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Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olson, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Based on: Gojira by Toho Studios
Genre: Action / Science Fiction / Monster
Released: 15 May 2014 (UK) 16 May 2014 (USA) by Warner Bros. Pictures
Running time: 123 mins (2 hr, 3 mins)
Rated: 12 (UK) PG-13 (USA)
Rating: ★★★★★
Rating: ★★★★★
The King of the Monsters is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, will threaten humanity's very existence.
Up from the depths, thirty storeys high, breathing fire, his head in the sky GODZILLA! GODZILLA! And some new moooonsteeeeers… For quite a few years I've expressed an interest in the Godzilla franchise but I haven't seen any of the original Japanese films, or any of their American dubs, possibly due to them being before my time and not aired on TV when I was a kid (Japan does share a region code with the UK, but they're still a bitch to find with English subtitles on them). Before going to see this film the only Godzilla film I'd seen is Tri-Star's 1998 film Godzilla, which we just don't talk about (the creature in that film is now considered a completely different monster). Once this film was first teased, I was totally on board and I've stalked this film for about a year now. And while I still have yet to see the original Godzilla film, I did a lot of reading and watching of fans' top ten lists so I feel like I know the lore enough to know whether things have been done right or not. We all know how hyped up this film is, and while I'm usually sceptical of hyped up things, I put a lot of faith into Gareth Edwards because he seemed to know what he was doing, and man, he really did know what he was doing.
I've seen that people weren't too pleased with Godzilla's plot, but I honestly didn't mind it. In fact, I liked it. The film's opening scenes takes place in 1999, with Dr. Ichiro Serizawa (played by Ken Watanabe) being called to a mining site in the Philippines where something peculiar has been found; then we move on to a few days later and see Joe Brody (played by Bryan Cranston) go through what I can only describe without spoilers as being the most heartbreaking day of work in the history of fictional characters going to work. Then we skip 15 years forward and the main body of the film commences. On the whole, I did enjoy the film's plot line but I had a few issues that stopped Godzilla from getting top marks from me. First of all, the time jumps at the beginning felt a little too abrupt and I initially had a little trouble keeping up. Thankfully, that problem was solved. My second issue is that I don't think Godzilla got enough screen time. I realise that this film focuses more on the human side of things but a character whose name is the title of the film should really have a lot of screen time, which he didn't. And my last issue is the end of the film. It just stops. I had expected that once all the fighting had finished that we'd see humanity go back to normal and rebuild itself, but nope. It just ends and the credits roll. But despite those issues, I really enjoyed the plot line. It managed to keep me on edge pretty much most of the time and even though this is a film about giant monsters, I liked seeing the human characters. And yes, there's a couple of cliched shots in there, such as the child and the dog being the first ones to notice that there's a giant monster coming and the person the camera's focused on won't stop looking behind them while they're running away, but I really didn't mind that at all. Sometimes I love a good old cliche.
Unfortunately, the characters is another area that lead to Godzilla losing out on top marks. The two best characters in the film (that aren't monsters) are Joe Brody and Dr. Serizawa. Bryan Cranston gives yet another amazing performance as Brody, and I don't think he's in the film enough at all. Why? You'll have to see for yourself because I'm not telling. Pretty much everybody thought that he was the main character and he's not. But in his short screen time, he gives a phenomenally emotional performance that doesn't feel forced or cliched at all. You always get you "mad scientist" type character in monster movies, but Cranston has done it very differently because Joe Brody is sane because he's right about everything. As for Dr. Serizawa, I really liked Ken Watanabe's performance as him and out of the main characters, I remembered him the most. I thought the rest of the cast were good, but obviously their characters could have been better. The rest of the Brody family felt a bit generic with the army dad, nurse mum, and the little boy (children in monster movies all tend to be the same anyway). I think that if their characters had been fleshed out a lot more in the writing stage, I would have remembered them a lot more. Oh, and there's Godzilla himself. He's awesome as always. You won't lose him in the middle of a city (take that, Roland Emmerich).
I definitely think that this film is a good way for people who are new to the Godzilla franchise to get into the Japanese series because it does give Godzilla and the MUTOs origins, which isn't entirely complicated at all. Although I do love how Ken Watanabe's pronunciation of Gojira becomes GAHDZILLA when said by the American characters. Just beautiful. I also liked how much sense the monsters' origins made (for a film that's totally fictional, it made sense). If I'm going to compare it to Tri-Star's Godzilla, which is just all wrong even for a monster movie, the origins are more true to the original movie Gojira, but unlike Tri-Star's movie, we're given a more realistic time line. Here, Godzilla and the MUTOs are prehistoric beasts that have irradiated over a huge amount of time, compared to Zilla who was a marine iguana in French Polynesia where marine iguanas aren't even indigenous and had a bomb dropped on him by the French in 1968 (I didn't even know the French did nuclear tests). I think I know which one would be more believable. Okay, no more talking about Zilla. Anyway, the origin of Godzilla here is more true to the Toho series because Godzilla is a dinosaur, and it would have taken an incredibly long time for him to evolve to the size that he is. And the A-bomb attacks on Japan will have helped with that too (in the real world, Godzilla wouldn't have been created if Japan hadn't been bombed). Although the origin story isn't completely condensed, it's very easy to understand for people new to Godzilla, like myself (although I had read up on it before).
The special effects and cinematography of Godzilla are just amazing. I mean, holy crap, just look at Godzilla! Look at him! He's freaking huge! Well, Godzilla's freaking huge anyway, but here's even freaking huge-er (bigger than in any other movie, at 106.68 metres, and I don't know how many feet that is but I'm going to assume that it's a lot). The design is definitely true to Toho's Godzilla, which is that he is a freaking huge-ass dinosaur, but not exactly the kind that you would see in Jurassic Park. And while we're on the subject of monster designs, the MUTOs look damn spooky. There are two MUTOs, one is a male and one is a female. The male MUTO is the smaller one and can fly, whereas the female is about as big as Godzilla is and resembles a spider of some sorts. They look pretty scary and in the film's darker scenes they really amp up the fear factor by just appearing as red slits for eyes. Spooky. As for the 3D, I didn't go see Godzilla in 3D but now I really wish I did. I definitely want to get the full experience to see what it's like.
I have a theory about films released by Warner Bros: if you don't hear As Time Goes By when the logo appears, shit's about to go down. As soon as the opening credits roll we're treated to the film's amazing score which is one of the reasons as to why I was on edge throughout a lot of the film. Sound is definitely a prominent element of Godzilla because this film is loud. If you thought Man of Steel was a loud film, you haven't seen Godzilla yet. I was sitting at the very back of the screen in front of the VIP box, and I could hear the glass vibrating. This is the kind of loud that you can feel. I could feel the sound in my chest and my ears, and every time one of the monsters roared, my heart thudded for about two minutes afterwards. Not because I was scared (I was on edge, but not scared) but because those roars sound incredible. Especially Godzilla's, which has gone from this to this terrifying roar (turn your volume down!), which pays homage to the original classic roar. The MUTOs roars on the other hand, are incredibly interesting. To me, the growls sound like creaking wood, and I can't really explain the actual roar so have a listen for yourself. Many of the classic Toho kaiju villains have incredible loud roars like Godzilla, but the MUTOs have much creepier roars which made them pretty scary.
Holy crap. I don't think I can get enough of this film. As soon as it was over, me and a bunch of other guys sat and waited until the credits were over to see if there were any mid-credits or after-credits scenes. There aren't any, but I'm glad that I stayed the full running time because I was in total awe of what I'd just seen. Yes, there are a couple of things that have knocked it off top marks but I still loved this film, and it's definitely one of the best that I've seen this year. And let me tell you this: if you see any bad reviews or people telling you to not see this film (guy on my Twitter feed did that. I unfollowed him.), you should ignore them. My opinion's more important than their's and I say you should definitely go see Godzilla. Just kidding! But seriously, go see this film (and plus, a sequel's already been announced! I've already got a monster that I want to see in mind).
IMPORTANT: If you're planning on seeing Godzilla in the cinema and are sensitive to loud noises or flashing images, I would advise you to be careful as this film is very loud and has infrequent scenes that use strobe lights. And if you're thinking of taking young children, make sure you read the content advisory on IMDb.


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Latest Articles
House Negroes of the NFL
|Posted on Apr 11 2018 at 8:59 AM
|Latest Articles | Jack O'Mahoff
Toby Thomas is spot on in his assessment of the NFL's turning its talent into house negroes. After all, the players are working right in middle America's living rooms every Sunday and also on Mondays and Thursday nights, and sometimes on Saturdays. This new rule to ban the N-word (Nigger, for the less squeamish, non-gay part of our audience) is part of what our C. Wad calls the creeping commie kudzu of political correctness.
Toby might have been banged in the head a few thousand times in his boxing ring days, but his thinking is all too clear on this topic. These are american citizens who risk their lives for our entertainment, and they deserve freedom of speech just like the rest of us. We should not let the NFL or any other quasi-government entity turn them into house negroes because we might not happen to like their tattoos or prison records. They are men, Mr. Commissioner. Let them speak as they will. It is their right as Americans. And for any NSA trolls reading this with your endless spying on all americans, fuck you. Fuck yourselves. Free speech lives. Thank you.Back

subset: commoncrawl


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Great Anniversary Gifts for Men
Mukta Gaikwad
Jun 18, 2019
With limited options, gifting men is a tough job. To make your task easy, here are a few gift ideas that are truly worth the effort and appreciation.
That special day when you promised to be with each other forever, needs special treatment too. Relive those vows by gifting him a great anniversary gift. Raise a toast to a life filled with love, laughter, and luck with elegant wine glasses or wake him to a picture of you two.
An anniversary gift is a great way of immortalizing your love towards him. A gift need not be super expensive to be great, it just has to be well thought over. As a thoughtful gift is treasured and always remembered in the years to come. Let's see what are some of the great anniversary gift ideas for him.
Anniversary Gift Ideas for Men
Dinner for Two
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. So, to find your way back into love this anniversary, cook a meal for two. Rekindle your romance with romantic dinner for two, set up under a starry night with candle light.
This is one of the inexpensive, yet beautiful anniversary gifts. Cook items that he likes to eat with aphrodisiacs and he will surely be left wanting for more!
Nature Trail
Wallets, glasses, candles, coupons, cards, and frames are gifts that have been given and trashed. Think out of the box this anniversary. In fact, trash the box as well! If he is someone who loves a little adventure this one is totally up his alley.
Pack your bags, stuff enough food supplies to last a day, get the camping gear in order and set out on a small road trip on your anniversary day. An outdoorsy romance, beside a brook, in front of a campfire, cuddled up with each other will surely lead to making some great memories forever!
Will You...
What men can do, women can do better. If you are a couple that has been celebrating only dating anniversaries, then ask him out this anniversary.
The question will be totally unexpected and he'll be caught off guard in a good way. With a thousand ways to propose, Sure you'll sweep him off his feet!
Itinerary for the Day
The first time you met... The place you guys used to hang out at... The first movie you saw together... Those were the moments that got you close to one another. Make an itinerary of all those places and all those things you did while you were dating each other.
Gifting men is quite a difficult job and picking gifts for men who have everything is a story with a sad ending. So, relive those moments of pure love and affection that you felt towards each other years later to fall in love all over again!
An antique pocket watch is a great gift. A classic piece of antique pocket watch with a classic dial set in a state-of-art metal work, is a great anniversary gift. The beauty of this gift makes it a timeless treasure to be treasured forever!
Even if it is about making a gift basket for him, you have to put a thought into it. Think of creative ways in which you can put the gift together. A gift presented with originality and novelty will be valued more than something picked up at a pretentious price from a high-end mall.
It is the intent and the emotion behind the gift that counts more than the price that it has been bought at. A little imagination is all that you need to get a great gift. Hope these ideas have helped a wee bit to come with some great gifts.
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Hello, its been a long time since I last posted and many things have happened.
Here is, for example, a short list of things that have happened to me recently:
1. The Rivals of the West 2011 Spring Season is no longer consuming my life
2. I was one of the winners for the Words on Wheels project
3. Recently received a large scholarship from the Undergraduate Competitive Scholarship competition at MICA and I need to thank some people for making that happen~
There have also been some truly terrifying events: I heard a terrible decapitation story.
Below are a few photographs of the installation my sister, Frog, and I put together with the help of Kimberly Hiles and Dan Talbot. We designed and built the lantern and created the mural in the MICA Gateway building for the Rivals of the West 2011 Spring Season. This Installation was for A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE.
Take a look at my sister's blog: http://frog-wang.blogspot.com/
There is a lot to say about the experience of working with so many people on a theatre project but I will save that for some other time.
For the time being I leave you.


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After a sumptuous trio of classic story ballets this season — "Giselle," "Nutcracker" and "Romeo and Juliet" — Ballet Arizona executes a forward jeté into the 21st century with "Director's Choice." The concert is a three-course banquet of diverse movement styles with artistic director Ib Andersen serving as executive chef.
The program opens with guest choreographer Alexei Ratmansky's 2001 take on Camille Saint-Saëns' "Le Carnaval des Animaux," continues with a world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and climaxes with a reprise of Andersen's acclaimed "Diversions" from 2010. Performances are Thursday, March 28, through Sunday, March 31, at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix.
Ratmansky, former director of the legendary Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow (2004-08), first choreographed his "Carnaval" for the San Francisco Ballet. It's a merry parade of vignettes inspired by the animal kingdom.
"There is a lot of humor in the score," Ratmansky says. "Saint-Saëns considered it a very minor piece and didn't want it to be published (before his death). It was a little joke for his friends, but it turned out to be the most popular score by him. It's very ironic."
Composed in 1886, Saint-Saëns' suite is often used to introduce children to the various instruments in a symphony orchestra. Its 14 short movements include "Kangaroos," "Tortoises," "Wild Asses" and "Aquarium." The most familiar is a lush cello piece first choreographed in 1905 by Mikhail Fokine as a short ballet titled "The Dying Swan."
"It's a good way to show the company," Ratmansky says, "because you have the lyrical diva for the swan, you have the aggressive male for the lion, you have little fast birds and friendly horses. It gives the opportunity for different personalities to shine. …
"It is a family-friendly piece. It will be fun for the kids, but I didn't want to make it simplistic, so there are some references for adults to enjoy as well."
"Diversions," set to Benjamin Britten's "Diversions for Piano (Left Hand) and Orchestra" (1942), earned Andersen acclaim when Ballet Arizona performed it in 2010 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as part of the Ballet Across America series.
"Responding to the fascinatingly changing colors of the music's theme-and-variations structure," New York Times dance critic Alistair Macauley wrote, "the choreography is formal, sophisticated, cool, with passages of brilliance for groups of male dancers and some male-female duets that occasionally disclose a surprisingly tender expansiveness. In terms of patterns, arresting images, varied use of stage space, constant changes of tone and musical attentiveness, this — using 20 dancers — is remarkably skilled dance-making."
As for the middle course of this tasting menu, it will be a bit of a surprise — even to its creator.
"I try to never come to a place knowing exactly what I am going to do, because I don't want to limit myself to my own ideas," says Cerrudo, who was born in Madrid, Spain, and has been a dancer and resident choreographer with Hubbard Street in Chicago since 2005.
"I'm here for five weeks, which is quite a luxurious time for a choreographer for a 20-minute piece. The first week I wanted to get to know the dancers and let them get to know me and how I work in the studio. I wanted to play and see what are the good things that I can use from them, rather than me just imposing an idea."
The still-untitled piece will feature Arvo Pärt's "Spiegel im Spiegel" ("Mirror in Mirror") from 1978, a haunting piano and violin duet.
"I'm responding to how beautiful the atmosphere in the studio is," Cerrudo says. "This is a classical company and I'm a contemporary choreographer, but I see interest in this new thing that is coming to them. They want to learn, and I love that. …
"In classical ballet, steps have a name, and you've been studying those steps for years and years and years. And what I do, I'm creating new steps, so you have to train your body in a very short amount of time to move in a certain way, which might be the opposite to what you've been learning to do all these years. It is a great challenge for them and for me as well, and it's making us all grow."
Reach the reporter at firstname.lastname@example.com or 602-444-4896.


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Tarquin's is Cornwall's first new Gin for over a century.A contemporary take on a classic London Dry, we use fragrant handpicked Devon violets and fresh orange zest to deliver an aromatic sensation unlike any other.
We like to think the result is comparable to stumbling upon a beautiful orange blossom in the middle of a crisp, dry pine forest.
Only the best and most pure spirit (the heart) makes it into Tarquin's Gin, which is diluted to bottling strength at 42% with Cornish spring water.


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I am an environmental researcher and writer for a company that makes certified organic mattresses. Our company founder is an advocate for safer chemicals and products and is a featured speaker at various events -- he was invited to testify at a Congressional subcommittee hearing on the need for changes to the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the law that regulates what chemicals can be used in our products.
As a result I work with many environmental, business and advocacy groups. Recently, we partnered with Just Label It, an organization advocating labeling GMOs to guarantee a consumer's right to choose.
Anyway, in partnering with Just Label It, I was browsing through the other business and organization partners, and guess who I saw? A group called the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth! Looks like we're in great company!
If you're interested like many other UUs in supporting choice regarding GMOs, sign the online petition at http://justlabelit.org/take-
action, where you can also gather information. The right to know what is in our foods has gathered support from supporters across political lines, and even people who don't take issue with GMOs can support allowing consumers to make their own informed choices.
As a side note, the mattresses my company makes do not use GMO cotton as they are certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
Likewise, food with the USDA Organic label also cannot contain GMOs.
Likewise, food with the USDA Organic label also cannot contain GMOs.


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It is definitely a colorful mess, no?
There are headbands in the Etsy shop, so check it out!
Oh, and another thing....I'll let you in on something... There will be a giveaway up in here this week, so stay tuned.
I stalk people who publish photos of their workspace! LOVE your desk and the colourful flowers!!!
hehehehehehe...i think my desk and you desk should be bff's so they can complain that their Mama's never clean them! LOL! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
That is a sweet mess you have there! :)


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This is the sequel to "Jemma & Sam", set 20 years later. It will chronicle the trying times they will have to overcome as a family. Hope you enjoy it!
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Koffman, Coutts Sign NLI To Stanford, URI
Many friends and family members were on hand at the Orono High School library Wednesday afternoon has Jake Koffman and Jackson Coutts signed national letters of intent to play Division I sports at Stanford and the University of Rhode Island.
Koffman is the reigning state high school champion in the discus (189' 9). He will take his talents to Stanford University in the fall of 2017.
He is now getting ready for the upcoming basketball season at Orono.
Coutts is the reigning PVC baseball Player of the Year and is headed to the Rhode Island to play ball. He just finished quarterbacking the Red Riots into the LTC semi-finals and set a new league record for passing yardage.
He too is getting ready for the Red Riots basketball season.


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Bengal cats like me, Jacey, and Koji are very active and playful. Sometimes, this gets us in trouble. For example, the human was able to adopt Jacey because she escaped her human's home and got onto the roof. Koji joined our clowder after the humans who were caring for him decided he was too rambunctious.
And a bengal cat in Singapore named Akimbo got in trouble, too, except he got hurt badly as a result. The poor guy fell nine stories from an apartment. His humans quickly took him to the white coated humans. Because of their quick action, Akimbo survived and is healing.
But he has a wound that will not heal, and his humans have a tiny human in the home. Because of this, the white coated humans advised that Akimbo go somewhere else. There is too much risk of infection.
His humans found a place to send Akimbo where he can get the care he needs. At Avalo Cat Sanctuary, kind humans will tend to his wound, express his bladder since he cannot go by himself, and give him physical therapy. Hopefully, this will help Akimbo recover.
But first, he needs to get from Singapore to South Carolina. And furiends, this means his humans need green paper things. The green paper things will help cover his travel expenses.
Do you have a few green paper things you can spare to help Akimbo make his way across the world? If you do, please help. And if you cannot help, please share his story so that others can.


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It seems that JRPG's just aren't content to stay on one system nowadays. Joining the ever growing list of RPG's going multi-platform is former PS3 exclusive Cross Edge. The game features popular characters from Nippon Ichi, Capcom, Gust, Idea Factory and Namco Bandai franchises. According to the latest issue of Famitsu, the game is heading to the Xbox 360 under the title of Cross Edge Dash.
The game will also have its share of new content such as new missions and a coliseum mode. The game is scheduled to release in Japan in October. No word on any of English release as of yet.


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Styli Charalambous - Newsfire
15 Dec 2012 19:49
ANC delegates arrive for registration to the 53rd ANC Conference. Delegates waited for hours as the NEC was meeting over the Constitutional Court decision that invalidated the Free State conference. (Greg Nicolson, Newsfire)
Hosting an event for almost 5 000 delegates from every corner of South Africa is a gargantuan task, and just like many other areas in service delivery the ANC gets an F on its report card.
Mangaung, and its main component Bloemfontein, are currently under siege by the ANC in almost every possible way.
The roads are jammed with more dark luxury SUVs than a cocaine dealers' convention in Sandton, while the restaurants and bars heave with the patronage of those escorted in blue lights.
And as the retailers and service providers of Mangaung cash in on the extravaganza, the logistics of putting on the greatest show ever seen outside of Las Vegas are creaking under the disorganisation and arrogance of the ANC.
Prior to getting stuck into the nitty-gritty of national jockeying and electioneering, non-ANC attendees require accreditation to walk the halls of Free State University and loiter within the tents and briefing centres set-up by the ruling party.
This number of external attendees run into the thousands, and getting them all approved and legal in a single day, in a single venue, is no mean feat.
Yet nothing could have prepared me for the mayhem that awaited the media as we scrambled for the laminated golden tickets to the circus that just rolled into town.
After early news of "crashing systems" had filtered through the media fraternity, we re-assembled outside the Francois Retief building, press cards in hand, eagerly awaiting our stamps of approval.
We joined what seemed to be at least another 1 000 people in a reception hall adjoining the medical hospital rooms. Waiters, security guards, make-up artists, cleaners and journalists sweltered together in 40-degrees-plus conditions with little ventilation and much consternation.
Media blackout
It was a somewhat ironic throwback to the worst memories of my university days, where the first week of each year was spent in snaking queues under the sweating sun as we tried to secure our places in our chosen curricula.
But that was 16 years ago, before technology permeated our everyday lives.
Surely with the benefit of fancy computers, something as simple as ticking off one's name and having our digital photos taken (again) would sail as smoothly as a Carnegie Hall rendition of Swan Lake.
Instead, lines of service providers and media converged into one big spaghetti junction, each jostling for position in a queue that inched forward every half an hour.
Some waited for up to five hours in those wretched conditions, whilst others bailed several times in favour of returning later to queues that only subsided after 9pm.
The accreditation process was certainly not for the impatient or the claustrophobic.
Saturday followed with what could almost be described as a media blackout by the ruling party.
Scheduled press conferences were abandoned without notice and event information from the ANC was as scarce as legitimate deposits in Julius Malema's bank account.
The fiasco unfolding from the unlawful Free State nomination process, combined with the general ANC disdain for those outside its inner circle, meant confusion and chaos reigned in Bloemfontein.
A security scare had by now made the university grounds off-limits to all vehicles, unless they had been through yet another accreditation process involving more wasted hours of queuing.
And a process which, incidentally, needs to be repeated each time you want to enter the faculty grounds. I'm all for securing the wellbeing and security of our elected leaders, but is it too much to ask for a little communication and courtesy, especially when so many decisions seemed to be made on a whim?
To the unseasoned and yet to become cynical eye of a newbie on the storm-chasing trail of the ANC, the blatant unpreparedness and arrogance in approach of setting up of the 53rd elective conference was a personification of the way the ANC has ruled South Africa.
Replace the image of burly journalists sweating it out in a university hall with frail pensioners lining up under the oppressive African sun for their meagre payouts.
Or shack dwellers taking to the streets as the lack of progress in housing and provision of basic amenities wastes into their sewerage filled streets. Or the fact that 95% of municipalities that failed to achieve clean audits in 2011/12.
Or the thousands of learners who remain without access to hope or textbooks in Limpopo.
Non-delivery, arrogance and an overwhelming sense of entitlement are words which I think can describe the current state of the ANC, both when dealing with its people and dealing with the non-member attendees of this conference.
It seems the only efficiencies that remain in the party are securing the 17-inch wheels that transport high-ranking officials from one upmarket bar to the next, while the rest of us suffer under the incompetence of those who act, or fail to act, without consequence.
For this now-cynical journalist I have two hopes for my tormentors: first, that delegates endure a registration process that is similarly reminiscent of a 1 000-person sauna; and second, that the years of acting without consequences results in the greatest consequence for all. – NewsFire.
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By Jan Walsh
Photography by Beau Gustafson
Wine lovers have memorable wine moments. The first taste of an extraordinary wine can turn a wine drinker into a wine lover, who then seeks to develop a more sophisticated wine palate. Thus, drinking wine can never be the same.
I just had that same aha moment with beer. I have always enjoyed beer with some foods, such as a burger or pizza, and on occasion I have been impressed by French and Belgian brews. But I have never been wowed by a beer until I tasted Blackberry Farm's Fall Saison, which is hoppy with complex, layered fruity and citrus notes.
The beer is one of a box of the farm's beers that I was sent for tasting. Given how extraordinary the fall brew tastes, I couldn't wait to taste the Winter Saison, so I opened it too. Perfect for winter nights, the beer's Abbey-style character has notes of roasted malt, dark fruit, and chocolate. The Classic Saison is also lovely. Both earthy and crisp, it reveals citrus and spice notes.
Blackberry Farm Brewery's saisons are inspired by the traditional Belgian farmhouse ales and reflect the changing seasons in East Tennessee. All saison family beers feature a floor-malted barley base. Other Blackberry Farm saisons not yet tasted include Spring, Summer, New World Cuvee Dry Hop, and Noble Cuvee Dry Hop. These and their other beers are cellaring in my wine—now wine and beer—cellar. All Blackberry Farm Brewery's beers are packaged unfiltered and with 100 percent bottle re-fermentation, producing natural effervescence that is suitable for cellaring. And like sparkling wines Blackberry Farm Beers are closed with corks and cages. The beers are available locally at restaurants and retail.
Blackberry Farm first began producing beer in 2011, selling to Blackberry Farm resort guests and a few select restaurants in the Southeast. As demand increased, the farm moved into a larger production facility in 2015 and expanded distribution. In addition to Saison, Blackberry Farm Brewery produces three other families of beer: Abbey, Native, and Barrel, along with special releases. The Abbey family was inspired by classical monastic traditions of refined, unhurried processes and highly sourced ingredients.
The Native family offers a wide range of styles and flavors but all include native wild yeasts harvested from across Blackberry Farm's 9,200 protected acres. And Blackberry Farm Barrel Family brews boast premium ingredients and are fermented with a variety of yeast strains. Their complex flavors are further developed by aging in wine and spirit barrels.
Tags: december 2016


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Deane retains his Michelin star for 13th year in a row
Chef Michael Deane has retained his position as the proud owner of Northern Ireland's only Michelin star.
It is the 13th consecutive year that the Belfast-based restaurateur has picked up the much sought-after accolade for his Howard Street premises.
However, he has told the Belfast Telegraph that he does not believe the province is lagging behind the rest of the UK in culinary excellence, despite failing to attract any further stars.
He said: "A Michelin star is very hard to aspire to, and with the way the world is now it's going to be even more difficult."
The chef attributes his talented team as the reason his restaurant has been on the list for 13 years in a row.
"We're surrounded by very talented people, it's all very calculated. We employ a high calibre of staff, and this is essential as Michelin stars are achieved by consistency."
Although he is now the only Michelin-starred chef in the province, he has expressed a desire to share this award with other local chefs.
"I would love to see more Michelin stars in Northern Ireland, but it can take 10 years to get to that level, and once you get it it's difficult to hold onto," he said.
The chef explains the scrutiny a Michelin-starred establishment is put under.
"We have four or five inspections per year, and they're meticulous. "There can be four inspectors in the building at one time and we can be unaware of it.
"This means we have to be consistent all the time, and ultimately the food has to be of a certain standard.
"We are the best value restaurant of this calibre in the UK; £75-£100 for a Michelin-starred meal.
"We have tried to remove the stuffiness associated with the Guide, but we still have refinement in our food and service.
"I want Belfast to be a great city and provide great food to the public, who are more important than the guide because without them we would not be in it.
"Without Michelin we would be nowhere. It's international currency — when visitors see we have the star they obviously want to experience our food."
Although he is the sole holder of the distinction in Northern Ireland, Deane does not believe this means we are behind the rest of the UK.
"Wales is also down to one star, and I think the Welsh are behind us in a way because they haven't had political unrest for 25 years," he said.
"Now the political backlash is over, it's up to our chefs and the public, because if they demand a high quality of food then restaurants will provide it and then more stars will come."
The Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland 2009, is released this Friday.
Belfast Telegraph


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Brown Diagonal Plaid Waistcoat jacket for men
Add a touch of gentleman-ly manner to your look with this smart diagonal plaid waistcoat vest for men, ideal to accompany your suit or to wear more casually with a shirt and jeans.
Available in brown only.
Manufactured by our in-house tailor, our suits and waistcoats are of exceptional quality, perfect to get smart for your special occasions for a reasonable price.


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It is one of our favorite times of the year - yes, International Talk Like a Pirate Day is this Saturday the 19th and we are hoisting a pirate booty giveaway! We appreciate all of you and the support you have shown over the years! We couldn't have done it without you! Hope your weekend is filled with pirate talk with ye mate's! This pirate treasure includes for one lucky mate: Penelope the Purple Pirate signed copy PBS Kids Pirates Ahoy! DVD Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate Music DVD's (2) and music videos disc Penelope Poster Pirate Treasure from Disneyland Disney Parks Authentic Pirate Pin $25 Disney Gift Card Code for The Day I Became a Pirate Code for Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Treasure Island Yo ho yo ho it's a … [Read more...]
Talk Like a Pirate Day Giveaway!
September 17, 2015 by Melissa 16 Comments
Filed Under: blog, Giveaways Tagged With: author, Book Giveaway, International Talk Like A Pirate Day, PBS Kids, PEG+CAT, Penelope the Purple Pirate, Pirate Giveaway, Rockin' Ron the Friendly Pirate, Talk Like a Pirate Day


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Tory Burch toughens up her line of handbags with a bit of rocker studded chic. We love these studded Tory Burch handbags. There are many options for studded handbags this fall and Tory's collection fuses classic silhouettes with contrast gold pyramid studs. The tailored shapes will pair nicely with a daytime outfit consisting of this fall's uniform of leggings and ankle boots. Available in a variety of designs the Tory Burch group of studded bags includes several styles available in black and cognac.
Beginning with the Studded Tote with gold hardware and double rolled handles comes with an adjustable leather strap making it perfect for a daytime bag for the office. Next up the Leather Studded Messenger Bag is also made of a luxe vegetable tanned leather and features a cross-body strap as well as a front flap and interior pockets with space for a cell phone and other essentials. The Tory Burch Leather Studded Shoulder bag has a detachable strap for converting into a clutch and makes the ideal daytime bag. The Studded Flat Wristlet adds a petite dash of stud embellished cool to evenings out, Lastly the Tory Burch Studded Vet Tan Leather Satchel a fabulous roomy bag is bound to be your go-to bag this fall. The entire collection is reasonably prices from $235 for the wristlet up to $595 for the satchel.
Shown top left to right clockwise:
Tory Burch Leather Studded Messenger Bag, $575.00 at Bloomingdales
Tory Burch Leather Studded Shoulder bag, $395 at Net-a-Porter
Studded Flat Zip Wristlet, $235.00 at Toryburch.com
Tory Burch Studded Vet Tan Leather Satchel, $595.00 at Neiman Marcus
P.S. Please consider supporting our small, bag-loving team by clicking our links before shopping or checking out at your favorite online retailers like Amazon, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, or any of the listed partners on our shop page. We truly appreciate your support!


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Hexagon's Positioning Intelligence Division is a global technology leader pioneering autonomy and positioning solutions.
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With our donation of £4,576.43, SCI will be able to reach, treat and protect a staggering 13,867 children and at-risk adults against two of the most deadly neglected tropical diseases.
Schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthes are parasitic diseases which can cause severe pain, long-term disability and death, with school age children at especially high risk. Controlling these devastating diseases is vital if we are to end the cycle of poverty from generation to generation. NTDs can prevent adults from working, keep children from learning and can mean the added burden of medical fees on already stretched families.
Every £1 SCI receive now treats 3 people making this one of the most cost-effective health initiatives out there. All medicines are donated by pharmaceutical companies, with SCI working to ensure they are distributed where they are most needed and their impact is monitored.
We're proud to have partnered with SCI for the past five years, and have now funded treatments for 51,282 people.


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This is the amplicon context sequence in accordance with the minimum information for the publication of real-time quantitative PCR experiements (MIQE) guidelines. For more details, please refer to the following publication, "Primer Sequence Disclosure: A Clarification of the MIQE Guidelines."
ddPCR™ Evagreen assay for gene expression analysis. EvaGreen assays consist of unlabeled PCR primer.
Info: EG; Same primer pair as used in qPCR assay qHsaCID0010335; Intron-spanning
Assay Information
Gene Information
The protein encoded by this gene acts at the level of translation initiation to downregulate protein synthesis in response to stress. The encoded protein is a kinase that can be inactivated by hemin. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq Aug 2008]


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Larry Rosche, Judy Semroc, Linda Gilbert, with illustrations by Jennifer Brumfield
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio, by Larry Rosche, Judy Semroc and Linda Gilbert, is a comprehensive field guide which includes charts, graphs and maps of all species occurring in Northeast Ohio. Generously illustrated and containing hundreds of stunning digital photographs by internationally acclaimed nature photographers, this field guide is a must for both the enthusiast and wildlife professional. At over 300 pages, the entire life history, from egg to nymph to adult, is discussed in full detail in a precise, easy-to-navigate format. Published by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.Shop now at Amazon.com
For questions about the book, contact Renee Boronka.
Larry Rosche's first edition of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio paved the way for a variety of new field guides that enable naturalists and citizen scientists to identify dragonflies and damselflies in the field. A longtime birder, Larry penned the Birds of the Cleveland Region in 2005. Currently, he is a field researcher for the Conservation Outreach Program of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. He is also employed as the range distribution mapmaker for Houghton Mifflin Company's Peterson Field Guide Series™. His passion and expertise is well known locally and nationally.
Judy currently works in the Natural Areas Division for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as a Conservation Specialist. She is the founder of Operation Botanic Rescue (a volunteer plant-rescue group), Quail Hollow Land Conservancy and Chrysalis in Time — the first Ohio chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). As a former Petroleum Geologist and science teacher, Judy loves to learn about and share her passion for the natural world through hikes, interpretive programs and photography.
Linda K. Gilbert serves on staff for the Geauga Park District as an interpretative naturalist. Her background in natural history originates from being raised on an incredible rural property containing a variety of habitats and creatures. An avid curiosity to know which species shared her days became the fuel for deepening her love of nature. Linda's interest in dragons and damsels arose from the frustration of not having an adequate field guide to identify them. She conducts Odonata surveys on several Geauga Park properties as well as her own. She also volunteers for citizen science projects including vernal pool monitoring, Monarch butterfly tagging, the Ohio Breeding Bird Survey and Ohio Odonata Survey.
Jennifer Brumfield's interest in wildlife sparked from day one by her father's love for natural science. Her colored pencil and graphic pen illustrations have appeared in hundreds of natural history publications across the country, including the ABA's Birding magazine. She is currently a scientific illustrator and naturalist with Cleveland Metroparks, and a birding tour guide with Birding America and Tropical Birding.


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[yasr_visitor_multiset setid=0]
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Maintenance Mechanic B (3rd Shift)
Job Description
Carpenter Co has an immediate opening for a third shift Maintenance Mechanic B at our Riverside, CA manufacturing plant. This position reports to the Maintenance Manager, and is responsible for assisting in troubleshooting, repairing, installing, or replacing mechanical equipment or mechanical electrical, and electro-mechanical devices and components. Additionally, the Mechanic will assist in fabrication of any mechanical devices or items requiring shop skills or tools as requested. The position will communicate continuously with department managers and employees to coordinate mechanical and electrical repairs. This position works in a normal production/maintenance environment with exposure to temperature changes. Major challenges of the positon include working independently on very involved and complex jobs.
Mechanic B
- Perform basic plumbing on machinery and/or equipment.
- Perform preventative maintenance on equipment.
- Weld and use a cutting torch, plasma cutter, cut-off saw, and machine-shop equipment.
- Report conditions encountered that may affect the operation of the equipment.
- Assemble and disassemble equipment.
- Ready equipment for shipment to other locations.
- Read and interpret basic machine diagrams and plant layout drawings.
- Recognize potential mechanical problems, plan a solution for repair, and implement the plan.
- Maintain plant fire system.
- Serve on plant emergency response team.
- Communicate, accept input, and follow instructions from Mechanic A or Lead Person.
- Ability to read and interpret a tape measure.
Requirements and Experience
- 2-3 years of specialty or technical training.
- 1-2 years of additional Mechanic/ experience required to perform the job.
- 1-2 years' experience in a manufacturing/industrial environment.
- Good communication and advanced math skills.
- Must be forklift certified.
- Ability to operate a genie boom, and scissor lift.
- Ability to read and interpret a tape measure.
- Must possess a variety of personally owned industrial/electrical hand tools. Must be able to work flexible hours, weekends, holidays and call-in with little notice.
No phone calls or agencies, please
Carpenter Co. is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or other legally protected characteristic. Carpenter Co. conducts pre-employment drug testing on all applicants that receive and accept a written offer of employment.
Posted: 12/2/2019
Job Status: Full Time


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It's intimidating to sew for a seamstress. But seeing as how she has inspired me quite a lot, and seeing as how she is one of my favorite people in the world, I gave it a shot.
For her birthday, modeled by my lovely stepdaughter, a mail sack. It's a pattern from Pink Chalk Fabrics. I swear, there probably isn't a post on this blog that doesn't link to Kathy's shop. I love it.
The base fabric is by Alexander Henry and is called Noguchi. I made myself one of these bags and used this fabric as well. The thing is, I didn't notice HOW cream the cream in Noguchi was. I put my whole bag together with mismatching creams and whites, and it bugs the crap out of me now.
I literally spent months trying to find the perfect fabrics to go with Noguchi for this purse. I don't think I ever did. I finally chickened out and went with the solid black for the yoke and strap. Kathy kindly sent me a big swatch of another fabric that was black and cream, but next to the Noguchi, the cream just ended up looking like white. So solid black.
The interior didn't quite go as planned either. I ordered some fabrics from my fabric co-op for the lining and the pockets. One of the fabrics didn't make, so I was out of luck there. The one that did make, again, was too white to use for the lining. I still really liked the fabric though, so I decided to use it in the pockets.
Then it hit me. Find a print that didn't have any white in it. I know, so simple. But I have a way of making things complicated. I found a cute green and black print at Joann's that could tie the whole project together. Unless you are Kevin, because he really hated my fabric choices on this one.
I don't know. They aren't the perfect fabrics, but I think it turned out better than the one I made for myself.
Better, if you ignore the fact that I cut the straps while completely drunk, apparently. The strap lining was a good 1/2 inch too short, making the edge of the bag uneven all the way around. But hey, there's a zipper that works, which always impresses me.
Besides, isn't it the thought that counts? I hope so, because way too much thought went into this simple purse. Well, way too much for just the purse. Not nearly too much for the recipient. Happy birthday, Girl. I'm sorry it was a week late.


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Although in the early days of Egypt's revolution, the predominant narrative in American media and decision-making circles insisted that the revolution had been brought about by essentially secular people --- that Egypt was on the verge of becoming a true liberal democracy -- later, the involvement of Islamist groups in the revolution became too obvious to overlook.
At first, everyone was hearing about schisms among the Islamists, how their "new generation," particularly those seceding from the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), were completely different from their predecessors. The "new generation," it was said, was worldly, open-minded and embraced the Western values of tolerance and diversity. With these new leaders in charge, it was further said, Egypt was on the verge of becoming a true liberal democracy.
Today, as acknowledging the ascent of Islamism seems unavoidable, the newest trend is to "engage" the more "moderate" Islamist groups, primarily the Muslim Brotherhood, who, according to the NY Times webpage on the Muslim Brotherhood, are "not necessarily intent on establishing an Islamic state." This policy can probably be seen most piercingly just a few weeks ago in the official invitation to dialogue extended by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the Muslim Brotherhood. Since then, the rhetoric in Washington DC has changed. No one is talking about liberal democracy any more; the conversation now is all about being "realistic." This approach will be even more relevant after the Islamist-only million-man march for "defending identity and popular will," which most likely will deal the final blow to any claim to power by the secular parties.
Although it is probably already too late for US foreign policy to influence the course of events in Egypt, the United States' level of official engagement with the MB would do well to be minimal, otherwise, to borrow from Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the administration will be simply "defining deviancy down": increasing American tolerance for legitimizing Islamism. Discussing whether the MB is truly "moderate" is irrelevant, as the very concept of "moderate Islamism is oxymoronic. The term "moderate" has been used, fallaciously, only to clarify the distinction between Muslims (referred to as moderates) and Islamists (referred to as radicals). To flesh out this distinction a bit, Islam is a religion: a set of metaphysical and ethical beliefs, equivalent in the West to Christianity or Judaism. Islamism is a political Ideology: prescribing how governments, societies and individuals should act, and equivalent in the West to, say, Marxism. A devout Muslim, for example, will not drink alcohol and he may indeed believe that no one should; an Islamist, by contrast, seeks to establish a government that bans alcohol entirely.
Many in the West believe that Islamism is equivalent to strict adherence to the teachings of Islam, which is why they apply the term "moderate" to those who are not so strict. The fact is that the core tenets of Islamism are not derived from the religion, but are instead based on theories of mostly modern origins, Those who reject these tenets are not "moderate" Muslims, they are just not Islamist.
An Islamist cannot be "moderate" about these tenets, particularly the Sovereignty of Shari'a Law (Hakimiya) and Superiority of the (early) Islamic Civilization. While definitions of Shari'a Law and the Islamic civilization may vary, the historical predominance of orthodoxy, particularly in Sunni Islam, has kept variations at a minimum. Nonetheless these two maxims -- imposing Shari'a Law and the superiority of Islam -- are in direct opposition to Western Liberalism as we know it. Shari'a Law is opposed to the notion of universal and individual Human Rights; and the Islamic Civilization is solely based on the concept of "Justice": whatever is inside Shari'a Law is just, whatever is outside Shari'a Law is unjust, with no interest at all in the concept of "freedom of choice."
Islamist "moderation" is, in fact, nothing but pragmatism misconstrued. Islamists may, for example, embrace democracy as means of imposing Shari'a Law, or they may renounce violence as a means to prove the Superiority of Islam, but the ends – imposing Shari'a Law and the Superiority of Islam -- remain the same. In this light, it is undeniable that the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is among the most pragmatic -- but not always benign. Consider this fatwa from the official MB website, responding to a query on whether working for a bank is forbidden because of the practice of usury: "Usury is no longer related to a bank employee or a company clerk, it is part of our entire economic and financial system (…), a situation will not be changed or mitigated by one employee's refraining from working for a bank or a company, and if we forbade every Muslim from working in banks, the result would be that non-Muslims, Jews and others, would control the affairs of banks".
Pragmatism, however, is double-edged. While the necessities of modern life, or an authoritarian regime, may force pragmatic Islamists such as the MB to pursue courses they deem incompatible with Islam, such as working for banks, pressure from moiré ideologically committed and less pragmatic groups such as the Salafis, in a democratic Egypt, could have the MB embrace a stricter line to win their votes.
This dynamic -- well understood and anticipated by every Islamist -- undermines all optimistic analyses about secessions and differences within the Islamist spectrum. Ahmed El-Naqib, for instance, one of the most respected Salafi authorities, responded to the question if Salafis would support the MB in the elections by saying: "If the MB could, through our help, come to power, what is the problem? We help them. They are not infidels (kafirs). The shoe of one member of the MB is closer to us than a nation of those infidels." When one of the listeners raised the objection that "[the MB's] statements are scary [meaning too soft]," Al-Naqib reassured him: "It is because they are being watched. Nazarenes [the Salafist term for Christians] are watching them. America is watching them. The secular parties are watching them. They try to come with arguments that do not scare people off. But we should remain barefaced. We should remain the scarecrows. These have to be scared as well. Thus a hand taps the shoulder, and a hand slaps the neck."
Leaders of the MB are not even being that subtle about hiding their convictions. In an interview with Michael J. Totten and Armin Rosen earlier this month, Essam El-Erian, one of three leaders of the MB's newly established political party, and who is considered the "moderate" face of the MB, gave a long anti-American diatribe, saying that Qaddafi was an American agent and implying some conspiracy to the 9/11 attacks.
Another issue that will never be touched by "moderation" is the unflinching animosity towards Israel. The political program of the MB's Freedom and Justice Party states on page 24 that: "The issue of Palestine is the most important issues of Egyptian national security, in addition to being an Arab or Muslim cause, because the Zionist Entity is a racist colonizing expansionist entity, possessing weapons of mass destruction, which has caused the outbreak of many wars in the region, affecting the geographical, political, social and economic situation, disrupting development programs and displacing people from their homes, in addition to the acquisition of Islamic and Christian holy places in Palestine. Therefore the party sees the need to make all efforts to resolve this issue and ensure the rights of Palestinian self-determination and the return of refugees to their homes, establish their state and its capital Jerusalem, restore all the holy places of Muslims and Christians in Palestine and the evacuation of the entire region (Middle East) of weapons of mass destruction." Of course, this sounds very "moderate" when compared to the frequent calls from the MB leadership, including the Supreme Guide, to nullify the Egyptian-Israeli treaty, as well as literally thousands of Anti-Semitic articles and statements by its members. Google-searching the term "[the] Zionists" in Arabic on the official MB official website renders an impressive 70,500 results; you can guess how many of those are favorable.
The newly-discovered "realism" of the State Department will be as inept and counter-productive as its preceding Idealism. While Egypt's Islamists may not end up taking complete control over the country in the near future, they are certainly on the right track for the farther future. The generation of the Arab Spring, and their fans in the West, will most likely be facing an enemy they never thought existed: Democratic Tyranny – despotic Islamist rule imposed by the majority through the ballot box – the worst of all.


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It is often the case where first impressions are more lasting than later interactions. What creates first impressions?
When potential customers, employment applicants, vendors, bankers or other interested parties call or interact with your company, their first impressions matter. How your employees treat them then could be critical for a future relationship.
One can assess the quality of a company by the manners of the people working there.
Companies whose employees treat outsiders (and even fellow employees) with good manners, politeness, caring and concern reflect the values of the organization. Enlightened Entrepreneurs should recognize this and pay as much emphasis on the relationship side of the business as much as the product aspect of the company.
Focusing on managing initial (and then ongoing) interactions with outsiders could be a determinant of future success. Entrepreneurs should Do the Right Things by paying attention to this area of their business.
Ravi Patel


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In West Africa, Ebola is killing a 100 people every couple of days. Even before the outbreak, Liberia had only around 50 doctors for a 4.3 million population. Now many are infected and some dead.
The few healthcare workers left toil tirelessly in their protective suits, but fewer are reporting for work.
Clinics are shut down and there is no treatment of any kind, even for treatable problems.
According to reports, there is an atmosphere of fear. Calling it an "epidemic of fear", the Huffington Post reports how the disease is manageable with equipment and protocols to identify those at risk.
But given the poverty of these nations, procuring equipment is proving tough. Above all, there is dire need for human resources, says the Post.
World Bank's call
With 1,500 dead and the WHO predicting 20,000 cases before the worst is over, the World Bank has called for a better international response.
The bank president Jim Yong Kim said Western healthcare facilities would easily be able to contain the disease and urged wealthy nations to share knowledge and resources with the African nations, reports Reuters.
Meanwhile, Liberia's response team that helps with the burials of those dead from Ebola is busy.
While the government had called upon people to alert them when people died from Ebola, there had been resistance arising from fear of being ostracised by neighbours. But as the cases spiralled, people are now calling on the response team for the final rites, reports CNN.
"When it started, it wasn't that easy," says Alpha Tamba, an Ebola response coordinator in Lofa County. "It was kind of difficult for communities to disclose death. People preferred driving us away."
The burials are now a sterile affair with the team first spraying the house with bleach and then carrying the body in plastic along with any item possibly contaminated.
The team itself is covered in suits and masks and three layers of gloves all securely taped. The gloves are buried with the body.
In the northern parts of impoverished Liberia, people are locked in and alone. Many homes in Zango town in Lofa County have been abandoned by fleeing occupants.
In Barkedu town, where people have been quarantined, all activity has ground to halt. "From the time we started receiving death from Ebola -- every activity ceased," says Musa Sessay, the town's chief.
With many healthcare workers succumbing to the virus, survivors are few. "It is very heartbreaking. You are working for the team at the front and you see them lying down. Day by day, they are dying," says Tamba.
"Sometimes we go to bed and we dream of nothing else but Ebola, Ebola, Ebola -- nothing else."


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Melanoma is an immunogenic neoplasm infiltrated by T cells, although these adaptive T cells usually fail to eradicate the tumor. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are potent regulators of the adaptive immune response and can eliminate melanoma cells via TLR-mediated effector functions. The PDC compartment is maintained by progressively restricted bone marrow progenitors. Terminally differentiated PDCs exit the bone marrow into the circulation, then home to lymph nodes and inflamed peripheral tissues. Infiltration by PDCs is documented in various cancers. However, their role within the melanoma immune contexture is not completely known. We found that in locoregional primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM), PDC infiltration was heterogeneous, occurred early, and was recurrently localized at the invasive margin, the site where PDCs interact with CD8+ T cells. A reduced PDC density was coupled with an increased Breslow thickness and somatic mutations at the NRAS p.Q61 codon. Compared with what was seen in PCM, high numbers of PDCs were found in regional lymph nodes, as also identified by in silico analysis. In contrast, in metastatic melanoma patients, PDCs were mostly absent in the tumor tissues and were significantly reduced in the circulation, particularly in the advanced M1c group. Exposure of circulating PDCs to melanoma cell supernatant (SN-mel) depleted of extracellular vesicles resulted in significant PDC death. SN-mel exposure also resulted in a defect of PDC differentiation from CD34+ progenitors. These findings indicate that soluble components released by melanoma cells support the collapse of the PDC compartment, with clinical implications for refining TLR agonist–based trials.
Note: Supplementary data for this article are available at Cancer Immunology Research Online (http://cancerimmunolres.aacrjournals.org/).
- Received March 7, 2018.
- Revision received August 16, 2018.
- Accepted November 1, 2018.
- Published first November 6, 2018.
- Corrected online February 28, 2019.
- ©2018 American Association for Cancer Research.


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Firefighters were busy much of the day Tuesday fighting several large grass fires in the metro area.
Bob Moore Chopper 4 was captured dramatic video over a fire in Pottawatomie County near S.W. 149th and Fishmarket Road.
It shows Jason Walker, wearing only jeans and boots, wildly waving firefighters onto his property where the fire was coming dangerously close to his home.
"I was like come on, come on, come on. And they finally see me and came over," said Walker.
Then while firefighters did their job, Walker got on his trusty Grizzly Yamaha and started fighting the fire on his own.
"I knew if I could get some rooster tails going, it would throw dirt on it, a heck of a lot faster than I could shovel it. And I would've risked this four wheeler all day long before I risked my house," said Walker.
Walker and his girlfriend, Kimberly Neugebauer, know this scenario all too well.
Last summer, they lost their home in Tecumseh to a fire.
"Since we had lost, it's been less than a year that we lost our other home, I just couldn't even fathom," said Neugebauer.
"We lost our home and I'm just, I don't think I was ready to lose another one. I'm just, I'm not," said Walker.
Walker planned to spend the evening continuing kicking up dirt onto hot spots, ensuring the fire doesn't kindle again.
And with his home intact, Jason can focus on the lighter side of the situation and the fact that he was shirtless in his live television debut.
"I haven't showed my sexy off in a while, so usually only when I'm with her at the lake," said Walker.
Firefighters were able to keep that grass fire from damaging any homes in the area.