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Category Archives: James Hong
REVIEW: 2 BROKE GIRLS – SEASON 2
Kat Dennings (Thor)
Beth Behrs (The Neighbourhood)
Garrett Morris (Ant-Man)
Jonathan Kite (Black Dynamite)
Matthew Moy (No Strings Attached)
Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie)
Steven Weber (Izombie)
Mary Pat Gleason (Mom)
Cedric the Entertainer (Be Cool)
Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars)
Jessica Chaffin (The Heat)
Abby Elliott (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Noah Mills (The Enemy Within)
Nick Zano (Legends of Tomorrow)
James Hong (Blade Runner)
Bianca Lawson (The Vampire Diaries)
Barret Swatek (American Housewife)
Andy Dick (Road Trip)
Missi Pyle (Gone Girl)
Deanne Bray (Heroes)
Marc Evan Jackson (The Good Place)
Elizabeth Ho (Two and a Half Men)
Kyle Gass (Elf)
Eddie Shin (Westworld)
When we last saw lead besties Max Black and Caroline Channing, they were over the moon about their unorthodox meeting with style maven Martha Stewart – who not only sampled one of their premium cupcakes (the Beer-Batter Maple-Bacon Spring-Break cupcake), but also said she liked it and admired them. What more sustenance would two struggling waitresses-turned-entrepreneurs need? A lot, it turns out, as season two of 2 Broke Girls gives us a taste of success & failure. Whereas season one of the hit CBS show was all about meeting cute, sharing dreams, and attempting to live down the fact that one of the fathers bilked investors out of millions of dollars, the second season is more about character and relationships: Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) step closer and closer to their ever-elusive dream of a cupcake store; while diner-cook Oleg (Jonathan Kite) and entrepreneur Sophie (Jennifer Coolidge) begin sharing more than just sex. It is, like life, filled with ups and downs, steps forward and many more steps backward, never once letting the characters lose sight of their final destination. Max is overjoyed when they find the perfect space to open their cupcake store, insisting that it has a certain cache seeing how it was the site of a mass murder (complete with blood still on the walls). Where one sees disaster, Max sees opportunity: "If we go with red, it's half painted." This devil-may-care attitude balances nicely with Caroline's Wharton-School pedigree of sense and sensibility, preventing either from going too far off the deep end. They establish such a mutual ground, in fact, that they both willingly don giant cupcake suits in an attempt to drum up business. Elsewhere in Williamsburg, the relationship between Oleg and Sophie begins to deepen. Where it was once an excuse for crude comments about orgasms, it has developed into a touching pairing between two oddballs who are perfectly matched. Sophie, the owner of a house-cleaning service who has a heart of gold, continues in her role of fairy godmother to the two girls. In season one, she made sure they had killer outfits to wearto the gala event where they hoped to meet Ms. Stewart. Here, she gives them the seed money to rent their prime space, stock up and begin selling cupcakes. She is a silent partner; but one who eats a lot of the profits – literally.
Although much of the season takes place in settings outside the Williamsburg Diner, there is still plenty going on there. Put-upon diner-owner Han (Matthew Moy) has become a little more feisty, giving to the girls as good as he gets from them – and standing up to a robber who mistakenly thinks there are quick profits to be made. Stalwart Garrett Morris, as cashier Earl, continues to be the brightest star in the Williamsburg firmament, delivering caustic barbs and witty asides like the seasoned pro he is. Season two is filled with lots of characters who stop by for an episode or three, including Steven Weber as the notorious swindler who is father to Caroline, Ryan Hansen as the boyish proprietor of the candy shop across from the cupcake store who starts to fall for a certain Wharton graduate, and rapper 2 Chains appearing as himself in a surprisingly appealing episode. The end of the second season provided the perfect set up for season three: while cleaning out the diner, they stumble onto a secret back room that has (surprise!) a set of doors that open onto the sidewalk. Can they create a walk-up cupcake business and make a success of it?.
Norman Burton (Planet of The Apes)
Beatrice Straight (Poltergeist)
Fritz Weaver (Creepshow)
Jessica Walter (Archer)
J. Kenneth Campbell (The Abyss)
Martin Mull (Sabrina: TTW)
Denny Miller (Tarzan The Ape Man)
Eve Plumb (The Brady Bunch)
Juliet Mills (Avanati)
John Colicos (Battlestar Galactica)
Anne Ramsey (Scrooged)
John Rubinstein (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)
Frank Gorshin (Batman 60s)
Bubba Smith (Police Academy)
Henry Gibson (Sabrina: TTW)
Rick Springfield (True Detective)
Vaughn Armstrong (Star Trek: Enterprise)
Dick Gautier (Transformers)
Ed Begley Jr.(Veronica Mars)
Jennifer Darling (The Six Million Dollar Man)
John Fujioka (American Ninja)
Chuck Hicks (Dick Tracy)
I was not born in 1977, so obviously I didn't catch Wonder Woman when it was first on the air. I remember seeing parts of it on the weekend when my Dad would watch repeats on Saturdays between The Incredible Hulk and In Search Of. Lynda Carter's image as the character is the one that stuck with me the most. The character has endured over the years with fantastic artists doing her comic – folks like George Perez, Phil Jiminez, and Adam Hughes. But to me, Lynda Carter was and is always going to be the definitive look of Wonder Woman in my mind. Christopher Reeve as Superman is one of the only other times there has been such a perfect transition from comics to film. Carter's Wonder Woman jumps off the comic book page – literally, if you check out the opening credits. The first, and most impressive, thing I noticed about Lynda Carter's portrayal of the character on this DVD set is that she really became the character, and believed in it. Not every actress could pull this off. Some might take it the way of feeling ridiculous in the skimpy costume, or laugh at the concept of this Amazonian princess from Paradise Island who goes to the Man's world and helps rescue doofus Steve Trevor every week. The DVD bonus interviews, which include new material with Lynda Carter, talk about this approach and it made me all the more impressed. Season Two takes Wonder Woman to the 1970's and makes things more modern. Diana Prince (WW's alter ego) gets a better fashion sense and we are introduced to new technologies like IRA the computer. Sure, ghosts from the World War II past do spring up, but the episodes seem a bit less silly and more down to Earth this time. Lyle Waggoner in Season Two plays Steve Trevor Jr., son of the original Steve Trevor, who he played during the show's first season. This plot device is very soap opera-like, but it works, in this case. In addition to the second season's 22 episodes which include a feature-length season premiere, the DVD includes a bonus feature that includes interviews with Ms. Carter and comic book professionals Phil Jiminez (who may be Wonder Woman's biggest fan, though we know his heart belongs to Donna Troy), Andy Mangels, and Adam Hughes.
REVIEW: BONES – SEASON 2
Emily Deschanel (Boogeyman)
David Boreanaz (Angel)
Michaela Conlin (Yellowstone)
Eric Millegan (The Phobic)
Tamara Taylor (Lost)
T. J. Thyne (Ghost World)
Christine Estabrook (Spider-Man 2)
Ann Cusack (Stigmata)
Alex Hyde-White (Pretty Woman)
JoNell Kennedy (Dreamgirls)
Jessica Capshaw (Valentine)
Leah Pipes (The Originals)
Heath Freeman (Skateland)
Christie Lynn Smith (The Crazies)
Jim Jansen (A.I.)
Keri Lynn Pratt (smallville)
Lamont Thompson (Evan Almighty)
Danny Woodburn (Watchmen)
Carlos Lacamara (Heroes Reborn)
Cerina Vincent (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy)
Kali Rocha (Man With A Plan)
Lisa Thornhill (After The Sunset)
Amanda Carlin (Superhero Movie)
Grace Fulton (Shazam!)
John Marshall Jones (Con Air)
Theo Rossi (Luke Cage)
Benito Martinez (Sons of Anarchy)
Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul)
Salli Richardson-Whitfield (I Am Legend)
Kristoffer Polaha (Ringer)
Amanda Fuller (Last Man Standing)
Joshua Leonard (Bates Motel)
Ryan O'Neal (Love Story)
Loren Dean (Apollo 13)
Patricia Belcher (Jeepers Creepers)
Ryan Cutrona (Changeling)
Ty Panitz (Because I Said So)
Stephen Fry (V For Vendetta)
Eddie McClintock (No Good Nick)
Alex Winter (Bill & Ted)
Meredith Monroe (Dawson's Creek)
James Earl (The Lazarus Effect)
Jonathan Slavin (Santa Clarita Diet)
Chris Conner (Walk of Shame)
Steve Braun (The Trip)
Deborah Theaker (A Mighty Wind)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
George Coe (Kramer vs Kramer)
Wendy Braun (Atypical)
David Burke (The Tick)
Tom Everett (Dances with Wolves)
Brian Hallisay (American Sniper)
A.J. Buckley (SEAL Team)
Cleo King (Mike & Molly)
Billy Gibbons (Two and a Half Men)
The start of the season sees a new boss, Cam, arrive at the Institute. Not only is she very hands on, she is a former love of Booth, and Tempe and Cam do not hit it off in the early episodes. The new character is well written and softens as the season progresses until it is hard to imagine the team without her input. Meantime Zac undergoes a make-over in order to secure a permanent place on the staff once he gains his doctorate, and Hodkins and Angela begin a tentative office romance. Booth and Brennan continue to spar verbally with each other and some of their exchanges will have you laughing out loud. When a fellow agent, Sully, begins a relationship with Tempe, Booth's feelings are confused – but as is observed, Tempe "is rubbish at being a girl" and her own complicated life does not bode well for a permanent relationship. Tempe continues to put her foot in it socially, particularly when a case involves Booth's Catholic religion. Among the classy episodes are 'The Girl with the Curl' about child beauty Queens, (with a wonderful scene of Tempe trying to talk to a group of 8 year olds at a dance class!), 'Aliens in a Spaceship' which has Tempe and Hodgkins buried alive by a serial killer, and 'The Headless Witch in the Woods' which has more than a nod to The Blair Witch Project. Guest stars this season include Stephen Fry as a laid back, insightful Psychiatrist whom Booth must see after he shoots an ice cream van, and Ryan O'Neal as Tempe's estranged and mysterious father whose elusive character comes into his own when Booth is targetted by the Mob. And, once again, Angela's instantly recognisable father – from ZZ Top – pops up!
REVIEW: THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (2008)
Keanu Reeves (Speed)
Jennifer Connelly (Hulk)
Kathy Bates (Misery)
Jaden Smith (The Karate Kid)
John Cleese (Rat Race)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Robert Knepper (Heroes)
Sunita Prasad (Hardwired)
J.C. MacKenzie (Dark Angel)
Lorena Gale (Smallville)
David Richmond-Peck (V)
Ty Olsson (Izombie)
Kyle Chandler (Argo)
Rukiya Bernard (Van Helsing)
Alisen Down (Smallville)
Bill Mondy (Blade: The Series)
Brandon T. Jackson (Tropic Thunder)
Ben Cotton (Stargate: Atlantis)
The movie's first act shows the most potential. Dr. Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) is swept away from her with a police escort, by flustered agents who inform her that even they don't know why she's being picked up. She's rushed into a room crowded with other scientists and engineers and told that not only is something from outer space going to impact Earth in the middle of Manhattan, but it's going to happen in less than 80 minutes. I always question the way government officials act in movies, but there's a palpable sense of tension and paranoia, and even a few good character touches (. A better movie would have played out closer to real time; the concept that Earth might be destroyed with such little forewarning is a really great idea (although there's a shade too much 9/11 imagery here). Sadly, it barely makes up the first twenty minutes. At the end of it, a giant swirling orb touches down in the middle of Central Park, and an alien creature steps out, only to be shot by an overzealous soldier. The creature is taken to a hospital, where its' strange, placenta-like shell melts away to reveal what appears to be a human being. Instead it turns out to be Keanu Reeves, playing an alien creature named Klaatu who somberly informs the President's first-hand aide (Kathy Bates) that he'd like to address the United Nations. Bates' character is problematic. She plays it as reasonably as she can, but as written, she's yet another trigger-happy, kill-all-the-aliens caricature straight out of endless alien invasion movies that prevents logical characters from doing logical things. She refuses his request, and they tell Helen to drug him so they can interrogate him. She fakes it instead, injecting him with saline instead of sedative, and Klaatu makes his escape. During the escape sequence, Scott Derrickson's direction goes into hyperdrive, using flashy editing and CGI to amp up the excitement, but it feels forced and unnatural. It happens several times, all in isolated bursts (Robert Knepper's thankless and stereotypical military commander is the worst offender, popping up occasionally to yell in a Texas accent). Only part of the spectacle, like the swarms of tiny bugs that eat up everything in their path (as seen in the misleading trailer), feel integrated with the story. The effects themselves are hit-and-miss. The giant orbs, shown on the movie poster, are stunning to look at, and those swarms of bugs are eye-poppingly cool, but most of the effects that integrate real actors look weak. I've always thought of Keanu Reeves as a more physical actor than an emotional one , and it's almost endearing the way he doesn't seem to "get" the joke in regards to his flat acting style, which the producers of Day 2008 have ably exploited in having him play an emotionless alien. I liked him in the movie, but those who already dislike him as an actor aren't going to have their minds changed. Jennifer Connelly does a fairly good job during the first half of the film, but as the bits of characterization from the first act peter out, it's like she's acting into a vaccuum; she puts plenty of emotion out but none of it registers. Will Smith's son Jaden plays her step-son, and his primary mode is "whiny". Klaatu's goal in Day 2009 is to save the Earth, which is bad news for its inhabitants. "If the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the Earth survives," he tells Helen. Yet the film doesn't want to be a "message" movie, so no obvious examples are shown lest the audience get upset. I felt The Day the Earth Stood Still was better than expected but the commercial aspect of its existence overpowers its low-key successes. Derrickson's version misses ample opportunities to explore the nature of meeting a creature from another planet, and the times it does breach the topic it doesn't have anything to say. The 1951 original is a social landmark, and even won a Golden Globe for promoting International Understanding. The new version is entertaining, but the fact that it can't emotionally connect to its audience, much less connect other people, is going to leave many fans rightfully disappointed.
REVIEW: THE BIG BANG THEORY – SEASON 1-8
Johnny Galecki (Hancock)
Jim Parsons (Garden State)
Kaley Cuoco (Killer Movie)
Simon Helberg (Dr. Horrible)
Kunal Nayyar (Trolls)
Sara Gilbert (Poison Ivy)
Kevin Sussman (Ugly Betty)
Melissa Rauch (I Love You, Man)
Mayim Bialik (Blossom)
Vernee Watson (Mike & Molly)
Brian Patrick Wade (Agents of Shield)
Laurie Metcalf (3rd Rock From The Sun)
Mark Harelik (Election)
Rachel Cannon (Fresh off the Boat)
Brooke D'Orsay (Two and a Half Men)
Carol Ann Susi (Cats & Dogs)
Brian George (Ghost World)
Alice Amter (The Good Girl)
Sarayu Blue (Monday Mornings)
DJ Qualls (Road Trip)
Charlie Sheen (Hot Shots)
Octavia Spencer (Insurgent)
Riki Lindhome (The Muppets)
Sara Rue (Mom)
Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica)
John Ross Bowie (The Heat)
Christine Baranski (Into The Woods)
Summer Glau (Terminator: TSCC)
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (The Vampire Diaries)
Will Wheaton (Powers)
Katee Sackhoff (Riddick)
Yeardley Smith (The Simpsons)
Judy Greer (Ant-Man)
Ally Maki (Wrecked)
Brian Smith (The Flip Side)
George Takei (Heroes)
Aarti Mann (The Monogamy Experiement)
Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse)
Eric Andre (2 Broke Girls)
Jesse Heiman (Chuck)
Keith Carradine (Dexter)
Rick Fox (Holes)
Jessica Walter (Dinosaurs)
Joshua Malina (Scandal)
LeVar Burton (Star Trek: TNG)
Katie Leclerc (Switched at Birth)
Courtney Ford (Revenge)
Lance Barber (Gangster Squad)
Becky O'Donohue (Fast & Furious)
Peter Onorati (Goodfellas)
Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek)
Stephen Hawkings (Futurama)
Margo Harshman (Sorotiy Row)
Ken Lerner (The Running Man)
Howie Mandel (Gremlins)
Ryan Cartwright (Bones)
Casey Sander (16 Blocks)
Meagen Fay (Barton Fink)
Regina King (Ray)
Kate Micucci (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012)
Bob Newhart (Elf)
Brian Posehn (New Girl)
James Earl Jones (Conan The Barbarian)
Carrie Fisher (Family Guy)
Laura Spencer (Bones)
Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa)
Stephen Root (King of the Hill)
Nathan Fillion (Firefly)
Kevin Smith (Daredevil)
As the series opens, into this world in walks Penny (Kaley Cuoco). She's literally the beautiful girl next door since she moves into the apartment across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon. She's an aspiring actress, which naturally means she's making a living as a waitress. Most of the guys immediately develop crushes on her, but it's Leonard who is the most serious about her. And despite how little they have in common, the five main characters form a friendship. But first, Penny has to deal with Sheldon and Leonard cleaning up her place for her while she slept. Sheldon gets fired for telling his new boss exactly what he thinks of him. Leonard and Sheldon stop speaking to each other after Leonard decides to present a paper they both authored. Sheldon tries to tell a sufficiently complex lie to Penny. And Penny must take care of a sick Sheldon. If there is any standout character that makes this show hilarious, it's Sheldon. The guy may be brilliant when it comes to his job, but he is a complete idiot when it comes to interacting with anyone. His reaction to things, or lack of reaction, makes for some of the best jokes in the show.
The acting on the show is universally great. The main actors are great as breathing life into their characters and really rounding them out. Yes, even Simon Helberg is good as Howard. Special praise must go to Kunal Nayyar whose Raj is too terrified to talk to women. His facial expressions alone are priceless. But the undisputable star of the show is Jim Parsons. He makes anti-social Sheldon completely believable and funny without resorting to too many stereotypes. He was born for this role pure and simple.
Due to the writer's strike of the fall of 2007, there were only 17 episode in the first season. All of them are here on three discs in widescreen and stereo sound. They look and sound great. There is one 17 minute behind the scenes type featurette that talks about the creation of the show and the characters.
In season two, the laughs continue as the goofy cast gets into many hilarious situations, as the combined brain power of The Big Bang Theory is no match for normal life. This season continues to build upon the romance between Leonard and Penny, which has its ups and downs. Leonard also dates a couple girls and Howard has his eye on both. Sheldon's neurotic and weird portrayal of life continues to be the butt of almost every joke, as he is far from normal. Raj has his fifteen minutes of fame, which go to his head. Overall, it is a strong season.
The season premiere episode is "The Bad Fish Paradigm". Leonard and Penny have their first date. Unfortunately, it is their only date. At first, Leonard thinks the date went well. However, his odd friends convince him that things did not go as he thought. Penny confides in Sheldon. She does not feel smart enough for Leonard and fears he will get bored with her. She forces him to keep it a secret, which causes Sheldon to move out of the apartment, staying with Raj and Howard. Eventually Leonard learns about Penny's fear and only makes it worse. The episode is fun way to start the season with Sheldon's neurotic behavior stealing the spotlight. In the next episode "The Codpiece Topology", Leonard is jealous of Penny who is dating again. He considers his options, which are slim. Oddly enough, Leslie Winkle (Sara Gilbert) has her eyes on him. They had a brief romance in the past, but Leslie was only looking for short-term fun. Now, she wants to settle down and thinks Leonard might be Mr. Right. The new relationship causes complications for Sheldon and Penny. The episode is really fun. Gilbert and Galecki have great chemistry together, which is a rehash from their time together on Roseanne. Gilbert shows up in additional episodes this season and has a romance with Howard. "The Griffin Equivalency" is a fun episode where Raj gets put in the spotlight. He is listed by People magazine on their '30 Under 30 to Watch' for his contributions to science. When Raj tells his friends about it, they do not give supportive reactions. Sheldon attacks him for getting lucky. Leonard and Howard decide to take him out to dinner to celebrate his accomplishment. However, the tables turn when Raj is given special treatment by the university, which causes jealous amongst his friends. He invites them to a party and they refuse. Penny agrees to go with him and it turns out to be a little more than she bargained for… Penny meets Raj's parents and it does not go well for anyone.
In "The Barbarian Sublimation", Penny is feeling down about not accomplishing any substantial with her life and turns to Sheldon for comfort. He gets her hooked on online gaming, which is a real fun sight to see. Penny takes on an odd persona and even scares Leonard. It is a classic and geeky episode. In "The Euclid Alternative", everyone is tired of Sheldon leeching off of them for rides and force him to get his driver's license, which he is apparently incapable of. Sheldon, again, steals the spotlight with his neurotic physical comedy and turns this very common situation into a bunch of laughs.
"The Lizard-Spock Expansion" introduces a multi-episode story arc and Stephanie Barnett (Sara Rue), a new love interest for Leonard and Howard. Howard uses his access to the Mars Rover to pick up Stephanie, but when he crashes it, he calls on his friends for help. Leonard and Stephanie hit it off and start dating, behind Sheldon's back. Oddly enough, Howard thinks they're together. The Leonard-Stephanie-Howard threesome produces a lot of laughs. Stephanie also appears in "The White Asparagus Triangulation", Sheldon tries to help Leonard's relationship, but only dampens his style, and "The Vartabedian Conundrum", Leonard realizes Stephanie is living with him. As for the rest of the season, there are many more fun episodes, such as "The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem", Sheldon gets a girlfriend (sort of) and no one understands what is happening, "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis", Penny dates Dr. David Underhill (Michael Trucco), Leonard's better looking counterpart, "The Friendship Algorithm", Sheldon befriends someone at work to everyone's amazement, "The Maternal Capacitance", Leonard's mother visits and her personality is identical to Sheldon, " The Terminator Decoupling", the guys run into Summer Glau (Firefly, Serenity, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) on a train, and "The Hofstadter Isotope", Penny goes with the guys to the comic book store and exchanges phone numbers with someone, and it eats away at Leonard. Overall, The Big Bang Theory's second season continues to be very strong. The cast has a great dynamic together. The leading males' geeky views of life provide neurotic and hilarious situations. Cuoco is a good balance to them, and also provides her own silliness. However, Parsons repeatedly steals the spotlight with physical comedy and excellent delivery of dialogue. He manages to turn many common situations, as he interacts with the other cast members, into a riot. The show's writing is also topnotch. It provides witty dialogue that leaves you laughing. The plotlines can be simplistic, but they work and never fail to draw in your attention. In the end, The Big Bang Theory is a major success with its second season.
At the end of season 2, Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard were leaving for a three month expedition to the North Pole to test one of Sheldon's theories. Leonard was sad to be leaving Penny behind, though they weren't dating and surprisingly, Penny was upset to be away from Leonard too. As this season opens the group has just gotten back from the far north and when Leonard knocks on Penny's door to inform her of their return she leaps into his arms and kisses him passionately. Turns out Penny really missed Leonard, and they go into her apartment and close the door.
The Big Bang Theory continues to remain one of the funniest sitcoms on network television today. eason 3 showed us exactly why this is the case bringing us some of the funniest BBT episodes yet to date. This show is at its very best when its five main characters, rather than being shoehorned into conventional sitcom devices like hook-ups and infighting, are simply allowed to be their smart, socially awkward, idiosyncratic selves. And for the most part, they were.
One of the pleasures of this show is that you can throw together practically any two characters and have a unique, unpredictable and funny dynamic. Forget Leonard and Penny — perhaps the best odd-couple pairing we got all season was Sheldon and Penny, who despite all odds, have figured out that they enjoy each other's company. Something about his smug childishness gels perfectly with her unsinkable good humor and ability to deliver a zinging comeback. "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency" showcased Sheldon and Penny's unique chemistry to great effect on multiple levels — not only did Sheldon have to tolerate hours alone with Penny, but he was forced to adopt the role of caretaker while the other guys were off getting stoned in the desert. The episode culminated in a newfound trust between the two, who by the end of the season grew to think of each other as friends.
Speaking of Sheldon, he continues to be an amazing comic force. Jim Parsons shone this season, and the writers wisely showcased him at every possible opportunity. It's hard to imagine this actor ever playing any other role. We followed Sheldon from the North Pole to his home state of Texas (where Laurie Metcalf did a very funny turn as his uber-conservative mother), learned the back story of his friendship with Leonard, and best of all, saw him face off against his sixth most hated rival, Wil Wheaton. Wheaton's guest appearance in "The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary" was so well received that the show brought him back a second time, in "The Wheaton Recurrence." Sometimes you can tell when actors are really enjoying themselves onscreen and this always seemed to be the case when Wheaton showed up, so hopefully he'll continue to play himself on a semi-regular basis. Season 3 also introudced us in the finale to Amy Farrah Fowler, (played by Mayim Bialik) who would become a regular in season 4.
The writers introduced two female characters to the regular cast this year, although both did show up in season three. Melissa Rauch returns as Howard's girlfriend Bernadette. And Mayim Bialik, who appeared in the final few moments of season three, is back as Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon's not girlfriend but friend who is a girl. Since both either have doctorates or are going for doctorates, that still leaves Penny as the only non-super smart person of the cast. However, everyone has trouble relating to us mere mortals, and that's where Penny really shines. Her heart comes through in every moment she is on screen..
Over the course of the season, Sheldon breaks up with Amy Farrah Fowler over scientific differences and buys a bunch of cats to ease his loneliness. Howard's past mistake comes out when the FBI investigate him for a security clearance. The guys enter a New Year's Eve costume contest with some surprising additions to their group. Leonard's idea for a smartphone app gets out of hand when Sheldon gets involved. Raj begins to have feelings for Bernadette while Leonard starts seeing Raj's sister Priya (guest star Aartia Mann). Everyone winds up at an out of town science convention where friendships get tested. And in one of my favorites, Amy Farrah Fowler and Sheldon decide to experiment with gossip by starting rumors and seeing how long it takes the entire group to find out.
Of course, with this show, some of the sub-plots can be just as great as the main plot. I'm especially fond of one involving Howard performing a magic trick that Sheldon can't figure out. Another memorable one involves Sheldon and his new three person chess game. The new additions haven't dampened the acting at all. The original cast knows their characters and invests everything they have in bringing them to life every week. Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik slip into the cast seamlessly and feel like they've been playing these characters just as long. Jim Parsons went into this season having just won a well-deserved Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy, and his work is just as impressive here.
Season 5 picks up exactly where season 4 left off. Penny (Kaley Cuoco) has just spent a drunken night with Raj (Kunal Nayyar). While it wasn't quite what it appeared, they quickly go back to normal, which isn't hard when Raj will only talk to women when he's drunk.
Meanwhile, Leonard (Johnny Galecki) tries to maintain a long distance relationship before putting his relationship with Penny back in a beta test. Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is forced to take his relationship with Amy (Mayim Bialik) to the next level – and he insists they both sign a relationship agreement. Leonard finds a loophole in his relationship with Sheldon when he voids the friendship clause. And Howard (Simon Helberg) gets ready for a trip into space and his marriage to Bernadette (Melissa Rauch). That's just a few of the bigger storylines of the season. Each episode is filled with laughs. Some people complain the show isn't as funny as it used to be, but I find it hysterical just about every week. Yes, they have one or two weeks that fall flat, but they are by far the exception rather than the rule. And even then, there are some great lines and classic moments. Howard and Bernadette have the biggest story arcs of the season, and I must say I love watching the two of them interact. Usually, they are so sweet together, although when they fight it can be pretty funny as well. Howard used to annoy me like crazy, but now I actually find I like him. As far as guest stars we've got Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, and Dr. Stephen Hawkins appear as themselves, and Leonard Nimoy voices a Spock doll. The show pasted the 100 episode mark this season, and that means the cast is very familiar with their characters. It shows, too, in the acting. Everyone is believable and comfortable with their parts, and it's easy to just sit back and laugh as the show plays.
Season 6 starts off with 5 overarching plot episodes based around Howard's trip to space and return to Earth with a less than warm welcome. These are some very good episodes, the premiere has some nice moments during Amy and Sheldon's anniversary. Another highlight in the first 5 is when Game night turns into Men vs Women. These episodes put quite a bit of spotlight onto Howard and his accomplishment that no one else acknowledges, and I enjoyed them immensely, some character developing episodes for him. The season has some great highlight episodes. We get a very good dramatic episode (rare for TBBT) called "The Closet Reconfiguration" where Sheldon being Sheldon, he cleans out Howard's closet and comes across an unopened letter sent to Howard from his father who abandoned him. They all get to show off their acting chops in this episode (especially Helberg). We get another appearance from Wil Wheaton in "The Habitation Configuration" (Which Jim Parsons just won an Emmy for his work in) that turns into another fantastic episode when Sheldon has to choose between his friend or his girlfriend. "The Closure Alternative" involves one of Sheldon's favorite shows being cancelled, and lastly "The Proton Resurgence", which features Bob Newhart in an Emmy award winning guest appearance as Sheldon's childhood hero, Professor Proton.
As for the relationships, this season was a huge one. Leonard and Penny finally take the next step in their relationship. Sheldon and Amy continue to move forward at a Snails pace, with Sheldon finally considering more. Raj gets some much needed character development when he finally finds a girlfriend, who is essentially A reflection of himself, named Lucy. The cast is as great as ever, with their chemistry remaining tip top…Parsons again steals the show with his excellent physical comedy and strong delivery of his dialogue. Galecki plays off perfectly against Jim. Simon Helberg gets some meat to chew on this season and he kills it, especially the episode where he finds the letter from his father that was sent years earlier. The writing remains witty and top notch, that is conveyed perfectly on screen through the excellent performers. The writers need to continue with this great writing, The Big Bang Theory proves here why it's still one of the funniest shows on TV.
This season picks up exactly where the last one left off. Leonard (Johnny Galecki) is on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a research trip. Back at home, the gang must learn to deal with his absence, especially his roommate Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and his girlfriend Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting). However, when he comes back, his desire to spend some time with Penny over Sheldon shows the beginnings of the first changes in the group, a theme that actually echoed through the season.
Following up on the sixth season finale, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) is now able to talk to girls even when he's sober. What didn't change there is that he still isn't a lady's man, although it does open up a few new relationship possibilities for him. Speaking of relationships, Sheldon and Amy (Mayim Bialk) wind up taking what for them is a huge step forward in their relationship on a romantic train ride up to the Napa Valley. Penny makes a huge change to forward her career as an actress and finds herself in a less than desirable roll opposite a surprising co-star. I would argue that the only main characters not to have major changes this season are Howard (Simon Helberg) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), but since they adjusted to married life last season, maybe that's for the best. They still get some great stories, like Howard's drastic change after trying to help out his mother and how they deal with having Raj has a house guest for a week.
And the geekiness continues. Stuart (Kevin Sussman) and his comic book store regularly appear in the series. When the guys don't get into Comic Con, Sheldon decides to start his own, leading to a day with James Earl Jones. Speaking of which, the show finally celebrates Star Wars day in what is a touching and funny episode featuring the third appearance of comedy legend Bob Newhart.
Relationships are a key element of the season, which starts with the socially-awkward Sheldon stuck in an Arizona railroad station without any pants, the victim of poorly-received changes in his life. What exactly is going on between him and Amy, as well as what is happening with Penny and Leonard and their extended engagement, are the engine of this run of episodes, as Sheldon faces the need to overcome his off-putting personality, and Leonard has to overcome Penny's new-found success. After seven seasons, the show hasn't felt the need to artificially change its main characters and their lives, instead going in a more organic direction, choosing to highlight change that happens naturally in a relationship. That evolution also powers an impactful cliffhanger of a season finale.
The series did have a sudden change to cope with though, when Carol Ann Susi, the actress who gave voice to Howard's unseen harpy of a mother, died, and her passing was written into the series, creating more change for Howard and giving a bit of a goose to the other characters, who took from her death in different ways.
Season 8 once again had excellent guest stars such as Laurie Metcalf, Christine Baranski, Billy Bob Thornton, Nathan Fillion, Wil Wheaton and Stephen Hawking. The Shocking Cliffhanger leaves fans wondering where certain relationships will end up.
REVIEW: R.I.P.D.
Jeff Bridges (Iron Man)
Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)
Kevin Bacon (Hollow Man)
Mary-Louise Parker (Red)
Stephanie Szostak (Iron Man 3)
Larry Joe Campbell (The Orville)
Mike Judge (King of The Hill)
Toby Huss (Rescue Dawn)
Mike O'Malley (My Name Is Earl)
Considering that this film was a cinematic flop at the cinema. I was expecting it to be really bad. But having watched it myself, I have to say that it's actually pretty good. The film begins with a Boston cop named Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) having a dispute with his best friend and partner, Bobby Hayes (Kevin Bacon), about turning in some gold pieces which they found at a recent drug bust. During an unexpected shoot out, Walker is shot and killed by his partner and is sucked up into the clouds and recruited by the R.I.P.D. (Rest In Peace Department). The R.I.P.D.s main function in the afterlife, is in catching souls who have refused to leave the land of the living, known as deado's. Nick is partnered with an old, gruff, U.S marshal from the wild west, Roy Pulsipher (Jeff Bridges). Together, they are sent back to earth under the guise of an alter ego avatar (I.E Roy looks like a supermodel, while poor Nick resembles an old, Chinese man) to rid the living world of the deado's and to foil their diabolical plans to take over the world. R.I.P.D is pretty much Men in Black but with zombies/ghosts instead of aliens. Sure it has a lot of scenes that we have all seen before, but it is also packed full of hilarious jokes and spectacular set pieces to keep the film from ever feeling stale. The effects range from absolutely brilliant to weird and cartoonish but for the kind of film this is, they do work very well, this is a comic style comedy after all. Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds are a brilliantly funny team and Kevin Bacon is his usual sinister, yet supercool self. The supporting cast includes Mary Louise Parker as Roy's boss and on/off love interest, James Hong and model Marisa Miller as Roy and Nick's avatars and Devin Ratray as an overweight, ginger, Elvis lookalike, who works as one of the films main antagonists. R.I.P.D is in no way an instant classic and it's unlikely to spawn any sequels due to it's disastrous box office showing ($62M so far on a budget of $130M BEFORE marketing costs) but I found it to be an hour and a half of harmless, amusing and at times exciting fun. If you liked films such as Men in Black and Beetlejuice then you should be able to find something of value here.


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A sense of place, a spirit of place
Alan Fuerstman '78 redefines luxury hospitality.
It's a frigid morning in mid-December just off Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the temperature barely north of 20 degrees. But as he prepares to conduct a tour of the still-under-construction Sagamore Pendry hotel, on the waterfront in the city's Fells Point neighborhood, Alan Fuerstman '78 seems oblivious to the elements. Fuerstman is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Montage International, the California-based ultra-luxury hotel and resort management company that he founded 15 years ago and that he's led with the same laser vision he's exhibiting now—as he steps off Thames Street, passes beneath the hotel's massive arched entrance, and wades into a small army of construction workers in hard hats. Weather? What weather?
For Fuerstman, the Sagamore Pendry represents a departure from the business model that has produced five wildly successful Montage properties—in California (Laguna Beach and Beverly Hills), Utah, South Carolina, and Hawaii. In 2014, in collaboration with his son Michael, Fuerstman set out to create a new brand of hotels in markets that still demanded top-shelf amenities and service but could not support a Montage property's nightly room fee, which starts around $600. "That may not be a 600-square-foot room; it may be a 350- or 400-square-foot room," Fuerstman said earlier this morning, over breakfast at the nearby Four Seasons, by way of explaining the Pendry difference. "It may not be a five-fixture bath; it may be a three-fixture bath."
Still, let's be clear: No one will ever mistake the Sagamore Pendry for a Motel 6. The new hotel, a $60 million project, features a steakhouse restaurant, a whiskey bar, a 4,500-square-foot ballroom, two 550-square-foot conference rooms, and a second-floor outdoor pool with views of the Inner Harbor and the Baltimore skyline. The typical room comes with a private balcony, a king-sized bed, millwork paneled walls, and marble accents. Nightly rates start at $359, before taxes.
Leading the tour of the hotel, sidestepping wheelbarrows, portable heaters, panels of plywood and sheetrock, a thousand or so electrical wires snaking along the floors, and a beehive of laborers, Fuerstman can hardly contain his excitement. At one point, after reciting a litany of the hotel features—historical, geographical, architectural, and otherwise—he said, "This hotel is destined to be one of America's finest."
Fuerstman knows a thing or two about America's finest hotels. He's staked his long and fruitful career on providing wealthy travelers with lavish accommodations, impeccable service, and a white-glove attention to detail. Surely he endeavors to repeat that success with the Pendry brand, and his track record gives him plenty of reason for optimism. With the 2003 opening of the 250-room Montage Laguna Beach—30 acres of palm-treed paradise overlooking the Pacific Ocean—Fuerstman sought to redefine ultra-luxury hospitality. He wanted to break away from what he calls the "old-school style" of luxury, which he saw as too pretentious. "I thought the next generation of luxury travelers were looking for a more gracious, humble approach to it," Fuerstman said, "where you could be as comfortable in a luxury hotel or resort in jeans as you are in a tuxedo. Where you could still appreciate the craftsmanship, the attention to detail. But it didn't need to be surrounded in the traditional trappings of luxury."
To his delight, Fuerstman was right about that next generation, and he was pleasantly surprised to learn that the old-school crowd likewise embraced the Montage approach. His colleagues and competitors have taken note. While developing Montage into one of the leading ultra-luxury hotel brands, Fuerstman has received some of the industry's highest honors, including the 2014 Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Award, presented by the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona (previous winners, besides its namesake, include the culture-bending chefs Julia Child and Alice Waters). Today, Montage employs about 3,400 people and manages more than $1 billion in residential real estate, and this year the company expects to generate revenues in excess of $400 million.
Fuerstman enrolled at Gettysburg as a political science major, figuring one day he'd go on to law school. He got his start in hospitality while still in high school in New Jersey, working as a doorman at the Saddle Brook Marriott, a job he returned to each summer while attending Gettysburg. Even from his lowly station at the hotel, Fuerstman fell hard for the business. Law school would have to wait. "I loved the energy, the excitement, the complex business strategy, the tactics, the competitiveness of the industry," he said.
After graduating, Fuerstman took a job as a bell captain at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort in California, a Marriott International property with five restaurants and a 27-hole golf course. He was on his way, changing jobs every few years and gaining valuable experience at each stop. He helped open multiple hotels for Marriott, including the company's signature property, the Desert Springs, in Palm Desert, California. At the El Conquistador Resort and Country Club in Tucson, then an ITT Sheraton property, he took his first job as general manager. In 1994, he was named president and managing director at The Phoenician, in Scottsdale, Arizona, then ITT Sheraton's flagship luxury hotel. And four years later he was tapped by Steve Wynn, the casino mogul, to help open Wynn's newest property, the 3,000- room Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip.
By 2000, Fuerstman had achieved a heady ascent in a demanding industry, but he was just getting started. He'd always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and he began to entertain notions of his own hotel company based on his outside-the-box ideas about luxury travel. He partnered with Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, who became an investor in Fuerstman's fledgling company. Then, he found a property under construction—initially intended to be a Ritz-Carlton—on the oceanfront in Laguna Beach. "When I stepped on the property in Laguna," Fuerstman recalled, "I fell in love with it and knew that it would be the ideal platform." He arranged to buy the property in a deal worth about $200 million.
Now, all he needed was a name for his company.
Those who work closely with Fuerstman marvel at his ability to excel in so many aspects of hotel management, even down to architectural design. At Laguna Beach, as he would with all subsequent properties, Fuerstman wanted to incorporate design elements that reflected the surroundings. The cookie-cutter approach would not suffice. "I was searching for a more authentic experience," Fuerstman said. "A sense of place, a spirit of place."
Laguna Beach is a well-to-do arts community, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, whose architecture is strongly influenced by the Craftsman style popularized in the early 20th century. When Fuerstman first toured the future hotel site, the architectural plans had been drawn and construction had begun. But in the hotel's fifth-floor main lobby, with its panoramic view of the Pacific, he saw an opportunity to fulfill his aesthetic vision. The lobby had been designed to be enclosed by a solid glass wall. Fuerstman wanted to take full advantage of the stunning vista, so he had installed large sliding glass doors instead—as he said, "to bring the outside in and the inside out."
"It changed the feel and experience the moment you walk in there," said James Bermingham, the executive vice president of operations for Montage International. "It's a small example of the eye that he has. I don't think I would have seen that until after we opened."
Fuerstman has known Bermingham since his days at The Phoenician, and when he started Montage he placed one of his first phone calls to Bermingham, who was then managing two hotels in Washington, D.C. Bermingham toured the property in Laguna Beach and came away duly impressed. He called his wife, Priscilla, told her he was inclined to accept Fuerstman's offer, and said she should fly out to see the property. "She said, 'If it's Alan Fuerstman, and you really like it, I don't need to come out,'" Bermingham recalled. "For a mother of young kids to say, 'We'll go, sight unseen, because it's Alan Fuerstman,' that really says it all."
Fuerstman was getting ready to announce the acquisition of the Laguna Beach property. But he still hadn't decided on a name for his company. He went to his advertising agency, which suggested hundreds of names. He rejected every one. He went to his public relations company and offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who came up with a winning name. He rejected every one of them as well. Time was running out.
Drawing on Laguna Beach's history as an artists' colony, Fuerstman consulted an online art reference guide. When he got to the M's, he came across the term montage. It said something about an "artful collection." Fuerstman thought the name reflected perfectly the vision he had for his business. "I wanted to create a collection of individuals coming together doing extraordinary things," he said.
So, what makes a Montage property? "Style of service, the warmth, the approachability of our staff, the incredible execution of service, the physical attributes of the property, the amenities, the food and beverage, the spa experience," Fuerstman said. "Ultimately, it all comes together to create an experience where, if you stay at a Montage hotel or resort, you're made to feel different. And it's more experiential than marketing hype."
Success came quickly. In 2008, just five years after the opening of Montage Laguna Beach, industry leaders chose Fuerstman as the Resort Executive of the Year. Five years later he received an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The following year came the Mondavi Award. Along the way, he's been featured in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and Travel & Leisure has listed Montage properties in South Carolina, Hawaii, and Beverly Hills, among the top 100 hotels in the world. Montage residences routinely carry multimillion-dollar price tags (a Montage Beverly Hills residence recently sold for $23 million). Today, Fuerstman and his wife, Susan, a lawyer, live at Montage Laguna Beach.
For Fuerstman, part of the joy of creating Montage has been bringing his four children into the business. His younger son, Drew, a musician, performs at the hotels. His older daughter, Heather, was spa manager in Laguna Beach for five years. His other two children are full-time employees (and both had their weddings at Montage Laguna Beach). Jessica Fuerstman-Byrne is the communications manager for Montage International. Michael Fuerstman, 33, the cofounder and creative director of Pendry Hotels, speaks by phone with his father multiple times a day. "He's a very average person, and I mean this in the most flattering way," Michael says. "What he's done is exceptional. But he is very much a simple, everyday kind of guy. I think it's served him really well. He listens to his instincts. That mindset allows him to relate to both our guests and our associates in a way that a corporate executive persona typically does not."
For Alan Fuerstman, the location of the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore was a key attraction. The hotel, which opened in March, consumes an imposing, four story brick building atop Recreation Pier—Rec Pier, the locals call it—a long-neglected but historically significant site. Built in 1914, Rec Pier served as the landing point for thousands of newly arrived immigrants processed just across the Patapsco River at the Locust Point immigration station. But the building had been vacant for years when Kevin Plank, founder and CEO of Under Armour, the sportswear behemoth, bought it in 2014 for $3.4 million (Under Armour's headquarters sit directly across the river from the Sagamore Pendry; Plank goes back and forth in a local water taxi). When Plank moved forward with his hotel plans, he asked Pendry to manage the property.
Alan Fuerstman considered Rec Pier the perfect locale, in the perfect neighborhood, for the second Pendry hotel (the first, in downtown San Diego, opened in February). Fells Point, whose cobblestone streets house Maryland's first National Historic District, is known mostly for its concentration of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, and for its funky bohemian edge. "Fells Point is a gem of a location," Fuerstman said. "It speaks to the emerging vibrancy that we're looking for."
On April 1, the hotel's ballroom was the site of a reception and dinner on behalf of Gettysburg Great: The Campaign for Our College, an event that Fuerstman, a longtime donor and a Trustee since 2006, helped make possible. President Janet Morgan Riggs '77 was among the College leaders who made the 60-mile trip to Baltimore to meet with local alumni and donors and promote the campaign.
Since the mid-1990s, Fuerstman has provided the College with event space, free of charge, at Montage and other properties. He's also provided Montage internships for Gettysburg students with free event space at Montage and other properties.
Robert Kallin P'12, the vice president of development, alumni and parent relations, credits Fuerstman with bringing together Gettysburg alumni, parents, and donors from across the country. "Alan has been very generous by providing an extremely attractive venue around which we can build momentum in support of the College," Kallin said. "It's enabling others to stay engaged, and I think that's an important contribution."
Surrounded on three sides by water—it's a pier, after all—Rec Pier enabled Fuerstman to fulfill his vow to design each of his properties with a strong sense of place. Thus, the look of the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore was driven by a nautical theme, its 128 rooms designed to resemble ship's quarters, with half of them offering water views. During construction, work crews dredged from the river bottom three 19thcentury cannons. One of them will be displayed beneath a glass floor in the whiskey bar, known as the Cannon Room. The ballroom, restored to its former grandeur, will accommodate weddings and other events for up to 300 people. Guests will approach the ballroom from a grand marble staircase sheathed in red carpet. "It's going to be the best ballroom in Baltimore," Fuerstman said.
It's not a boast as much as a vision, the sort of vision that has propelled Fuerstman through a career in luxury hospitality now approaching four decades. Whether from Baltimore's Inner Harbor or California's Laguna Beach or Hawaii's Kapalua Bay, it seems Fuerstman is forever peering at some distant horizon. Later this year, Pendry will begin construction of its third property, in West Hollywood, California. And next year, in Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, Montage International will open its first hotel outside the United States.
Funding for the future: Peter Wildgruber '24 interns at Smithsonian through endowed scholarship
Thu, 22 Dec 2022
Gettysburg College pauses to celebrate 2022 midyear graduates
'The Whole Picture:' Gettysburg inspires integrative wellness approach for Dr. Greg Natello '76 as medical consultant for NFL alumni
Mon, 17 Oct 2022
NAfME recognizes Sunderman graduate Amanda Herold '22 with Professional Achievement Award
Thu, 8 Sep 2022

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Another Red Hill Leak: Fuel And Water Spilled From Facility Pipeline, Navy Says - Honolulu Civil Beat
Another Red Hill Leak: Fuel And Water Spilled From Facility Pipeline, Navy Says
The leak is the first to be reported at the World War II-era fuel complex since the water contamination crisis began.
By Christina Jedra / April 1, 2022
A mixture of fuel and water spilled from a maintenance line at the Navy's Red Hill fuel facility on Friday afternoon, the Navy announced on Friday evening.
The Navy said in a press release that "no more than 30 gallons" were released. But in an email to Hawaii government officials, Brian Bennett, the director of outreach and government affairs for the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, said it was approximately 50 gallons.
The release occurred at approximately 12:11 p.m. and was stopped shortly thereafter, according to a Navy press release. At the time of the spill, the Navy was removing water from the fuel tanks, and so-called "dewatering" work has since stopped, the Navy said.
The Navy is already under heavy scrutiny for its operations at Red Hill. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022
"The release occurred during maintenance work to remove water from the underground storage tanks, an environmental control measure to avoid corrosion in the tanks," the Hawaii Department of Health said in a press release.
The leak is the first to be reported at the World War II-era fuel complex since November when another spill at the facility contaminated the drinking water supply of Pearl Harbor-area communities. The November leak is allegedly connected to a previous leak in May. Both fuel releases are under investigation by multiple agencies and set off a firestorm of public criticism that culminated in the U.S. Department of Defense agreeing last month to shut the facility down.
However, the defueling process is not scheduled to start anytime soon, and in the meantime, over 100 million gallons of fuel remain stored 100 feet above Oahu's primary aquifer.
The Navy said Friday's spill happened in the vicinity of tanks 13 and 14. DOH said the maintenance line that leaked is connected to Tank 15. The fuel and water mixture was "recovered" in Sump 2, DOH said.
According to Bennett's email to Hawaii leaders, the cause of the spill was "a valve out of position in the common drain piping below the tanks." The valve was supposed to be closed, he said.
"The fluid leaked out of a section of the drain piping that had been removed by a contractor for a tank cleaning and inspection procedure at Tank 14," he said.
Bennett did not respond to a request for comment on Friday evening.
The health department said it was notified about the leak around 3 p.m. DOH officials responded to the scene and observed that the Navy had already deployed absorbent material to soak up the fuel and water, the health department said.
"DOH confirmed that the Navy had spill lookouts with radios and absorbent materials on site," the department said. "Preliminary observations are consistent with a 30-gallon release as reported by the Navy. Fresh staining was observed around Sump 2, but appeared to be localized."
The EPA has also been notified, according to the Navy.
"The Red Hill well remains secured, and the Navy continues to monitor drinking water," the Navy said in a statement.
Hawaii Deputy Director of Environmental Health, Kathleen Ho, who ordered the defueling of the Red Hill facility in December, said in a statement that DOH officials were quick to respond.
"Today's event underscores the importance of DOH and other regulatory agencies having oversight of Red Hill activities, especially around defueling and decommissioning the facility," she said.
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Christina Jedra
Christina Jedra is a reporter covering Oahu for Civil Beat. You can reach her by email at cjedra@civilbeat.org or follow her on Twitter at @christinajedra.
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The first female head physician of a state hospital in the southeastern province of Siirt in Turkey said she had to resign because of the community pressure she experienced after exposing a prostitution scandal in the hospital, Habertürk newspaper reported on Wednesday.
"I felt terrible after I learnt that they were forcing students from Siirt University aged 18-22 who are in dire financial situation to prostitution using pressure, threats, and blackmail. I notified the police. 'Why did you expose this during Ramadan? This damaged Siirt's image,' they told me. I was criticized as if I was the person working as a prostitute," physician Şeyda Kayhan told Habertürk.


In an effort to put the kibosh on the flood of derivative fantasy novels out there, David J. Parker, along with Samuel Stoddard, came up with The Fantasy Novelist's Exam. The quiz is designed to ferret out the derivative elements of anyone's novel and quash its being submitted for publication. The rules are simple: Answer "yes" to any one question, and you should abandon your writing project immediately.
July is Worldwide Adventure Writing Month '08.
You know, when referees sit down to design their campaigns and adventures, I really don't think they are wondering if they're staying true to the influences of the game. Obviously someone well-versed in those influences is going to internalize them and they'll show through to some degree no matter what, but I think a referee's choices can make it perfectly clear what's influencing them, what drives them to create and go through the bother to run a game for other people in the first place.
So… I challenge the role-playing blogosphere (and I know you are reading… :P) to name the primary influences in your personal game, so we get a flavor not of what set of rules you decide to use, but what kind of game people can expect to play with you! Minimum five. No maximum. Plus include what people might assume influences you that you actually reject. Bonus points for detail and explanation!
I was beginning to think that, in the real world, Fortune only smiled on ousted Nigerian statesmen. For too long, it has only been in movies like Three Kings and Kelly's Heroes that American G.I.s had the chance to make millions. But this morning, as I checked my email, I received some "evidence" that some American soldiers have a chance to come home filthy rich, and, the best part is, they want to share their boon with little old me.
Well, it just goes to show you how low the dot-con artists have now stooped. Move over Auschwitz guards and child molesters, Hell's lowest ring needs more room.
Sleestaks are nocturnal reptilian humanoids that dwell in the remains of their once advanced technological/mystical civilization. They are a bit dim and are usually armed with ineffective light crossbows with ranges as follows 1″/2″/3″. they will always miss on the first shot and seldom surprise anyone because of the noisy hissing they make when excited. They do not like to operate in bright light and will flee areas of all but the mildest of illumination.
Jeff Rients of Jeff's Gameblog provided a link to a random "dungeon" generator that does all the nuts and bolts work for the busy DM, so that all he needs to fill in is story and flavor. You pick the number of encounters you want, click the "Create Adventure" button, and voila!. I picked eight encounters and got the following. I could see it all making sense.
For spells, you can pick spell names and effects out of a D&D book of any edition, or, to be more creative, invent spells on the fly. For authentic flavor made-up spells should be named using the Name-Adjective-Noun(ish) format. "Cure Light Wounds" is boring; I always wanted to cast something like Garbledor's Astonishing Recovery. Fireball? Feh. Try Faldoron's Spectacular Holocaust.
I never played magic-users for more than a single adventure, but I always thought that casting Bigby's Crushing Fist or Drawmij's Instant Summons sounded much cooler than casting the generic Magic Missle. However, I will say that while Rary's Mnemonic Enhancer has much more flair than a plain old Fireball, it doesn't do squat for you in a pinch when your party gets bushwhacked by a band of frost giants.


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CALGARY PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Akiva Academy
140 Haddon Rd SW, Calgary, AB T2V 2Y3
www.akivaacademy.ca
Nearby Communities: Bel Aire, Britannia, Rideau Park, Roxboro, Parkhill
The Akiva Academy is a Jewish Community day school located in Calgary, Alberta. For the past 34 years, the Akiva Academy has been committed to providing an integrated traditional Jewish and excellent secular education to students from a variety of Jewish backgrounds and religious practices. Unique strengths include an inclusive and supportive school environment, small student to teacher ratios, an enriched math curriculum, and a meaningful Jewish education program.
Calgary Academy
1677 93 St SW, Calgary, AB T3H 0R3
www.calgaryacademy.com
Nearby Communities: Aspen Woods, West Springs, Springbank, Springbank Hill, Signal Hill, Christie Park, Strathcona Park, Patterson, The Slopes
The Calgary Academy program offers Grades 2 through 12, is designed for students who have average to above average intellectual ability but who have significant difficulty with reading, written language or math. In each classroom there are a minimum of two instructors and a maximum of 16 students. Students applying for the program must have a good social and behavioral history.
The primary goals of the Calgary Academy program are to:
maximize each student's academic performance
teach independent work habits and to develop transferable skills
improve pro-social and self-advocacy skills
improve self-confidence and self-esteem
In addition to the prescribed Alberta curriculum, Calgary Academy offers a variety of fine arts programs. In fine arts, Calgary Academy students have the opportunity for hands-on learning in art, music, drama, Spanish and digital media studies. Also, our physical education and sports programs offer all students an equal opportunity for active participation, regardless of athletic ability.
Calgary French and International School
Grades K-12
700 77 St SW, Calgary, AB T3H 5R1
www.cfis.com
The Calgary French & International School is an educationally progressive, French immersion school with strong academics and a flourishing Spanish-language program. Cultural peace is cultivated through teaching UNESCO values and instilling a strong global perspective, in every grade.
These four differentiating factors may give you an idea about the school culture and community to help determine if Calgary French & International School will be a good fit for your child and your family's approach to education:
This school is Alberta's top-ranked French immersion school.
Calgary Islamic School
2612 37 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 5L2
www.calgaryislamicschool.com
Nearby Communities: Briar Hill, Rosedale, Sunnyside, Crescent Heights, Hillhurst, West Hillhurst, East Village, Downtown, Eau Claire, West End,
The Calgary Islamic School (CIS) was founded in 1992 as a full-time private school serving the Muslim community in the city of Calgary and beyond. Since its inception, CIS has consistently grown year after year and has gained a reputation of becoming a leading Muslim educational institute which aims to instill an Islamic morale and a genuine desire of learning in each of its students.
Now with two campuses, CIS provides an Islamic learning environment with a commitment of using modern day teaching pedagogy to cultivate an advanced and comprehensive academic program; fully compliant with the Alberta curriculum of studies, we are a K to 12 school with a wide array of resources designed to foster student achievement that will prepare our pupils to pursue higher education and be competitive in their careers. It is our aim to empower our students by cultivating their interests and honing their academic skills as strong Canadian-Muslim citizens in Canada.
Calgary Jewish Academy
6700 Kootenay St SW, Calgary, AB T2V 1P7
www.calgaryjewishacademy.com
The Calgary Jewish Academy (CJA) was founded in 1987 as a result of the amalgamation of Calgary's first Jewish day schools: the Calgary Hebrew school (1912) and the I.L. Peretz (1927) school. Our faculty teaches a rigorous dual curriculum that challenges students from kindergarten through grade nine to excel academically and develop a strong sense of their identity. Students are encouraged to explore different ideas and to put their beliefs into action — all while creating friendships and community connections that will last a lifetime.
Montessori School of Calgary
2201 Cliff St SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2G4
www.montessorischoolofcalgary.com
Nearby Communities: Mission, Mount Royal, Erlton, Garrison Woods, Altadore, East Village, Downtown, Eau Claire, West End, Bel Aire, Britannia, Rideau Park, Roxboro, Parkhill
In carefully prepared classrooms, children are grouped together in three-year age spans where they have the ability to learn the role of following and then leading. At the MS of C, primary and elementary classes are multi-aged and multi-graded and are based on specific planes of development. Primary (Casa dei Bambini) programs are for children ages 3-6; Lower Elementary is for ages 6-9 (Grades 1-3); and, Upper Elementary is for ages 9-12 (Grades 4-6).
Calgary Waldorf School
515 Cougar Ridge Dr SW, Calgary, AB T3H 5G9
www.calgarywaldorf.org
There are many things that make the Calgary Waldorf School different from other independent and public schools. In addition to the points below, a visit to our school will provide a tangible experience of our difference. Please join us for a tour or special event.
Some of the ways Waldorf Education will provide an extraordinary experience for your child and your family:
Waldorf methodology helps develop an internal motivation to learn by freely using arts and activities in the service of teaching academics.
The curriculum directly reflects the developmental stages of childhood.
Academics are de-emphasized in the early years of schooling. The Waldorf Kindergarten experience focuses on the cultivation of pre-academic skills. Literacy readiness begins in Kindergarten with formal reading instruction beginning in Grade One.
The class teacher stays with the same class for several years developing a strong educational bond as the teacher gains an in depth understanding of each child's unique learning style.
Certain activities, often considered "frills" at mainstream schools, are central to the curriculum at the Calgary Waldorf School: art, music, handwork/woodwork, outdoor activities, and two foreign languages.
Clearwater Academy
2521 Dieppe Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3E 7J9
www.clearwateracademy.com
Nearby Communities: Currie Barracks, Mission, Mount Royal, Erlton, Garrison Woods, Altadore, Downtown, Eau Claire, West End,
Clear Water Academy implements the Integral Formation® method of education. Used in over 150 schools around the world, Integral Formation® is built upon the Christian view of the person and focuses on forming all dimensions of the person – their intellectual, human, spiritual, and apostolic capacities. More simply put, at Clear Water Academy we develop each child's knowledge, character, faith, and spirit thus helping them fulfill the unique mission for which they were created.
Delta West Academy
414 11A St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 4P3
www.deltawestacademy.ca
Delta West Academy (DWA) has small classes in a small school – a combination that has been proven by research to provide an exceptional educational experience. It has been proven to achieve benefits not just during a child's school life, but also beyond into university and successful careers. It allows DWA teachers to challenge high average to above average and gifted students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 to achieve remarkable outcomes in an interactive and caring school population. The result, a 96% transition rate of DWA graduates to the University or post-secondary institution and acceptance to their program of their choice.
DWA's academic program is rigorous, interactive and enjoyable but also requires commitment! The program is a university preparatory experience so enrichment and challenge are naturally built into every class. Teachers also have time available to assist students individually to ensure that they are learning accurately, and every student's contributions are important in small groups.
DWA's teachers believe that social and emotional security is the foundation of the self-confidence necessary to take the risks involved to learn, grow and excel through intellectual inquiry. Such a stimulating environment is made possible by a school average of 10:1 student to teacher ratio set in the intimate environment of less than 150 students.
Edge School for Athletes
33055 Township Rd 250, Calgary, AB T3Z 1L4
www.edgeschool.com
Not able to balance athletics and academics? Constantly struggling to do schoolwork in and around training and competition? Seeking skill training in hockey, soccer, golf, figure skating or dance during school hours and as part of the school program? Or perhaps, you are looking for a school community which values your passion for sport(s) and celebrates that passion in the classroom and in character-building opportunities…
If so, then Edge School is the right school for you!
We accommodate the training requirements of a wide range of sports and disciplines, and offer high performance training in dance, golf, figure skating, hockey and soccer as well as providing busy student-athletes in sports such as luge, equestrian, skiing, swimming, tennis, rugby, gymnastics and core training, the opportunity to craft a flexible schedule which meets all their needs.
Foothills Academy
745 37 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4T1
www.foothillsacademy.org
Foothills Academy is a Designated Special Education School serving students with learning disabilities and/or from grade 3 – 12 following the Alberta Education curriculum.
Classes typically have no more than 13 students with a teacher and a part-time assistant. We focus on a wide range of strategies to help students find success – ensuring students reach their full potential. The aim for our students is to go on to successful and meaningful post-secondary education. We build on students' strengths to enable them to become the great individuals whom they are capable of being.
Foothills Academy School focuses on the well-rounded child ensuring academics are of a high standard as well as putting great emphasis into the social and emotional side of our students. The high school completion rate and zero dropout rates are testimony to the safe and caring environment both socially and academically that is fostered by supportive staff at Foothills Academy.
It is the goal of Foothills Academy Society that any qualified child should be able to attend the school program regardless of a family's financial circumstances.
Glenmore Christian Academy
16520 24 St SW, Calgary, AB T2Y 4W2
www.calgarychristianschool.com
Our vision for the future of GCA is student-centered and biblically based, recognizing the worth of each individual and hope for their future. We envision a safe and caring school environment that promotes academic excellence combined with Christian character development.
We desire to be recognized as a Christian school that maintains high academic standards with graduates who become responsible citizens, worldview thinkers, and have a commitment to Christian service. We value "arts" and "athletics" each as a medium to build within our students a sense of self-worth, supporting each one to discover his/her God-given gifts.
We will continue to provide excellent, well-maintained facilities, consistent with our vision of excellence.
Lycee Louis Pasteur
4099 Garrison Blvd SW, Calgary, AB T2T 6G2
www.lycee.ca
The Lycée Louis Pasteur in Calgary is a non-denominational private international school. The Lycée is based on an academic, structured environment, and the education includes great diversity.
Its dual curriculum presents both French and English programs; students are also well advanced in Spanish by the time they reach high school. Graduates are prepared for a successful future in post-secondary education as well as travelling and working in diverse cultures in Canada and around the world.
The Lycée Louis Pasteur is part of a network of 480 international schools worldwide. In addition to our school, there are six other members of this network in Canada, located in Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. All Lycée schools worldwide follow the same French curriculum, so students can move easily to another Lycée anywhere in the world with little disruption to their education.
4414 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2T 5J4
www.masters.ab.ca
Master's Academy and College was founded in 1997 in Calgary, Alberta, as an innovative, K-12 school with a vision of going beyond academic excellence and to prepare its students for the 21st century, to be the innovators, creators and leaders of change. Master's has gained international attention for its efforts to move education from the Industrial Age into the 21st century.
Master's is centrally located in one of the premier communities in Calgary. Master's is a fully accredited school with the province of Alberta, and its students have consistently exceeded provincial standards for excellence on standardized tests. The majority of the graduates gain acceptance into their university of choice.
Mountain View Academy
2452 Battleford Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3E 7K9
www.mountainviewacademy.ca
Mountain View Academy offers a comprehensive, enriched accredited Alberta curriculum, thus exceeding Alberta Learning requirements and standards. Certified teachers with diverse academic backgrounds enable the development of well-rounded minds.
Our back-to-basics approach, exceptional teaching methods and intense personal attention offer students an opportunity to reach their full potential to open many doors for their future.
Rundle College
2634 12 Ave NW, Calgary, AB
2445 12 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
Junior/Senior:
7375 17 Ave SW,Calgary, AB T3H 3W5
www.rundle.ab.ca
Rundle College Society is a private, coeducational, day school that was founded in 1985 by Dr. W. J. Collett and Dr. Rodney Conklin and provides an outstanding educational experience for over 1000 students in Preschool through Grade 12. In addition to high academic achievement, Rundle's programs emphasize character development, leadership training and good citizenship. Small class sizes, dedicated teachers who are committed to making a difference in the lives of individual children, and reasonable tuition with no bonds or membership fees, are attributes that uniquely define Rundle College Society.
Rundle reports to and is thoroughly inspected by Alberta Education and is a Registered Private School under Alberta's School Act and accountable to Alberta Education in delivering provincial curriculum. All of our teachers are certified by Alberta Education, have earned their degrees and some, their graduate degrees. We are proud of our faculty and staff professional development program and are confident that we have some of the finest teachers across Canada.
Rundle Academy
4330 16 St SW, Calgary, AB T2T 4H9
Rundle Academy was established in 1995 as a school for students with diagnosed learning disabilities. It is an independent, non-profit, coeducational day school for about 200 students in Grades 4 through 12.
The mission of Rundle Academy is to create a nurturing, engaging environment that provides an enriched, personalize education, preparing students for an ever-changing world. We are an inclusive and caring learning community that develops confidence, self-esteem, motivation, academic achievement and a sense of value in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Rundle Academy has grown into a premier program for students with learning disabilities, recognized nationally as a leader in education for complex learners. Its ongoing accomplishment is providing each student with a sense of achievement and a love of learning.
Strathcona Tweedsmuir School
RR 2, Okotoks, AB T1S 1A2
www.sts.ab.ca
At Strathcona-Tweedsmuir school (STS), students thrive in a culture of academic excellence. Students are empowered in their learning and strive to exceed their own expectations for achievement.
STS supplements the standard Alberta Education curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Program beginning in the Elementary with the IB Primary Years Program, moving to Middle School with the IB Middle Years Program and ending with the IB Diploma Program in Senior School. Excellence in teaching and learning is fostered through critical thinking and inquiry. Throughout our students' years at STS, we focus on new and effective practices, incorporating current research and literature into all of our courses.
Tanbridge Academy
22 Stoney Trail SE, Priddis, AB T0L 1W0
www.tanbridge.com
Tanbridge Academy provides students the best combination of academics and athletic skill development. The maximum of students in each classroom is 16 students. Tanbridge Academy provides a range of educational services to students who have a desire to participate in a world class sports skill development program and will excel at grade level curriculum when provided the comprehensive instruction that leads to the further development of independent and advanced learning strategies. Students will obtain a rigorous and demanding academic program as well as high performance athletic training and skill development. The athletic training complements and enriches the community sport programs for our students. Students are exposed to a variety of athletic activities which help develop them as well-rounded athletes.
Webber Academy
1515 93 St SW, Calgary, AB T3H 4A8
www.webberacademy.ca
West Island College
7410 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1M5
www.westislandcollege.ab.ca
West Island College (WIC) a university-preparatory school that emphasizes respect, responsibility and citizenship. We believe that inspiring our students to pursue excellence in academics, leadership, athletics and global awareness prepares them for success in the 21st century. In addition to excellent teachers, an Advanced Placement Program, small class sizes and extensive co-curricular activities, including Business Studies and International Studies, WIC offers courses in French (Immersion or Second Language) and Spanish (Second Language).
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Matches with Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns and Randy Orton – WWE's MVP of 2020 is Drew McIntyre who is proving Vince McMahon right
Updated: 31st December 2020, 9:35 am
It has been a year to forget… but not for Drew McIntyre.
The coronavirus pandemic has dominated large parts of 2020 with everyone's daily lives changing in some way.
McIntyre is a two-time WWE champion
Yet WWE has functioned throughout the pandemic behind closed doors since March and McIntyre's journey to the top started on January 27 when he won the 30-man Royal Rumble match.
Even if he had not been the last man standing, he would have been remembered for eliminating then WWE champion Brock Lesnar with an emphatic Claymore kick.
That would plant the seeds for a two-month feud with The Beast, which culminated in McIntyre defeating him for the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 36.
McIntyre was supposed to lift his first world title in front of 65,000 fans at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, but due to the pandemic, he stood tall in WWE's Performance Centre with millions watching from home.
Not only did McIntyre live up to Vince McMahon's declaration – when the WWE chairman publicly tipped him to be a future world champion in 2009 – he also became the first ever British wrestler to hold the gold.
McIntyre beat Lesnar in just five minutes at WrestleMania 36
The Scottish Psychopath could have been forgiven if his first world title reign failed to live up to expectations given there was no live crowd to feed off.
However, that was not an issue for McIntyre, who has had several stellar matches this year.
From Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank to Roman Reigns at Survivor Series, McIntyre has been scarily good, while pulling off superb promos.
Drew McIntyre's best matches of 2020
Drew McIntyre vs Seth Rollins, Money in the Bank
Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns, Survivor Series
Drew McIntyre vs AJ Styles vs The Miz, TLC
Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton, Hell in a Cell
Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton, Raw
Drew McIntyre vs Brock Lesnar, WrestleMania 36
You can have the world's best wrestlers, but if they can't tell a story, they're all but doomed.
One segment that may not get the recognition it deserves is when McIntyre fought longtime friend Heath Slater on Raw.
Slater had been released by WWE in April as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and made a surprise one-off return to Raw in June.
He lost to McIntyre in just 25 seconds and was then beaten up by Dolph Ziggler. McIntyre came to his friend's aid, before the pair embraced each other with a hug in the ring.
McIntyre has that invaluable skill of making fans invest in whatever he does, even when it involves lesser talents like Slater.
His summer feud with Randy Orton may have gone on for a match too long, but it once again highlighted how big a star he has become.
McIntyre surprisingly lost his title to Orton in a brutal Hell in a Cell match at the namesake pay-per-view in October, but won it back just 22 days later on Raw.
WWE's creative team has been criticised when a champion loses his title and seems content with just moving on… Kofi Kingston and The Fiend are prime examples (or victims) of that sort of booking.
But not McIntyre, who showed another side to his character with his obsession of going after Orton.
It remains to be seen why WWE took the title off McIntyre… did they realise they had made a mistake and put it back on him in time for Survivor Series? Maybe.
McIntyre and Reigns went to war at Survivor Series
It was a decision that paid off with a babyface McIntyre and heel Reigns tearing the house down with a Match of the Year contender.
McIntyre lost, but still came out looking strong, and has even teased a rematch with Reigns at WrestleMania.
WWE has struggled to build top babyfaces as world champions since the John Cena days, just ask Reigns, who is now thriving as a bad guy.
But it is fair to say they have finally found one in McIntyre, who looks set to stay at the top of the card for years to come.


One of Beirut's most iconic luxury hotels, Le Gray, Beirut is a Campbell Gray Hotel and member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Located on Martyrs Square, you are just moments away from the city's museums, shopping areas and thriving nightlife scene.
The hotel is in the city's historic downtown area, just a 15 minute drive from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
The hotel offers some of the city's best views, combined with authentic service and 5 star facilities.
Le Gray, Beirut is one of the finest five star hotels in the centre of Beirut.
The 103 elegant rooms and suites have all been designed to make the most of the Mediterranean sun and the views of the historic Downtown.
With a minimum of 40 square metres, Le Gray, Beirut has some of the most spacious bedrooms and suites in Beirut.
The rooms are designed with comfort and functionality in mind, creating luxury accommodation in the city centre.
The contemporary, clutter free interior design by Mary Fox Linton, uses pastel shades of blue, sage green and lilac, with dark grey tile and mosaic bathrooms.
Many of the rooms can be interconnected to create one, two or three bedroom suites, with a private entrance foyer.
The suite offers corner windows with some of the best views of the city, separate living room, dining table & work desk.
Some of the Corner Suites can connect to an adjoining Premium Room, Executive Suite or both.
Executive Suites can comfortably welcome a third person on an extra bed or connect to an adjoining Deluxe Room, Executive Suite or Corner Suite.
The spacious Executive Suites have a sitting and dining area, ideal for those enjoying a longer stay in Beirut.
Located on the 5th floor, each Terrace Suite has its own private terrace, allowing you to step outside and take in the views, or enjoy dinner for two al fresco.
The suite offers living area with seating, dining table and work station.
Premium Rooms can connect through a private entrance foyer to a one bedroom Corner Suite and an Executive Suite to create your own two or three bedroom apartment.
The Premium Room offers Super king bed, balcony & views of the historic Downtown.
The Deluxe Rooms are spacious and can be configured with either a king or twin beds.
The floor to ceiling windows offer views of either the historical downtown or Weygand Street.
Whether you are looking for that perfect place to catch up with friends or the restaurant with the best views in the city, you will find it at Le Gray, Beirut.
The team of chefs have created the perfect menus for each of the restaurants.
From casual dining on the terrace in Gordon's Cafe to a romantic meal for two in Indigo on the Roof, the food is just right for any occasion; the food is fresh, seasonal and locally sourced.
The hotel's team takes great care in finding the best quality ingredients for the guests and enjoy showcasing the finest food from the region.
A space for everyone, anytime, at Le Gray, Beirut.
3 distinct lounges, each for a different mood.
Grab a coffee, relax with a cigar or chill out by the pool.
It's where you go to escape, sit back and be creative, have a one to one with a business partner or meet up with friends.
All the lounges offer great nibbles and drinks with different atmospheres throughout the day.
The Pool Lounge is the place to be during the day, with the Cigar Lounge the cosiest place in the evenings.
The new Lobby Lounge is opening soon and will offer a relaxing space, day or night.
The hotel have two amazing bars at Le Gray, Beirut, each with their own seasonal vibe.
Bar ThreeSixty is open until April and has the most stunning panoramic views of Downtown.
During the summer, the poolside area comes alive at Cherry on the Rooftop.
Known as the wild child of the Middle East, Beirut certainly knows how to party.
The two rooftop bars open at different times throughout the year but both offer panoramic views of the city and drinks lists which are just as exciting.
The glass domed bar with 360 degree views of Beirut (open October - April).
Great music and decadent martinis.
Sip your favourite cocktail while watching the city from above.
The vast drinks list covers all the classics, as well as the own innovative creations.
The DJ keeps the funky vibe alive with a fantastic selection of lounge and house beats.
The food menu offers main courses or a selection of light bites to share, available until midnight, or 1.00h on Fridays & Saturdays.
Wednesdays - Retro Night & Deep House with the DJ.
Fridays - International fusion with Pink Quintet.
Saturdays - Commercial with the DJ.
Cherry on the Rooftop is a summertime destination in its own right, always bubbling with energy drawing in the spirit of the Mediterranean which dominates the view.
This poolside rooftop ultra lounge takes its name from a fabulous fruity painting that hangs at its entrance.
The DJ creates a loungy atmosphere during the week with more animated sounds over the weekend.
Cherry is the buzzing summer bar alongside the rooftop pool.
The Cigar Lounge has a warm, wooden interior with amber armchairs and sofas, a light-filled library corner and a sunken outdoor garden terrace; it is the perfect place for entertaining or privately relaxing and enjoying a cigar.
The humidor has fine Cuban cigars, from Cohibas to Montecristos while the bar is stocked with a connoisseur's selection of single malts, Cognacs and Armagnacs.
Gordon's Cafe is Beirut's most lively cafe; it is chic, casual and cosmopolitan with a sidewalk location on the hotel's ground floor on Weygand Street.
It attracts the great and good of Beirut, from ladies who lunch to the city's powerbrokers, as well as those who travel to Lebanon to be inspired by its energy.
A bright, brasserie style neighbourhood favourite, Gordon's Cafe opens for light breakfast and stays open throughout the day.
The menu includes salads, burgers, wood-fired pizzas and daily specials.
The extensive cellar gathers wines from all continents and is a triple winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for offering one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world.
It is the perfect place to grab a coffee or meet friends for afternoon tea.
The new Lobby Lounge is the heart of the hotel.
The Pool Lounge open every day to welcome hotel guests and locals alike; the stunning infinity pool has magnificent views of the Mediterranean and Mount Lebanon.
The pool and pool deck areas are reserved for hotel guests and members of PureGray Health Club & Spa.
At PureGray Health Club & Spa, the spa's team believes in the power of touch rather than machines to deliver quality treatments.
Here uses Natura Bisse skincare for facials and Tisserand organic aromatherapy oils for massages and body treatments.
The spa's team also hosts visiting practitioners in specific alternative medicine disciplines such as Cupping, Reiki and Acupuncture.
The treatments are designed around both classic and innovative techniques and products.
The gym at Le Gray features state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, with male and female saunas and lockers.
Luxury beauty salon by Bechara Haddad - Besha. Offering hair styling, makeup, manicures, pedicures and waxing, among other beauty services.
As a hotel guest or member you can enjoy sweeping views of Beirut, the Mediterranean and Mount Lebanon from the breathtaking, chlorine-free, infinity pool.
Pampering is for everyone; make your choice from the menu below.
Offering some of the best accommodation in Lebanon, Le Gray, Beirut is a landmark five-star hotel in the heart of Beirut Central District overlooking Martrys Square.
From 1975 to 1990, the area was razed by civil war.
Now restored, the neighbourhood (known as Solidere) is the energetic soul of the city's new identity.
These days, Beirut is considered the most liberated city in the Arab world, sitting as it does on the edge of the Occidental Mediterranean.
Solidere is the downtown neighbourhood where everything happens, with Le Gray, Beirut at its core.
When staying at the hotel you are within walking distance of the city's shoreline, Downtown's luxury shops and the gastronomic lures of Gemmayze neighbourhood.
Here, the dazzling glamour, glitz and joie de vivre of modern Beirut play out against a richly historic backdrop, from Roman to Phoenician to traditional Levantine.
Every winter, the Al Bustan International Festival brings a rich program of classical music and dancing with a month of concerts and dance performances by artists from the world over.
Located on the first floor inside and under the dramatic atrium, a great space for art exhibitions and vernissages - 270 sq.m, 50m of linear hanging space, directional spotlights, natural daylight.
The Baalbeck International Festival takes over the ruins of Heliopolis-Baalbeck, The Beiteddine Art Festival occupies the courtyards of the magical 18th-century Beiteddine Palace.
In the autumn, the city hosts the Beirut Marathon. An exciting event with over 60,000 runners, from more than 70 countries, competing.
A visit to the Beirut National Museum is a perfect way to start your discovery, after that the concierge team are on hand to help you plan the rest of your visit.
Beiteddine and Deir el Qamar, power centres during the Ottoman empire will take you back to XVIIIth century Lebanon.
Located within the new conference area and equipped with state-of-the-art multi-media equipment (60 sq.m).
The ancient fishing town of Byblos is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
The perfect space for morning registration, coffee breaks or a welcome drinks reception (200 sq.m).
The new Le Grand Salon is the perfect venue for hosting all kinds of events, from conferences and product launches to banquets and award dinners (400 sq.m).
Located on the second floor with masses of daylight, the Meeting Room has a large board table for up to 12 people (20 sq.m).
Equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia equipment, this venue is ideal for seminars, round tables, and brainstorming creative sessions (150 sq.m).
Beirut has redefined clubbing. No trip to Lebanon is complete without a night out in one of the city's exciting neighbourhoods.
A one-of-a-kind venue in Beirut. Ideal for private screenings, launch events, presentations and press conferences (80 sq.m).
Depending on the snowfall, skiing is usually possible from mid-December until April. In the spring you can see the snow on the mountains in the morning, then head to the coast for an afternoon of watersports.
Wine making in the Levant dates back to Biblical times and, today, the Lebanese wine making tradition is better than ever.


Car accidents lead to multiple hardships for the individual(s) who sustain injury. When the crash is a result of negligence, there may be potential for legal action to help relieve some of these hardships through monetary compensation.
However, not everyone understands their rights to seek compensation and what it means for them. Knowing the type of damages that may be available can help you understand the items you may need covered by the compensation you may receive.
When you think of the legal matters following a car accident, the first thing that comes to mind is often the cost. The financial hardship can be difficult for anyone to endure. Luckily, economic damages may be available to help you with these losses.
Economic damages are designed to help with the damages from the accident that have a monetary value such as those from medical bills, damage to property, rehabilitation costs, and even lost wages from being unable to work. Some cases may even consider lawyer fees as part of the economic damages.
While the financial hardships are incredibly difficult to deal with, the emotional hardship can be just as difficult or even more challenging to endure. Because of this, there are some situations in which compensation may be available for pain and suffering after an accident.
These are referred to as non-economic damages and are potentially available to injured individuals for damages without a monetary value. The amount awarded is up to the discretion of the courts and can help the injured party cope with some of the emotional impact of the crash.
Our South Carolina car accident attorneys are truly dedicated to helping individuals seek the compensation you need following a car accident. It's very important for you to secure a favorable outcome after an accident and we aim to help you accomplish this.
When it comes to justice, our team at Anastopoulo Law Firm makes it a top priority when you need it the most.
Call our legal team at (800) 313-5984 today for a free consultation.


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Tecnomodel 1-43 1951 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 159 diecast model car review
Tecnomodel announced a raft of new 1:43 Formula One subjects from the 1950s the other day, including the 1951 championship-winning Alfa Romeo 159 'Alfetta'.
1951 was only the second season of the Formula One world championship, and saw Juan Manuel Fangio secure the first of his five titles. The Argentinian fended off the strong Ferrari challenge of Alberto Ascari and Jose Frolian Gonzalez to wrap up the championship with victory at the final race of the year in Spain.
Before that, he had also tasted success at the season-opener in Switzerland, and at the French Grand Prix. Tecnomodel's 1:43 Fangio replica will be of his #24 159 from the Swiss race.
Tecnomodel will also be replicating reigning champion Giuseppe Farina's 1951 Alfa Romeo, from the season-ending Spanish Grand Prix in which he finished third. The Italian had also taken victory at Spa, and would end the year fourth in the points.
Paul Pietsch's car from the German Grand Prix will be produced in 1:43 as well. Finally there will be a plain red 'press' car.
Click Tecnomodel 1-43 1951 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 159 to buy.
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