text:
Gomez suspended one game for fracas
NEW YORK -- The Brewers were forced to make a lineup change Thursday afternoon when center fielder Carlos Gomez drew a one-game suspension from Major League Baseball for his role in inciting a benches-clearing incident Wednesday night in Atlanta.
Gomez opted not to appeal, and he sat out as the Brewers began a four-game series against the Mets at Citi Field.
"I expected that with what happened last night," Gomez said. "It's not good for baseball, all that's going on. You have to take it like a man and be responsible for the stuff that I did. Just take the game today and come back tomorrow and continue to finish hard and strong."
Atlanta's Reed Johnson, who ran onto the field and landed a punch against Gomez, also was suspended one game.
Tempers flared after Gomez stood to admire his first-inning home run against Braves starter Paul Maholm, a left-hander who had struck Gomez on the knee with a pitch back on June 23 at Miller Park -- a plunking Gomez deemed intentional. Braves catcher Brian McCann and Freeman had harsh words for Gomez when he finally began his trot, and Gomez yelled back all the way around the bases.
Before Gomez reached home plate, he was confronted by McCann along the third-base line, and both benches emptied for a fracas that led to ejections for Gomez, Freeman and Braves backup catcher Gerald Laird. McCann was not ejected, but he and Freeman were fined Thursday by MLB.
The incident was replayed throughout the day Thursday, but Gomez said he did not watch.
"I mean, to be honest, I don't care what other people say," Gomez said. "I only care about my team and what happened last night and the reason why everything happened last night. I apologize to people from MLB, to my teammates, my team, the organization, to the Braves. It's not really fun when everything happens like that. Take it like a man and come back tomorrow and continue to do business."
Did he consider an appeal?
"I mean, what are the chances you win an appeal?" Gomez said. "I don't want to take a chance to 2014 that I'm not in the Opening Day [lineup]. It's better to take it now and be over, and start 2014 when everything is finished."
Though Freeman and Laird were also ejected, they did not draw suspensions. But Johnson did, after running onto the field from the bench to deliver a punch to Gomez's head.
Gomez said he had no history with Johnson and was not sure why Johnson's reaction was particularly strong.
"I don't even know him; I didn't even know he was still playing," Gomez said.
Brewers manager Ron Roenicke did not learn of the suspension until after he had posted a lineup in the visitor's clubhouse at Citi Field. With Gomez out, he shifted Norichika Aoki from right field to center, Caleb Gindl from left field to right and inserted Khris Davis as the left fielder.
He was satisfied with Gomez's comments in the wake of the incident -- and with the fact only Gomez and Johnson drew suspensions.
"The things that I don't like are, I don't want our actions to cause anything that hurts the Braves from doing what they're trying to do right now," Roenicke said. "So I would just assume not see anything. Now Johnson coming over, I understand [his being suspended]. But the others, they've got four games left, and they're important games. And I wouldn't want something, because we started it, to happen to hurt whatever chances they have."


text:
One of the nation's true triple-option experts, Ellerson agreed to become Army's 36th head football coach on Dec. 26, 2008.
Ellerson is a veteran of nearly 30 years of coaching on the collegiate ranks, including eight as head coach at Cal Poly prior to his arrival at West Point. Not regarded as a traditional FCS power prior to Ellerson's arrival in 2001, Cal Poly finished each of his last four years ranked in the Top 25 of national FCS polls. The Mustangs won at least seven games during each of Ellerson's last six seasons at the helm and spent the majority of the 2008 season ranked in the top 10 of both the FCS Coaches Top 25 Poll and The Sports Network Division I-AA Poll. Cal Poly was ranked No. 3 in the FCS Coaches Poll for the final seven weeks of the regular season (and the last four weeks of The Sports Network Poll) before they were upset in the first round of the FCS playoffs by Weber State on Nov. 29. Before Ellerson's arrival, the Mustangs had not fashioned a winning season since 1997 and had enjoyed only three winning years since 1990.
Niumatalolo's 27 wins are the most wins in school history by a coach in his first three years, while Navy's 10 wins in 2009 are tied for the most wins in school history. He is the first coach in school history to lead Navy to a bowl game in each of his first three seasons and is the first Service Academy coach to win the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy in his first two years as a head coach. Niumatalolo is just the second coach since World War II to lead Navy to a winning record in each of his first three seasons at the helm and joins Eddie Erdelatz and Wayne Hardin as the only Navy coaches to beat Notre Dame in consecutive seasons. Niumatalolo's squads have also gotten it done in the classroom as the APR (Academic Progress Rate) for the teams he has coached at Navy is 981, which is the third best rating in the country.
The Mids posted an impressive 9-4 record in 2010, defeated Army for a series record ninth-consecutive time, defeated Notre Dame in consecutive seasons for only the third time in school history and appeared in a school record eighth-consecutive bowl game.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Police: 11-Year-Old Endured Hours Of Abuse Before Death
Anthony Bush Accused Of Killing Donovan McKee In Knoxville
A man who was watching his girlfriend's son brutally beat the child to death because he hadn't vacuumed their apartment in Pittsburgh's Knoxville neighborhood, police said in a criminal complaint.
Anthony Bush, 29, was arrested Sunday morning at the Rochelle Towers apartment building on Knox Avenue and arraigned on a charge of criminal homicide.
Police said an investigation revealed that Bush was with Donovan McKee while the child's mother was at work. They said Bush disciplined the child by beating him with various objects found in the apartment.
"He was just 11 years old. He was just the sweetest little kid. But they never come out the house. I've been here two years. They never came out of the house," a neighbor said.
The neighbor, who did not want to be identified, told Channel 4 Action News she wished she had done more to help the boy.
"I can't stop crying, and I blame myself because I should have called (Child & Youth Services) on them a long time ago and I didn't do it. I feel so bad. And everybody knew, everybody who knew me knew," she said.
Police said McKee endured nine hours of abuse before his death. Police said Bush told officers he beat the boy with wooden sticks. They said McKee was ordered to clean up the sticks that Bush broke during the attacks.
At one point, police said Bush used a needle and thread to close a cut he'd caused on the boy's arm.
McKee died at Children's Hospital at 2:45 a.m. Bush was taken to Allegheny County Jail and is being held without bail, pending a preliminary hearing.
Police said a 5-year-old was also in the apartment at the time of the incident, but that child was not injured.
Click Like To Become A Fan Of WTAE On Facebook:
Knoxville child beaten-79.990983009338440.4152931576360361530446469


text:
|1. Pretty beach house - 2. Happy bananas - 3. Free wi-fi - 4. Bry Bry
This last week has been an emotional one for sure. I started out excited about finding out I was pregnant, but then found out I wasn't after all. Boo. (But, while we're on the subject, thank you so much for all of your sweet, thoughtful, helpful comments. I read every one and each time I was so touched by your love and care. Thank you.)
Then, Bryan and I were going to go on a trip to check out a place where we might want to live after Bryan's done with school. We've been talking about it (the place and the trip) for months now and I was so excited about it. We'd be leaving Olivia in the care of Bryan's mom and having a few days to ourselves. At the beach. Without a two year old. So you can relate, I'm sure, to my frustration when Olivia got sick and was throwing up the morning of the day we were supposed to leave on our little escapade.
Luckily she got better fast and we were able to leave the next day, but not after I let out some frustration about this unexpected change in plans. Sometimes I feel like my entire life is an unexpected change in plans. Sometimes I'm pretty good at taking it all in stride. And sometimes I just want to throw a tantrum. Uhh... I might have not been taking it all in stride very well these last few days.
|1. Stacking shells - 2. Me in the mirror - 3. Driving - 4. Looking at neighborhoods
But we had a nice drive down to the town we wanted to check out and things seemed to be on the mend. "This is going to be a nice trip after all," I thought. And it was. Right up until the time when we pulled into our motel.
We had already made reservations online or else I would have said, "No way," as soon as we pulled up to the place. Not the worst place I can imagine, but definitely on my list of "I don't ever want to stay here" kind of places. We went inside and got our keys, but when we went back out, the sketchy guys that had been outside when we went in started totally fighting. Luckily the fighting was verbal and only sort of physical, but I swear I saw one of them (the more angry of the two) packing a gun and I had no desire to stay there any longer. Oh, and, by the way, they were putting on this whole scene right in front of our room.
I told Bryan we should go and come back later, so we left and headed down to the beach. Where I bawled. The whole day (which started out with me finding out I wasn't pregnant after all) had already been such an emotional roller coaster and now there were really scary guys fighting in front of our room. I thought about having to sleep there (or, rather, how I knew I wouldn't get any sleep there) and I just felt miserable. Bring on the pity party.
Finally, I calmed down and called the guy at the front desk of the motel. I explained everything and said I just didn't feel comfortable staying there now. He talked to the manager and they refunded us the payment for our room. We went and booked a room at another motel (not nearly so sketchy) and then went out for some pizza and visited the beach again. "Okay, this is going to be a good trip after all," I told myself again.
On our way home that night we drove past the first motel. There were two police cars out front.
|1. Beach - 2. Nugs & honey - 3. Sweet onion chicken teriyaki -4. Pretty blue beach house


text:
You are viewing the public part of the archive. Login or request access to view more content.
Displaying 1-1 of 1 results
XIX International AIDS Conference. Session on leadership and health policy with leaders of community networks in Russia and India, and the US governmental program PEPFAR. They answer questions on access to ARV treatment, housing and morphine for pain relief.


text:
Current Publication:
Quintessence International
September 2013
44 , Issue
Iatrogenic orthodontic dental trauma: A case report
Gencay, Koray / Tuna, Elif Bahar / Yaman, Duygu / Ozgen, Mehmet / Demirel, Korkud
First time users activate
your account.
Subscribers receive full access to the
online version of Quintessence International.
Single back issues of Quintessence International are
available at a price of $23.00 per issue. You will need
to know the volume, issue number, and year of the journal
you wish to purchase.
Nonsubscribers can purchse single articles
from Quintessence International for $25.00 per article.
Home | Subscription
Services | Books
| Journals
| Multimedia
| Events
| Blog
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | About
Us | Contact
Us | Advertising | Help | Sitemap | Catalog


text:
Small, medium or enterprise, every business needs a solution for online meetings. When meeting with clients or colleagues in different locations, AnyMeeting can be instrumental in bringing businesses and professionals together. But, it can be used for more than just business right?
Absolutely, online meetings can bring friends, family and acquaintances together as well. Here are some ways AnyMeeting can help bridge the communication gap outside the office.
- Sports team and league meetings – Meet with coaches and parents and discuss team and league activities before and during the season.
- Community meetings – With busy work schedules, it's hard for everyone to attend community meetings. AnyMeeting gives everyone the opportunity to attend from their desk, and make sure their voice is heard.
- Party/event planning – Planning a big party or event? Get everyone involved together quickly and work out the party details. Don't get caught up in the chain of confusing back and forth "Reply All" emails.
- Connect with family and friends – Bring friends and family members from different locations together, especially those who may not have connected in a long time. AnyMeeting lets you create your own online family reunion.
Our lives get filled with so many obligations that it often can be hard to attend important meetings in person, let alone connect in person with family and friends far away. However, with the help of a good solution like AnyMeeting, you can bridge the communication gap inside and outside the office.
We have seen from surveys that users are already relying on AnyMeeting for many non-business meetings, including soccer clubs, scout troop and community meetings, and party planning with family and friends. So, next time you're faced with organizing a bunch of people, and you can't meet in person, use AnyMeeting, and why not? It's free.


text:
Your safety circuit is easy to create on the PC using the PNOZmulti Configurator. The configuration tool supports you with the project design, configuration, documentation and commissioning of Pilz controllers.
On the graphics-based, Windows®-compliant user interface all elements are available for your safety circuit as icons or in selection menus. Online help with documentation is available during configuration of the safety circuit. Once it is complete, the tool checks the circuit for any errors.
The fully configured safety circuit can be certified to protect it from unwanted changes. You can edit, amend or expand uncertified configurations of your safety circuit at any time. Simply call them up in the PNOZmulti Configurator! The configuration can be printed out and used as documentation.


text: The last few weeks we have had a great run of swell here in California, giving us the perfect opportunity to put the new Aviso Gold Series to the test in all sorts of different conditions. From Trestles to Rincon it has passed with flying colors. It is the ultimate combination of technolgy, durability, function and form. We strive to bring you the finest quality products here at Aviso using the finest materials, and the Aviso Gold Series is the New Generation of Surfboard Technology!


text:
Interesting. Sounds like a pretty solution for town centres, maybe. Anyone got a piccy?
PlantLock constitutes an "immovable object" to lock bicycles to, weighing 75+kg when planted up.
... Effective against opportunist thieves, but if they really wanted your bike, just turn it over using the bike as a lever, and all the earth comes out.
Could they be smashed with a 4lb lump hammer (quick job, and an easy takealong tool)?
Page created in 0.109 seconds with 27 queries.


text:
Wise Owl Trading & Wise Owl Wealth Mastery are an elite swing-trading and long term value investing idea generation site....
We offer a live day-trading room wherein through real life idea generation and real life examples we educate short-term positional traders and daytraders ....we have been told many times that our real-live day-trading room/school offers great day-trading ideas and our live chart tutoring along with exceptional stock picking strategies intraday using real-time set-ups is a great asset.
Wise Owl Trading & Wise Owl Wealth Mastery is dedicated & committed to providing the Highest Quality Source of information for Day & Swing trading idea generation for the Active and Semi-Active investors / traders who desires to grow their wealth by beating the market returns year after year.
Wise Owl Trading & Wise Owl Wealth Mastery provides the very best and most up to date market analysis in real-time for our day-trading subscribers.
We have spent the past 15-years developing our unique propriety trading systems that work well in both BEAR and BULL markets as well as trending and sideward and consolidating markets!
Our exclusive and time tested stock picking, trend following and counter trend entries have delivered consistent profitable ideas and our timely superior option idea generation, while we consistently seek a reward to risk of 3:1 or better!
You will learn how to achieve consistent profits, how to protect you profits while mitigating your losses and as such you will become an elite Trader/Investor!
Wise Owl Trading & Wise Owl Wealth Mastery believes that the single most important factor in trading for a living and being successful is [Money Management, Discipline, Money Management and Discipline]. Money Management to us means managing a trade after it has been executed by utilizing specific stop-losses to mitigate risk and enhance profits!
Wise Owl Trading assists throughout the trading day with its various ideas and suggestions to establish the proper mindset for prosperous trading/investing. With Great idea generation and suggestions and real-time trading/investment ideas and then subsequent trade management are just two of the key ingredients to successful T-Waves continually assists traders/investors in overcoming this emotional battle that rages within us when our precious money is on the line.
Wise Owl Trading provides entries regarding out submissions/ suggestions/ideas with confidence factors, targets, and money management suggestions with stop-loss price and profit targets for all swing trades and option trades, as well as an explanation of our reasoning behind the suggested plays.


text:
No RICO liability for out-of-state vendors
Below, Brian Goldman of Stanford Law School recaps the Court's opinion in Hemi Group, LLC v. City of New York, which was decided on Monday. Brian's preview and recap of oral arguments in the case were published on the blog in early November, and are also available on the Hemi Group (08-969) SCOTUSwiki page.
On January 25, New York City was handed a defeat in its effort to recoup thousands of dollars in unpaid tobacco taxes when the Court ruled, by a vote of five to three, that the City could not use the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to go after out-of-state on-line cigarette retailers.
The case, Hemi Group, LLC v. City of New York, No. 08-969, arose out of the City's effort to collect treble damages from out-of-state internet vendors who sell cigarettes to City residents at deep-discount prices "" discounts made possible, the City contended, because the vendors do not collect the $4.25 per pack in state and local taxes that vendors within the City must include in their prices. The on-line vendors are not required to collect such taxes, however; rather, the individual purchasers are required to report and pay the taxes themselves. To assist states with enforcing the taxes, the federal Jenkins Act requires out-of-state vendors to report the names and addresses of purchasers to each customer's home state. Hemi and other such vendors had committed mail and wire fraud, the City alleged, by failing to file the required reports and by advertising cigarettes to purchasers as "tax free." Because that fraud deprived it of tax revenues, the City sought to recover the lost revenues by suing the vendors under RICO's civil provision. After the district court dismissed the suit, the Second Circuit reinstated it. (Justice Sotomayor, who was a member of the panel that heard the case below, did not participate in its review at the Court.) The Court granted cert. in May 2009 and heard argument last November.
The Court reversed, holding that the City could not use RICO to seek damages from vendors, who were under no obligation to collect taxes in the first place. Writing for the Court, the Chief Justice described the case as one "about imposing [RICO] liability to substitute for or complement a governing body's uncertain ability or desire to collect taxes directly from those who owe them"""the individual purchasers. (Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito joined the opinion in full; Justice Ginsburg, who concurred separately, joined only in limited part. Consequently, the thrust of the Chief Justice's analysis commanded only a plurality of the Court.*)
The Court observed that Hemi presented two distinct challenges to the City's RICO claim: First, it denied that lost tax revenues were cognizable as an injury to "business or property." Second, Hemi disputed that the City's asserted injury arose "by reason of" its allegedly fraudulent requirement, as RICO requires. Though the courts of appeals had been divided over the first question, and notwithstanding an amicus brief filed by twenty states urging recognition of the injury, the Court declined to reach the first question because it determined that the causation requirement had not been met.
RICO's limited applicability to injuries incurred "by reason of" a predicate fraud imposed not only a "but for" requirement, the Chief Justice explained, but also a "proximate cause" one as well. Here, the City's causal theory was too attenuated to satisfy this standard: Hemi's alleged fraud was its failure to submit the required Jenkins Act reports to the State, which would have then had to pass on the information to the City. The City's injury, meanwhile, arose most directly from purchasers who were legally obligated to pay the cigarette tax on their own, but failed to do so. Although receiving the purchasers' information from Hemi (via the State) might have enabled the City to pursue non-paying purchasers for a tax assessment, there were too many links in that causal chain. Rejecting the City's theory, the Chief Justice explained that it would "require[] that we extend RICO liability to situations where the defendant's fraud on the third party (the State) has made it easier for a fourth party (the taxpayer) to cause harm to the plaintiff (the City)." Citing to the Court's RICO precedents, the lead opinion noted that the kind of "direct relationship" required between the fraud and the injury was lacking here.
In her concurring opinion, Justice Ginsburg observed that the City could not compel Hemi, a New Mexico corporation, to collect City taxes. She viewed its RICO action as nothing more than an attempt "to overcome that disability," and to broaden the "quite limited remedies" available under the Jenkins Act itself. Moreover, she noted, because the City had not even brought any claim under the Jenkins Act, it effectively conceded that no predicate fraud had been committed at all. Justice Ginsburg, however, declined to join the Chief Justice's proximate-cause analysis.
Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Stevens and Kennedy. He viewed Hemi's fraud as a clear proximate cause of the City's injury. The City's losses were foreseeable, he observed, and moreover Hemi intended them; indeed, Hemi's entire competitive advantage stems from shielding customers from cigarette taxes. Citing to torts treatises, he noted that both foreseeable and intended consequences of an intentional act are "proximate" at common law. Taking issue with the Chief Justice's suggestion that the intervening acts of third parties "" purchasers not paying the tax they owed "" made the harm attenuated here, Justice Breyer noted that "an intervening third-party act, even if criminal, does not cut a causal chain where the intervening act is foreseeable and the defendant's conduct increases the risk of its occurrence." And while Hemi's alleged fraud deprived the State, rather than the City, of the required customer reports, Justice Breyer suggested that the State's contractual obligation to pass the information on to the City made that step in the causal link insignificant. Moreover, the harm incurred through such inter-state tobacco tax arbitrage is "well within the set of risks that Congress sought to prevent" through the Jenkins Act, and liability generally flows when a defendant's fraudulent misrepresentations cause the intended beneficiaries of a statute to suffer pecuniary loss. Justice Breyer distinguished the precedents upon which the Chief Justice relied, noting that they concerned unintended or unforeseeable harms.
Turning to the first question "" whether the City's loss of tax revenue is "business or property" under RICO, and thus a cognizable injury at all "" Justice Breyer argued that it should be. While acknowledging the concern that such a result "would turn RICO into a tax collection statute," he pointed to Justice Department guidelines demanding prosecutorial restraint to suggest that RICO would only be employed in large-scale cases of fraud, not for individual cases of tax collection. The Chief Justice, responding to this argument in a footnote, noted that such guidelines are "not only changeable, but have no applicability whatsoever to state or local governments."
(* For apparently only the second time in its modern history, the Court issued an "opinion of the Court in part" that did not explicitly delineate "" for example, by reference to Roman numeral-designated parts "" which portions of the opinion commanded a majority and which were supported by only a plurality. See also Daniels v. United States, 532 U.S. 374 (2001). In this case, Justice Ginsburg joined "the Court's opinion to the extent it is consistent with" her concurrence, but "[w]ithout subscribing to the broader range of the Court's proximate cause analysis.")


text:
Put on your sunglasses because summer is going to be even brighter with fashions in shades of eye-popping neon. Although these bright colors may seem intimidating, when styled correctly they look modern and flattering. Check out 3 ideas below on how to style neon in your everyday wardrobe.
A classic silhouette in a bright tangerine is a modern day Audrey Hepburn style with vintage-inspired accessories and nude pumps.
1. TOPSHOP Petite neon scuba skater dress $92 2. MARC BY MARC JACOBS Clutch bag $297 3. RJ GRAZIANO Multi scalloped necklace $198 4. ZOE AND MORGAN Amethyst cocktail ring $429 5. Le Silla Nude patent Leather Platform Sandals $630
A bright yellow top paired with denim shorts and bohemian accessories is a great way to stay casually on trend this summer.
1.Splendid neon yellow vintage whisper racerback $95 2. JOE'S JEANS Joes jeans – short in deedi $138 3. GOGO PHILIP Necklace $354. SERGIO ROSSI Sandal $437 5. ANTIK BATIK Aqua/gold bracelet set $110 6. JULIE K HANDBAGS Julie k handbags – terri fringe in camel
Try pairing a printed top with a pair of turquoise jeans and a fabulous white tuxedo jacket for a night out.
1.ASOS textile Elizabeth and james jeans skinny neon $160.90 2. ELLA MOSS Rosa flora print top $138 3. Balmain Tuxedo Jacket $3540 4. ASH Black strappy leather hot sandals $137.60 5. REBECCA MINKOFF Leather convertible zip clutch $330 6. CC SKYE Black baja malibu bracelet $145


text:
There are no Upcoming Shows listed for this comedian.
Patrick Passafiume
Patrick was born in Louisville, KY and at the ripe age of 6 became inspired to be a comedian after watching Adam Sandler and Chris Farley on "Saturday Night Live." Since then he has worked with some of the biggest names in comedy including Rob Schneider, Tom Green, Ralphie May, Bret Ernst, and many others. With his energetic performances and unique perspective on everything from relationships to kidney stones, his fascination with confetti or his famous "Sexy Joke Time", he's always a crowd favorite. He'll be training at Chicago's famed Second City in 2011.
Patrick Passafiume's Upcoming Shows
Patrick Passafiume is Known For
|Cincinnati Brew Ha Ha
|Laughing Skull Festival


text:
Last year, Nokia launched the entry-level Nokia Asha 300 feature phone. This handset runs on the Symbian S40 Operating System. It comes with a 2.4 inch resistive touchscreen display as well as a physical T9 keypad. The Nokia Asha 300 lets you swipe the homescreen to access apps, music or games from the Nokia Store. The manufacturer has recently rolled out a new firmware update for this budget handset.
The new software version is numbered 071.004 and it comes with contacts sync correction, time zone correction, improved features and performance, better stability and so on. The latest firmware update can be downloaded from the Nokia Software Update or via Over-The-Air (OTA). Check out the complete changelog below.
- Nokia Browser 2.0
- Contacts sync correction when switching from Nokia Symbian phones to Asha 300
- Correction to displaying contact's name for incoming calls
- General usability and performance improvements
- Time zone correction in Russia
We advise you to backup all of your data before updating the device, just to make sure that no important files are lost during the installation. To get this software through your device, select Applications > Software Update and choose the software you want to update or you can even dial *#0000# & press options > Check for Updates to get the update.
You may have to wait for few days or even for few weeks before this update is available in your region. If you find something new in this update or if you have any screenshot and videos of this update, then please share with us in the comments section below.


text:
Gov 2.0 L.A. 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PDT)
Event Details
Gov 2.0 L.A. 2013 is upon us shortly.
Gov 2.0 LA started as a way to bring people who are not usually together in the same room to be able to openly discuss both Government 2.0 and the technology around it as well as form long standing interpersonal relationships.
Alan W. Silberberg Opening Remarks Gov 2.0 L.A. 2/12/2011 from Gov20LA on Vimeo.
The 2010, 2011, 2012 events did all that and more. The Twitter hashtag #gov20la that was primarily used for the event has been in continuous year around use with discussions and links about Government 2.0 and gov tech. Very few live events see their hashtags be used for more than a month after the event. There was tremendous innovation and ideas that carried forward into 2010 through the manifestation of many other events as well as actual opengov and gov 2.0 success stories. It was amazing - all these amazing people came together in a place they had never heard of just to take their industry further.
Silberberg Innovations Official Gov 2.0 LA Page:
We are past the point where the "Gov 2.0" in our name does more than evoke recognition. It is time to focus not on the theoretical but on the practical and how that is working or not. This past year the world has witnessed upheaval and change on a scale that is new to all of us. When we did Gov20LA 2011 - Tunisia had just fallen, and the crisis in Egypt was just erupting in full; we had a collection of the some of the world's leading thinkers about guess what: social media in times of crisis and governments. It was to be sure pretty amazing timing.
This year we don't expect any world revolutions while holding the event again, but who knows?
We do know that the speaker lineup is getting better everyday.
The three themes of this upcoming Gov20LA are going to be:
1. Government 2.0 is actually here. Has been now for a while. We might almost be getting to Government 3.0.
2. How digital diplomacy is changing the face of nations and how they talk to each other. What this means for the rest of us.
3. Emergency services are deploying more and more online and it has been providing tremendous advantages in times of crisis like Hurricane Sandy.
Follow us on FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/events/498788870159588/
Follow us on TWITTER http://www.twitter.com/gov20la42
When & Where
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Davenport Institute, Dresher Campus
Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PDT)
Add to my calendar
The First West Coast Gov 2.0 Hybrid conference.


text:
Financial FAQs
Consumers seem to be doing better, as I said last week, in spite of their worries about jobs, the economy and budget deficits (their own more than governments'). Consumer credit jumped $17.1 billion in May for the largest increase since the $19.1 billion boost seen in November 2011, which means they are spending more. Gains for the latest month were seen in both revolving and nonrevolving credit.
Graph: Econoday
Nonrevolving credit, which is being driven higher by strong demand for student loans including in the latest month, rose $9.1 billion. Auto loans also played a supporting role. Revolving credit jumped a giant $8.0 billion which is by far the strongest gain of the recovery. A key question is why revolving credit rose so much. Are consumers more confident about jobs and are more willing to spend? Are consumers using credit cards to fill in for slumping income?
The data do not directly answer those questions, says Econoday. Odds are it is a combination of both. Consumers with jobs are less worried about a layoff. And consumers that are underemployed may be resorting to credit cards. But on a clearly positive note, credit card issuers indeed have returned to the practice of extending credit. Overall, the boost in credit outstanding is helping to sustain the recovery.
One big mystery is why retail sales have been falling, but once again the Commerce Department is using a seasonal adjustment factor, which means sales may actually be rising, but not as fast as in past summers.
Graph: Calculated Risk
The U.S. Census Bureau said that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for June, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $401.5 billion, a decrease of 0.5 percent from the previous month, but 3.8 percent above June 2011. The press release also said that the monthly estimate has a ±0.5 error range, and the annual estimate could be off by as much as ±0.7 percent. And we know unit auto sales are surging, so retail sales estimates are notoriously volatile and subject to revisions.
But there is another adjustment that may be skewing the retail numbers, which don't adjust for price changes, as we said. That is plunging prices that are putting us into deflationary territory.
Graph: Econoday
Though the producer price index in June edged up 0.1 percent, it followed a sharp 1.0 percent plunge the prior month. And it had been following sharply since February 2012. This can be attributed to falling demand, of course, but that might be from other parts of the world, like Europe that is falling back into recession, or China that recently lowered its interest rates to boost domestic demand. In April, China's producer price index (PPI) was negative, and this contraction has since gathered steam. In June, prices fell 2.1 percent year-on-year, suggesting a large part of the economy is already in deflation. .
But though job worries for the unemployed are paramount, their prospects may also improve in coming months, according to the latest JOLTS report. There were 3.6 million job openings on the last business day of May, little changed from 3.4 million in April, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But what is little about the fact that it is way up from 2.4 million openings at the end of the recession in June 2009?
Graph: Calculated Risk
Jobs openings increased in May to 3.642 million, up from 3.447 million in April. The number of job openings (yellow) has generally been trending up, and openings are up about 18 percent year-over-year compared to May 2011. Quits increased slightly in May, and quits are now up about 6 percent year-over-year. These are voluntary separations and more quits might indicate some improvement in the labor market (see light blue columns at bottom of graph for trend for "quits").
We will have more to report on industrial production, retail and housing sales later in the week. They may show that although the economy has slowed during the summer months, growth should pick up in the fall.
Harlan Green © 2012


text:
This is our website. Would you prefer to shop on our website?
This is our website. You previously shopped on our website. Would you like to go to our website now?
Other country sites
My Account
My Bag
The item was successfully added to your Wish List
You are here:
Whether you're looking for sport or casual wear, we have a great range of stylish and supportive men's underwear including boxers, briefs and trunks. We've got men's underwear from world leading brands such as Nike, adidas, Umbro and Puma. Make sure you get the full set and checkout our superb range of men's socks.
We use cookies to give you the best customer experience possible. If you continue to use our website, we will assume you are happy to receive cookies from us and our partners.
More info


text:
Handcrafted Soaps, Bath Bombs, Lotions, Beard Oil, Beard Balm and so much more!
Our best selling fragrance for men and women! What better way to exemplify the perfect man, than to smell like one? This scent depicts a man who is sexy, sensual, romantic, and successful. Sounds about as perfect as it gets, so become the perfect man today.
Each Beard Oil contains approx. 1 oz.
Our Beard Oils contain vitamin E which is used in hair supplement vitamins and plays an important role in protecting the skin and reducing the appearance of scars and blemishes.
Place 4-6 drops of Beard Oil in palm of hand. Rub into hands.
Massage upward into beard and skin, under your chin and cheeks.
To finish, groom bread down & style as usual with your beard comb and brush.
The information on here is not meant to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.It is not meant as a substitute for medical advice or care.
Discontinue use if skin irritation occurs.
Thank you so much for stopping by! We are located in China Grove, North Carolina and we make all of our bath and body products right here in our store. We use only natural ingredients in all our amazingly scented items. Come in and feel free to take a sniff of any one of our beautifully handcrafted soaps, bath bombs, body sprays, lotion, bath salts and so much more! We even have a huge selection of beard oils, beard balms, shave soaps, mustache wax and more for the gentlemen too! We also carry certified, pure therapeutic grade essential oils, diffusers and diffuser jewelry too. If your partial to wax melts, we've got a whole selection of those and warmers too!
Come on in and let your nose choose your favorite scent! You won't be disappointed!
It was easy to order online and the scents available smell amazing! I also like the unscented because it has moisturizer as well. The fact that this place has hand sanitizer is a blessing !
104 S. Main St , China Grove, NC, 28023
Sun & Mon - CLOSED
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday - 10am - 6pm
Thursday - 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm


text:
To many in the United States, the country of Somalia conjures up images of a primitive Third World country. So it may come as a surprise to learn that Somalia and the United States share an unfortunate commonality - they are the only countries in the world that refuse to sign the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child because of its ban on sentencing children to die in prison.
Under the U.N. covenant, sentencing children, even those who commit serious crimes, to permanent imprisonment is considered inhumane and inconsistent with civilized society and thus rejected by the rest of the world.
According to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, there are now about a dozen people outside the United States and Somalia who were sentenced to permanent imprisonment as children: South Africa has four, Tanzania has one, and Israel has seven. In contrast, the United States has 2,270 children serving such a sentence, including 227 in California.
The United States is out of step with the rest of the world in the treatment of children because of recent changes in American political and legal culture. Although the legal capacity to sentence children to permanent imprisonment existed before 1980, it was rarely invoked. This changed with the rise of the conservative movement in American politics and its adherents' strident belief in the deterrent effect of harsh sentencing policies. The rhetorical emphasis of conservative philosophy on punishment and vengeance has created a political culture where politicians compete over who is more ruthless in sentencing offenders. The public policies resulting from this new political culture have led to the harshest sentencing practices in U.S. history.
Nowhere are these harsh policies more evident than in the treatment of children. Before 1990, few children were sentenced to die in prison. When recently asked to explain the United States' noncompliance with international law on the sentencing of children to permanent imprisonment, the Bush administration claimed that the sentences were reserved for only the most hardened young offenders who "had committed gravely serious crimes." Despite the Bush administration's claims, the evidence suggests otherwise.
According to the Human Rights Watch study, 26 percent of the children in the United States condemned to permanent imprisonment were sentenced under the felony murder law. The felony murder law mandates that even when someone is only marginally involved in a homicide, they are held to the same level of responsibility as the primary perpetrator, even if they had no intention to harm anyone and possessed no weapon.
European countries and many states have abandoned the felony murder law as unjust, but it continues to be practiced in California.
Justice in the United States is a function of individual state laws and discretionary charging practices by prosecutors. As it is now, 42 states allow children to be sentenced to prison without the possibility of ever being released. Of these 42 states, six - California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Louisiana, Florida and Missouri - account for more than 1,500 of the 2,270 total. Many of these children committed their crimes when they were 14 or younger, but the laws make no exception and show no mercy. Judges have no discretion, and they must impose the mandatory sentence of life in prison without hope of release.
In California, the decision to sentence children to die in prison is often a function of the political culture of the county in which the crime is prosecuted. Consider the case of Sara Kruzan. Sara was born in Riverside County, where she was raised by an abusive, drug-addicted mother. At the age of 11, Sara was befriended by a 33-year-old man who promised to take care of her. After winning her trust, he proceeded to molest her and coax her into prostitution. When she was 16, she killed him. After she was arrested, the district attorney in Riverside County opted to ignore the extenuating circumstances and sought to have her tried in adult court for first-degree murder. An evaluation by the California Youth Authority concluded she was amenable to treatment in the juvenile justice system, but a local judge - at the urging of the prosecutor - transferred her to adult court, where she was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder. Kruzan is now 28 and a model inmate, but she will spend the rest of her life in prison for the crime she committed at age 16.
Like Kruzan, the children who commit serious crimes at a young age are often the broken and battered survivors of horrendous childhoods, who, if not for their crimes, would elicit pity and compassion. Had Kruzan's case occurred in another county, the legal outcome may have been much different. Because Riverside County takes a more rigid and unsympathetic approach to sentencing than most other California counties, her sentence was harsher than it may have been in another jurisdiction.
State Democratic Sens. Leland Yee of San Francisco and Gloria Romero of Los Angeles have offered a bill abolishing the practice of mandatory lifetime sentencing for children. The bill amends current law to allow consideration for release after the child serves a minimum of 25 years. Although the bill is a reasonable reform that has been adopted in other states, it faces a difficult hurdle as the usual array of conservative interest groups have lined up against it.
In considering this very modest and reasonable reform, the governor and the Legislature should consider the words of Cesare Beccaria, 18th century Italian philosopher and author of the treatise "On Crimes and Punishments" (1764), who wrote that "laws seeking to regulate human actions should not embrace savage measures."
Daniel Macallair is the executive director of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice and teaches in the department of criminal justice studies at San Francisco State University.
© 2008 Hearst Communications Inc.


text:
For millions of online publishers—from the smallest blogger to the largest entertainment, news, e-commerce and information sites—online advertising revenue is vital. When publishers can maximize their returns, everyone benefits from more vibrant online content and websites. But the pace of change in the industry can be intimidating—how can a publisher keep up with what's new, let alone grow their business?
We believe that the new technology we're developing to make display advertising work better will help to grow the display advertising pie for all publishers, by orders of magnitude. We shouldn't be asking how publishers can eke another 5 or 10 percent out of display advertising in the next few years. We should be looking at how the industry can double or triple in size.
We've previously described our three core display ad products for publishers:
- AdSense, which places the most valuable, relevant ads on our partners' websites, without the publishers having to sell the ad space themselves;
- DoubleClick for Publishers, our ad serving platform, which maximizes the value of ad space that publishers have directly sold themselves;
- DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a real-time auction marketplace, which maximizes large publishers' overall returns, by "dynamically allocating" the highest value ad, whether directly sold, or indirectly sold through an ad network.
I wanted to highlight the key principles guiding our future product innovations in this area, as we work to help all publishers maximize their online ad revenues.
1. Making life more efficient
For most large publishers, directly sold ads (ads sold by their own sales force) comprise the vast majority of their ad revenues. But today, selling and managing these ads is frustrating, expensive and often involves tedious manual processes.
Imagine a TV network that receives TV commercials in 100 different formats, languages, lengths and video dimensions, and then has to manually convert, translate and edit them all, then manually count the number of TV sets on which the ad appeared before sending a bill. Sounds crazy, right? Well, that scenario is far less challenging than what most large online publishers face today with display advertising. Today, across the industry, for every dollar spent on display advertising, 28 cents is eaten up in administrative costs. If we can reduce that proportion, it would mean a lot more money going to publishers.
Things like new standards for video ad serving and systems that connect buyers and sellers are helping publishers support the most engaging and creative ads across their sites. But there are quantum leaps to come in this area, for small and large publishers. Think of a political candidate who is seeking donations on his or her website—the candidate can receive money in seconds. Imagine if publishers—even the smallest website—had tools that enabled advertisers to click a button on their site to upload an ad, let them pay for it with a credit card, and then deliver this ad—through the publisher's ad server—within minutes. This sort of "immediate ad" will become possible as ad serving technology continues to simplify the process of buying and selling ad space.
2. Total revenue management
AdSense selects the most valuable ad for publishers from a large number of ad networks, to maximize ad revenues every time a page loads.
New ad serving and "dynamic allocation" technology, like the DoubleClick Ad Exchange, is emerging that enables ad revenues to be maximized across both directly and indirectly sold ad space, ad impression by ad impression, using real-time prices. Second by second, across millions of ad impressions, this can meaningfully boost major publishers' revenues. Using this technology, the average price that a publisher receives for ad space sold through the Ad Exchange is more than 130 percent higher than the average price of ad space sold directly to ad networks. In fact, without this type of dynamic allocation across sales channels, a publisher's revenues can never truly be maximized.
In years to come, this true revenue maximization can get even smarter. There's no question that delivering the right ad to the right user at the right time delivers better results. We have years of experience in doing this with search and text ads; we're now bringing that experience to the world of display. This means investing in a smarter ad server that can automatically learn where and when a given ad will get the best response, as well as manage delivery to deliver those improved results for publishers. This new ad server can even anticipate a publisher's future events and adjust delivery accordingly—for example, if traffic drops off every weekend, the ad server can automatically speed up during the week to keep everything moving smoothly.
3. More insight and control
Our vision is to provide all publishers the smartest possible advertising system that can give them knowledge and control of everything going on with their ad business. The vision is already becoming a reality: the upgraded DoubleClick for Publishers platform offers publishers 4,000 times more data than its predecessor. And in recent years, we've been constantly adding new reporting options for our AdSense partners.
By putting publishers in firm control and empowering them with more data, reports and controls (for example, over what advertisers and ad networks they allow), they'll be able to make fully informed decisions about ad space forecasting, segmentation, targeting, allocation and pricing. This helps them to extract the maximum value from their sites and uncover new advertising opportunities—the gold that's buried under their own sites.
4. Betting on openness
An open ecosystem drives meaningful results for publishers. When a wide range of buyers can bid for a publisher's ad space, through an advertising exchange or network, this creates more competition for that ad space, while giving publishers choice over whose ads they want to appear. On the DoubleClick Ad Exchange, an enormous number of advertisers, belonging to over 50 ad networks, compete for publishers' ad space. Of course, at the same time, we're also providing publishers robust technologies and controls that can block any unwanted ads or networks.
Similarly, we believe that one of the best ways to encourage innovation is to open code to the web developer community. Look at the incredible mashups that have been created through the Google Maps API, or the range of mobile devices that have been created from our open source Android code.
This same approach can generate significant advantages for publishers. When we rolled out the upgraded DoubleClick for Publishers, we launched a new public API. This gives publishers and developers the tools to drive innovation and deliver value-adding "advertising apps" for publishers—like inventory analysis, sales workflow tools and more—without having to build an ad server from scratch. This will help drive the next generation of better, more valuable ad innovations.
5. Everything is going to be "display"
Display advertising is about much more than ads in web browsers. People are watching video, reading newspapers, magazines, books and listening to digital music at an ever-increasing rate. They're turning to a plethora of new devices—smartphones, tablets, e-readers and even video game consoles. We've designed our platform, and are continuing to invest in it, to give publishers a single base that can deliver ads into this expanding world—including streaming video, mobile ad delivery and more.
Looking forward, what we call "display" today will just be "advertising"—a single platform that can coordinate an advertiser's campaign across streaming audio ads in car stereos, interactive mobile experiences on smartphones, and HD video ads on set-top boxes. Imagine if that single platform could optimize the campaign, automatically delivering the best-performing ads, best returns and best mix, across all those platforms. That's the future we envisage.
An exciting time ahead
We're unapologetically optimistic about the future of display advertising for online publishers. There's great innovation taking place in this area that will make the current landscape look primitive within a few years. We'll keep working hard to help all publishers take advantage of these opportunities.
Posted by Jonathan Bellack


text:
Job SummaryGeisinger is seeking an experienced board certified radiation oncologist for its flagship main campus located in Danville, PA. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced radiation oncologist to work in an ACR accredited state-of-the-art-facility while teaching residents and participating in flourishing research. The successful candidate will work closely with our experienced radiation oncology staff which includes ABR certified radiation oncologists and physicists, CMD certified Dosimetrists, oncology certified nurses, ARRT certified radiation therapists, well staffed clinical research support team and superior administrative support. The region offers a hassle-free community living allowing for a balanced professional career and a fulfilling personal lifestyle while in close proximity to NYC, Philadelphia and Washington DC.
Job Duties
We offer:
·Lucrative benefits and compensation package in a low cost of living area
·Academic appointment commensurate with experience
·Exceptional work life balance, favorable call schedules
·Recruitment Loan
·Paid relocation
Position Details
Geisinger is an integrated health services organization widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record and the development of innovative care delivery models such as ProvenHealth Navigator®, ProvenCare® and ProvenExperience®. As one of the nation's largest health service organizations, Geisinger serves more than 3 million residents throughout 45 counties in central, south-central and northeast Pennsylvania, and in southern New Jersey at AtlantiCare, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient. In 2017, the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital became the newest members of the Geisinger Family. The physician-led system is comprised of approximately 30,000 employees, including nearly 1,600 employed physicians, 13 hospital campuses, two research centers, and a 583,000-member health plan, all of which leverage an estimated $12.7 billion positive impact on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey economies. Geisinger has repeatedly garnered national accolades for integration, quality and service. In addition to fulfilling its patient care mission, Geisinger has a long-standing commitment to medical education, research and community service.
For more information, visit www.geisinger.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Does not qualify for J-1 waiver. We are an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or their protected veteran status.
EducationDoctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine- (Required)
Certification(s) and License(s)Licensed Medical Doctor - State of Pennsylvania
|We are an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer Women and Minorities are Encouraged to Apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or their protected veteran status.
We have recently updated our privacy policy and terms of use.
By using this site, you agree to ASTRO's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
We use cookies to provide, secure and improve our services to you. To learn more, click here.


text:
Avaal Technology proudly announces the launch of its Freight Forwarding Fast Track Course
26 Apr 2009
Brampton, ON -- April 16, 2009
AVAAL Technology, leader in logistics solutions in GTA (www.avaal.com) has announced the launch of its Freight Forwarding Fast Track training course, with the first session starting May 2, 2009. An "open house" preview and orientation is scheduled on Sunday, April 26. AVAAL has never doubted the vital importance of training to all levels of any organization involved in freight and logistics activity. The company continues to believe that training is a worthwhile investment in good times and bad. With the economic chill being felt across the business world, a properly trained staff will be essential to any business survival strategy.
The advantages of putting time and effort into staff training speak for themselves. Employees gain greater confidence and undertake their work with fewer costly errors. Improved customer service cements existing business relationships and helps retain customers. Staff and managers respond to training investment with higher morale and greater job satisfaction, which in turn is reflected in higher staff retention.
Dara Nagra, AVAAL C.E.O. and founder, offers the following as the best way to approach training within any freight/ logistics organization: "The key to successful training provision is an understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to who is trained and how they are trained. Each role has different responsibilities and levels of activity, so the training provided must be appropriate for that level or it is a waste for the provider and employee."
AVAAL takes its role in providing industry training very seriously. It is understood that the demands on any business are many, especially in troubled economic times, which is why courses are kept short, pertinent and relevant to both employer and employee. There are many opportunities to undertake training throughout the year to minimize the inevitable disruption created by having staff out of the office.
"We keep content up to date and timely in line with existing legislation, planned changes in legislation and best practices. All of our courses offer practical learning from our pool of experienced and qualified trainers. That is why I say to anyone involved in freight activity - AVAAL has a training solution for you." Mr. Nagra said.
The course was developed at the request of freight forwarding professionals following concerns about the critical international skills shortage in the supply chain and logistics industry.
Program topics cover key areas and are broken up into easy-absorbed modules that focus on practical training in industry acknowledged best-practices that could be effectively applied in the workplace from day one.
This innovative approach to training has been designed by industry professionals and focuses on face-to-face interaction in a workshop format. This delivers an invaluable learning environment for participants through case studies that will improve skills and understanding that can be applied quickly and confidently when the student returns to the workplace to improve bottom line performance.
Topics covered in the freight forwarding course include details of operations including documentation requirements in transportation by road, rail, water and air, warehousing, international trade, customs clearance, insurance, import-export documentation, and marketing.
AVAAL is a recognized Private Career College by government of Canada and students may be eligible for government assistance. More information about educational programs and logistics services available can be obtained by calling 905-595-1313, or by visiting the company head office at 110 - 2 Automatic Road, Brampton, ON L6S 6K8. The company website www.avaal.com also provides information about these services.
For information: http://www.avaal.com or
Contact: email@example.com
Phone: 905-595-1313
Avaal Technology celebrates the completion of its 48th Successful Batch in the Dispatch Specialist course
23 May 2010
Brampton, ON - - May 23, 2010
This Sunday, Avaal Technology celebrated the graduation of its 48th successful batch of students for the Avaal Dispatch Specialist Course... Read More
Avaal Technology celebrates the completion of its 47th Successful Batch in the Dispatch Specialist course
02 May 2010
Brampton, ON - - May 2, 2010
This Sunday, Avaal Technology celebrated the graduation of its 47th successful batch of students for the Avaal Dispatch Specialist Course... Read More
22 Apr 2010
Brampton, ON - - April 17, 2010 Thank you for visiting Avaal's booth at Truck World 2010. It was a fantastic show this year... Read More
Avaal Technology celebrates the completion of its 46th Successful Batch in the Dispatch Specialist course
14 Feb 2010
Brampton, ON - - February 14, 2010
This Sunday, Avaal Technology celebrated the graduation of its 46th successful batch of students for the Avaal Dispatch Specialist Course... Read More
Avaal Technology celebrates the completion of its 45th Successful Batch in the Dispatch Specialist course
11 Jan 2010
Brampton, ON - - January 10, 2010
This Sunday, AVAAL Technology Solutions hosted another exciting graduation ceremony for its logistics training programs. The ceremony included graduates from the 45th batch of Dispatch Specialist Course, the Logistics Specialist diploma program, and the Fast Track Freight Forwarding Course... Read More
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Next


text:
Apparently the crazy beard was real, but that's about it.
Casey Affleck has come clean to the surprise of absolutely no one and pointed out that his Joaquin Phoenix documentary "I'm Still Here," including the infamous appearance on David Letterman's talk show, was all fake.
"It's a terrific performance, it's the performance of his career," Affleck told the New York Times.
Can you imagine two years of pretending to be a bearded, drug-addled, rap-star wannabe for the sake of "gonzo filmmaking" (Affleck's words), and then to have the film entirely panned by critics? And to have the rest of the film-going pubic just yawn. That would suck.
But that's the case as "I'm Still Here" was released this weekend to horrendous reviews including from titan Robert Ebert who wrote that the film was "a sad and painful documentary that serves little useful purpose other than to pound another nail into the coffin."
The New York Daily News gave it no stars and called it "pointless."
Maybe the movie just plain old stunk like Phoenix's beard. Perhaps people were upset that Affleck and Phoenix seemed to be duping the world for so long with the crazy-man act.
"I never intended to trick anybody," Affleck told the Times. "The idea of a quote, hoax, unquote, never entered my mind."
The bright side? Perhaps Phoenix can get back to being a great actor last seen as Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line" now that this social experiment/art project gone very wrong/middle finger to celebrity has finally ended
And it will make for a killer episode of David Letterman, now that Phoenix, presumably normal, will sit on the couch on Wednesday. But probably not worth two years of acting like an idiot.


text:
Brown and Goldstein
Drs. Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein met as young residents at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1966 and struck up a friendship—and eventually a scientific collaboration—that has brought the two to the pinnacle of science. Early in their career, they came across an astonishing case: Two very young siblings were having heart attacks and had extraordinarily high cholesterol. Years of painstaking research at UT Southwestern would find the cause.
Different in background and temperament yet similar in their devotion to science and discovery, Brown and Goldstein's groundbreaking work has helped save millions of lives. And it has inspired the research and careers of succeeding generations of leading scientists. "It wasn't necessary for us to impress the world. We were trying to impress each other," says Mike Brown of his longtime partnership with Joe Goldstein. Learn their story.


text:
COPYRIGHT : © 1996-2020 Jersey Citizens Advice Bureau Limited, Channel Islands. All rights reserved. | Developed by The Refinery
Citizens Advice Jersey hereby reserves all rights that may exist in law or equity for any proprietary or intellectual property herein. Information may not be altered, reposted or sold without permission.
ACCURACY: Although every precaution has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, Citizens Advice Jersey does not accept any liability for errors or omissions.
*We provide telephone advice on Freephone 0800 735 0249 or 724942 between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.


text:
By Liz Premo, Atlantic News Staff Writer
Atlantic News, Friday, May 12, 2006
[The following article is courtesy of Atlantic News]
[Atlantic News Photo by Liz Premo]
HAMPTON -- It was an evening of superlatives — ranging from "great" and "tremendous," to "fabulous" and "beautiful" — when members of the Winnacunnet community gathered for an official ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the high school's new 25-classroom math and science wing.
Close to 100 people were on hand in the lobby of the bright, spacious addition to witness the event and hear comments offered by SAU21 Superintendent Jim Gaylord, and Winnacunnet School Board Chairman Chris Singleton, and WHS Principal Randy Zito.
Winnacunnet school board members past and present joined town officials, staff from local agencies, members of school boards from surrounding towns, WHS faculty members and faithful supporters of the $26.85 million building project, which has brought many welcome and long-needed changes to the Winnacunnet campus.
Addressing the throng, Gaylord said it was "truly a very joyous and momentous occasion. We've waited a long time for this."
Gaylord noted that the "biggest cheer of all [came] from my office staff when the first portable went out last week." It was no secret to those in attendance that he was referring to the modular classrooms — some would say "eyesore" — which have been part of the school's landscape for the last several years.
"This is a great night," said a beaming Singleton, the next person to speak from behind the podium. "The real hallmark, the real cornerstone of this addition is what you're standing in right now."
He expressed gratitude to the Outreach Committee for their promoting the project, and to the 75 percent majority who voted in favor of it, saying "You all were so generous to provide the money we needed for this." He also took time to acknowledge local businesses who utilized their signs during voting season to encourage the public to "Please vote 'Yes' for Winnacunnet."
Singleton provided a list of changes made possible with the building project. Not only did it add a sorely needed 145,000 square feet of learning space along with a new athletic facility, but it also provided new boilers and a new roof, asbestos abatement, and a new electrical system.
Renovations included transforming the former cafeteria into an arts center adjacent to the auditorium, and making the old gym into a spacious dining hall.
"We did all this work while school was in session," Singleton reminded everyone, offering particular praise to WHS staffers. "They had to grin and bear a lot," he said. "They saw the big picture — they hung together, they pulled together."
Singleton also gave kudos to architect Frank Marinace for a "tremendous job," and to the construction company, ProCon. "They did a fabulous job," he said.
"Winnacunnet has transformed before our eyes," said Zito, reading from a narrative he had penned, noting that WHS has come a long way from its beginnings as a small 450-student high school "in Homer Johnson's cow pasture." He called the new and improved Winnacunnet a "community asset" and asserted that "we must maintain its legacy as a community asset."
Following Zito's final comments and the celebratory ribbon cutting, those in attendance were invited to tour the new wing and the athletic facility, with WHS students acting as tour guides. Stops were made at classrooms along the way, where visitors and teachers alike marveled at the ample space, gleaming science lab stations, lines of brand new lockers and broad corridors.
Acknowledging the improvements that have been made so far, the finishing touches to come, the creation of an overall better learning environment for its students and a school which the community can be proud of, Singleton affirmed that the ultimate aim is "to make Winnacunnet one of the best schools in New Hampshire, and we really mean that. This is your high school."


text:
We've Moved - Please checkout our current site
More than any other piece of live sound equipment, microphones must be road-worthy. The best live sound gear is created with this mission in mind. The wireless mics have to work every night, and the instrument mics and DIs may have to withstand the occasional hard knock from an artist or a technician. That's why it pays to invest in pro audio equipment for the road. Sonic Circus has a complete selection of road-worthy microphones and microphone accessories, for every type of live sound application from drum mic bundles to rugged onstage condenser mics.
© Copyright 2011 - 2016 Sonic Circus Inc. All Rights Reserved.
1233 Route 30, Harmonyville, VT 05353


text:
Call Of Duty: United Offensive
Call of Duty™: United Offensive -- Expanding on the award-winning, epic and cinematic first-person action of Call of Duty™, Call of Duty: United Offensive delivers more of WWII's most legendary conflicts by offering over 10 new levels in an all-new single player campaign, as well as nine new multiplayer maps. Players engage in explosive action from the front lines with newly added special effects, player abilities and authentic WWII weapons. The enhanced multiplayer component features three new team and objective-based modes including Tank Combat, Capture the Flag and Domination – where players vie for control of the map by occupying multiple key locations scattered throughout the level. Call of Duty: United Offensive is being developed by Gray Matter and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. (PC)


text:
Families urge network to change children's organ transplant policy
PHILADELPHIA - A second family has stepped forward in the public fight to change a donor-organ policy that places sick children younger than 12 years of age at the bottom of the adult transplant list, regardless of the severity of their illness.
The mother of Javier Acosta, 11, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and needs a lung transplant, urged policymakers on Saturday to adopt new rules to make a life-saving adult lung more readily available to her gravely ill son.
"If Javier does not receive a transplant, he will die," Milagros Martinez said during a news conference in Philadelphia. "I say that's unfair because of a policy. It shouldn't be that way."
The family of Sarah Murnaghan, 10, who like Javier is suffering from cystic fibrosis, is also publicly calling for a change in transplant list policies administered by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
The Murnaghan family efforts have garnered national media attention and scrutiny of lawmakers on Capitol Hill, some of whom have called on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to intervene.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson granted the two families a temporary court order barring enforcement of a policy that places children under age 12 at the bottom of the adult lung transplant list, regardless of their illness.
The Murnaghan and Acosta children are both awaiting lung transplants at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. While each is eligible for donor lungs from children, those are rare.
The lawsuits have led some to voice concerns that adding children to adult transplant rosters could end up pushing deserving older patients farther down the list.
But Stephen Harvey, a lawyer for both families, said his clients want a policy change based on patients' relative conditions, not their ages.
"We're seeking that the system allocate a lung to Javier based on the severity of his condition," Harvey said. "So if there's an adult who's more severe than him, that adult gets the lung. We're not asking to jump to the front of the line."
The executive committee of the Organ Transplant Network is due to meet on Monday, at which time it could announce a review of the transplant rules. Failing that, a hearing to review the restraining order is scheduled for June 14 before Judge Baylson.
It was unclear how many children would be affected by a shift in rules. Harvey said there are 16 children aged from 5 to 10 currently seeking lung transplants, and that 23 such procedures were performed on children in 2011.


text:
[FAQ Index] [To Section 2 - Other OpenBSD Information Resources]
The OpenBSD project produces a freely available, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based UNIX-like operating system. Our goals place emphasis on correctness, security, standardization, and portability. OpenBSD supports binary emulation of most binaries from SVR4 (Solaris), FreeBSD, Linux, BSDI, SunOS, and HPUX.
This FAQ specifically covers only the most recent release of OpenBSD, version 4.2.
OpenBSD 4.2 runs on the following platforms:
CD bootable means that OpenBSD will boot directly from the CD. The CD set will boot on several hardware platforms. See chapter 3 of this FAQ for details of obtaining OpenBSD on CD.
More information on OpenBSD platforms can be found on the Platforms page.
People sometimes ask why we support so many "odd" machines. The short answer is, "because we want to". If enough skilled people (sometimes, "enough" is only one really skilled person!) wish to maintain support for a platform, it will be supported. There are practical benefits to keeping OpenBSD multi-platform: when new platforms come out, the code tree is relatively free of portability-breaking bugs and design flaws. The OpenBSD platforms include 32 bit and 64 bit processors, little and big endian machines, and many different designs. And yes, supporting "unusual" platforms has helped produced a higher-quality code base for more "common" platforms.
OpenBSD is all free. The binaries are free. The source is free. All parts of OpenBSD have reasonable copyright terms permitting free redistribution. This includes the ability to REUSE most parts of the OpenBSD source tree, either for personal or commercial purposes. OpenBSD includes NO further restrictions other than those implied by the original BSD license. Software which is written under stricter licenses cannot be included in the regular distribution of OpenBSD. This is intended to safeguard the free use of OpenBSD. For example, OpenBSD can be freely used for personal use, for academic use, by government institutions, by non-profit making organizations and by commercial organizations. OpenBSD, or parts of it, can also be freely incorporated into commercial products.
People sometimes ask if it bothers us that our free work is put into commercial products. The answer is, we would prefer that our good code be widely used than that commercial software vendors reimplement and create badly coded incompatible alternative solutions to already solved problems. For example, it is likely that SSH is a widely used protocol due to this freedom, much more widely used than if restrictions had been placed on how people used the OpenSSH code.
This isn't to say we would object to financial or hardware support in thanks. In fact, it is stunning how little support of any kind comes from companies that depend upon OpenBSD for their products, but there is no requirement of compensation.
For further reading on other popular licenses read: OpenBSD Copyright Policy.
The maintainers of OpenBSD support the project largely from their own pockets. This includes the time spent programming for the project, equipment used to support the many ports, the network resources used to distribute OpenBSD to you, and the time spent answering questions and investigating users' bug reports. The OpenBSD developers are not independently wealthy and even small contributions of time, equipment, and resources make a big difference.
New users frequently want to know whether OpenBSD is superior to some other free UNIX-like operating system. That question is largely unanswerable and is the subject of countless (and useless) religious debates. Do not, under any circumstances, ask such a question on an OpenBSD mailing list.
Below are some reasons why we think OpenBSD is a useful operating system. Whether OpenBSD is right for you is a question that only you can answer.
We are greatly indebted to the people and organizations that have contributed to the OpenBSD project. They are acknowledged by name on the donations page.
OpenBSD has a constant need for several types of support from the user community. If you find OpenBSD useful, you are strongly encouraged to find a way to contribute. If none of the suggestions below are right for you, feel free to propose an alternative by sending e-mail to email@example.com.
OpenBSD is maintained by a development team spread across many different countries. The project is coordinated by Theo de Raadt, located in Canada.
Of course, additional applications can be added through the OpenBSD packages and ports system.
While OpenBSD has a great reputation as a "server" operating system, it can be and is used on the desktop. Many "desktop" applications are available through packages and ports. As with all operating system decisions, the question is: can it do the job you desire in the way you wish? You must answer this question for yourself.
It might be worth noting that a large amount of OpenBSD development is done on laptops.
License is often the biggest problem: we want OpenBSD to remain usable by any person anywhere in the world for any purpose.
Another major consideration is the wishes of the developers. The OpenBSD developers are the ultimate judges of what does and doesn't go into the project. Just because an application is "good" doesn't mean the OpenBSD project wishes to devote the resources needed to maintaining it, or that they will share other's enthusiasm about its place in OpenBSD.
Some commonly asked questions about third-party products:
Of course, If you wish to use one of these packages and your use is compatible with the license of the products, no one will stop you (that wouldn't be very free if we tried, would it?). However, your needs may change -- you may not want to develop a "Killer Application" that you can't sell, distribute, or get rich from because you incorporated non-free software into it.
[FAQ Index] [To Section 2 - Other OpenBSD Information Resources]


text:
Ages: Age 18 & Up
Class schedule: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
Time: 7:15 pm - 7:45 pm
Cost: $20 per month or $5 drop in fee per class/
Class participation: minimum 4, maximum 8
Requirements: Participants must bring a yoga mat. Water bottle and a towel are recommended.
Important note: There are not any makeup classes for absences.


text:
|Reviews & Columns
TV on DVD
International DVDs
In Theaters
Reviews by Studio
Video Games
Collector Series DVDs
Easter Egg Database
DVD Talk Radio
Feature Articles
Anime Talk
DVD Savant
Horror DVDs
The M.O.D. Squad
Art House
HD Talk
Silent DVD
DVD Talk Forum
DVD Price Search
Customer Service #'s
RCE Info
Gunner Palace
It's now 2005. American troops have long since left the target of the original aggression – the Taliban-hugging nation of Afghanistan – for the far less certain concerns of Iraq. The dictator of that seen as sinister nation, Saddam Hussein, has been deposed, and the country has actually held its first free elections. And yet there is no exit strategy for the United States, no clear timetable for removing the troops and returning home. During the height of the post-war work, journalist/filmmaker Michael Tucker was invited to take a first hand view of the situation inside the Middle Eastern nation, to live with and ride along with American troops as they implemented often-unclear guiding principles for the region and its people. The result is Gunner Palace, a fascinating, often flawed documentary depicting of the day-to-day problems and pitfalls of the young men and women working to keep Iraq stable and secure. And just like everyone else, they appear to be looking for 'good' reasons for their own involvement as well.
The DVD:
In its prime, it was Uday Hussein's (son of Saddam) pleasure palace – it's gigantic ballrooms, elaborate bedchambers and oversized swimming pool the symbol of decadent dictatorial nepotism. But ever since American troops invaded Iraq to depose the government, wipe out terrorism and install democracy, it has been headquarters to the 2/3 Field Artillery, known as "The Gunners". Part operations unit, part barracks/recreational bunkhouse, the bombed out manor now houses a diverse and dedicated group of young men and women, all sent to a foreign land in the center of the most volatile region in the world with one single mission: defeat insurgency, train new police forces and maintain order.
Michael Tucker, a Seattle journalist and filmmaker now living in Germany, spent two months with the Gunners, learning about the daily grind and nightly terror they must endure while attempting to fulfill their obligations. Mortar shells land precariously close to the estate perimeter, while treks into the city bring a confusing combination of admiration and abhorrence; thanks can be exchanged as readily as rocks and bottles. During their downtime, the soldiers indulge in a few of the luxuries of home – music, computer games, partying – but they never seem to lose sight of the fact that they are thousands of miles from their native soil, part of an assignment that gets more confusing as the days drag on.
This is their story. This is Gunner Palace.
Welcome to the real war in Iraq. Unlike any battle line documentary you have ever seen, Gunner Palace is a shocking, sobering snapshot of the current conflict in the Middle East. Gone are the references to freedom and 9/11. Absent is the government rhetoric offering propaganda-like pronouncements of the military's effectiveness. Certainly we hear the occasional Armed Forces Radio and TV (AFRTV) broadcast with quotes and comments from the White House and staff, a combination of pathetic PR pep rallying and depressing double-speak. But these speeches of support always seem to get stifled, cut off by the sound of the city, or left incomplete as the real action begins to pick up.
This is the job, not the adventure. This is the reality, not the multimedia slick hype. No one here is being all they can be. Truth be told, they are merely doing what is necessary to achieve their goals, accomplish their duty and return home alive. As the voiceover narration by filmmaker Michael Tucker proclaims, this is the new Army...the army of one. A combat concept where the group no longer matters – it's what you can contribute, not what the unit can achieve. Indeed, Gunner Palace is out to rewrite the preconception of the American military and its near infallible image. It is not a film focusing on the terror of combat or the atrocities of battle. It is not a movie mired in misinformation and abject jingoism. It's the story of real people doing a near superhuman task for the sake of a situation most barely comprehend – and how such a position potentially poisons their perception.
Gunner Palace is clearly meant to cut both ways, to support our men and women while simultaneously questioning the overall Iraq policy. How else would you justify the use of humor and (horrid) rap as a theme for the pointless night patrols and tireless, ineffectual raids? Had director Tucker tricked us, throwing in the successful breakup of a major terrorist cell, we'd understand the need to let off some insubordinate steam. But when the only successful mission we see nets three RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) weapons from a sack stored in an air duct, the resulting pool party blowout seems almost surreal.
Indeed, most of Gunner Palace is couched in such bizarre, dreamlike dimensions. After decades of watching actors trudge through the trenches, storm the shores of a D-Day France, or wade through the brackish water of a Vietnamese jungle Hell, to see the flat, faceless facade of Iraq spread out like the desert it is made from, buildings being the sole source of fortification, turns battle into something quite baffling. So does the off-hours footage. Soldiers strumming guitars and playing death metal riffs for native Arab interpreters is just – odd. Seeing them download porn or have fun with first person shooter games on their laptop computers is even more disconcerting. During the first Gulf War, many pundits argued that technology was turning combat into something more suitable for the Playstation. By Iraq, such sentiments are scarily prophetic – and very, very real.
But this is not the most unsettling thing in Gunner Palace. This is a movie that does not show casualties or war wounded, a film that couldn't care less about the blood and guts of warfare. Indeed, the fighting itself – if and when there is some – is not the most frightening aspect here. The combat in Iraq is sporadic, poorly organized and fueled by religious and ideological passion – not a good combination for effective conflict. Instead, the streets of Baghdad are more like those of South Central Los Angeles, or any other center of urban unrest. Violence can and does arrive at any moment, from any source or circumstance. But it is almost always the result of rage and revenge, not real or rational strategies.
When pushed to identify the number one fear among the troops though, the answer is almost universal – IEDs. The acronym stands for Improvised Explosive Devices and these basic, sloppy bombs that can be easily hidden and incredibly deadly. Soldiers fear these most of all because, unlike gunfire, you never hear the piece of metal with your name on it until well after the detonation – if ever.
The most disquieting aspect of this movie however, are the individuals that it highlights. Hopefully anyone assuming that this will be an anti-American, leftist-leaning rant will take heart in understanding that Tucker isn't out to expose corruption or dissention in the ranks. No, this is just a slice of life, told by individuals who aren't afraid to do as they feel and speak their minds. Problem is, many of these soldiers are fresh out of high school, teenagers wearing their pop culture proclivities and insular worldview directly out and on their military issue sleeves. The result is scary, since it argues that events capable of turning the world inside out are being controlled and monitored by drop out and disaffected, directionless youth.
If there is a "star" in Gunner Palace, it would be SPC Stuart Wilf. Tucker's narration gives him an ominous, hair-trigger temperament, stating that he comes from "somewhere in Colorado – near Columbine". A better location indicator, based on the way this nonstop cut-up acts, would be South Park. Wilf thinks he's the Iraqi bee's knees, and the rest of his unit is right there to back his buffoonery. Whether it's countering Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's comments on how the $87 billion Congress dedicated to the war meant that troops now had state of the art armor on their vehicles (which Wilf points out, allows the shrapnel to STAY in your body, not quickly pass through) to dressing like an Arab and doing a dopey, racially insensitive dance, Wilf is stand-up without a brick wall to back him. He's unbridled Id fueled by fear and the limelight of a camera. All he has is the palace, a place that he rules like the hard rock loving court jester he is. And he more than anyone else, tries to make the most of it.
Certainly, there are other soldiers who counter Wilf's ADHD antics, thoughtful souls who put their, and the United State's, place in this predicament clearly and precisely into perspective. One solemn member of the Gunners laments that he joined the Army to defend his country, something he feels he is no longer doing. Trying to bring democracy to a nation not necessarily interested in said sentiment has no bearing on why he enlisted. He's not protecting the US – he's babysitting a powder keg. Others lament the passive role played by politicians, arguing that they understand NOTHING about the insecurity and vulnerability of the American position in Iraq. Many just want to go home to loved ones and normalcy. Others hope they've made some difference. Not everyone has Wilf's desire to turn war into his own personal piece of performance art, but many don't mind giving it a little gansta' edge (more on this in a moment).
All of this might make you think that Gunner Palace is the perfect Fahrenheit 9/11 antidote, a fascinating film that takes the edge off the nationalistic nature of the post-millennial White House. But in many ways, Tucker's film is a bigger indictment of the Bush administration that Michael Moore's Me-First movie could ever be. All the stories and rumors we hear about the less than stellar end-game strategy the US has for Iraq are played out in spades via Tucker's tireless recording. Raids on supposed cells of terrorists yield nothing, while one overweight "financier" is taken into custody for having several new cellphones and $100K+ in US dollars stashed in his house. We see more frightened old ladies and aimless children than insurgents with weapons and the will. In many ways, the various scouting trips and recognizance missions are justification for keeping the troops in the country. But one can also argue that America really doesn't know what to do with the nation it conquered (or "freed"). The incursions then become a metaphor to aimlessness, of doing anything to avoid looking ineffectual and lost.
And then there is the rap. Endless scenes of soldiers 'freestylin'', proving time and again why they are in the military and not on the pop charts. Unlike their MTV mired brethren, these soggy street poets don't have the skills to pay the GI bills. They can barely rhyme and reduce warfare to a homophobic display of "N" word wizardry. All they need is the misogynistic references to "bitches" and "hoes" and they'd be ready to audition for P Diddy's Making the Band IV. Tucker obviously intends these irritating interludes as a gritty Greek chorus commentary on the realities of Iraq. But aside from a single speaker, who the film labels as the unit "poet", the rest of the hopeless hip-hop functions as a foil to the unflinching facts offered by Gunner Palace. It's just bad beat boxing.
Perhaps like the war on terror itself, Gunner Palace is meant to divide and enrage. For every person who sees the military as hopeless louts without a stick of common decency or empathy for the people whose nation they've ravaged, there will be those who stare in wild-eyed wonder at just how brave and brazen our boys (and the occasional girl) can be, even under the most Hellish of situations. Many will look at Wilf or his rap happy comrades and see them as symbols of stoicism, rising above the fray to keep a little bit of home in their heart while stationed in this less than demilitarized zone. Others will experience their antics, their frayed frustration that leads to outbursts of irrationality and intolerance and believe their worst, myopic military nightmares have been realized.
There is no denying the power in seeing war as it really is – unpredictable and uncontrolled – lacking the choreography of Hollywood action movies or outright politics of other documentary approaches. But Gunner Palace may not really be doing what it thinks it's accomplishing. There is no nobility in ridicule, no professionalism in pawning off responsibility. In some ways, the soldiers here appear exasperated, not invigorated, by having to fulfill their roles as paid members of the US armed forces. They volunteered – but many would argue it wasn't for a tour of duty in a depressing, capricious country filled with so much anti-western sentiment. Even those opposed to the war in Iraq understand the need to support our troops. Too bad the soldiers don't have the same faith in the challenge they've been given. Gunner Palace is not a great film, but it is a contentious one. Everyone should see it, if only to paint the pabulum spoon-fed to us by the Evening News and 24 hour cable news station in realistic, authentic terms.
The Video:
As a film, Gunner Palace is pretty poor. Tucker is obviously unskilled with a camera when required to do anything other than point and shoot. During the "action" scenes – the raids and routine training missions – his frenetic, handheld style becomes very aggravating and difficult to follow. He also utilizes a less than stellar technological set-up, which means the image presented will flare, bleed, white out and solarize certain sequences unless all the conditions are absolutely perfect. While some or all of this can add an air of authenticity to the showcase, is does not make for a work of cinematic excellence. Palm Pictures does what it can with the DVD transfer, offering a 1.33:1 picture that, while far from faultless, does a decent job of making the visuals clear and crisp.
The Audio:
Since it was not recorded with professional sound equipment, don't let the dual options of Dolby Digital Stereo and 5.1 Surround fool you. The only channel challenging elements are the rap songs – and "challenging" would be a good word for what they do to your aesthetic. The rest of the aural presentation is flat, thin and often indecipherable. Chalk up the lack of clarity to the camcorder concept of dialogue recording. This is why several of the scenes are subtitled. It is not an artistic element to add emphasis to a particular statement or idea. It's done so that we can hear what's going on.
The Extras:
There is one major, and three very minor bonus features on this DVD. The only additional context comes from the 17 additional clips included here, running about 27 minutes total. Interspersed among more musical moments and calm confessionals are scenes of the 2/3 FA preparing to return home and a prophetic bit with Wilf, home from the war, who is driving around and complaining about how his friends really don't appreciate what he did. What's most interesting about this latter sequence is that news reports on the 'Net indicate that Wilf had a major car accident after returning from Iraq. And even more amazingly, this man who served his nation soon discovers that he has NO health insurance to pay for his injuries. Information like this would have been perfect for inclusion in Palm Pictures' presentation. Sadly, all we get are some random rap tracks, a Gunner Palace trailer and previews for other Palm Pictures product.
Final Thoughts:
The debate over whether we should have invaded Iraq will never result in a consensus. Both sides have their valid points, while also offering less than well thought out excuses for our involvement - or lack thereof. And perhaps, when all the smoke has cleared and the pontification has been placed in perspective, someone will create the ultimate documentary on the issue. But Gunner Palace is not that film. If anything it will energize both sides, giving them ample ammunition to fight their own war of words over the people placed in charge of our participation, as well as the policies they have to enact. Wilf and his buddies will be the litmus test for our interest, just as the half-assed missions they manage to accomplish will highlight/hinder the need for a further escalation. Of course, in the end, it will all come down to reasons – and none of them actually good. The same applies to the film. Gunner Palace is highly recommended, but the rationale for such a rating is less than convincing. This is not a great film. But it is a very telling one. And maybe with a subject as divisive as this one, that's all that matters.
Want more Gibron Goodness? Come to Bill's TINSEL TORN REBORN Blog (Updated Frequently) and Enjoy! Click Here
|Popular Reviews
|Sponsored Links
|Sponsored Links
|Release List
|DVD Giveaways
Copyright 2020 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use