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Adapted from Jacquelyn Mitchard's bestselling novel by Mikis Theodorakis and directed by Ulu Grosbard ("Georgia"), "The Deep End of the Ocean" stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Treat Williams as Beth and Pat Cappadora. The Cappadora family is torn apart by guilt and loss after their young son Ben disappears in a hotel lobby after Beth charges older 7 year old Vincent with his care. Nine years later, Sam knocks on their door asking for lawn mowing work and Beth realizes he is the missing Ben. The family is once again thrown into turmoil coming to grips with the fact that their son knows and loves his new family and doesn't remember them.
Laura's review of 'The Deep End Of The Ocean'
The first half of "The Deep End of the Ocean" is a beautiful arc of a storyline.Beth, a somewhat harried yet cheerful young mom, packs up her three young children to drive to her high school reunion in Chicago, leaving husband Pat at home. In the pandemonium of the hotel lobby, three year old Ben goes missing. Hysteria slowly rises as the hours tick by with no sign of the child, culminating in Beth's shreiking breakdown. The media descends. Volunteers crowd the police station. Gradually, the long foldup tables that have served as the volunteers' work space are put away as their numbers dwindle. A defeated Beth returns to her home and sinks into depression.
This is terrific filmmaking by Ulu Grosbard. Unfortunately, once Ben reappears, he doesn't quite maintain his pacing and some of the events that follow are too neat, fall too perfectly into place. Ben (now called Sam) is too perfect, a terrific kid who tries to please everyone without displaying any real anger at his predicament. He also has a healing power over his older brother Vincent, a teenager messed up by the loss of his brother and his mother's obsession with her missing younger son. A larger problem is Treat William's portrayal of Pat. He plays the role with too much understatement, giving the audience the impression that his only problem is his wife's reaction to their son's kidnapping, not the kidnapping itself.
Still, this is an affecting film about a family being torn apart before being rebuilt. Michelle Pfeiffer gives a truly affecting performance as a woman emotionally overwhelmed. She's deglamorized, yet still beautiful, a very believable modern mom. Also terrific is young Cory Buck, who plays the young Vincent as a very serious litle boy. Whoopi Goldberg is ood as Detective Candy Bliss ('I know, sounds like a stripper. The things some parents do to their children. I shouldn't have said that,' is how she introduces herself to the distraught Beth.) Ryan Merriman is wise beyond his years as Sam. John Kapelos gives a heartfelt and touching performance as George, Sam's stepfather, who never realized his son was a kidnap victim. Jonathan Jackson is a bit too soft as the older, supposedly rebellious Vincent.
"The Deep End of the Ocean" may have benefitted from inclusion of some of the book's messier aspects like the adultry and alcohol abuse that resulted from Ben's loss. As it stands, it's more engrossing than its subject matter would indicate.
Robin's Review of 'The Deep End Of The Ocean'
"The Deep End of the Ocean" is a slick Hollywood adaptation of the 1996 novel by Jacquelyn Mitchard about a family struck with the devastating loss of one son. During a visit to her hectic high school reunion in Chicago, mother Beth Cappadora (Michelle Pfeiffer) leaves her two boys (Vincent and Ben) by themselves, for just a moment, in the crowded hotel lobby, with strict orders to stay together. When she turns around, only minutes later, she only finds 9-year old Vincent (Cory Buck). 3-year old Ben (Michael Macelroy) has disappeared without a trace, even after the sizable efforts by the Chicago PD, led by detective supervisor Candy Bliss (Whoopie Goldberg).
The best comparison film I could think of for "The Deep End of the Ocean" is the 1983 film, starring Kate Nelligan, "Without a Trace." Both films deal with the unexpected, unexplained disappearance of a little boy, the ensuing search and investigation by the boy's mother and the police, and the reuniting of child and family. Both films deal with the enormous emotional pressures put upon the family during the crisis and after, as the boy remains among the missing. "Without a Trace" stops, happily, at the reunion, while "The Deep End of the Ocean" delves into the problems that arise after a years-long separation, then reunion and its impact on the whole family.
The problem with "The Deep End of the Ocean" is in its squeaky clean way of taking each and ever dramatic issue and, neatly, tying it all up in the end. For example, in the end, a one-on-one basketball game between the long estranged brothers, Vincent and Ben/Sam, is all that is needed to provide the catalyst that brings the family, finally, back together. This trite resolution is akin to simply declaring ""and, they all lived happily ever after." At this point, all the loose ends are neatly tied together, completing the film's formula package.
Michelle Pfeiffer, as Beth Cappadora, gives one of her better performances to date. She fusses convincingly as the harried but loving mother of three and, when the realization of her loss is realized, breaks down in an emotional and convincing manner. As the toll of Ben's disappearance take hold of Beth, the response - an overwhelming depression, making her sleep all the time and neglect the care of her remaining kids - is palpable. The remainder of her performance, once Ben/Sam returns, is strictly melodrama. Pfeiffer is best in the film's first half.
The kids - young Vincent (Buck), at 9, elder Vincent (Jonathan Jackson), and Sam (Ryan Merriman) - are solid in their portrayals.while Ben is missing and, once the boy is returned, Pat seems more concerned with the family's physical integrity and his dreams of opening a restaurant than he is for his wife and kids. Williams has the unenviable spouse role, but does nothing to make it special or sympathetic.
Production credits are uniformly top-notch, giving the film a very good, rich look all around.
"The Deep End of the Ocean" suffers from a lack of spirit of story that keeps it only on a surface level for the viewer. I never got to be a part of the Cappadora family and their problems, feeling only like an outsider looking in.
I give it a C+.
In his feature film debut, London-born writer/director Guy Ritchie has put together a kitchen sink of a gangster film in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." Set in London's treacherous East End, the story begins with best mates Eddie (Nick Moran), Tom (Jason Flemyng), Bacon (Jason Statham) and Soap (Dexter Fletcher) pooling their cash together so card sharp Eddie can get into a high stake poker game - the one big score that will set them all up for life. Unbeknownst to the chums, the game is crooked and run by underworld boss Hatchet Harry who fleeces Eddie of all their money and gets the younger man in Dutch for an additional 500,000 pounds. This starts a spiral of events that propel the quartet, Harry and a host of other thugs into an inevitable and violent collision of drugs, thievery and mayhem.
Robin's Review of 'Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels'
Although it is derivative of "Trainspotting," "True Romance" and "Reservoir Dogs," "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is, still, an exciting, imaginative, action-packed caper film that starts off running and keeps its frantic pace to the very end. The large, talented ensemble cast keep things moving along as the story covers four even five different lines of conniving and thuggery. There are so many divergent characters involved and actions going on, though, it gets confusing at times. This doesn't really diminish from the sheer fun of the whole screwball caper-caper-who-has -the-caper film.
The cast is vast with 20 or more actors having major parts in the 106 minute flick. As such, there is little opportunity for anything more than cursory character development by most the actors. There are a couple of exceptions, though, with Brit star footballer Vinnie Jones making his film debut as Big Chris, the strong-arm debt collector for Hatchet Harry (P.H. Moriarty, "Patriot Games") and devoted to his son, Little Chris (Peter McNicholl), taking the boy along on his collections. Jones nicely plays Big Chris as tough, competent and loyal to the end. The World Heavyweight Bare Knuckle Champion (undefeated in 3,000 fights), the late Lenny McLean ("The Fifth Element"), gives a nifty performance as Barry the Baptist, main knuckle-breaker for Harry, and bears an strong character resemblance to Lawrence Tierney in Quentin Tarrentino's "Reservoir Dogs." Sting also makes a splash as one of the quartet's savvy, bar-owning father.
The film has a slick look and challenges the eye with an interesting use of tricky photography, by commercial video maker Tim Maurice-Jones, which combines fast-motion, slow-motion and stop-motion in single shots. It's pretty slick stuff, but a little over-used by the enthusiastic young filmmakers. The frenetic editing by another music vid maker, Niven Howie, keeps up with the breakneck pace of the rest of the film.
"Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" is not a great film, but shows a great deal of promise in its writer/director Guy Ritchie. It entertains from start to finish and introduces us to some of Britian's talented actors and behind-the-camera crew. I give it a B.
Laura's review of 'Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels'
Debut feature film writer/director Guy Ritchie brings a madcap, thoroughly cheeky, totally British caper film to the screen with "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." Four friends, Tom the entrepeneur (Jason Flemyng, "Rob Roy"), Soap the chef (Dexter Fletcher, "The Long Good Friday"), Bacon (Jason Statham) and Eddie the cardshark (Nick Moran) save 100,000 pounds through both legal and illegal means to front Eddie in an East End card game run by Harry the Hatchet (P.H. Moriarty, "The Long Good Friday"), a sex shop owner involved in many dubious schemes. Unbeknownst to Eddie, Harry's right hand man Barry the Baptist (the late bare knuckle fighter, Lenny McLean) is feeding the makeup of Eddie's hand to Harry, who wins all of Eddie's money plus an additional 1/2 million. He gives Eddie one week to pay him back or Eddie and his three friends will each have a digit removed for every day they are late.
This predicament sets off a chain of events that eventually will include a group of ganja growers, the black mob that distributes the weed, a father and son collection team, the fence Nick the Greek and his two clueless stolen goods purveyors , a group of viscious thieves that live next door to the lads and Eddie's bar-owning dad PJ (Sting).
Ritchie's film recalls a lower budget "Trainspotting" mixed with a less slick looking "True Romance" with its mix of drugs, crime and huge cast of interconnecting characters. The humor is dosed with irony, particularly when a pair of antique shotguns land in the main foursome's laps as rather ridiculous weaponry to pull a robbery against the thieves next door. Unbeknownst to them, these guns were being sought by Harry and would more than pay off their debt. Visually the film is funny, too, such as when the dim Kenny gets his hair parted by a shotgun blast from a pajama clad old man while he's attempting to steal those very antiques at Barry's behest. The ganja growers have an elaborate cage around their door which they're always too stoned to use.
The cast, made up of professional and amateur actors, is dead on. Of note is Vinnie Jones (a Queens Park Rangers soccer player) as Big Chris, the serious minded debt collector who brings his very young son Little Chris along to witness all kinds of violence yet admonishes his victims not to use bad language in front of the lad. Sting, who I've never cared for as an actor, gives his best performance here as the wise dad who won't compromise his business to his son's debts.
The film has a frenetic look featuring weird angles, extreme closeups, jump cuts and slo mo, photographed in murky, washed out colors which represent the film's setting. The offbeat soundtrack features everything from the late Dusty Springfield's "Spooky" to the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog" to R&B and "Zorba's Dance" (which plays over a hilarious montage).
The intricacies of the script and fast flying jokes (not to mention the accents) demand attention, particularly in the film's first half hour, where the huge cast of characters are unrelentingly introduced. Stay with it though, and you'll be rewarded with a most entertaining time.
Screenwriter ('Dumb and Dumber') and feature film debut director Roger Kumble gives the 'Clueless' treatment to the fourth screen adaptation of the 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses with 'Cruel Intentions.'
Sarah Michelle Gellar (TV's 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer') is Kathryn Merteuil and Ryan Phillippe ('54') is her stepbrother Sebastian Valmont, two extremely wealthly and attractive teenagers playing sexual games during their pre-senior summer in their parentless multi-million dollar Manhattan penthouse. Kathryn asks Sebastian to deflower naive klutz Cecile (Selma Blair), the girl her boyfriend dumped her for. Sebastian has plans on conquering Annette (Reese Witherspoon), the new headmaster's daughter who's published a 'manifesto' in Seventeen magazine (Jennifer Love Hewitt's on the cover) on the virtues of saving one's self for true love and marriage.
Kathryn proposes a bet - if he succeeds, she'll give him wild sex, if not, he cedes over his beloved 1956 Jaguar roadster. True love intervenes, however, to bring their immoral lives crashing down around them.
Laura's review of 'Cruel Intentions'
Not only did Roger Kumble have a great idea adapting this viscious literary work for 90's teens, he pulled it off with panache. This film is a sexy hoot, akin to last year's guilty pleasure 'Wild Things.'
Kumble's screenplay is terrifically faithful to its source yet stunningly current with its sexual frankness and laugh-out-loud barrel of double entendres. In an early scene, Kathryn assures Cecile's mom (Christine Baranski) that she'll watch out for the younger girl. When peer pressure takes a nasty turn, Kathryn declares she can always depend on God, brandishing the heavy silver crucifix she wears beneath her clothing. As soon as mother and protege have left the room, said cross is revealed to be a coke container and spoon. This type of in your face, irreverent humor just continues to build throughout the film.
Ryan Phillippe, rather bland in '54,' proves his acting ability as the arrogant Sebastian, even suggesting John Malkovich (Valmont in Stephen Frear's 1984 'Dangerous Liaisons') in his line readings. He's a charming sexual predator who shows believable confusion and real emotion when he unwittingly falls for the girl he only regarded as a challenge. Phillippe has to put on many different faces, depending on whom he's dealing with, and he's up to the task. Sarah Michelle Gellar, brunette for this role, while not quite as notable, is still confidently cold and self motivated as master manipulator Kathryn. Her downfall is an entertaining spin on Malkovich's costar Glenn Close's, yet Gellar makes different acting choices in the role.
Reese Witherspoon surprises as Annette, making her stronger and smarter than the audience is expecting, while still projecting the morality lacking in the rest of the players (the character of Annette is the only departure from the source material). Selma Blair, in her film debut, is the most believable as a real teenager, the awkward duckling turned sexually precocious as a dupe of the step-siblings' plotting. (Blair has a funny scene with Gellar where Gellar teaches her how to French kiss. After getting over the 'grossness' quotient, Blair awaits with eyes closed for more after Gellar pulls away.)
'Cruel Intentions' boasts fine production values in rich settings. The soundtrack features Blur, Aimee Mann, the Cardigans, Beethoven and the perfectly utilized Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' at the film's climax.
'Cruel Intentions' has a couple of minor problems. The three main characters seem more like college than high school seniors in both the actors' age and the characters' sophistication. The film also delivers so much humor, that it seems to radically shift tone in its final half hour, yet the plot demands it. Still, this is a film directed at a teenage audience that can be enjoyed equally by more mature audiences.
Robin's Review of 'Cruel Intentions'
The fourth screen adaptation of the scandalous 1782 novel by Choderlos de Laclos of sexual war games among the privileged comes to us in kiddy form in "Cruel Intentions," starring Sarah Michelle Gellar (TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") as Kathryn Merteuil and Ryan Phillippe ("54") as stepbrother, Sebastian Valmont. The pair of spoiled rich kids, with too much time and money on their unsupervised hands, make a game out of sexual conquest, with each trying to outdo the other. When we first meet the libidinous duo, they begin to plan a two prong adventure - one for revenge, the other for a bet.
Kathryn was jilted by her steady beau, Court, for the innocent Cecile Caldwell (Selma Blair). The victimized Kathryn cooks up a plot to have Sebastian deflower the young virgin before Court gets his chance and ruin the young girl's reputation in the process. Revenge is a dish served cold and Kathryn is just the girl to make sure it is liberally dished out.
At the same time, Kathryn also comes up with a wager for her stepbrother. She bets Sebastian that he cannot score with the new school headmaster's lovely daughter, Annette (Reese Witherspoon, "Pleasantville"), a strong-willed young lady who declares, in an article for Seventeen Magazine, the she intends to stay pure until marriage. The bet involves Sebastian's coveted 1956 Jaguar XK Roadster. If he loses, Kathryn gets the Jag. If his stepsister loses, he gets the one thing he cannot have, but wants more than anything - Kathryn.
The two stories follow an amusing turn for the first hour or so, as the step-siblings vie for their goals and conquests. Sebastian's conquest of the clueless Cecile gives the film its most comedic turn with Blair doing her best with the physical humor of her romance with the rich young playboy. The romantic thread involving Sebastian and Annette is the meat of the film and carries it through change when things turn more serious. This is where "Cruel Intentions" falls apart, in the last 40 minutes.
As Sebastian comes to realize that he has fallen in love with Annette, the bet and his unfulfilled desires for Kathryn fall by the wayside, leaving the poor boy lost in love. The ever vengeful Kathryn plots to get back at Sebastian and ruin his romantic plans. The turn from the witty and amusing first hour to the melodramatic ending hurt the overall film. When the humor stops, the soul of the film turns cold and wooden, as the actors appear to be going through the motions. For the first hour, at least, we get to see both Phillippe and Gellar chew up the scenery.
Phillippe is suitably sarcastic and droll as Sebastian, delivering his lines in a mimic of John Malkovich's overacting in the 1988 adaptation, "Dangerous Liaison." Kathryn is a spoiled rich bitch with a capital B and Gellar has fun with the role. Reese Witherspoon does a professional job in the tough role as the goody-two-shoes Annette who gives herself to Sebastian out of true love. Hers is the hardest role in the film. Selma Blair, as the naive target for Sebastian's sexual conquest, Cecil, comes off a little amateur in her acting, but excels in her physical comedy ability. Her gangly-limbed pratfalls are amusing stunts and show a budding capability for slapstick humor.
While watching "Cruel Intentions," I was struck with the overpowering image of kids playing grownups. The actors (all in their twenties, not teens) are much better tailored in the film, but the idea of kids dressing up in their parents clothes and playacting is too strong to dismiss. First-time helmer/writer Roger Kumble starts off on the right foot, but stumbles along the way. I give "Cruel Intentions" a C+.
Paul Vitti (Robert DeNiro) is a prominent New York crime boss who is about to take over as head of the "family." When the time comes to take the reins of the powerful crime machine, Paul starts to have problems breathing! In a fit, he goes to the hospital, sure he is having a heart attack, only to be told it's just anxiety. Panicked by the awesome responsibilities thrust upon him, the mobster decides to seek professional help.
Enter Dr. Ben Sobol (Billy Crystal), a divorced New York psychiatrist who has lived in the shadows of his media-grabbing father (Bill Macy), a successful, published shrink who glories in his own fame. Ben, trying to be anything but like his dad, has established his own modestly successful, but mundane, practice treating little people with little problems. Things look good for the doc, with a well adjusted son and upcoming marriage to his fiancee (Lisa Kudrow), until, one day, Ben quite literally, runs into Paul, meshing together both of their lives in director Harold Ramis' film, "Analyze This."
Robin's Review of 'Analyze This'
Paul, used to getting his way with everything, intrudes into Ben's life in an initially positive way, but soon goes beyond the pale as he disrupts Ben's life in every way, even his wedding to Laura (Kudrow) - not once, but twice. He demands that the therapist be on 24-hour call much like the James Coburn shrink retained by the chief of state in "The President's Analyst." The lives of the two very different characters intertwine and effect changes to both men.
Robert DeNiro gets the best out of his performance as the psychologically- challenged gangster. His reactions to Ben's Freudian-influenced treatment - when told about the Oedipal complex, Paul visibly shudders and asks the doctor, in horror, "Have you ever seen my mother?" - are straightforward funny. DeNiro doesn't cover any new ground with his usual mobster persona, but does give it the expected comic flair the actor showed well in "Wage the Dog." DeNiro is definitely the star of the film.
Billy Crystal performs as the stalwart second banana to DeNiro's flashy mob boss through most of the film, only given the chance to perform his patented mugging toward the end. He gets to shine out a little bit when called upon to represent the anxiety-stricken gangster at the big meeting of gangland leaders. When he slaps Paul's loyal right-hand man, Jelly (Joe Viterelli, "Mafia!"), demanding obedience to gain face with the crime bosses, both we and Viterelli are amusingly shocked. The scene is farce, but it plays well for Crystal.
The script, by helmer Ramis, Peter Tolan ("My Fellow Americans") and Kenneth Lonergan (the upcoming "Rocky and Bullwinkle") is shallow in its characters and story. Except for the exemplary character Jelly, played by Viterelli, there are only DeNiro, Crystal and Lisa Kudrow (giving her small, routine role as the beleaguered fiancee a delightful comic flair, adding to the precedeings) given anything to do. A more fully developed supporting cast, given the lush mine of potential for mob humor, would have help things out enormously.
Technically, "Analyze This" shows its bucks on the screen. Production design by Wynn P. Thomas ("He Got Game") is first rate - one dream sequence, which recreates the mob hit on Don Corleone in "The Godfather," has Ben as the don and Paul as the hapless bodyguard is a meticulous remake of the original (and is punctuated by Paul's reaction of "You had me as Fredo?!"). Stuart Dryburgh ("The Piano") does a solid job with a slick look to the film's lensing.
The concept for "Analyze This" bears a strong similarity to the terrific HBO series "The Sopranos," starring James Gandolfini as an angst-challenged mobster seeking psycho-help. The high quality TV show plumbs the depths of humor-drama better than "Analyze This," but the film has its own minor charms, mainly DeNiro, Crystal and Kudrow.
I give "Analyze This" a B-.
Myles Berkowitz is an aspiring LA filmmaker who frustrates his agent by turning down screenplay offers unless he can also direct. Recently divorced and about to reenter the dating arena, Berkowitz has an idea - why not document his search for love in that most impersonal of cities? With $20,000 secured by his agent from a European businessman and a high concept framework, Myles sets out to film his "20 Dates."
Laura's review of '20 Dates'
"20 Dates" is an intermittently hilarious, often painful and too frequently self indulgent documentary. Berkowitz states at the onset that he's 'making a movie about my two biggest failures - my personal life and my professional life.'
His first date has been forewarned about the filming, but is taken aback when Myles' crew (a cameraman and sound engineer) are already rolling as she opens her front door. The crews' inexperience (cameras and booms held too close during dinner) further infuriate her and the date flops.
Now Myles gets the great idea of hiding his crew. A date going marvelously well crashes spectacularly when the woman is told of the project and shown the camera - lawsuit number one. (It is a bit creepy to watch someone being filmed unknowingly in this situation. One wonders how Berkowitz obtained releases.) A later date has even direr consequences for the same reason - lawsuit number two and a physical attack on Myles!
As Myles despairs of coming up with more women to date, he's constantly being harrassed by his producer Elie whose only concern is more T&A and a hasty wrap. (Berkowitz taped his conversations with Elie, which are hilarious and real.)
Then Myles meets Elizabeth and true love blooms. There's only one minor problem - she's not date number 20. As Myles continues to go through the motions of dating, his relationship with Elizabeth becomes more and more strained, and Myles must decide between his film or his girlfriend.
Unfortunately, "20 Dates" runs out of steam as it limps to its denouement, mostly because Myles manages to have it both ways. He finally takes up Elie on his suggestions to date actresses, models, and even Elie's personal friend Tia Carrerre ('She's a star!'). These 'dates' are a big cheat, as we come to learn that Elizabeth is present during all of them.
Berkowitz does get some mileage out of his idea, as well as some comic relief from his crew on the sidelines, (besides being currently engaged to Elizabeth), but by its end, "20 Dates" self destructs. The film is also not helped by its auteur's egoticism.
9 year old Ali has a serious problem. Entrusted to get his little sister's only pair of shoes repaired, young Ali inadvertently misplaces the footwear. Fearing that his parents are too poor to replace the missing shoes, Ali and his sister Zahra conspire to keep the bad news to themselves, causing the pair untold personal anxiety in the wonderful Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, "Children of Heaven."
Robin's Review of 'Children Of Heaven'
Right from the very beginning, you know that "Children of Heaven" is a special little film. During the opening credits is a mesmerizing sequence, in close-up, of little Zahra's shoes being repaired. The hypnotic nature of the beginning is carried through the entire film as Ali desperately searches for the shoes, meanwhile begging his sister to not tell on him. The simplicity of the story is what makes it so compelling. Nothing really happens until near the end, when the story takes a dramatic turn with an exciting road race for kids. For the bulk of the film, you live in the minds and hearts of Ali and Zahra, and this is a good place to be for 90 minutes. The kids take you through their daily life in Tehran, with Zahra's mixed emotions over her loss and Ali's desperation. The boy has big problems for such little guy.
Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi ("The Father") has crafted a moving little tale about what, on the surface, is nothing more than a story about lost shoes. Majidi takes this simple premise and gives the viewer a look into the lives of the two young characters. He does this with the enormous help of his little stars, Amir Farrokh Hashemian as Ali and Bahare Sediqi as his diminutive but quite forceful sister Zahra. Ali is a chronic worrier who takes the burden of his parents' seeming poverty to heart and tries to do all he can to keep his terrible secret from them. Hashemian visibly wears the weight of the world on his shoulders and in his troubled face, making you feel the angst of his plight.
Complementing the young Hashemian is a wonderful performance by Bahare Sediqi as Zahra. The little actress comes across as an intelligent, wise young lady who knows her own mind. She is really pissed off at her brother as she is forced to where his battered old sneakers to school every day as Ali tries to figure out what to do. She keeps her mouth shut only because Ali keeps bribing her for her silence, including a prize pen which takes on a significance in the story nearly as strong as the shoes. Both kids are charming and interesting, with Majidi eliciting natural feeling performances from his young stars. By contrast, nearly all the adults are nothing more than two dimensional figures, accentuating the depth of character of Ali and Zahra.
The screenplay, written by Majidi, is simple and flowing with many visual interludes that are pleasing to the eye. For instance, one lyrical little pause in the "action" has Zahra and Ali washing his now-shared sneakers. Like the opening sequence, you can't take your eyes from the film as the pair make bubbles for their own entertainment. It's scenes like this that carry the film to the unexpected race that Ali sees as his salvation - third prize includes a pair of new sneakers!
"Children of Heaven" is a special little children's film that has appeal to everyone. I put his film on a par with other intelligent kid films like "A Little Princess" and "Searching for Bobby Fischer." It is a deserved nominee for Best Foreign Language Film this year and if it weren't up against Roberto Benigni's wonderful "Life Is Beautiful," it would get my vote. I give it an A.
Laura's review of 'Children Of Heaven'
Iranian writer/director Majid Majidi's "Children of Heaven" would at first appear to bear too much resemblance to the Iranian "White Balloon," another film where young children are forced to be resourceful when economics force them to deal with the strange world of adults. But "Children of Heaven" (one of this year's Foreign Language Film Oscar nominees) is a more complex, richer and more satisfying film than its delightful predecessor.
The film's opening credits roll over a close shot of an old cobbler hand stitching a pair of small, pink shoes adorned with pink bows. This image is a mesmerizing beginning, and one of many scenes of Iranian tradesmen at work. Young Ali (Amir Farrokh Hashemian, found cowering in a schoolroom after 35,000 children had been seen to cast the role) is running errands for his ill mother. When he stops to barter for vegetables, he places his sister's mended shoes down, where they're mistakenly picked up by a blind junk collector. This is catastrophic for Ali, as he knows his parents cannot afford to buy his younger sister Zahra (Bahare Sediqi) a new pair of shoes. The film follows Ali's escalating trials and tribulations in trying to correct his lapse in attentiveness.
The children who play Ali and Zahra are amazingly assured in their acting debuts and better than any adult in the film. Ali's huge woeful eyes, often brimming with tears, belie his grit and determination. Zahra is adorably exasperated by the spot Ali's put her in ('Ali, you really have some nerve,' she chides him when he suggests she wear her slippers to school). Nafise Jafar-Mohammadi is Roya, the third child who comes into play wearing Zahra's shoes in the schoolyard (Zahra has been sharing Ali's sneakers, as their school hours overlap). Seemingly spoiled by her blind father, Roya wins us over too just when we believe she may become the recipient of a second unmeaning gift from the siblings.
All these events plus a day spent in the wealthy part of town, a bicycle accident and a climatic foot race are each a mini-drama. Majidi ends his film on a dual note of utter despair intercut with arriving joy that's breathtakingly satisfying.
It's New Year's eve 1981 and Monica (Martha Plimpton) is fretting that her party will be a disaster that no one will attend. Her guests are all beginnning their evenings out and about in New York City, crossing paths and frequenting the same cab, driven by advice dispenser Dave Chappelle. Lucy's (Courtney Love) helping Kevin (Paul Rudd) deal with being dumped by his girlfriend Ellie (Janeanne Garofalo). Sweet but klutzy Cindy (Kate Hudson) is trying to charm ladykiller Jack (Jay Mohr). Monica's ex Eric (Brian McCardie) is being dumped by Bridget (Nicole Parker), who has a man-landing bet going with her friend Caitlin (Angela Featherstone). Cousin Val (Christina Ricci) and her pal Stephie (Gaby Hoffman) have lost Monica's address and ended up in a bad part of town with two punk rockers while a handsome, if clueless, bartender (Ben Affleck) is the object of three of these women's attentions.
Laura's review of '200 Cigarettes'
"200 Cigarettes" (the reference is to a carton of cigarettes Lucy stops to buy for Kevin on New Year's Eve because it's his birthday) is a lightweight teen comedy that plays like Robert Altman's "Short Cuts" as directed by a John Hughes protegee. First time film director Risa Bramon Garcia has a feel for the 80's, but doesn't succeed in making the parts the equivalent of the whole until the film's conclusion/coda.
The film's standouts are Martha Plimpton, Courtney Love and Paul Rudd. Plimpton is just hilarious as a nervous hostess anyone who's ever given a party can relate to ('I don't believe I made a recipe for crab dip' she exclaims, eager to please, yet not to be uncool.) When her roommate worries about the appropriateness of her attire, Monica states 'You could stand there with a mattress strapped to your back and still be like a vestal virgin' - one of screenwriter Shana Larsen's best lines.
Pairing bad-girl Love with nice-boy Rudd was casting genius that really works. This film doesn't seem edgy enough to have drawn Love, yet she plays the 'best friend who wants more than she can say' perfectly. Rudd ("Clueless") maintains his romantic allure, but with a much darker cast than we've seen before.
Also noteworthy are Kate Hudson (Goldie Hawn's daughter, in her film debut) as the clutzy Cindy (the film has her deliver a few too many pratfalls for even comedic effect) and Brian McCardie ("Rob Roy") as the Irish artist who comes to learn he's the worst lover of all his past (and future) girlfriends. Dave Chappelle is amusing as the pivot-man Disco Cabbie (although his character is a device that stretches credibility, even in a comedy). Surprisingly, the usually formidable Christina Ricci doesn't stand out at all and the equally strong Janeanne Garafalo fails to make much of an impression.
The soundtrack, sure to be an 80's nostalgia marketting coupe, evokes the time with the likes of Costello, Soft Cell, and even Barry Manilow (behind a wistful scene featuring Courney Love!).
"200 Cigarettes" is as as light as cotton candy, a film that's forgotten almost as soon as it's been seen. The film is terribly uneven, with only a few of its threads holding interest. In it's favor is a strong finale, where all the threads come together by Disco's Cabbie's voiceover and snapshots of the party we never get to see. It's a scream when we discover that Monica passed out before her guests arrived and she only belatedly realizes that she not only hosted Elvis Costello (who does appear in a brief cameo), but that she and her crab dip were the objects of his desire.
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News >> Browse Articles >> Law Enforcement News
K9 Killing Cop Flees Post In Suicide Attempt
File photo
Herald Sun via YellowBrix
June 28, 2011
KENT, UK – The head of a police dog training school in the UK was reportedly recovering today from an attempt to commit suicide after two police dogs roasted to death in his car on one of the hottest days of the year.
Sergeant Ian Craven could face prosecution for animal cruelty after the dogs – a Belgian Malinois bitch called Chay and a German Shepherd puppy, Tilly – were found dying in an unventilated vehicle at the Metropolitan Police's training centre in Kent, south-east England, on Sunday (local time) as temperatures soared to 84F (29C).
It is the second time a puppy in his care has died after being left in a sweltering car in hot weather. He was disciplined following a similar incident three years ago.
The 49-year-old father of three, one of England's most experienced dog handlers, had locked the animals in his vehicle with the windows closed before going to a meeting in east London. He remembered them around an hour later and phoned colleagues to raise the alarm.
Kennel workers cut open the cage, but despite attempts to resuscitate the dogs, they were later pronounced dead by an emergency vet.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed to The (London) Times today that Sergeant Craven had been admitted to the hospital with a "hand injury".
The spokesman declined to confirm reports the officer had jumped from a colleague's moving car and attempted to slash his wrist.
Kennel assistant, Tina Dale, 54, who was among those who tried to save the animals, described it as the "worst day of my life".
She said on a social networking site, "The suffering those dogs went through is too unbearable to think about. I'm in bits, we tried so so hard, but it was too long, the damage had been done. What a bloody awful way to die."
A Met Police spokesman said it was investigating the incident.
The deaths follow those of two German Shepherd police dogs, who were left to die in a baking hot car outside Nottinghamshire Police headquarters in July 2009. Police dog handler Mark Johnson was handed a six-month conditional discharge after he was found guilty of animal cruelty in relation to their deaths.

subset: commoncrawl


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(All parts-including flaps-and labor)
Thank you for doing business with Hale Pet Door™. We are sure you will receive years of excellent service with your purchase. If the product does not meet your expectations, please contact our office for return authorization and return it within 30 days of purchase for a full refund of the purchase price. Be sure to pack the product well as we can only give 50% credit for a damaged pet door.
HSPD Manufacturing, Inc. guarantees and warrants, subject to the conditions and restrictions stated below, that the Hale Pet Door™ products and component parts thereof, purchased from HSPD Manufacturing, Inc. shall be free from any defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty period for all Hale Pet Door™ model pet doors is effective from the date of purchase and extends to the anniversary date marking the end of the fifth year. We agree to exchange or repair at our expense, F.O.B. our plant or warehouse any unit found to be defective in workmanship and/or material, subject to plant inspection. (See notes A and B below)
1st year – 100% of all parts and labor
2nd year – 50% of all parts and labor
3rd year – 40% of all parts and labor
4th year – 30% of all parts and labor
5th year – 20% of all parts and labor
This warranty does not include shipping to HSPD Manufacturing, Inc. or any field service labor unless the product was installed by Hale Pet Door™.
A-Glass Breakage: We use fully tempered glass of the greatest quality and strength available for each application. It also meets or exceeds all safety glazing laws and codes in the United States. Even tempered glass will break on occasion, but it is very rare. When there is a breakage of glass for whatever reason, within the FIRST YEAR, we will replace the unit for 50% of the current total price. There is no warranty on glass after the first year.
B-Parts Damaged by Misuse or Neglect: HSPD Manufacturing, Inc. will pay 20% of the cost of the current list price of parts and labor. No reimbursement shall be greater than the price of the replacement part.
C-Omni Oversize Panels: This application is not recommended. Therefore, we will only warranty 50% of the cost of the panel for the first year. However, the pet door itself is covered per our standard warranty.
HSPD Manufacturing, Inc. will credit 50% towards the cost of a replacement Hale Pet Door™ that was damaged due to mis-cutting, mis-measuring or any other damage due to no fault of HSPD Manufacturing, Inc. HSPD Manufacturing, Inc. will not accept any responsibility beyond 50% if damage is due to no fault of HSPD Manufacturing, Inc.


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Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!
Sky Numbers HD (give-away): A fun & addictive but also educational math game, aimed at testing and improving one's basic math skills. This is the game that will not only make you work your brain functions but also build on your speed and reflexes in the process. [$2.99 - iTunes link]
Photosynth: The panorama creation and sharing app that lets you capture more of your world. Now you can capture 360° in all directions (up, down, left, and right) to create spectacular images. [Free - iTunes link]
Office Rush HD: Welcome to the wild frontier of Corporate Office life. Think fast in order to rise through the corporate ranks in this fun, innovative, and action-packed game. [Free - iTunes link]
DataMan Pro: Monitor and Manage your data usage in real time, closely tracking your data activities every 10 minutes. Pro version allows you to export your usage statistics to iTunes File Sharing and see your statistics in a chart on your iPhone. [$1.99 - iTunes link]
Path: Connect with a small group of good friends & family, capture and share beautiful photo and short video moments, have intimate conversations, and be yourself on the simple and private network you can trust. Now with two new premium lenses: Lomo and Loko. [Free, with in-app purchases - iTunes link]
The good folks at Bubanji have provided us with promo codes for Sky Numbers HD to give away! For a chance to win, just leave a comment below letting us know why you'd like to win.
Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!
This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for more details.


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No Lights Out for grandMA at Insomniac's Annual Nocturnal Festival
Nocturnal Fest
Insomniac's 16th Annual Nocturnal Festival in San Bernardino, California on September 25 proved to be a fun alternative to a good night's sleep. The all-night music festival featured six stages of entertainment with the grandMA controlling a wide array of lighting instruments on five of them. A.C.T Lighting is the exclusive distributor of the grandMA in North America. More than 100 artists performed 11 hours of live music on six stages during the festival that drew some 42,000 people to the NOS Events Center. The wonderland-style atmosphere also included theatrics, art installations and carnival rides. Stephen Lieberman of SJ Lighting, Inc. designed and coordinated the event and ran the Main Stage, a mega-structure built by AG Light & Sound. AG Light & Sound furnished a grandMA console for the Main Stage where they controlled 24 Coemar Infinity Spot XLs and 24 Wash XLs; 36 Clay Paky Alpha Beam 1500s; 24 Elation Power Spot 700s and 24 Power Wash 575s; 40 Elation 4 light LED Blinders, 8 8 light Blinders, 10 4 light Blinders; 10 Elation DLED 60 LED strip lights; 24 Martin Atomic Strobes; 60 Source 4 PARs; and 100 Acclaim x-ban 300s. "Everything went flawlessly; we never experienced any problems," reports Andrew Gumper, president of AG Light & Sound which supplied the gear. His company also furnished new MDG theONE Digital Atmospheric Generator (also distributed by A.C.T. Lighting) for the Main Stage. "They put out a beautiful haze that hung around forever," he says. A grandMA2 controlled lighting equipment on Stage 2. The rigs, provided by Felix Lighting, included 16 Martin Mac 700 Profiles; 10 VARI*LITE VL3000 Spots; 24 Mac III Profiles; 28 High End Studio Color 575s; 18 Atomic 3K Strobes; and 82 Color Blasts. David Dibb was the programmer. On Stage 3 a grandMA controlled 38 VARI*LITE VL2500 Spots; 32 VARI*LITE VL2500 Washes; 12 Color Kinetics Color Blaze 72s; 20 Impression LEDs; 33 Atomic Strobes; a six-foot Ministrip; and four Source 4 lekos furnished by Felix Lighting. The programmer was Christopher Dumapias Stage 4's grandMA controlled 11 Mac 2K Profiles, 24 Mac 700 Profiles, 12 Mac 600s, 6 VL 500 Ds, 16 Martin Atomic Strobes, 12 Martin Stage Bar Longs, and 4 Unique Hazers. Felix Lighting supplied the gear for Stage 4 and Sandy Kittison was the programmer. Stage 5 in the Orange Pavilion featured a grandMA to handle a complement of 34 Martin Mac 2000 Profiles; 14 Studio Color 575s; 16 Studio Spot 575s; 20 Coemar LED Parlites; 16 Pixelline 1044s; 14 linear 4 lights; and seven zipstrips supplied by Felix Lighting. Brian Karol served as the programmer. "Every stage looked phenomenal with every lighting operator giving it their all," says Lieberman. "The grandMAs really unified lighting control for an event with multiple operators and programmers that stretched across multiple stages into a sleepless night." "This was the expected 'excellent as usual" result when Steve Lieberman, Andrew Gumper and the grandMA are put together," comments A.C.T Lighting President and CEO Bob Gordon. About A.C.T Lighting A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, A.C.T Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge products, and stock, sell and support their inventory. The company provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its clients. For more information call 818-707-0884.


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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Major ERP vendors battle Salesforce.com for SaaS mindshare
eWeek has a good overview of the ongoing battle between the major traditional vendors of enterprise applications and Salesforce.com for the hearts and minds of enterprise system buyers.
Salesforce.com, of course, has put all its eggs in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) basket, going so far as to proclaim "the end of software." While Oracle defends the value of its on-premise offerings, it continues to build up its on-demand offerings, which range from simple hosting of its E-Business Suite to the multi-tenant CRM on-demand offering that it inherited from Siebel."You'll see us ramp up quite a bit—more advertising, more marketing, more sales," [Juergen Rottler, Oracle's executive vice president of Oracle On Demand and Oracle Support Services]. said. "We've incorporated Siebel CRM OnDemand and [developed] three new releases. We've rearchitected our entire underlying architecture to scale the business a lot faster. We've made core investments … that require a pretty heavy investment in R&D and services that a lot of niche players can't really make."This leads, of course, to the argument over who has more customers and users:On the heels of Salesforce.com's announcement of its $500,000 revenue mark in November, Oracle released a statement that it has surpassed a milestone of more than 1.7 million on-demand users, representing more than 2,200 customers buying Oracle's subscription-based solutions, managed applications or software managed services (compared with Salesforce.com's 27,100 customers and 556,000 users).Another battleground is over ease of integration. Major vendors such as Oracle and SAP contend that on-demand offerings do not easily integrate with on-premise applications, such as ERP. It's still a strong argument in favor of on-premise software, but Salesforce.com is firing back with its ApexConnect offering, a set of tools that allow interfaces to be built with third-party applications, including pre-built interfaces for Oracle and SAP.
As with many trends in information technology, there is no one right answer to the on-demand vs. on-premise argument. Organizations will need to evaluate their needs along with the advantages and drawbacks of each approach. My own view is that the economics of the on-demand model are too strong for it not to succeed. It may not be suitable for many applications within many organizations today, but the barriers -- such as the integration challenge -- are slowly breaking down. Although on-demand applications are unlikely to completely replace on-premise offerings, over time they will increase their share of the enterprise applications market. The only question is how much.
Related posts
Salesforce.com's AppExchange proving its viability for developers
Computer Economics: The Business Case for Software as a Service
SAP and Salesforce.com: opposing application platformsby Frank Scavo, 11/29/2006 01:18:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Friday, November 17, 2006
Microsoft threatens Linux users
It didn't take long for Microsoft to make clear its intention in forming an alliance with Novell to support Linux earlier this month: legal intimidation of Linux users.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said yesterday that Microsoft signed the deal with Novell because, in Microsoft's opinion, Linux infringes on Microsoft's intellectual property rights and Microsoft wanted to "get the appropriate economic return for our shareholders from our innovation."
According to Computerworld,A key element of the agreement now appears to be Novell's $40 million payment to Microsoft in exchange for the latter company's pledge not to sue SUSE Linux users over possible patent violations. Also protected are individuals and noncommercial open-source developers who create code and contribute to the SUSE Linux distribution, as well as developers who are paid to create code that goes into the distribution.It also quotes Ballmer, threatening,"Novell pays us some money for the right to tell customers that anybody who uses SUSE Linux is appropriately covered," Ballmer said. This "is important to us, because [otherwise] we believe every Linux customer basically has an undisclosed balance-sheet liability."Continuing the sabre-rattling,"Only customers that use SUSE have paid properly for intellectual property from Microsoft," he said. "We are willing to do a deal with Red Hat and other Linux distributors." The deal with SUSE Linux "is not exclusive," Ballmer added.With SCO's lawsuit going nowhere against IBM and other Linux providers, Microsoft apparently thinks it needs to do more to discourage organizations from adopting Linux. Or, as an alternative, only deal with Microsoft-approved distributions.
Ballmer, of course, provided no substantiation that Linux infringes on Microsoft patents. SCO has tried and has so far failed to prove similar allegations relative to Linux infringement on Unix IP rights.
Our research shows that in corporate data centers, Linux's share of workload processing is tiny compared to Microsoft's. Ballmer's disclosure shows, however, that Microsoft considers Linux a major threat. In forming its alliance with Novell, Microsoft is on the one hand embracing Linux, and on the other hand attempting to instill fear in corporate decision makers concerning Linux.
Update, Nov. 18: Jason Matusow, Microsoft's Director of Corporate Standards, posted to his blog asking for feedback from the open source community on the Microsoft/Novell patent covenant "not to sue." Read Matusow's post with all the comments to understand that the majority of open source developers do not trust Microsoft's intentions here.
Update, Nov. 18: The Seattle Intelligencer has a full transcript of Ballmer's original remarks. He says much more than the original Computerworld article quoted. And there are a ton of good comments attached to the article as well.
Update, Nov. 21: Now Novell is publicly distancing itself from Ballmer's remarks. In an open letter published on Novell's website, Novell's CEO Ron Hovsepian says,We disagree with the recent statements made by Microsoft on the topic of Linux and patents. Importantly, our agreement with Microsoft is in no way an acknowledgment that Linux infringes upon any Microsoft intellectual property. When we entered the patent cooperation agreement with Microsoft, Novell did not agree or admit that Linux or any other Novell offering violates Microsoft patents.In related news, Dave Kaefer, Microsoft's GM for IP licensing, says that Microsoft will not identify what Microsoft patents are being misappropriated in Linux. Quoted in Computerworld, Kaefer says,"Patents are hard to understand. You have to have a certain level of expertise to understand the scope. And there are legitimate questions about patent quality," he said. "The reality is that you'd have to look at thousands of patents and thousands of products. To focus on every single one would be prohibitive."Busted.
Update, Nov. 29. Via Computerworld, Novell CEO Ron Hovsepian gives a behind-the-scenes look at what triggered the original deal with Microsoft. Most interesting are the things that the two parties discussed but did not agree to, such as allowing Linux to run as a guest OS under Windows but not Windows under Linux, and allowing Microsoft Office and Visual Studios to run under Linux.
Related posts
Windows Rules the Data Center
Strange bedfellows: Microsoft and Novell in Linux dealby Frank Scavo, 11/17/2006 10:29:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Dave Duffield debuts new on-demand ERP
It's been almost two years since David Duffield resigned from PeopleSoft, the firm he founded, in the middle of its hostile takeover by Oracle. Since that time, in addition to building a home bigger than the White House, Duffield has been working with a small startup, Workday, more or less in stealth mode. The buzz was that it had something to do with HR, and something to do with on-demand and open source thrown in the mix.
Well, the firm has finally announced its product line: Workday Enterprise Business Services, which it calls an on-demand ERP solution, although its roadmap falls far short of comprehensive ERP functionality. The first offering is Workday Human Capital Management, which is now in general availability, after successful implementation at Biosite, a medical device firm, and Kana Software, a software development firm. Future offerings will include Financial Management, Resource Management and Revenue Management, scheduled for release beginning in 2007.
Workday's press release points out the technical architecture of its on-demand services, which includes a multi-tenant architecture, built-in auditing to comply with increasing government regulations, and web services integration. According to Computerworld, the product makes heavy use of Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX), a web development approach for creating interactive web applications.
There are competitors to Workday, such as NetSuite, that come closer to offering complete ERP functionality. But with Duffield's involvement, the 65-employee Workday is getting a lot more publicity right now. Major technology product and service providers, such as Accenture and ADP, have already formed partnerships with Workday, and Microsoft is working with Workday to provide integration with Microsoft's Outlook, SharePoint Server and Exchange Server products.
So, will Workday be a serious competitor in the enterprise systems marketplace? If it is, Duffield says it will be because of Oracle's hostile takeover of PeopleSoft. According to Computerworld,Toward the end of the 18-month hostile takeover bid that Oracle waged to acquire PeopleSoft, Duffield came out of retirement to rejoin PeopleSoft. "We worked like crazy for several months to keep PeopleSoft from the clutches of Oracle," he said. "When Oracle prevailed, it inadvertently opened a door for us." Duffield and former PeopleSoft colleague Aneel Bhusri founded Workday in March 2005.Duffield gets a lot of sympathetic press because of the people-friendly culture he built at PeopleSoft and his charitable activities, such as his fund to help unemployed PeopleSoft workers after the Oracle takeover and his pet rescue foundation.
Everyone wants to see Dave succeed. Whether that translates into market share for Workday remains to be seen.
Computerworld has more on Workday's debut.
Related posts
Dave Duffield's next thing: bigger than the White House
Duffield comes to aid of former PeopleSoft employees
The ax begins to fall at PeopleSoftby Frank Scavo, 11/07/2006 10:33:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Friday, November 03, 2006
Strange bedfellows: Microsoft and Novell in Linux deal
It continues to amaze me how technology vendors can be competitors and partners at the same time. The latest example is Microsoft and Novell, which have announced a deal to promote interoperation of Microsoft Windows and Linux and -- the strange part -- promote each other's products.
According to CNET, the deal has many components--let me try to itemize them:
It's not hard to imagine why Novell might want this deal, but why would Microsoft want to do anything to make it easier for data centers to run Linux? Based on our most recent technology trends survey at Computer Economics, we estimate that Linux averages just 5-7% of the processing workload in North American data centers. Microsoft, on the other hand, averages over 50% of the workload.
- The parties will work to make Windows and Linux interoperate more effectively.
- Microsoft will promote Novell's SuSE Linux and Novell will promote Windows.
- Microsoft and Novell will provide each other's customers with patent coverage for each other's products, and Microsoft will not take patent enforcement action against individual non-commercial Linux developers.
- Microsoft and Novell will create a joint research facility to develop new products for virtualization, web services for server management, and MS Office/OpenOffice compatibility.
- Microsoft will optimize its virtualization technology for Novell's SuSE Linux, and Novell will do the same with its virtualization technology for Windows.
- Microsoft will recommend SuSE Linux in cases where Microsoft customers want to run Linux and will promote Novell's maintenance and support offerings.
- Microsoft and Novell will share help desk resources for each other's products.
Once again, Slashdot has interesting insights (if you can get past the one-liners such as "Hell called, they want their ice back"). Here are some of the more plausible theories by Slashdot contributors on why Microsoft did this deal:
But the most interesting insight is this one, where the writer ties the deal to Microsoft's need to be able to control digital rights management (DRM) as it plans to do in the next generation of Windows:
- Open source applications, such as SugarCRM, are gaining ground, and they tend to run better on Linux than Windows. Microsoft wants to have an opportunity to get those apps running on Windows.
- Microsoft is concerned about anti-trust actions and wants to appear more open to competing operating systems. The recent trouble with the EU over Vista is a case in point.
- Microsoft needs a low-cost OS offering for overseas markets (where it can't charge its usual price for Windows), so that it can gain ground in those markets and sell its applications.
- Microsoft wants access to and influence over Mono, Novell's project to develop an open-source .NET-compliant set of tools. (.NET is Microsoft's framework for web services.) Promotion of Mono is promotion of Microsoft's .NET framework, which is a platform for Microsoft's applications.
- Microsoft is trying to force consolidation of the Linux distribution market so that it has one larger competitor to deal with instead of a fragmented, decentralized enemy.Remember the recent MSoft/Xen collaboration? MS is making a version of Windows that can serve as the hypervisor that other OS's run on top of. Microsoft's interest here is to make sure Windows is at the bottom layer so they can enforce DRM, "trusted computing" and ultimate control of the box, and collect fees when everyone is using virtual Linux etc. What they want to prevent is a future where free software is at the bottom of the stack and virtual Windows instances are brought up when needed.All these theories are plausible, and Microsoft is no doubt pursuing multiple objectives in this deal. But ultimately, I think it's all about control. For example, both Microsoft and Linux have virtualization technologies--but which will be the host and which will be the guest? Microsoft realizes that although Linux's share in the data center is small, it is growing. If Linux is not going away, then it's better for Microsoft to be the host than the guest. And where it must be the guest, Microsoft wants to ensure that it's a business partner (Novell) that is the host, not someone else.
Furthermore, Microsoft recognizes that Linux is threatening to make the bottom layer of the software stack a commodity, just as Intel has made the hardware layer a commodity. Although much of Microsoft's profitability in the past has come from Windows, Microsoft is positioning itself to derive even more value from its Office products and other applications, especially in overseas markets where Linux adoption is taking place even faster than in the U.S.
As I mentioned earlier, Microsoft already averages over half of the workload processing in data centers. Microsoft really doesn't need to increase that share, but it does need to maintain it. By interoperating with Linux it ensures that it maintains its position in the data center.
Update: The ink is barely dry on the Novell deal and now Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is suggesting that other Linux distributors form similar patent deals with Microsoft. Strange. Why all the talk suddenly about patent infringement? Is this a threat or an attempt to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt? eWeek has the story.
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, writing for Linux Watch has good insights:I used to think that Microsoft wouldn't dare use its patents against the Linux companies. My logic was that if Microsoft started really throwing its patent weight around, IBM or Novell could retaliate in kind. Thus, if any one company tried to smash Linux with an overly aggressive patent enforcement, they would be blasted by the pro-Linux companies with large patent portfolios. It was the old geopolitical idea of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) . brought into the PC age.Related posts
Well, now Novell and Microsoft have a non-aggression treaty. Yes, the Novell/Microsoft deal also frees individual, non-profit open-source developers, and programmers who work on openSUSE, from any Microsoft patent danger. But what about programmers who work on, say, Red Hat Linux?
I hope I'm wrong. I hope that in the next few weeks, I'm not writing about Microsoft suing Red Hat. That Linux company has had more than enough trouble recently with Oracle. Or, maybe it won't be Red Hat. Maybe Ubuntu would be the target.
Why do I fear Microsoft might try this? I fear it because Microsoft's proxy war on Linux via SCO is finally coming to its endgame. And no one, probably not even in SCO's own offices, believes that SCO will win.
So, what can Microsoft do? It can bend, ever so slowly, to the simple fact that Linux is here to stay -- but at the same time, it can free itself to attack individual Linux companies in the court room.
Cynical? Yes. But after covering Microsoft for almost two-decades, I trust Microsoft the least when it looks like they're co-operating with others the most.
Oracle plays hardball with Linux support
Microsoft to support Linux, virtually
Linux vs. Windows survey results
Microsoft-sponsored study on Win2K vs Linux is NOT all good news for Microsoftby Frank Scavo, 11/03/2006 05:17:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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May 17, 2018
"Chappelear is the ultimate life coach. John teaches us all to focus on what's really important –our health and values, our families and friends. Step off the train for just a moment and listen to one of the best." - Dr. Bob Rosen, CEO Healthy Companies International and author of Leading People and Global Literacies
For years, John Chappelear's personal mantra was, "Everything! All the Time! Right Now!" (E.A.R.N.)
A success by every external standard, Chappelear built a multimillion-dollar business, owned luxury homes, and cars, and enjoyed all the benefits that lots of money can buy. However, this all-consuming quest for "more" ultimately led to a divorce, estrangement from his children, and a crisis of faith in himself and the value of his life. Then, in a bitter twist of fate -- or what John has come to call his own "Gift of Devastation" -- he lost the business that he had worked so relentlessly to build …
Today, as a self-described Recovering Big Shot, Chappelear has committed himself to the pursuit of success WITH significance. In changing the priorities of his own life, he developed and codified the Daily Six -- six simple concepts that provide a daily bridge between career success and personal well-being and have become the cornerstone of his personal and organizational consulting work.
According to the Daily Six, changing the focus of one's life begins with "willingness," germinates in "quiet time," and flourishes through "service to others." The journey to a well-balanced life is enlightened by "love and forgiveness" and is enabled by "gratitude" but can only be fulfilled through "action." When observed daily, these principles result in both career achievement and personal contentment.
Permanent Positive Change, Period!
John and his company Changing the Focus, LLC deliver positive, powerful, and balanced individuals, and more productive, creative, and profitable organizations.
John is internationally recognized as an expert in life balance, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
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John is a monthly contributing author to American Cities Business Journals and has published more than 100 articles on leadership, positive culture, change and emotional intelligence.
The Daily Six is available on: in paperback and kindle versions
For more information on how John can help you and your organization, or to sign up for free Positive Thoughts weekly newsletter please visit the website: or send an e-mail to [email protected]
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Peacekeepers, Humanitarian Aid, and Civil Conflicts
Lack of coordination (including lack of clarity over tasks and command and reporting lines), mutual unfamiliarity, and attitudinal divergence are the principal sources of stress between peacekeepers and aid workers. Nevertheless, Chapter VI mandates rarely give rise to difficulty over the reconciliation of objectives.
However, another issue has arisen with regard to some recent operations. It centres on the application of the principle that aid is provided on the basis of need only, and that it is provided impartially and neutrally. The principle is unexceptionable, and would be fully endorsed by all representatives of the international community. The trouble is, that in its application to the kinds of conflict which have arisen, especially in Bosnia and Croatia, what the humanitarian bodies excoriate as `linkage' has appeared in various forms. For this, they tend to hold peacekeepers responsible.
Recent Articles
- Transgression of Human Rights in Humanitarian Emergencies: The Case of Somali Refugees in Kenya and Zimbabwean Asylum-Seekers in South Africa
- Mapping Population Mobility in a Remote Context: Health Service Planning in the Whantoa District, Western Ethiopia
- One step forward, two steps back? Humanitarian Challenges and Dilemmas in Crisis Settings


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The Visalia Rawhide professional baseball team is the most affordable family entertainment option in Tulare and Kings Counties. The Rawhide are embarking on a new era in Visalia Baseball, with more renovations to Rawhide Ballpark and a renewed affiliation with the Major League club.
The Rawhide are proud to be the Advanced-A, California League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Rawhide and the Diamondbacks signed a new, four year Player Development Contract (PDC) in June of the 2012 season that covers the 2013-2016 baseball seasons. The Rawhide and the city of Visalia are doing everything necessary to ensure a long, productive relationship with the proud Diamondbacks franchise.
The Rawhide sit right in the middle of the D'Backs system, one of the most talented in all of baseball. There are three teams more advanced, and three lower levels. Just below the Major League level are the AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate, Reno Aces. The Diamondbacks will keep their Spring Training facility in Tucson, however the old AAA Tucson Sidewinders are no more. Below the Aces are the AA-Mobile Bay Bears, one level above Visalia. Immediately below the Rawhide are the Low-A South Bend Silverhawks of the Midwest League, the Short Season-A Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League), and the first step for most professional ballplayers, the Rookie Level Missoula Osprey (Pioneer League).
The Rawhide play 140 games against their California League rivals, a group that stretches from Stockton and San Jose in the north to Lake Elsinore and Inland Empire in the south. The Rawhide play in the Northern Division along with the Stockton Ports (OAK), San Jose Giants (SF), Modesto Nuts (COL) and the Bakersfield Blaze (CIN).
All of the players on the Rawhide and the other Arizona affiliates are under contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It is the Diamondbacks who supply the coaches and instruction for their affiliates as they try to mold their prospects into successful big-leaguers. The Rawhide do not control player movement within the organization, so it is important to come to the park early and often to see the brightest stars of tomorrow, today!


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UW Symphony Presents Verdi Opera May 2
The University of Wyoming Symphony will perform Verdi's tragic opera "La Traviata" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, in the Fine Arts concert hall.
Tickets cost $10 for the public, $7 for senior citizens and $6 for UW students. Tickets are available at the Wyoming Union and Fine Arts box offices. For tickets and information, call (307) 766-6666.
The production features guest artists, faculty from the departments of Music and Theatre and Dance, the UW Collegiate Chorale, and students filling some roles. "La Traviata" is among the top five most performed operas worldwide, and the UW performance celebrates the 200th anniversary of Verdi's birth in 1813.
Guest performers are Annamarie Zmolek as Violetta; tenor Jason Baldwin, singing Alfredo; and baritone Bradley Thompson as Alfredo's father.
Familiar voices from the UW vocal arts faculty are Maureen Boddicker as Flora; Nicole Lamartine as the maid Annina; Larry Hazlett as Gastone; and Larry Hensel as the doctor. Hensel also is stage director. Jennifer Deckert and Lawrence Jackson, members of the UW dance faculty, will perform solo in a party scene.
The production will be in English. It is funded by gifts from Mel Cox, the Symphony Association, the UW offices of the President and Academic Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Music.
Audience members are reminded that the parking lot on the east side of the Performing Arts Center is closed and should park in the lot north of the Performing Arts Center.


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|System: Wii (WiiWare)
|Review Rating Legend
|Dev: Nintendo
|1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
|4.0 - 4.4 = Great
|Pub: Nintendo
|2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
|4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
|Release: May 26, 2008
|2.5 - 2.9 = Average
|5.0 = The Best
|Players: 1-2
|3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
|ESRB Rating: Everyone
|3.5 - 3.9 = Good
Dr. Mario has been one of my favorite puzzle games for years now, so making a new one for WiiWare just seemed to make sense. Now that Nintendo is finally taking advantage of online gaming, Wii games with online gameplay seem to be what the doctor ordered. After all, if you love Dr. Mario, wouldn't you love it even more if it offered online competition? The answer is yes, and that's the key to understanding the value of this game.
Dr. Mario is the classic game where colored capsules drop into a container that has other pills and viruses. By dropping the right color around the viruses, you'll end up killing them. But, how is this done? Well, you just make a horizontal or vertical combo of three or more pills of the same color as the virus, and it will disappear. You can move the pills with the D-Pad and rotate them with the push of a button, just like if you were playing Tetris. Most levels have several viruses; the higher the difficulty setting you choose, the more of them you'll have to take care of. Also, you can vary the speed at which the pills drop, which can make the game insanely more challenging. This puzzler is definitely not easy, but if you like it, you'll get used to it eventually and do a good job.
Dr. Mario RX Online has two main game modes: Dr. Mario and Virus Buster. In Dr. Mario, you'll be able to play the classic mode, where the main objective is to kill the viruses in each level and advance to the next one. There's also a Vs. CPU mode, where you compete against the machine. If you or the CPU kill more than one virus with a single move (chain), you'll send little colored blocks to the opponent's game board. This is a pain in the neck when, for example, you're about to do your next blue combo and a yellow piece falls right on top of it and kills your strategy. You'll then have to make a yellow combo before you can get rid of the blue pieces below. Also, most capsules are split in two colors, so it's tough to complete a combo without messing up the surrounding lines or rows.
Flash mode is not as painful as the Vs. mode. The goal is to kill the viruses in your container before the enemy does. No one sends extra blocks to the opponent here, so you have a better chance to do things right. Virus Buster mode is a bit more gimmicky. Here you can strategically place the falling capsules by pointing at them with the Wii Remote and holding the A or B button to drag them. Both the game layout and the pills are much bigger than in the other game modes; this makes it easier to see, but somehow more difficult to play. This one is also just single-player.
None of these game modes are especially appealing if you already own Dr. Mario for another system. Unfortunately, I have to admit I found more disappointment than joy after I downloaded and played this game. I remember the good old times when I was very addicted to Dr. Mario and played it on a handheld. Those times have come and gone though, and Dr. Mario is still the same. Like I said before, the key to this game is the brand new online gameplay.


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If you are a business owner in Maplewood Missouri, there will come a day when you look at "how to sell my business" as the main question you ask yourself and perhaps the first thing to type in the search box in Google or your favorite search engine. When you type in "how to sell my business in Maplewood " I am sure you will find all kinds of information on just that. I have compiled 7 of the things most business owners don't know about or don't think about before that day (or the day of) that would certainly make the day you do sell your business a more profitable one. Most companies who visit with us are looking to find out what their business is worth first. Most business owners have no idea what their company is worth. Wouldn't you like to know about what it is worth before you hire a Maplewood business broker (we're not brokers, by the way)?Before I go into all that let's look at the 7 biggest mistake business owners make when they get to the point of asking "how to sell my business"1. They assume they "know" what their company is worth and make up a price – Look the first problem with this approach is that your business is usually "your baby". If you have owned your business for a long time you know that you have spent more time with it than perhaps even your family, spouse and kids! It's always there, even in the back of your mind………and sometimes it is hard to understand why someone can't see your business worth the way you see it. That's okay, but it is better to have a certified 3rd party give a certified opinion or appraisal of your business.Look at it this way, if you and I were going to go downtown and buy the Hilton Hotel, we would find a qualified appraiser to give us his professional opinion, wouldn't we? We certainly wouldn't take the owner's word for it or even their accountant's word for it. We would want an independent opinion and official analysis.But you say, hey my business isn't worth that much to justify the cost. What? Even if your business is only worth $25,000, at least you would have an official 3rd party appraisal and a "floor" price you could start at. And with the discounts available when you go through someone like valuationbroker.com, you could literally add thousands if not tens of thousands to your sales price, and only pay a small percentage to have it done.I would not even consider selling any business without this step, no way, ever.You see, most business buyers are smart, like you, they have done a lot of right things to get where they are and unless they have recently inherited the money, they are sophisticated to a degree and will do their homework when looking for a company to purchase. The real advantage to having your company appraised first (by an independent 3rd party certified appraiser) is that you are the one driving the appraisal, not the buyer.2. They ask their accountant what their company is worth and use that number – You accountant is probably a very smart individual, however when coming to valuing a business or having one in on the sales process, I have one rule. I make sure they have been in on at least 10 business sales in the past 12 months, no exceptions. I have seen more deals killed by well meaning accountants. Don't make this mistake.I don't care what your accountant thinks your business is worth. I don't care what MY accountant thinks your business is worth. I want to know what the market tells me.
So that's why I want an independent look from a qualified third party to tell me the current "market value". I have seen hundreds of business owners make this mistake and it can (and has) literally meant the difference of getting only half of what they could have! Half!What's also most interesting about accountants is that they tend to favor using the book value of your business as a starting point and not the market value. Big big mistake. You'll leave a ton on the table this way. Don't do it!3. They take the number off their balance sheet and say that's what their company is worth – You balance sheet tells you the hard value of the assets you have, that's it! It doesn't take into consideration what the value of your assets are that have already been depreciated or your blue sky value, or good name, or customer base……….all things that can add tremendously to the bottom line value of your business!4. They read a few articles in INC magazine and guess a number (even saying something like "companies in my industry are selling for 3 Times earnings") They may even refer to their latest tax return for a number – Don't be fooled by this! There are so many variables even with similar businesses in the same industry. The true value of your Missouri business is NOT the same as the guy down the street, even if you do the same thing! The true value of your Maplewood business is NOT like real estate, where you can compare with the property down the street.That is like saying the space shuttle is like a bicycle. True they are both forms of transportation, but one is a bit more complicated than the other. Again, have it appraised by a "market appraiser". Best money you will EVER spend. Ask ANYONE who has EVER sold a business! 5. They trust a FREE tool on the internet to give them the value of their business – While these free tools are valuable to help obtain a "range of value" (we have one too), they are not the complete answer and you can't use them to justify your asking price. If you have a properly done market appraisal, it will include a "justification of purchase price" section that says, "this is what your business is worth in this market, and here is why it is worth that"That is such an important step. Buyers are smart and want to know how you came to the price you did. Now you know what to do so you can stand behind your price.
Plus you will know just what the market is doing. It isn't the accountant or the balance sheet or your uncle attorney that dictates the price, it's the market! So knowing this, it is important to know just what the market price is. I have seen market prices be twice what the accountant says the business is worth!6. They haven't made their business run without them – This is a no-brainer, yet many business owners don't think of it. Your business will be worth a lot more if it can run without you there. Otherwise whoever buys it will be buying a "job". Nothing wrong with that, but realize, those businesses just are not worth as much when you go to sell them.7. They hire the wrong attorney to help them with the final paperwork (the wrong attorney could be their best friend) – This is just like the accountant, unless the attorney you use has closed 10 or more deals within the past 12 months, don't use them! So many well meaning attorneys have killed countless deals, UNNECESSARILY!I wish you well and hope you take these things to heart (and action). I have seen so many sellers walk away with a lot less than they could have, had they JUST used these few tips!Good Luck, I wish you continued success! (don't forget to get a certified third party, independent report for your business BEFORE you list it to sell) You'll be glad you did! Buying a business? Use the same concepts! Cheers!
The Best Maplewood Missouri Business BrokersWhether to close up shop, or keep fighting for survival is a question that more business owners seem to be facing than ever before. The economy is in the tank, banks won't lend, and you haven't slept in 18 months. As much as you don't want to, if you are losing money month after month, perhaps you need to sit down and have "the talk" with yourself.Nobody wants to be a failure, but as they say, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Once you decide to take a hard look in the mirror, ask yourself the following:- What are the chances that this business will ever be able to pay all the bills, and then leave enough for me to make it worth while?Some business owners made purchase at the height of the market, when the economy was chugging along. Of course, things have changed since that time, so the historical cash flows that drove up the purchase price are no longer a reality. If you paid $1,000,000 for a business, and revenues have dropped by 50%, is it reasonable to expect to be able to service that much debt?- What are my alternatives?If the business went away, what do you have to fall back on? A college graduate who left a corporate job to start their own business could always dust off their resume (yes, the one they swore they'd never again) and start checking Monster.com. If you have options, why not cut your losses for the time being? There's nothing that will prevent you from trying again in the future. At least if you have a job, you'll get a paycheck while you attempt to figure out your next venture.- How much are you willing to lose?If you apply for a modification, the bank will inevitably look for more collateral. When the bank starts sniffing around for your house or your stock portfolio, are you willing to bet those items that your business will succeed? It would be one thing to have your business close, it would be another to have your business close AND lose your home to foreclosure.- Do you like what you do?10 years ago, the idea of working for yourself sounded great. Work your own hours, you call the shots, make all the decisions, and do things your way. Now you are tired of crabby customers, haven't had a day off since you had hair, and you don't trust your employees enough to leave them alone. Entrepreneurship is tough. Like, really tough. It's perfectly OK to want to just have a job with a regular pay check and benefits where you can eat dinner with your kids and sleep in every weekend.


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Budget chief 'tightening screws' on spending
HARTFORD -- Unlike the current bitter-cold weather, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's budget chief has stopped just short of a hard freeze.
Benjamin Barnes, secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, warned Executive Branch agency heads on Thursday to stop filling vacant jobs or entering into personal service agreements unless they are "absolutely critical" to departmental functions.
"We're tightening the screws on what we will approve in spending to assure ending the year in balance," Barnes said in a late-afternoon interview.
He said revenues continue to fall short of projections as the recession lingers in the state.
"Future revenues are unfortunately an uncertain phenomenon," said Barnes, who is drafting a proposal for a new two-year, $40 billion budget that Malloy will present to the General Assembly next month.
Barnes must also cope with a $64 million shortfall in the current state budget that runs through June 30.
"I hope we have recognized the bottom on revenues in the current year," he said, adding that between a hiring slowdown and "discretionary action" in some departments, including the Medicaid accounts within the Department of Social Services, the fiscal year's budget should end in balance.
Other departments may find prior funding authorizations revised or even rescinded, however.
On Dec. 19, during a special legislative session on deficit mitigation, the General Assembly approved $221.5 million in cuts and $30.8 million in new revenue.
This was combined with $113 million in unilateral cuts ordered by Malloy to address a creeping shortfall in the current budget.
Since then, further revenue falloffs have resulted in the additional $64 million deficit. A projected $1.1 billion deficit is foreseen for the budget that begins July 1.
"We have been very conservative on consensus revenues," Barnes said, adding that he expects the latest fiscal maneuvers to keep the operating budget in balance.
"We already did a deficit mitigation plan," Barnes said. "We are about to present a budget that will be difficult for all involved."
In a memo to state commissioners that went out Thursday afternoon and was obtained by The Associated Press, Barnes said that contracts with social service agencies, such as group homes, are not affected.
Malloy does not control the budgets of the judicial or legislative branches.
email@example.com; 860-549-4670; twitter.com/KenDixonCT; facebook.com/kendixonct.hearst; blog.ctnews.com/dixon


text: Your Jaguar F-PACE is already Jaguar's most practical sports car, bringing together sporty handling and dramatic beauty with everyday practicality and efficiency. Make it even more your own with Jaguar F-PACE accessories. Step up in style with deployable or fixed side steps, and keep it looking smart with splash guards.


text:
groove(redirected from hoof g's)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia.
a narrow, linear hollow or depression.
branchial groove pharyngeal groove.
Harrison's groove a horizontal groove along the lower border of the thorax corresponding to the costal insertion of the diaphragm; seen in advanced rickets in childhood.
medullary groove (neural groove) that formed by the beginning invagination of the neural plate of the embryo to form the neural tube.
pharyngeal groove a groove between a pair of pharyngeal arches in a mammalian embryo, homologous to the branchial cleft of a fish, formed by rupture of the membrane separating a corresponding entodermal pouch and ectodermal groove.
groove(grūv), [TA]
A narrow, elongated depression or furrow on any surface.
See also: sulcus.
See also: sulcus.
groove(grldbomacv) a narrow, linear hollow or depression.
branchial groove pharyngeal g.
Harrison's groove a horizontal groove along the lower border of the thorax corresponding to the costal insertion of the diaphragm; seen in advanced rickets in children.
medullary groove , neural groove that formed by beginning invagination of the neural plate of the embryo to form the neural tube.
pharyngeal groove the embryonic ectodermal cleft between successive pharyngeal arches.
primitive groove a lengthwise median furrow in the primitive streak of the embryo.
Etymology: AS, grafan, to dig
a shallow, linear depression in various structures throughout the body, such as those that form channels for nerves along the bones, those in bones for the insertion of muscles, and those between certain areas of the brain.
groove(grūv) [TA]
A narrow elongated depression or furrow on any surface.
See also: sulcus
See also: sulcus
groove(grūv) [TA]
A narrow, elongated depression or furrow on any surface.
n a linear channel or sulcus.
groove, abutment,
n a transverse groove that may be cut in the bone across the alveolar ridge to furnish positive seating for the implant framework and to prevent tension of the tissue.
groove, developmental,
n a fine depressed line in the enamel of a tooth that marks the union of the lobes of the crown in its development.
groove, gingiva, free,
n the shallow line or depression on the surface of the gingiva at the junction of the free and attached gingivae.
groove, interdental,
n a linear, vertical depression on the surface of the interdental papillae; functions as a spillway for food from the interproximal areas.
groove, labiomental,
n a natural indentation in the chin, just below the lips, that takes its form from the muscles and bones lying beneath the skin.
groove, linguogingival,
n vertical groove on the lingual surface of certain anterior teeth that originates in the lingual pit and extends cervically and slightly distal onto the cingulum.
groove, marginal,
n a developmental groove that forms across the marginal ridges of posterior teeth.
groove, nasolacrimal
n a linear depression that extends from the eye to the olfactory sac in an embryo and separates the lateral nasal process from the maxillary process.
groove, retention,
n a groove formed by opposing vertical constrictions in the preparation of a tooth that provides improved retention of the restoration.
a narrow, linear hollow or depression. Called also sulcus.
abomasal groove
the third part of the gastric groove. Runs along the inside of the lesser curvature of the abomasum.
alar groove
the slot-like part of the nostril of the dog beneath the wing of the nose; the homologous part in other animals.
atrioventricular groove
see coronary groove (below).
branchial groove
an external furrow lined with ectoderm, occurring in the embryo between two branchial arches.
carpal groove
the bony part of the carpal tunnel on the palmar surfaces of the carpal bones.
coronary groove
indicates, on the external surface of the heart, the demarcation of the atria from the ventricles. Called also atrioventricular groove.
esophageal groove
a superseded name for reticular groove.
gastric groove
in the simple stomach runs along the lesser curvature of the internal surface from the cardia to the pylorus. In the ruminant it is divided into three parts, the reticular, omasal and abomasal grooves.
hoof g's
coronet to sole grooves in ruminant hooves; demarcate horn of wall from horn of heel; the axial groove is a point of weakness and subject to injury.
humerus groove
see intertubercular groove (below).
intermammary groove
median groove which divides the mammary glands into left and right halves.
intertubercular groove
separates the tubercles at the head of the humerus; called also humerus groove.
interventricular groove
there are two of these, right and left, which are external indicators of the separation between the two ventricles. The two grooves do not quite meet at the apex.
jugular groove
the furrow in the ventral part of the neck which accommodates the jugular vein just below the skin.
lacrimal groove
on the nasal surface of the maxillary bone; houses the nasolacrimal duct.
laryngotracheal groove
in fetal development this groove appears in the ventral wall of the pharynx and deepens and separates to form the trachea and lower respiratory tract.
left descending interventricular grooves
see paraconal groove (below).
medullary groove, neural groove
that formed by the invagination of the neural plate of the embryo to form the neural tube.
omasal groove
the middle segment of the gastric groove in the ruminant, between the reticulo-omasal and the omasoabomasal orifices.
optic groove
on the internal surface of the presphenoid bone; occupied by the optic chiasma.
ossification groove
see ossification groove.
paraconal groove
the fat and vessel-filled furrow on the left side of the heart, marking the division between the two ventricles; named from its position beside the conus arteriosus; called also left descending interventricular grooves.
paracuneal groove
deep V-shaped furrows which separate the frog of the equine hoof from the bars and the sole.
rachitic groove
a horizontal groove along the lower border of the thorax corresponding to the costal insertion of the diaphragm; seen in cases of advanced rickets.
groove of Ranvier
see ossification groove.
reticular groove
see reticular groove.
right descending interventricular groove
see subsinuosal groove (below).
ruminoreticular groove
the external demarcation of the division between the reticulum and the rumen.
subsinuosal groove
fat and vessel-filled groove on the right side of the heart, marking the division between the two ventricles; named for its position beneath the sinus venosus; called also right descending interventricular groove.


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Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
US Youth Soccer Region III Championships Continue in Edmond, Okla.
June 22, 2013 09:24 PM
US Youth Soccer Region III Championships Continue in Edmond, Okla.
Preliminary Games, Day 2 of 3
Follow the moments:
Scores and Standings
Official Website
| #ROADtoOP
Okla. (June 22, 2013)
— The 2013 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships, presented by the National Guard, continued Saturday at the ESC Complex in Edmond, Okla. More than 190 games have been completed, and tomorrow's action will decide the 90 teams moving on from the event's preliminary rounds. Sunday's matches begin at 8 a.m. CT and continue throughout the day with the final matches beginning at 5:45 p.m.
In addition to top competition, players receive exposure to more than 75 college coaches that have registered for the Region III Championships. Year after year, the coaches enjoy the level of performance and urgency that comes when the teams play for advancement in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series.
On Saturday teams competed to create separation in their groups and improve their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Under-14 Girls Tophat 17 Gold (GA), a semifinalist last year, met a tough Tulsa Blitz 99 White (OK) team on Saturday. Tulsa's Kennedy Goins and Tophat 17's Kara Henderson exchanged first-half goals to make it 1-1 at halftime. Caroline Orman's 41st-minute goal put Tophat 17 up 2-1, but Cora Duininck and Nayeli Perez each scored in a 5-minute span to give Tulsa a late lead. With just a few minutes left, Tophat 17 found an equalizer when Chloe Maize weaved through several defenders before cutting inside and slotting a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net to cap a 3-3 draw.
That score line exemplified the competition in Edmond, as Tophat 17 entered the Region III Championships having not conceded a single goal during its run to the Premier League East title. Tophat head coach Troy Garner said the Region III Championships help the players learn to play against different styles and in changing environments.
"I think it speaks highly of the tournament because player development is what we're trying to do," Garner said. "If players are in big-time games where they have to make big-time decisions and it's changing and it's competitive and things are on the line, that's making them better players in the long run."
In a very tight Under-17 Boys group, West Pines Strikers (FL) earned a 2-0 win over 2012 Region III semifinalist Concorde Fire Elite (GA). Alberto Poleo scored both of the Strikers' goals, as they moved to the top of Pool A, which has seen three of its first four games result in ties.
Under-18 Girls 94 NC Fusion Elite (NC) took a big step toward a second consecutive semifinal appearance with a decisive 5-0 win against El Paso Storm (TX-S). Sarah Henson scored twice, and Rachel Baylor, Allison Hopkins and Jaclyn Nieradka each added one goal to the balanced attack.
After winning its opening game on Friday, Under-16 Boys Cajun SC Fury 97 (LA) looked to take control of its group against SSA Bulldogs (MS). Early in the second half, an SSA forward chased down a bouncing ball behind the defense, but his volley went just wide of the right post and the game remained scoreless. Despite Fury controlling possession and earning a multitude of second-half corner kicks, the Louisiana state champions couldn't find the back of the net. Several timely interventions by the SSA defense kept the teams even and the game ended in a scoreless draw, leaving the Under-16 Boys Pool B wide open heading into Sunday's final preliminary games.
Under-13 Boys United FA 00 Elite (GA) increased its odds of advancing past preliminary play after it defeated Oklahoma FC 2000 (OK), 2-1, on Saturday. United's Carlos Reyes settled a loose ball at the top of the penalty area and calmly chipped it past the keeper for the opening goal in the 12th minute. OFC responded just before half when Jaime Ponce hit the crossbar with a superb long-range effort before Daryl Dike put in the rebound. Joshua Deane scored the game-winner for United in the 34th minute to give his team its second win in as many games.
Regional winners earn a berth to the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships, which will be played July 22-28 at Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kan.
The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups, as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-15 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 88 teams.
Daily reports and complete results from the tournament are available on
Follow the moments from the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series on
and share the moments with us on