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Search results for: Mobil Numbers Directory
Mobil Numbers Directory
Automated Telephone Billing Services (Rating: 443) , Votes:Offers a full suite of automated telephone billing services that help you turn the telephone into a lucrative revenue stream, including: 800, and 900 numbers, billing & collection, programming.http://PayPerCall.com
Yellow Pages by Bridgat.com (Rating: 150) , Votes:Find online yellow pages business listings, phone numbers, addresses, maps, driving directions and more into online directory.http://yp.bridgat.com/
BtoBers Business Directory (Rating: 19) , Votes:Local business directory, find classified business listings for local U.S. suppliers including telephone numbers, web and email addresses, maps and directionshttp://www.btobers.com/Category: Directory/Business/Internet
Vectorpedia Web Directory (Rating: 87) , Votes:Premier human edited web directory organized by region and category which offers informative SEO friendly websites.http://www.vectorpedia.com
The Free Chat Line (Rating: 510) , Votes:Free directory of free local chatline access numbers in all 50-States. All lifestyles.http://thefreechatline.comCategory: Directory/People & Society/Romance
Phonebooks Helps Find People & Phone Numbers (Rating: 675) , Votes:Online phonebooks and people search at Phonebooks.com. Find people, businesses, home phones, mobile phone numbers and more with phonbooks.http://www.phonebooks.com
Toll Free Forwarding Services (Rating: 158) , Votes:Offers affordable and reliable toll free numbers for instant activation and customized virtual PBX phone system. Our pay-as-you-go prepaid toll free forwarding service needs no contract and no minimum usage required.http://www.get800today.com
Directory Journal Site Reviews, Articles and Blogs (Rating: 5) , Votes:With carefully screened results, Directory Journal provides listings of highest quality along with website reviews, industry relevant news sources, articles and more.http://www.dirjournal.com
1000+ SE Friendly Directories (Rating: 64) , Votes:Directory Critic is a free SEO friendly directory list, directory rating, directory submission tracking and info site. Directory Critic gives webmasters a chance to rate web directories based on their experiences. Offers details like backlinks, PR and indexed pages.http://www.directorycritic.com
LavaSeek Web Directory (Rating: 6) , Votes:High quality human-edited general web directory and link building resource.http://www.lavaseek.com
Links Directory (Rating: 25) , Votes:Links directory with standard and featured links for all quality sites. Fast URL submission approval and family friendly directory.http://www.links-directory.org
LinksFactory.Net Web Directory (Rating: 4) , Votes:A human edited, family-friendly web directory of quality websites and resources. Add your site to LinksFactory.net for one time fee.http://www.linksfactory.net
Romow Web Directory (Rating: 5) , Votes:Human-edited directory of the web organized into categories. All listings are reviewed by editors to maintain quality of the listings. Featured and standard submission options are available.http://www.romow.com
Blue Boomerang - Business Directory (Rating: 121) , Votes:Search the Blueboomerang directory guide for a wide range of business listings covering a variety of areashttp://www.blueboomerang.com
Aviva Web Directory (Rating: 5) , Votes:Offers a general directory with listings from around the world. Browse or submit your link in different categories such as business, travel and computers.http://www.avivadirectory.com/
9ug Directory (Rating: 8) , Votes:Free web directory of quality family-friendly and spam-free sites organized by subject. Offers both free and paid listings. SEO friendly.http://9ug.com
Links directory (Rating: 10) , Votes:Directory submission service for site optimization and best results in search engines.http://www.directorymh.com
Web Directory DirSpace (Rating: 7) , Votes:A growing international web directory of websites organized by topic in a big category structure. Submit URL for editor review and get listed in dirSpace Web Directory.http://dirspace.com/
Telefoane Mobile (Rating: 139) , Votes:Provides a mobile telephony portal with free classifieds, a mobile phones top, news and a complete PDA evaluation guide.http://www.mobilissimo.ro
White Pages (Rating: 262) , Votes:Turn a phone number into a name and a name into a connection with DexKnows' reverse directory. DexKnows who you're looking for.http://dexknows.whitepages.com/
Web Directory Experiment (Rating: 3) , Votes:A premium directory that helps increase: rank, traffic, and back links to your website.http://www.gwde.com
Global Internet Index (Rating: 10) , Votes:GII is a large, spam-free web directory that is search engine friendly and human edited to offer the best value for submitters. The directory lists websites based on niche categories and links listed within content.http://www.gii.in
Lookooh Web Directory (Rating: 25) , Votes:Lookooh Web Directory is a human edited directory of quality websites and resources covering all topics. Guaranteed submission.http://www.lookooh.com/
Webotopia Business Web Directory (Rating: 2) , Votes:Provides a pay-for-inclusion general business web directory, with a clearly categorised structure, offering 6 links for each express submission.http://www.webotopia.org
Dirmania Web Directory (Rating: 1) , Votes:Business Web Directory of family-friendly and spam-free sites organized by categories. Offering only free listings.http://www.dirmania.org/
Shoppers Top - Online Shopping Directory (Rating: 6) , Votes:A human edited online shopping directory providing list of websites which primarily focuses and allows the consumers to select and obtain goods & services online.http://www.shopperstop.org
Free Web Directory (Rating: 37) , Votes:Free general web directory, human edited, seo-friendly, which lists sites under a large variety of topics and regions.http://www.134u.net/
Ask Premium Directory (Rating: 8) , Votes:Holds reviewed listings off high quality authoritative sites. All listings include large thumbnail and original review. Ask directory offers unique user experience, on fast effective site discovery.http://ask-dir.com/
Online Directory Software Solutions, Mobile Features & Data Services (Rating: 358) , Votes:Software solutions for all types of online directories. New mobile features & data services for your customization needs. Reduce time & development costs.http://www.edirectory.com
Biz United Business Directory (Rating: 0) , Votes:Business directory of business resources and services with links to finance, b2b, economy, business, shopping, and webmaster websites.http://www.bizunited.com
Web Directory - LdmStudio (Rating: 12) , Votes:Providea a free web directory organized by categories, offering a search engine, a top sites as well as a newly added section. Listings are updated and checked daily.http://www.directory.ldmstudio.com
Web Design and Web Hosting Directory (Rating: 2) , Votes:Listings for web hosting companies along with graphic and web designers and internet marketing firms. Offering free and sponsored listings.http://www.webhosting-directory.org
Webxperience Web Directory (Rating: 2) , Votes:Offers a searchable, spam-free, human-edited web directory, categorized by topics, featuring express and premium submissions only, by strict editor guidelines.http://www.webxperience.org
Searchnology.com Web Directory (Rating: 10) , Votes:This site features a "living" directory. Every search initiated by a user creates a new directory page comprised of matches for: related internet user searches in order of populariy; websites; ebay auctions; Amazon.com books,music,electronics; Yahoo news; clickBank products.http://www.searchnology.com
WebSkyGuide Directory (Rating: 0) , Votes:Human edited general web directory of quality Internet sites. Features a 24 hour review time. Also offers a search engine.http://www.webskyguide.com
Alabama Business Directory (Rating: 2) , Votes:Alabama (AL) yellow pages and business directory.http://www.zonealabama.com
Voice Services To Businesses & Consumers (Rating: 9) , Votes:Telcan runs two business units: the Retail Services Unit and the Platform Outsourcing Solutions Unit. The Retail Unit provides value-added voice services to businesses and consumers.http://www.telcan.net/tollfree
Smartlipo Directory: Doctors & Surgeons (Rating: 68) , Votes:Learn about procedures, doctors, comparisons. Find a SmartLipo doctor in your area. Also offers a laser liposuction video library.http://www.smartlipo.comCategory: Directory/Health & Fitness/Beauty
Elegant Web Directory (Rating: 1) , Votes:Searchable directory of family-friendly and spam-free websites organized by subject. Offering paid and sponsored listings.http://www.elegantdirectory.com
Biz Directory (Rating: 0) , Votes:General human edited business directory. Only quality websites are included.http://bestbizdirectory.com/
Christians Products Links (Rating: 8) , Votes:Business directory for everything Christian. Submit your Church, ministry or Christian business for free, to a top page-ranking Christian business directory.http://www.christiansproducts.com
LinksJuice Business Web Directory (Rating: 5) , Votes:LinksJuice.com is an established website/business directory. We are here to get your business the exposure it needs.http://www.linksjuice.com
Authority Web Directory (Rating: 6) , Votes:Providing visitors with a powerful human edited web directory of quality family-friendly web sites. Choose from multiple review options when submitting your website.http://www.authoritydirectory.com/
India Web Directory (Rating: 62) , Votes:The SEO friendly and paid inclusion web directory edited by human.http://www.a2zdirectory.org/
Too Much Directory (Rating: 1) , Votes:A directory of accident claims, accountants (& software), payroll services, bailiffs, debt management, independent financial advisors, insolvency practitioners, insurance brokers and solicitors.http://www.toomuchdirectory.co.uk
Directory submission (Rating: 1) , Votes:Internet directory and SEO specialists who do not submit to directories, not even Google.http://www.internetsubmissions.com
100 Lists Web Directory (Rating: 9) , Votes:The 100 lists is a search engine friendly website directory. It is a human edited and standards compliant web directory built to help boost your rankings.http://www.the100lists.com
Directory Maximizer (Rating: 10) , Votes:Offering quality one way links to webmasters by way of directory submissions to quality SEO friendly directories.http://www.directorymaximizer.com
Web Directory Reviews (Rating: 0) , Votes:Twenty web directories are evaluated and rated each quarter, and the top ten directories are highlighted, and placed in competition for the following quarter, along with ten additional directories. Other content includes interviews with industry professional, and blog posts on a variety of topics.http://www.webdirectoryreviews.org/
Blog Directory (Rating: 2) , Votes:Human edited blog directory to submit and promote your blog. Submit your blog to one of our category directories to increase your online presence though targeted visitors to your web log.http://www.addyourblog.com
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Webotopia provides a business directory designed to promote Mobil Numbers Directory companies, products and services whilst helping it's users find the Mobil Numbers Directory information they need. Webotopia business directory, with the help of it's dedicated support specialists and reviewers, enables delivery of Mobil Numbers Directory quality content, excellent customer support as well as value added services such as content publishing and press releases for it's users.


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Chain Robbed: New York Rapper Fred Da Godson Gets His Chain Took By Gang Land Piru aka P.N. 8th Boys! (Footage Of The Blood Flaunting It)
Apparently New York Rapper "Fred Da Godson" got his chain taken from him
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subset: commoncrawl


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No injuries in Air Force base explosion
No injuries in Air Force base explosion
An explosion occurred at a lab on an Air Force base Wednesday morning in Florida, but there were no injuries.
The blast happened at 10 a.m. at the McKinley Climatic Lab on Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, according to the base's Twitter account. The surrounding area was evacuated and a shelter in place order was announced near the explosion as a safety measure.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but Eglin said smoke in the area may have contained methyl chloride because the incident occurred close to the chemical. The smoke has dissipated.
The McKinley Climatic Lab is part of the 96th Test Wing.


text: Chicago—Media Business is seeking nominations for its second annual Top Innovators in Business Publishing Awards. The awards will be presented in six categories: top CEO, publisher, editor, production executive, circulation executive and new-media executive. Media Business will pick winners in each category for both large and small companies and publications. Please send your nominations to Media Business Managing Editor John Obrecht ([email protected]) by Friday March 18. Be sure to include examples of how the nominee's creative thinking has made a difference at his or her company or publication. The winners will be profiled in the May 2 issue of Media Business and honored at a luncheon June 15 at the Grand Hyatt in New York.


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G. Stevens, Jan 1, 1997 - Juvenile Nonfiction - 32 pages
This high-quality multicultural series introduces young readers to the festivals and traditions of some of the most fascinating countries in the world. The cross section of peoples and lands included in Festivals of the World underscores the uniqueness of each people and the cultural diversity found on our planet. Every volume is written in a lively style with numerous contemporary photographs that encourage further study of our worldwide neighborhood. The key to mutual respect and understanding is firsthand familiarity with other cultures.
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Advent calendar Bavaria beggar bigger circle blazes bonfire bright costumes Brocken Burn candies candles are lit CAR-nay-val cardboard carnival celebrate the coming celebrate Walpurgis Night Christians Christmas Eve Christmas market Christmas season begins church cloak to keep cm x 48 colored paper costumes and masks dancing day until Christmas decorating trees devil DINKSBuHLER dress drink fairground feast festival grounds four candles German foods Germany's Glue the ends harvest festivals Harz Mountains Jesus Christ Karneval begin Karneval is called Karneval season Lent Lowenbrdu Martin gave Martin Luther Martin's Day lantern Munich Nikolaus Day Nikolaus look Oktoberfest paper lanterns parade poem popular pretzels Princess Therese Protestant Reformation Santa Claus sausages scary masks sing stand selling started streets strip Sunday There's Therese's Meadow things town traditional Bavarian traditional German clothes Walpurgis Night festival wearing traditional German West Germany winter Witch hunt women Women's Day word for arm


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Many who live deserve death, and some that die deserve life – can you give it to them? Do not be so quick to deal out death and judgement.
Gandalf – Lord of the Rings
Troy Davis is dead. The fact the death penalty is itself alive and well after this and many, many other dreadful injustices, is not a hopeful sign for the abolitionists. For Troy Davis isn't close to being the first, nor will he be the last innocent person to die by state mandate.
The whole Death Row system puts me in mind of the Roman emperors, deciding the fate of prisoners with a signal: thumbs up or thumbs down. At least the Romans were honest in using executions as entertainment, whereas America, supposedly a civilised Western nation, tries to cloak the savage nature of executions with the trappings of a long and drawn out judicial system, in which ultimately a mere handful of people decide the fate of a convicted criminal, while still allowing the public to witness them.
You need only look at the attitudes of the governors who condemn people to death to see how utterly morally unfit we are to decide whether our fellows should live or die. Who can forget George W Bush's mocking of the terrified Karla Faye Tucker's pleas for clemency? And now we have Rick Perry, who has overseen more executions as Texas governor than any American governor in history, and takes perverse pride in this while claiming he loses no sleep that an innocent person may have been killed (the case of Cameron Todd Willingham proves that this is a certainty). What is frighteningly clear is that neither treats the act of ending a person's existence seriously.
How is it that those with power to condemn can do so with such callousness and lack of awareness of the gravity of the act? I don't suggest they think that killing a person isn't a serious step to take, but that they do not appreciate the full awfulness of what killing involves: destroying a person forever. Why is America alone of all Western countries, such a proud and eager enforcer of this terrible and barbaric punishment? Christopher Hitchens pretty much nails it here, I think:
Nobody had been bothering to argue that the rope or the firing squad, or the gas chamber, or "Old Sparky" the bristle-making chair, or the deadly catheter were a deterrent. The point of the penalty was that it was death. It expressed righteous revulsion and symbolized rectitude and retribution. Voila tout! The reason why the United States is alone among comparable countries in its commitment to doing this is that it is the most religious of those countries. (Take away only China, which is run by a very nervous oligarchy, and the remaining death-penalty states in the world will generally be noticeable as theocratic ones.)
And this is the crux of the matter. The overwhelming majority of death penalty supporters in America are Christians. It's tempting to claim that as usual, these Christians aren't following their own faith, but in fact they are. The Bible declares the wages of sin to be death, and the fact we all have to die someday is deemed punishment for our inherent sinfulness. So it is entirely natural for an intensely religious country to see death as an appropriate punishment for particularly evil crimes. And it also explains the lack of comprehension as to exactly what executing a person is doing. When you firmly believe that there is an afterlife, you cannot grasp the fact that by killing a person, you may have destroyed them for all time, and you cannot grasp the incredible awfulness of that fact. Add to that the fact that we just don't know what happens when we die. There may be indeed a heaven and hell, but it is just as likely that death is literally the end for us. It's all very well for religious people to claim that the guilty executed will go to hell, and the innocents executed will be well compensated for their suffering in Heaven (providing they accept Jesus as their saviour of course!), while being just as ignorant as the rest of us as to what comes next. It is precisely because we don't know that no human being should have the power of life and death over another.
There's a strange kind of moral blindness in those who support capital punishment. They claim that murder is such a heinous crime that only death is a punishment sufficiently severe enough for it, while completely failing to see the inherent paradox of the deliberate taking of a human life necessitating the deliberate taking of another human life to balance the books, as it were. It is supposed to deter people from murdering, yet no statistics have ever backed that claim up. On the contrary, instead of acting as a force for good, as its supporters insist, the death penalty is a great force for evil in that it is the result of our very worst instincts, and brings out the very worst side of us. The cries of 'Fry him!', the savage braying for blood, the demand for vengeance, and worst of all, the sickening gloating satisfaction after the execution betrays what America's ultra-civilised system tries to conceal: that capital punishment is primitive, barbaric, and completely uncivilised.
For those of us who naturally oppose the death penalty, there are still traps and temptations that we risk falling into. The most obvious is to make exceptions: clearly, innocent people shouldn't die, but when we read about a child rapist and killer, it becomes very tempting to say, "Well, this person deserves it, because what he did was so terrible." In fact, the very same day Troy Davis was executed, this man was too:
White supremacist Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed Wednesday evening for the infamous dragging death slaying of James Byrd Jr., a black man from East Texas.
Byrd, 49, was chained to the back of a pickup truck and pulled whip-like to his death along a bumpy asphalt road in one of the most grisly hate crime murders in recent Texas history.
There was no doubt about his guilt. He committed a hate crime and murder as evil as any ever committed. This crime makes it easy to see why the death penalty has so many supporters. Yet Brewer did not deserve to die either, because nobody deserves to be put to death. We must always remember that.


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Well, to say it's a quiet time for hockey fans is an understatement. TSN is replaying old IIHF highlights while their analysts suffer through parlour games of deduction aiming to prognosticate the final line-up of next year's Olympic team and I'm sure even they are asking themselves, "Why can't there be a new episode of Breaking Bad every night?"
It's so quiet that the best thing that the Winnipeg Sun could come up with to fill space was an article about Michael Frolik and Ondrej Pavelec being childhood friends. I actually didn't know that but the article failed to offer any detail about their childhoods beyond just being teammates so I, intrepid reporter that I am, decided to do a little digging.
It turns out that not only were they friends but they were such notable young men that their exploits inspired some of The Czech Republic's most famous children's literature: The Mrazuvzdorný Boys! Never published outside of their native country, this series of youth novels followed the adventures of best friends, hockey teammates and junior detectives Froli and Drej. The books are a real gas! There's stories about them hunting ghosts and busting up cock-fighting rings and time-traveling and, apparently, mostly based on real events.
Now, I don't know why Pavelec and Frolik have been so shy up to this point in discussing their childhood celebrity but I do know that if they can muster up any percentage of the inspiration they provided for thousands of young Czechs years ago here in Winnipeg today then we're in for some real fireworks this season!
We'll have to wait and see how they fare on the ice but for now, for your summer-reading pleasure, I'm pleased to present an excerpt from the third, and most popular, book in The Mrazuvzdorný Boys series, "The Case of The Phony Zamboni" by Vaclav W. Dixon. Enjoy!
Chapter 17
Trapped in The Cellar
"I bet that's the last time your dad will ever complain about you carrying a pocket knife!" laughed Drej. Froli snapped the blade closed triumphantly.
"Good thing that kidnapper didn't think to check my jacket pockets before he tied us up. I guess he was in too much of a hurry to claim his ransom!" said Froli. "Let's go tie him up with a jail sentence instead!"
The boys rushed up the cellar stairs only to find the doors locked from the outside.
"He wasn't in too much of a hurry to forget about locking the doors!" said Drej.
"Wait, Drej, "said Froli, "Don't you remember what Coach Havel always tells us when we can't solve a problem?"
"Blame it on the Roma?" replied Drej.
"Yes, but on the ice, when we can't score he also tells us, 'If you can't solve the riddle, change the question!' "
Drej's eyes lit up. "The Water Heater!" he exclaimed.
The boys high-fived and scooted back to the water heater where they had been tied up. Drej took out his pocket flashlight and followed the pipes from the heater up to the ceiling until he reached the spot where the pipe disappeared into the room above. A darkened circle of damp rot spread out from the wood surrounding the pipe. A drop of water splashed down onto Drej's nose.
"I felt that water dripping on us while we were tied up. This is nothing but a rickety, old cabin above us. We can use your knife to dig away the rotten wood and I'm sure we could punch a hole right through!" said Drej.
"But how do we get ourselves up there to hack away at it…?" pondered Froli.
The boys looked all around the cellar for anything that might help them escape but it was empty: No gardening tools, no ladders, not a thing. Then Froli noticed a locked storage cabinet under the stairs and smiled.
"There's more than one use for a pocket knife!" he said.
Froli picked the lock like an expert Roma thief and the boys' mouths dropped open when they saw what was inside. It was a strange shrine devoted to the boys' hockey hero, Jaromir Jagr!
"It's some kind of strange shrine devoted to our hockey hero, Jaromir Jagr" said Froli.
"Your hero," corrected Drej. "He's no Dominic Hasek!"
Froli rolled his eyes at his best chum. "You goalies…" he sighed.
The shrine was filled with newspaper and magazine clippings about the exploits of the great Jaromir. Jerseys from all of his clubs hung there, from HC Kladno to the Pittsburgh Penguins and even the jersey from the legendary Olympic gold medal-winning Czech National Team. The boys stroked it reverently.
"Hey, what's this?" asked Drej as he reached into the bottom shelf of the cabinet to pull out a jar filled with…. hair?!
Drej screeched and threw down the jar. Froli picked it up, opened it and pulled out some of the curly brown locks. He smelled them.
"Definitely Jagr mullet hair." He said. "Look at the photos in the clippings. Same curl pattern, same density… and look at the magazine ad here"
Froli pointed out a Vidal Sassoon ad amongst the clippings. Jaromir's smiling face beamed with pride as he held out a shampoo bottle. His bountiful locks cascaded down onto the shoulders of his acrylic V-neck sweater.
"It's the same shampoo my mom uses – I'd know that smell anywhere!" asserted Froli.
"So our kidnapper is obsessed with Jaromir Jagr. So is our whole nation! What does that have to do with us?" asked Dre.
"I don't know… yet, " said Froli. "But I think we'd better hurry up and find out. It might be more than our lives in danger!"
Drej nodded gravely. Froli threw the jar of hair back into the cabinet and heard a familiar clatter when it landed. He reached deep into the cabinet, past the jerseys and discovered their ticket out of the cellar.
"I just found our ticket out of this cellar, old chum, " said Froli as he pulled out an autographed hockey stick.
"You boost me up on your shoulders and I'll bash away at the rotten wood. I'll wriggle through and then make a rope out of bed sheets and pull you up! Then we'll knock out a window and use the sun's position in the sky to orient ourselves in these strange woods and then find our way back to the city to warn Jaromir Jagr and stop that crusty, old kidnapper from getting up to any more hijinks!" said Froli.
"Great plan, Froli!" said Drej.
Drej hoisted Froli up with the hockey stick, Froli's pocketknife taped to it like a makeshift bayonet, and in no time Froli had carved away a small hole. He then turned the stick around to bash at the hole with the butt-end until more of the wood cracked and splintered – enough for him to wriggle through.
Froli called down to Dre from above. "I'll make the rope. Be patient and I'll be back in a jiffy!"
Drej gave Froli a thumbs-up. He rubbed his aching shoulders. He tried to figure out who their masked kidnapper might have been and what his motivation was. How did Jagr fit in? He thought about how he should work on his glove hand. He thought about that day last summer when he finally kissed Katya. He wondered why she ended up with Froli instead. He wondered if his country would ever fulfill the promise of the Velvet Revolution or if they were doomed to keep perpetuating the messy, corrupt lie of free-market capitalism. There needs to be checks and balances, he surmised. We should co-operate more with the European community. He thought about his mother's meatloaf. Delicious. He was so hungry. How did he and Froli keep ending up in these situations? We just want to play hockey, he reminded himself. Maybe even one day on the great Canadian Prairies! He knew such a dream required hard work. But then, he wondered, who would solve all of these crimes in Kladno? Life was very complicated, he decided. A colourful, braided rope suddenly dropped in front of his face.
"Climb up, dummy!" called Froli. "I've got it fastened tight!"
Drej shimmied up the rope and hugged Froli. "Great work, partner!" he said. Then Drej looked out the window and saw that it was overcast. No sun to orient themselves! Now how would they find their way of out these strange woods?
"Oh, no, Froli!" lamented Drej. "It's overcast. No sun to orient ourselves. Now how will we find our way out of these strange woods?"
Froli clapped Drej on the back.
"Don't worry, chum. Look further down the trail." Said Froli.
Drej saw the tracks of a motorbike driving away from the cabin.
"The ground was still soft from last night's rain! We can follow his tracks right back to the city. He'll lead us and the police right to him!" exclaimed Froli.
The boys high-fived and hopped out the front window. Then all of a sudden, just as they were setting off in pursuit of the creepy kidnapper, they were blown to the ground by the force of an explosion. The cabin went up in a ball of flame.
"Holy moly, "said Drej. "Looks like we got out of there just in time."
"That kidnapper really means business," agreed Froli. "There's no time to lose! Let's go!"
The boys ran as fast as their legs could carry them along the muddy trail back into Kladno and back into danger.


text:
Top 10 - Performance Folklore
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Martin Thompson discusses Java, concurrency, operating systems, and functional programming in the context of designing and testing high-performance systems.
Martin Thompson is a high-performance and low-latency specialist, with experience gained over two decades working on large scale transactional and big-data systems. He believes in Mechanical Sympathy, i.e. applying an understanding of the hardware to the creation of software as being fundamental to delivering elegant high-performance solutions.
Software is Changing the World. QCon empowers software development by facilitating the spread of knowledge and innovation in the developer community. A practitioner-driven conference, QCon is designed for technical team leads, architects, engineering directors, and project managers who influence innovation in their teams.
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Great presentation
Peter Veentjer
Informative and fun
Richard Richter
Wishful concurrency
Jeff Hain
« Sometimes we have absolutely no choice and we need to go parallel and use a lot of concurrency. If you do, get people in who are good at it.
And actually, I found most of the people who are really good at it, their instinct is they'll do it as an absolute last resort, because they know how complicated it actually gets.
There is a scottish comedian called Billy Connolly [who said]: "people who want to own a gun, or be a politician, should be automatically barred from either of them."
And I think it's the same with concurrency: anybody who just wants to do it should not be allowed. »


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A fun and upbeat piece of Irish music perfect for this St Patricks Day!
The luck of the Irish comes to the front in this piece of music, full of swinging guitars, happy accordions, and upbeat melodies. The perfect piece of music to evoke that Irish or Celtic feeling and great for any St Paddies day visuals.
For more great exclusive music, check out my portfolio here – http://audiojungle.net/user/bobbycolemusic/portfolio


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WHO: Jose Villarreal
WHEN: Saturday, March 30
WHERE: at Toronto FC – BMO Field
WHAT: Playing their first road game of the 2013 MLS season, the Galaxy were staring at their first loss of the year as well as they entered stoppage time trailing 2-1. Mike Magee had given the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the first half and Landon Donovan, making his first appearance of the year, nearly scored within seconds of stepping onto the field. However, it would be Villarreal that rescued a point for the visitors.
In second half stoppage time, Omar Gonzalez lofted a long, diagonal ball forward into the box toward Magee and Colin Clark. Toronto defender Darel Russel won the header but could only direct it into the center of the penalty area where Villarreal was quickest to pounce. The young, Homegrown forward leapt into the air, avoiding the challenge of Danny Califf, and powered a volley past TFC goalkeeper Joe Bendik, earning LA a 2-2 draw and a share of the points at BMO Field.
To see the rest of the candidates for LA Galaxy Goal of the Year, go to LAGalaxy.com/GOTY.


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Definitions of hence
adv. - From this place; away. 2
adv. - From this time; in the future; as, a week hence. 2
adv. - From this reason; as an inference or deduction. 2
adv. - From this source or origin. 2
v. t. - To send away. 2
The word "hence" uses 5 letters: C E E H N.
No direct anagrams for hence found in this word list.
Words formed by adding one letter before or after hence (in bold), or to ceehn in any order:
a - achene t - thence w - whence
Shorter words found within hence:
cee eche eh en he hen ne nee
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The Card of Death
I heard once that the 13th card in the Taro deck is the Death Card. It supposedly signals transformation, passage, or change of some kind, rather than an actual death. I don't really believe in any of that crap, but it's a good metaphor, none the less. My life has been going through some pretty major changes recently. Mostly good.
This seems to happen to me ever 5 to 10 years, even going back to my childhood. I think that most change is for the good – not just for me, but for anybody - and these recent changes are, but it doesn't always work out that way, and the process can be very stressful. It's sort of like jumping over a ditch to escape a large dog. If you make it to the other side, you're in the clear and it's great. If not, you're now laying at the bottom of the ditch and you're easy pray for the dog.
A few months back, on a whim, I applied for a job I saw in the paper. It is completely out of my field when compared to my past work history. This new position is decidedly white collar, where all of my past jobs have been blue collar. Although some might be considered a light shade of blue, I am essentially a high school dropout who has managed to do ok. This new job was a part-time position that would be perfect for a college student who was going to school in this field. In fact, that's how it was advertised. It wasn't really an internship, but definitely an entry level position, and not fulltime.
The position was for a database programmer for a company that manages health plans for large companies. About 15 years ago I took up computer programming as a hobby. My brother and I are both self-taught and for a few years we kind of fed off each other in our passion for it. Some of that included database programming. It just something I've always liked and I tend to become consumed with it when I'm doing it. My native programming language is Visual Basic, although I do know others to a less extent. With VB, I would be considered a Guru in some circles.
I submitted a "resume" that had not one of my past jobs listed on it. None of my real jobs even came close to proving that I was capable of the work I was applying for. What I handed in was a listing of programs I had written, languages I knew, what I felt I was capable of, and what I had done for others. I also included a CD with a database program I had written for someone else. The interview went well and I followed it up with a few emails. Much to my surprise I got the job. Honestly, if this had a been a real, full-time position I probably wouldn't have had a chance. The lack of a college degree and no work experience would have probably ruled me out of even getting an interview, let alone the job.
The database programming relies heavily on the VB language, but it is not exactly the same as what I've done in the past. I was very, very nervous. Before I was hired I had assured my new boss that I was more than capable of doing the work, and now I had to prove it. For anyone who is in-the-know, we maintain several SQL Servers where the databases are stored and then I link to the tables through MS Access. Within Access I design interfaces and do all of the data mining and report writing.
They had been without a programmer for a few weeks, or maybe months. My boss, who is extremely capable at the database side of it, was able to keep things moving along, but there was a lot of work backed up. For the first month or so I absolutely devoured projects. I was just in the zone. I quickly got a handle on programming in Access and just started flying through the backlog of projects. At the end of my 3rd week my boss calls me aside and tells me they want to bring me on fulltime. Yea!
My predecessor was often talked about in God-like terms for his ability to program. Even so, in a meeting during my second month my new boss suggested that I was even better than him. He was a college boy, and I'm not knocking that at all, but I think the term "boy" does apply here. Apparently he was fresh out of college when they hired him 4 or 5 years ago. That would mean that he would have been about 10 years old when I started programming. I guess there is something to be said for experience. I met him once, and he's actually a nice guy, and very sharp. I have know doubt he will do well in his field.
I'll never forget one day, it was like my 3rd day on the job, and I hear my boss behind me say to someone, "I want to introduce you to our new database programmer". I looked around as if to try and see who this new programmer was. After a few seconds I realized she was talking about me. I was the new database programmer! It's all very exciting. I mean, I'm basically now getting paid to do what was my hobby. This is one of the few times in my life I can say I love my job. I can say it with a straight face, and without my words dripping with sarcasm.
For the most part, I felt confident with the programming aspect. My real concern was working in the office atmosphere. This is something I've never done before. Fortunately, it is a very causal work place. There are maybe 30 people who work in the building and it is a largely a jeans and T-shirt crowd. Although some do dress nicer, I think that has more to do with their nature than the requirements of the job. I really don't own many nice clothes so I was concerned I would need to go out and buy a new wardrobe. In my second week I was told we were getting an important visitor and that I should dress nice for the day. Not really knowing what to wear I went and rented a blue, crushed velvet tuxedo with a white ruffled shirt. Boy was my face red when I showed up to work wearing that.
Seriously though, I have been asked to dress nice on a few occasions because someone important is coming in. I've worn the same 10 year old pair of J. Crew chinos and blue buttoned down shirt 4 or 5 times over that past 3 months. This was also the same outfit I wore to the interview and to my first day on the job. Pretty soon I'm going to need to breakdown and at least buy a second shirt.
While all of this is going on, I'm still working my other job. I've been putting in 11 or 12 hour days for the last 3 months. For the first month I was on the job I spent several hours every night after work and on the weekends getting a better handle on the Access programming environment. The pace was getting difficult to maintain, and the more I worked at my new job, the less enthusiasm I had for my old job. That is to say that there was ever any real enthusiasm there in the first place. My old job was never anything more than a means to an end. The end being the work I do on The Petch House. The job was only about 25 hours a week but it had benefits. Namely, insurance benefits. I can't be crawling around on a 32-foot ladder in a stiff wind without health insurance. I had to keep both jobs until I started full-time at the new job.
So when was that going to be? Well, I wasn't really sure. The new company is growing and in the very brief conversation I had with my boss at the end of my 3rd week it was put to me as "Later this year". I think it's a budget issue or something. I knew they were serious because there seems to be enough work and they've already shelled-out to send to a conference in LA for a few days. They also gave me a new computer, laser printer, and they keep telling me to pick out a new chair from the catalog. It seems I have a new career, but when exactly this is going to become a real, fulltime job is a bit of a mystery. More stress.
Ok, so I'm thinking November at the latest. I can do November. The extra money from working two jobs will be good so I'll just work my butt off for another 2 or 3 months. And the money is good. Even at only 20 hours a week my paychecks form the new job are the largest paychecks I've received since moving to Eureka 7 years ago. Which, to be honest, is no great feat. Eureka is not known for high paying jobs, and to be honest, I haven't worked a 40 hour week in 15 years.
Unfortunately there were a few complications. Earlier this year I had gotten a new boss at my old job. We got along well at first, but our relationship had been slowly deteriorating. The Monday prior to the Friday when I was offered the fulltime position at my new job, my new boss at my old job called me in to his office and raked me over the coals. As I said, our relationship had really deteriorated and I saw this coming, but still, it was the most humiliating thing I have ever been through. Some of it was deserved, but a lot of it was over the top. One of the things he brought in to question was the full benefits when I was only a part-time employee. We were in there for nearly 2 hours and I was absolutely seething through the whole thing. It took every ounce of strength to keep from walking out the door that very second. I didn't need the money so much as the health insurance. I can't be uninsured.
It felt like I was being held hostage by health insurance. When will the good ol' US of A get its collative head out of its collective ass when it comes to health care in this country? Without health insurance I'm one burst appendix away from being bankrupt. I was now officially miserable in the old job and I loved the new job more than you can believe. Honestly, I feel guilty about my new job. I enjoy the work so much that it just feels odd. I've had a lot of miserable jobs in the past. It really didn't feel right to try and pressure them in to bringing me on fulltime any sooner, so I had to wait it out.
To make matters even worse, through most of this I'm seeing a doctor over some minor medical problems that I won't go in to. This is the real reason I don't want to leave the old job just yet. I mean, a broken leg or a burst appendix is always hanging over my head like the Sword of Damoclse, but has anyone actually looked at the cost of a few x-rays these days!? It's pretty unbelievable what some of these things cost.
As soon as my current medical drama is over with, or at least to a point where it is manageable, I called my insurance agent who wrote my homeowners policy and ask him about short term, catastrophic health insurance. I don't need drug or doctors visits covered, because I don't plan on that happening over the next few months. It's a gamble, but it's a good gamble. I'm normally very healthy. I just need to cover those unexpected, major problems that may crop up. He says he can write me a 3 month, catastrophic policy for $275. I say fine, let's do it. As soon as the ink dries I will give notice at the old job and be done with it. The problem is, they won't cover me because I've been to a doctor in the last 3 months. It doesn't matter if I went in there just to get splinter removed or if I went in covered with boils. No one will write a short term policy for anyone who has been to a doctor for any reason in the last 90 days. Grrrrr! It's all very frustrating.
So I stick it out at the old job for a few more weeks. I wear two hats at this job. One, I'm an employee and a subordinate of the new boss, whom I don't get along with. Oh, I should say at this point that he is 10 years my junior and easily a foot shorter than me. In another facet, I am the IT Guy. In this aspect I am a contract employee through a small company I run. And I do mean "small" in the most literal sense of the word. I make as little as a few hundred dollars a month with this business. It did much better at one time, but then I bought this big Victorian home I call The Petch House and…..well, you know all about that. The whole software business sort of took a back seat and I don't do a whole lot with it these days.
The IT gig with the company is very minor because this is a very minor company. The one real aspect of it is managing a set of hand held computers used by the sales force. There is a desktop application that ties the hand helds in to our accounting software and the whole thing is very buggy. We bought crappy software that came with zero documentation and I'm the only person west of the Mississippi that knows anything about it.
So the day after my managerial reaming by my diminutive new boss I inform him that I will no longer be able to manage the IT duties for the company. This is my shot across the bow to counteract his shot across the bow at me. I tell him he has 6 weeks to find a replacement. I inform him that I will be happy to train the new person on a schedule I decide. At the end of the 6 weeks I can be called upon for emergencies but the new rate will be triple that of the old rate.
This did not go over well. I should say that I have always gotten along well with the owner of the company (remember, he gives me full benefits for a part-time job) and this is the only reason they got 6 weeks to find a replacement. The owner is out of the country while a lot of this is going on. Just when I thought my relationship with my new boss couldn't get any worse it took a nasty turn.
Since the owner was out of the country, either my new boss did not feel he had the authority or he didn't feel capable to hire a replacement for me. As the clock ticked he saw that he was going to need to learn the system and he started to ask (Demand?) that I train him. I was suddenly very busy and scheduled training that was inconvenient for him. This did not go over well at all. Our relationship deteriorated to the level of 8 year old boys fighting over a toy. It came down to a childish battle of will where he was trying to impose an authority over me that he didn't have. Remember, as the IT guy I'm not his employee.
I came in to the office one afternoon and he was sitting in front of the computer I normally use. He had the desktop software loaded. He had a notepad ready to take notes. He told me I needed to train him on one of the modules of the software. I told him I had a prior engagement and I would be available anytime between 6 and 7 am and I needed 24 hours notice. With that, I turned and walked out of the office. I could hear him grinding his teeth behind me.
The next morning we had a knock-down drag-out argument about the whole training thing. He went ballistic and so did I. Later that afternoon I wrote him a letter informing him that I would not be training him at all on any of the systems in the office. (In all of my written correspondence with him I am nothing but perfectly professional). I quoted several of his emails to me outlining why I would not be able to continue a working relationship with him, and I paraphrased some of his more insulting comments to me in our most recent argument.
The next day he catches me as I'm about to leave for a sales call. He drags me in to his office. He has his Bible with him. He accuses me of libel and demands that I give him a written retraction of my letter. While this is going on, the production manager and the head of the maintenance crew are also in the office. The production manager is the man that gave me the curly redwood fence posts over the summer. We've always gotten along very well. In fact, I've always gotten along very well with almost everyone I've worked with there.
I listened to my bosses diatribe for a less than a minute and then said, in response to his demand for a written retraction, "That won't be happening". I then turned to the production manager and told him it's been a pleasure working with him. He wished me luck, and I walked off the property. I bought $300 a month insurance policy to hold me over until my 90 day, doctor-free period is over. In October I can get the $100 a month limited policy, and maybe by November I'll be fulltime at the new job.
The best part is, two weeks later the system at my old job starting having problems. They quickly hired a new guy and brought me back in to train him. Because the 6 weeks had elapsed my new fee was now being charged. The new guy is one of these hired gun tech people who is probably charging even more than my new fee. The whole thing was so stupid.
This was, without question, the most bizarre working experience I've ever had. To celebrate that the whole thing was finally over I went and bought a new car. Well, actually, it's a 2003, but its new to me. I really tried to buy one that day that I walked off the job. I just really liked that juxtaposition of walking off a job I've held or 5 years and then buying a new car. Unfortunately it took another week to find that car I wanted.
I bought a VW GTI VR6. Picture a small, blue rocket ship with power-leather-heated everything. I'm keeping the Boss 1971 Ford F-100 Custom Camper Special for dump runs and what-not, but it's no longer my daily-driver, and it's about time. I bought the car, not only to celebrate the ending my last job, but also because of finishing the last major project on The Petch House. There is still a lot to do, but bathrooms, kitchens, plumbing, wiring, and other big expensive projects are out of the way. It feels good.
So, if all of that weren't enough there was actually something else going on that I really don't want to talk about on such a public forum as my blog. There is another reason why I haven't been writing on the blog so much lately. Don't let your imaginations run too wild, because its not like I was knocking over liquor stores and on the lamb for the last 3 months. Maybe someone will let me do a guest post on another blog and I can tell that story as well.
I'm not quite to a point where I can begin to do regular postings again, but I do want to start writing at least something. I really miss the blog. And I have been getting some stuff done on the house, despite my chaotic schedule and my psychotic boss. I do have blogging material, I just need to get some sort of rhythm back to my life.


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I was an unabashed supporter of Obama, but that ended a couple months ago. For me the last straw was the announcement at West Point of the Afghanistan buildup, which ironically was not a broken promise, but combined with everything else, that was it for me.
I've returned to a very cynical attitude towards politicians in general, including Obama. I think he's a puppet for the Military Industrial Complex, the Insurance companies and the Banks.
Dear Mike,
Thanks for being willing to admit what's before your very eyes, that Obama is doing the opposite of what he said he would. This shows that you're not blindly clinging to the "idea of Obama" or a campaign that I'm sure felt really, really good for Democrats.
It shows you really want what's best for our country, you really expected Obama to deliver the kind of change we needed, and you're willing to take him to task for going back on his word.
Many political commentators and news junkies are just partisans drinking the Kool-Aid, but you sir, are a true patriot.
PS: Afghanistan may not have been a broken promise, but Obama did very consciously ride a wave of anti-war sentiment right into the White House. As an anti-war guy myself, if I had voted for him, I would feel pretty lied to right now.


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Halloween Hues: Bowling Balls, Fox Print & Settee
I had to get in at least ONE Halloween Scavenger post before the end of the month. Enjoy all this black and orange, while you still can!
• Brooklyn, NY: Vintage Bowling Balls - $55
• Chicago, IL: Fox Print - $725
• Boston, MA: West Elm Chairs - $275
• Los Angeles, CA: Ceramic Lamp - $425
• San Jose, CA: Vintage Settee - $1200
Shoppers, check out the Classifieds for many more listings. Sellers, gather up your goods and list them in our Classifieds to turn them into a little extra spending cash.
Go To: Classifieds Main Page
Apartment Therapy is not the seller of these items. This is an edited selection of our favorite offerings from our Classifieds. For more information, see How it Works. Happy Scavenging!


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John R. Crawford
John R. Crawford is Dean of the College of the Arts and Professor of Dance at Kent State University where he has taught and administrated for 24 years. Prior to his appointment as Dean, he served as Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs and from 1996-2006 was Director of the School of Theatre and Dance and Producing Director of Porthouse Theatre, a professional, summer stock theatre located at Blossom Music Center. John performed professionally as a dancer and actor with the Richmond Ballet, VCU Dance Company, Kings Productions, Busch Entertainment Corporation, Ann Vachon/Dance Conduit, Porthouse Theatre and the Leaven Dance Company. He has choreographed for Porthouse Theatre, Cain Park, the Halle Theatre, the Northeast Ohio Dance Ensemble and Dance & Company in Virginia. He holds a BFA degree in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University; a masters in Dance from James Madison University and a doctorate in Dance from Temple University.


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1954: 'Go, Man, Go!"
At age 23, Patricia Breslin (far left) had already been making movies for four years when she starred as the wife of Harlem Globetrotters'founder Abe Saperstein in the 1954 film "Go, Man, Go!" Besides the Globetrotters themselves, others in the cast included Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee.
Copyright © 2018, Sun Sentinel


text: A spectator selects a card from a normal deck. You now point to a small wallet, which is face down on the table and say that it contains a photograph of the selected card. After turning the wallet face up a picture of a girl holding a card is now seen clearly through the window in it. Unfortunately, she is holding a different card to the one that was selected. The picture is now removed from the wallet and the rear view of the girl is shown as you explain that she did get the colour of the back of the chosen card correct. The spectator is not impressed so you place the picture back into the wallet. Finally, the wallet is turned over again to reveal the girl now holding the same card as selected by the spectator.


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Kentucky Derby prospects are back in the spotlight this week as Tamarando looks for a score in the El Camino Real Derby in California.
Also on tap during the first two days of the Presidents' Day weekend are the Grade Barbara Fritchie for fillies and mares at Laurel Park; distance turf races for both males and distaffers at Gulfstream Park; a classy sprint for 3-year-olds and, weather permitting, stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Looking forward to Dubai World Cup night, only seven weeks away:
-- In Meydan, dual South African Horse of the Year, Variety Club, easily won Thursday's Group 3 Firebreak Stakes. Although it was only 1,600 meters, the horse is seen as a contender for the $10 million Dubai World Cup. And in the co-featured Group 3 UAE 2,000 Guineas, Godolphin runner, Long John, had his photo taken and becomes a contender for the UAE Derby. Long John also landed the 2013 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in Australia and has the look of a potential globetrotting star.
See RICHARD GROSS's comprehensive Dubai wrapup, replete with the usual clever plays on words, in Monday's UPI Thoroughbred Racing Roundup.
-- In Japan, Gentildonna is among the prospects for Sunday's Group 2 Kyoto Kinen. The 5-year-old Deep Impact mare made a big impact in winning the Group 1 Japan Cup last fall, holding off Denim and Rubies in deep stretch. The race could be a prep for a repeat try in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, where she finished second last year behind the ill-fated St Nicholas Abbey. Among the others in Sunday's 2,200-meters turf affair are Trailblazer, Tosen Ra and To the Glory.
-- In Hong Kong, Sunday's HK Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize continues the rich speed series at Sha Tin. It looks like a quartet from the John Moore stable against Lucky Nine -- provided the latter is back in form after a disappointing seventh in last December's Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Moore's star, Sterling City, will be going shorter than his preferred distance in the 1,200-meters event. But Moore said he expects a good run from the fifth-place finisher in the international race. Should his optimism be vindicated, he is hoping for an invitation to the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on World Cup night at Meydan.
Despite late-week cancellations from Turfway Park in Kentucky to the East Coast, and ever hopeful that spring eventually will arrive, let's focus back on the 3-year-olds with an eye on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.
Derby hopefuls
A month ago, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer looked to have the nation's top Kentucky Derby prospect in Shared Belief, crowned the 2-year-old champ of 2013 on the basis of three straight wins. But Shared Belief is on the shelf with hoof issues and Hollendorfer will use Saturday's $200,000, Grade II El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields to see if Tamarando can fill the void. The Bertrando colt has plenty of experience, with three wins, two seconds and two thirds from nine career starts. His wins include the Grade I Del Mar Futurity last Sept. 9. But he finished third in the Grade I Cash Call Futurity at Hollywood Park in December -- a race Shared Belief won going away. Looked at another way, Tamarando finished only 1 1/4 lengths behind Candy Boy in the Cash Call. And Candy Boy went on to win last weekend's Grade II Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, vaulting to the top end of the Derby standings. Saturday's seven rivals won't be mistaken for Shared Belief or Candy Boy. However, note that Dance With Fate finished second in the Del Mar Futurity and also was second in the Grade I FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita, a race in which Tamarando settled for third. Hollendorfer also has Puppy Manners, a Kitten's Joy colt who was fourth in the California Derby over the Golden Gate all-weather track.
Sunday's $200,000, Grade III San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita is run at 7 furlongs and attracted six entries. Kobe's Back won at first asking last year, then finished second in the Grade III Hollywood Prevue, 7 3/4 lengths back of Shared Belief. But when trainer John Sadler stretched him out to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade I Cash Call Futurity on Dec. 14, he had a nightmare trip from Post Position No. 13, caught wide and then clipping heels, and finished tenth. The San Vicente could be a "restart" for the gray Flatter colt. Papa Turf was fourth in the Hollywood Prevue and most recently second behind the promising Indianapolis in the 6-furlongs San Pedro Stakes over the Santa Anita strip. The others are recent maiden winners except for Grazen's Hope, who is 2-for-2 against lesser, and Rprettyboyfloyd, who has finished second in both his previous starts.
Fillies and mares
Fiftyshadesofhay will try to get her 4-year-old campaign going against six rivals in Saturday's $200,000, Grade II Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita. The Pulpit filly showed lots of promise last season and won three graded stakes. She finished fourth in the Grade II La Canada Stakes in her first outing of 2014, beaten less than a neck. Let Faith Arise, who was second in the La Canada, is back for this event, as is Ondine, who finished third in that one. Iotapa, in the money in all seven career starts, also is a likely choice. Golden Production has won four straight but steps up to graded stakes company.
Don't Tell Sophia drew the rail for Sunday's $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park -- a race she won during an outstanding 2013 campaign. That year also included a win in the Grade II Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs and a third place finish in the Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn, behind On Fire Baby and Tiz Miz Sue. She is fresh off a season-opening win here. The other nine look to have their hands full, though Sisterly Love and Dixie Strike are graded stakes winners in Canada. Our Domain won the Bungalow Stakes for Illinois-breds at Fairmount Park last fall and also scored in her season-opener at Oaklawn against allowance foes. Bryan's Jewel has turned in some quality efforts at this level.
Sweet N Discreet, who outran her pedigree in winning the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff at 9 furlongs in her last start, gets another test at 1 1/16 miles in Sunday's $100,000, Grade II Sabin Stakes at Gulfsteam Park. She is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also has Private Ensign, who won an allowance race last month off a long layoff. Among the competition is Devil's Cave, who has been no worse than second in four starts since she switched from the turf to the dirt.
The Classic Division
Six signed up for Saturday's $100,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct, going 9 furlongs on the inner track, weather permitting. The Chad Brown-trained Mail has two straight wins over the track. Farhaan, a Shadwell Stables import, looks to be getting better with several U.S. starts under his girth. Jonesy Boy has a local stakes win. Percussion keeps rapping on the door for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Seven are in the $100,000 John B. Campbell Handicap at 9 furlongs at Laurel Park on Saturday. Bold Curlin won both his starts in January, both of them over the course. Indian Jones finished second to Bold Curlin in the Native Dancer Stakes in his last start but was second in the Grade II Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing last fall and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Marathon. The others are allowance types.
None of the 10 set for the $100,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Saturday is a world-beater. But several have performed well in stakes, including graded stakes, around the Midwest. A good run here could be a ticket to better things in the immediate future.
An interesting cast of 10 is on hand for Saturday's $200,000, Grade II Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream Park, carded for 1 3/8 miles. Alpha, who has had a roller coaster career on the dirt, gives the green course a try in his first start since a fourth-place finish in the Hawthorne Gold Cup in suburban Chicago on Nov. 30. Twilight Eclipse finished sixth in the Breeders' Cup Turf but bounced back to win the Grade III W.L. McKnight at Calder before calling it a year. Amen Kitten comes off a third-place finish in the Grade I Hollywood Derby in December. Team Block's Illinois-bred Suntracer, another Kitten's Joy offspring, makes his first Florida start since 2011, when he was 1-for-2 in routes over the Gulfstream lawn. Dashing David, a Lemon Drop Kid colt, is making his first U.S. start after a so-so campaign in England. Bill Mott will saddle Slumber and he could wake up after some nice efforts in Grade I company.
Filly & Mare Turf
Saturday's $100,000, Grade III The Very One Stakes at Gulfstream Park got eight takers to 1 3/8 miles on the grass. Inimitable Romanee makes the first start of her southern sojourn after winding up 2013 with a win in the Grade III Long Island Handicap at Aqueduct three months ago. She does not win often but there are no tigers in the balance of the field. Preferential and Left a Message ran 1-2 in the Dowager at Keeneland in the fall.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Saturday's $300,000, Grade II Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park got 10 entries, led by My Wandy's Girl.The 5-year-old Flower Alley mare finished second in this race last year, then finished second in the Grade II last April. After that, she was sidelined until December, when she finished fifth in the Garland of Roses Handicap at the Big A. Several of the others have run well enough in minor stakes but step up in class here. La Verdad has won five straight races on the New York circuit, dating back to her maiden win last May. Villette comes off three straight wins at Parx Racing. Winning Image has had her picture taken after five of her last seven starts.
Mother Nature willing, Oaklawn Park will finally get the $100,000 King Cotton Stakes up and running on Saturday. Ten are set for the 6-furlongs test on the dirt. Alsvid finished second in this race last year and makes his first 2014 start as part of an entry with Black Bear. Mico Margarita is a graded stakes winner and Picko's Pride in a local favorite who has finished worse than fourth only once in 17 career starts.


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ADRIAN, Mich. — Cyber shenanigans for 200? A former "Jeopardy!" winner has been charged with illegally accessing co-workers' email accounts at a small Michigan college.
Stephanie Jass is a former history professor at Adrian College. She appeared in Lenawee County court on Tuesday, charged with unauthorized access to a computer and using a computer to commit a crime.
No other details were released. But The Daily Telegram in Adrian reports that state police investigated after getting complaints from college staff earlier this year.
The Associated Press left a message seeking comment for Jass' attorney Wednesday.
Jass won seven games on "Jeopardy!" in 2012. Adrian College declined to say when Jass stopped working at the school.
In 2014, Jass performed at Croswell Opera House in Adrian, singing songs and sharing stories about playing "Jeopardy!"
Information from: The Daily Telegram, http://www.lenconnect.com
The Associated Press


text:
Young Life (Feat. Latoya Williams) - Movement [User Submitted]
New Video From Young Life Feat Latoya Williams from Doggy Style Records and produced by Goldy Loc from the East Sidaz. Homeys kicking it spiting some hoy fire in a cypher type circle.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Linked by Kroc Camen on Mon 22nd Jun 2009 12:16 UTC
Software moves on at a break-neck pace these days--version numbers clock up ever quicker as vendors try to market their apps as the latest and greatest. Software generally ages badly, falling into a state of looking grossly out of date, lacking new functionality that we've come to depend upon as well as compatibility problems. Dear OSNews readers, what old software (5+ years) do you still use, why, and what problems do you come across in sticking with it? Read More for my own contribution to the list
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Sheep Screenmate (POO)
by werfu on Mon 22nd Jun 2009 13:20 UTC


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To truly be the best at something, you have to be willing to go the extra mile to learn, to change, to grow. In today's fast moving, competitive world, status quo will leave you left behind in the dust by your competition very quickly.
In the last two weeks, I have had the opportunity to provide three very talented women with individual career advice. One lady is about to graduate college and is interested in learning how to choose a career. Another is a military spouse considering going back to school and starting a new career. The third works for a non-profit organization and feels like her career has stalled, and she may be considering a change. Although these women are all at different places in their lives, they do have one thing in common. They all realize that to get ahead in life, they need to be willing to grow, to learn, and to change. I admire them, and I wish them the best of luck in the journey ahead.
Nothing energizes me more than helping someone succeed. On the flip side, nothing frustrates me more than someone who asks for my counsel only to get defensive, argumentative, and dismissive during the conversation. I feel the latter will most likely be limited in their success.


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Darmstadt, Germany, 3/17/2014
Software AG's (FRA: SOW) Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose at the Annual General Meeting on May 16, 2014 a dividend payment of €0.46 per share (prev. year €0.46) for fiscal year 2013. On the current basis of 78.9 million shares (prev. year 83.0 million) entitled to a dividend, the total payout would be around €36.3 million (prev. year €38.2 million). The payout ratio based on the average of free cash flow and group net income would increase to 25 percent (prev. year 23 percent).
Software AG's strategy has been strongly focused on growth in the Business Process Excellence (BPE) business line since 2012. As a consequence, the company heavily invested in new products and the expansion of its sales teams. Additionally, the shareholders profited from the company's share buyback program: Since February 2013, Software AG purchased 9.3 percent of its own shares for a total of €175.8 million. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board want, however, to maintain continuity in its dividend payout and therefore recommend a dividend at the previous year's level.
Software AG's dividend policy is related to the long-term development of the company. The dividend is based on reported net income and free cash flow on one hand and the necessary financial requirements for further growth on the other. Software AG's goal for the use of cash flow is not only to invest into growth, but also to share profitability with its shareholders through a stable dividend.
About Software AG
Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX: SOW) helps organizations achieve their business objectives faster. The company's big data, integration and business process technologies enable customers to drive operational efficiency, modernize their systems and optimize processes for smarter decisions and better service. Building on over 40 years of customer-centric innovation, the company is ranked as a "leader" in fourteen market categories, fueled by core product families Adabas-Natural, ARIS, Alfabet, Apama, Terracotta and webMethods. Software AG has more than 5,200 employees in 70 countries and had revenues of around €973 million (IFRS, unaudited) in 2013.
Software AG - Get There Faster
Software AG | Uhlandstraße 12 | 64297 Darmstadt | Germany
Follow us on Twitter : Software AG Germany | Software AG North America
Software AG
Byung-Hun Park
Head of Corporate Communications
Uhlandstrasse 12
64297 Darmstadt
Tel: +49 6151 92-2070
Mobile: +49 151 64 911 317
Software AG
Barbara Koegler
Senior Vice President Corporate Communications
Uhlandstrasse 12
64297 Darmstadt
Tel: +49 6151 92-1574


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Welcome to the Jungle (US - BD RA)
Gabe was told that there would be fun and games and found none...
A group of unsuspecting office workers find themselves stranded on a desert island when a corporate retreat led by unhinged former Marine Storm Rothchild (Jean-Claude Van Damme) goes horribly wrong. Now Chris (Adam Brody) and his co-workers must battle nature—and each other—to survive. (From Universal's official synopsis)
They tell you not to judge a book by its cover or a movie by its poster, but Welcome to the Jungle (not to be confused with Peter Berg's Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson vehicle, The Rundown, which was titled Welcome to the Jungle in non-US territories) is a valid exception to that rule. The poster, which features every major cast member staring at the viewer and includes two tag lines ('Unleash your inner beast!' and 'Not your typical day at the office'), is a perfect indication the middling content and eager-to-please energy found within. The faces the actors are making even define their characters' major traits. Director Rob Meltzer (whose only other feature release is a 1997 indie comedy called A Jewish Christmas Story, which imdb briefly describes as 'a romantic comedy about a Jewish guy who's obsessed with shiksas') delivers the mediocrity his film's poster promises, but is a talented enough visualist to help ensure Welcome to the Jungle isn't a complete embarrassment. At the very least, it features a lot of attractive digital photography of beautiful jungle and beach locales.
The screenplay, credited to Jeff Kauffman with polishes by Doug Magnuson ( Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) and Jon Greenlagh, is sort of a jungle action variant on Christopher Smith's horror-comedy Severance, minus the vicious violence. Or maybe Office Space mixed with Lord of the Flies, minus Mike Judge's clever insight into office politics and big laughs. The characters are all written with the very recognizable comedians' strengths in mind, turning talented individuals into pale impressions of themselves. Occasionally, the performances will overcome the monotony of the material, but none of the jokes are unexpected and the lamest ones can be seen coming from miles away (I was really hoping they'd avoid the obvious Apocalypse Now spoof…). The predictability is a smaller problem than the repetitious and badly paced center act. Here, Kauffman and Meltzer drag out already overdrawn and unfunny jokes – all of which are tasteless, but none of which are tasteless enough to really care about – then attempt to switch gears into inexplicable and unearned romance. I get the feeling it would've worked as an internet short, where the boring and obvious exposition could be implied between gags about the hyper-fast de-evolution of the supposedly civilized pencil pushers.
Welcome to the Jungle was shot using Red Epic digital HD cameras and is presented here in 2.35:1, 1080p video. It's a soft film overall with glowing highlights, shallow focus, and plush colour blends. Details are complex, especially in the deeper-set, wide-angle shots of jungle and beach exteriors, and fine textures remain tight, despite their glowy qualities. The darkest sequences have stronger edges and perfectly deep blacks that support the important highlights without any notable edge enhancement effects. The colour schemes are divided by location, but remain relatively eclectic throughout. The office spaces are sanitized by fluorescent lighting and a teal base that is punched up by pink skin tones. The daylight jungle scenes are lush with green vegetation and feature a slightly candied yellow tone that helps facilitate the smooth, digital HD gradations. The nighttime jungle scenes are cooled by deep blues and harsher contrasts. All the hues remain strong without any major macro-blocking, banding effects, or unintentional bleeding.
Welcome to the Jungle is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound. It's a relatively lively mix, but not the most dynamic one outside of its musical influences. The jungle environments are consistently teeming with bird and bug noises and other directional/immersive influences that don't overwhelm the simpler, incidental effects. The more boisterous highlights include a rickety airplane trip, complete with LFE-rumbling engines and rivets popping off through the rear channels, and a brief scene where Van Damme forces the characters to lead each other blindfolded through palm trees while he plays tiger noises on a boom box and sets off explosives. The volume levels are a little quieter than expected from a lossless track, but this is only noticeable during some of the dialogue sequences, specifically ones where characters are shouting over each other and the overall track is flattened. Composer Karl Preusser's score is a super obnoxious mix of quirky comedy cues and stereotypical 'jungle' music, complete with tribal drums and 'ooga booga' vocals. The drums do give the track another source of LFE punch, though, and are the most consistently aggressive element.
The extras begin a surprisingly long behind-the-scenes featurette (59:10, HD). This is a loose series of fly-on-the-wall videos bases mostly around Van Damme's time on the jungle location. Raw, on-set/location interviews are tossed into the mix for further insight, but these aren't particularly informative beyond their intended EPK use. The disc also includes a deleted/extended scene reel (1:30, HD).
Welcome to the Jungle is among the most interchangeable comedies I've seen in some time. It's pleasant enough to recommend to Van Damme and Kristen Schaal fans, though they should note that neither actor plays a leading role. Otherwise, the best thing I can say about it is that it's harmless. There are worse ways to waste 95 minutes, I suppose. Image Entertainment's Blu-ray comes fitted with a sharp picture, a mostly good DTS-HD MA soundtrack, and includes cast & crew interviews that are funnier than the movie itself (an extra in full wardrobe takes a pee behind Schaal's shoulder during her interview, seemingly without noticing the camera).
* Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian
Disc Details
Release Date: 25th March 2014
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 2.35:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English; DTS 5.1 French, Spanish, Italian, and Thai
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Cantonese, Thai, and Traditional Mandarin Subtitles
Extras: Behind the Scenes, Deleted Scenes, UltraViolet Copy
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Rob Meltzer
Cast: Adam Brody, Rob Huebel, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kristen Schaal, Megan Boone
Genre: Comedy
Length: 95 minutes
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JV911 wrote:do you know anything about what's going on around lyons rd west?
is it me or are they narrowing the road??? the west-bound cycle lane was only 1m wide to begin with and east-bound non-existant
Not sure what works they have going on up there. There shouldn't be anything near vic rd as the cycleway stuff is all on the east side, the road doesn't narrow on the upgrades to vic rd, so it must be a local council project.


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Separated from her husband and no longer living under the same roof, Sheri Challender was already in a difficult place in life when she was dealt another blow.
Her daughter, only 15 years old and a high school freshman, was pregnant.
"When we found out Kylie was pregnant, of course any parent would be shocked," Sheri Challender said. "You have no idea what direction you're going to go in."
Kylie Challender had seen the shows like "Teen Mom" and "16 and Pregnant," and how challenging those young parents' lives were, but thought that couldn't and wouldn't happen to her.
Until it did.
"I found out I was pregnant, and all of a sudden I wasn't invincible anymore," she said.
The Lake in the Hills family's story will be told this week in a short video titled "A Family Divided: Finding Peace by Letting Go," which will be played across the country as part of Lifetree Café events.
These hour-long "conversation cafes" are held once a week in various locations, including Crystal Lake, Marengo and Huntley, and are designed to provide a place for people to hear stories and talk about topics relating to life and faith.
Although the cafés began as a ministry effort, local director Sheila Halasz said they are open to everyone.
Halasz runs the Lifetree Café that meets at Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters on Route 14 in Crystal Lake, which is where she met Sheri Challender, who works there.
"We just knew she had a really interesting story, and we saw that a great impact could be made on other people," Halasz said. "The pregnancy is part of it, but it's not all of the story."
Sheri Challender said she had difficulty finding support for the parents a pregnant teen.
"What you don't really see a whole lot of is the impact on the whole family," she said. "It's a whole family event; it's not just the teenager who goes through this."
The separation between Challender and her husband only compounded the issue. Challender had moved out, and Kylie had stayed in the home, living with her dad, Cris.
"How are we going to deal with this when we're not living under the same roof?" Sheri Challendar said.
Abortion hadn't been an option to Kylie. Although her parents considered it one, she was about four months pregnant when she told them.
So they began to push for adoption. They met with an adoption agency and began searching for a family.
But not long before her due date, Kylie decided she couldn't go through with it.
"Thinking of having the baby and watching the baby leave my hands and go to somebody else, that was just breaking my heart," Kylie said. "I just kind of came to realize that I would never be able to give up my child."
Through a blog she had started, momofapregnantteen.com, Sheri Challender also began to realize that adoption wasn't just an easy solution. A family wouldn't just take the baby and things would go back to normal.
"What a discovered through my blog in hearing from other families that had been in our predicament, is that is not how it works," she said. "You get to the other side of the adoption, and the mother grieves the loss. I heard from a woman who was 53 years old still grieving the loss of that child."
The entire situation is described best in one word, Sheri said: upheaval. Finding out Kylie was going to keep the baby was like being told her daughter was pregnant all over again, Sheri said, and it was difficult to find acceptance.
But even Kylie's father, Cris, who had been pushing the hardest for adoption, came around. He made a batch of a home brew beer, calling it a "baby brew" and threw a shower of sorts with his friends, asking them to bring a baby item over – new or old, it didn't matter.
Sheri had moved back in by then to help Kylie and the baby. Eventually, the couple ended up reconciling.
Dominic was born July 10, 2013, weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces.
After her son's birth, Kylie was homeschooled for several months at the beginning of her sophomore year before returning to Huntley High School. She will be a junior in the fall.
When people found out she was pregnant, Kylie said, she lost some friends, but others wanted to talk to her because she was a novelty, a pregnant freshman.
She never got negative attention to her face, but behind her back, it was happening.
"I still get dirty looks, but now I just don't pay attention," she said.
But she still feels the judgement and the bullying.
"A lot of kids are tough critics, and I felt it was important to show the inside of what goes on with a teen pregnancy," Kylie said.
That's a point her mother also wants to get across: You don't know the situation unless you've been in it yourself.
Another family member also experienced a teen pregnancy, and at the time, Sheri couldn't understand. How they could be so excited? How could they be so accepting?
"You don't know what they had to go through to get to that point, like we did," Sheri said.
In addition to the regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday, Halasz said a special showing of the Lifetree Café video will be held for high schoolers at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Conscious Cup.
A diaper drive also is being held, with the diapers being donated to Informed Choices, formerly known as Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Services.


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If you are fed up with your old leather jackets here is a fresh idea for you. Turn them into new leather backpack. It is cool, stylish and comfortable. Perfect for biking, hiking or if you are moving often from one place to another.


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The G-20 in Los Cabos, Mexico, ended mainly as a platform for urging European leaders to take decisive action on a financial crisis that is daily spiraling downward, though Greece today announced it had finalized a government coalition.
But no headlines came out of Mexico to temper the market forces now chewing away at Spain and Italy, having already abandoned Greece – and no decisions to spark more of that intangible elixir: confidence.
If there is a European G-20 takeaway, it may be the pressure exerted by global leaders, including US President Barack Obama, on Angela Merkel, chancellor of Europe's German powerhouse, ahead of a crucial June 28 EU summit, whose purpose increasingly appears to provide a long-term solution.
That summit, like so many before, is billed as crucial. This time it may be: It is a likely showdown over long-term questions, like "mutualization" of debt, banking unions, and federalism that were long avoided during the years of abundance prior to the financial crisis.
In a way, the underlying issue June 28 is whether Europe will nudge closer to a "United States of Europe" federal model.
"The G-20 didn't go well for anybody, especially for the Europeans," says economist Nicolas Bouzou, head of Asteres Consultancy in Paris, which advises French firms. "Emerging countries, leading investors, and debt buyers in Europe are irritated by the European decision process, which they consider too slow, without any structural reforms. They seem incapable of speaking with a single voice, even between Germany and France."
While Merkel and new French President François Hollande agreed substantially on the idea of a financial transaction tax as a tool to finance European growth, it did not appear in the G-20 draft. Significant gaps exist between the two leaders over how to approach Europe's woes.
Debates in Los Cabos largely turned on austerity versus growth, and the German model of balanced budgets versus the Keynsian model of stimulus, to answer Europe's rising unemployment and banking debt.
But Europe has debated this for more than a year, with little change. At the G-20, Ms. Merkel held firm on the need for the new Greek government to adhere to austerity-based bailout agreements.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the issues continue to compound: Spain, Europe's No. 4 economy is twisting in the wind with unsustainable bond rates; it is scheduled to sell two- and three-year notes tomorrow, and if rates don't change, Spain may only have a few more weeks of solvency, financial analysts say.
Italy, the No. 3 economy, is also on the ropes. Italy's caretaker prime minister, Mario Monti, suggested at the G-20 that the two eurozone rescue funds begin buying debt from stricken European states.
Meanwhile, Greece continues to simmer. A center-right Greek coalition was finally agreed upon today and the new prime minister, Antonis Samaras of the New Democracy party, was sworn in. But its main initial task will not be to hew to the EU bailout terms, which is what European leaders understood, but to "renegotiate" the agreement, according to coalition partner Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos, speaking today. That sets up a de facto showdown in Europe among those less and more willing to give Greece flexibility.
Mr. Venizelos vows a "major fight" at the June 28 meeting for the release of bailout funds on better terms. By the end of July, Greece will not be able to pay public salaries.
As Europe faces the possibility of a broader meltdown, some analysts say it now desperately needs both long-term and short-term answers.
The $125 billion bailout of Spain's banks by the EU stability fund provided only a day or two of relief from markets; last week, Spain's 10-year bonds clicked above an unsustainable 7 percent.
"Even if the debate on austerity vs. growth could be settled, we have moved past the point where a growth package would make a difference," says Sony Kapoor of Re-Define, a Brussels economic think tank. "We must have a longer-term solution, a fiscal union. We have no long-term plan, and that is where we are headed. The period of stability packages has passed and the G-20 offered really nothing."
A one-size-fits-all statement issued from the G-20 read: "We are united in our resolve to promote growth and jobs…. Strong sustainable and balanced growth remains the top priority of the G-20, as it leads to higher job creation and increases the welfare of people across the world."


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EXCLUSIVE: Nicolas Winding Refn Explains His Wonder Woman Movie
Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn created something of a fanboy stir last month when he dropped hints about wanting to adapt Wonder Woman for the screen. Some thought Refn was joking; after all, his best known films (The Pusher Trilogy, Bronson) are foreign-made indies rendered with unflinching brutality and pitch-black humor. But Refn -- one of the more thoughtful, articulate, visionary and prolific filmmakers working today at any level, like Werner Herzog with a bludgeon -- wasn't kidding at all. Hell, if Sam Raimi can do it, why can't he?
"I would love to make one of those big, Hollywood, $200 million extravaganzas," he told me Monday during a chat about his new film, the bleak, trippy Viking adventure Valhalla Rising. "But at the same time, I am also very content in my situation. I get to make the films I want to make, and I don't have the ego of world dominance that some have."
Nevertheless, Refn does have his eye on the D.C. heroine whose route to the screen has been troubled, to say the least. He shared a few insights into his approach to the story, why it can rival Batman, and what kind of villain it really needs.
I was pretty excited when I heard your name attached to something like Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman, I really want to make. That, I'm hoping, will be my $200 million extravaganza -- if I even get close to it. That's why I say, "Well, let me go make Drive [a thriller shooting soon with Ryan Gosling]. Let me start the ball rolling within the system."
I found this awesome comment on your IMDB page: "If you do wonder woman, don´t make her violent, like that cartoon, that i would never show my children. Wonder woman cut the head of an enemy in it...not so good to look at..." How would you respond to that?
I would say I could never do that, because I have kids myself who would go watch Wonder Woman. But one of the things I encounter is that a lot of people have more opinions about me than have actually seen my films.
Does that bother you?
[Pause] No, it's fine. As long as I get to make what I make. I'm not really concerned about that. Certainly when I was younger I was vocal about things, and I didn't mind sharing my opinion, and not always for the best reasons. Now that I've gotten a bit older and more relaxed, I'm a bit more at ease with things. Sometimes it annoys me that people have this idea that I make violent films. I don't consider my films particularly violent compared to other films -- films like The A-Team, where I don't know how many people die in two hours. I think that my films can be very violating, so they can seem much more violent than they are. But it's a different thing: Being violated is different than seeing violence.
It's the context.
Yeah. And I guess in a way I've always felt that cinema, even though it's a visual medium, is about subliminal images. It's not about what we see; it's about what we don't see. That's when it becomes effective.
Yet when you have something like a Wonder Woman movie, which is based on a brand, it's pretty in-your-face. There's nothing especially subliminal about it.
At the same time there is, because the real origin of Wonder Woman is: What if women were more powerful than men? What would the world be like? That's a subliminal theme.
But knowing what we know about Hollywood, is that the only way you'd make that movie?
No, it's not the only way, but I think that would be a starting point for looking at it. You need a great, extravagant, marketable action film -- and everything that comes with it. But I think that when Christopher Nolan did the Batman movies, I think he very cleverly went back to the source material and took themes that had maybe not been exercised. And he was able to make very good and successful films with them. So I think the audience is very much out there. It's just how you do it. And I think that some of the films that have worked over the years have worked for different reasons than people sometimes think they do.
And where Wonder Woman on one hand is a great female character who can be included in many great fight scenes, she doesn't have great villains against her. OK, so you create some. She doesn't have a Joker or those classic Batman kinds of guys. But she does have her whole world that she comes from, which is fascinating. The whole idea of a woman who is basically more powerful than any man -- and who will always be that, and comes from a society of women who are more powerful than men -- is an interesting theme that I think can be very contemporary.
Hollywood is also very weird about violence toward women. They put it out there all the time, yet seem to renounce the concept itself.
They try to justify it for ridiculous reasons. Which is interesting, because when they're remaking all these '70s and '80s horror movies of exploitation material -- which is very mean toward women -- they always try to justify them to be released by major studios by changing a little bit of this, a little bit of that. But it's still essentially the same thing.
But if you were to show Wonder Woman in this context, getting pummeled by a male villain? Would it have to be a female villain to get your true point across?
Well, that's when it gets interesting, because you have to create a great countervillain to her. They tried in Catwoman -- with not particularly good results. The trick with Wonder Woman is to find that antagonist who worked so well in the Batman concept -- his villains are equally if not more exciting than Batman himself. Here, it's basically coming up with who would be a great counterpart to Wonder Woman. Is it her mother who's the real enemy? Something that's biblical in a sense.
That would be so great. Is there any traction on that at all?
[Laughs] I haven't heard from D.C. [Comics] yet.


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When all is said and done, when the last home or business has its lights finally turned back on, our state, county, city, town and village leaders must step in and demand better, as was the case in Connecticut after Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011. After Irene rolled across the tri-state area, bringing destruction at every turn, Connecticut took a long, hard look at its response to the storm and came up with a better plan to deal with the worst. The result? Connecticut had power restored in half the time it took New York after Sandy, and it even managed to dispatch emergency crews to other hard-hit states to aid in their recovery efforts. Imagine that.
We clearly need more than harsh words from our leaders, appointed and elected. We need action –– sooner rather than later.
First, we believe the Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, must step in and thoroughly review LIPA's storm-response plans. Binding recommendations for improvement are clearly needed and must be made public.
Second, we call on lawmakers in the State Senate and Assembly to conduct a series of hearings to gather public testimony about LIPA's response to the storm and potentially write legislation to increase the authority's accountability.
Third, Long Islanders should write to lawmakers and LIPA officials to demand better.
After Irene, there were calls to hold LIPA accountable for its slow post-storm response. Nothing happened. Why?
LIPA Chairman Michael Hervey has said that the utility would review its post-Sandy response. Such internal reviews, however, rarely provide the critical introspection needed to effect real change.
This time, we mustn't let LIPA off the hook, because there will inevitably be another Big One, whether it comes next hurricane season or in the distant future. The utility must be better prepared next time.