No, that's not a painting behind artist Jim LePage in the photo above — that, in fact, is his backyard. Nestled just outside of Bellingham, WA, Jim lives in a one-of-a-kind cabin with his wife and two cats. As an artist, painter and graphic designer, you'd imagine that he works out of a dedicated studio room, but for Jim, this one wall within their bedroom and the great outdoors is all he'll ever want or need.
My name is Jim LePage and I live outside Bellingham, WA with my wife and two cats. I'm a freelance artist, painter and graphic designer and also sell prints and digital goods in my online shop.
What does home and this space mean to you? Describe it.
My office space is basically one wall of our bedroom. Our house is basically a small cabin and we need to be very creative and strategic about how we use the space. Until I followed my dream to go freelance in May 2015, this wall had our only TV, a stereo with speakers and an entertainment unit. As we prepared for me to quit my job and go freelance, we needed to set up a proper office space for me. My wife — in a moment of divine wisdom — suggested we sell the TV, stereo and entertainment unit and make that whole wall an office. I — in a moment of divine obedience, since she's always right about these things — agreed. That change ended up being significant in many ways. As we started putting the office together, just the sight of it made the idea of full-time freelance feel so much more real and attainable and gave me the motivation I needed to make it happen. In addition, we no longer consume as much media and have started reading a lot more.
What makes it so comfortable (physically and personally)?
My office area is quite small, but very cozy. We live on the Salish Sea and the water is around 50 feet away from our house. My office has a wall of windows, so I get to work with the sound of the waves and a view of the San Juan Islands.
What makes you uncomfortable? What is your biggest fear?
There is a "black and white" worldview that splits things into two extremes, ignoring that most of existence is lived in the grey areas. It results in a lot of judgement and negativity that just makes the world a worse place to live in. That worldview has no room for love, joy, empathy or creativity. I'm uncomfortable when I encounter it — and even more so when I've entered that mindset without realizing it. My big fear is that humanity moves more and more in that dark direction.
Have you ever thrown caution to the wind and departed from your comfort zone? What happened as a result?
Quitting my job and taking the plunge into full-time freelance work last year was pretty terrifying. I left a job with good pay and benefits for something with a lot of unknowns to it. Even though I'd always dreamed of a full-time freelance life, I don't think I ever would have done it without the encouragement of my wife. I always thought of obstacles for why it wouldn't work, and she always came up with solutions and encouragement. It's turned out to be a great decision (did I mention she's usually right?), both personally and professionally.
What would you do if you had a day, a week and a month all to yourself?
Day: Find out where Radiohead has a concert, fly there with my wife, and see them play live. It's on our bucket list and I'm convinced we will actually do this someday.
Week: Load up on paint supplies, rent out a studio somewhere and paint for a week. There's not a lot of space for painting at our house, so being somewhere for an extended period of time where I could spread out and experiment with different paints, tools, and mediums would be great.
Year: Enroll in some art classes and learn some things I know very little about, like pottery or glass blowing. My wife and I love to travel, but haven't done it as much as we'd like, so we'd do a ton of that. We love whales so we'd definitely go to Hawaii to see the Humpback whale migration and Mexico to see the Gray whale migration. We'd also probably follow Radiohead around on tour.
What have you learned as an adult that you wish you knew when you were younger?
Art is good. I didn't grow up with a natural inclination towards art. It was never something [I] thought I'd enjoy or was pushed towards. I ended up stumbling into it in my late 20s. I wish I'd seen the value and joy of art and creativity more as a child.
How do you unplug, recharge and unwind?
I've enjoyed abstract painting for a while, but it wasn't until the past couple years that I've actually tried doing it myself. I've found that it uses a very different part of my creative brain than the work I do as a graphic designer. There's much more freedom, spontaneity and surprise involved and it helps me clear my mind of work or any stress I may have. I started posting my art on Instagram and it's starting to come full circle as I'm now selling prints and getting client work where they request my paintings. The process of exploring something for fun and then having it become part of how I make my living is now a recurring pattern of my career.
Have you ever experienced burnout? How do you get back on your feet and stay inspired?
Yes. I've found that usually the reason for it is because I haven't been doing any personal art for a while. For my first five years as a designer, I only did work for employers and clients. Then I did my first personal art project and everything changed. I fell in love with the process of exploring something personal and meaningful to me, and then expressing that through art. Now, if I go too long without doing some type of personal art, I get cranky, irritable and somewhat depressed, so I try to stay aware of that.
What do you think the world could use less of, and more of?
Less stuff, more experiences. As my wife and I have simplified our life (gotten rid of things we don't need, continually moved to smaller houses, eliminated debt, etc.) we've found that it brings a lot of extra freedom and time into our schedule.
What's one question you wish you had the answer to?
Will Larry David ever make another season of Curb Your Enthusiasm?
Wow, this is the second time I've left a comment and it's on a Comfort Zone post. I'm loving these posts and I love reading about creative people and their endeavours. I feel so bogged down in my accounting career and mom life sometimes that it's nice to read about people who took the plunge and started something new (don't get me wrong, I enjoy my life, it's just nice to read about others). Thank you!
I loved this! I felt so much of what he said, especially his answer about the grey areas and trying to stay aware of maintaining the work/personal equilibrium, and it was so heartwarming reading about the relationship he and his wife nurture. The view is gorgeous; I want to live right on the sea!
What an inspiring article! After reading this I am starting to realize that I need to get back into the grove of craving out time for my personal art too.
It is so encouraging to see people following their dreams! I also love Jim's reflections in this piece about life lived in the grey places. I hope to have a view of the water someday… Super jealous of their spot!
I like this. I realized that I often don't take the time to thank the people who are putting beautiful things out there in the world that I enjoy. So thank you. I like this.
Great article! I love Jim's work and the integrity he maintains with everything he does.
A great article from a wonderful artist. Thanks for making such beautiful art, Jim!


Pemathie B.V. is a company located in Netherlands, 3312ES Dordrecht at Paul Krugerstraat 50. Pemathie B.V. has an ACTIVE entity status and an ISSUED LEI code. The Legal Entity Identifier code of Pemathie B.V. is 7245003F1Y6UQWFV1988. The legal form of this company is 54M6.


Calls the troops returning from war "baby kllers"
"WE NEED TO BE TOLERANT AND ACCEPTING OF ALL RELIGIONS"
owns an iphone, ipad, and laptop.
Airport security profiling is wrong!
"Why won't the government do something about hijackings?"
resorts to correcting your spelling and grammar.


Supreme Court lawyer and Congress leader Kapil Sibal has been trying to explain that he has not been playing any role in the Tamil Nadu crisis. This is to clear the air on the speculation that he has been advising V.K. Sasikala in the DA case through her husband M. Natarajan, who was in Delhi for a week prior to the political and constitutional crisis in Chennai. The buzz was that Sibal was helping Sasikala on the promise that she would eventually tie up with the Congress and will take partisan positions on all issues in Parliament. Despite Sibal's vehement denials not many are convinced. Interestingly, even the BJP has been saying the same thing—that it has nothing to do with the events in TN. Although it is known that the BJP has been hoping that with O. Panneerselvam as Chief Minister, it will get the AIADMK's backing in the Rajya Sabha.
All eyes are on Shivpal Yadav, who has vowed to teach his "erring" nephew Akhilesh Yadav a lesson. Out of the 67 seats that went to polls in Uttar Pradesh in the second round, the Samajwadi Party won around 38 in 2012. It is Shivpal who had control over the votes in this phase. The wait is to see how much damage Shivpal can do to the current SP Congress alliance.
Ramgopal Yadav, the mentor of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is supposed to have stated that his nephew is PM material. This has shocked the Congress leadership. At the time of the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, it was understood that Rahul would be the Opposition's Prime Ministerial candidate for 2019 and Akhilesh would stay the UP Chief Minister. But now with Yadav striking a discordant note, political observers feel that this can be the beginning of the divide between the two parties, even before a blame game starts over their performance in the UP elections.
Congress is sinking in west U.P.
The Congress is in a bad shape in western Uttar Pradesh. When it had struck an alliance with Ajit Singh's RLD in 2012, it had won eight seats from the region. One such winner was Pradeep Mathur, the Congress Legislative Party leader in the UP Assembly. This time, when the Congress is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, Mathur is not comfortably placed. The Congress too may put up a performance worse than in 2012, while the RLD may put up a better show. The SP and Congress' refusal to join hands with RLD is being seen as a big blunder. Knowing Ajit Singh, the Congress is worried that he may join hands either BSP or BJP post the elections.
If a senior Cabinet minister is to be believed, Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasdagar Rao was being cautious about the situation in the state as he did not want to invite the ire of the Supreme Court. Since the Supreme Court's verdict on Sasikala was to come, Rao wanted to play safe. He did not want to find himself in the position of Tamil Nadu's former Governor, Fathima Beevi. She had to resign in 2001 after the Supreme Court ticked her off for allowing J. Jayalalithaa, who was not qualified to be a member of the state legislature, to be sworn in as Chief Minister. The overturning of the CM's appointment led to her resignation. Incidentally, Arun Jaitley was the Law Minister when the Union Cabinet asked for Beevi's recall as Governor for not giving a proper report on the state's law and order situation. DMK was then an NDA ally. Rao was then part of the NDA government as a Minister of State. Rao has not forgotten that incident. He also did not want to tarnish his impeccable record with a false step.


Nearly every week, I'm reminded of how fortunate Extension is to have such a vital and active network of retired employees. You are strong advocates, partners and volunteers as well as generous donors and supporters of Extension research and education.
This summer, I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at our annual luncheons; they will take place on Tuesday, July 11 at the Fireside Restaurant in Detroit Lakes and on Thursday, July 27 at the Midland Hills Country Club here in St. Paul. Both luncheons are from noon to 2 p.m.
I also hope to see many of you at this year's edition of Minnesota Sparks, a collaboration between Extension and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association that highlights the latest in U of M research and outreach. The first 2017 event will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30 at the Minnwest Technology Campus in Willmar. More Sparks events are planned for next fall and the spring of 2018, so please watch for updates.
Extension makes a difference to Minnesota and the world largely because of the dedication of our faculty and staff. I appreciate your continuing dedication to our work even after you've left Extension.


Image Title: Wood Tiles For Walls Tile Bathroom Image 2017 Regarding Inspirations 5. Post Title: Wood Tiles For Walls. Filename: wood-tiles-for-walls-tile-bathroom-image-2017-regarding-inspirations-5.jpg. Image Dimension: 800 x 571 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Quentin McLaughlin. Uploaded Date: Wednesday - October 17th. 2018 05:29:10 AM. Category: Design. Image Source: wayfair.com. Wood Tiles For Walls Tile Bathroom Image 2017 Regarding Inspirations 5. Wood Tiles For Walls Steval Decorations Regarding Decor 11. Bathroom Tile Inside Wood Tiles For Walls Ideas 3. Reclaimed Wall Wood Tiles Inside For Walls Plan 7. Wood Look Tile 17 Distressed Rustic Modern Ideas Inside Tiles For Walls Design 12. Wooden Wall Tiles At Rs 85 Square Feet Phase 2 Panchkula ID Regarding Wood For Walls Plan. 15 Wood Tile Showers For Your Bathroom With Regard To Tiles Walls Idea 17. Delightful Design Wood Tile Bathroom Floor Look 17 Within Tiles For Walls Idea 19. 15 Wood Tile Showers For Your Bathroom With Tiles Walls Inspirations 14. Wood Effect Tiles For Floors And Walls 30 Nicest Porcelain Throughout Designs 1.


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//! Project version string for KUIDragStepperSlider.
FOUNDATION_EXPORT const unsigned char KUIDragStepperSliderVersionString[];

// In this header, you should import all the public headers of your framework using statements like #import <KUIDragStepperSlider/PublicHeader.h>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Where's the Spirit? offers a weekly collection of content from the wonderful world wide web that challenges and inspires us to explore the role of spirituality in our lives and in society.
Do you want Where's the Spirit? to arrive in your inbox? Click here to sign up.
Whether you consider yourself a religious traditionalist or choose to embrace a modern idea of spirituality, living out the values and virtues you believe in requires mindful practice.
How do you practice mindful presence over the course of the day? Where do you allow your attention to be drawn?
How many times each day are you confronted by limitations? How would the course of your day change if you chose to embrace those limitations?
What if, as a culture, we placed as much value on the exploration of inner space and the discovery of the universe that exists within as we do on outer space and the universe that we can gaze at above on a clear night?
"To take your seat in the zendo is to discover the packed marquee of fantasies playing on an endless loop in the backwoods multiplex of your imagination." What happens when you sit for meditation?
What makes you happy? Do you know? Years of research have revealed a likely answer.
Have you ever seen a salmon make its way up river?
Umair Haque asks, "What do you do when reach the edge of heartbreak?" and proposes an answer: "you create a reason to take you past the edge of heartbreak." What is your reason for being?
Is there a way to integrate spirituality into the workplace without limiting it's scope or rendering it meaningless?
How do you engage others in your work? How do you tell your story? What is the role of failure in your story?
Do you know the "why" of your existence?


To reduce bandwidth requirements, these libraries are usually minified and GZIP compressed.
Surprisingly, most Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) give you a quite bad level of GZIP compression.
Google's Zopfli (open source) is currently the best GZIP compressor and produces the smallest files.
it is based on a random walk (trial-'n'-error). I run a brute-force search to find optimal Zopfli parameters.
That means: when decompressed by the browser, my files are 100% identical to the original minified versions.
except my files are smaller and therefore load a tiny bit faster.
However, if you are a super-kind person, then please send me a short mail. Or a postcard. Or both.
Baidu, Boot, cdnhttps, cdnjs, fastcdn, Google, jsdelivr, Microsoft, Sina, unpkg and/or Yandex.
Not a single file from these CDNs is smaller or has the same size as my compressed files.
As mentioned before, after decompression my files are 100% identical to their original version.
The only difference is I spent much more time finding an (almost) optimal compression.
No matter which CDN you use, it's always a good idea to have a fallback in case the CDN is unreachable or - even worse - delisted your specific library.
You can try another CDN instead of falling back to your local server, too.
By the way: if you run a small website it's totally fine to hotlink to the compressed files on my server.
However, high-traffic websites should copy my files to their own server.
And in the best of all worlds, major CDNs would replace their (too) large versions ... well, I'm just dreaming.


In this section, find articles, reviews, art work, poems, interviews, resources and professional services on mental health & wellness by Feminism in India.
I don't know which trauma I can link this incessant self-doubt to, people have this tendency to use 'trauma' and 'histories' to explain various character traits of a person, I do not think that is liable.
As someone with social anxiety, I feel uniquely constrained when it comes to my sexuality as I am expected to fit in the 'good girl' trope.
Having gone through this before, working in disability rights, and having closely interacted with many people living with mental health conditions, I could absolutely recognise that I was slipping into depression in my life of 33 years.
With the entire nation witnessing the wave of #MeToo and #TimesUp, India needs to understand the gravity of the effects of abuse on women's mental health.
Will Indian Campuses Ever Acknowledge The Mental Health Issues Of Its Students?
The unwillingness of several administrations to continue to adequately deal with mental health problems on such campuses is quite alarming.


text:
The 19th Century in Television
Posted on April 6, 2017 by drush76
Recently, I noticed there have been a good number of television productions in both North America and Great Britain, set during the 19th century. Below is a list of those productions I have seen during this past decade in chronological:
1. "Copper" (BBC America) – Tom Fontana and Will Rokos created this series about an Irish immigrant policeman who patrols Manhattan's Five Points neighborhood during the last year of the U.S. Civil War. Tom Weston-Jones, Kyle Schmid and Ato Essandoh starred in this 2012-2013 series.
2. "The Crimson Petal and the White" (BBC) – Romola Garai starred in this 2011 miniseries, which was an adaptation of Michel Faber's 2002 novel about a Victorian prostitute, who becomes the mistress of a powerful businessman.
3. "Death Comes to Pemberley" (BBC) – Matthew Rhys and Anna Maxwell-Martin starred in this adaptation of P.D. James' 2011 novel, which is a murder mystery and continuation of Jane Austen's 1813 novel, "Pride and Prejudice".
4. "Hell on Wheels" (AMC) – This 2012-2016 series is about a former Confederate Army officer who becomes involved with the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad during the years after the Civil War. Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Common, and Dominique McElligott starred.
5. "Mercy Street" (PBS) – This series follows two volunteer nurses from opposing sides who work at the Mansion House Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia during the Civil War. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Josh Radnor and Hannah James.
6. "The Paradise" (BBC-PBS) – This 2012-2013 series is an adaptation of Émile Zola's 1883 novel, "Au Bonheur des Dames", about the innovative creation of the department story – only with the story relocated to North East England. The series starred Joanna Vanderham and Peter Wight.
7. "Penny Dreadful" (Showtime/Sky) – Eva Green, Timothy Dalton and Josh Harnett star in this horror-drama series about a group of people who battle the forces of supernatural evil in Victorian England.
8. "Ripper Street" (BBC) – Matthew Macfadyen stars in this crime drama about a team of police officers that patrol London's Whitechapel neighborhood in the aftermath of Jack the Ripper's serial murders.
9. "Underground" (WGN) – Misha Green and Joe Pokaski created this series about runaway slaves who endure a long journey from Georgia to the Northern states in a bid for freedom in the late Antebellum period. Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Aldis Hodge star.
10. "War and Peace" (BBC) – Andrew Davies adapted this six-part miniseries, which is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's 1865–1867 novel about the impact of the Napoleonic Era during Tsarist Russia. Paul Dano, Lily James and James Norton starred.
Filed under: Essay | Tagged: adina porter, alano miller, aldis hodge, alfre woodard, amanda hale, amirah vann, anastasia griffith, andrea frankle, anna maxwell-martin, anson mount, antebellum, ato essandoh, ben daniels, ben esler, billie piper, brian cox, chris chalk, chris o'dowd, christopher heyerdahl, christopher meloni, civil war, colm meaney, common, copper, david threfall, dominique mcelligott, donal logue, donna murphy, eddie spears, eleanor tomlinson, eva green, franka potente, gary cole, georgian era, gilded age, gillian anderson, greta scacchi, hannah james, helen mcrory, imperial russia, jack falahee, james fleet, james norton, jane austen, jessica de gouw, jim broadbent, johnny ray gill, joseph mawle, josh harnett, josh radnor, jurnee smollett-bell, ken stott, kenneth cranham, kyle schmid, l. scott caldwell, lily james, literary, marc blucas, mark gatiss, mary elizabeth winstead, mathieu kassovitz, matthew goode, matthew macfadyen, matthew rhys, mykelti williamson, napoleonic wars, old west, p.j. marshall, patrick malahide, paul dano, peter gerety, rebecca front, reed diamond, renwick d. scott ii, robin mcleavy, romola garai, ron white, rory kinnear, ruby bentall, shirley henderson, stephen rea, tara summers, television, theodus crane, tim guinee, timothy dalton, tom burke, tom harper, tom noonan, underground, victorian age, virginia masden, wes studi |	Leave a comment »
Top Five Favorite "HELL ON WHEELS" Season One (2011-2012) Episodes
Posted on January 7, 2016 by drush76
Below is a list of my top five favorite Season One episodes from the AMC series about the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, "HELL ON WHEELS". Created by Joe and Tony Gayton, the series stars Anson Mount, Colm Meany, Common and Dominique McElligott:
1. (1.07) "Revelations" – Financier Thomas C. Durant and widower Lily Bell leave the "Hell on Wheels" camp to travel to Chicago for different reasons. Thomas Moore and his Irish gang finds former slave Elam Ferguson in the tent of prostitute Eva.
2. (1.02) "Immoral Mathematics" – Vengeance seeking former Confederate Cullen Bohannon fights for his life, as he tries to evade camp security officer Thor "the Swede" Gundersen after killing one of the Union men who had murdered his wife during the Civil War. Joseph Black Moon track down the Cheyenne braves (including his brother) responsible for the attack on the surveyors' camp.
3. (1.10) "God of Chaos" – In the season finale, Cullen tracks down a former Union soldier named Harper, whom he believes was one of the men who killed his wife. Durant and Lily conspire to gain arriving investors' interests. And Elam and Eva express different views on what their future should be.
4. (1.09) "Timshel" – Cullen, Elam, Joseph Black Moon and a squad of soldiers find the Cheyenne responsible for the attack on the surveyor camp that led to the death of Lily's husband and for the derailment of a train.
5. (1.04) "Jamais Je Ne T'oublierai" – Cullen initiates his search for Harper. Lily finally arrives at the "Hell on Wheels" camp, following the Cheyenne attack on the surveyor's camp and the death of her husband. Elam becomes involved with a prostitute named Eva.
Filed under: Essay | Tagged: anson mount, christopher heyerdahl, civil war, colm meaney, common, dominque mcelligott, gilded age, history, old west, politics, religion, television, tom noonan, travel, wes studi |	Leave a comment »
"HEAT" (1995) Review
Posted on July 16, 2010 by drush76
Below is my review of "HEAT", Michael Mann's 1995 crime melodrama that starred Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer:
For many filmgoers and critics, the 1995 crime drama "HEAT" is regarded as director Michael Mann's masterpiece. It is the movie that most fans think of when the director's name is mentioned. "TIME" magazine had even placed it on its list of top 100 crime dramas of all time. And the brutal downtown Los Angeles shootout is considered to be one of the best action sequences in movie history.
So . . . how do I feel about "HEAT"? Like many others, I consider it to be one of the best crime dramas I have ever seen. Honestly. The movie centered around a cat-and-mouse game between a Los Angeles Police detective named Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) and a ruthless professional thief named Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro). McCauley's carefully planned heist of an armored car that contained US$1.6 million dollars in bearer bonds owned by a money launderer named Roger Van Zant (William Fichtner) goes slightly wrong when one of his crew – a trigger-happy cowboy named Waingro (Kevin Gage) – kills one of the armored car guards being held at gunpoint by the crew. Realizing they cannot leave behind any witnesses, McCauley's crew is forced to kill the remaining guards. This multiple homicide, along with the armored car robbery, attracts the attention of Detective Hanna and his squad – members of the L.A.P.D. Robbery/Homicide Unit.
Back in the late 1980s, Michael Mann had written a transcript for a 1989 made-for-television film called "L.A. TAKEDOWN"about a cat-and-mouse game between a Los Angeles Police detective and a hardened and methodical criminal that affected a bank robbery in downtown Los Angeles. Following his success of "THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS", Mann took that transcript and broadened it for a theatrical movie that would become "HEAT". Mann's screenplay featured a multi-layered and complex look into the lives of professional criminals and the police officers that pursued them. Through characters like the introverted thief McCauley and one of his co-horts, Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer), audiences received a glimpse into the lives of professional criminals that were neither mobsters or amateurish lone wolves. Men like McCauley and Shiherlis were just as organized as the Mob, but they did not come from any particular ethnic group like the La Cosa Nostra. The movie also offered a glimpse into their personal lives and reveal how their pursuit of crime affected their families and other loved ones. "HEAT"also presented a parallel glimpse into the lives of police officers like Vincent Hanna, who led a special unit of detectives that investigate robberies and homicides. Mann took filmgoers into Hanna's marriage. There, the director revealed how the detective's intense dedication to his profession and temper affected said marriage.
As I had earlier stated, "HEAT" is a complex tale filled with intriguing characters and multiple subplots that served the movie's main plot. Well . . . some of the subplots accomplished this task. The one plot that dominated the movie (and served as the only plot for Mann's "L.A. TAKEDOWN") was the clash between Hanna and McCauley that culminated in a downtown Los Angeles bank robbery and its aftereffects. Through his script and direction, Mann provided some memorable moments in the film. I found myself impressed by the scene that featured McCauley and his crew being double-crossed at a local drive-in theater by men working for money launderer Van Zant. Another scene that impressed me was the more dramatic quarrel between Chris Shiherlis and his wife, Charlene (Ashley Judd) over his gambling habits. The scene served as a reminder on how the activities of criminals end up affecting their lives on a personal scale. One favorite scene featured an amusing, yet crowd-pleasing moment when Hanna realized that McCauley had become aware of the squad's presence with his own investigation. But the movie's tour-de-force remains, of course, the famous shootout in downtown Los Angeles, following a bank robbery committed by McCauley and his crew. I could rave over the excellence and excitement of the scene. But why should I bother? The sequence's positive reputation amongst critics and filmgoers is a perfect reflection of the scene's excellence. I can only think of a handful of similar action sequences – two of them from other Mann movies – that are this well shot.
As much as I admire "HEAT", it has its flaws. One, the movie has a running time of 165 minutes. Now, this might not be much of a problem on its own. However, it does become something of a problem with a movie filled with what I consider to be unnecessary subplots that dragged the film in certain areas. I could have done without the movie's romantic subplots. McCauley's romance with a bookstore clerk/graphics artist named Eady (Amy Bremmerman) bored the hell out of me. Hanna's marriage to a divorcee named Justine (Diane Verona) annoyed me. Well . . . her character annoyed me. I became weary of her constant complaints about his "dedication" to the job. This particular subplot had its own in the form of Hanna's suicidal stepdaughter (Natalie Portman), who seemed incapable of dealing with her real father's absence from her life. In the end, Hanna and McCauley's personal lives seemed to have NO real impact upon the movie's main plot and minor impact upon their respective characters. Worse, both subplots nearly dragged the film. Ironically, the two relationships that had a stronger impact upon the movie's main plot turned out to be Chris and Charlene Shiherlis's troubled marriage and the marriage between another member of McCauley's crew named Trejo (Danny Trejo) and his wife, Anna (Begonya Plaza). Chris and Charlene's marriage and feelings for one another played a role in Chris' fate following the disastrous bank robbery. And Trejo's love for his wife led him to reveal McCauley's robbery plans, while being tortured by Van Zant's men and Waingro . . . before they could tip off the police. And yet, these two relationships did not receive as much screen time as Hanna and McCauley's relationships.
Three other subplots failed to grab me. With Trejo and his wife in Van Zant's clutches, McCauley was forced to recruit a driver for the bank robbery – a paroled convict named Donald Breeden (Dennis Haysbert). Unfortunately, Mann included a subplot that led Breeden to break his parole and accept McCauley's job offer – a subplot that described the parolee's difficulties in staying straight. I found the story a bore and a waste of Haysbert's talent. And I never understood Mann's decision to include Waingro's murder of a teenage prostitute. Hanna and his team had never linked the murder to Waingro. Nor did the crime have an impact upon the movie's plot, except force Hanna to abandon a dinner party with his squad and their wives . . . and give Justine another excuse to complain about his job. One last subplot seemed useless to me. It featured Hanna and McCauley's only meeting at a local diner near, where each man examined the other and revealed that they would not hesitate to kill the other if the situation demands it. And while I must admit that Pacino and De Niro gave top notch performances, the entire scene struck me as a . . . waste . . . of . . . time. The only thing this entire scene had served was a chance to allow Pacino and De Niro to share one scene together.
I realized that I had written so much about the movie's plot that I nearly forgotten about the performances. Fortunately, Mann had cast the movie with talented actors and actresses and I cannot fault any one of them. I realize much has been said about Al Pacino's tendency to engage in theatrical acting. In other words, he can be a ham. He certainly was a ham in"HEAT". But the thing about Pacino is that he can be subtle or he can be a ham . . . with style. Which is why I am willing to give him a pass on some of his hammier moments. But I cannot deny that Vincent Hanna may be one of his best roles. Whereas Pacino's Hanna is all fire and theatrics, De Niro's Neil McCauley is quiet intensity. His McCauley must be one of the most subtle performances he has ever given. I cannot even remember a scene where he had raised his voice, let alone mugged for the camera. There were other performances that also impressed me – Mykelti Williamson as the no-nonsense Sergeant Drucker, one of Hanna's teammates; Tom Siezemore as McCauley's most loyal henchman, Michael Cheritto; Jon Voight as Nate, McCauley's pragmatic fence; and Diane Verona as Hanna's embittered wife, Justine. Yes I had complained about her character, but I must admit that Verona gave a memorable performance. However, I have to give special kudos to Natalie Portman's emotional performance as Hanna's suicidal stepdaughter who is desperate for her real father's attention; and to Val Kilmer and Ashley Judd, who managed to give complex performances as Chris and Charlene Shiherlis – one of McCauley's colleagues and his wife. Despite their constant clashes over his gambling habit and her brief foray into adultery with a Las Vegas resident named Alan Marciano (Hank Azaria), Kilmer and Judd made it clear that these two loved each other . . . especially in a quiet and tense scene that featured Charlene giving fugitive Chris a silent warning to stay away, due to the presence of nearby police.
As much as I admire Michael Mann as a director, there is one aspect of his filmmaking that turns me off – namely his cinematic view of Los Angeles. I tend to find this view cold and antiseptic. I have noticed this in both "HEAT" and his 2004 thriller,"COLLATERAL". Hell, Mann's view of Chicago in "PUBLIC ENEMIES" struck me as ten times more colorful. Considering that Mann is from Chicago, I am not surprised. Mind you, cinematographer Dante Spinotti captured some memorable shots of Los Angeles – including one breathtaking one of the city at night from McCauley's Hollywood Hills home. But it still came off as slightly chilly. Mann's view of Los Angeles is probably a reflection of his view of the city . . . which is completely opposite of my own. I did find Pasquale Buba,
William Goldenberg, Dov Hoenig and Tom Rolf's editing very impressive; especially in the downtown shootout. But there is one technical aspect of "HEAT" that really knocked my socks off. I am speaking of Elliot Goldenthal's score. Granted, most of Goldenthal's score failed to make an impression upon me. However . . . his score for the bank robbery sequence was more than memorable. I enjoyed the way Goldenthal used percussion to underscore the scene's growing tension that finally exploded into violence when Chris Shirherlis spotted cops and Hanna's team waiting outside of the bank. For me, the entire sequence featured a perfect blend of music and action.
To repeat myself, "HEAT" is not a perfect movie, despite its reputation. I consider Mann's septic view of Los Angeles to be one of the movie's minor flaws. But its major flaw seemed to be the numerous subplots that had nothing to do with the movie's main narrative. A flaw that ended up dragging the movie's pacing in many scenes. But despite these flaws, Mann still managed to create an exciting and complex story about two men – a methodical thief and an intuitive police detective – whose cat-and-mouse game engulfed those in their lives and an entire city. It is this cat-and-mouse game that made "HEAT" a recent Hollywood classic.
Filed under: Movie Review | Tagged: al pacino, ashley judd, dennis haysbert, hank azaria, jon voight, late 20th century, michael mann, movies, mykelti williamson, natalie portman, robert deniro, ted levine, tom noonan, tom siezmore, val kilmer, wes studi, william fitchner |	1 Comment »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I applied and got the opportunity for being a volunteer of Versions 2017, which was an annual conference on creative practice and virtual, augmented and alternate realities, co-presented by the New Museum's incubator--New INC, and digital media company Kill Screen.
As a volunteer, I helped out through the conference and workshops. During the two days volunteering time, I tried to help people experiencing the VR (Virtual Reality) application as a VR demo assistant. When people came, I would explain for them how the technology and the headsets work, then helped them to put on the gears. Also, I helped the attendee Check In at the workshop front desk. The whole experience was pretty fun and I learned a lot from it. I haven't had such an experience before helping people use VR headset, and figured out all kinds of responses people might have or problems people could encounter. Also, this was the first time I learned how a successful tech conference was organized and executed.


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Great News! The Paradigm Brokerage Team is happy to announce that we took home the trophy! We would like to thank everyone that helped us to get here, especially the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce; not only for all the hard work they do, but for hosting such an amazing event. We look forward to all the great things in the year to come!


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Q: Filter and sort swift array of dictionaries I have the following array:
let parent = [ ["Step":"S 3", "Desc":"Do third step" ],
               ["Step":"S 1", "Desc":"Do first step" ],
               ["Step":"S 2", "Desc":"Do second step" ],
                ["Step":"P 1", "Desc":"Some other thing" ] ]

How do I filter and sort the array(using filter and sort functions) in the least possible steps so that I get the following output string or label --
1.Do first step
2.Do second step
3.Do third step

A: I'd suggest filtering, sorting, enumerating, mapping, and joining:
let results = parent
    .filter { $0["Step"]?.first == "S" }
    .sorted { $0["Step"]!.compare($1["Step"]!, options: .numeric) == .orderedAscending }
    .enumerated()
    .map { (index, value) in "\(index + 1). \(value["Desc"]!)" }
    .joined(separator: "\n")

A key consideration is the use of .numeric comparison, so that "S 10" shows up after "S 9", not between "S 1" and "S 2". You don't want to do simple string comparison if you're embedding a numeric value in your string.
I also threw in that enumeration because if you remove an item, you probably want to make sure that the numbers in your list don't skip over a value just because of the particular encoding inside your Step strings.

Unrelated, a dictionary is a poor model for something like this. I'd suggest a custom type:
struct Task {
    enum TaskType {
        case step
        case process    // or whatever "P" is supposed to stand for
    }

    let sequence: Int
    let type: TaskType
    let taskDescription: String
}

let parent = [Task(sequence: 3, type: .step, taskDescription: "Do third step"),
              Task(sequence: 1, type: .step, taskDescription: "Do first step"),
              Task(sequence: 2, type: .step, taskDescription: "Do second step"),
              Task(sequence: 3, type: .process, taskDescription: "Some other thing")]

let results = parent
    .filter { $0.type == .step }
    .sorted { $0.sequence < $1.sequence }
    .map { "\($0.sequence). \($0.taskDescription)" }
    .joined(separator: "\n")

A: Described answer:
First, you would need to filter the array to get only steps; Based on the posted parent array it seems that the valid step should contain a key as "Step" and a value formatted as "S #", so it could get filtered it as:
let filtered = parent.filter { (currentDict) -> Bool in
    // get the value for key "Step"
    guard let value = currentDict["Step"] else {
        return false
    }

    // check ifthe value matches the "S #"
    let trimmingBySpace = value.components(separatedBy: " ")
    if trimmingBySpace.count != 2 || trimmingBySpace[0] != "S" || Int(trimmingBySpace[1]) == nil {
        return false
    }

    return true
}

so far would get:
[["Step": "S 3", "Desc": "Do third step"],
 ["Step": "S 1", "Desc": "Do first step"],
 ["Step": "S 2", "Desc": "Do second step"]]

Second, you would sort the filtered array by the value of "Step" key:
let sorted = filtered.sorted { $0["Step"]! < $1["Step"]! }

and you should get:
[["Step": "S 1", "Desc": "Do first step"],
 ["Step": "S 2", "Desc": "Do second step"],
 ["Step": "S 3", "Desc": "Do third step"]]

Finally, you would map the sorted array to get the description values:
let descriptions = sorted.map { $0["Desc"] ?? "" }

descriptions should be:
["Do first step", "Do second step", "Do third step"]

All in one step:
let result = parent.filter { (currentDict) -> Bool in
    // get the value for key "Step"
    guard let value = currentDict["Step"] else {
        return false
    }

    // check ifthe value matches the "S #"
    let trimmingBySpace = value.components(separatedBy: " ")
    if trimmingBySpace.count != 2 || trimmingBySpace[0] != "S" || Int(trimmingBySpace[1]) == nil {
        return false
    }

    return true
    }.sorted {
    $0["Step"]! < $1["Step"]!
}.map {
    $0["Desc"] ?? ""
}

print(result) // ["Do first step", "Do second step", "Do third step"]

A: func sortStep(step1:[String:String], step2:[String:String]) -> Bool {
    guard let s1 = step1["Desc"], let s2 = step2["Desc"] else {
    return false
}
    return s1 < s2
}

let orderedStep = parent.sorted { sortStep(step1:$0, step2:$1) }
print("\(orderedStep)")

A: I've used forced unwrapping assuming that your structure will remain as mentioned. Feel free to add any checks as required.
parent.filter { $0["Step"]!.contains("S") }.sorted { $0["Step"]! < $1["Step"]!
}.map { print($0["Desc"]!) }

A: let sorted = parent.filter({ ($0["Step"]?.hasPrefix("S"))! }).sorted { $0["Step"]! < $1["Step"]!}
var prefix = 0
let strings = sorted.reduce("") { (partial, next) -> String in
   prefix += 1
   return partial + "\(prefix)." + next["Desc"]! + "\n"
}

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No trip to Colorado would be complete without attending the Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival in Nederland. The first weekend of March is when this wacky festival is held annually. Frozen Dead Guy Days organizers started this end of cold weather ritual on a lark, and unwittingly created a cult following.


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