text:
Earlier this year I started writing buyers' guides for every carrier, and I intended to update them each month. Then I got fed up with the locked phones and service contracts that carriers offered, so I ported my number to Google Voice, paid Verizon my $300 ETF, signed up for a pre-paid plan, and went back to using unlocked devices.
For consumers on a tight budget, switcing to the pre-paid world can be challenging at first. The cost of leaving your carrier during the middle of a contract or the cost of buying an unlocked phone could force you to spend 3-6x times your monthly carrier bill.
Once you get past the initial expenses, your savings could quickly add up. I switched from Verizon to Straight Talk (AT&T), which instantly saved me around $50 per month, or roughly $600 per year. That same $600 is about the cost of most high-end Android phones that are unlocked and sold without a service contract. This means your potential first-year savings could absorb the entire cost of any new Android phone you want.
After making the switch to using an unlocked Android phone on Straight Talk, I see no real reason to return to the land of locked phones and post-paid service plans. I have the freedom to choose the device I want, I can choose what network it operates on, I can decide what software it runs, and I can switch from device to device, and carrier to carrier, without signing another contract.
There are many places to purchase unlocked phones, and I have found that Amazon Wireless offers the largest selection, lowest prices, and fastest service. I'm a member of Amazon Prime so I get free 2-day shipping on most items, but it's still a good deal even with shipping added in.
If you are considering making the switch to an unlocked phone, here is some advice from someone that just made the journey.
What is an unlocked phone?
Unlocked devices are phones that recognize SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) cards from any carrier. A locked phone will only recognize a SIM card from a particular carrier. The "lock" is a software setting that keeps the cell phone "loyal" to one carrier.
Why should I buy an unlocked phone?
We have already touched on some reasons to shred your wireless contract, but I'll recap some of the highlights.
- Unlocked phones cost less in the long run. Do the math.
- Unlocked phones are not altered by a carrier. No need to worry about crap apps or gimped hardware.
- Unlocked phones receive Android updates faster directly from the manufacturer vs carrier locked phones.
- Unlocked phones give consumers more control of plans and pricing. No contracts, no commitments, no hidden fees.
Why should I not buy an unlocked phone?
Unlocked phones are not for everyone. Some reasons you might want to pass on unlocked phones include:
- No 4G LTE access. In the future we might see pre-paid service plans with 4G LTE, but right now you are limited to HSPA+.
- Large families might be better off with a post-paid plan. Rates vary from carrier to carrier, but a family plan with shared minutes and data might be cheaper than a bunch of individual pre-paid plans.
- No in-store support. If you enjoy walking into your local carrier store to get support with your phone, then you might pass on an unlocked device. Most carriers will not provide support for a device they did not sell, so you will have to turn to the manufacturer for help and warranty claims.
What US networks support unlocked phones?
AT&T and T-Mobile both use the GSM standard and support unlocked phones. Verizon and Sprint rely on the CDMA (Code division multiple access) standard and they will not work with unlocked GSM phones.
Most unlocked phones that were designed for the international market will have no problems running on AT&T's network. T-Mobile USA uses different HSPA+ bands (1700/2100 MHz), which most international phones do not support.
Most unlocked phones will still operate on T-Mobile's 2G Edge network, but they will not have access to the faster HSPA+ speeds. However, T-Mobile does plan to launch HSPA+ service on the 1900 MHz band by the end of 2012, so they will eventually support many unlocked devices at faster data speeds.
- AT&T HSPA+ bands: 850/1900 MHz
- T-Mobile HSPA+ bands: 1700/2100 MHz, 1900 MHz coming by end of 2012
Some devices like the Galaxy Nexus support up to five bands (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) and will operate on both AT&T and T-Mobile. Check the bands on an unlocked phone before you make your purchase.
What are the best service plans for unlocked phones?
This topic deserves a separate post (coming soon), but here is a quick summary. Unlocked phones can be used on most of AT&T's and T-Mobile's service plans, but using those won't net you any extra savings. The best option is to go prepaid with services such as Straight Talk SIM, Simple Mobile, Solavei, or T-Mobile Monthly 4G.
I chose Straight Talk SIM because they let you choose between AT&T's or T-Mobile's network.
Tips for Buying from Amazon
Check who is selling and fulfilling the product: Amazon uses a number of sellers throughout their site. Each product listing will have a featured merchant, but click through the list of sellers to review all your buying options. Some products are shipped by the seller and others are fulfilled through Amazon's own warehouses. Amazon provides reviews for each seller, so read up on the recent comments if you have any concerns.
Prices will fluctuate daily: You might notice prices jumping up and down before you buy, because of the number of merchants that Amazon uses. One seller might offer a product for $30 cheaper than the competition and then they will sell out and the price will jump back up.
Amazon guarantee: You can buy with confidence because Amazon offers A-to-z Guarantee Protection. The condition of the item you buy and its timely delivery are guaranteed.
Read the reviews: We are providing our picks for the best unlocked Android phone at every price point, but don't take us as the final word. I encourage you to read the user reviews to see what people are saying about the product.
Best unlocked phone for $500-599: Samsung Galaxy S III
The Good: Large HD display, fast Exynos 4 Quad processor, 1 GB RAM, Android 4.0 (Android 4.1 coming later), excellent camera experience, NFC, hacker friendly, removable battery, microSD slot.
The Not-so-good: Samsung hasn't been the fastest to deliver software updates.
Final Words: The Galaxy S III is one of the best unlocked phones that money can buy, in terms of hardware. However, you can get a pretty similar experience from the HTC One X for around $100 less. The Galaxy S III is the only unlocked phone on this list with 2 GB RAM (which bodes well for future Android updates), but I'm not sure that justifies the price.
Full Review: Check out Anthony's review of the Galaxy S III.
Last Amazon price: $578 for GT-I9300 International version (Pebble Blue), $589 for GT-I9300 International version (Ceramic White)
Best unlocked phone for $400-499: HTC One X
The Good: Amazing camera experience, beautiful design, Beats audio, large vibrant display, quad-core Tegra 3 processor, best version of Sense UI yet, hacker friendly, NFC, Android 4.0 (Android 4.1 coming later).
The not-so-good: No microSD card, battery is non-removable.
Final Words: The HTC One X offers a premium Android experience with a price that beats the top competitors. Design stands out above the rest. HTC enables you to unlock the bootloader, and there is a growing development community that supports the device.
Full Review: Check out Taylor's review of the HTC One X.
Last Amazon Price: $492 for S720E global version with Tegra 3 chip and 32 GB storage.
Best unlocked phone for $300-399: Samsung Galaxy Nexus
The Good: Only smartphone shipping with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, usually one of the first devices to receive new versions of Android, hacker friendly, large 4.65-inch display, NFC with Google Wallet, replaceable battery.
The not-so-good: Camera experience is now lacking compared to newer phones like the One X and Galaxy S III, no expandable storage, OMAP4 processor lags behind Snapdragon S4 and Tegra 3, we expect a new Nexus device to go on sale in Q4.
Final Words: The Samsung Galaxy Nexus delivers the most bang for the buck. The software experience is so good that you sometimes forget this phone is about to be a year old. This is still a good purchase if you don't mind the camera and no expandable storage, but a the next Nexus is coming soon.
Last Google Price: $349
Best unlocked phone for $200-299: Sony Xperia Sola
The Good: Just upgraded to Android 4.0, 3.7-inch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine (854×480), 5 megapixel Fast Capture Exmor R camera, "Floating Touch" search the web without touching the screen, NFC, available in multiple colors (black, white, red).
The not-so-good: Resolution is only 854×480, but that is pretty standard for this price range, battery capacity is only 1320 mAh.
Final Words: Last time we chose the HTC One V, but it only supports HSPA+ on the 850 MHz band (no 1900 MHz). The Xperia Sola works on 850/1900, offers twice the internal storage of the HTC One V (8 GB vs 4 GB), and it runs about $25 cheaper.
Last Amazon Price: $264
Best unlocked phone for $100-199: Sony Xperia tipo
The Good: Android 4.0, 3.2-inch display, 800 MHz Snapdragon S1 processor, microSD slot, FM radio, available in multiple colors (black, white, red, blue).
The not-so-good: Low-resolution 480 x 320 display, only 3 megapixel camera, only 2.5 GB internal storage.
Final Words: Last time we suggested the Xperia Mini Pro, but that phone is starting to age. The new Xperia tipo offers more internal storage, longer battery life, and a better overall experience.
Last Amazon Price: $192
Best unlocked phone for $0-99: Motorola Sprice XT300
The Good: Price, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3 MP camera, and microSD expansion slot.
The not-so-good: Only Android 2.1, low-resolution display, only 400 MB internal storage, and don't expect it to receive software updates.
Final Words: This phone doesn't really belong here, but it's hard to find much else below $99. The LG Optimus One would be a better pick when the price falls, and it's already down to $110.
Last Amazon Price: $99
Wrapping Things Up
Anyone looking for a high-end device will be happy with the HTC One X or Samsung Galaxy S III. I have been using both devices and you can really tell they are a step ahead of phones from last year.
Even the Samsung Galaxy Nexus offers a premium Android experience at an affordable price of $349. The camera is lacking and the OMAP4 CPU is a year old, but the pure Android 4.1 Jelly bean experience is unmatched.
Looking down the list, it is pretty impressive that you can get an Android 4.0 device for under $200. Once you dip below $100 you start to see the choices drop off, but that should improve as we reach the holiday season. Amazon doesn't sell many phones from the Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE, but those companies are also helping drive down prices of the low-end phones.
Let us know if you spot any unlocked devices that might be a better pick at any of the price points. We plan to regularly update this as we search out the best deals for unlocked Android phones.


text:
On The Record, Vol. 3, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, July 15, 2011
Description: Summer magazine produced and edited by students at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Articles cover local and campus news, information, and events, along with human interest stories about campus and community life.
Date: July 15, 2011
Creator: Zucker, Shaina
Partner: UNT Libraries

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sir_0nly_0n3 Titan Code of Chivalry Sunday 23/12/2012, 21:34
Yes, that's right! BrainZtorm is once again opening its doors!!
Link: http://www.urban-rivals.com/guilds/guild/?id=1440904
Why is BrainZtorm the best choice for a guild??
~We are one of the few guilds where your personal opinion and feedback is actually taken into consideration! This guild is created for our members! Not for the ego or popularity of a founder and his admins.
~I take the time to get to know each of our members. To other guilds, perhaps it's just another player or high level. If you allow us, we actually get to know who you are as a person. Likes and dislikes, etc.
~Our message board is full of activity! Threads ranging from fun games to innovative guides to improve your gameplay. As well as some other fun surprises you'll enjoy
~Friendly and helpful members always willing to share tricks, give advice, or even lend cards =]
~We have monthly events as well as random contests on the message board so our members can win cards, or even full packs!
~We have some of the best players in the guild, having top ranks in DTs and ELO.
~You will have the best guild experience here!! Just ask our members!
~English speaking mainly, but we do have some French and Spanish speaking members.
~Minimum level 40. We do make exceptions for players with decent scores.
If you are a beginning level, feel free to check out our academy guild:1602706 at:
If you have any questions about joining, please don't hesitate to message -Maka_BZ
edited by Sir_0nly_0n3 sunday 23/12/2012, 21:34
Sir_0nly_0n3 Titan Code of Chivalry Thursday 27/12/2012, 22:52
One of the few guilds with the latest Fantasy Rivals news and info!
Carter_DvF Imperator Wednesday 09/01/2013, 23:12
Awesome guild with great events, helpful players and a fun chat room. What's not to like?
-BZ_SB Imperator BrainZtorm Wednesday 09/01/2013, 23:22
Got a great new guild events which happen all year around, if your looking for a guild with lots of fun activities and a place with great members this is the guild for you.


text:
Here's a circa 1967 groovy avocado green desktop organizer ready for your retro office decor. It was made in Baraboo, Wisconsin by Max Klein, Inc. and measures 8" X 6.5" X 5" tall. Made entirely out of plastic, It has five (5) 3.75" tall vertical slots that are spaced .75" apart. There are three (3) pencil/pen compartments and two (2) shallow compartments for paper clips, etc. There are guides with slots that are 5.25" long on one side which was probably designed to hold a name plate.
This piece is free cracks or chips but does have some signs of use including scratches, scuffs, marks and some pen ink stains on the inside bottom of the pencil holders compartments. There is also some finish discoloration mainly along the bottom edge of one side.
Flat $9.95 USPS Priority Mail (2-3 business days) shipping to anywhere in the USA.
When you purchase this item you are agreeing to our store policies. Please take a moment to review them.
You may pay for your item by Debit/Credit Card or by PayPal. We also accept money order payments but your item will not ship until money order clears our bank. Idaho residents will be charged 6% sales tax.
I don't know about you but when I order something online, I like to get it get it fast, so It is our policy to ship items as fast as possible. Most items ship within 1-2 business days of a paid order. Items usually ship via USPS or FEDEX Ground. Lighter items usually ship via USPS Priority Mail while heavier items may ship via FEDEX Ground or USPS Parcel Select. If your shipping address is different than your mailing address, please provide us with both so we use the correct one depending upon the carrier.
We take great care in packing items but on rare occasions an item can be damaged in shipping. All items shipped within the USA are automatically insured against damage. If your item arrives damaged contact us within 5 days from the delivery date so we can process a claim/refund.
We are not responsible for items delivered to your home or business that are lost or stolen after delivery has been confirmed. If you would like us to require a signature upon delivery, please let us know prior to ordering and we will add that option for a nominal cost.
We offer combined shipping discounts on most items (see shipping costs on each item). Please note that Etsy handles combined discounts this way: You pay full listed shipping cost on the item with the most expensive shipping cost and then the combined shipping discount applies to additional items (of lesser shipping costs) on your order.
We are happy to ship internationally on most items but realize that heavy and/or bulky items will be very expensive to ship so we may note on an item that international shipping is not available.The most cost-effective means for shipping internationally is by U.S. Postal Service (either First Class or Priority International mail) but tracking is often unavailable for items sent this way. International delivery times vary from country to country. An item may take anywhere from 7 to 30 days and occasionally longer and depends upon customs or local delivery delays. We have shipped many items all over the globe with very few problems, but items can get lost or stolen along the way. Should an item be lost in the mail, we will provide you with a copy of the U.S Customs form which is proof that we sent the item. The international buyer will be responsible for contacting their own country's customs/mail officials to trace a lost item's whereabouts. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE DELIVERY OF ITEMS SHIPPED OUTSIDE THE U.S.A.
Also note that the international buyer is responsible for any duty or customs fees charged by your country.
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 21 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
At the Leaping Lemming, We like happy customers! Upon receipt of your purchased item, check for any shipping damage and Convo or email us ASAP if there is shipping damage or other issues.
We accept returns on items within 14 days of receipt. If you are returning an item for whatever reason, contact us within 14 days to arrange for a return. Once we receive the item back in good condition, a full refund (less original shipping cost) will be issued to you. Buyer is responsible for return shipping charges and original shipping charges unless we deem that an item was not as described. Returned items must be in original condition with all original parts and be packed well for damage-free shipping.
NOTE- We try and describe items as if we were the buyer so carefully read all item descriptions. Most returns can be avoided if you read sizes, descriptions, etc. carefully and Convo us with any questions you might have prior to purchasing.
The vintage items we sell are over 20 years old (some are much older) and are sold "as is." We do not imply any warranty beyond the 14 day return policy described above. This means that if an item breaks or ceases to function after 14 days of receipt no refund or return option is available.
Some large/bulky furniture items may come to you partially disassembled to keep your shipping costs down and we will state that on the item description. The buyer is responsible for correctly reassembling an item. If you have any questions about reassembly or are not certain that you have reassembled properly, please contact us prior to using the item. If you would prefer to have an item sent to you fully assembled--contact us prior to purchasing so that we can provide a shipping cost for a fully assembled piece. Note- some items may not be available for shipping if they are not partially disassembled. Fully assembled pieces are always available for local pick-up.
We attempt to describe items as best we can but be aware that vintage appliances and electrical devices may have electrical hazards so the buyer is responsible for any risks in use of them.
Aug 4, 2018
Exactly as described! Fast shipping!


text:
"Glass Wipe Button" is an effect imitating a cartoon-like representation of the sound of glass being wiped clean with a cloth rag. It would be ideal for game, application, web design and other projects looking for quirky, subtle samples to integrate with menu interfaces as a button click or toggle.
Thanks for listening.


text:
lobos is a valid word in this word list. For a definition, see the external dictionary links below.
The word "lobos" uses 5 letters: B L O O S.
Direct anagrams of lobos:
bolos obols
Words formed by adding one letter before or after lobos (in bold), or to bloos in any order:
d - bloods e - oboles m - blooms n - bolson p - bloops u - obolus
Shorter words found within lobos:
bo bolo boo boos bos lo lob lobo lobs loo loos obol os slob so sob sol solo
List shorter words within lobos, sorted by length
Words formed from any letters in lobos, plus an optional blank or existing letter
Try a search for lobos in these online resources (some words may not be found):
Wiktionary - OneLook Dictionaries - Merriam-Webster - Google Search
Each search will normally open in a new window.
List all words starting with lobos, words containing lobos or words ending with lobos
All words formed from lobos by changing one letter
Other words with the same letter pairs: lo ob bo os
Browse words starting with lobos by next letter
Previous word in list: lobo
Next word in list: lobotomies
Some random words: udder weigela ansae ruana wo twa alchemic
This is not a dictionary, it's a word game wordfinder.
- Help and FAQ - Examples - Home
Privacy and Cookies Policy - Share - © Copyright 2004-2018 Morewords.com - 25.771mS


text:
|Episode Description
|Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012 - 5:00 AM
"Back to School; Learning to Be An Organic Farmer"
"Green Acres is the place to be; farm living is the life for me". You might remember that jingle to the opening of the popular series; Green Acres from decades ago. But today, that same desire is alive and well and spawning "Organic Farm Schools" all over the country. D
|More on LEARN/CREATE (MT)
|No upcoming shows in database


text:
Ms. readers get results:
A number of companies have removed offensive ads in response to your feedback.
Have you seen an objectionable ad? Send it to:
No Comment, Ms., 433 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90012. Incldue the entire page on which the ad appeared, date and name of publication, and your name and address.
No Comment from Past Issues


text:
Courtesy of Milagros Martinez
Organ transplant officials have tweaked a policy to allow children like 11-year-old Javier Acosta, who has cystic fibrosis, to appeal for special consideration.
The board overseeing organ transplants in the U.S. voted on Monday to allow special consideration for children needing lung transplants after the families of two dying children filed suit.
The decision walks a fine line, keeping the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) in charge of deciding who gets organs, while also allowing that certain kids may be more likely to die under the current system.
The OPTN board voted unanimously for a system that lets the childrens' doctors appeal to classify certain children under 12 as adolescents. That gives them access to a larger pool of lungs available for transplant while ensuring that organs do not go to waste.
Dr. Stuart Sweet, secretary of the executive committee and director of the pediatric lung transplant program at St. Louis Children's Hospital, said the media storm that's surrounded the case has put the carefully balanced organ allocation system at risk.
"We can take steps to ensure that the next time this situation arises, the case can be heard in a more appropriate venue," Sweet told a teleconference of the board.
"The policy provides for a lung transplant program to submit a request to a national lung review board for a candidate age 11 or younger to have an additional listing, at the same hospital, indicating that the candidate should be ranked among adults for offers from adult and adolescent donors based on the existing Lung Allocation Score," OPTN said in a statement.
Courtesy Murnaghan family
Sarah Murnaghan, 10, is shown with her parents Janet and Francis. Sarah's family filed a lawsuit last week asking for an exception to the so-called "Under-12" rule.
"The pediatric candidate would also retain his or her priority for pediatric donors, which includes immediate access to matching donors within a 1,000-mile radius of the donor hospital."
Janet and Francis Murnaghan started the battle with a high-level media campaign to get a lung transplant for their daughter, Sarah. Sarah, who's 10 and has cystic fibrosis, has been on the pediatric transplant list waiting for lungs since 2011.
A second mother, Milagros Martinez, filed suit on behalf of her 11-year-old son Javier Acosta, last week. Javier also has cystic fibrosis and has just weeks to live. His older brother Jovan died waiting for a lung transplant in 2009, her lawyers say.
The suits object to a tiered system that OPTN set up in 2005. It divides children needing transplants into age groups – 0 to 5, 6 to 11 and 12 to 18. Adults 18 and over all get grouped together. Lawyers for the families said the system penalized certain kids who were under 12 but large enough in size to get adult or teenage-size lungs.
A judge agreed with Murnaghan's family and ordered Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, whose department oversees The United Network for Organ Sharing and the OPTN, to suspend existing organ allocation rules. HHS did so and when Martinez filed suit, HHS suspended the rules for Javier, also.
"We're not trying to skip ahead of anyone," Martinez said at a news conference Saturday. "We just want him to have a fighting chance."
Sweet said the data did suggest kids in the 6-11 age group waiting for a lung transplant have a higher mortality rate than older children. He proposed the interim measure.
"This does not grant any patient access to the adult allocation tier," he said. It simply allows the transplant team treating the patient to petition the OPTN's review board.
Courtesy of Milagros Martinez
Javier Acosta, age 11, poses with Star Wars characters as he waits for a lung transplant at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Organ transplant officials have tweaked a policy to allow children like Javier appeal for special consideration.
"It is not immediately known how many candidates may be considered for this option. According to OPTN data, only one lung transplant in the United States has occurred from a donor older than age 18 into a recipient younger than 12 since 2007," UNOS said.
Bioethicist Arthur Caplan, director of the division of medical ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center and a frequent NBC News contributor, said the board's decision seemed like a good solution.
"Ironically, the lawsuit is pushing the policy," said Caplan. "They are trying to preserve the integrity of the UNOS system for distributing organs, and trying to acknowledge that Sarah and her family have a point.
"They were very worried that they not open the floodgates to all kinds of people who need all kinds of organs to start going to Congress or to judges or the secretary of HHS."
UNOS says the bigger problem is there are not enough organs available for donation. As of Monday, 75,655 people were actively waiting for organs. When organs become available, they are offered based on geography, tissue match, need and age.
"The biological needs and circumstances of candidates younger than age 12 are different from either adolescent or adult candidates," UNOS says in a statement.
"One key difference is the size and lung capacity of donors and patients among these age ranges. For this reason, lung allocation policy differs for these groups of candidates and is designed to suit their unique needs," it adds.
"Children younger than age 12 have priority for all donors of similar age and size within a 1,000-mile radius before any older candidates would be considered. In some circumstances, a transplant center may determine that a child's condition warrants a reduced size transplant from an adult donor. If the center wishes to consider this additional treatment option, these children will have access to adult organs once they are offered to adolescents and adults in the same allocation zone."
Transplant experts debate new rules
Transplants shortage has a solution - donate organs
Second child files suit in lung transplant controversy


text:
Posted 6 years ago
(857 items)
This Civil War carte de visite (CDV) depicts a Union sailor who served with the blockade forces in occupied South Carolina.
By December of 1861, the Union Navy controlled the area of Beaufort, SC and used it as a base for their East Coast blockade efforts.
The single star (without cuff trim) was the insignia for a USN Botswain and Gunner (24 MAY 63- end of the Civil War) and was for Midshipmen as well (29 JAN 64- end of the Civil War).
Because this CDV doesn't carry a revenue stamp, it most likely pre- dates 1 AUG 64.
The sailors simple sack coat type jacket is unusual and more typical of the Army.
Reproduction of these images in any form is not authorized.


text:
Bottom played by John Ramm
A Midsummer Night's Dream (2002)
Written by: William Shakespeare
John Ramm played Bottom in the 2002 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, having returned from New York where the Globe Theatre Company performed the previous summer's production of Cymbeline at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).
latest updates
In his final blog post John discusses how the company continue to rehearse while the play is being performed, the audience response to the opening night and how the 'mechanicals' perform their play-within-a-play.
In his third blog post, John discusses the problems that have arisen from running the play, the decisions he has made for playing Bottom and what he'll be wearing for his costume.
In his second blog post, John discusses the use of improvisation in rehearsals, time spent rehearsing on the Globe stage, and how to speak Shakespeare's lines most effectively.
This is John's first blog post. This week he discusses his previous experience of performing at the Globe, and the work the company does to prepare their characters.


text:
Rockets harken back to Clutch City for inspiration
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Rockets reached back into their history to stave off elimination in their first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Houston earned the nickname "Clutch City" back in the mid-1990s when the team won back-to-back NBA championships. The Rockets brought the moniker back for Game 5 against the Blazers with a pep talk from a star of that team and T-shirts for their fans.
Now Houston will see if this team has that historic resilience as the series moves back to Portland for Game 6 tonight.
The Rockets are still down 3-2. So, lose and their summer starts Saturday.
"I don't want to go on vacation," Rockets center Dwight Howard said. "I want to win. I want to give everything I've got every night, put my heart into it and sacrifice my body and do whatever I can to help this team win. It's not going to be easy."
After losing the opening two games in Houston, then claiming one of a pair in Portland, the Rockets rallied for a 108-98 victory on Wednesday night to narrow Portland's advantage in the series. Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and Jeremy Lin redeemed himself from a poor performance in Game 4 with 21 points off the bench.
The Rockets limited All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge to eight points after he averaged 35.3 points in the first four games. Wesley Matthews led the Blazers with 27 points and Damian Lillard added 26.
Aldridge said Houston wasn't doing anything differently.
"No, that was just how the game went," he said afterward. "The ball didn't come to me as much tonight. Our guys were making shots and we were playing off them and that's how the game went. It wasn't about how Dwight guarded me or anything like that."
The Rockets were simply determined playing in front of a crowd wearing red Clutch City shirts. Former guard Mario Elie gave the team some impassioned words of encouragement during practice a day earlier.
Elie, affectionately nicknamed Junkyard Dog for his tenacity, was known for clutch 3-pointers, including one that helped advance the Rockets out of a second-round playoff series against Phoenix in 1995. Houston, down 3-1 in the series against the Suns, went on to win its second straight NBA title.
Wednesday night's victory gave the Rockets confidence that it could happen again.
"We're not hanging our heads at all. We believe in each other and in that entire locker room nobody thinks this series is over," Rockets forward Chandler Parsons said. "We have a chance to do something special here and we've got to continue to do that and take it one game at a time."
Only eight NBA teams — including the '95 Rockets — have rebounded from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series to advance. The last was the Suns, who came back to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in a first-round series in 2006.
Portland is making its first playoff appearance since 2011. Aldridge helped the Blazers steal the first two games in Houston, scoring 46 points in a 122-120 overtime Game 1 win, then 43 in a 112-105 victory.
The Rockets claimed the first of two in Portland, 121-116 in overtime, led by James Harden with 37 points. The series' third OT game ended in a 123-120 Blazers win.
The Blazers have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for their last six trips. The team hasn't advanced since 2000, when Portland made it to the Western Conference finals, losing in seven games to the Lakers.
Blazers center Robin Lopez doesn't believe the Blazers have lost their edge with the Game 5 loss.
"I think we may have underestimated how desperate they were going to come out," he said. "I'm excited for Game 6 and I know that they will come out with a greater level of intensity and confidence and we will have to try and match it, overcome it."


text:
DAY OUT WITH THOMAS™: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014
PULLING INTO THE Grapevine Vintage Railroad
Thomas the Tank Engine™ to visit the Grapevine Vintage Railroad
March 28-30 & & April 4-6, 2014
Grapevine, TX – All aboard for the best party ever! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is set to roll into Grapevine for the Day Out With Thomas™: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014. All Thomas fans are invited to come spend the day with their favorite No. 1 engine and celebrate a day of fun-filled activities. The event, which takes place March 28-30 & April 4-6, 2014, will be hosted by Museum of the American Railroad & the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and presented by HIT Entertainment and sponsored by MEGA Brands, a leading toy company.
For 68 years, children have been captivated by the courageous adventures of Thomas and his engine friends. Pulling out of the station for its 19th consecutive ride on the rails, the Day Out With Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 will visit more than 45 cities in the United States and Canada. Day Out With Thomas is the only place for families to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of everybody's favorite #1 engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoy Thomas-themed activities at the Imagination Station, including stamps, temporary tattoos and hands-on arts and crafts. Each year the tour grows, traveling to new destinations, adding new activities and welcoming new visitors.
Day Out with Thomas 2014 activities include:
The tour provides a unique, interactive family experience at every station, offering a variety of entertaining activities that reflect the local flavor of each stop. At the Grapevine Vintage Railroad activities will include: a real model train layout, bounce houses, live stage entertainment, arts & crafts, a petting zoo, a huge sandbox, and more!
The 25-minute train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine will depart every 50 minutes, rain or shine. Day Out With Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 tickets are on sale now.
Get your tickets by calling toll-free 866.468.7630 or logging onto http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/VenueListings.action?venueId=18407&pl=thomas14&REFID=qrcode For more information and directions contact the Museum of the American Railroad at 214-428-0101 or www.HistoricTrains.org
For general information or to find a Day Out With Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 event near you, visit www.thomasandfriends.com.
About The Museum of the American Railroad & the Grapevine Vintage Railroad
Day Out with Thomas is a collaboration between the Museum of the American Railroad in Fair Park and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad in Historic Downtown Grapevine, Texas. Proceeds from the event go toward historic rail preservation. The event introduces a new generation of children to rail travel and the importance of rail preservation. For more information, visit our website at www.HistoricTrains.org
About Thomas & Friends™
Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son nearly 68 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 185 territories and in 30 languages. The #1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation. Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS®, PBS KIDS SproutSM and with downloadable episodes available through iTunes. For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, please visit www.thomasandfriends.com.
About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China). For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.
About MEGA Brands
MEGA Brands is a trusted family of leading global brands in construction toys, games & puzzles, arts & crafts and stationery. They offer engaging creative experiences for children and families through innovative, well-designed, affordable and high-quality products. Visit http://www.megabrands.com for more information.


text:
(a) CONTENTS OF AGREEMENTS- Section 463(a) (20 U.S.C. 1087cc(a)) is amended--
(1) by amending subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) to read as follows:
`(B) a capital contribution by an institution in an amount equal to one-third of the Federal capital contributions described in subparagraph (A);';
(2) by striking paragraph (4); and
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (10) as paragraphs (4) through (9);
(b) AGREEMENTS WITH CREDIT BUREAUS- Section 463(c) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking `the Secretary shall' and inserting `the Secretary and each institution of higher education participating in the program under this part shall'; and
(B) by inserting `and regarding loans held by the Secretary or an institution' after `section 467';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking `by the Secretary' and all that follows through `of--' and inserting `by the Secretary or an institution, as the case may be, to such organizations, with respect to any loan held by the Secretary or the institution, respectively, of--';
(B) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
`(A) the date of disbursement and the amount of such loans made to any borrower under this part at the time of disbursement of the loan;';
(C) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) by inserting `the repayment and' after `concerning'; and
(ii) by striking `any defaulted' and inserting `such'; and
(D) in subparagraph (C), by inserting `, or upon cancellation or discharge of the borrower's obligation on the loan for any reason' before the period;
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(i) by inserting `or an institution' after `from the Secretary'; and
(ii) by striking `until--' and inserting `until the loan is paid in full.'; and
(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);
(4) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
`(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an institution of higher education, after consultation with the Secretary and pursuant to the agreements entered into under paragraph (1), shall disclose at least annually to any credit bureau organization with which the Secretary has such an agreement the information set forth in paragraph (2), and shall disclose promptly to such credit bureau organization any changes to the information previously disclosed.
`(B) The Secretary may promulgate regulations establishing criteria under which an institution of higher education may cease reporting the information described in paragraph (2) before a loan is paid in full.'; and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
`(5) Each institution of higher education shall notify the appropriate credit bureau organizations whenever a borrower of a loan that is made and held by the institution and that is in default makes 6 consecutive monthly payments on such loan, for the purpose of encouraging such organizations to update the status of information maintained with respect to that borrower.'.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 463(d) is amended by striking `subsection (a)(10)' and inserting `subsection (a)(9)'.
|Table of Contents


text:
Employee Resources
As a governmental body, LSCS is subject to the Texas Public Information Act which allows access by the public to most information held by a governmental body. All requests for public information should be directed to the Office of Public Records. Information should not be released by any other location or staff of LSCS. All documents will be carefully reviewed for confidential information before their release.
As an employee of LSCS you may elect to withhold your personal information from release by completing the Disclosure of Personal Information form through your Human Resources Department. If you should not make this election, your name, address, phone number and family member information may be released.
Please see the FAQ's for Staff or contact the Office of Public Records for more information.


text:
U.N. Report from Rio on Environment a 'Suicide Note'
The recent three-day meeting was more easily known as Rio+20, but so few specifics, so few targets, so few tangible decisions came out of the gathering that some participants were derisively calling it "Rio Minus 20," or "Rio Plus 20 Minus 40."
"A failure of epic proportions" was the verdict from Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace International.
Views: 161
At least there was this:
"Ms. Earle, the National Geographic explorer, was somewhat heartened that the summit meeting had again put a spotlight, if only briefly, on environmental issues that have perhaps been overlooked, diminished or pushed aside due to the world economic malaise and calls for government austerity."
I've been reading about the disastrous meetings - that didn't make the American press. Suicide note is a good tile for the post-meeting report.
© 2018 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


text:
There is a greater ( 55.0%) chance that the temperature will be higher than the climatological median* of 38.4 Deg F, and a lesser (45.0%) chance that the temperature will be lower than the climatological median*.
*For the climatological reference information, the median statistic is reported. The median value means that during the present climatological reference period (1981-2010), half of the years (50%) temperature was greater than the median and in the other half (50%) less than that.


text:
Your browser does not support iframes.
In the recent weeks it has become apparent that some time needs to be given on the topic of appropriate use of technology, more to the point, sexting. My purpose in this article is to inform and prepare so that as a community and a school district we may become more proactive in stopping the inappropriate use of technology by the children in our community. Sexting is the most alarming way in which our youth misuse their technology. I have spent some time in other articles on social media and cyber bullying, but sexting is a growing problem not just in Trimble County, but all over.
With many guests, packed committee meetings, and energetic rallies, it was another exciting week in Frankfort. Hollywood stars, national organizations, and winter weather greeted the Kentucky General Assembly during week six of the 2016 Session.
The General Assembly debates dozens of bills each legislative session, but most fall under several broad categories: education, health and public safety, infrastructure and economic development.
Those last two were the chief focus of the Kentucky House's work last week, as my colleagues and I approved legislation that would make it easier for government and the private sector to work together and that would take an in-depth look at the state's workforce development programs.
Dear Readers,
On February 3, 2016 our board of education approved Mark Ryles to serve as our Local Planning Committee (LPC) facilitator. As we move forward from this point I wish to make it clear as to who makes up the committee and how they are selected. This is taken directly from the Kentucky School Facilities Planning Manual (702 KAR 4:180).
Section 101
Local Planning Committee Selection
101.2 The LPC shall be made up of a maximum of twenty (20) members and/or a minimum of ten (10) members to include:
The fifth week of the 2016 Legislative Session in Frankfort was historic in a number of ways. Governor Matt Bevin signed his first piece of legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 4. We also said goodbye to former State Senator and civil rights activist, Georgia Davis Powers.
Just as it is often said that games are won or lost during practice, a similar principle applies as well to legislation. Before a bill can clear the House or Senate, it has to make it through a committee first.
That groundwork is especially crucial when it comes to the budget, which Gov. Bevin proposed late last month and the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee began reviewing in-depth last week. The chamber is on track to complete this work and vote by the early days of March.
Dear Readers,
When someone says, "I have good news and bad news," which one do you prefer to hear first?
Joe went to his doctor who posed that question to him.
"Give me the good news first," Joe said.
"You have 24 hours to live," the doctor told him.
Clutching his chest, Joe said, "If that's the good news, what's the bad news?"
The doctor said, "I meant to tell you yesterday."
Ba dump bump. (Groan.)
The biggest responsibility the governor and the General Assembly have during legislative sessions in even-numbered years is enacting a budget to run state government. It sets our priorities in a way no other law can.
The budget process actually began months ago, when agencies compiled their projected needs while the state's economists, known as the Consensus Forecasting Group, determined exactly how much the state could appropriate.
Week four of the Kentucky General Assembly marked a momentous occasion for our state. Governor Matt Bevin gave his first State of the Commonwealth Budget Address, laying out a plan that will guide Kentucky out of the financial mire that has lingered for the past eight years.
Copyright © 2018
The Trimble Banner is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Trimble County, KY and the surrounding area.


text:
Businesses need a comprehensive and detailed strategy that accounts for costs, service and the overall consumer experience. Postage and packaging costs are integral to the total cost of manufacturing and shipping goods, meaning there is a direct impact on bottom-line profits.
Time is one of the most valuable resources. Discover ways to make the most out of your day and control your destiny.
Everyone needs a car. Find your niche; Learn how to compete in the automobile industry today.
View the BIG list of emerging technologies by industry. Get the facts on what's coming next. Watch videos, explore research and join the discussion.
Want to learn a programming language? Explore a list of all the major programming languages. Access tutorials, watch videos and join the discussion on programming.
Get the facts on e-commerce. Explore stats, browse research and watch videos on e-commerce. Learn the business and technology essentials. Join the discussion.
Connect with Business-to-Business (B2B) Marketing Resources. Explore B2B stats, trends and research. Watch videos, share and discuss B2B topics.
Learn about the essentials of Digital Marketing. Explore topics such as Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Email Marketing and Content Marketing. Watch videos, view stats and explore research. Become a Digital Marketing thought leader.
The Internet of things (IoT) is the network of devices, vehicles, home appliances, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity which enable these objects to connect and exchange data. Watch videos, view research and discuss IoT.
Explore the virtual world. Get the essential information on virtual reality. Watch videos, view research and explore products. Join the discussion.


text:
Excel project for Rohit Ahuja
Anggaran £250-750 GBP
I am trying to complete a data visualisation project for a data centre decommissioning piece of work.
The data that I have has many dependencies between racks, servers, storage and networking equipment.
I would like to show a snapshot in time (or sliding timescale) by month to show when a particular rack is decommissioned.
Output can be a diagram that is printed, or it can be dynamic. Can use visio as an output or something similar.
The data set changes (the decommissioning date should be changeable) and this should update the diagrams for downloading again.
Below is an extract of the data. Full data set to be supplied on agreement of project.
Also a current excel representation of the data centre room.
Diberikan kepada:
Hi, I have ~4+ years of experience of creating and operating low to very high complexity of Excel/VBA/SQL,SAS, Powerpoint based tools/processes, reports. I can assure you of high quality and on-time deliverable Lebih banyak
8 freelancer menawar dengan rata-rata £437 untuk pekerjaan ini
Hi I am a very experienced statistician and academic writer. I have completed several PhD level thesis projects involving advanced statistical analysis of data. I have worked with data from several companies and have d Lebih banyak
Hi!!! I can help you with the task! I am very analytical, have lots of experience in analysing data (excel), structuring and presenting it to make decisiones. I am very responsable and self-motivator so you can trus Lebih banyak
We make sure we understand exactly what it is you need and then provide you with the dedicated IT offshore development center or a IT team of just a few developers best suited to meet your [login to view URL] have specialists o Lebih banyak
Dear sir, I promise to do my best to complete your project with the skills i have to deliver it right om time, please consider my offer and i will not let you down. Thank you.
Hello, I am Prajwal Bhatt, a pre-final year student at IIT Roorkee. I am a creative, flexible and focused individual who is passionate about Data Science, Natural Language Processing and the entire Analytics space. Lebih banyak
Hi,dear. I am a senior software developer. I have just checked your project report, I am able to perform this task with my developer team. I am looking forward to your proposal...


text:
Here's a short little tip with some interesting background information. If you are running Windows on your Mac - like I'm doing on my 2015 retina MacBook Pro because macOS is far too unoptimised to run on it - and it's using an Intel graphics chip, be sure to replace Apple's own Boot Camp graphics drivers with Intel's own latest drivers.
The reason why you should do this is kind of fascinating. I noticed that while Windows as a whole ran quite fast and snappy - much more so than macOS with its crappy responsiveness, FPS drops, and hangs, even after reinstallations - two applications had responsiveness issues: Chrome and Microsoft Office. With Chrome, I chalked it up to #justchromethings and moved on. With Office though, I was perplexed.
The past few versions of Office, including the current one, are fast, snappy, and instant. The days where Office applications were slow and cumbersome are long gone, even on lower-end hardware like the 2015 retina MacBook Pro. However, Office applications were slow, rendering was terrible, and things like dragging and resizing Office windows was literally a slide show - and I wanted to know why.
I found out that on Windows, Microsoft Office uses its own rendering pipeline (framework? I'm not really sure what the accurate terminology is here), different from both Win32 and Metro applications. As it turns out, Office does its own check of the video card and driver to determine if hardware acceleration for Office should be disabled or not.
By default, hardware acceleration is automatically disabled in Office programs if certain video card and video card driver combinations are detected when you start an Office program. If hardware acceleration is automatically disabled by the program, nothing indicates that this change occurred.
Well, except that Office now runs like a total dog, of course.
Apparently, the Office team maintains its own list of video card/driver combinations and keeps this list a secret.
The list of video card/video driver combinations that trigger this automatic disabling of hardware graphics acceleration is not documented because the list is hard-coded in the Office programs and will be constantly changing as we discover additional video combinations that cause problems in Office programs.
When I ran the Intel Driver Update Utility on my retina MacBook Pro to determine if the Apple-provided Intel graphics driver was up-to-date, the tool found a newer driver, but warned me that my OEM (Apple) had modified the already-installed driver, and that I would lose those customisations. I proceeded to download the new driver anyway, only to be hit by a very peculiar dialog upon trying to install the driver Intel told me was newer than what I had installed: the installer warned my I was installing an older driver than what I had installed.
So, I decided to download the latest driver (the latest beta) manually, installed it, and this fixed not just Office, but also Chrome - which I find particularly baffling (maybe Chrome maintains a similar list?).
The list that the Office team maintains is not of good drivers, but of bad drivers. For Office's hardware acceleration to fail, the driver needs to be on the list. This means that the combination "Apple-modified Intel graphics driver/Iris 6100" was, at some point, added to the list, triggering the disabling of hardware acceleration for Office. The combination "Intel's own graphics driver/Iris 6100" is not on the list.
There's a number of possible explanations here, and I'm not really sure which one makes the most sense. Apple cares too little about Boot Camp users to intentionally cripple the Apple-supplied Intel drivers, so that's definitely not the cause. I also don't think the Intel driver magically improved a ton in the span of just a few weeks (there's only a few weeks of difference between the two versions, but I'm not trusting version numbers here) - but maybe it did? I honestly don't know. It's Intel's beta driver that isn't even signed by Microsoft, but somehow, the Office team tested it and removed it from their list? My first instinct was to think that because Apple had modified the driver, it wasn't on Microsoft's list - but since the list is for bad drivers, that makes no sense.
The most logical explanation I have right now - suggested by Steven Troughton-Smith - is that Apple changes a few things in the Intel driver to optimise Windows' battery life, which in turn tune down the performance, causing the Office team to add this specific driver/video card combination to the list. I've been keeping an eye on battery life since installing the driver, but haven't noticed much of a difference.
I don't think this little tip will be useful for a lot of people, but I really enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on.


text:
Download Intel High-Definition Graphics Driver
You can start downloading the Intel High-Definition Graphics Driver ver. 10.18.10.3408 for HP 15-r259ur Laptop. To start download file, click green «download» button on page below. We advise you to use a variety of download managers like «FlashGet» or «Download Master». Also, you can go back to the list of drivers and choose a different driver for HP 15-r259ur Laptop.
To start the download, select one of the servers and click "download"
Version, Date:
10.18.10.3408, 21.03.2014
Operation Systems:
Windows 8.1 x64, Windows 7 x64
This package provides the driver that enables the Intel High-Definition (HD) Graphics in supported notebook models that are running a supported operating system. If high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) video output is supported, this package also installs the HDMI Audio Driver.
Other drivers:


text:
skip navigation
Gardena, CA - (January 6, 2005) - Clarion Corporation of America, a leading manufacturer of mobile entertainment systems, brings the successful APA4300HX into the lineup. The 4-channel amplifier includes high quality components and remains in a category all by itself.
The APA4300HX results in 600W of maximum power (4 Channels x 150 Watts) and 300W of continuous average power output (4 Channels x 75 Watts). The amplifier is bridgeable for a 2-, 3-, or 4-channel mode of operation.
"The technologically enhanced APA4300HX has speaker lead short-circuits and is housed in an aluminum case with a built-in cooling fan for increased convenience," says Kazu Arai, Clarion's Marketing Manager.
The APA4300HX has a power guard circuit to protect the speakers by inhibiting heat dispersal through creating consecutive drives for high power outputs, thus preventing overheating and selectively eliminating distortion.
The MSRP for the APA4300HX is $899.99
Return to the top of the page


text:
Julie Blakeslee of Big Red Sun's Outdoor Trend Predictions for 2012
What will be this year's hot new color for outdoor spaces? What new products are just waiting to help you make your outdoor space gorgeous? We asked Julie Blakeslee, Austin's Big Red Sun owner, for her predictions of the hot new outdoor trends for 2012!
When Austin's beloved Big Red Sun branch closed in order for the company to focus on the Venice, California location, we were bummed until a new owner, Julie Blakeslee, bought the Austin design/build arm in 2010. Because of popular demand, she decided to reopen retail, and Austin's Big Red Sun, a gorgeous design/build company and boutique outdoor store, reopened in the summer of 2011. Always hip to what's hot, here are Julie's predictions for outdoor trends this year:
Color: Julie says they are feeling majorelle blue but thinks bright colors like magenta and orange will be popular with upholstery this year. Definitely "down with neutrals," but she encourages contrast with black and white.
Hip outdoor element: In Julie's words, "Cool chicken coops are the new fire pit." (Stay tuned to the Outdoor channel this month to see some posts about chickens and their coops!).
Sustainability: She says we'll be seeing more and more xeriscaping as well as incorporating native plantings that require a less frequent watering schedule. Victory garden style mini-gardens are also really popular.
Hot interior plants: Julie says for the interior, fiddle leaf fig trees and pony tail palms are making a big comeback.
Cool products: "We just got some cool new lanterns from Not Neutral, Seed Bombs that we make here, Tade Tire containers (planters made from recycled tires!), Esther Studio pots, and we sell this awesome Intelligent Nutrients organic perfume spray that doubles as mosquito repellant. It really works and smells awesome."
(Images: Adrienne Breaux)


text:
SYDNEY, N.S. — The Mi'kmaq nation in Cape Breton and beyond is in mourning following the death of its spiritual leader and head of state.
Mi'kmaq Grand Council Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy of Waycobah First Nation died Thursday afternoon at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital with his family and friends by his side. He was 76.
Waycobah Chief Rod Googoo called Sylliboy a close friend and mentor. The two first began working together in the 1970s when they both served as band councillors in Waycobah.
Sylliboy and his wife Marie are also his youngest daughter's godparents.
"It's a tremendous loss to the Mi'kmaq nation — he was our grand chief. It leaves a big void. When we talk about the Mi'kmaq nation, we're talking all the way from Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland and parts of Maine," Googoo told the Cape Breton Post.
"The grand chief is the figurehead for our nation — I guess you can compare him to being the Dalai Lama."
Eskasoni Chief Leroy Denny was with Sylliboy when he died. He said Sylliboy and his late father Walter Denny were best friends and both served as Mi'kmaq Grand Council captains.
Denny described Sylliboy as being "very patient and a great listener."
"He was a dear friend of mine and my heart is broken — he was like an uncle to me," said Denny. "As a friend he would call me in the mornings. If something was going on in Eskasoni, he would call, or if somebody died, he would call. Hockey season — he was a Habs fan, and he would pick on people, other hockey fans. He was a dear friend."
There were no funeral arrangements for Sylliboy on Thursday, but Denny said the Mi'kmaq nation will mourn for a year.
"We're going to see a number of people coming in to pay their respects. He was our leader."
Sylliboy is survived by his wife Marie and daughters Michelle and Christina.
Born in Waycobah on March 2, 1941, Sylliboy was sent to the Indian Residential School in Shubenacadie, N.S., where he stayed for four years. His community choose him as their keptin, or hereditary chief in 1968, and in 1970 he was elected as a band councillor, serving nine terms.
In 1991, then-Grand Chief Donald Marshall Sr. of Membertou, who died later that year, asked Sylliboy to step in as interim grand chief, a role he served until his death.


text:
Please describe your item using this form and then press the 'Give' button.
In the description box, quickly get to the point and be clear so that readers will understand what the item is. Look at the other donations for hints on how to describe your item. Keep in mind that the contents of the description box is displayed on the web site. Don't put contact information here that you want to keep private.
The available until date will automatically remove the item from the website after that day. It defaults to one month from now but you can override the date by typing over it.
If you have a digital photo of the item, please upload it to the website using this form.
Finally, your contact information will only be viewable by authorized personnel of charities interested in your donation. Please complete it accurately so that they will be able to reach you regarding your gift.
Please provide contact information so an interested agency will be able to reach you. You will be contacted by a representative of the charity if your donation matches their needs. Only authorized personnel of charities that have an interest in your particular item can see the contact information you provide.


text:
"Dearest Friends,"
Laurence Freeman OSB, CHRISTIAN MEDITATION NEWSLETTER, Vol. 34, No. 3, October 2010, pp. 4-5.
The truly other is essential to the mystical and loving mind. Otherness stimulates the mind to let go of its fixed points and expand beyond itself, enlarging the view we have of the world and of ourselves within it. In the face of the other we have to give up the fame of dramatizing them. This is a little of what I understand by the term "a catholic mind" because it has faced the other that we cannot describe or control. The catholic mind intuitively seeks to include rather than reject, even when it meets an abyss of difference in the other that it recoils from and finds wrong and threatening. [. . . .]
We become catholic in this full and embracing sense only by means of growth, which is a passing through the stages of healing and integration. So none of us is catholic yet, not even the pope. There is a way to go. But the alternative to the process of forgiveness is the sectarian mind that objectifies the other and, through fear and the pleasure of power, denies it its pure subjectivity, its otherness and is-ness. Socially and historically, we have done this to immigrants, to Jews, to gays and other easily targeted minorities, but also even to half the human race through the violent patriarchal exclusion of women.
By doing such things, we exclude ourselves from the whole and therefore from the holy One. God is always subject, the "great I AM," impervious to our attempts to objectify and manipulate. We meet this pure emanation of being in our own deep silence, not in ideology or abstraction, but in diverse ways, basically in each other and in the beauty and wonder of creation, the ocean of being, of suffering and bliss, that we and even the creator have swum in.
Because forgiveness requires depth and depth needs silence, forgiveness, reconciliation, the catholic mind . . .themselves require contemplation. To think of contemplation as a kind of luxury, relaxation or spare time occupation entirely misses the meaning of human development as the only essential way we have to glorify God. How can we "glorify God' by what we say or do? We can only reflect back to God the divine glory potentially stored in our own being. St John of the Cross says the soul is like an unopened parcel. Unwrapping it is the way we glorify God---ultimately through participating completely in God's life and vision. We meditate, John Main said, to become the person God knows us to be. Become one with the giver of the gift by returning the gift to the giver and then finding the gift it contains.
Meditate for Thirty Minutes.... Remember: Sit down. Sit still and upright. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Silently, interiorly, begin to say a single word. We recommend the prayer-phrase "Maranatha." Recite it as four syllables of equal length. Listen to it as you say it, gently, but continuously. Do not think or imagine anything—spiritual or otherwise. Thoughts and images will likely come, but let them pass. Just keep returning your attention—with humility and simplicity—to saying your word in faith, from the beginning to the end of your meditation.
After Meditation...
"Cup and Ocean," THE SOUL OF RUMI: A NEW COLLECTION OF ECSTATIC POEMS (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), p. 155
These forms we seem to be are cups floating in an ocean
of living consciousness.
They fill and sink without leaving an arc of bubbles or
any good-bye spray. What we
are is that ocean, too near to see, though we swim in it
And drink it in. Don't
be a cup with a dry rim, or someone who rides all night
and never knows the horse
beneath his thighs, the surging that carries him along.
Please note:
These readings are meant for your personal use or to share with your weekly meditation group. As you know, the work of our Community relies on the generosity of visitors like yourself. Please consider making a regular donation to the WCCM. (See the "Helping the Community" link at the left of this page.)
If you would like to have the "Weekly Readings" sent to your e-mail program's in-box each Sunday, please go to our WCCM subscription page to enter the required information. You may unsubscribe at any time. If you change your e-mail address you will need to unsubscribe and resubscribe. Please keep your mailbox from being full.
Mobile Readings for iPhone, iPod and iPad go to: http://m.wbx.me/wccm


text:
Radisson Hotels Norwich hotels are listed below. Search for cheap and discount Radisson Hotels hotel rates in Norwich, CT for your upcoming individual or group travel. We list the best Radisson Hotels Norwich hotels so you can review the Norwich Radisson Hotels hotel list below to find the perfect place.
Our website will list Norwich, CT hotels & motels that have similar star quality of Radisson Hotels.
Booking a group or meeting? Set up a group hotel block in Norwich CT
How should we direct your call?


text:
The commanding voice called "Keep moving!" to a motorist who was rounding a corner on the Heights Monday.
It was day one of what appears to be a blessedly short period of "wrong way" detours done in the interest of keeping traffic flowing while Belmont and 12th and 13th streets are excavated for new water lines.
"This is the price of running water," flagger Dave Williams of contractor MEI said Monday as cars streamed by in both directions.
The vocal motorist was some impatient soul who Had To Get There First, and was yelling at the car ahead even though both were traveling in a congested area and going south on a normally north-only street.
In an unusual situation, this person insisted on behaving with the usual impatience.
The flaggers deserve credit for safely and efficiently moving vehicles through the neighborhood. It's a public safety concern, given the potential for accidents in this case of sanctioned wrong-way driving, and the fact that the city and contractor MEI have reached a linchpin in this $12 million public infrastructure project. Sometimes you have to cut holes in the busiest streets in town. The price of running water, indeed.
Two-foot diameter pipes are going into the ground at this writing; the project heads east across 12th and along Union Street in the next phase of the project.
There is always the potential for the unforeseen, any time there is digging up the road involved.
That may remain the case on the other big project in town — downtown Urban Renewal — where piles of gravel and stacks of pipe seem to be everywhere. The Crestline crew deserves credit for making way for motorist and pedestrians, though some downtown businesses have complained about significant incursion on their business in the past three months. Such as the case five years ago in the Oak Street Urban Renewal Project.
The city plans an outreach of sorts this spring once the project is done, a kind of invitation to people to come back downtown. That's a positive idea, but we recommend it start now. True, there is less parking available because State is almost constantly closed to traffic and parking, but it is almost always open to pedestrians. The only exceptions have been when safety is at stake or temporary access was made impossible by the task at hand.
Oak and Front Street businesses, like those on State, remain open, and no level of dust and noise has changed that. There is parking available, and the downtown businesses affected by street closures deserve support. The end of the project is in sight, but there is plenty of work to do, and plenty of work going on inside the walls fronting the streets.
Comments are subject to moderator review and may not appear immediately on the site. A user's first several comments must be manually approved by a moderator.
Please read our commenting policy before posting.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?)


text:
Seamus McGraw: As a Gun Owner and Father, I Feel an Obligation to Speak Out
It's a beautiful thing, hand-carved out of tiger-eye maple that I painstakingly finished over several weeks and polished to a high gloss. The brass is like old gold. The barrel, browned and aged by hand, is the color of chestnuts. It feels right in my hand, and I suppose that's only natural since I made it myself, fashioning it out of pieces I inherited from my father when he died.
It's one of three guns I own, all of them hunting weapons, all of them used and used often for that purpose. But this one is special to me. Maybe that's because, in some ways, it is a tangible link to my father, to my past, to my traditions.
There are comparatively few hunters, I believe, who feel the need to stalk deer using high-powered assault-style weapons
All the same, I would gladly break it apart, burn the stock and melt the barrel if I thought for a moment that doing so would prevent one more atrocity like the savage, insane slaughter of innocents that took place last Friday at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Yes, I'm a gun owner and an avid hunter. I'm also a father of four children, the youngest of whom is just a year older than many of the babies massacred in their first-grade classrooms.
And maybe it's because I am all three of those things, a gun owner, a hunter and a father, that this massacre hit me so hard. I'm 54 years old. I've lived through a number of national calamities, but never before —not during Sandy or Katrina or 9/11 or the assassinations that rocked this nation through my childhood in the 1960s, have I been brought to tears by any of them. Until now. Never has one hurt, angered or motivated me as much. Maybe it's because I am who I am that I feel a special obligation to speak out now, at last, to demand that this country finally adopt reasonable and effective gun control laws, that we restore the assault weapons ban and that we bring an end to these atrocities.
In fact, in a nation where such violence has become all too common, it may be that only people like me can make a difference. It may be that it is up to us, people who use and respect weapons, to build momentum for the kind of changes that we need to make to, if not prevent another Sandy Hook or Columbine, another mass slaying in a movie theater or mall, at least make them a bit less likely.
It may be that the time has come for people like me to stand up and say that the National Rifle Association, the powerful lobbying arm of the gun manufacturers, does not represent me. Of course neither does New York City Mayor and noted gun control advocate Michael Bloomberg.
I agree with Mayor Bloomberg that there has been a tragic abdication of leadership on the part of our elected officials, from the lower reaches of our state governments to the White House, up to and including our current president, who only now seems to recognize just how much we lost when we allowed the assault weapons ban to lapse eight years and thousands of innocent lives ago.
But I also realize that in a nation that has been so thoroughly fractured by special interests, where rural Americans like me have been pitted against urban and suburban Americans in a fake culture war, that all the good intentions of the mayor of New York City or a progressive U.S. senator from California will not be anywhere near enough to move the needle toward responsible gun legislation. As much as I respect Mayor Bloomberg, having as point man in this debate a guy who has also launched a life-and-death struggle over 32-ounce Slurpees is unlikely to win many hearts and minds in the heartland.
No, if this nation is going to do what's necessary, it's going to require responsible gun owners to stand up and say "enough."
The truth is, there are comparatively few hunters, I believe, who feel the need to stalk deer using high-powered assault-style weapons, and most, if you asked them, would tell you that if you need a 30-round clip to bring down a 160-pound buck, you shouldn't be hunting in the first place.
Now, it is certainly true, as the president said in his moving speech at Sunday night's vigil in Newtown, that the issue of gun violence is complex, that no single law or package of laws is going to eradicate it. It is an issue that is fraught politically, sociologically and even psychologically. We are a culture that has become inured to violence, and one that has become accustomed to ignoring serious challenges.
The truth is, many responsible gun owners in this country recognize that fact. We realize, in the Newtown case for example, that reasonable laws, while not a panacea, would have made a difference. There is nothing in any of the reporting thus far in this case that suggests, for example that Nancy Lanza was anything other than a perfectly law-biding citizen. And there is therefore no reason to believe that had the .223 Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle and the extended magazines she owned still been covered under the assault weapons ban, she would have obtained them, or kept them where Adam Lanza could get them.
Furthermore, there is nothing in any of the reporting to date that suggests that Adam Lanza, as disturbed as he apparently was, would have obtained them otherwise.
I could make a similar argument in several of the other high-profile shootings recently. I won't.
Instead, I'll just say that in this one singular case, a reasonable assault weapons ban, like the one we used to have, would likely have spared most if not all 26 of those lives, that most of those 20 babies would still be alive for Christmas. As a gun owner and an avid hunter, even one of those lives would be enough for me to forgo my supposedly inalienable right to own an assault rifle and an extended magazine.


text:
Saturday, 1 July 2017
ചെറുവത്തൂർ ഉപജില്ലാ ധർണ
By sunilkumar Alexander at July 01, 2017
Email This
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Association is the largest and prestigious organization of the School Teachers in Kerala. OFFICIAL BLOG OF KASARAGOD DIST COMMITTEE.
KPSTA - Kerala Pradesh School Teachers' Association is the largest and prestigious organization of the school teachers in kerala.
Various organizations representing school teachers at different levels in the state and formed during a period spanning eight decades or so came under a single umbrella styled 'the Kerala Pradesh School Teachers' Association with a view to offering still better service to the state school teachers at large. That the KPSTA makes hardly any compromise when it comes to safeguarding the interests of school teachers is acknowledged by the immense support it enjoys among them. No wonder, the trust that the teachers repose in the organization is the driving force that helps it grow in strength and successfully champion the teachers' cause. Adding one more feather to its cap, the organization has become part of Education International besides being affiliated to multiple teachers' organizations nation-wide


text:
Do you want to decorate your own restaurant? This is NewHouseOfArt.Com presented best 15 inspirational restaurant interior design pictures gallery with modern, minimalist, contemporary and luxury design style. The fascinating restaurant interior architectural design from Russian firm famous interior designer IndoorPhotos is very wonderful and breathtaking. There are Italian restaurant design style, Japanese restaurant interior which are combine with lavish luxury furniture chair and tables. May be there is nothing more therapeutic than a fine dining experience. Culinary sophistication atmosphere and high standards make for a memorable time for everyone in a restaurant. This is looks like a lot of time and money has gone into creating these rooms perfect for food and conversations. Not only do they manage to lure a large number of food junkies, their restaurant interiors serve as great inspiration for house dining room too. For more information, visit this website. -via-
Posts Tagged 'luxury lavish restaurant'
15 Decorative Restaurant Interior Design Idea Beautiful Style
June 2, 2010 by newhouseofart
Category Interior Design | Tags: contemporary restaurant furniture,luxury lavish restaurant,minimalist japanese restaurant,modern restaurant interior,romantic room restaurant | No Comments


text:
- Premier League
Mancini admits Van Persie fears
Roberto Mancini has admitted Manchester City may find it tough to fend off Manchester United and Juventus in the race to sign Arsenal forward Robin van Persie.
Netherlands international Van Persie is intent on moving on from Arsenal after telling the club he has no desire to extend a contract that is now in its final 12 months.
City, United and Juve are the three clubs jockeying for position, although Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger muddied the waters on Saturday when claiming no bids had been tabled for the 28-year-old.
Mancini claims in general terms City find it tough to buy as clubs slap a premium on their players due to the wealth of owner Sheikh Mansour, while in Van Persie's case the competition for his signature is stiff.
The Italian said: "When you talk about Manchester City, Manchester United and Juve, it is difficult for a player to choose between those three clubs.
"They are all top teams and I've no idea what will happen with him. If we have a chance to take him, we will try because we think he is a top striker.
"For now he is an Arsenal player and I think Arsenal are a top team. It is not easy for Van Persie and other players to leave them."
Mancini has spoken of his frustration with City's transfer activity, or lack of it, this summer but he has claimed life is tough when you have vast wealth to tap.
"It's not easy when City try to buy a player," he said. "The club we are buying from asks for 30 or 40 per cent more. For this reason it is sometimes difficult to do business. But I think also we need to work better."


text:
Finance and Insurance Email List
Building your contact list is as easy as A, B, C!
1. Make selections as required
2. Review your lead count
3. Choose the best package
4. Place your order
Get the list delivery within minutes!
Build Your Finance and Insurance Mailing List Online.
DataCaptive's segmented Finance and Insurance Email Lists will help design your marketing strategies to reach the right market segment and achieve higher sales. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard method of classification utilized by Federal statistical agencies to classify business organizations for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the business economy. Utilize our simple online application where you find, purchase and download your mailing list.
Customize your marketing campaigns by utilizing our highly deliverable Finance and Insurance Industry Mailing Database and connect with your target industry.
Why us?
⇨ Market Your Products and Services to The Right Industry
⇨ Connect With Top Decision Makers Of Target Industries
⇨ Achieve Higher ROI from Strategic Marketing Campaigns
⇨ Discover New Markets & Establish Communication
⇨ Increase Conversion Rates At Reduced Marketing Costs
"Increase sales productivity with leads that convert"
"Generate Leads and add to your sales pipeline"
"Actionable Data to influence business decisions"
Our speed to market increased with DataCaptive verified data lists, I highly recommend their data and services.Alexa Madison
As a startup we needed to build our brand, DataCaptive helped get out brand noticed.John Spiliotis
We needed help in prospecting and DataCaptive team excelled in supporting us.Paulson
DataCaptive's Finance and Insurance Data Sources
DataCaptive offers accurate data compiled from a wide range of reliable resources such as business directories, trade shows, press releases, corporate websites, demographics of business organizations, annual reports, government records etc. Our database includes Industry specific data such as SIC Codes, NAICS Codes, Industry Size, Revenue Size etc. Our Finance and Insurance Database is optimally maintained through regular collection, verification, validation and update of existent data sets. We provide Database that can be customized based on specific parameters relevant to your business to increase deliverability.
We, at DataCaptive, work to ensure a comprehensive and result driven database that will help you in establishing profitable business relations in the global market.
Finance and Insurance Contact List
Finance and Insurance of a company are leaders Finance and Insurance Industry with NAICS code 52, comprises of enterprises involved in financial transactions such as creation of assets, change of ownership, liquidation etc. and also in facilitating financial transactions for maintenance of assets. These industries utilize electronic means for facilitating the verification of balances, authorization of transactions, transfer of funds, notification of banks for individual transactions, and providing daily balance details.
With Our highly responsive Finance and Insurance Industry Email and Mailing Lists, reach top professionals from this industry sector around the world and promote your products in the global market.
we provide Finance and Insurance Email Lists across the globe.
Reach Us For Finance and Insurance Email List
A Consultant Today, Better Business Tomorrow
NAICS Code Mailing List
- Accommodation and Food Services Email List
- Administrative Support and Waste Management Email List
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Email List
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Email List
- Construction Email List
- Educational Services Email List
- Finance and Insurance Email List
- Health Care and Social Assistance Email List
- Information Email List
- Management of Companies and Enterprises Email List
- Manufacturing Industry Business List
- Mining Email List
- Other Services (Except Public Administration) Email List
- Professional Scientific and Technical Services Email List
- Public Administration Email List
- Real Estate Rental and Leasing Email List
- Retail Trade Email List
- Transportation and Warehousing Email List
- Utilities Email List
- Wholesale Trade Email List


text:
Greatest Game Cosplay Ever (This Week): Raiden, Ada Wong, Dante + More
It is time, once more, to pay tribute to the fine art of cosplay and the people who make it their life's work to recreate the looks of their favorite characters. In this installment of Greatest Game Cosplay Ever, we'll explore some of the most famous characters from gaming's darkest games. You'll see the horrors of a post-apocalyptic infection, a devlish protagonist and a soldier who's only known battle. But there are some other costumes that aren't so dark and will definitely spark your imagination. Check them all out below!
Are you a cosplayer or a cosplay photographer? Maybe you're both! If you have a particular cosplay or portfolio you'd like us to check out, please submit a link to John-at-ArcadeSushi.com. Additionally, if there are any cosplayers or photographers that we've highlighted that wish their works to be removed, please reach out to let us know.
Take a look at these fantastic shots by Mike Rollerson Photography. Check out this San Diego-based photographer on Facebook and Flickr.
Effecktd Cosplay as Raiden (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance)
Ricky Perez as Brotherhood of Steel Member (Fallout 3)
Amie Lynn & Richard Roth as Clickers (The Last of Us)
Miyuki Hara as Black Rock Shooter (Black Rock Shooter)
Electric Lady as Valentine (Skullgirls)
Rose K./Cloud A. as Ada Wong/Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil series)
Brinni as Female Dante (Devil May Cry)
Todd Graziano as Old Snake (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots)
Chelsea B. as Female Psycho (Borderlands 2)
Enayla Cosplay as Mesmer (Guild Wars 2)


text:
IP Man 2 (UK - DVD R2)
Marcus watches this DVD and falls in love with martial arts movies again...
IP man (Donnie Yen) is back! Now based in Hong Kong, IP Man struggles to set up his Wing Chun school in an area filled with other less honourable martial arts teachers who because of the British rule over their region, struggle to live their lives without resulting to shadier methods.
Overcoming their differences, Ip Man and Hung Chun-nam (Sammo Hung) find themselves common enemies of their corrupt British leaders and after a western boxing match ends up with Hung Chun-nam getting killed by the heavyweight champion of the world, IP Man steps up as the next challenger to defend his nation's honour.
Over the last year I've had to review quite a few martial arts movies. From the period piece variety to modern crime thriller affairs they've been a mixed bag, but generally I've come away underwhelmed. You see, I loved this sort of thing growing up. Me and my brother spent many a day watching any and all Jackie Chan/Bruce Lee/Sammo Hung videos we could find (as well as the more easy to get hold of Jean Claude Van Damme/Steven Segal flicks of the eighties). I used to find all of this stuff really exciting and we crammed in way more than our fair share of the genre over a few years. However recently, as I said, I've been underwhelmed. The magic has sort of gone from the flying fists and feet and outside of maybe the first Ong Bak and Chocolate everything felt a little stale to me. That is until I sat down to watch IP Man 2.
Without a doubt this sequel is the best martial arts movie I've seen in what seems like ages. Not only is the martial arts on show here mesmerising to watch but the plot is actually engaging (an element sorely missed in most of the martial arts flicks I've reviewed of late). This wasn't just a show of techniques pieced together with a wafer thin plot—there's a lot going in IP Man's world. Supporting his family and teaching his students sets up the basics, then the tensions he has with other masters starts the bigger proceedings off fairly routinely but with a stellar performance from Sammo Hung, who provides a great counter to Donnie Yen's incredibly likable lead, there's a whole lot of drama to play out between the two and the hooks were in at just the right time for them both to face their biggest challenge.
Going back to the fights for bit, they are absolutely brilliant. The simple stuff of IP Man proving his skills to a bunch of punks is the stuff all great martial arts movies are made of. The showdown on a wobbly table between Donnie Yen and Sammo (as well as a couple of other masters) is loads of fun and the massive battle between Yen and cleaver wielding thugs had that wow factor. But that's not all, there's the boxing....
Now the idea of boxing being a challenge for these guys initially felt ridiculous and it's probably just the mystique surrounding the unstoppable nature of martial arts within the realms of movies, but IP Man 2 really threw boxing in as a powerful opponent to eastern styles once that threat was established (I mean come on, no one's standing up after taking a direct right hook from a heavyweight). With some really intense fight scenes and the drama of watching these two styles collide in the ring IP Man started on its way to becoming a great sport movies, every character's life seems to be tied to IP Man's face off with the boxing champion and by this point IP Man is the hero you just want to see succeed (especially as the British boxer was such a dick), so the drama woven into the final fight is fantastic.
The transfer here is great. Deep blacks and bright colours make the whole affair glow and really shows off the fighting. The camera techniques really capture the speed and nothing is lost in the strong detail and sharpness to the image.
The transfer is clean, pretty much grain free and if you disregard the obvious fact the Blu-ray would make the movie look even better, this DVD does a solid job at showing off the strengths of the standard definition format.
Once again IP Man 2's presentation shines. It's not the strongest or the most lively of tracks but it shows off in all the right places. The punches and kicks all come with a realistic sounding impact or that cool kung-fu "oomph' and the score really ups the drama with a mix of tension driving ticks filling the speakers or a fitting bit of music to add emotion or danger to the action.
Dialogue is also strong (but as with most movies in the genre has that slight lip sync issue that doesn't quite feel right). Atmospherics have a slight presence here and there and the bass is used quite effectively too, so all in all, IP Man 2's audio track gets everything it need to do just right.
Disc 1 has the usual 'Also Available' and then moves onto the 'Trailer Gallery' which has the UK Trailer, Original Trailer, 30 second TV spot, 15 second TV spot and the IP Man UK Trailer.
The 'Shooting Gallery' (03:06) shows footage of the film being made with a few historical facts about the real IP man woven in. The making of (17:38) features a lot of interviews from the cast and crew intercut with clips of the film of more footage of filming.
'Four Big Scenes' features the scenes, 'The IP Man's Home', 'The Fish Market', 'The Chinese Restaurant' and 'The Boxing Match' and tells how these key scenes were made all about two to three minutes long each.
The three deleted scenes clock in at about ten minutes with the only major one being a boxing match between two actual boxers as opposed to East vs. West and the 'Gala Premiere' (03:00) is footage of the movie's big night and its stars arriving and being interviewed.
Audio Commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan is another great informative track that these experts provide. Lots of other martial arts movie details, lots of insight into the story, the actors and the making of the movie. Any martial arts movie fan should really give this track a listen.
But that's not all, there's a disc two. The 'Interview Gallery' is packed with just shy of two hours of interview with everyone involved in the movie. These range from short and sweet three minute segments to a whopping thirty minuter with director Wilson Yip. They're a bit of a slog to get through in how they are presented but great for fans I guess.
'Legacy of the Master' (34:23) is a fantastic documentary about the history of of the IP Man as well as Wing Chun in movies and its effect on the west.
'The Wing Chun Connection' (27:08) is another great documentary and takes a closer look at the history of the technique and finally 'Wing Chun in Action' (25:11) shows off some of the basic techniques and just left me wanting to learn this stuff, which really took me back to how I used to feel after a great martial arts movie.
IP Man 2 was brilliant across the board and it was good to see a movie come out of the genre that wasn't just about showing off the moves or relying too heavily on the wire work or special effects to cover a weak plot. IP Man 2 has themes and performances that any good awards nominated movie gets noticed for and the fact it has incredible fight scenes to fall in love with just made for 108 minutes of awesomeness.
The disc here makes the movie even more of a must see for fans of the martial arts genre, with good A/V and really great features about the history of Wing Chun. IP Man 2 was an unexpected delight and this reviewer just got his love of martial arts movies back.
Review by Marcus Doidge
Dumb Dealer Member Join Date: October 2008 Location: Indonesia Posts: 227
Ip man 2 is great. But, I still think the first movie is better.
The story feels more "close" to me since my country was also invaded by Japan during the WW2 and I've heard stories about their cruelty and the people's suffering at the time from my gramps.
The story feels more "close" to me since my country was also invaded by Japan during the WW2 and I've heard stories about their cruelty and the people's suffering at the time from my gramps.
Sam Spade Member Join Date: January 2007 Location: United States Posts: 2,032
Can't wait to see this.
rebel-scum Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,101
Not a patch on the first, IMO.
Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date: 7th March 2011
Discs: 2
Disc Type: Single side, dual layer
RCE: No
Video: PAL
Aspect: 2.35:1
Anamorphic: Yes
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Cantonese, Dolby Digital 2.0 Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Extras: Audio Commentary by Bey Logan, Trailer Gallery, Shooting Diary, Making of, 4 Big Scenes (Discussion with Kenneth Mak & Wilson Yip), Deleted Scene x3, Gala Premiere, Interviews Gallery, The Wing Chun Connection (Cine Asia World Exclusive), Wing Chun in Action (Cine Asia World Exclusive), Legacy of the Master (Cine Asia World Exclusive)
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Wilson Yip
Cast: Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Lynn Hung, Huang Xiaoming
Genre: Documentary
Length: 108 minutes
7Review Guide
Follow our updates
Hot Articles
Star Wars: The Changes - Part One DVD | BD Star Wars: The Changes - Part Three DVD Star Wars: Top 20 Moments DVD Old Films on Blu-ray: Are They Worth It? BD Active Essentials: Spaghetti Western Shoot-Out DVD
Hot News
A Star Is Born (2018) US - DVD R1 | BD RA Suspiria (2018) US - DVD R1 | BD RA Hunter Killer US - DVD R1 | BD RA First Man US - DVD R1 | BD RA It Came From Outer Space US - DVD R1
Hot Reviews
Candyman: Collector's Edition US - BD RA District 9 UK - BD Killer Klowns from Outer Space US - DVD R1 Interceptor, The UK - DVD R2 Fright Night UK - DVD R2 | BD RB
Most Talked About
Halloween (2018) US - DVD R1 | BD RA Venom US - DVD R1 | BD RA Cloverfield Paradox, The US - DVD R1 | BD RA Suspiria (2018) US - DVD R1 | BD RA The Super US - DVD R1 | BD RA