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Is it April Fools day?
Walking around today I walk past a T.V and see that Christian Bale is going to star in the new Terminator film. "Not a great idea" I say to myself. I mean the dead house that is the franchise should really stopped being flogged so its hooves can be used for glue.
I walk on and I forget about it. "Not enough info for a blog entry" I say to myself and think no more of it.
I get home. I am run down and completly knackered but I have more than enough energy to warm up my casserole and check the net for any interesting film. I do find some news..... however interesting is not the word I could use.
I read in a mixture of amazement, shock and disgust as I read that the Terminator movie is being made by McG!! All the energy drains from my body and all the colour drains from my face.
Mc fucking G!?
So who was drunk at the wheel when they decided this?
Oh it gets better......
The two writers also wrote that classic hit........CATWOMAN!
How bad can this movie be?
I'm guessing this may depend on how much you like Terminator 1 & 2 to T3:Rise of the machines (the writers wrote that also) and Charlies Angels 2: Full Throttle. (I'm guessing not too much)
Somewhere James Cameron is crying underwater.
Posted by Afrofilmviewer at 22:45 Labels: Charlies Angels, Christian Bale, McG, Rubbish, Terminator
Wandering in Cloverfield
If you haven't seen this site or seen either of these trailers I will wonder where you've been in the last view months (if your a film wanker like myself that is). Yes it finally has a name and we finally get a full trailer...and yet like another J.J Abrams project Lost, the more we see the more questions have to ask.
What about the monster?
Who are these non-stars?
Why don't we know more etc.
Well I don't know about you but I love how this project is being handled. It's nice to see a film being pushed with an air of mystery about it. The net news is few and far between and even the most sneaky of scoopers are finding trouble trying to get information.
I say good. I'm sick of trailers (especially trailers of the recent spate of remakes) that try and condense the whole films story into 3 minutes. I hate the fact that by the time you get to the cinema, you know whats going down with the film because your waiting for that money shot that hasn't happened just yet.
The less I know the more I'm interested. You want to know the story when you see the actual film not during the preview of another film.
The films wish to hide it's secrets are a blessing and a curse. The Blair Witch Project is one of the biggest independent films to date in in terms of money however the amount of people truly FUCKED OFF with the film is understandable (I love it).
Also releasing the film in January is either genius (release a good money spinner in a dumping ground for shite? mega bucks) or stupidly (release a naff product to shift it quickly and bring on the summer.)
But who cares right now? The outlook for me looks more positive than negative. I like the films modern, intense feel towards the monster movie. It makes an interesting comparison to Peter Jackson's more classic feel to his monster epic King Kong.
I have a lot of high hopes for this flick and hope it will do ok critically and financially.
NOTE: Those into a good little monster movie should do well to seek out the Korean ditty The Host. It's an interesting take on the sub genre.
Posted by Afrofilmviewer at 22:33 Labels: Cloverfield, J.J Abrams, King Kong, Monster, The Host
It's old news and every Bat fan has probably visited that site by now. However if you haven't you should really check out. http://www.whysoserious.com/
Not too much to it, got a new shot of the joker some werid clues and another website called rorys death kiss. The site allows fans to submit pictures of themseleves as the joker.
Some of the stuff out there is pretty cool. Fun times.
Posted by Afrofilmviewer at 22:13
Woman in a lead role? You better Warner Brother
It's been two days after this article and blogs everywhere are rife with outrage. Much has been said about the article and here will be no exception.
It's been two days since the first blogs reported this and it seems that now the WB is on damage control stating that its president did not say such terrible things. Lets be honest with ourselves right now. It may be a blogger taking a statement out of context or an oafish head of a studio (see smug picture) with a very shorted sighted and imbecilic viewpoint of why a few average looking movies didn't make the grade but I do believe something dumb must of been said.
We as bloggers write for many reasons but one of them is simply to get read and to get seen. Now in looking at the Deadline Hollywood Daily and it's blogger. I don't think Nikki Finke has to do to much to get read. She's not like stragglers like me who'd love to get just ten readers a day. So if she was to make something like this up Warner could take her to cleaners easily. But they haven't.
What will happen? A few statements stating that the comment weren't said will arrive this week. Warner Brothers will still release pictures with female leads for the time being and wait for the situation to blow over. And of course, like all big studios, they will be far too important to do anything to make them appear more caring to anyone offended.
But lets look two of the main supposed failures in question. The Brave One and The Invasion.
To be completely honest. After watching this trailer the film looks a lot like an retread of Micheal Winner's Death Wish. To add to this, the film also had to do battle with the eerily similar Death Sentence which came out two week earlier. The trailers do nothing to try and show any differences between the two films other than one has a woman in the lead and one has a man.
To add to this. Observing as many opinions as I could in the short amount of time before having to go to bed and then back to work. both critics and film goers didn't mind the film depending on where you go. If you go to the rotten tomatoes web page you get a middling average, while the imdb gives off a different picture. same with metacritc....actually hang on a minute....go back one. the imdb......yes NORMAL PEOPLE are enjoying the film....isn't that what a studio wants?
In fact the film reviewed better than Death Sentence but flopped....well after watching a revenge movie that didn't work, not everybody may want to see another in such a short space of time....even if they love Jodie Foster.
The FORTH remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. A film which went through a massive rewrite (The Wachowskis) and a new director (their mate James McTeigue) re-shooting much of the film. Now this reminds me of when a studio wanted to bring The Exorcist up to date after it's successful re-release in 1999. Remember? When they got a director (Paul Schrader) to make a prequel. Then they didn't think it was bloody enough for the backers and hired another director (Renny Harlin) to shoot the same film but "different".
Now look at who the producers hired first Paul Schrader the guy who made films like Blue Collar and wrote the seriously twisted Taxi Driver. For him to make a horror film it's going to be a more more grounded look at horror. No...no good fire him and get in the guy that lost a shit load of money with Cutthroat Island and bankrupted a production company....but that's another story.
Schraders film was limited release while Harlin's flick went widespread and only made it's money back with it's overseas box office.
Now who owns The Exorcist series....yes.....thats right FUCKING WARNER BROTHERS. The dudes that got a fuck load of money from The Exorcist...twice. A film that earned it's two main female stars Oscar nominations (not that awards are important two these people but the money sure is).
Back to the point. Original director: Oliver Hirschbiegel. Director of the Somber Downfall detailing the last hours of Hitler.
New Director: James McTeigue director of comic book adaptation V for Vendetta and assistant director For The matrix films.
Lets look at it like this. I want a picture of a domestic cat. I get someone who doesn't mind drawing cats but would rather draw dogs to draw it for me. He draws a cat which isn't to my liking. I get someone who likes cats but I want him to draw I tiger over the first cat....you get a mess. That's my overlong metaphor and I'm sticking to it.
Er....Byron...the point?
Point being (sorry) in looking at the high hopes of these movies on the back of a load of shoddy summer blockbusters, bad marketing, naff planning...your not going to get much. It doesn't help by placing solid actresses in bog standard films. Both Kidman and Foster have won Oscars, both like to diverse into projects that suit them and both aren't your usual Hollywood fodder.
If you want place Jodie Foster in a revenge movie. Don't place her right next to another revenge movie. Especially if that other revenge movie has a director that has come of the back of a very successful horror series. Death Sentence is directed by James Wan who is partly responsible for the Saw Series (forth one on its way). Death Sentence also has that fact plastered on it's advertising. Now no offence but not that many people in middle America are gonna watch the brave one because "the guy who did in the company of wolves did it" and hell...I own that movie.
Nicole Kidman is not really the woman that I'd pick for a film like The Invasion. But like fuck it's her fault that the film can't pick a writer, let alone a director.
No matter what, something was said and it has been broadcast. To be honest Warner Brothers will be fortunate enough not to lose half of their Harry Potter sales on a boycott. But hey, we still have to watch movies at the cinema in a regime in where if your actor whose name isn't Morgan Freeman, Will Smith or Denzel Washington your black ass ain't getting no leading role....unless you can rap.
Posted by Afrofilmviewer at 22:14 Labels: Cutthroat Island, Death Sentence, dislike, Hate, Hollywood, Ignorant, Nikki Finke, Reviews, The Brave One, The Invasion, Warner Brother, Woman
Video Lame
With Halo in development hell and Resident Evil winging its way to the U.K. very soon (at number one in the U.S. as I write this) I think yet another Video game to film blog should be made.
Video games are evolving. Colleges are advertising degrees video games and computer science, gaming magazines are full of adverts of company's looking for designers and technology is evolving to an extremely immense state. The games are becoming more realistic in looks, the storylines are getting deeper and the argument on games as art has reached an advanced stage.
While many still consider them a menace, there is reason for that. This is because, of course games are becoming more involving. They are becoming more than 2D Sprites jumping on mushrooms and becoming worlds of their own. I remember how big Super Metroid was when I first played it...compared that to Mass Effect and you'll see how far the industry as grown.
So if this is the case. WHY CAN'T THEY GET VIDEO GAME MOVIES RIGHT!
1. They depart away from the actual material
There used to be a time when American children recognized Mario easier than Mickey Mouse (I'm guessing now it would be Master Chief). Mario was the real deal all over the world during the 80's and 90's. How many kids have those games imprinted in their head? Fuck you can now go on youtube and check out speedruns. People love Mario*, so why deviate from the original storyline? The film was shit. Real shit. It was like Bob Hoskins was in a terrible sequel to Brazil....but without the awesome visuals and ideas. The tone of the film was way out for it's target audience and everyone else was asking "what the fuck?"
The same goes for most of the VG adaptations. Double Dragon any one? Who hard is it to fuck up a game with such a straightforward story? Few things would need to be padded out but seriously, better films have been made with less of a description.
Doom? Event Horizon has a closer plot line to the original game than Doom does.
Final Fantasy? What the hell? And it was MADE BY THE COMPANY WHO MADE THE BLOODY GAME! Cold, clinical and light years away from what made the games interesting.
Stick to the material and all would be well....or maybe....
2. They stick TOO close to the material.
Silent Hill Film is very faithful to the games. From the plot to the visuals and characters. It's almost like your following a character in the game. Problem is it's like watching someone else play the game. Silent Hill is famed for it's puzzles as well as it's horror and the film shows far too much of Radha Mitchell wandering around searching for clues, not talking to anyone and shoddy explanation near the end of the film. The film itself is actually not bad but these small moments detach the viewer keeps them at a distance. We as fickle viewers/gamers want the film to engage us as well as be faithful. Bastards aren't we?
3 Uwe Boll.
With his unique way of funding and Ed Wood-esque zeal. Boll is on a mission to make as many video game adaptations as possible. However from what I've watched of his output, you see that Boll is trying to make game adaptations as badly as possible. Boll's films are cobbled together as quickly as possible and no quality checks seem to be made on the script or the rushes. From what I've seen, his films are bad, almost so bad they're good. Boll himself comes off as an arrogant twat. Beating up his detractors for publicity, throwing his toys out of the pram when criticised. The more I read about him the more he comes off like one of those asshole message boarders he hates.
I don't want to say too much about this guy. Watch the movies, see for yourself....and he's the guy making the most video game adaptations.
And yes even though there are flashes of the game throughout that shot, that's pretty much the only thing that links the film to the game (that and the name).
4. Lazy Casting
I must admit Jolie as Lara Croft makes sense but Tara Reid (Alone in the dark)? Clint Howard (House of the dead)? The Bunch of wannabe nobodies in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation? Maybe if they got the right people for the right parts then the films may fair better. But this could be because...
5. The filmmakers usually don't give a shit about the project.
Comic books had to die a cinematic death before people realised that if you give the material to writers and directors that are interested in bringing about the vision of the original material to life then good things can come of it. Spiderman, Batman Begins, Sin City, the writers and directors have a certain respect for the people they are making the film for. Superman returns didn't make the splash that people want but Bryan Singer still managed to give an interesting story about a hero who has lost is place in his own world (Singer loves that idea of finding identity). Paul W.S Anderson (not Magnolia) is hated by most video game fans. But at least he tries to give fans what they want. Mortal Kombat was very close to the game, and Resident Evil has it's bashers it is much closer to the games than people give it credit for. If you still don't believe me then fine but the final moments of the first film have more passion about the games than ALL of that Super Mario Bros film. Those fuckers didn't even get Yoshi right. Pricks. Anyway. Peter Jackson gets hold of the Halo project and seems to have a basic understanding of how Halo should be and what happens? Oh no....too expensive. The fact that people got hyped over THAT toy movie and went in droves to watch it tells me that Halo would do just fine about now.
6. Critics just don't understand.
Now I'm not a critic basher per say. In fact I enjoy reading reviews (most of the time). But many reviewers like Roger Ebert have clearly never played a recent game before and never will. In fact I could swear most serious reviewers hate video games in general. I feel many of the films never have a chance in the first place. The video game movie is at times reminiscent of the modern horror film. It has an uphill struggle before it even starts to run. Reviewers like to talk a good game (no bad pun intended) about bias but many of course their reviews tell a different story. Their talk of sensible plots and in depth characters can seem silly to true game fans who just want to see the right incarnation of the material.
7. Fans are fickle
Lets not beat around the bush guys. We are wankers when it comes to crap like this. Look at the list I've written. We want too much. The perfect video game for me would be flexible enough to give the story and characters room to breathe but still have enough time to kick loads of ass. The director and scriptwriter must be die hard fans of the material but understand that you can't just make it exactly like the game...etc. Well we want it perfect don't we. To be honest, I feel Paul W.S Anderson did well with the original Mortal Kombat and did ok with Resident Evil. I also Feel Christopher Gans produced an uneven but creepy looking Silent Hill (ash snow visuals + assorted FUCKED up creatures = awesome). Fact is many are looking for this fantastic adaptation of their favorite games which they spent hours completing when they could be playing them again.
So there we have it folks. The reasons why Video Games "aren't right" in my opinion. Despite my dislike for the shoddy treatment of Double Dragon, Street Fighter, Super Mario Bros, Alone in the Dark, Doom, House of the dead, Resident Evil 2....etc. You know that I'll be like 700th in line for Gears of War or something and I'll still have something to bitch about. With this said, think about what I said before. The games are evolving. The stories are becoming more involved than their Hollywood counterparts. Halo's religious overtones, intense fire fights and epic scale, wipe the floor with such "great" ideas such as...fuck it do I have state some? Take your pick.
*Expect for my grinchy mate Richie. Who claims he likes games....but hates Nintendo
Posted by Afrofilmviewer at 23:40 Labels: Doom, Double Dragon, Gears of War, Halo, Mortal Kombat, Paul W.S Anderson, Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Super Mario Bros, Tomb Raider, Transformers, Uwe Boll, Video Game Films, Video Games
Close to the bone
Surfing the net as you do, your bound to read something that annoys you somewhat. Be it reading a youtube comment which states that "all niggers should be shoved in jail" to another front bottom being flashed by Paris Lohan or whoever, which will be followed by every girl like everywhere. That's life I guess. The point iis the last thing to annoy me on the net was Ben Afflecks directional debut Gone Baby Gone being postponed.
The film is set in Boston and deals with two investigators who are hunting for an abducted child.
First of all what happened in Portugal is an upsetting tragedy. The disappearance of the child must bear a heavy weight on the parents and their brief moment of negligence has brought about a terrible cloud on their lives. With this said despite it's subject matter being so very close to the case, this movie shouldn't be halted from release because it may or may not hit close to the bone.
The film (which was filmed last year) and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have just so happened to coincide with each other and while this is unfortunate for those who who may be close to the family and those who are sensitive about art being so close to reality but why keep the film away from the public eye until the case is forgotten about? Considering the distributor is Buena Vista International and the director is still quite a recognisable star (despite not being as bankable) I do believe the film will make its way out onto our shores later on next year. But why delay on a subject that is still on peoples lips months on?
There's been many films in history that have sparked debate and brought around insight for many reasons. Films such as Birth of a Nation (KKK) and The Triumph of will (Nazis) have made a huge imprint in film for many reasons. Their outlook on their subject matter have caused great discussion and they can't be ignored no matter what evil may lay behind the message. It's important that some films, despite the subject matter become educational pinpoints; creative moments that show how we've developed since.
Some films can become talking points and standout issues of the society in which they are set in. Gus Van Sants Elephant sparked controversy with it's subject matter of gun violence. It ignited the gun control debate yet again and may have allegedly sparked shootings afterward. While it disturbs me that there are a minority of people who can become greatly affected by what they see or hear and act upon it in violence, films like Elephant hint that these issues may come a little deeper than a person simply watching Oldboy and playing Doom.
Many could argue that the film coming out at this time is merely too soon. But I would like to argue maybe it feels this way due to media exploitation. Every day the tabloids have brought us fresh "facts" about this case. So much so that other tragedies have come and have quickly faded out of few. The awful tragedy of Rhyes Jones says a lot about our society of escalating gun crime however the issues around that have almost vanished without a trace. The media were quick to heap onto our new violent culture but nothing was done when Nick Love's Outlaw sneaked into the cinema earlier this year. In fact Love's obsession with gangsters, violence and youth in his films such as The Football Factory and The Business don't seem to have been commented on much at all. Add to the fact that Love supposedly based Outlaw on news articles and peoples true stories it's surprising that nothing was said let alone done.
Back to my original point on the media...we are given massive two page spreads stating that we should remember Maddie. This is a good point considering the same paper has probably spent 6 to 8 pages sprouting hearsay. Much like the Princess Diana case we are told how people are pigs for what they may be doing to the memory however the "viewpoint" to many seems that another Diana spread will sell a few more papers. While film is a business and Gone baby Gone's first objective is to make money the story was extremely relevant to our times in the first place and for Affleck to pick a story such as this is an interesting aspect. He clearly sees something in the story worth telling.
But will others wish to see it? That of course is another story. But one that the masses should really be allowed to decide. A black man such as myself isn't going to be looking out for KKK websites to check out the hate am I? In the same vein I've had friends face moments in their life which would make Eli Roth wince. However that doesn't mean I won't sit down and watch Hostel.It's that piece of mind that we have that allows you to make a choice. As sensitive as the subject is, I do not feel that we should be babied into or out of a situation. This postponement shows to me that people don't believe we can't make up our minds. If there's something we do not like the look of we avoid it. It's fight or flee a very basic instinct of our nature. Why delay something like this and soften the blow when the release of the film would spark fresh debate when the irons hot? Many topical/controversial movies can be on point and strong contenders for critical praise and discussion between cinephiles and average joes. However this cannot happen if films are being apprehended and banned before viewing.
My issue is if Gone Baby Gone could cause a great effect then the film will vanish without a trace. If it was to become a hit, it would be because: A. people would want to see insight into what may happen in a child abduction case. B. The reviews were good and Affleck has made a generally affecting film. C. The trailer has made the film something people would like to see. The filmmakers aren't making money off of people's pain and if they were, it would be extremely clear for all of us to see.
And before we even start to think it's in poor taste for the McCann family. Do you think at this moment in time that that family give a damn about a Hollywood film while their child is missing?
Posted by Afrofilmviewer at 23:13 Labels: Ben Affleck, Buena Vista, Gone Baby Gone, Madeleine McCann
Reason's why I'm not a Tim Burton fan
I don't hate the guy....but I can't say I love him either. No doubt any true lover of the man who just happens to stumble on this blog will bitch about how ill informed I am. Fair play....at times I hate it when someone has a different opinion than myself too.
1. His ego:
I hate it when people bitch about Quintin Tarantino or another young up and coming director/writer and their egos. However most if not all Tim Burton films are about him. And it's usually kooky Gothic loner crap. From Beetlejuice to Sleepy hollow Ichabod Crane. "oh I'm such an outsider!" He screams achingly as he cast Johnny Depp again to play yet another version of himself. Even the passable yet over rated love letter to hollywood Ed Wood is just another reason for Mr Burton to scream "LOOK AT ME!" Film Directors have always placed their passions and desires and fears on screen and we see Burton's love letter to himself every time. That's why you see Depp in the role thats clearly about the director. He's the gothic loner type with this bizarre/kooky talent the same way M Night Shamalamadingdong is going to save the world from wicked critics with his films. Not a bad thing I suppose, all directors do it. But look how lambasted guys like Spielberg get when they do it. But at least Spielberg has range.
2. He gets away with Batman Forever:
Quite simply. Joel Schumacher takes a lot of stick for his' two batman films While Burton (a producer for Batman Forever) gets away scott free as his two batman films were considered "brilliant". A. He had a producer credit on the film so he could have stepped in. you can still clearly see some aspects of the first two Batmans in Forever while you see none in Batman and Robin. B. His batman films weren't really that great. But that's what you get when you hire Burton whose notorious for disliking Comics (lil more on that later)
3. Henry Slick gets no credit:
I've never wanted to see a nightmare before Christmas and I'm far too old to really give a toss (it seems like only kids and 20 something girls enjoy the film)But Tim Burton's name is plastered all over a film that was directed by someone else. Worse thing is when someone states they're not a fan of Tim Burton that first thing someone says is "WHAT!?? NOT EVEN A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS!" Yes I know he had a crap load to do with it etc etc but Spielberg had a shit load to do with The Goonies and Back to the Future and Donner and Zemerics get enough credit respectively.
4. Spooky Trees (looky-likey films):
Don't mind a bit of gothic horror. But his love for hammer horror and german expressionism has got to the stage where angry imdb boarders clutter up good web space denouncing fun little films like Lemony Snicket because "Burton would have done it better". I will say he has made the goth look his own (to a point). An example would be Sweeny Todd, his new film, which doesn't feel that much different from the borefest that was Sleepy Hollow... The story is different but once again we have a kooky outsider thing with spooky trees everywhere and Helena Bonham Carter/Johnny Depp (either or depending on the film) looking glum. I think the reason why I love Big Fish (one of his more derided films) more is because he took more risks with that film than most of his others. You could see that throughout that film.
5. Willy Wonka was not a pedo:
Johnny Depp plays Wonka like Mike Jackson circa late 90's. Burton doesn't reign him in because he thinks that's how it should be played. It never felt like that in the book. It didn't feel like that in the first film. Why do it now? Plus with such a blatant child toucher why is it that the buckets let him come near his children? If you had to shit on my childhood Mr B you could have at least put Christopher Walken in the role.
6. The Kevin Smith Beef:
Yes. you can see the film web geek in me now can't you? If you watch the DVD an evening with Kevin Smith you will hear a tale involving Planet of the apes, a comic book and Tim Burton allegedly being an arse. Now I've only heard one side of the story, it's smith side clearly. But he argument is funny and sounds truthful ya know? Read a little about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Evening_with_Kevin_Smith. However it is wikipedia so it's best to watch the DVD.
7. He fucked up Batman:
Going back slightly. While his style really suited Batman (credit where it's due)His disregard for the material can clearly be seen from his treatment of the main character. He doesn't read comics (he's mentioned this more than once)But spies a "kooky" character in The Joker and away we go. Taking the shift of Keaton's Bruce Wayne/Batman and placing more focus on Nickleson mugging to Prince songs....however I can't remember Keaton being good in either film he was that forgetful/overshadowed.
8. She auditioned for the part? She got it?!?!?! What a surprise:
This is just me being an arsehole now but I do think when your fucking the director and you've been in the last four films of his...you've got a good bet on that Sweeny Todd role, singing or not..
9. Planet of the apes:
Not just the ending.....The bland action, the naff casting (Estella Warren anyone?)The dull story...and yes the bloody ending. Tim Roth was awesome to give credit but Planet of the apes....Yeah...what the fuck was that about?
Batman Returns: Don't think it's as good as other make out.
Beetlejuice: Uneven in places and not as fun as I remember
Edward Sissorhands: I really tried to like this but I just felt "meh" at the end
Counter Point:
I have always found things I've liked in his movies but other aspects usually bog them down. Films like Beetlejuice were fun when I was younger but I found myself extremely bored during the first half after watching it again. However my enjoyment of Big fish will always get me thinking wanting to watch his next film. I do look forward to Sweeny Todd. Also while I'm not a fan of his ego, I do believe it's important that good directors have a good amount of self confidence.
Overall....I may become a fan one day, but lets see what the future holds.
Posted by Afrofilmviewer at 18:31 Labels: Batman, Big Fish, Burton, Depp, dislike, Ed Wood, Edward Sissorhands, Sweeny Todd
The Welcome Page
Hey there party people. Welcome to Byron's Film Blog. An area in which the reader will have the chance to read the ramblings of a post grad film student with delusions of grandeur. Expect the days to come to be full of foul mouth grumblings or hyper-active praise on the art form we call cinema.
Don't take my optionated views to much to heart. Just read um, try and have a laugh, and maybe give a quick comment?
I will be very soon uploading my views on the Spike Lee films that I own and post them one at a time for all to see.
I won't however be watching Girl 6 ever again. What the hell was that about?
Leslie Byron Pitt


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Trump's 'compromise' proposal asking for billions for border wall preemptively shot down by Democrats as 'wasteful and ineffective'
On the 29th day of his government shutdown, President Donald Trump is expected to give a White House address with a new offer to get his wall built.
Trump's first offer for a concrete border wall was his 2016 campaign slogan that Mexico would pick up the tab. Mexico declined his offer.
Trump's next offer was for U.S. taxpayers to pay for his concrete border wall. Congress declined his offer.
So Trump offered for U.S. taxpayers to spend billions on a steel slats fence. Congress again declined his offer.
While details of Trump's new offer have not yet been released, Congress is already rejecting his new offer.
"This is not a compromise as it includes the same wasteful, ineffective $5.7 billion wall demand that shut down the government in the first place," explained a senior Democratic Party House aide.
"This cannot pass the House or Senate," the aide added.
A Democratic congressional aide also spoke to Politico.
"Dems were not consulted on this and have rejected similar overtures previously. It's clearly a Republican-and-Republican negotiation," the congressional aide said.
Trump's announcement was scheduled for 3 p.m. eastern, but has been pushed back to 4 p.m.
Democrats already rejecting Trump's office before it is announced. From senior Dem house aide: "This is not a compromise as it includes the same wasteful, ineffective $5.7 billion wall demand that shut down the government in the first place. This cannot pass the House or Senate."
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) January 19, 2019
Trump is 'devoted to racial arson' — and that's why he took 'a massive dump on the American dream': Rick Wilson

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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1-15-21 New guidance on indoor dining, vaccination plan, new virus strain, sports
Criminal justice reform package will head to governor
Free meals in E'town, Cave In Rock, and Rosiclare Tuesday, Dec. 22
Coronavirus Canceled Christmas Events
Illinois sees highest single-day COVID-19 death toll
Independent Banner Contest Winners announced
State issues stricter mitigations amid hospitalization surge
Shop with a Cop and Angel Tree offered through the Hardin County Sheriff's Department
Hardin County now among counties in Orange Warning Level
All H.C. students now learning from home until their return on November 30
Archives to 1879
By Editor | January 15, 2021 | 0
Indoor dining allowed in Tier 1, but no regions there yet; Vaccine Phase 1B starting Jan. 25 By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced revisions to his COVID-19 mitigation tiers Friday that would allow earlier indoor dining, but no regions have thus far met the requirements. He also…
Obituary of Charles H. Hurford
Charles H. Hurford joined his wife Delcie in eternal life with our Lord and Savior on Thursday, December 10, 2020. He was born January 21, 1934 to Martha and Charles A. Hurford in Elizabethtown IL. He will be remembered for always being a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and just over the moon for his…
Obituary of Mary "Imogene" Beavers
Mary "Imogene" Beavers, 95, of Boonville, Indiana passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Woodmont Health Campus in Boonville. Imogene was born on August 20, 1925 in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois to the late Frank and Edna (Johnson) Scott. She will be remembered by family and friends on being a super pie and quilt maker. She…
Legislation revamps police certification, use of force and cash bail By RAYMON TRONCOSO Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a criminal justice omnibus bill early Wednesday morning after a grueling 20 hours of politicking during Tuesday's lame duck session. The House followed suit Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the…
William "Bud" W. Stokes
William "Bud" W. Stokes Jr., age 67, of Kankakee died Saturday, January 9, 2021 at his home. He was born February 9, 1953 in Anna, the son of William W. Sr. & Margaret (Freeland) Stokes. William is survived by his wife, Marita Stokes of Kankakee; daughters and two sons-in-law, Melissa (Kevin) Kruse of Kankakee, Shannon…
Obituary of Vernon "Bruzz" Shaw
Vernon "Bruzz" Shaw, 93, of Rosiclare, went to be with the Lord on Monday, January 11, 2021 at Rosiclare Rehabilitation and Health Care. He was born on August 8, 1927, to Clarence and Murble Shaw. In 1947 he was married to Ruth Moore Shaw. To this union were born six children – Michael Shaw (Katie),…
Obituary of Larry Paul Flynn
Larry Paul Flynn, of Golconda, IL, born at Lightner Hospital in Harrisburg, IL, December 15, 1935, and left this earth after a tough fight to meet his Heavenly Father on Saturday, January 9, 2021, with his family at his side. Dad was the sixth of seven children, born to Clyde L. Flynn Sr., and Charlotte…
Obituary of Clark Roan
Clark Roan left this life to be with the Lord on Friday, January 8, 2021 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN. He was born on August 21, 1950 at Greenup, Illinois to William Harvey Roan and Florene Elizabeth (Glidewell) Roan. Clark learned at a very early age to be a very hard worker along with…
Aleta Lisa Navarro
Aleta Lisa Navarro, 55, of Rosiclare, IL died January 9, 2021 at St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, IN. She was a member of the Catholic Faith. Survivors include her spouse, Billy Smock of Rosiclare, IL; children, Justin and Samuel Smock both of Rosiclare, IL; brother, Tom Navarro of Chicago, IL; sister, Tricia Navarro of Chicago,…
Stanley Smith
Stanley Smith, 72, of Rosiclare, IL died Sunday, January 10, 2021 at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN. He was a Veteran of the United States Army. Survivors include his children, John and Thomas Andrew Smith both of Rosiclare, IL; sister, Vonda Belt of Anna, IL; and eleven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by…
Hardin County Independent


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Colombia fires starting gun on renewable energy projects
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Polaniec Biomass Power Plant, Polaniec
Biomass power plant
Start of Construction
Installed Capacity
Owner/Developer
GDF Suez Energia Polska
Located in south-east Poland, Polaniec biomass power plant is the world's largest 100% biomass-fuelled power plant. Image: courtesy of Alstom.
The plant features a circulating fluidised bed (CFB) boiler designed by Foster Wheeler. Image: courtesy of Alstom.
The generating capacity of the power plant, owned and operated by GDF Suez, is 205MW. Image: courtesy of Petr Štefek.
Polaniec biomass power plant, located in south-east Poland, is the world's biggest 100% biomass-fuelled power plant.
GDF Suez owns and operates the plant, which was constructed at the site of the 1,800MW Polaniec thermal power station in Polaniec, Poland.
The PLN1bn ($290m) biomass power plant unit is entirely run on a mixture of 80% wood chips and 20% agricultural by-products. Commercial operations at the plant began in November 2012, upon completion of construction.
Unit 8, also called Green Unit, at the existing Polaniec power plant features a state-of-the-art circulating fluidised bed (CFB) boiler, which is capable of using difficult to burn biomass as fuel to achieve a net plant efficiency of more than 36%.
An Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) was conducted during 2009-2010 to look into the possibility of substituting the coal fired boiler in Unit 8 with a CFB boiler. The capacity of the Green Unit was increased from the initially planned 190MW to 205MW during construction.
The biomass power plant aims to help increase Poland's renewable energy production from 10.4% in 2010 to 12.9% by 2017. It will cut down 1.2m tonnes of CO2 emissions annually and complement the European Union's target to generate 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020.
GDF Suez's Polish power plant and upgrades
Rodenhuize Biomass Fuelled Power Plant, Ghent, Belgium
The power plant produces clean energy, sufficient for 320,000 homes and offsets 1.2m tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
The existing Polaniec power plant consists of eight units which are co-fired by coal and biomass. Each unit previously had a generation capacity of 225MW.
Construction of the biomass fuelled power unit began in July 2010 and a series of upgrades were carried out.
The steam turbine of Green Unit (Unit 8) of the Polaniec power station was retrofitted in 2012 to match the configuration of the new biomass boiler. The turbine auxiliary systems, the generator and exciter systems were also modernised to increase turbine cycle efficiency.
Units 2-7 are undergoing modernisation, including retrofitting of the steam turbines with new high pressure (HP) and intermediate pressure (IP) to increase efficiency. The capacity ratings per unit are expected to increase more than 240MW and will significantly reduce CO2 emissions for the entire facility.
The upgrades, which will extend the plant's lifetime by an additional 25 years, are expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
CFB boiler at the biomass power station
"The PLN1bn ($290m) biomass power plant unit is entirely run on a mixture of 80% wood chips and 20% agricultural by-products."
Poland produces 35mt/y of wood waste and 14mt/y of agricultural waste. The Advanced Bio CFB boiler at the new plant consumes up to 890,000t of wood chips and 222,000t of agricultural waste annually to produce renewable energy.
The fuel yard supplies wood chips produced during the chipping process, while agricultural waste is procured from within 100km radius of the plant. It includes straw pellets or crushed briquettes, sunflower pellets, fruit husk pellets, and crushed palm kernel shells. The chipped biomass is stored in a 24,000m³ open sided A-frame barn roof.
The CFB boiler has a steam flow of 570tph, steam pressure of 127.2bar and a temperature of 565ºC. The steam generated by reheating has 20bar pressure and a temperature of 565ºC.
The heat in the boiler fluidises the wastes, and the entire bed is suspended in the air stream, and the fuel is circulated to the top of the furnace. The solid parts are separated and returned to the furnace. Heating surfaces contain moderate thermal loading, while the boiler operates at a lower combustion temperature. Fuel spends more time burning in the combustion chamber, resulting in naturally low SO2 and NOx emissions and high combustion efficiency.
A fluidised bed has a high heat capacity which evens out the fluctuations caused by variation in the fuel quality, stabilising the combustion and further reducing the emission of harmful gases. The boiler is also equipped with an advanced automated control system to continuously adjust the combustion process and predict equipment issues.
The fuel is added to the furnace along with additives to prevent fouling of the furnace. Corrosion and fouling of the convective pass are also avoided by applying corrosion resistant materials. Online diagnostics have been put into place to constantly check the corrosion and fouling of the boiler.
Contractors involved
Tractebel Engineering conducted the EIA for the Polaniec biomass power plant. The EIA supported the project's environmental permit application, approved in May 2010. The milling feasibility study of agri-biomass for the Green Unit was conducted by Tractebel Engineering, who recommended safe and efficient biomass feeding technology.
Foster Wheeler was awarded a turnkey contract by GDF Suez for the design, supply and erection of the CFB boiler island and fuel yard in April 2010. Foster Wheeler designed and supplied the steam generator and auxiliary equipments, conducted civil works, prepared the biomass yard, and constructed and commissioned the biomass island.
Foster Wheeler's subsidiaries in Finland and Poland executed some of the contractual works. GDF Suez hired Laborelec for technical assistance for the biomass power unit design.
The chipping line, including the drum chipper and handling equipment, was provided by BRUKS Klöckner and Polimex Mostostal Warszawa.
The contract to retrofit the existing steam turbine at Unit 8 was awarded to Alstom. The company also received a €65m ($89.6m) contract to modernise Units 2-7 in mid-2012. The contract included an option to retrofit the Unit 1.
Emerson Process Management provided its PlantWeb digital plant architecture with Ovation expert control system and AMS Suite predictive maintenance software to control the boiler. It also provided automation services including complete project management, engineering and installation.
Capital Dynamics signs deal for equity participation in two CSolar solar plants in US
Quinbrook to build 690MW solar power project in Nevada


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Dubovac (citit în limba română Dubovaț) se poate referi la:

Localități
 Dubovac, sat în Serbia
 Dubovac, sat în Croația
 Dubovac este denumirea în limba croată a comunei maghiare Vásárosdombó

Diverse
 Dubovac, insulă croată în Marea Adriatică

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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The history behind the Maltese Festa
The colourful religious festas of Malta have always been a source of fascination, and are definitely an experience for visitors. The sharp contrast between the sombre religious celebrations and the energetic street festivities - with their bright lights, lovingly adorned churches, decorations hanging from every possible building, and more fireworks than the 4th of July - make these feasts a site to behold.
Many, many years ago, the means of communication was very limited and the festa was one of very few opportunities the villagers had to experience the occasional musical performance. In the last three days before the saint's day, the villagers would throng to their churches to hear the sermons and enjoy the village bands playing psalms.
On the eve of the festa, the Translation of the Sacred Relic would mark the start of the celebrations. This consisted of the saint's relic being carried around the church, followed by the band playing the hymn to their patron saint. The Mass - known as the panegyric - was a sermon lasting about an hour and was given by a chosen preacher, who would preach from the pulpit with the Madonna or with the titular saint.
The outdoor activities centered around a huge bonfire in the village square, creating an atmosphere of light and jollity. The streets were lined with "fjakkoli" (tins filled with lard and a lighted wick) and were placed on rooftops, windows and walls. Today however, fireworks are the preferred method of lighting, and form an essential part of the Maltese festa. These spectacles of light and sound can be seen (and heard!) from every direction - especially in the peak summer months where there are as many as three festas taking place on the same weekend!
Times have changed - and festas have changed with them - but the feasts are still very much alive, and remains a highlight in the calendars of Maltese villages.
I really enjoy the lessons. I've learned with several different teachers and enjoyed the classes in different ways. I find my teachers very sociable - they help me with everything. Since studying at the school I am much more confident and my English has improved. Assel Yeshmagambetova from Kaza...
Assel Yeshmagambetova


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Houston Indecent Exposure With a Child Defense Attorneys
Exposure – 3rd Degree
There is a lot on the line for a person who has been accused of exposing themselves to a child. The accusation alone can have a serious impact on a person's career and their rights as a parent. Even if a person has no contact with a child and is just accused of exposing themselves, they can still face severe penalties if convicted. These penalties include prison time, hefty fees and registering as a sex offender. Indecency with a child is a serious charge that should never be taken lightly because the criminal justice system in Texas can be harsh when it comes to alleged sex offenders.
Exposure to a child is a felony offense that can follow a person who is convicted for the rest of their life. Not only will they become a felon, but they will also have a hard time getting certain jobs and educational opportunities because they have a sex crime with a child on their record. The most important thing a person can do if they have been arrested or charged with exposure to a child is to contact an experienced sex crimes lawyer.
If you or someone you know has been charged with Exposure to a child contact The Gonzalez Law Group to discuss all of your legal options. Do not feel discouraged because of your situation. Just because you have been accused it doesn't automatically mean you are guilty. Marco Gonzalez and his team of professional lawyers will work tirelessly to ensure you are treated fairly by the criminal justice system.
It is crucial that you contact The Gonzalez Law Group before you speak to any law enforcement officers regarding your indecency with a child charge. If you live in Harris County including Houston, Crosby, Deer Park, Cypress, Pasadena, and any other surrounding areas, contact The Gonzalez Law Group at (832) 530-4070 or fill out an online form for your free consultation.
Indecency with a Child (Exposure) Information Center
Indecency with a Child (Exposure)
Registering as a Sex Offender
Resources for Indecency with a Child (Exposure)
There is no statute of limitations for indecency with a child incident. It doesn't matter if it happened yesterday or 30 years ago, a victim can come forward at any time. In Texas, indecency with a child is divided into two categories, both of which are felony convictions if found guilty. The two categories are exposure, which involves no contact with the child and sexual contact of a child.
Exposure to a child involves an adult exposing his or her anus or genitals to a child. It can also involve the adult causing the child to expose his or her anus or genitals. Both of these must be done with the explicit purpose of sexual gratification or arousal of the adult.
Affirmative Defense
The state of Texas does allow certain affirmative defenses in an indecency with a child case. An affirmative defense is a set of facts, if proven by the defendant, that defeats the legal consequences of an unlawful act. The affirmative defenses allowed in Texas for indecency with a child include:
The defendant was no more than three years older than the victim
The defendant didn't threaten, force or cause duress to the victim
The defendant was the opposite sex of the victim
The defendant was not a registered sex offender before committing the alleged offense
Penalties for indecency with a child conviction can be severe even if there is no prior criminal record. If a person is found guilty of exposing themselves to a child, they will be convicted of a third-degree felony. The punishment for a third-degree felony can include:
Two to 10 years in prison
A fine not to exceed 10,000
After prison, a person convicted of indecency with a child will be considered a felon and will have some of their basic rights stripped including the right to bear arms. The conviction will most likely follow them for the rest of their lives as they try to make a living or get an education.
An Indecency with a child felony conviction can result in serious penalties including prison time and hefty fines, but that's not all. A sex crime involving a child also requires anyone convicted to register as a sex offender for at least ten years from when the court dismisses the criminal proceedings and discharges the offender. Even if the person charged with indecency with a child receives deferred adjudication or another pretrial diversion program they must still register as a sex offender. The following are the steps a person has to take to register as a sex offender in Texas.
Register with Local Law Enforcement
Any person who has to register as a sex offender in Texas must immediately go to their local law enforcement officers after release from prison to disclose their information. If the person does not live in a city, they must register with the county police.
Information Needed
The Texas Sex Offender Program requires local law enforcement to obtain the following information from a sex offender:
Full name, date of birth, race, sex, height
Driver's license number, shoe size, home address
A recent color photograph, complete set of fingerprints
Type of offense, the age of the victim, date of conviction
Disclosure of business, occupational or professional certificate, permit or license
Employment status now and in the future
Online identifiers
Vehicle registration information
Registered sex offenders are required to report periodically to where they are registered to ensure all of their information is accurate and inform the police of any changes to their status including address, employment status, and probation status. If an offender moves to a different city or county, they must report to their new law enforcement office immediately.
Failure to Comply
Failure to comply with any registration requirement can result in a felony prosecution and/or violation of parole.
Public Notice of Sex Offenders
The registration process is not just to inform local law enforcement of a sex offender's status. The program is designed to protect the public by providing them with sex offender information. The sex offender registry website provides detailed information to the public about every sex offender in the local area. The website offers a Texas top 10 offenders list, a subscription service for notification of new offenders, and a detailed search that allows anyone to search for offenders locally or by name.
Sexaholics Anonymous-This link provides information on the organization, sexaholics anonymous. This group uses community organization to find solutions to the problems of lust, sex, and pornography addiction. Anyone struggling with a sexual addiction should seek help for their compulsion before it is too late.
Texas Sex Offender Program– This link provides information on the Texas Sex Offender Program. This program seeks to protect the public by publicly registering sex offenders. The Texas Department of Public Safety provides information on the process of registering as a sex offender and frequently asked questions.
If you have been charged with exposure to a child in Harris County, it is in your best interest to contact The Gonzalez Law Group to help you through the legal process. The Lawyers at our firm will use their experience, knowledge, and resources to fight for you and help get the best possible result for your case. You don't have to feel ashamed about your legal defense. You deserve a chance at redemption, especially if you feel like you have been falsely accused. If you live in Harris County including Friendswood, Pearland, Seabrook, League City, La Porte, Galena Park, Baytown, and any other surrounding area contact The Gonzalez Law Group at (832) 530-4070 today.
The Gonzalez Law Group: Criminal Defense Team
Public Lewdness
Improper Relationship
Online Solicitation of a Minor
Super Aggravated Sexual Assault
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Indecency With a Child
Touch – 2nd Degree
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Website: organisation: Wildlife & Environment Society of SA website. Features assoc. news and resources. Carries some sponsorship, details on application.
Journal of the Wildlife & Environment Society of SA. Contains articles and news relating to wildlife, the environment and conservation, and suitable book reviews. Editorial is submitted to editorial advisory committee.
Members of the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa and environment society. These are individuals and families interested in wildlife, conservation, environmental issues and are predominantly in the A/B income group.


Escape, relax, enjoy and have all amenities close at hand. With the construction of our new cottages, guests now have the option of staying in a beautiful cottage with all the amenities. Just bring food and clothes - we have everything else you may need to relax and enjoy your visit.
Thunderbird RV Park and Resort in Campbell River has provided year round accommodations for over 35 years. Our resort is conveniently located to all shopping amenities and features 68 beautiful serviced sites to suit your RV´ing needs including spacious big rig friendly pull-through, ocean view sites. And now we have 4 beautiful new cottages with spectacular views of the estuary and ocean. Please note we no longer offer tenting or unserviced sites.
For our RV guests we offer full-service 30 Amp and 50 Amp RV sites. All sites are easily accessible and level. We offer well-maintained sites in a wonderful setting that provides you with comfort you deserve for a relaxing holiday. Our park offers immaculate facilities, which will help you enjoy your visit in comfort.
Our resort is the destination of choice for a truly fantastic family vacation idea on Vancouver Island. We take pride in offering our guests a clean, safe, and secure place to visit and enjoy the beauty of Vancouver Island. It's all here waiting for you at the Thunderbird RV Park and Resort located in the heart of Campbell River.
Surround yourself with the beauty and peacefulness of majestic mountains or wild life surrounding us with soaring bald eagles over head, a pod of Orca whales passing by, white tailed deer walking through the park, geese, swans in the estuary behind us. You just never know what you may see. . . . here on the Tyee Spit located between the mouth of the Campbell River and Discovery Passage.
Book your Cottage or RV Site now!
Fishing, kayaking, beachcombing, swimming, birding, hiking, lazing in the sun.
Being centrally located be sure to visit the many fine Restaurants and specialty shops that Campbell River has to offer or visit Discovery Fishing Pier and drop a line in the water while enjoying a coffee or waffle ice cream cone. It's all here waiting for you to explore, maybe cycle or walk Campbell River's 8km Seawalk. A peaceful and scenic experience awaits you at the Thunderbird RV Park and Resort.
Gateway to the north and west of Vancouver Island.
Campbell River is known to be the gateway to the north and west of Vancouver Island. Many of our guests will make Thunderbird RV Park a home base during their stay and branch out on day trips to explore the northern island on Hwy 19 or take in the beauty of what nature has to offer while driving to the west on Hwy 28 through Strathcona Park and explore the many lakes and trails in the area or further West to Gold River maybe take a day trip on the Uchuck 111 to Friendly Cove on Nootka Island to the very west of the Vancouver Island.


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Newshub Nation
Government will move on right to repair legislation - David Parker
Finn Hogan
David Parker on Newshub Nation. Credits: Newshub Nation
Businesses may soon be legally bound to ensure Kiwis can repair old devices and appliances instead of replacing them, Environment Minister David Parker has indicated.
"I met with Consumer NZ this week, and it is something that they're very keen on doing, and I'm interested in [right to repair]. We will be considering that as part of our review of waste management legislation," he told Newshub Nation.
While there is no detail on proposed legislation yet, the 'right to repair' generally refers to legal protections which force companies to maintain supply of parts for older products and allows customers to choose who provides their repairs.
The minister may have received some extra motivation to push for change from a recent struggle with his own appliances.
"I'm personally frustrated. I have a fridge that broke down recently and I couldn't get a part and when I eventually tracked down I couldn't get someone to repair it," he said.
"After five weeks of running a chilly bin in the fridge, I gave up, chucked out what was a perfectly good fridge. It was such a waste."
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In New Zealand, Section 12 of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 does provide some protection by ensuring repairs, replacements or refunds when goods are faulty, as well as setting minimum guarantees for all products and services.
However companies are able to exploit a loophole elsewhere in the act, under Section 42, which states: "Section 12 does not apply where reasonable action is taken to notify the consumer who first acquires the goods… that the manufacturer does not undertake repair facilities and parts will be available for those goods."
Essentially this means that the Act's protections do not apply if customers are told there are no parts or repair facilities available at point of purchase.
Right to repair movements have gathered steam internationally as planned obsolescence - intentionally allowing products to become unusable within a set timeframe - has become standard across many industries.
David Parker on Newshub Nation. Photo credit: Newshub Nation
More accessible repairs could also address the growing problem of cast-off electronics filling up landfills, with Kiwis producing on average 80,000 tonnes of 'e-waste' per year.
Any changes would have particular impact on tech giants like Apple. A screen repair for an iPhone 12 out of warranty currently costs $595 if undertaken through the Apple store.
In 2018 the Australian Federal Court fined Apple AU$9 million for breaking consumer law making devices with screens repaired with third-party products unusable by displaying an error message.
Australia's Productivity Commission is currently investigating the costs and benefits of the right to repair and will report back to the Government in October this year.
As to when and if he can get it done here, Parker says wait and see.
"I'm definitely interested but it is Cabinet's decision, not mine."
Watch Newshub Nation 9:30am Saturday/10am Sunday on TV3, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Newshub Nation is supported by NZ On Air.


Companies headquartered at the Cambridge Innovation Center, a rental office facility where scores of Boston-area entrepreneurs have gotten their ideas off the ground, played host to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick this afternoon. Patrick and other officials—including Massachusetts Life Sciences Center president Susan Windham-Bannister and Greg Bialicki, Patrick's choice to replace outgoing Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Daniel O'Connell—spent about 20 minutes in a closed roundtable discussion with company leaders at 1:00 p.m., then circulated among the small (some of them really small) companies contributing to the startup brew at the CIC building, a Kendall Square landmark at One Broadway.
It was an interactive visit for the governor: At Conduit Labs, he sat down to try out the company's flagship online game, Loudcrowd, and he helped Design That Matters CEO Timothy Prestero disassemble and reassemble a wheeled incubator and isolation unit for premature infants. Patrick had plenty of questions, often asking how soon each company would be bringing new products to market.
CIC president Tim Rowe acted as Patrick's guide, and took the opportunity to point out the center's role in providing an all-services-included environment for local technology startups with 25 or fewer employees. Out of the $7 billion invested in New England technology companies by venture firms in 2007 and 2008, Rowe asserted, companies located in the CIC soaked up some $360 million, or more than 5 percent.
In remarks to a gathering of reporters after the tour, Patrick said he thinks companies at the CIC are doing great work, and that the state should do more to create room for startups to grow. "I want to do everything we can to support that kind of imagination and creativity," he said.
And there's an element of exhortation to this encouragement. Patrick asked several of the companies he visited, including ThingMagic and Vitality, where they manufactured their hardware or devices, and got predictable answers like "Taiwan" or "southern China" (although one entrepreneur made the mistake of saying "Connecticut"). That prompted the governor to urge the entrepreneurs to look for manufacturing facilities closer to home.
Thanks for the nice piece, Wade.
@Rick: Thanks for that update. The governor must have visited Hubspot's office after the formal tour had concluded and all of us journalists had left.
Indeed, you're right, Wade. The Governor responded to our Twitter invitations and made a surprise visit to the HubSpot offices ;) Rick's link above has pictures and the Twitter invitations as well.
Very cool use of Twitter! The Governor has been a great cheerleader for entrepreneurship and technology. Check out http://www.pbln.org for folks interested in learning more about progressive business leaders and some of the policy work that's being done in partnership with the Governor and his team.
Hmm, it would have been nice if CIC or someone would have shared info on the governor's visit with the rest of the building. There are other companies doing innovative things at 1 Broadway, who don't happen to contract CIC for services . . .


Throughout an already long career and after 18 years in the Etxanobe restaurant, we have proposed that La Despensa del Etxanobe be the means to make Basque cuisine more accessible. Neither more nor less, the maximum expression of that great Basque cuisine through the freshest fish, the tastiest meats, slow and full flavors that are the essence of a tradition that we update from a deep respect.
Fernando Canales and Mikel Población bring to the center of Bilbao the dishes that made the Etxanobe a gastronomic reference in Bilbao: the kokotxas, cod pil pil, fried hake, that great fish soup or our famous anchovy lasagna are prepared with the same passion and degree of excellence in La Despensa de Etxanobe. They are waiting for you.


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WatchDox releases software development kit for iPhone, iPad
WatchDox, a provider of secure access and collaboration solutions, today announced the release of its software development kit (SDK) for the iOS platform. The WatchDox iOS SDK enables businesses to integrate the WatchDox mobile document collaboration platform with their own custom iPhone and iPad apps. This creates a secure, native mobile experience that offers a seamless solution for accessing, sharing, collaborating and syncing documents remotely, in addition to optimizing documents for viewing and collaborating on the iOS platform.
"Today's mobile workforce expects access to files from iOS devices and the ability to easily collaborate, while IT wants control over and visibility into what happens with enterprise data," said Ryan Kalember, chief product officer at WatchDox. "By providing a SDK to integrate WatchDox capabilities into official enterprise apps, we help CIOs deploy a secure, custom mobile file sharing and collaboration solution. Employees can see not only their own documents synced to iOS, but also all the workspace documents used to collaborate with others, both inside and outside the organization. This provides users with more value than they could get from shadow IT services like Dropbox and Box."
The WatchDox iOS SDK enables organizations to combine existing mobile applications with WatchDox functionality to create a fully branded app with document sending, sharing and syncing functionality. It provides a full or partial module-based integration of WatchDox components, including:
· Document viewer module – This secure container renders and presents WatchDox-secured files optimized for iOS devices. It also allows users to search, annotate and share documents and annotations with collaborators.
· Document navigation module – Users can browse WatchDox-protected documents sent via email, synced via desktop PC folders, or uploaded into workspaces. Users can open those files directly in the document viewer or save files and workspaces in an encrypted format for later viewing offline, ensuring that documents never leave the enterprise's container and never lose protections. Administrators can also access tracking logs for all document and user activity within iOS apps, adjust functionality settings and instantly lock the application.
· Passcode settings module – Administrators can enable passcodes for users to access documents and turn passcode protection on or off, as well as enter and change passcodes as needed.
· Authentication module – This module enables the enterprise iOS app to support multiple authentication methods, including email self-enrollment, user name and password, or integration with a third-party identity provider. Companies can also implement their own custom authentication schemes, such as single sign-on, and provide WatchDox with final authentication tokens.
· Server API module – This module contains the logic for API calls initiated against the WatchDox server, including fetching new documents and document updates, fetching and uploading annotations, refreshing the file browser and facilitating document sharing.
The server-side components of the WatchDox platform can be deployed via a cloud service or as an on-premise virtual appliance. Please email info@watchdox.com to request the WatchDox iOS SDK.


Home / News / World / What Will Happen At the OPEC Meeting On Friday?
What Will Happen At the OPEC Meeting On Friday?
On Friday, the 5th of June, the members of OPEC will meet for their semi-annual meeting. So what can investors expect?It seems that the consensus is that when the members of OPEC (Organization of the Exporting Countries) meet, they are likely to leave the ceiling for oil production the same.
That is, the oil-producing cartel is likely to maintain the output of 30 million barrels per day which has been in place since 2012. Despite this output ceiling, reports have shown that OPEC members have in fact been producing more oil, over a million barrels a day, above the agreed upon level.
Until now, OPEC has been determined to maintain its market share and as a result, in the last meeting which took place in November, the cartel kept its production target unchanged.
This came at a time when global oil prices (LCON5, -2.68% CLN5, -2.70%) declined extensively due to the supply glut.
Analysts are concerned that if OPEC continues to maintain its output levels, this will prompt the market to have a glut in oil supplies for years to come.
Interestingly, analysts at Barclays have stated that OPEC will not be able to maintain its current market share and production levels while also expecting higher oil revenues.
To put this all into perspective, Barclays issued a document called, "Top 10 things OPEC won't do this week". This document included ten different scenarios of what might or might not take place at the meeting on Friday.
Some of these point included reducing OPEC's quota which is highly unlikely. Instead, Barclays has said that an increase is also possible.
With regards to Iran, it seems investors have taken the 'wait-and-see' approach as it seems there is a lot of uncertainty which is linked to the current deal that is on the table with Iran and the 6 world powers.
Another result of the meeting could be to target the U.S. shale oil. Saudi Arabia however has said that they are not against anyone but that while they want to maintain their market share, they also strongly support market stability which requires a firm balance between supply and demand.
An added outcome of today's meeting could be that non-OPEC suppliers will agree to cut their output yet Barclays has stated that this is highly unlikely. Added to this, it is vital that OPEC maintains the perception that the market is determining the price level and so they will need to provide guidance or price targets.
The bottom line is, according to analysts at Barclays, if OPEC takes no action today, oil prices are likely to be negatively impacted.