animal instincts. Leaving behind their two kids who can shape shift into wolves at any given will, Hana finds that being a mother to her strange children is not easy at it appears. But with a bit of luck, she stays every step of the way to make sure they are given the care and love of a mother but then things get harder when they have to learn exactly who they truly are and how they fit in the world.
I should probably talk about the small elephant in the room at this point. Some might be turned off by the questionable nature of "Wolf Children" as the main character develops a son and daughter with a half-human/half-wolf. However, this is only for the first 15 minutes of the movie and if you can get past that, things really get rolling when Hana has to deal with how to raise her canine children. This element didn't bother me that much seeing this is a Japanese anime and I took it as more of a modern day fair tale as well as the popular mythos of werewolves and kitsune tales. But I probably should address some viewers might take this as a form of bestiality and I can see why. But they never show anything explicit or heavily imply seeing Hana's lover can form between human and wolf. Some sensitives might be bothered by this so this is just a fair warning.
But after that, the story becomes a cross between a coming of age fable and one about motherhood as well. Hana's kids Yuki and Ame have some interesting scenes that range from basic cuteness to elements never questioned in some animated films. Like the idea of finding where you truly belong or how to accept what you are and try to balance that. Or even the choice being what you want while struggling against what others think. Yeah, these are elements done before like in Disney's The Little Mermaid but I feel they are executed better here. It knows when to have its cute and moments of awe before delving into dramatic tension.
On such example is Ame wondering what he should be in life. At first he is unsure but he grows an appreciation of the forest more than living a normal life. This works best because we see development of that choice over time. At first, Ame is frightened of the wide world and its things but then begins to understand the value of nature so well that he wants to live in it. Even his sister Yuki starts to understand the hardships of trying to be normal as she tries to hide her secret from classmates and even the new kid who seems suspicious of her odd actions like avoiding him at every angle. Yuki wants to be a person but knows her animal instincts can be dangerous or even risk relationships with her friends. So is it best to chose the life of an animal or the life of a person? "Wolf Children" brings this in different perspectives with Ame trying to break from his life with people to be more of a wolf while Yuki wants to distance her animal life to be a normal person. Never have a seen a movie that presents this perspective in two different ways. And considering we spend so much time with their progression from child to adult, we feel like we want to see them make the right choice they feel best fits them in the end.
But what holds this movie together is their mother Hana. We see her difficulties trying to raise her unique kids while also trying to be a mother they can depend on. One notable scene is when Yuki gets ill and she has a hard time deciding if she should consult the hospital or the vets for help. Its a humorous but very smart scene. Hana doesn't treat her kids like the animals they can transform into but there are times when she questions the appropriate time to raise them like children and sometimes like a zoologist. Regardless, she sees them as her own despite the fur and fangs. I was even surprised to see how far she would go to protect her kids from the dangers of the world and even give them the life they deserve. Even in the final 30 minutes, she puts her own life on the line. I won't say how but its a gripping and intense climax that ends satisfying but yet sad at the same time.
The animation in the first half didn't feel that spectacular to me until the later scenes when Hana moves to the countryside. At that point, it starts to show what it can do removing itself from flat urban designs to beautiful forest backgrounds. The highlight of the movie is the three chasing each other in the snow as the kids delight in having fun for the first time in the winter season as their mother tries to catch up with them. Even through there is little to no shading on the characters or even things like snow, it still feels amazing. Even the score by Takagi Masakatsu powerfully complements the scene with a piece that is fast and powerful but yet has the whimsical charm of John Williams. In fact, the score of this movie is so well done that I'm nearly close to finding a copy of it to listen to. It is that good and rare has there been a musical score to give me joy and goosebumps at the same time while knowing when to play it dramatic and subtle.
And that's the key word here; subtle. On paper, "Wolf Children" sounds like it has elements that may either turn off viewers or even make them feel its a typical picture with the usual cliches of prejudice and knowing your place. But yet, it goes deeper than that. We get well developed characters, spell-bounding sequences that feel like art pieces coming to life and by the end you feel like Hana did her job well as a mother as both kids go off to become what they truly wish. At the end of the day, you will get something satisfying but yet moving at the same time. Its unlike any anime I've seen to date that successfully blends the elements of a fairy tale and realistic elements. Never have I seen a story about the importance of growing up and when its time to let your kids know what is right for them. If you look pass the elements of werewolves and some of its questionable content, there is a truly remarkable picture here that will leave you breathless.
Rental Corner: "Heaven" lacks heart
The following reflects only the narrative and structure of "Heaven Is For Real." Having not read the book, it was decided to base my thoughts on the movie only. I understand it's a non-fiction piece but sometimes a film can take certain liberties. Wither or not these things are true, the thoughts and opinion will be judged on the movie only and not the source. This is not a discussion about religion or a question of beliefs. This is a movie review.
The story goes is that four-year old Colton Burpo had a near death experience during surgery on his appendicitis and saw a vision of Heaven and Jesus talking to him. A questionable but yet extraordinary event that later lead to the publishing of Christian book documenting the experience he had. Many have questioned the nature of this experience while others have been inspired by these visions. And like all best-sellers, Sony Pictures bought up the rights and made a movie out of it like the standard way of book adaptions these days. Don't get me wrong. A near-death experience is serious to consider. But the problem with this adaption of "Heaven Is For Real" is the depiction of the attitude towards what some keep saying is a miracle.
If the movie keeps relating to this being a miracle, then how come we spend less time with the community and more with the family? I understand how much it can impact a Christian family but what about those outside? And here is one of the problems with this movie. Most of the time we see the Burpo family teeter back and forth about question the nature of their son's vision and I can see why its the focus of the film. But what lacks is the social pressure that acts against this. A moment like this feels like it should be questioned to others and we do see a newspaper article circulate through the town and a scene when Greg Kinnear as Todd Burpo, the father, lead a sermon on his son's meeting with Jesus with some skeptical attendants trying to make sense or question the honesty behind it. After that, there isn't much a big impact. Nothing feels remarkable or sensational as the depicted reaction feels close to a typical shrug as opposed to awe or growing curiosity.
Even more disappointing are the scenes depicting Colton's vision which I personally feel would have gained more effect if it was told and not shown. We see a set of CGI angels in bright lights and an actor playing Jesus with his face obscured. The awe is ruined by the visual depiction of Heaven that should have been more mysterious and left to the viewer's imagination. Telling it would have been more effective than showing a CGI heavy sequence that feels incomplete in appearance and execution.
Even more perplexing is the first 14 minutes that starts off like a real-life parable that feels out of place with the theoretical "Heaven" tries to set up as Colton's dad Todd is shown to be a man of many occupations ranging from pastor to volunteer fire-fighter and even a coach for high school wrestling. And then Todd gets hit with a series of events ranging from a shattered leg injury during a baseball game to the passing of multiple kidney stones. I guess this is supposed to feel like a parallel to the story of Job but it feels out of place here. I understand also its supposed to show the hardships the Burpo family went through but I feel this information is too much.
Is there any good to say here? Well, there are moments that do have an emotional impact like Colton going through surgery and you see all the people praying and hoping. They work well and feel decently executed but the rest of the movie has that feeling of those Disney sports dramas from the late 1990's where one's spirit would be broken and they would have to try and gain it back. Its that with a pinch of basic melodrama in the acting that makes the execution more dull. I normally don't criticize child actors but if I had a near death experience and saw these images, I would be moved and amazing by it. The way the kid actor Connor Corum delivers his lines feels flat and uninspired talking about this amazing experience like it was another walk in the park.
Another problem I had was the mode of parenting depicted in this movie. Again, regardless of it being true or not, the Burpos act like their son's event in the hospital was just another casual dream with the exception of the dad who grows curious to the point we are not sure if its out of questioning what he is preaching or what he believes in. There's even a subplot where its revealed they had a miscarriage off-screen and Colton talks about how he met the sister he never had that even the parents didn't tell him about. OK, I can see how the idea of explaining that to a child is difficult even at the age of 4 but early on, the boy gets sick fast and they don't bother to bring him to a hospital immediately and it takes them a few days to finally decide to bring him to one. Even when he has a temp of 104 and is out like a burned-up light bulb. I have no words.
I can see what "Heaven Is For Real" is trying to do but nothing comes together. All we get are some nice scenes here and there; some of which just feel added in for either manipulation or just to add something to the pot for interest. A better example of a movie like this done right is 1996's Phenomenon where John Travolta is an everyday man that gets turned into genius with telekinesis powers. Even more strange is how the reactions of the community on Travolta's new found power with awe and fear is depicted more realistic than those in "Heaven Is For Real." Funny how a film of fiction is more accurate when it comes to how a miracle can shake things up compared to this recent flick. Maybe if it was done as more of a documentary, there would be some interest going deep into the story behind the vision and perhaps the attitudes of the family. But as a film from Hollywood with starts and told with some creative liberties, I unfortunately found it to be less inspirational and more of a bore.
Rental Corner: "Machete" sequel is all bang and no effort
The first minute and a half of "Machete Kills" begins with a fake trailer for a Machete movie set in space. The entire trailer promises a lightsaber wielding Danny Trejo, an assortment of celebrities including a Justin Bieber robot and plenty of heavy CGI effects. I didn't feel pumped but kept asking myself through the rest of "Machete Kills" why we didn't get that sequel when we got this one. And don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the first film and its commentary on immigration while stuffed in great fight scenes. But this follow-up does have the ideas and makings for an explosive feature but it feels sadly hollow.
Danny Trejo returns as the ex-Federal agent Machete Cortez, as the President of the United States (performed by a strange Charlie Sheen cameo) wants him to stop a nuclear missile being aimed at the White House by a supposed psychopath with intentions of blowing up the world as well. My thoughts were OK with the story at first but then things got really out of hand about midway. Upon meeting Marcoz Mendez, he learns the trigger to the bomb is in a pacemaker he has that will go off if he dies. As a result, Machete kidnaps him in hopes to drag him over the border to the technological facility that made the device and defuse it. If that wasn't enough the stakes get raised when Marcoz reveals that he has a split personality but this doesn't work when most of Demian Bichir feels villainous and less sympathetic. With the crazy side of him appearing more, it gets really confusing to know when he switches between his Jekyll and Hyde persona even after his first Jekyll moment.
Again, I was fine with this story change but then it start to really get out of control when we are given an assassin that can change any form of his body called the Chameleon (played by a variety of pointless cameos ranging from Cuba Gooding Jr. to Lady Gaga). Another good idea for a Machete sequel but it feels out of place here. And of course, not to mention another story line involving a group of brothel women lead by Sofia Vergara who try to kill Machete after taking her daughter in the first act and even that subplot goes nowhere after the leader's daughter gets killed off without any motivation or acknowledgement.
The entire first half of the movie does have promise but I feel like there is too much going on and each subplot doesn't have enough shared focus to feel fully developed. Again, there are great ideas for a sequel here like a Terminator-style parody with the Chameleon character and a Mad Max-style parody with the vengeful brothel women but they are tragically laid to waste. Even more confusing is how the Chameleon keeps changing face by removing one layer of masks after another which only makes me wonder how many disguises does he or she have under that stuff. Even Sofia Vergara refers to herself as a "Man-eater" because of a bit of exposition where she gnawed off a man's family jewels but nothing about it pays off in the end.
And you know your sequel is desperate when it attempts a bait and switch for the last 40 minutes that makes "Machete Kills" feel more uneven. After Machete gets over the border, the movie goes into a bizarre science fiction parody as he meets up with a corporate business man named Luthor Voz, whose only notable element is that its the first villain Mel Gibson played. Luthor is a big Star Wars fan as his huge line of weaponry shows even down to crafting laser blasters, a mock version of Luke Skywalker's land speeder (on wheels) and cloning his henchmen a lot. And its here that I completely give up with this movie. Much like the other subplots, it has promise but feels greatly lacking as they cram in Luthor being a super villain to the point he can predict the next event but again, this too has no pay off when we never get an explanation of how he got this element or even see it come full circle.
"Machete Kills" has a lot of promise but really crams so much in that it loses focus on what is the true story. And when we do find out what its been building to all this time, its obvious to us that this sequel is nothing more but a waste of space leading to a better movie that will never happen. Plot lines come and go without well-developed set up or flare and the climax rushes so much to the point we feel like we don't care as one Star Wars reference gets tossed after another. It feels like director Robert Rodriguez really wants that Machete In Space sequel but please save that for the next movie instead of ruining it here.
Even the whole sequel feels effortless with action scenes clumsily shot with unneeded wide shots and scenes that feel the need to require establishing shots to show the direction of the action feel missing. A good example is a scene where Machete is about to fight off some baddies at a drive-in theater and yet we don't have any long or wide shots to show the entire map out of the place or even get the feeling of being there. There's a scene where a henchmen getting his entrails being latched onto a helicopter's blade and being tugged in that is filmed in so far away that we feel no impact of the action or even get a feel it really happening. The effects and blood are obviously CGI and cheapen the ordeal and stunts. Worse of all is the endless film grain and specks that made Machete feel like a throwback to the 1970's exploitation films is gone. We get a clear nice looking movie that doesn't feel nitty and gritty like its predecessor. An even bigger crime is in the opening scene between Machete and the President when he promises to clear his record and make him a US Citizen. This deal wouldn't make sense seeing at the end of the last movie, he got his green card thus defeating the purpose to all this. You know your sequel is not going to do well when it throws continuity out the window.
I admired "Grindhouse" and still do as well as enjoying what they did with the spin-off film, but what makes it different from those movies and this lame sequel is how "Machete Kills" is missing that timeless charm the other movies had. Sure the tone was 1970's exploitation but it had this luster and charm tossing in veteran actors without it. "Machete Kills" tosses in big names but ones that sort of date the movie while others like Mel Gibson and William Sadler feel side-lined.
Even with a budget that is literally twice the amount "Machete" was made for, it feels like "Machete Kills" was made for less with the movie being executed and feeling like a direct-to-DVD feature and less of a big screen venue. Robert Rodriguez can make really good movies and this one shows a lot of promise. But unfortunately nothing comes together and it all feels like stuff tossed in to keep viewer's interest and it doesn't stick. "Back to the Future Part II" at least had a better way of handling its ideas and story with visiting the future and past all in one stroke with the focus being on Biff and the Sports Almanac from 2015 making it easy to follow. "Machete Kills" tosses stuff in but there is no driving force to keep it together.
"Apes" conquer the summer…so far
When watching "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" with an actual audience, there was something I noticed. Right from the opening, there was nothing but total silence throughout the entire movie. And to me, that was a good thing. I feel the viewers easily understood the kind of film "Dawn" is. Intense and all-out spectacle. Sure they did laugh at moments that were meant to be funny and enjoyed the cute moments of Ceaser's baby curiously looking at the humans in camp. But everything else was so thrilling and suspenseful, that the only thing you could hear was one person eating popcorn or a pin drop. Perhaps that is a good thing seeing how explosive and remarkable this entry in the Apes series truly lived up to being.
The story continues where "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" left off as apes of all kinds were getting a testing drug embellished into them as the miracle fluid acts more of a virus to people as it does to animals. Years later, the Earth is overcome by the genetic virus so much that the remains of humanity are greatly questioned as Ceaser (Andy Serkis returning once again in his motion capture role) ponders this while trying to control his tribe in the woodlands of San Francisco. As luck may have it (or unluckily seeing how things progress), a colony of humans surviving from the virus remain in the city and are placed in a struggle to power on the city lights and electricity. The good news is that the city is connected to an electric dam and some tinkering is needed to get it up and running. The bad news is the location. The dam happens to be on Ceaser's property and after an early encounter that doesn't go too well, he declares all humans are banned from his territory.
A small band heads to the forest led by one person named Malcolm (Jason Clarke) who not only wishes to get power for the city but even hopes to establish peace between humans and apes. Something that even Ceaser secretly wants but unfortunately is unsure if humans truly want to co-exist or wage war considering the fear the simians establish. One of them named Koba (Toby Kebbell taking over the role) still has a hatred for humans noting the medical experimentation he was given in the previous film and only wishes to exterminate and conquer humanity than make peace.
A mirror image of that is Gary Oldman's Dreyfus who is the leader of the surviving people and his trust with the ape-kind is extremely low. On top of that, he is very much a figure that makes speeches for huge crowds to send hope when at the same time fears anarchy among the group. In the first scene where he is talking down a group of people, Dreyfus looks like he's ready to break down as he pulls out of hopeful message to the folks which feels off the top of his head and only says hopeful things to null the crowd. His character becomes more clearer later on for his fragile and nervous personality as his leadership skills feel that of the reverse Commission Gordon. Instead of provoking order and hope for the sake of pursuing to restore them, he hides behind a megaphone and says things to keeps the spirits up even when they are close to loosing electrical power for an eternity.
What works the best about "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" is how you really can't pick a side as humans and apes are given a purpose and reason to go against each other or try and make contact. The people fear the outside considering the amount of loved ones they lost as the apes do considering the chaos they created and how negative humanity sees them now. There is no "one-sided" conversation as both have their reasons for why they want to butt heads with each other or hope to make a form of treaty. Does it all work out in the end? That is something I unfortunately can't ruin seeing its the heart of the movie. And to expose all that goes in the rest of the movie or even in any portion of it would be like taking a child's Christmas gift two weeks before its due, rip it out of the box and plop it into his lap with a cynical drop. And that is something I wish not to do.
But what I can say is how slick and well-done the production vales are compared to "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." While "Rise" was all set-up, "Dawn" is more fueled by story and emotion. You really want to see where things end up and at the same time feel bad for both sides and their bitter prejudice which doesn't feel tossed in for manipulation. Again, there is support for this instead of "Avatar" that felt predicable and uneven. Even more so are the action sequences that are intense and beautifully filmed to the point where you feel like you are there. The one shot takes and stylish camera moves enhance the battles to feel like all-out war instead of a basic shootout. Even the way the movie is played out in tone and atmosphere that its arguably the most quiet summer blockbuster I've seen in a way. Yeah the apes talk in sign language and speak in broken English, but since has there been a movie that tells its story through more visuals and less dialogue. Since when as there been a blockbuster that conveys emotion with no words and just one scene that describes a character. "Dawn" succeeds in that angle as it almost feels like "The Crow" of batch relying a lot on visuals and atmosphere and less focus on characters standing around and speaking their feelings.
What's more is the evolution of WETA Digital as their special effects for this one have easily one-uped "Rise." The texture of the fur and skin is so realistic that it almost feels like your seeing actual apes interact with people or ridding around on a horse in a battle scene. Never have I seen a film where its creatures are rendered so well that it feels like they are truly there and not a cheap graphic image. Another positive is the way the movie ends that I sadly can't spoil. It concludes on a note that is neither high or disappointing and leaves enough room to set up another entry. Without giving too much away, there is no resolution and the message is well-delivered. There is no victor or good thing to war between two races as we know fighting is just one big circle we can't break from and "Dawn" does its job well addressing that without feeling like our heads were sledgehammered with the message.
And Michael Giacchino's score feels like they brought Jerry Goldsmith back from the dead to score this episodic and grand feature. Michael nails every beat to a tea to the point it feels like the original score from the 1968 film with little to no enhancements for a modern audience film. In fact, everything about this movie feels like the lost "Planet of the Apes" sequel we never got. The aspect of apes living in a colony of their own as humans fight to keep out of the dark almost feels reminiscent of "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" and if not, a superior remake in a way that washes away the flaws of "Battle."
While "Rise" felt like it was taking elements from "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes," "Rise" also had the distinctive problem of placing little Easter eggs that felt like nods to the series but more distracting (most notable in "Rise" is the Statue of Liberty puzzel Ceaser plays with at one point and Tom Felton fouling up two iconic lines that are used there). On the other hand, "Dawn" not only takes these "Easter eggs" but also respect them. They are performed to the point it feels subtle and not forced and even unnoticed at times (like how the final shot reminded me of the ending to the unrated cut of Conquest or the underground tunnel looking vaguely like the one from Beneath the Planet of the Apes, or that Ceaser's son is named Blue Eyes, the orangutan from the first movie is named Maurice, the fact that the first law they have is close to the one in Battle and the list goes on). Instead of feeling like moments that take fans of the original series out of the movie, they feel essential to the film and cleverly written.
Being an die-hard Apes fan, I can safely say this entry really brings it back to its roots. To compare, it reminds me a of scene from the fist movie when Charlton Heston's character digs through some discovered artifacts from long ago to prove the connection between humans and apes. After rummaging through false teeth and eye glasses, he concludes he was a weak being. That scene alone sums up this movie. Its not trying to prove who is the better species but how frighteningly similar they can be. The franchise for years has been asking viewers to hold up a mirror to them and see how flawed we truly are. And this latest entry does that very well.
Why The Hate: The verdict of "Heaven's Gate"
The version being reviewed is the recent 216 minute "Restored" cut which can been seen on its Criterion DVD and will be the only version examined here.
Before I get into my thoughts about Micheal Cimino's lost magnum opus, let me explain some history I learned after seeing a
documentary on the making of the movie and Steven Bach's account on not just the making but even what was going on during the production. Once upon a time, United Artists was a studio were filmmakers could have next to free reign in making movies. But in the late 1970s, their popularity dwindled as studios turned to having more even films with explosions and less art house pictures. This left UA with being only noted for the Rocky movies and the James Bond films but they wanted better notification. They wanted to be up there with 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios; and it didn't help either that some of their head people left to form Orion Pictures.
The solution? Find a suitable picture and a director to go with it to show the studio still had legs. While managing every project on the block from Woody Allen's Manhattan to Moonraker, executives were curious in a new form of talent by the name of Micheal Cimino whose movie The Deer Hunter was getting much acclaim and Oscar talk. UA got curious, brought him on and learned his ambition to make a movie based on the Johnson Country War. The funding started at $ 11 million but then ended at $ 35 million (before advertising costs and additional budget funds for a prologue and an epilogue). How was this possible?
As it turns out, Cimino had a different way of directing as he normally took things with a patient but snails pace. This didn't sit well with the executives at UA as Cimino started to spend more money and go over-schedule while perfecting and fine tuning his "Oscar worthy" Western. At one point, the executives even considered firing him and replacing him with a different director but felt it would be unethical and go against Michael's rights of making a movie. Unfortunately, news leaked to the public, the press had a field day constantly reporting about the "crazy things" going on, but Micheal was positive his movie would change all that.
On November 19, 1980, the first cut of the movie premiered in New York to a near four hour length. And considering the bad publicity it was getting, and the attitude Cimino had towards it believing it would change much like with The Deer Hunter and seeing UA was starting to have a bad year, things didn't work out so well. The film was left with dead silence upon its audience, critics who saw that movie on its premier were polarized and even left one to quote it as an "unqualified disaster." What solution came available? After its New York premier, Cimino requested to pull the film before it even hit anymore theaters and chopped it further to a 149-minute cut and even that didn't fair much better. As a result, critics savaged it even more and United Artists was
sold to MGM. A once prosperous studio is second banana to another.
Over the years, Heaven's Gate has been back and forth some viewers with those feeling it was misjudged to those feeling it deserved its status as a flop at the box-office. But more recently, Heaven's Gate has been deemed a "lost masterpiece" and been giving a Criterion DVD release. So now, it comes to this. How does Heaven's Gate fair up to my expectations after three attempts to sit down and watch the movie in one full sitting? Well, I understand what Michael Cimino wanted to do as well as the film's target audience. But I'm unfortunate to say this is not my kind of movie.
Heaven's Gate influence comes from the Johnson Country War as foreign immigrants took cattle from rich farmlands causing wealthy ranchers to try and settle things by gunning them down. They form an origination with plans to kill over 120 settlers for
stealing their cattle and causes an uproar with the newcomers who wage a battle with the high-powered people. Odd enough, this paper thing idea takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes until the action goes into high gear. Within that time frame, we see Jim Averill (Kris Kristofferson) trying to romance Ella Watson (portrayed oddly by Isabelle Huppert) who is the owner of a bordello and accepts stolen cattle as a payment for the service.
Now in any historical drama, there is some form of center. The romance of Averill and Watson is the element that tries to hold the film together but something about it seems off. Upon first watch, I didn't see the bordello connection nor get the impression of Watson being a prostitute. In the first scene they share, Watson tries to hint the idea of getting intimate but Averill complains of hunger. What does Watson do but offer a piece of pie she made and after a few bites, she strips her dress off and heads to the bedroom while Averill tries to finish his slice with eagerness. Again, these are our two leads and the chemistry feels not very interesting. I respect the performance of Kristofferson and Huppert (seeing she had to learn a bit of English at the time for this role), but nothing click "on-screen couple" to me.
I think the problem comes from the Averill character who just feels forgettable. He doesn't do much aside from visit bars and act distant and sad. I guess you can make the argument that he misses the good old days of being a young college student at Harvard
University. But the transition from his youthful appearance to his tough beard and stern attitude feels like a jarring transition as the character doesn't share similar traits with his prologue counterpart. Even the opening prologue in Harvard, which are present in the first 18 minutes of the movie, appear shot in a different tone and style that it clashes with the melancholy tone as peasants work the field in miserable conditions, mishandled by on-walkers in the city and even some get shot down. The violent tone might upset many viewers as much as the rape scene with Eill Watson that serves purpose for Averill to show his care in the foreign love interest. Even that moment fails because we are distracted by the shock and tasteless nature to even care about her savior to come in and shot up the accused offenders.
Even a second love affair is added in the form of Nate Champion who is played by a surprisingly straight forward performance by Christopher Walken. I'm not kidding. Christopher Walken is in a Western as a man who is part of the alliance to take down some
"rustlers" and yet has a heart for the bordello owner. So much so, he asks her for her hand in marriage but because that element is played off-screen and because of there isn't much of an implication of the relationship between Champion and Averill as friends, this plot element feels tagged on for conflict that doesn't amount to much. They share some scree time but like the relationship between Averill and Watson, it doesn't feel well established. They don't acknowledge how close they are or even set up the connection between the two. It got lost in translation to the point I felt they were bitter rivals more so than two pals competing for the affection of a woman.
I feel this would have made more sense if Billy Irving (John Hurt) was in this affair and not Champion. And its not just because of my fan appreciation for John Hurt, but the whole love triangle aspect would make more sense. We see Averill and Irving together having a good time in the Harvard prologue, we have a moment where they talk to each other during a game of pool and discuss how much time has gone by and even come off as long-time friends. Instead, they don't go in this direction and have Hurt's Irving leave the movie for a good 70 minutes until the climax showing he is with the association of wealthy organization set out to hunt the cattle thieves and yet, his character is very much laid to waste. Shame seeing a good actor who gives it his all in what could have been a bigger part get sidelined for duller and uninteresting characters. Supposedly, John Hurt was left with nothing to do and went off to work on David Lynch's The Elephant Man; but when he came back, he was just in time to film his scenes. Good move, Hurt. Good move.
I can't say everything in this movie is completely bad. I do admit that Cimino has a good attention to set design and cinematography as we see gorgeous landscapes and amazing wide shots of Casper, Wyoming in the 1890s. Just looking at these sets alone feels like one is moving through a series of paintings in an art museum showing the past in its atmospheric beauty and grace. In fact, the sets and camera work try to make it look like a dramatic sweeping epic like Gone with the Wind or Doctor Zhivago. But there is a problem. There are times when a scene is delivering important dialogue and the camera work will be lost in the wide shot its placed at that we find ourselves lost in the scenery more than the story on the screen. One example is when Averill is being told he is fired from the Mayor as we see huge interiors of the room and barley get a close-up of the Mayor. We see an over the shoulder angle from the Mayor's perspective but during the scene, we only see the Mayor's reactions reflected on the mirror in the background. Wouldn't it make more of an impact to have a close up instead of holding on one shot to see the reaction of both characters?
Another example of a mishandled moment is the shoot out at Champion's cabin in revenge for not participating with them. We cut between shots of the organization firing away at the small log cabin and cut back to the inside of the cabin as we see Nate's friends get gunned down one by one. We cut back and forth between the guns outside firing to Nate trying to evade the bullets that we don't know where the placement for this or even where they are firing from. Or even how close they are to the house. They even have a shot of a group of people moving a burning wagon towards Nate's cabin and it cuts back to inside the cabin without an establishing shot or wide shot showing where the action is being directed to. Stuff like that is important to establish even if it is small but it means a lot to show what position your gunmen are and what side of the house being blasted at.
Even the last 30 minutes showed signs of wear as the first battle scene felt like a confusing array of dust and smoke as the peasants circle around the caravan of baddies and try to shoot them down. There is so much confusion in the direction and so much smoke and chaos builds that I had a hard time trying to figure out who was winning and who was losing. Word to filmmakers, adding cloud
and smoke doesn't add intensity. It only makes it harder to see the action on the screen. Even the climax feels anti-climatic as Averill and a group of peasants take on the remaining cold-blooded ranch owners with a shied made out of logs as they toss sticks of dynamite but get gunned down one by one. The slow moving pace doesn't help either as the group trudges closer and closer as each one of the gunners on both sides gets shot down one by one like fish in a barrel.
More strange is how the action is played out where even if you are in front of the line of fire, you still won't get hit. In one scene, Averill and his friends are ambushed by a group of people and as the hail of bullets his his pals, Averill comes out scratch free even if he is in front of the carnage. Even during the destruction of Nate's cabin, I wondered why the raining bullets from outside managed to eliminate his accomplices and yet leaves him standing with close to nothing but a scratch on him. Call it a nitpick but it just kept pulling me out of the moment.
Even odder is the way certain scenes play out like they are meant to have some historical context but its execution feels dated and silly. Case and point is the roller skating rink scene as tons of people gleefully roll about on wooden floors as they experience "the next big thing" as the moment itself feels oddly executed and akin to something from a 1970s movie where people are at a disco/skating rink. It just felt that way to me for some reason experiencing my days of going to an arcade and roller skating rink with groups of people flying around the wooden floors.
I could excuse Heaven's Gate for any of this, if it wasn't for one thing. The main story (or what ever there is of it) doesn't work. And believe it not, its with the romance plot that tries to be the center of attention. We don't see Averill and Watson until 67 minutes in when they start to develop their relationship but it doesn't even feel like one due to Kris' cold performance and Huppert trying to act with her French accent getting in the way. I would be fine with Huppert but her chemistry with Kristofferson feels cold and heartless. They act like a couple at times but nothing feels really there. My guess is that Kris is trying to channel actors of the great Western genre like John Wayne or Clint Eastwood but I can't see Kris Kristofferson doing this kind of role. He channels it but it feels like an intimation as opposed to naturally acting his own way in a Western. And I'm not saying he's a bad actor. I've seen him in Big-Top Pee Wee, Blade and even an appearence on Saturday Night Live when the show was still fresh. So I don't blame this on acting but more on limitation of what Kristofferson can really do.
Even the final message feels off and uneven. One minute, its about remembering the days of youth but then it becomes Citizen Kane and asks what is the true meaning of happiness and then its a love story but then its trying to tell a struggle story and it all doesn't come together. I can see why critics and news press had a field day as the premier in New York didn't do well because of how polarizing and unsure it was. But does it deserve this continuing negative reputation even if its starting to wear off? No.
Films are made to entertain or simply enlighten but we all have a certain taste that will subject to what we think is funny or not. We know the difference between a mindless blockbuster and an art house feature. And obviously, Heaven's Gate is trying to be more of an art house feature than a mindless blockbuster. My theory is that with all the bad press going about viewers were disappointed to see all that negative hype was nothing but over a movie that critics on its premier couldn't make heads or tails of. As a result, some went by those harsh reviews while others tried to view it on its own terms but couldn't resist referencing those who bashed it.
Unfortunately, this is a practice that is still going on today and it all started with one movie that tried to captivate audiences but instead got them annoyed at the price tag. While I don't think it deserves being labeled the worst movie ever, I still didn't enjoy it. When the only good thing about your movie is the production designs, some of the performances and the mis en scene of the picture, the only thing missing is a good story, good characters and at least a better handle at the pace. At 3 hours and 36 minutes long, it trudges at a snails pace to the point you really feel its meandering too much or hope that it all pays off in the end. Sadly, it didn't for me but yet others harbor it as a masterpiece and a lost spectacle. Personally, I wouldn't go that far. I'm glad I finally saw it to voice an opinion but I don't have the sudden urge to buy its Criterion release or watch it again to marvel at is beauty. Its just a movie with beautiful images that doesn't have much else riding on it.
Rental Corner: Young Indy's First Uneven Adventure
In 1992, George Lucas produced a TV series that filled in the "missing gaps" of Indiana Jones' life after much questioning from his crew about what did that famed adventurer do in his youth. The result was The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles whose soul purpose was to not just present what Indiana Jones did growing up but also educate at the same time. In all honesty, I feel this is a good concept seeing the role Harrison Ford made so famous have his origins revealed while learning about the decade or time period. It was a big gamble for ABC and while it was a not a huge hit, the "Chronicles" of Indy's life never made a big impact.
As a result, 44 one-hour episodes were re-edited into 22 films that were syndicated about on television and made available to DVD a while back on three massive volumes. Right away, I know I shouldn't be reviewing one of these seeing its only two episodes stitched together to make a 90 minute feature length flick but curiosity got the best of me and I had to say something about this. Its more than just reviewing a "telefilm" (where TV episodes are edited "seamlessly" together) but just to describe how this method doesn't work in my opinion.
Re-titled "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones," the "Chronicles" are now a long story that follows Indy's childhood all the way to how far it can into his teenage years. The reason for this reediting was to show the chronology in Indiana's progression and show the history of the character. That I can understand but the idea of re-editing the episodes into one movie still doesn't work. "My First Adventure" is a good example as it takes the first portion of the pilot "Curse of the Jackle" and pairs it with an unused episode titled "Tangiers, 1908" (as the show was canceled material for other episodes were left unaired or even unused.)
In the first half of "First Adventure," we briefly see Indy in his New Jersey home having fun with his unnamed friends and learning things from his own surroundings. And considering the amount of technology experiments he performs from homemade hot-air balloons to railroad track ships, it makes me wonder why we didn't get this as an entire episode. Then the Jones family moves about the world as his dad decides to do some expeditions and give some lectures on the way (to be fair, Lloyd Owen's portrayal matches that close or if not on track with Sean Connery.)
First stop is in Egypt where young Indy gets the chance to see a real mummy in its tomb and at first, it starts to have the feel of an adventure like the first films where a bit of treasure is missing, suspicion of a curse comes underway and even the way Indy thinks is akin to his older counterpart but sadly that is underused. Unfortunately, the story itself feels unfinished as the resolution of the missing Jackal headpiece that starts this whole tirade never gets found. I heard originally the "Curse of the Jackle" pilot aired as a two-hour event and perhaps, its better to view it in that context seeing how confused I felt thinking this plot element would carry over into the next story.
Tangiers, Morocco takes up the second half as this surprisingly was an unaired episode used here for chronological purposes but after the confusion of leaving one story unresolved, it doesn't feel like much is accomplished by the end credits seeing one mystery is left opened. The other part deals with Indy befriending a slave named Omar who learns in return the hardships of such a low life. In the tradition of rich kid meets the voice of poverty, this is not that bad of an idea and at least it goes somewhere. Indy and Omar later run about the Tangiers marketplace where they are kidnapped and tossed right into the slave trade as tensions rise during an auction where young Indy realizes that being a servant is not a cup of tea.
I can't fault this one too much for its unresolved first half but I was so invested in the mystery and mythos that I really wanted it to have a proper conclusion. The Tangiers story is not bad as I have a soft spot for these kind of tales where the rich gets to see a new view of the world and learn its not all a perfect world and at least it has a conclusion. I liked the chemistry between Indy and Omar as it felt close to that of Johnny Quest and Hadji but more in the view of leaning each other's goals and seeing life views from their own perspective.
But at the end of the day, I want to watch the actually TV series not for reasons of preservation but to see how it all differs from the edited down films and the missing resolution of "Curse of the Jackal." Even cut from these movies is George Hall introducing the series as a 93 year old Indiana Jones with an eye patch who gives set up to each episode and story. Unfortunately from what I researched, some of the unaired episodes didn't have the old Indy introductions which might explain why they bunched them into their own separate flicks.
But looking at the series on its own terms, I think kids and teenagers will enjoy the adventure aspect and gain something in return while older audiences will respect the pulp fiction/action feel in the dialogue and characters. I didn't even get to mention how for a series shot on 16mm film this looks beautiful even with the on-location stuff giving that extra push for a matinee serial feel. Unfortunately, Indy's first adventure didn't feel like a grand start and while I do respect how much it doesn't dumb itself down for its audience, I still feel like more could have been done. Or at least let us see what these episodes looked like in its original context before the re-editing. I can't say I didn't enjoy this one seeing how engaged I was but I do hope later episodes (or films in this case) don't feel this off balanced.


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- 0303.March.SundayNo events
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Busy Bee Play Group - 10:00-12:003844 E Pima St, Tucson, AZ, United StatesBack by popular demand: Busy Bee Play Group! This parent-led playgroup is perfect for parents, babes, toddlers, and younger kiddos who want to play, talk, and be part of a supportive community! Play Group meets every Wednesday at 10:00 am. On occasion, group will meet at a different time or location. Feel free to call the office on Wednesday mornings to check!

subset: commoncrawl


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- Description
Artisan Manhattan MH3218-D88 Stainless Steel Double Bowl Kitchen Sink
This Artisan MH3218-D88 stainless steel kitchen sink is as well made as it is elegant. This 18 gauge undermount sink is made for 30" and larger cabinets and will finish off any kitchen with style. This Manhattan Series sink has Proprietary V-Therm Shield sound proofing and comes with a manufacturers Limited Lifetime warranty.
Manufacturer: Artisan
Model: MH3218-D88
Name: Manhattan Series
Overall Dimensions: 30" x 17 3/4" x 8"
Bowl Dimensions: 13 1/2" x 15 3/4" x 8" (Left) and 13 1/2" x 15 3/4" x 8" (Right)
Mounting Type: Undermount
Drain Size: 3 5/8", Standard USA, CA and Europe Size
Minimum Base Cabinet Size: 30" and Larger
Material: Premium 18/10 304 Stainless Steel
Thickness: 18 Gauge
Finish: Satin Nickel
Sound Proofing: Proprietary V-Therm Shield
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Includes: Paper template for cut-out, Mounting clips
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Manufacturer Artisan Model MH3218-D88 Model Name Manhattan Material Premium 18/10 304 Stainless Steel Steel Thickness 18 Gauge Construction Type NA Finish Satin Nickel Overall Dimensions 30" x 17 3/4" x 8" Bowl Dimensions 13 1/2" x 15 3/4" x 8" (Left) and 13 1/2" x 15 3/4" x 8" (Right) Fits Cabinet Size 30" and Larger Mounting Options Undermount Sound Proofing Proprietary V-Therm Shield Warranty Limited Lifetime Includes Paper template for cut-out, Mounting clips Free Shipping Yes
- Reviews


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Raymond Adams
Assistant Professor of Social Work
- 870-235-4208 (Office)
AddressMSC 9293
Building/Office: Peace (PCE) 128 Slot Number: 51
M.S.W., (Masters of Social Work): Baylor University School of Social Work
Certificate in Multiculturalism in Social Work Practice: Baylor University School of Social Work
B.A., (Bachelors of Psychology): The University of Louisiana at Monroe
Raymond Adams joined SAU's Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences as an assistant professor in the fall 2014 semester. Raymond has over 8 years of social work practice experience with several different populations including at risk and abused children, adults with severe and persistent mental illness, persons with addictions, and children with severe emotional disturbances. Prior to SAU, he served as project manager for University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine CATCH planning grant (funded by the American Academy of Pediatrics), where he conducted in person interviews with different denominational congregation members about food insecurity and health care practices. Currently, his primary research focuses on investigating cancer prevention strategies among church-affiliated African American men at risk for prostate and colorectal cancer. His research agenda emanates from community practice experience in Northeast Louisiana and the Midwest. Raymond continues to remain active in local church life, consulting with church congregations who are engaged in responding to the practical needs of persons both domestically and internationally.Curriculum Vitae


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Job Description
Research Engineer / Software Developer (C++ Python R&D Algorithm SLAM). Would you like to work on complex geo-location software for a successful start-up where you can learn and develop your skills within a supportive, technology driven environment with flexible working conditions?
Scale-up technology business is seeking a highly technical Research Engineer with a strong academic / research background. You will design and develop an innovative Cloud (AWS) based solution that allows the tracking of equipment and personnel for large scale organisations (e.g. the NHS). The product delivers efficiencies in time management and can make a critical difference.
As a Research Engineer your role will focus on algorithm development. You'll be responsible for making sense of all the data pulled from the main product / mobile devices using techniques such as SLAM algorithms.
You'll be based in Central Oxford, close to main line station within an R&D environment with casual dress code and a good work / life balance.
*Excellent record of academic achievement, minimum 2.1 at BSc likely to have gone on to study at MSc / PhD level
*Good C++ and Python development skills (role will be a 50/50 split)
*Familiar with SLAM algorithmic development
*Collaborative team member with good communication skills
As a Research Engineer / Software Developer you will earn a competitive salary (to £70k) plus benefits.
Apply now call for an informal discussion about this Research Engineer / Software Developer opportunity.


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Health Plans for Women - Private and Public
Health Plans for Women - Private and Public
Health Plans for Women - We all have seen the increase of Health Plans for Women that effect all our medical needs. We have investigated the latest services that are offered. This page and the links here will aid you in your search for answers about Health Plans for Women.
Health Plans for Women - Private and Public
- There are a variety of private and public health insurance programs. Most women obtain health insurance through their employer or as a dependent in a family plan. There also are public health insurance plans funded by the federal and state governments. Uninsured women are more likely to suffer serious health problems, partly because they tend to wait too long to get preventive care. The lack of health insurance can even be deadly.
Types of Insurance Plans:
Private Health Insurance for Women
- The provider gets paid for each covered service. Most have a deductible amount that you must pay each year before the insurance company will begin to pay for medical services
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
- They provide health services for a fixed monthly payment. The HMO Act of 1973 created this alternative to traditional health plans as a more affordable option.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
- This is another option that offers more choices than an HMO, but can be more costly for anyout-of-network services.
Public Health Insurance for Women
The government also provides health care insurance for qualifying women through Medicaid, Medicare, and special interest programs. These plans help those who meet certain financial, age, or situational requirements. The following is a description of the different types of government health insurance programs:
- This is the national health insurance program for people age 65 or older, some people under age 65 with certain disabilities, and people with permanent kidney failure. Medicare has two parts:
Part A covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, home health, and hospice services. Everyone over age 65 is entitled to Part A.
Part B covers outpatient hospital, physicians, lab, and other services.
Part B is a supplemental policy that must be purchased.
The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 provided for improved benefits and prescription drug coverage through low-cost plans. For more information, call 1-800-MEDICARE or go to http://www.medicare.gov.
Medicaid. This is a state-run health program that receives federal funding and must meet federal guidelines regarding specific benefits. Medicaid provides health care to qualifying low income individuals and families with limited resources. You must be a U.S. national, citizen or permanent resident alien in order to apply for benefits. Each state outlines its own eligibility rules and administers its own program services. Qualification in one state does not guarantee qualification in another state. For more information, call 1-877-0267-2323 or go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid.
Many states have become more flexible in their ability to serve families in need, especially if you fall into any of these categories:
— Both you and your child will be covered if you qualify.
— May cover sick children or teenagers on their own.
Aged, Blind, and/or Disabled
— Nursing home and hospice care available.
Leaving welfare
— You may be eligible for temporary assistance.
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
This is a joint state and federal program that provides insurance for children of qualifying families. Families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance, may be able to qualify for SCHIP assistance. Eligibility and health care coverage will vary according to each state. For more information, contact http://www.insurekidsnow.gov or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW
Other government-sponsored programs for uninsured women include:
- Provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health care for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. Contact:http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic.
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
- Provides free or low-cost mammograms and pap tests for women over age 39 who cannot afford breast exams or Pap smears. Contact: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/contacts.htm or 1-888-842-6355.
Maternal and Child Health Services
- State programs provide health care services for low-income women who are pregnant and their children under age 22. The federal government funds these programs and establishes general guidelines regarding services. Each state determines eligibility and identifies the specific services to be provided. For services available in your area, contact: Thereports/link/state_links.asp.
Indian Social Services Welfare Assistance
- Provides financial assistance for American Indians in need, living near or on reservations. Contact: http://www.doi.gov.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
- Federal grants are provided to states and territories that partner with local organizations to provide a variety of health services for homeless people who have serious mental illness. Contact: http://www.samhsa.gov.
Health Plans for Women


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The Distinctions Found in Amish Quilts (part 2)
The fabrics used in traditional Amish quilts were always plain in color with no patterns in them. Because the earlier quilts were made from scraps that came from other sewing projects, the fabrics were generally made of natural fibers, such as cotton or wool. As time progressed and fabrics became more affordable and readily available to the Amish quilter, fabrics were then purchased for the sole purpose of being used for quilting. Of course, as Amish quilts became more popular and demand for them became high, many of the traditional color and fabric rules relaxed a bit, in order to appeal to a wider variety of buyers. More colors were incorporated into the quilts and patterned fabrics were used as more and more options became available.
The different styles and patterns of the traditional Amish quilt are probably what make them so distinctive from other styles of quilts. Because a limited number of colors were used in the earlier Amish quilts, more interesting and intricate designs were used to create a unique and striking looking quilt. Large, geometrical designs were created, rather than patchwork patterns, that used rectangular strips, squares, and triangle shaped pieces of fabric. Black was only used in the border areas of these quilts, making the geometrical designs inside the border stand out more prominently. A single central design was generally used in the pattern rather than multiple blocks of repeated patterns which also made the Amish quilt unique. Some of the Amish quilt designs that were originally created by Amish quilters and remain popular today include the Diamond in the Square, Long Bar, Lone Star, Sunshine and Shadow, and Nine Patch patterns.
Another thing that makes the Amish quilt so distinctive from other quilting styles is the attention to detail and workmanship that goes into the quilting stitches. Once the Amish quilt pattern is stitched together, this top sheet is then quilted together with the center batting layer, and the bottom layer of the quilt. A stencil is used to create a stitch design that will be used over the entire quilt. These stitching designs can come in the form of floral designs, feathers, fern leaves, baskets, or geometric shapes. While many of the fabric pieces are stitched together using a treadle sewing machine, the quilting pattern is always done by hand. Amish quilts are known for their fine details and nowhere is this better seen than in the stitching skills of the Amish quilter. Small, fine, evenly spaced stitches are the hallmark of any Amish quilt. The most experienced Amish quilter can stitch eight to ten stitches per inch in her quilting. Nowhere in the world is this kind of quality seen in quilt making and this is perhaps what makes the Amish quilt so distinctive and unique the world over.
The Distinctions Found in Amish Quilts (part 1)
Copyright © 2007-2012 AmishQuilter.com


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Moving Key frames
In Daz Studio 4, is there some way to move key frames - drag (as in other 3D progams) or cut and paste?
Richard Haseltine Posts: 56,515
No, I'm afraid not. All you can do is use File>Save as>pose preset to save a limited range of frames, then apply that in the new start frame.
I'm very sorry to hear that Daz is so limited, but I really appreciate you prompt reply.
Sonofbelmont Posts: 67No, I'm afraid not. All you can do is use File>Save as>pose preset to save a limited range of frames, then apply that in the new start frame.
Alternatively you can place your keyframe into puppeteer, delete the original and then reposition it at whatever spot you want in the timeline.Post edited by Sonofbelmont on
I didn't know about Puppeteer. Thanks!
I tried Puppeteer and it's even worse for what I was trying to do. At least with a keyframe if I change a pose between two other key frames and then if I change my mind, I can delete the new middle key frame and the character pose will go back to having the original in-betweens frames. But if I make the new middle key frame with puppeteer and then delete it, the middle pose remains and the beginning and ending key frames no longer create inbetween frames. Or did I do something wrong?
3DAGE Posts: 3,301
Hi Santamonica
Using Puppeteer will create a key frame on every part of the figure,. unlike manually posing to create a key frame, which will only create keys for the parts of the figure which are moved.
this means that you need to delete all the keys for the figure at that frame, to restore the tweeners back to the default DS tweener.
Hope it helps :)
Daz Carrara has a Full set of animation features and controls, full key-frame editing, multiple tweener types, and a graph editor,.
You may want to have a look at the 30 day trial version, available on www.downloads.com
omedhue_196e22b81c Posts: 0
What I did was create a shortcut key for the Memorize all selected part, or whatever that title is, and another shortcut key for Restore all selected parts. Then, all you have to do is select the keyframed part and hit your shortcut key for Memorize, move to the frame you want and the hit your Restore shortcut key. Plus, if you have multiple keyframes, mcasual's retime script can be very handy.


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Tag: VIKRAM VUPPALA
Nephroplus – Transforming the Dialysis system in India
With NephroPlus, Dialysis phase is no more a troublesome affair!! In India today over 1, 30,000 patients are suffering from renal failure and receiving Dialysis. Of which 1/3rd of the Dialysis patients suffering from the …
Continue reading "Nephroplus – Transforming the Dialysis system in India"Read More 1 year ago Ramya Sayaboni


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WINNER – "Best Documentary" at LA Shorts Fest
Directed & DP'd by Svetlana Cvetko
Produced and Edited by David Scott Smith
Executive Produced by Elizabeth Banks & Benjamin Alfonsi
In 1916, the highest paid silent film director at Universal Studios was a woman named Lois Weber. Yet today, she is virtually unknown. "Yours Sincerely, Lois Weber" is a short documentary, executive produced by Elizabeth Banks, that examines the achievements of this incredible woman, as told through the eyes of a young magazine photographer hoping to impress her.


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NATO accreditation n° FO199
Since 1921, Satam has been supplying metering solutions to the oil and gas industry. Expert in hydrocarbons' metrology, Satam has the global knowledge, which addresses the particular requirements of the army. Satam's reactivity, its adaptability and its dedication to service are implemented to facilitate aircraft refuelling and armies' logistics. From fuel measurement and distribution, to tyre assembly and dismantling equipment for terrestrial vehicles and aircraft, Satam's key services are dedicated to the optimization maintenance of military equipment.
Sectors of application:
Assembly and dismantling of tyres for aircraft : Rafale, Mirage, A 400M, C160 Transal...
Assembly and dismantling of tyres for terrestrial vehicles : light and heavy armoured vehicles
Assembly and dismantling of tyres for public transport vehicles
Main technical data:
Capacity: 10 to 20 tons
Tyres diameter: 22'' à 56"
Transportable press: 10 to 20 tons - 22" max
Electric press for workshop: 20 tons - up to 56"
Electric press with horizontal axle: 20 tons - up to 56"
Vertical axle press: 20 tons - 22"


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Browse used Dammann fertilizer application for sale worldwide. The newest ads are on top. You can sort Dammann fertilizer application by year of production, price, working hours or country. You can also see all used Dammann fertilizer application grouped by model.You can also learn more about Dammann fertilizer application in Mascus Brands section.
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Here is the complete list of the second-hand fertilizer application for sale. You can add classifieds to favorites or compare interesting products by clicking on the checkboxes next to used fertilizer application that seem interesting and choosing one of the options above. If you want to change your query, please go back to the top of the page and use the "advanced search" option.
Remember to visit Mascus regularly, because new classifieds with used Ford farm equipment and other used farm equipment are added daily. The most popular subcategories are: tractors, combine harvesters, trailers, ATVs and hay and forage machines.


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Membership is open to any individual or organization without regard to age, gender, color, race, and national or ethnic origin. Become involved and share your vision and your commitment to dance!
Membership options:
WDC is proud to be a state affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). If you would like to become a dual member of NDEO and WDC, please see this page for more information!
WDC membership includes:
Educators: Elementary, middle and high school teachers, physical education teachers, dance specialists, dance therapists, and college and university professors
Artists: Dancers and choreographers who serve the profession and the community
Advocates: Administrators, volunteers, and supporters who share their vision, commitment, and concern regarding dance and the other arts
Therapists: Dance therapists and movement therapists
Types of WDC Memberships
Membership types include regular, student, retiree, professional organization, and student organization. If you join NDEO, you will automatically become a dual member with WDC.
If you would like to join the Wisconsin Dance Council without joining NDEO, please print and mail in our registration form, or fill out our online form, or contact us as indicated below
For further information
Wisconsin Dance Council
Post Office Box 1082
Sheboygan, WI 53082-1082
E-mail: email@example.com


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The landscape of local sports is dotted with super teams who have swept the entire tournament.
The fabled UAAP men's basketball team of University of Santo Tomas did it in 1993, leading to the implementation of the Final Four format. Another men's basketball team in University of the East repeated the trick in 2007, but fell short in the Final Four against a hungry La Salle squad.
The last team to come up with such a sterling achievement was Ateneo de Manila, which took the UAAP women's volleyball tournament by storm in 2015. It was such a special feat as main gunner, Alyssa Valdez, cemented her throne as the country's most popular volleyball player of this generation while other members of the celebrated squad were also elevated to the upper crust of volleyball royalty.
But if there's a team that also deserves much credit, it has to be Petron.
Arguably the greatest club team ever assembled, the Blaze Spikers blazed their way to a historic 13-0 finish en route to winning the 2015 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference crown.
While some say the victory was a no-brainer due to the sheer strength, sheer dominance of what rival coaches and team managers branded as the "dream team," still, the feat wasn't easy as the star power, the drama, the expectations and the massive pressure on their shoulders made it extremely difficult to accomplish.
A team insider claimed that winning the PSL All-Filipino crown via a 13-0 sweep is probably the hardest task he achieved all throughout his volleyball career. He said it's like rolling a great boulder to the top of the hill and they have no sliver of idea when it is going to roll down – or if it would roll down to smack their faces.
Still, the Blaze Spikers achieved it.
They are the first PSL team to come up with an immaculate card all the way to winning the crown.
They have bravely written their names on the pages of league history with their sweat and tears serving as ink.
They are special.
They are trailblazers.
Assembling the backbone
Putting together this constellation of stars is not a miracle.
It took a lot of hard work, sleepless nights and, of course, a little luck to net the country's best talents and put them under one roof.
The buildup started in summer of 2014 when Petron tapped Dindin Manabat as top overall pick in the PSL Annual Rookie Draft.
A gem of a spiker from National University, the 6-foot-2 Manabat was billed as the cornerstone in which the Blaze Spikers will build their team around. She has a rare combination of height, length and athleticism never before seen in the local volleyball circuit.
George Pascua, one of the brightest young coaches in the country, was tapped as head coach while the core of Gretchen Ho, Fille Cayetano, Maica Morada, Jozza Cabalsa and Sandra Delos Reyes was retained to join new recruits Acy Masangkay of UE, Mayette Zapanta of Adamson, Ana del Mundo of University of the Philippines and Jen Reyes and Carmina Aganon of NU.
But the team still fell below expectation as it finished 5th in the 2014 PSL All-Filipino, which was ruled by Generika-Army.
The following conference, Petron made another recruiting coup as the management tapped Frances Molina of San Beda, who would blossom into one of the league's best open spikers.
For good measure, Petron also secured the services of former Oregon star Alaina Bergsma and former Brazilian playmaker Erica Adachi.
Petron marched into the season overflowing with confidence.
It posted an 8-2 win-loss mark in the eliminations before knocking down Cignal in the semifinals and crushing Generika, which was bannered by the stars of La Salle, in the finals.
A team insider said that the victory paved the way for the team to remain hungry for another crown.
[quote]After that victory, we were still hungry.
We know that our heart and soul in Alaina will not be with us for the All-Filipino so we have to come up with a good recruitment program to remain on top of the game. We were searching for the firepower we would miss due to Alaina's departure.[/quote]
The answer came few weeks later.
Aby Marano, an elite defender who makes a living out of her powerful running attacks, great energy on both ends and impeccable leadership on and off the court, suddenly became available after deciding to bolt out of the La Salle squad.
Petron's frontcourt looked legit.
Marano and Manabat seemed like the middles of the future for Petron.
But the team still needs one more spiker who can provide the scoring spunk from the wings.
Rachel Anne Daquis was the target.
Known for her charming smile and powerful spikes, Daquis was part of Generika-Army, which decided to sit out the 2014 Grand Prix to focus on the V.League. Since the Lady Troopers were not returning to the PSL any time soon, Petron management thought that Daquis would be a prized catch.
It was her former college coach in Pascua and fellow FEU alum Shaq Delos Santos who made the initial pitch before team manager Errol Collantes was formally given the go-signal to negotiate.
[quote]I visited her in their training at the Army gym to lay down our offer.
At first she declined. But after explaining everything thoroughly, she finally accepted the offer.
But there's a catch: We have to keep it a secret. Rachel is a prized talent and once they know that she's available, I know everybody will scramble to recruit her. So I kept it under wraps until the team manager's meeting where we have to formally present our respective lineups.[/quote]
At the team manager meeting, Collantes was asked: Who are your new players?
He said they have recruited Rachel Anne.
Somebody from the back fired: Rachel Anne who?
Collantes said with a truckload of sarcasm: Rachel Anne Go!
Everybody burst into laughter. Rachel Anne Go is a popular Filipina singer who has no hairline of athleticism in her body, so it's really impossible for Petron to tap her.
Then, Collantes turned serious.
[quote]Yes, we already acquired Rachel Anne Daquis.[/quote]
Everybody was quiet.
They knew Petron means business.
The "dream team" was finally complete.
On a rampage
Petron sliced through the All-Filipino Conference like a hot knife to a butter.
The Blaze Spikers kicked off the conference with a straight-set win over Philips Gold, which just drafted Filipino-American playmaker Iris Tolenada as top overall pick.
Then, they went on to win five more victories, sparking talks that the league might witness the first team to sweep the conference. Reporters were starting to rib Pascua, saying that a clean 6-0 card effectively puts them at the doorsteps of history.
Pascua refused to agree.
[quote]It's still a long way to go.
Other teams were also strong. It just so happened that we peaked a little early.[/quote]
But that wasn't the case as Petron crushed their next four foes in straight sets via wide margin to finish the eliminations with a 10-0 card, which is already considered as a major achievement.
The pressure of completely sweeping the tournament was slowly building up.
[quote]But I told the team to keep their emotions in check.
We don't want to get too high in victories and too low in defeat. We just have to play hard and treat each game as if it is our last.[/quote]
In the semifinals, the Blaze Spikers dominated the Lady Smashers to book a best-of-three finals series with Shopinas, which was parading the core of La Salle squad headed by Cha Cruz, Paneng Mercado, Kim Dy and veteran Michelle Laborte.
It was such an emotional series for Marano as she would be facing her former coach in Ramil de Jesus and friends from La Salle, who were still hunting their first PSL title.
A Petron source said the 11-0 streak would be worthless if they fail to bring home the ultimate prize: The 2015 PSL All-Filipino title.
[quote]We actually didn't notice that we were already getting closer to history. But at that point, we don't care about the streak anymore. We just wanted to win the (PSL) title.[/quote]
True enough, there's no stopping Petron.
The Blaze Spikers obviously looked like the better team in Game 1 as they pulled off a 25-18, 25-14, 25-19 victory. Few days later, Petron notched an equally impressive 25-17, 25-22, 28-30, 25-17 win in Game 2 to formally complete what was billed as a storied, sweetest conquest ever in PSL history.
Marano and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Daquis were crying as they were receiving their gold medal.
It was tears of joy, tears of redemption.
They finally achieved their target.
They finally completed a feat that looked impossible at the start.
They were now champions.
Little did they know that the ecstasy of victory would die down shortly.
Vietnam war
But all good things must eventually come to an end.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, a prominent team insider said they couldn't exactly remember when and where it happened; but an incident in Vietnam serves as a good jump off point.
Shortly after winning the All-Filipino title via the historic 13-0 sweep, the Blaze Spikers were invited by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) to represent the Philippines in the import-flavored AVC Asian Women's Club Championship in Phu Ly, Vietnam.
Save for Alexa Micek and Ivy Perez, who decided to join Foton for the upcoming Grand Prix, the entire team was up and ready. Manabat was in good shape while Marano, Daquis, Morada, Cayetano, Reyes and Aganon all vowed to treat the tournament as their litmus test for the Grand Prix.
Petron tapped Adachi for a second tour of duty.
She recommended her childhood pal, a 6-foot-2 open spiker by the name of Rupia Inck to be the second import.
Inck, who played with Adachi in the Brazilian national juniors squad, may look like in great playing condition, but on the court, she's not. Her leap lacked explosion and her spikes were not packed with power.
Upon arriving in Phu Ly, Vietnam, she admitted that she's in the middle of a no-meat diet that's why she's pretty slow in transition and a little bit sluggish on the defensive end. She was avoiding meat to the extent of removing even the smallest piece of pork or chicken on her plate.
Her admission didn't sit well with the locals.
Not only they were used to having the do-it-all Bergsma as opener, but they were expecting too much from Inck, thinking that her experience in the highly-competitive Brazilian league could help them defend their Grand Prix crown.
Privately, even the coaches were worried.
A member of the coaching staff said that they were planning to devise a specialized training and high-protein nutrition program right after the Vietnam tourney just to whip Inck into fighting condition for the Grand Prix, which was starting in a month's time.
The source said Collantes and fellow team executive, Khino Calderon, arrived in Vietnam a little bit late and they were surprised with the news that greeted them.
[quote]They were complaining about Rupia's sluggish condition.
Well, we can't blame them: Petron's previous import was very good and Rupia had a big shoes to fill. But management told the team to give her a chance. She may not be as good as Alaina, but the management can sense that she's also trying hard and giving her best. All we have to do is to be patient.
And besides, changing import at that point is a little bit impossible – and very expensive. So the management told the team to deal with it and adjust to Rupia's game while she's still trying to find her rhythm. Volleyball is a team game. Everybody has to do their part to become successful.[/quote]
If the team management was kinder to Inck, some locals were frowning.
Another source within the team said some locals were kidding her, saying: Bye, Rupia. See you soon during a light workout. It may be an innocent joke coming from playful young ladies, but they did not realize that the chemistry of the champion team was slowly slowly eroding.
Some players were siding with Inck at one corner while those who wanted her out were at the other corner. The team was divided. And no matter how much they deny it, some team members were no longer seeing eye-to-eye.
Pascua admitted that building chemistry was his greatest struggle right from the start.
[quote]Having a star-studded team also has its own drawback.
The challenge for the coaches was how to make them work, how to develop their chemistry. Most of them were star players from their respective collegiate teams so we have to find a way how to balance everything. It was really a challenge.[/quote]
The Blaze Spikers finished eighth in the Vietnam tourney.
The following day, some players asked permission if they could fly back to Manila to attend to some important matters, leaving bulk of the team behind.
The unity of the greatest PSL team ever assembled was reduced into a mere fiber of imagination.
Petron's future as a team was in limbo.
The breakup
Despite the flickering team unity and cooperation, the Blaze Spikers still managed to advance to the finals of the 2015 Grand Prix.
Inck struggled in the first few games, but finally caught fire down the stretch to tow Petron to the finals against a rampaging Foton squad.
The Tornadoes, bannered by veteran opposite Lindsay Stalzer and open hitter Katie Messing with Manabat's sister Jaja Santiago at the middle, was too much to handle. They won Game 1 before claiming the crown in Game 3.
Petron was dethroned in the Grand Prix.
But losing the crown was only half of the story.
The source said there was a major announcement right after the game.
[quote]After that, Dindin announced that she was pregnant.
It was a bitter-sweet feeling for the team. Bitter because we know that we will miss her for at least a year and sweet because a baby is such a beautiful blessing. But life must go on. We have to remain strong.[/quote]
Manabat wasn't the only expectant mother in the team.
Cayetano also sat out after finding out that she's pregnant with her second baby. Then, Army decided to make a return to the PSL and Daquis, who was officially "borrowed" by Petron, had to move back to her mother ballclub.
Few weeks later, Marano decided to bolt out to serve as the anchor of fledgling F2 Logistics in the PSL Invitational Cup. The following conference, de Jesus and La Salle stars like Mika Reyes, Ara Galang, Dawn Macandili and Kim Fajardo landed to power the Cargo Movers to the 2016 PSL All-Filipino crown.
With everybody departing, Petron found itself with only one star on its fold: Manabat.
[quote]But she decided to leave as well.
After giving birth last month, she told us that she would join Jaja at Foton. I think it marks a new era for us. The glory days are over. We now have to work again to regain it.[/quote]
The source said the management is working hard to give the current core of Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Bernadeth Pons, Remy Palma, CJ Rosario, Bang Pineda, Reyes, Molina, Masangkay and Morada the reinforcement they need. No name had been mentioned, but the source hinted that the management is eyeing one of the biggest players in the market.
Aside from that, they are also looking to sign former Oregon star Serena Warner and explosive wing spiker Stephanie Niemer of Cincinnati. They have yet to formally sign a contract, but things are already looking good and hopes are high that the upcoming Grand Prix would turn out to be best.
Yes, the glory days of Petron are finally over. A new era is set to arrive.
They may lose the stars, lose some games and eventually lose the entire system they had during their memorable championship runs.
But one thing is sure; the record they made would forever be tattooed in the history of the PSL, into the minds and hearts of thousands of volleyball fans.
They were the first team to sweep an entire season.
They are the barometer of excellence, of success, of greatness.
And they blazed the trail for other teams to follow.


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Erectile Dysfunction: Options for Men after Spinal Cord Injury
Erectile Dysfunction: Options for Men after Spinal Cord Injury
Having sex after spinal cord injury is a lot like having sex for the first time all over again. People who approach sex with an open mind and a willingness to experiment to find out what works and doesn't work after their injury tend to have the most success and reported satisfaction.
There are several treatment options to help increase the number of erections and how long they last. These options include medications, penile implants, and sexual aids. This document provides general information about these options and their use after spinal cord injury (SCI).
Oral Medications
Oral medications or pills for erectile dysfunction for men after spinal cord injury have been found to be helpful in sustaining erections. Examples of medications commonly prescribed to help erections are:
- Viagra® (sildenafil citrate) is taken 20-60 minutes before having sex.
- Levitra® (vardenafil) is taken 60 minutes before sexual activity.
- Cialis® (tadalafil) is taken 30 minutes before sexual activity or once daily.
These medications work in the body by decreasing your blood pressure. As a result, they can have serious side effects if not used correctly. They also may interact with other medications often prescribed after SCI. Always let your doctor know what medications you are taking including any herbal supplements. While these medications may work for some, they are not safe for everyone to take. Talk with your doctor about options that will work for you.
Injectable Medications
Sometimes medications are injected right into the penis. They work by helping blood vessels open. This causes the penis to fill with blood and results in an erection. The most common medication is Caverject® (alprotadil) and is only available by prescription from a doctor. A urologist is the type of doctor that has specialized knowledge about erectile dysfunction. If you do not have a urologist that you work with, ask you primary care physician or insurance company for a referral.
Penile Implants
Penile implants are rods that are placed in the penis. The rods are placed in the penis through surgery. The rods are permanent unless you decide to have them removed – also done through surgery. The rods are successful at creating an erection when needed. However, there is always a risk for complications. Risks may include infection, pressure sores, or scar tissue forming in the penis. A urologist is the type of doctor that has specialized knowledge about placing penile implants. If you do not have a urologist that you work with, ask you primary care physician or insurance company for a referral.
Sexual Aids
Vacuum Pumps and Tension Rings
A vacuum pump is a cylinder device with an air pump. It is placed over the penis and when the device is pumped, blood is drawn into the penis resulting in an erection. To maintain the erection, a ring is place at the base of the penis to slow to flow of blood out of the penis. This is a good option for men who cannot achieve an erection on their own. Risks include bruising and damage to the penis especially if the ring is left on for more than 30 minutes. Penile skin and tissue can be severely damaged, too.
For more information about sexual aides and devices, request a copy of the Patient Education Document: Pleasure Able.
It's not all fun and games... preventing complications.
Priapism is the medical term that describes an erection that lasts too long. This can be dangerous because an erection is created by fluctuations in your blood pressure. If an erection is lasting for more than four hours, go to the emergency room immediately – but remember, don't drive yourself because fluctuations in blood pressure can cause you to faint or not see clearly – not something you want to happen when you are behind the wheel of a car. If no one is available to take you to the emergency room – call 911.
Autonomic Dysreflexia
Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a rise in blood pressure resulting from a stimulus below your level of injury. You are at risk if you have an injury at T6 and above.
AD is possible during sexual activity. Here are some ways AD can be triggered:
- Rough stimulation of the genital area such as stroking, squeezing, or sucking.
- Using a vibrator for stimulation. Use plenty of lubrication and be gentle.
- Ejaculation, infection, or inflammation of the testicles.
If you experience AD during sex, immediately stop the activity, call your doctor or 911 if the symptoms do not resolve. You may want to discuss AD with your health care provider prior to having sex to develop a plan in case it occurs.
Care of Bladder and Bowel Issues
- Don't drink too many fluids to avoid incontinence during sexual activity.
- Be sure your bladder is emptied before any sexual activity.
- Stick to a regular bowel program and be sure bowels are taken care of prior to sexual activity.
Skin Care
Damage to skin from shearing, pressure, or rubbing can happen during sexual activity. Avoid additional pressure or weight from your partner by proper positioning and padding. Monitor your skin for redness and injury and remove pressure if anything develops. Use plenty of lubrication and be sure to wash and dry the genital area with soap and water before and after sexual activity.
Fears over the changes in sexual function after SCI and concerns about satisfying your partner may decrease as you become more comfortable with your body and more aware of your own sexuality. You may find that there are other parts of sexuality that may satisfy you and your partner more. The physical act of sex may not be as important as other aspects of sexuality. Being aware of your partner's likes and dislikes and being able to express yourself are very important to having good communication – an important key to you and your partner having a satisfying sexual experience.
Revised: 1/2015


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Rev. Mark Ward
Marriage means commitment. What could be simpler, right? Well . . . David Ehlert, a UUCA friend who at the 2015 auction made the winning bid to name a sermon topic for me, asked me to address "marriage: the ultimate commitment." I'm not sure that marriage is the "ultimate" commitment, but especially after all the controversy in recent years over who sanctions marriage and how, it's worth us exploring what kind of commitment we today take it to be. "Click on the sermon title to listen and/or read more.
Sermon: A Way of Commitment (audio & text)
Rev. Mark Ward


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by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2017 02:49:00 PM
Monday, October 16, 2017
Housing Starts and the Unemployment Rate
By request, here is an update to a graph I haven't posted in several years ...
The graph below shows single family housing starts (red) and the unemployment rate (blue, inverted) through September 2017. Note: Of course there are many other factors impacting the unemployment rate, but housing is a key sector.
Usually when single family housing starts are increasing, then the unemployment rate is falling (with a lag).
You can see both the correlation and the lag. Housing starts fall (or increase) first, followed by the unemployment rate. The lag is usually about 12 to 18 months, with peak correlation at a lag of 16 months for single unit starts. The 2001 recession was a business investment led recession, and the pattern didn't hold.
Click on graph for larger image.
Here is what I wrote when I first posted this graph in 2009. I wrote:
[T]here is still far too much existing home inventory, a sharp bounce back in housing starts is unlikely, so I think ... a rapid decline in unemployment is also unlikely.That is exactly what happened.
Usually near the end of a recession, residential investment1 (RI) picks up as the Fed lowers interest rates. This leads to job creation and also household formation - and that leads to even more demand for housing units - and more jobs, and more households - a virtuous cycle that usually helps the economy recover.
However, following the 2007 recession, with the huge overhang of existing housing units, this key sector didn't participate for a few years.
Currently I expect single family housing starts to continue to increase (still historically low), and for the unemployment rate to fall further.
1 RI is mostly new home sales and home improvement.


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All About BTC, LTC, ETH, ZEC mining as well as other alternative crypto currencies
CoinCheckup is an interesting website that can help you get more insight into a crypto currency than just the basic info or ratings based on current market capitalization. Currently the website lists 430 crypto coins giving you an easy to follow coin market capitalization list, but you also get more insight thanks to fundamental analysis and investment analysis options that you also have available. The website even does some price predictions based on the markets growth patterns that may be useful when researching a crypto coin that you are not familiar with. All of the information is available to you in a clean and easy to use interface, so you might want to check out the CoinCheckup website.
– For more information about the CoinCheckup crypto coin analysis and investment website…
What do you think this site?
frank manley
I love the Coincheckup website. It has a very extensive information bank that exceeds any other site I have visited. However, I have a question. I use their search option quite extensively to find new coins and have noticed that option is blocked and not available on my desktop computer after a certain amount of time of usage. But, when I use my laptop to logon, that option becomes available. It there some kind of limit on coin searches that I'm not aware of?


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Fenland Flyers will be holding an Open Competition on 14th June 2015 at the Thomas Clarkson Academy, Corporation Road, Wisbech, PE13 2SE. Entry fee will be £7.50 and the closing date for entries 23rd May. Entry forms will come out nearer the time but any clubs thinking they will, or will not, enter, early advice to Adele would be appreciated – email email@example.com.
Competition groups will be:
… with trophies for 1st 3 places and medals for winning teams.
Novice routine will be:
The final squad date for the year has now been set so the remaining squad dates are:
A revised download of known events for 2015 is available here:


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GENEVA – Synthpop, Minneapolis Sound, R&B, new wave and pop are but a few of the genres that the late music icon, Prince, successfully interpreted. His death, less than two months before his 58th birthday, has left his fans sad and heart-broken.
Prince, who sold over 100 million records worldwide and was considered one of the best-selling artists of all time, was found dead at his house in Minnesota, USA.
During his greatest stardom years, Prince toured Switzerland often, mostly Zurich and the German-speaking area, venturing only once to French-speaking Switzerland. That ocurred in 1990 in Lausanne.
His concert in Geneva never materialized however, and it wasn't until 2007 when Prince broke "the Rosti barrier" and did so producing seven concerts between 2007 and 2013 at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Prince performed in Montreux once in 2007, twice in 2009, and an outstanding four times in 2013. including an aftershow jamming session.
In 2009, Prince adapted his All The Critics Love You In New York as All The Critics Love You In Montreux in an epic 10-min funk version (see video here).
In 2011, Purple Music, a Switzerland-based record label, released a CD single produced by Prince.
Switzerland never got to see him again with his Piano and a Microphone tour. In late 2015, Prince cancelled his European tour following the terrorist attacks in Paris.
This is what it sounds like When Doves Cry.
Find All About Geneva on Facebook and Twitter. To receive email updates subscribe here.


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The Tiny Gardener
12×16 Alcohol Ink and Acrylic on 1 inch Hardboard. (Does not need frame)
The tiny gardener flutters from flower to flower in her magical garden. She gently cares for every one, nurturing them with tender love and sweet songs. Do you need a safe place to rest awhile? Come sit among the flowers. She will take care of you too, and listen to everything you have to say.