text:
Why we won't hear Gov. Kasich talk about Diebold anymore
By Joseph On October 26, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Early in his first term and until very recently, the Kasich Administration cited the massive corporate aid package it gave Diebold for its new world HQ as one of its crowning achievement. To hear Governor Kasich tell it, Diebold was practically out the door on its way to North Carolina until his Administration fashioned a massive tax and other corporate aid package that would construct, at no reported costs to the company, a brand new corporate HQ campus. And all the company had to do was promise not to terminate more than 20% of its Ohio workforce, and it wouldn't have to repay any of the financial incentives Kasich bestowed on it.
But almost as soon as it came out, the Kasich Administration's story began to fall apart. First, there was considerable evidence that Diebold had no real intention to moving out of Ohio in the first place – it had reportedly told the Strickland Administration as much. Instead, they simply solicited a bid from North Carolina to frighten the new Administration into showering Diebold with tax benefits. [Source: Canton Repository] In fact, the Repository discovered that discussions with North Carolina, whom Kasich specifically identified as a major threat to luring Diebold out of Ohio, was so preliminary that the State of North Carolina didn't even know that the aid package they were discussing involved Diebold at all. Furthermore, the State of North Carolina heard nothing back about the anonymous project that Diebold was using to negotiate with North Carolina for months. It was almost as if all the company was interest in was getting some bid from another State to present to Ohio or something…
And as we've covered extensively, the packages offered by the other States were a fraction of what Ohio was offering. Still, Kasich was willing to cough up $55 million in tax incentives allowing Diebold to construct their brand new, world-class global HQ campus…. and all the company had to do to keep the money was agree not to layoff more than 20% of its Ohio workforce. This, according to Kasich, is called job retention. Faced with a nasty fight over Senate Bill 5, Kasich used his "victory" in keeping Diebold in Ohio as a sign his administration was doing big things for Ohio's economy.
But as we reported back in April, nearly one year to the date when Kasich announced the deal, Diebold had announced enough layoffs for Ohio jobs that it was already dangerously close to hitting the 20% reduction mark, a mark the Administration said the company had to agree not to hit in 15 years. But the company was adamant that these layoffs in no way indicated that they would not go forward with the massive incentive package and the plan to construct the new global campus (at one point the Administration also boasted about how many construction jobs the Diebold package would create as a response to criticisms that it appeared to be a massive giveaway with little benefit.) In addition, it was the widespread criticism of the Diebold deal that led to the birth of the mythical Kasich return-on-investment analysis he says his Administration used. Not surprisingly, the secret formula revealed that Diebold was a great deal for Ohio taxpayers.
But that's all in the past. What does that have to do with today?
Oh, crap.
Yep, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Diebold called Kasich up and said: "No, thanks." What's even more bizarre, is the company's stated rationale.
"As we've been analyzing our near- and long-term growth priorities, it has become clear that investing more than $100 million in a headquarters facility is not economically feasible given the other priorities for the business at this time," Diebold President and Chief Executive Thomas W. Swidarski said in a statement.
Now, we've said for over a year that the reporting on this deal indicated that the company itself would incur no costs for this project. So, it's kind of odd for the company to say that this is somehow a cost-cutting measure for them, since ya know, the building was free to them. Well, I mean, practically free. I mean, there was that one little catch that it would costs the company millions to repay the incentive package if they dropped below 20% of its present Ohio workforce.
Hey, was there anything else Diebold announced today with their cost-cutting measure?
As part of efforts to cut costs, Diebold will also eliminate about 500 jobs in North America and Brazil over the next 30 days, including fewer than 75 positions in Northeast Ohio.
In a little over a year after offering Diebold a jaw dropping "job retention package" that gave everyone across the nation sticker shock, Diebold had to back out of the deal because they simply couldn't even deliver on the measly promise not to downsize its Ohio workforce by more than 20%.
But rest assured, the Plain Dealer reports, Diebold is still committed to stay in Green, Ohio, it says. Like it said a year ago it was committed to keeping at least 80% of its present number of Ohio workers for the next fifteen years. Or like it said back in April it was still committed to constructing the new HQ it announced it was indefinitely scrapping today, thus surrendering the entire aid package Kasich gave it. (Curiously, although the story notes the company called Kasich personally to inform him, there was no response from the Governor's office on today's news.)
Under John Kasich and Mark Kvamme's brilliant, secretive return-on-investment formula, this Administration has the failed Diebold deal and the "thank god Kasich failed" offer to lure Sears. Sears, by the way, was delisted from the Standard & Poor 500 because, well, the only person buying the stock is the hedge fund managing running Sears now. These are the companies that John Kasich and Mark Kvamme concluded were such sure-fire winners they were worth millions in taxpayer-funded corporate welfare dollars for individual companies.
But now you know why we won't hear Governor Kasich and his supporters talk about Diebold anymore.
Guest Post : The Danger of Willard Romney By David DeWitt Romney Supporters Display Anti-Gay / Racially-Charged Signs at Franklin County Voting Center


Buy traditional Rajasthani Pichwai painting of Krishna with Gopis.
Weight mentioned is only for calculation purposes, actual paintings are very light otherwise. Though large sized paintings may weight slightly over 500 gms.
A fantastic Pichwai painting panel of Krishna in his form as Shrinathji being served by Gopis.
Painted in subtle, soft colors this Pichwai is a beauty. This Pichwai depicts Srinathji (Krishna) with Gopis, the cowherd-girls of Vraja in Vrindavan who were in love with Krishna. Since the Gopis ended up loving the Supreme, their concentration on him was never in want of any disciplinary practice and was most natural. Devotion of the Gopis is therefore regarded of the highest order by Srimad Bhagavatam, one of the eighteen Puranas.
The Pichwai painting is rendered on a cotton cloth and framed in an ornate hand-painted border. All colours are natural colors obtained by grinding natural stone of different hues. Real and pure gold paint or gold foils are used in traditional Pichwais as and when needed in subjects. For example in jewellery, dresses, borders, outlines etc.
The word Srinath is a combination of two words 'Sri' and 'Nath'. Sri means Lakshmi (consort of Lord Vishnu or Krishna) and Nath means Master. So 'Srinath' is a name of Krishna which means Master or Husband of Lakshmi. The suffix 'Ji' is commonly used at the end of names in North India, Rajasthan in particular, to ascribe respect to the person being referred to.
Pichwai paintings only have Srinathji for their theme and the scenes painted are mostly from Srinathji's loving sports in Vrindavan with Gopis and cowherds.
Pichwai art emerged when the cloth-sheet serving as a background behind the statue of Srinathji was beautified with Rajasthani style paintings created by devotee-artists. In-fact the word Pichwai is a derivative of the Hindi word 'Peeche' which means Behind.
The painters, in their dedication to Srinathji went on creating new background cloth-sheets painted with various themes for different occasions. The discarded sheets were preserved and thus started a whole genre of Rajasthani art called Pichwai and alongside emerged a team of devoted artists who would dedicate their art in service of Srinathji and keep painting for generations that continues till date. Many of these artists are still ardent devotees themselves and lead a very simple life.
Srinathji's temple is located in Nathdwara, a small town in Rajasthan. The elaborate set of customs and procedures of offering loving service to Srinathji were founded by Vallabhcharya, an ardent devotee of Srinathji, great Sanskrit scholar and a philosopher. He founded the 'Pushti Marg' of devotional service to Lord Krishna wherein the Supreme Being is conceived of not as all-powerful, hard to access Brahman of the Vedas but a small, loving child in want of his devotee's loving service. Srinathji is therefore pampered with choicest of delicacies, rich garments by doting devotees throughout the day with elaborate rituals and procedures.
All our Pichwai paintings for sale are rendered on cotton cloth and hand-painted by traditional Pichwai artists.


text:
articlesEnglandEurope
11 Things to Do In Northern England
Alexa — May 22, 2016
London is one of the world's top tourist destinations, so it makes sense that most trips to England start in this capital city. I'll admit, that my previous visits to the United Kingdom all started in London or focused solely on London. I recently spent a week exploring Northern England and loved every minute of it! From metropolises such as Manchester to sleepy villages like Wark on Tyne to the rich history as well as world heritage sites; Northern England offers numerous opportunities to explore much more than London alone can offer.
Related: 6 Spectacular Hotels in Northern England
TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
11 of my favorite experiences during my visit to Northern England:
Durham Cathedral
Drift Mine Tour in Beamish
Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory
Poison Garden at the Alnwick Garden
Lancaster Castle
Drive through the Forest of Bowland
Stonyhurst College
Pendle Hill (Home of the famous witch trials of 1612)
Afternoon Tea at Opus One at the Radisson Blu
John Rylands Library
Durham was my first stop in Northern England and I loved everything about it. It's a historic city that sits on the River Wear. It's also a university town with quaint cobblestone streets. There are narrow walkways between buildings that open into quaint courtyards.
The town's two famous sites are Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral. The castle serves as the dorms for the university and if you happen to arrive in summer, they are available as lodging.
While the castle is a gorgeous Northern England landmark, it's the cathedral that is the shining star of this town. Originally built as a monastic cathedral for Benedictine monks, Durham Cathedral has some of the most intact surviving monastic buildings in England. Construction began in 1093 it took 40 years to finish.
Durham Cathedral is the only cathedral in England to retain almost all of its Norman craftsmanship. The nave is believed to be the world's first structural pointed arch. What is very interesting about the cathedral is it is a combination of twelfth-century late Norman style and also has parts built in the Gothic style.
The cathedral has been used as a filming location for many movies and TV shows. Most notably, many parts of the cathedral were used for the first two Harry Potter movies, including the below courtyard.
I visited the section of the wall called Housesteads. This section of Hadrian's Wall is the best preserved Roman fort in the country. From the ridge, you can see Northumberland National Park and the wall snaking into the distance.
The Roman emperor, Hadrian ordered the construction of his wall in 122 AD, 'to separate the Romans from the barbarians'. It stretched in its heyday from coast to coast, with a pair of turrets and a castle or small fort every mile. Whether you're covering a short section of the wall in an afternoon or spending a week walking its entire length, it's a fascinating piece of history to explore.
Housesteads is one of 16 bases along Hadrian's Wall and an iconic landmark in Northern England. It is the most complete example of a Roman fort in Britain. It is also the best place to see many of the original features of a Roman fort.
There are barrack blocks, hospital and below are said to be some of the oldest toilets you can find.
Beamish is a 300-acre open-air living, working museum in the Durham countryside. Employees dress up in period clothing and help share what it was like to live in 1820's, 1900's and 1940's in Northern England.
There are pathways throughout the museum grounds or you can jump on a trolley to visit the different sections of the museum.
The main street in town has shops and homes that you can wander into to get a peek at what life might have been like not so long ago. The highlight for many is the confectioner's shop that actually sells sweets!
The highlight of my visit was a tour of a drift mine. 1913 was the height of coal production in Northern England and there were 304 coal mines in Durham 165,246 men and boys who worked in the mines. Tours are given by previous miners. Hearing what day to day life is like from an actual miner brings a much bigger sense of the experience.
The Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory is a public astronomical observatory located at the Battlesteads Pub, Hotel & Restaurant. The observatory offers a range of weekly events including Aurora Hunting of the Northern Lights, an Astronomy for Absolute Beginners evening that includes the basics in stargazing and Dark Sky Discovery Night. The observatory is located in the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park which is part of the largest area of protected night sky in Europe. In this makes it officially the best place in England for people to go to enjoy the heavens.
Best known for its starring role as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films, Alnwick Castle has made many appearances in film and television over the years. Most recently starring as a location for Downton Abbey. Tours of the castle run spring through autumn. Make sure to check the calendar before your visit!
The Alnwick Garden is a complex of formal gardens adjacent to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. The garden recently went through a £42 million update and features various themed plantings designed around a central water cascade feature.
While the Alnwick Gardens are gorgeous, it's the Poison Garden that was the highlight of my visit! Beind the locked gates of the Poison Garden, guides share tales of deadly plants. Myths and legends are uncovered, along with facts from science and history.
Lancaster Castle is not your ordinary British castle. It was a working prison with inmates until very recently and is currently a court that tries Lancanshire residents for everything from murder to mayhem.
Take a step further back and you'll find it has a truly fascinating and somewhat horrific history. Guided tours are offered daily that share the famous story of the Pendle Witch Trial and it's ties to the Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts.
During my tour I learned that many convicted felons were shackled together and forced to walk miles to board a boat and be sent to America and later to Australia. And yes, they do have a room of shackles and other torture devices.
I visited hanging corner where public hangings that took place. During the time hangings took place, the bodies were buried in the ground next to the corner. Today that ground serves as a parking lot. A bit creepy to know you are walking over the dead as you are staring at the corner where they died.
Hanging Corner at Lancaster Castle
Dungeon Pendle Witches Were Believed to be Kept
Coming from America, it's amazing to me how far back history of a building can go. Visiting a castle that is over 750 years old is truly a treat.
The Forest of Bowland has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) since 1964. This 312 miles of countryside is home to the geographic center of Great Britain at Dunsop bridge. It's a beautiful drive through miles of farmland, green pastures, barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland. When I visited, I drove from Lancaster to Downham, which is just over 50 miles. You'll want to rent a car to make this drive and plan for extra time for plenty of photo stops.
Walk in the footsteps of author J.R.R. Tolkien who regularly stayed at Stonyhurst College in the Ribble Valley. This walk explores the richly beautiful surrounding that inspired him and a number of names occur in 'The Lord of the Rings'. One of the largest buildings in the North West. This magnificent 16thC manor house is home to a famous Catholic co-educational independent boarding and day school. Tours include dormitories, library, chapels and school rooms.
From Lancaster to Pendle Hill you can find monuments for the Pendle witches. Pendle Hill is located in Downham and one of the most visited Lancashire walks. During my visit, I had very limited time in the area and arrived late and left at dawn. Although my hotel provided a wonderful view of Pendle Hill I didn't get a chance to experience the 6.5-mile hike. It is on my travel 'to do list' for my next trip to Northern England and based on several conversations, I'd recommend the hike for anyone who enjoys a good walk and a bit of witch history!
It's just not right to visit England and not enjoy afternoon tea at least once. I enjoyed a scrumptious afternoon tea at Opus One at the Radisson Blu which is located in the historic Free Trade Hall and the original home to the Hallé Orchestra. The beautiful Opus One Bar and Restaurant offers indoor dining and enclosed patio with views of Albert Square.
As well as serving a traditional Afternoon Tea, Opus One at the Radisson Blu offers a gluten-free and vegan option. They also offer a Gentleman's Afternoon tea, with mini Yorkshire puddings, warm pork pie with mini fish & chips, rustic sandwiches and scones. Along with your tea, you can also add a glass of champagne or pint of beer.
While the sweet treats were delicious, my favorites were the finger sandwiches and the scones with clotted cream and preserves. The scones were moist and delicious (which is not easy with gluten free) and not like anything I have tried in the States. I think I've been spoiled forever for a proper scone and will be on the lookout for one that compares for a long time.
John Rylands library is a late-Victorian neo-Gothic building that opened to the public in 1900. It was founded by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands. Don't let the title "library" fool you. This is a must visit spot for architecture and history aficionados.
The library is part of the University of Manchester and houses collections of rare books and manuscripts including includes the oldest known piece of the New Testament, the St John Fragment. It feels more like a castle than a library as you wander the dark rooms and halls. The library offers tours, events and special exhibitions.
Thank you to Visit Britain for hosting my travels through beautiful Northern England and making this article possible. As always, all opinions are my own.
Tags: EnglandEuropenorthern englandUnited Kingdom
Next post 4 Reasons Why You Must Visit Wales
Previous post Fathom Dominican Republic Cruise: Ultimate Packing List
Two Days in the Corinthian Riviera Villages of Dorida, Greece
David Lee Drotar, February 14, 2019
The 52 Best Things to do in Ireland
Lianne, October 12, 2018
Why Saint Cirq LaPopie, France Is a Must Visit
Arnie Jacobsen, April 25, 2018
Charles McCool
Wonderful article about Northern England, Alexa. I visited the area this past March and loved it. I visited about half of the places you listed and definitely want to visit the others. I am ready for a return trip!
Wow! so many incredible places to visit, beautiful landscapes, quaint villages and amazing castles! I really need to go there! thank you for sharing!
Jennifer Lambert
oooh, great list! I'm saving this for when we're planning our UK trip next autumn! Thanks!
Tryphena Wade
One of the things I love most about England is all the old architecture. I love how they honor it and continue to make us of it rather than ripping it down in favor of something more modern. The poison garden looks so COOl! Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Vyjay
May 24, 2016 at 12:38 am	— Reply
This is a really fascinating piece on Northern England, I am especially enamoured by Beamish, a live Museum sounds so interesting, and to see slices of life of times gone by would be indeed an great experience.
I'm British but I really haven't explored much of North England! All these places seem wonderful and definitely look like they're worth a visit. Have you spent much time in South West England?
I seriously want to book a flight right now. I would love to stay at the Durham castle dorms and see the ruins at Hadrians wall! Witch trials were a crazy time, so I have to do the hike sometime in Pendle Hill.
I've travelled to England often but somehow never focussed much on this area: I had no idea there was so much to see! Durham in particular really appeals to me and I'd love to spend a night there – Only in England do dorms look like that 🙂
Stephanie Langlet
All these places are stunning. It reminded me a lot my trip to Scotland. Though I'm not a big fan of "cold" places and prefer Asia, Scotland is a beautiful souvenir. The first pic is very similar to Stirling, one of the places I enjoyed the most there.
This looks beautiful. I love that church. It reminds me of the seating in Westminster Abbey and the church that is at Windsor castle. I'm now curious as to what style churches have that.
The pictures are just amazing. It makes me want to visit this place right now. Did not know about the Harry Potter part. And that makes me want to go right now.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
On top of the Festival run, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) also conducts several year-long education programmes to support budding filmmakers and nurture film appreciation in youths.
The SGIFF Film Academy supports budding filmmakers with mentorship programmes, cultivates creative collaborations and also conducts immersive programmes to introduce the art of film in schools throughout Singapore.
The SGIFF Film Immersion Programme (FIP) brings prominent members of the film community to educational institutes to expose students to Singaporean and Southeast Asian stories; Stories that are relatable and relevant in their lives. In 2018, we directly impacted over 500 youths and in 2019, we have reached over triple that number (1,500).
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are reinvigorated by the Festival's purpose and mission. By championing the voices of our youth, we make it possible for the next generation to step up and tell our stories. For our filmmakers today and the filmmakers of tomorrow, we have started our 30-for-30 campaign to raise $30,000 for our education and outreach programmes in 2020.
We encourage donations of $30 and above. All donations are matched dollar for dollar but the cultural matching fund and will be eligible for a 250% tax deduction!
GIVING.SG CAMPAIGN
Want to help more? Check out our SGIFFriends programme.


Lee responds to a letter from Cabell pertaining to the imprisonment of John McCue. McCue had been sentenced to life in prison for spying for the Confederacy. He was a member of Confederate Colonel John S. Mosby's Rangers. McCue was ultimately pardoned by Ulysses S. Grant.


Like so many of us who blog these days, I, too, was there in the theatres when George Lucas first promised to whisk us off to a galaxy far, far away.
I was understandably captivated with Star Wars. I had the action figures. I read the comics. I listened to the soundtrack album constantly. I drank it all in, and I swam ably and as often as I could in its cinematic ocean. True, I had first wanted to grow up to be Star Trek's Captain Kirk, but Luke Skywalker? Where Kirk had swagger, Luke wrapped himself in a kind of youthful optimism that made you think he, too, probably relished the prospect of going where no man had gone before. Young Skywalker was about as admirable a second place as a young guy my age could want, though perhaps a bit too whiny to legitimately be called 'a new hope' when he was.
In a manner many storytellers have tried to understand and replicate, Star Wars lit the fuse for a generation of moviegoers, exploding into our collective consciousness the way only the best space fantasies always have. One of those truly inspired by all things Lucas was a young JJ Abrams, the auteur eventually tasked with bringing the franchise back to silver screens everywhere with The Force Awakens (2015). With it, Abrams paved the way for a new generation of heroes – Rey, Finn, and Poe – to carry the torch for audiences new and old, perhaps guaranteeing The Force will be with us (always) whether we wanted it or not.
Still, for all its studio polish, I found Awakens a creative 'dud' for many of the same reasons fanboys and girls my age did: it was simply too derivative.
Every narrative 'beat' felt like it had been fashioned to deliberately harken back to Lucas's Original Trilogy – the band of upstart rebels, the planet-destroying weaponry, the race to save the galaxy from certain destruction, etc. – and much of the story revolved around these new characters who just (dare I say?) weren't all that interesting. While Daisy Ridley's 'Rey' was inspired, John Boyega's 'Finn' seemed like watered-down Will Smith (the actor) circa 1990 and Oscar Isaac's 'Poe' sounded like watered down Han Solo (the character). The villainous Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver) spent much of his screen time throwing tantrums like some X-generation Bond villain holdover (how did he possibly survive Sith much less Jedi training with this attitude?); and Domhnall Gleeson delivered the best Nazi propaganda speeches since the Third Reich.
To make matters worse, Abrams entire script postulated that all of the gains of that bold Original Trilogy truly amounted to nothing in the fate of the greater galaxy. The Rebellion – that fateful organization which returned freedom and free will to the Galactic Senate – was held in contempt by the surviving government. To the victors went none of the spoils; instead, Leia and company were forced to spin-off on their own into The Resistance. And The Empire? Well, it didn't go away in the slightest. In fact, it just opened up shop under a new name, too: The First Order. Even had its own evil Emperor – Supreme Leader Snoke – at its head with its own Vader Jr. (Kylo Ren) as his enforcer. They dropped 'The Sith' and replaced it with 'The Knights of Ren'... and you can probably see where I'm going with all of this. Nothing was new. Nothing was fresh. It was, simply, handed down.
Despite vanquishing the forces of evil, Luke and his friends weren't so much as rewarded with a single Republic franchise for their effort. Abrams' carefully undid everything the Original Trilogy accomplished: he simply erased the blackboard and started anew, bringing back a few familiar faces to … what? Make it all somehow seem fresh?
Essentially what carries this film is the budding relationship between Rey and Kylo. Although there's sadly still no explanation offered for Rey's sudden onset of Jedi mastery, Kylo continues to wrench apart at the seams with each passing failure (and there are plenty). Though spiritually at odds, they're somehow connected by what appears to be much more than just The Force. To their credit, Driver and Ridley have found a shared dramatic center, and Johnson's script pushes the envelope in a weird kinda/sorta 'will they or won't they' dynamic. There is goodness and evil pulling them apart in equal measure, and this duo get terrific mileage out of their galaxy-spanning tête-à-tête.
For what it's worth, The Last Jedi is the kind of film best watched in much the same way many of its exquisite action sequences work best: at light speed. When it slows down and tries to make broader sense of its characters, situations, and circumstances, it just doesn't quite work as well as it should. (Why is it that an entire fleet with light speed capabilities can't seem to get ahead of the fleeing Resistance ships? Was it necessary to have the entirely CGI character of Maz Kanata 'phone in' a holographic cameo? How exactly would bombers work in the zero gravity of outer space? Did we have to spend so much time on the gambling planet? And is Benecio del Toro stuttering? Didn't he already do that in The Usual Suspects?) Johnson's script is too often clunky as side plots feed into the central premise of The Empire striking back, and many of these diversions require more time, weight, and explanation than they're given. Consequently, some of the antics "feel" a bit too much like "antics" instead of necessary AND thoughtful organic developments.
Luke's motivation for leaving the galaxy high and dry might seem pure, but his personal predicament is a far cry from the young Jedi who just decades earlier would stop at nothing to save his friends and family from certain doom.
Finn's mysterious illness vanishes as quickly as it came. In its place? A mortal adversary – Captain Phasma – who never quite displays the moxie behind the vaunted reputation either film has given her.
Poe's inability to follow orders would likely have him grounded for life, if not thrown out of any respectable military ever.
Snoke's background remains shrouded in mystery, and – without ruining it – audiences might know nothing more of him. Ever.
The Knights of Ren? They remain as elusive as our world's Knights of Columbus.
And Leia? Well, she managed to lead The Resistance nearly into oblivion, with no one in the galaxy seemingly noting nor caring. How's that for leadership?
There are more quibbles, mind you, but I'm trying not to spoil some of what makes the film worth a viewing. I know, I know. Nitpicking, right? Well, if it's "nitpicking" to want things to make narrative sense, then I suppose I am.
Despite these shortcomings, I'll admit that I still found The Last Jedi a rollicking blast.
Like any good carnival attraction, it'll have you on the edge of your seat as you ride over the rails. Unlike The Force Awakens (which I found to be one of the worst big budget examples of fan fiction ever produced), Jedi captures the spirit of high adventure that mostly made the Original Trilogy a bucket of fun. The Force is back the way it was always meant to be – an almost lyrical current beneath the galaxy at large – and, despite the ominous title, it's clear to this viewer that those rascally warriors with their laser swords are always only a generation away.
At some point in his professional life and career, Leonard Nimoy underwent a cultural epiphany. See, not long after his first foray in the realm of Star Trek, the actor penned an autobiographical tome called "I Am Not Spock" in an attempt to distance himself from the popular character he had helped craft on the Gene Roddenberry franchise. Years later, he kinda/sorta rethought his position, and -- realizing he wishes to correct the record -- wrote and sold another even vastly more popular work called "I Am Spock" in which he came to terms with playing a pop culture icon that will forever be a part of television history.
For those unaware, Wheaton found SciFi fame in the role of Ensign Wesley Crusher aboard the revered Star Trek: The Next Generation, but his character didn't enjoy the warm reception that the Vulcan Spock did. Arguably, Crusher is quite probably as revered as he is hated amongst even the most forgiving Star Trek enthusiasts. And -- to be perfectly fair -- none of this is really "owed" in any part to Wheaton: Crusher was simply -- in my humble estimation -- an addition to Trek that wasn't well written or conceived. He was always a little too wide-eyed and nerdy for my tastes, and the writers inserted the young man into situations oft times with dialogue that seemed written for someone half his perceived age. I think Wheaton probably did the best he could with what he was given, but he's always seemed to take issue and/or umbrage with fans online who sound off on Wesley's awesomeness and awfulness.
Word comes from an article on Screen Rant (here) that now Wheaton is focusing his sights on the forthcoming toy issue of Star Trek: The Next Generation minifigs in which his character is blessed with a crying, boyish face. Though he claims to 'get' the joke, the actor is still calling the effort lazy and uninspired and suggests such foolishness might be turning kids off science.
Might I suggest that Mr. Wheaton take a page or two out of Nimoy's shared epiphanies and be a bit more thankful that he's been given such a perch in TV history? Is it so bad to be forever linked with a character that's still inspiring the best AND perhaps the worst in us? Mind you, I'm not trying to sound jealous here, but -- at some point -- actors are just actors playing a role, and maybe it could be left at that? I don't doubt that maybe there's a bit of personal chiding that goes hand-in-hand public ridicule, but in the grand scope of history isn't this little more than small potatoes?
As always, thanks for reading, live long and prosper, and May The Force Be With You!
As a longtime fan of The X-Files, I wasn't all that thrilled with the weak return of episodes Season 10 provided via Fox TV back in 2016.
Now, I don't say this as any slight to the actors or writers. I think much of the blame is honestly owed to series showrunner Chris Carter who took the franchise in some -- ahem -- less curious directions after about Season 5 or so. Once he started undoing the mythology that had been so cleverly crafted with more conventional explanations, X lost a lot of its luster for me, and as much as I love seeing TV's most revered pairing of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson strut their stuff I've always been more of a 'story-guy' ... and X just hasn't been all that interesting in several seasons.
In any event, word has it that Gillian has had enough: the A.V. Club has cited an interview she's provided the media in anticipation of Season 11 starting just this week wherein the actress confirms her days with the franchise are, indeed, numbered. You can check out the blurb right here.
Not long after creating so much controversy with his first foray into the greater universe of Star Wars with The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson is heading back to the galaxy far, far away just this year as Geek Tyrant reports that his new trilogy will start shooting relatively soon right here.
For those who've been asking, the answer is "yes, I have seen the new flick," but I've kinda/sorta held off from penning a review. As I mentioned above, the feature has been somewhat controversial with audiences and online peeps -- in some cases for reasons I agreed with, in some cases I could dispute -- and I'm trying to come up with something unique to say about it. The straight skinny is that I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I think I did so for reasons that tie in with my open dislike and disappointment over JJ Abrams' lackluster The Force Awakens. I give you my word that I'll get something up -- probably soon -- but don't look for it to be anything world-shaking in the slightest.
As always, thanks for reading, live long and prosper, and May The Force Be With You!


Ecuador, and especially the Galapagos Islands, is one of the Southern Pacific and South America's most popular cruise destinations. Most of the major passenger cruise lines stop in San Cristobal or Guayaquil on their way around the neighboring islands and South American Coast.
Ecuador.com is pleased to offer our Price Comparison Search Tool that will help you find the best published rates not only to Ecuador but to many destinations throughout the world.


This is a guest post written by fellow friend and blogger Brandon Vaara. Connect with him on his blog, Facebook and Twitter. Brandon is one of the most prolific Biblical scholars that I have ever met. I would be hard pressed to find someone else who knows their Bible as well as he does. Whenever he writes a blog post or shares his opinion, I always find much gold in what he says. Here is his guest post on my blog, entitled: Are Video Games Completely Useless?
Around one week ago my good friend and fellow blogger Bogdan Kipko published an article on his blog entitled "Twenty Things People In Their Twenties Should Stop Doing". The basic summary of the article is that many people in their 20's waste the decade away being lazy, focusing on the wrong things, and having little to no intentionality in maneuvering through the decade. The article was a smash hit, evidenced by the total amount of views (close to 140,000 at the time I am writing this).
Bogdan's article was met with a wide range of feedback ranging from people who agreed with his every word to those who accused Bogdan of being legalistic. The article even managed to infiltrate the internet on a deeper level causing atheists to show up in the comment section to leave their two cents.
There was one point in particular that people took issue with, point #1.
While Bogdan is my good friend, I don't always agree with him, and he certainly does not always agree with me either. When I read the article, I disagreed with him regarding point #1, and frankly do not believe "playing video games is absolutely useless".
1. Playing video games can be a relaxing experience. I realize there is nothing relaxing about smashing the controller to pieces when you're playing your buddy at Marvel vs. Capcom, however, there are many games that are relaxing and allow a person to get their mind off a long day or work, school, or other tedious commitments. Playing video games can be a useful experience that expands the imagination.
2. Playing video games can serve as an edifying experience in a person's life. I really have to slick my hair back and put on my used car salesmen shoes to sell this point, but I have seen convincing testimony from people that proves that playing video games can serve in a spiritually beneficial way. My personal thought on this is that video games often connects friends and family together and allows them to speak to each other to discuss life. the latest video game systems – Playstation 4 and Xbox One – integrate social media features which enable people to share their gaming experience with their friends.
3. Playing video games challenges people to solve difficult puzzles, accomplish complicated strategies, and think outside of the box. I used to play a game called Final Fantasy Tactics on the original Playstation. This game was difficult and extremely fun. The game required constant planning, strategy, and skill. While there are games that are mindless (many first person shooters are like that) there are countless games that are challenging, and force the gamer to think.
4. Playing video games can serve an educational role. Ever seen those US Military commercials? They encourage the teen and twenty something video gamers to bring their skills on over to potentially do things like flying drones, designing computer programs, running tech stuff on military bases, etc. On the other end of the spectrum are the countless games created for young children. My daughter loves her Leap Frog tablet and plays all kinds of educational games. There are even video games that encourage physical fitness, such as Dance Dance Revolution.
5. There can be a healthy mix of video game play and real world obligations. To be clear, I'm not endorsing hours and hours of video game play every day. The video gaming I am endorsing is the kind that is done after more important obligations are taken care of. If you're married, this means you play after you've had dinner with your wife and put the kids to bed. If you're a student, play after you've studied and got your work done. If you're employed, this means not staying up until 4 in the morning and reporting to work half asleep at 8 AM. The scriptures certainly do warn the Christian to be conscious of their (short) time (Ephesians 5:15-17), however, if you are aware of this and don't waste your life away staring at a television screen and get things done, there is nothing wrong with enjoying video games, or for that matter, social media, reading books, playing sports, going to the gym, etc.
6. It is easy to dismiss an activity or hobby that you don't care about as being a big "a waste of time". All Seahawks season I heard people say "the Seahawks are a big waste of time". Or in the religious circles "People worship the Seahawks and are idolatrous". Usually these anti-Seahawk people don't know anything about football and frankly don't care for it. The same can be said about anything really, people who don't like it or don't understand something can easily dismiss it as being a "waste of time". Just because you don't enjoy something doesn't mean there is something wrong with another person who does enjoy it.
Ultimately you are in control of your actions and your household.
You get to decide whether or not video games have a place in your daily routine. Whatever your opinion may be on Bogdan's list (video games specifically) remember this:"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive" 1 Cor 10:23. While the Christian certainly has the freedom to play video games, it can certainly become an absolutely useless part of your life if you allow it to master you.
The Apostle writes a few verses later "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God". Now that is something Bogdan and I agree on completely. As for my personal opinion of Bogdan and his content, check out THIS POST. I thought his article was really good and think it's amazing that he was able to get atheists to show up on his Christian website!
Connect with Brandon on his blog, Facebook and Twitter.
Question: Do you agree or disagree? Brandon promised to join and jump into the discussion and offer his point of view. What would you comment on this topic?


A frequent contributor to a jihadist website, who identified himself as Umar al-Basrawi, has threatened David Letterman (pic), urging Muslim followers to "cut the tongue" of the late-night host because of a joke the comic made on his CBS show (see also – Al-Shamika).
The Site Monitoring Service, a private intelligence organization that watches online activity, said, on Wednesday 08/17/2011, that the threat was posted a day earlier on the Shumuka al-Islam forum, a popular Internet destination for radical Muslims (see – Web-War 06.29.11).
"Is there not among you a Sayyid Nosair al-Mairi … to cut the tongue of this lowly Jew and shut it forever?" Al-Basrawi wrote, referring to El Sayyid Nosair, who was convicted of the 1990 killing of Jewish Defense League founder Meir Kahane. Letterman is not Jewish.
Umar al-Basrawi (fro Basra in Iraq), which is likely to be an alias, has made some 1,200 postings to the Muslim website, said Adam Raisman, an analyst for the Site Monitoring Service.
Muslim extremist groups in the past few months have increased calls for people to take violent action against certain targets in the West, he said.
Filmmaker Theo van Gogh was killed on an Amsterdam street in 2004 by a Dutch Muslim angered by his film "Submission," a fictional study of abused Muslim women.


text:
import React from 'react'
import { Link, graphql } from 'gatsby'

import Layout from '../../components/layout'
import SEO from '../../components/seo'

class Articles extends React.Component {
 	render() {
		const articles = this.props.data.allMarkdownRemark.edges

		return (
			<Layout>
				<SEO title="Articles" />

					{articles.map(({ node }) => (

				        <Link to={node.frontmatter.path}>{node.frontmatter.title}</Link>

{node.frontmatter.teaser}

              Read more »

					))}

			</Layout>
		)
	}
}

export const pageQuery = graphql`
  query {
    site {
      siteMetadata {
        title
        description
      }
    }
    allMarkdownRemark(
			sort: { fields: [frontmatter___date], order: DESC }
			filter: { fileAbsolutePath: { regex : "\/articles/" }}
		) {
      edges {
        node {
          html
					excerpt(pruneLength: 250)
          frontmatter {
            date(formatString: "DD.MM.YYYY")
            title
						path
            teaser
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
`

export default Articles

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Here's an update on the information security stuff we've been writing. Three articles from SearchSecurity by Mike and a link to my archive on We Live Security.
Expert Michael Cobb discusses why known Java security vulnerabilities are on so many endpoints and how to contain them -- without updating Java.
The recent Ruby on Rails security vulnerabilities can be patched. Expert Michael Cobb discusses the fallout and offers help with remediation planning.
Is Microsoft's Bing search engine more susceptible to search engine poisoning than Google? Expert Michael Cobb discusses Bing security.
Bing security: Is search engine poisoning a problem for Bing users?
From NIST's Cyber Security Framework to NSA's impact on Wall Street.


text:
Bethesda's Pete Hines: 'I have banned the word replayable because that's not a feature'
Bethesda's Pete Hines discusses the company's position on single-player experiences and choosing to play Fallout 76 solo.
Emma Kidwell
" Every game can be replayed from the beginning. That's not unique. That's not a feature."
- Bethesda's Pete Hines discussing replayability.
In an interview with IGN, Bethesda's senior vice president of global marketing and communications Pete Hines discusses the company's position on single-player experiences and choosing to play Fallout 76 solo.
Hines admits how talking about Bethesda's affinity for protecting single-player games has started to get old.
"But single-player is part of who we are," he explains. "We're also the folks that make Elder Scrolls Online. We make Quake Champions. We make Elder Scrolls: Legends. But single player is part of who we are."
With the beta for Fallout 76 looming on the horizon, Hines points out that he enjoys playing the game solo, despite it being the first Fallout to be a shared-world experience.
"I just go out and explore," he says. "I decide whether I'm going to try and do some big quest or a personal quest like putting a scope on a rifle I just went through the trouble to repair...I'm in this world where I'm just trying to survive, and I feel like I'm alone. I feel like I'm playing Fallout by myself."
Fallout 76 may be hard to define, since it's advertised as an experience that can be enjoyed solo or with a group.
A common concern for single-player games revolves around replay value, and Hines notes that the company's approach to single-player specifically has shifted away from the single value notion of replayablity.
"We have a joke in the office. I have banned the word replayable because that's not a feature," he says. "Every game is replayable. Tetris is replayable. Every game can be replayed from the beginning. That's not unique. That's not a feature."
Instead, Hines wants players to feel a sense of value when they make the purchase.
"What is going to give the player that feeling of value if they buy this thing? How do we show them all the stuff they can do and how long they can play it for? It's an evolution of thinking."
The interview was part of a larger conversation around Bethesda's stance on single-player games and Fallout 76, so be sure to read the entire piece over at IGN.


The chatbot, named Juliet, is available in English and French through Facebook Messenger, and enables travellers to more easily manage many aspects of their trip.
WestJet has become the latest airline to launch an artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot. The chatbot, named Juliet, is available in English and French through Facebook Messenger, and enables travellers to more easily manage many aspects of their trip including destination inspiration and discovery, flight booking and day of travel information.
"Juliet is the first of many ways WestJet will be raising the bar using digital to improve the guest experience, and make the travel journey easier and more enjoyable," said Alfredo C. Tan, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, WestJet.
Juliet, named after one of WestJet's original aircraft, uses reinforcement learning allowing the chatbot to learn through a combination of instruction, examples and experience, leading to better responses over time.
WestJet will continue to add more functionality, features and capabilities to Juliet including availability on different platforms and voice interaction.
The updates to the website and app are aimed at delivering a more seamless, user-friendly experience, from booking to online shopping and customer support.
A selection of our most popular content from the last 12 months, including airline and airport interviews, plus features on AI and biometrics.


For those of us struggling to hear the voices on our favorite TV shows, there's a neat new product on the market that can help us turn off the closed captioning and enjoy our favorite shows and movies in rich stereo sound -- all without the need for hearing aids.
The proof is in the product: a recent review of the PAE-300 during a Phillies televised broadcast revealed sounds -- the clanking of bats in the dugout and fans voices from the stands -- that were previously undetectible by the reviewer. The audio is not only amplified, it is noticeably enhanced via what the company calls Neuro-Compensator technology. The handset slips discreetly into a pocket. Since the handset is wireless, the user is not "tethered" and the crisp audio follows you even when you walk away from the TV (up to 10 yards from the base unit -- even through walls).
The base unit was easy to connect to the DVD player and the wireless sync with the handset was seamless. In addition to TV viewing, the PAE-300 has modes that can help (1) with hearing voices in a noisy environment, (2) support improved audio on a cell phone or MP3 player and (3) provide relaxation, meditation or sleep enhancement with "white noise" -- high-quality sounds of nature.
The PAE-300 is available for purchase through Amazon.com and certain other online and retail outlets. The system retails for about $400. For more information, visit www.PAE300.com or call VitaSound Audio at 1-877-967-0742.


text:
Australia Cricket Great Steve Waugh Captures Spirit Of India Through Camera Lens
1st ODI, India in South Africa, 3 ODI Series, 2021/22 at Paarl, Jan 19, 2022
Wed, Jan 19, 2022 - 2:00 PM IST
2nd ODI, India in South Africa, 3 ODI Series, 2021/22 at Paarl, Jan 21, 2022
Fri, Jan 21, 2022 - 2:00 PM IST
3rd ODI, India in South Africa, 3 ODI Series, 2021/22 at Cape Town, Jan 23, 2022
Sun, Jan 23, 2022 - 2:00 PM IST
Match 1, Asia Cup, 2016 at Mirpur, Feb 24, 2016
121/7 (20)
India beat Bangladesh by 45 runs
Match 10, ICC World Twenty20 Warm-up Matches, 2016 at Kolkata, Mar 10, 2016
India beat West Indies by 45 runs
Match 13, ICC World Twenty20 Warm-up Matches, 2016 at Mumbai, Mar 12, 2016
South Africa beat India by 4 runs
Sports Home Cricket News Australia Cricket Great Steve Waugh Captures Spirit Of India Through Camera Lens
Steve Waugh's journey took him to the desert of Rajasthan, the foothills of the Himalayas and the teeming streets of Mumbai, stopping wherever he saw the game being played.
Updated: November 16, 2020 10:48 AM IST
Read Time:3 min
Monks playing cricket under the Himalayan foothills in Dharamsala.© Steve Waugh/AFP
Australian great Steve Waugh has long held a deep affection for India
Waugh set off in January before coronavirus pandemic changed the world
Waugh took about 17,000 photos and had to whittle them down to 220
Australian great Steve Waugh has long held a deep affection for India, first touring the country in 1986. But his experiences were all too often fleeting glimpses, before he got the chance to return and photograph everyday cricket in the sport's powerhouse. Travelling from one ground to the next as a player, and function to function as Australia's captain, Waugh felt he never got to properly see and feel the melting pot of life in the teeming, South Asian nation. But those small peeks into backstreets and alleyways from Kolkata to Jodhpur never left his mind.
Waugh, one of most successful skippers in cricket history, recalls being overwhelmed by "the absolute and complete bombardment of my senses", and vowed to one day go back when his star was shining a little less brightly.
"It's something that's always been in the back of my mind, I was always fascinated by what I saw out of the bus window, everyday life, the spirit of the people," Australia's most capped player told AFP in an interview.
"I couldn't comprehend really how important cricket was to the people and how it was almost a religion."
Waugh, 55, put it off for years, until the Australian team were plunged into crisis in 2018 by the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
With Australian cricket at a low point, he began planning a "feel-good" project which culminated in an 18-day journey through far-flung parts of India with his camera to capture the essence and simple joys of the game, and raise money for sick children at the same time.
100-year-old cricketer
"It was just a fun project. You know, 18 months or so ago people were saying that cricket had lost its soul after what happened in Cape Town," Waugh said. "I just wanted to do a feel-good project that I was passionate about."
Accompanied by a mentor in professional photographer Trent Parke, Waugh set off in January before the coronavirus pandemic changed the world.
His journey took him to the desert of Rajasthan, the foothills of the Himalayas and the teeming streets of Mumbai, stopping wherever he saw the game being played.
He met cricketing monks, a 100-year-old player, and a three-year-old Instagram batting sensation, while being inspired by blind and physically challenged players.
Old friends like Sachin Tendulkar got involved and the end product was a book -- The Spirit of Cricket -- and a documentary due to air ahead of a India's limited-overs and Test tour of Australia.
Proceeds will support his work with charities in India and the Steve Waugh Foundation, which raises funds for children with rare diseases, a philanthropic role he has embraced since a meeting decades ago with the late nun and missionary Mother Teresa.
Waugh, who made his international debut against India and captained Australia through a golden era from 1999 to 2004, took about 17,000 photos and had to whittle them down to 220 for the book.
Bamboo crutches
"That was harder than taking them because you don't want to leave any out. Every one brings back a memory," he said.
"There were so many great scenes -- playing cricket with monks in front of the Himalayas was something I never thought I'd see or do and the physically challenged cricketers were incredible.
"These guys had missing limbs or polio, things like that, and to see them flying through the air landing on these sort of bamboo crutches as they bowled was an amazing life experience."
It was a memorable trip for Waugh, who had always been interested in photography.
He said he hoped the end product would help people better understand what cricket means to Indians.
"It's hard to do it justice unless you've been there, but there's 1.4 billion people who almost all know something about cricket and all feel connected," he said.
"Particularly for the people living below the poverty line, which is probably 800 million, it gives them hope and it gives them something to be proud of, they feel connected and in some way responsible for their team doing well."
"It doesn't take much money to play cricket -- a bat and ball and the rest is up to your imagination," he added.
"You don't have to be physically big or imposing to play and they have these role models and heroes so cricket, they really are fanatical, passionate about it."
Topics mentioned in this article
Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team Steve Waugh Sachin Tendulkar Cricket
Get the latest updates on SA vs IND 2021-22, check out the Schedule and Live Score . Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more sports updates. You can also download the NDTV Cricket app for Android or iOS.
Kagiso Rabada "Released", South Africa Announce Updated Squad For India ODIs
Marais Erasmus To Become 3rd South African Umpire To Officiate In 100 ODI Matches
India vs South Africa: Virat Kohli Raring To Go In ODIs, Posts Photos From Net Session
KL Rahul To Use "Learnings" From "Great Captains" MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli In South Africa ODIs
Live Scores & Results