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Mississauga to buy back 10 per cent of utility
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO - Mississauga council has voted to spend tens of millions of dollars to buy back a minority shareholder's 10 per cent stake of its hydro utility, Enersource.
The 7 to 4 vote followed a heated debate of several hours that reopened old wounds and had long-hidden secrets about the utility's history tumbling out on the council floor.
Questions were asked by several angry councillors about a controversial agreement made in 2000, when the city's then CAO, Dave O'Brien, signed a secret deal with Borealis Infrastructure, the second shareholder. (O'Brien is now with Toronto Hydro.)
The final agreement included clauses different from those approved by council. That caused a host of problems because it gave Borealis a veto on a wide range of issues, including the first right of refusal on any future sale.
If Mississauga tried to sell Enersource to another public utility – and thereby enjoy a provincial tax holiday – the sale price could be vetoed and matched by Borealis. If Mississauga were forced to sell to Borealis, a private body, the city would face a huge tax penalty.
"We own 90 per cent; they own 100 per cent veto power," Councillor Carolyn Parrish said of the deal. "This has got to end."
A heated battle ensued between supporters of Parrish, who advocated using reserve funds to buy out Borealis, and those backing Mayor Hazel McCallion, who tried to postpone a decision until a public meeting could be held.
Borealis's stake in the company first appeared on the public radar a year and a half ago, when it vetoed council-ordered cuts to the salaries of board members.
That led to an investigation that revealed the company's veto power, of which several councillors had been unaware. Previously, much of the Enersource debate had taken place behind closed doors.
Details emerged – including a possible buyout price ranging from $25 million to $40 million.
Mississauga's reserves, while dwindling, include about $207 million left from the original $340 million the city pocketed when Mississauga Hydro was deregulated and recapitalized.
Four-Year U.S. Wind Forecast Sees Quarter-Million Jobs
BOEM receives wind power lease requests


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Thresholds of Vision:
Mel Bochner and the Space of Painting
by Robert Stalker
Mel Bochner, Surface Dis/Tension,
silhouetted composite gelatin silver print, 1968.
In some ways I always thought of myself as a painter
. . . a painter who just didn't happen to paint.
--Mel Bochner
Mel Bochner's "return" to painting in the 1980s caught many by surprise. After all, hadn't Bochner, like a lot of artists who came of age in the 1960s, long since turned his back on painting? Indeed, the work that established Bochner as one of the earliest and most significant Conceptual artists—exhibits comprised of "working drawings," diagrams, note cards, even masking tape—seems, at first blush, preoccupied with questions (not to mention materials) far removed from those that have traditionally concerned painters. And yet, as Bochner himself has insisted, underpinning much of his rather wide-ranging artistic output is "an analytical attempt to rethink painting's functions and meanings." The obvious intimation of cinematic space in the very paintings that marked Bochner's "return" to the genre suggests that central to Bochner's project of rethinking painting's functions and meanings is a consideration of the relation between the space of the picture plane and that of the cinema screen. The sequential ordering of the image in Threshold (1982) or the tumbling blocks depicted in such paintings as Freefall (1987) seem to break down the illusion of cinematic movement into a pictorial representation of individual film frames projected simultaneously. During the '60s Bochner rarely availed himself of the tools and materials we would normally associate with painting; nevertheless, the relations between pictorial and cinematic space fascinated him even then, finding an exceptionally provocative expression in two related works from this period, the film New York Windows(1966) and the magazine piece Alfaville, Godard's Apocalypse (1968).
Made in collaboration with the painter Robert Moskowitz, the little-known film New York Windows, represents one of Bochner's earliest attempts to think about the relations between painting and moving image. Having met while Bochner was working as a guard at The Jewish Museum, Bochner and Moskowitz embarked on a film project when a mutual friend lent them a 16mm movie camera and some unexposed film. After some initial experiments, the two shot a 12 minute black and white silent film entitled New York Windows.The film received its first public screening at the Projected Art exhibition at the Finch College Museum in 1966 and, unfortunately, has rarely been screened since. (According to Bochner's studio, who generously gave me on-line access to a DVD version of the film, no known print of the film now exists.) Comprised of 10 static shots of New York shop windows, the film explicitly plays the space of the picture plane, whose most common metaphor of the window is literalized in the film, against the representational space of cinema.
The ten shop windows that form the putative subject of the film were all chosen, as Bochner later said, "on the basis of the artificiality of their displays"—a standing female mannequin brandishing a whip surrounded by stuffed tigers, a blown-up movie still of a couple running, a display of muscle and physique magazines. The individual shots are held for 1 or 2 minutes; the stationary camera and stillness of the window displays temporarily lend each shot the quality of still photograph. (Bochner and Moskowitz were apparently influenced in this regard by the work of Walker Evans.) The film's central image of the window, however, inescapably calls to mind Leon Battista Alberti's centuries old metaphor of painting as an open window (aperta finestra), pushing the relation between picture plane and movie screen. (Moskowitz's painting from this period,Untitled (1961), included in the Art of Assemblage show in 1961, was a kind of collage that incorporated the window shade from his studio directly into the canvas, similarly explores the metaphor of painting as window.) In making the window frame virtually identical to the film frame, New York Windows conflates the window, the picture plane, and the movie screen, bringing together what Bochner calls in a contemporaneous catalogue statement entitled "Seriality and Photography" (1967) "conflicting conceptual and visual orders."
The film adds yet another layer to these conflicting visual orders by capturing the wraithlike images of moving traffic and bustling passersby reflected in the shop windows. The movie thus suggests yet another space of vision, that of the mirror. Shot at 24 fps but intended to be projected at 16 fps, the film, as Bochner has said, slows "the procession of disembodied reflections to a funereal pace." The contradictory spaces of vision evoked by window, screen, and mirror, along with the film's concurrent absorption in the eerie stillness of the window displays and the dreamlike movements of cars and people, create a rather vertiginous and unreal sense of space. The inclusion of the occasional pedestrian passing between the camera and shop window further complicates the confusing sense of space set up by the film. In a note on the film written immediately after the film was made but not published until recently, Bochner states: "The window pane, now congruent with the movie screen, becomes the debased counterpart of the painter's picture plane, simultaneously transparent and reflective."
Mel Bochner and Robert Moskowitz, Still from New York Windows (1966).
In 1968, Bochner pursued these tensions between painting and cinema in one of his most bewildering works, the magazine piece Alfaville: Godard's Apocalypse, initially published in Arts Magazine. Occupying a curiously liminal space between commentary and "genuine" art work, a "genre" that Bochner originated several years earlier with Robert Smithson in their piece for Art Voices entitled "The Domain of the Great Bear" (1966), Alfaville takes as its ostensible subject Godard's science fiction detective film Alphaville: A Strange Case of Lemmy Caution (1965). (The misspelling in the title of Bochner's piece resulted from an error on the part of the magazine's typesetter). The piece takes the form of a grid containing within its individual "blocks" both written text and images: eclectic quotations, plot summary, observations on the film's technique and themes, and images ranging from stills from Godard's film and Roger Corman's The Wild Angels, to an Ed Ruscha photograph of a parking lot to a photograph of William S. Burroughs, who, in his fedora and trench coat looks a bit likeAlphaville's noir hero, Lemmy Caution (played by the American ex-patriot actor Eddie Constantine). While the piece offers an oblique commentary on what Bochner perceives as Godard's "old conventions of ethics and rationality," the article's puzzling form engages, much as New York Windows did, the curious tensions between stillness and motion opened up by the conflation of different frames of vision.
The odd grid-like structure of the piece evokes at once the cinematic and the pictorial, creating the kind of dizzying sense of space induced by New York Windows. On the one hand, the arrangement of the text into individual blocks of writing casts off the traditional imperative to scan the page from left to right, allowing the reader to move vertically or horizontally, creating a sense of motion. On the other hand, the disorientation induced by the unusual structure tends to distance the reader from the text, compelling the visual apprehension of the page layout in its entirety. That this conceptual and perceptual instability was at least part of the article's point is suggested by Bochner's comments in a recent interview: "The grid lulls the reader into believing there must be an order to the text. But after a number of frustrating wrong turns, it becomes evident that the grid is not going to work as a road map. The 'uneasiness' comes from the realization that you are caught in a labyrinth and are going to have to find the way out by yourself." The arrangement of text and image in the form of the grid undermines the temporality of traditional writing, creating a kind of "para-cinema" from what Yve-Alain Bois calls its "montage structure." The grid's relation to cinema is further suggested by Bochner's inclusion of the following quote from Godard: "My films are blocks." (While Godard has certainly made statements like this, Raphael Rubinstein, who first exhibited Bochner's Alfavillein an art context, warns that some of Bochner's attributions may be fictitious.) Rather than supplying a set order, the grid allows for a quasi-cinematic montage of various juxtapositions of the grid's blocks.
If the grid-like structure of the piece encourages a quasi-cinematic experience, it also evokes painting. Most immediately, the grid suggests the high modernist tradition of Mondrian, Malevich, and Albers, to name a few, painters who all famously worked with the grid. Reaching further back in art history, however, the grid might also summon the Renaissance velo-grid, a device used to aid painters in the mapping of a three dimensional real-world space onto the two-dimensional space of the picture plane. Either way, the grid's evocation of the picture plane turns the text of Alfaville from words to be read into, to borrow Robert Smithson's famous phrase, "words to be looked at," subtly anticipating in this regard Bochner's wall paintingLanguage is Not Transparent (1970). Alfaville's arrangement or shaping of the text on the page foregrounds the materiality of language, looking forward to the way that, as Bois has pointed out, the "pseudo-expressionist gesture" of the later mural shows "that the material form in which language is uttered does have an effect on its signification." The piece's deployment of the grid thus creates the kind of irresolvable tensions between motion and stasis, transparency and opacity, that Bochner explored in New York Windows, evoking at once the different spatio-temporal dimensions of painting and cinema.
The line dividing Bochner's early "Conceptualist" phase of the 1960s and his more recent "return" to painting in the 1980s may not be as definite as some have supposed. The fascination with the relations between pictorial and cinematic space that characterize the paintings Bochner began producing in the 1980s finds its incipient expression in works such as New York Windows and Alfaville. "I'm interested in painting as a text that is continually rewritten," the artist has said. Rewriting that text for Bochner has involved bringing the cinematic into provocative, at times quite disconcerting, collision with the space of painting.
Robert Stalker is an Atlanta-based freelance arts writer.
Special issue: Mel Bochner
Measurement Series Works Two Recent Books and Other Thoughts Thresholds of Vision

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The following five best practices provide a framework for developing and implementing a source protection plan for city planners, government officials, and water suppliers.
Understand your watershed: An effective source protection plan is built upon an understanding of your watershed and aquifer recharge are as. Scientific data and watershed analyses are essential to define an effective source protection plan and build public support for its implementation.
Use maps and models to prioritize protection: Municipal water supply managers and conservation agencies routinely face questions and problems when choosing where to invest in conservation and restoration strategies. Using maps and models to identify highpriority land for protection and restoration is critical, as funding is always limited and multiple demands are often made upon a valuable piece of land.
Build strong partnerships and work watershed-wide: The support and cooperation of a variety of public and private partners will be required to effectively implement a source protection plan, as most communities' source areas lie partially, if not entirely, outside of their jurisdiction. Effective source water protection can be achieved by influencing others to act on your behalf, utilizing existing initiatives and frameworks, and finding common goals with others.
Develop and implement a "funding quilt": Implementing a comprehensive source water protection plan requires a significant a nd steady stream of funds. Successful communities secure funds from a variety of sources—federal, state, local, and private— creating a "funding quilt." By tapping into a range of sources, communities can raise and leverage significant amounts of money and avoid reliance on a single revenue stream.


Hows everyone doing? Hopefully the answer was great! I mean come on it's a brand new year. That means new goals, new explorations and new opportunities to be seized. I get a feeling this is going to be the best year. Better yet, I KNOW this is going to be the best year. How do I know this? Well its simple, because I am going to make it the best year yet! And to make sure this prediction comes true, I have some great content lined up for you guys so make sure you stay tuned.
Also, If you enjoy the images and content on this site feel free to check out my exclusive library which holds a few tips and secrets as how to how you can also share some of your thoughts, images and ideas with the world. Now that I got a bit of my rambling out the way, lets get to the good stuff, the entire reason you came here, THAT'S RIGHT THE JUNKANOO FESTIVAL.
Before I can describe exactly what the Junkanoo festival is, I need to fill in a few details of how I even stumbled across this awesome event. Well, it all begins with a family cruise. Our family decided to go on a remembrance cruise, the same way we did when we were children. Upon boarding the enormous Majesty of the Sea, memories of childhood instantly returned. The most prominent memory being the all you can eat buffets offered for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
That's right, all the bacon, eggs, waffles, stir-fry, tofu, fruit desserts and nearly any other dish you can think of were completely unlimited. This was definitely the second most spectacular event of the entire cruise. Because lets face it, FOOD IS LIFE. Now that we have boarded the majestic ship, you may be wondering where we are headed? Answer, the Bahamas. Upon arriving we walked around and noticed all of the tourist traps while dodging the seemingly pricey excursions.
We walked the beach and took several pics as you can see but as we walked we began to notice a large amount of people and music originating from the end of the beach. Naturally our curiosity fueled our legs and we gravitated towards the area. Upon arriving we were completely surprised to see tons of people in costume preparing for some type of parade. We asked a few locals what the parade was for and they answered THE JUNKANOO FESTIVAL.
Now that I have given you a bit of bask story, its time to answer our previous question, WHAT IS THE JUNKANOO FESTIVAL. Well to answer it in layman's terms, it is a large festival celebrating independence. But to be a bit more specific, it is believed that the Junkanoo Festival originiated from the three days off slaves were given at Christmas. They celebrated these 3 days with masks, costumes, singing and dancing.
Other speculations regarding the history of the Junkanoo festival state there was a West African prince by the name of John Canoe that outwitted the English becoming a hero.
Regardless of your beliefs about the history of this amazing festival, we can all agree that it is extremely fun and attracts viewers from all over the world. We had never planned to observe this festival and were thrilled to find out we just so happened to be on the island the day of the event.
The performer's musicians and dancers were all extremely skilled; They marched, danced and played completely in rhythm. The numerous costumes and routines were hypnotizing. Popular movies such as Toy story and Pocahontas were all represented at this festival. Interestingly enough, all of these costumes were created by hand! The students created their unique costumes from various materials and put a large amount of details into them. I can only imagine how many hours this took but they certainly whore them with pride.
I hope you enjoyed my quick explanation and exploration of the Junkanoo festival. More images from the festival can be found BELOW, definitely check them out to see some of these amazing performers in action. If you have been to this festival or enjoyed this post feel free to drop a comment below. Finally If you have the time and even if you do not, definitely look into this festival, you will not be disappointed. Well that is it for this time, until next time STAY BOUNDLESS!!!
PS: CHECK OUT THIS (Junkanoo Festival Video) AWESOME VIDEO FROM THE FESTIVAL!!!


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Tag Archives: ABC
ONCE UPON A TIME: Ridiculously Bad Life Choices (S4:E20 – Insert obligatory weed reference here)
Regrets. We all have them. Sometimes they are little, like the time you drank too much and said those things you weren't supposed to say. Sometimes they are big, like the time you ruined a friendship or broke the heart of someone you loved.
Sometimes they are friggin' huge, like the time you kidnapped a baby, turned it into the biggest asshole ever, and dumped it through a time portal . . .
Oh, so you are saying you never did that last one? Maybe that's just Snow and Charming . . .
This week's installment of Once was all about the balance between taking responsibility for our own crappy mistakes and understanding that there are some things in life that simply cannot be changed . . . well . . . unless you happen to know an Author who can conveniently erase your mistakes for you, thereby allowing you to f*ck up to your heart's content.
Also this week on Once, Swan Queen road trips, car chases, kids who change nationalities when they become adults, a heart that gets tossed around like a hot potato, and a baby conceived under the creepiest circumstances ever, and I'm not even talking about the one that hatched out of an egg . . .
Black Smoke Monster Cometh!
Bet you didn't know the Black Smoke Monster from Lost is also the Sorcerer on Once Upon a Time. That sure is one busy time traveling fart . . .
As the episode begins, Old Hairy Homeless-Looking Mickey Mouse is pleading with the Black Smoke Monster Sorcerer. "Please don't vacuum me up into fart oblivion like you did to the drug runner on Lost. I really didn't mean to play a part in sucking all of Emma's assholeness out of her and putting it into Lily. It just sort of happened."
"Don't worry. It's not your fault. I don't know what I expected, hiring a dumb unkempt hobo to be my apprentice. I blame that Author, which is why I locked him in a book forever, where he will never be found, until those meddling kids release him 30 years or so from now. . ."
Thirty years later . . .
Cruella's Dead. It's Vacation Time!
Our gang mourns Dead Socio Cruella for the required three minutes and twenty seconds (I wonder whose job it was to scoop up her squished body from the bottom of that cliff?), before heading back to Granny's to get wasted. "I'm going to kill Rumpel for making me kill Cruella," Emma says, her eyes filled with Asshole.
"Whatchu talkin bout, Dark!Emma?"
"Hey, ease up on the killing talk, Killer," offers Snow. "That's just the Asshole in you talking."
"Shut up, I still hate you and your hideous haircut," replies Emma.
"This has been fun and all, but I have to go rescue my boyfriend from his wife . . . the fake one, obviously," Regina explains.
Enter Maleficent. "Hey guys. I've decided I want to change teams."
"You're going to become a lesbian?" Emma asks.
"No, silly. I was always a lesbian," explains Maleficent. "Think about it, I asexually reproduced my daughter in an egg. I'm talking about joining Team Good Guys. I think you can help me find my daughter, Lily, somewhere in Massachusetts. You might remember her from back when she was a Latina girl in that flashback. She's no longer Latina, since her face turned into another actress. But I'm sure you can find her anyway."
"Well, this is awkward," says Emma, when she sees the 30-year old birth announcement Maleficent found of Lily. (How did she know it was the same Lily, especially considering the girl changes nationalities every few years? Did the birth announcement mention she cracked out of an egg?)
"I was kind of an asshole to that little asshole, back in the day," Emma admits.
"Aint' fate a bitch," offers Regina sympathetically. "Hey, I've got an idea, Emma. You and me can road trip to Massachusetts to pick up Lily, then New York to pick up Robin Hood, then Disney World to ride the scary Snow White ride, where you and I can both get out all of our aggression against your awful mother and her ridiculous hair."
"I'm sitting right here," Snow White chimes in.
"Nobody cares," Regina and Emma say in unison.
Regina and Emma quickly make arrangements for their road trip. Regina hires Maleficent to guard Belle's heart from Rumpel. And Emma grudgingly hires her parents to watch Henry. She also sexts Captain Hook some naughty pics of her to keep him warm while she's away. Just kidding, but they do share some serious PDA as she's leaving and admit that they are part of one another's happy endings . . .
It's all very sweet. Captain Hook is going to be a brilliant housewife someday . . .
You can check out the rest of this recap HERE!
Filed under ABC, Once Upon a Time
Tagged as ABC, anti-savior, author, car chase, cruella's funeral, emma almost kills lily, emma and hook, emma becomes a bit more of an asshole, emma still hates her parents, Lily, lily is an asshole, lily used to be latina but isn't anymore, lily's necklace, lily's tattoo, maleficent allies with the good guys, marion is zelena, Massachusetts, New York, Once Upon a Time, pt RECAP – Season 4: Episode 20, regina stops emma from killing lily, robin and regina reunite, rumpel returns belle's heart, savior, swan queen road trip, the apprentice is still homeless looking, the sorcerer is the black smoke monster from lost, wolf in the road reappears, zelena is pregnant with robin's baby
Psycho Killer, Qu'est-ce Woof? – A Recap of Once Upon a Time's "Sympathy for the De Vil"
This week on Once Upon a Time, come to the dark side — we have murder. And puppies. And murderous puppies. But we should warn you that sometimes, if you're a little too murdery, sometimes your mother will ground you for life. Just ask Young Cruella De Vil.
Tagged as ABC, asshole intervention, badly behaving dalmations, belle tells rumpel he's a bad kisser, cruella falls off a cliff, cruella has halitosis, cruella is a sociopath, cruella kidnaps henry, Cruella's bushy eyebrows, cruella's mom is not really an asshole, emma kills cruella, Emma Swan, Emma turns into an asshole, Friday by Rebecca Black is pretty much the worst song ever invented, henry always gets kidnapped, lack of inner plumbing makes one smell like an asshole, maleficent takes a nap, Once Upon a Time, Prince Charming, pt RECAP – Season 4: Episode 19, regina controls belle, regina fools rumpel, rip cruella, rumpel is dying, rumpel's asshole is eating his heart, Snow White, sympathy for the de vil, the author has terrible taste in women, the author loves cruella, why hygiene and toothbrushes are super important
March 9, 2015 · 10:36 am
The Kids Are Not All Right – A Recap of Once Upon a Time's "Unforgiven"
"So, Snow White gets to keep two kids and a hot husband, and I get nothing but a funny-looking hat and little blue balls."
When people say, "Love makes you do crazy things," they tend to be talking about romantic love . . . the kind of love that gives you butterflies in your tummy, a warm gooey feeling in your heart, and that awkward tingly sensation in your pants.
But what about the love a parent feels for his or her child? The kind of love that only develops when a little tiny human enters your world and, at least for the first two or three years of its life, is totally and completely vulnerable, relying on you for even the simplest of life's necessities, including pooping.
If romantic love can make you do crazy things, well then that kind of love should have the power to render you damn near psychotic.
This week's installment of Once was all about the great lengths parents will go to shield their little ones from darkness . . . even if that darkness happens to be coming directly from the parents themselves.
Also this week on Once . . .
. . . everybody gets away with lying to Emma, whose bullsh*t-detecting magical power seems to have been on the fritz ever since she started dating the flying monkey back in Season 2.
Alcoholism… making ugly flying monkeys look like Captain Hook since the beginning of time…
. . . Belle gets a little tongue action from someone whose name most certainly does not rhyme with Bumplebiltskin.
. . . Snow and Charming act shady and start (or continue, depending on how you look at it) sucking at life.
. . . and a plot is hatched for Regina to infiltrate Regina George's Army of Skanks Maleficent's Queens of Darkness, thereby indicating that I've been genuinely onto something with all my shameless Mean Girls references this season. (Never pegged the Evil Queen as a Cady Heron though . . .)
"You're like really pretty."
Tagged as ABC, animated gif, August, baby rattle, Chisel Chin, cruella, Emma fails at seducing a puppet, emma may be satan's spawn, fish stick and pound puppy, funny, geppetto, hook hooked up with ursula, in which regina becomes cady heron, Maleficent's Baby, more mean girls references, Once Upon a Time, pinocchio, prince charming is useless, pt RECAP – Season 4: Episode 13, Queens Of Darkness, recap, rumpel fans revolt, Season 4, Snow makes Maleficent lose her baby, Snow White, Snow White's secret, swim of shame, The Book with No Words, unforgiven, Ursula, Vampire Pam, Vampire Pam gives Snow White Groundhog Day nightmares, will kisses belle
Bad Girls Club – A Recap of Once Upon a Time's "Darkness on the Edge of Town"
Who's the evilest of them all? Three new contenders for the crown arrive in Storybrooke, but the true winner is someone you'd never expect…unless you saw the promos
Tagged as ABC, And none for Gretchen Weiners, animated gifs, Annoying Henry, author, Blue Fairy sucks, captain hook, captain swan, Chernabog, Cruella De Ville, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Emma Swan, fantasia, funny, Henry goes through puberty, julie kushner, Maleficent, Mean Girls, Mr. Cluck's Chicken, Once Upon a Time, Premiere, Prince Charming, pt RECAP – Season 4: Episode 12, Queens Of Darkness, recap, regina, Regina George, rumpbelle, Rumpel eats Ramen Noodles, screencaps, season 4b, Smoke Monster from Lost, Snow White, Snow White's secret, swan queen, the author is not the sorcerer, Vampire Pam
So Many Balls, So Little Time – A Recap of Galavant's Episodes 3 and 4
Greetings Galavantians! And welcome to week two of ABC's four-week medieval musical extravaganza, Galavant . . . the show where three quarters of the songs are about male genitalia and I'm still rooting for the bad guy to win.
While most of you were off enjoying Globes that were Golden, I was busy being entertained by balls of an entirely different sort . . .
. . . or lack thereof, as in the case of this eunuch (who may or may not be Varys from Game of Thrones's dumber, but slightly more jovial twin brother) . . .
No seriously, watching this guy get his non-balls get kicked repeatedly was one of the highlights of this episode, which undoubtedly says terrible things about me as a human being.
Also in the balls category, as in soirees, Galavant's first half hour featured not one, but two wild and crazy parties (i.e., the kind of balls you won't find attached to a eunuch's groin) . . .
. . . neither of which featured Matthew McConaughey or his beard, unfortunately.
And definitely no Meryl Streep.
The second half hour of Galavant was a dream come true for anyone who has ever laid in bed at night and wondered, "Golly gee, I wonder what Lord Grantham from Downton Abbey would look like as a pirate."
I know I have!
. . . also MORE BALLS! This time, belonging to This Guy . . .
You can check out the rest of this recap here.
Filed under ABC, Galavant
Tagged as ABC, animated gif, Comedy Gold, episdoes 3 and 4, eunuch, funny, galavant, isabella, Jackass in a Can, Jester, jewel, king richard, lord grantham, Madalena, oy what a knight, Peter Pillager, Pirates, recap, screencap, Sid, Sidneyland, Sunday night, Two Balls
It's Always Dawn-est Before the Dark – A Recap of Once Upon a Time's "Heroes and Villains"
Welcome to the mid-season finale of Once Upon a Time, a.k.a. The Episode Where We Learn How Everything That Was Fixed in the Last Episode Will Turn to Crap Just in Time for Part B of the Season. It was an episode jam packed with ooey gooey goodness, and a heaping helping of angst thrown in for good measure. Let's see, we got a wedding . . .
. . . well . . . part of a wedding . . .
. . . we got to see a bride look in the mirror before her wedding . . .
Two lovers rekindled their romance . . .
. . . and then . . . un-kindled it.
Rumpel had a very good day . . .
. . . followed by a very bad one . . .
. . . followed by a trip to the aquarium?
Lots of people made out with one another.
And three very fabulous Drag Queens of Darkness finally found their King.
Filed under Once Upon a Time
Tagged as ABC, animated gifs, anna and elsa, Anna Marries Kristoff, Annoying Henry, Belle Dumps Rumpel, Belle Kicks Ass, Camelot Cup, captain swan, Chocolate, Cruella De Ville, frozen, funny, hans, Happy Endings, Heroes And Villains, Hook Gets His Heart Back, Ice Wall, maid marion, Maleficent, Once Upon a Time, Operation Mongoose, outlaw queen, Queens Of Darkness, recaps, Robin Hood Leaves, Roland, Rumpel Gets Banished, screencaps, Season 4, season finale, storybrooke, swan queen, The Author, Ursula, Vampire Pam
TV Land in Fall 2012 – Why it's getting LOST (in a good way)
"We have to go back!"
In the weeks between spring finale time, and the summer television season, TV fans tend to do one of two things: (1) reflect on seasons past or; (2) look ahead to the new season. As for me, my intention in writing this post was to do the latter. But I ended up doing quite a bit of the former, as well.
Allow me to explain. You see, having recently watched all the new trailers from this years' network upfronts, my original goal was to select the five new series with the most potential to end up on my new 2012/2013 TV roster, and review their trailers. However, after I made my selections, it occurred to me that all of the series I chose shared one interesting commonality: Lost.
You guys remember Lost, right? You know, the show about the plane crash, where the writers promised that the characters weren't in Purgatory, until the last season, when it kind of / sort of turned out that was exactly where they were . . .
Why? Personally, I think these shows failed because they focused too much on trying to emulate the crazy plot twists, erudite literary references, and rampant conspiracy theories of the older series, while virtually ignoring the one thing that really made Lost shine . . . its characters. After all, before all the flashbacks, flash-sideways, and flash forwards . . . before the polar bears, Hurley birds, and omniscient dogs . . . before there were Others, Dharma Initiatives, donkey wheels, hatches, and secret videos starring a guy with one arm . . . Lost was simply about fourteen fascinating people, who just so happened to be flying on the same ill-fated plane.
As I mentioned earlier, all five of the news series on my Most Likely to Watch list all seem to possess certain qualities that make them seem particularly Lost-like. (Well, actually four of them do. But I'll get to why I chose the fifth one, in a bit.) The question is, will any of these series be able to pull off the unique mix of script, characters, plot, and mystery necessary to become TV's Next Big Thing?
Let's analyze, shall we?
666 Park Avenue – ABC
Clearly, the most obvious connection between 666 Park Avenue and Lost is this guy . . .
Terry O'Quinn . . . a.k.a John Locke. In a clever (and possibly slightly tongue-and-cheek) bit of casting "the producers of Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars" have opted to hire Oceanic Flight 815's resident Man of Fate, Denizen of Destiny, and an eventual alter ego for The Black Smoke Monster / a.k.a. The Man in Black to play the Devil. So now we know that at least one character on this show will be exceptionally well-acted. But stunt casting alone is not enough to make for a successful show.
As for the concept of the series, intriguing as it is, it's nothing new. 1997's The Devil's Advocate boasts a similar premise, in which the Devil takes Manhattan, and faces off against a similarly upwardly mobile late twenties to early-thirty something couple, by tempting them with riches, and only partially disclosing their true cost . . .
And yet in 1997 we weren't reeling from a recession caused by the burst of a very large real estate bubble. What better time to explore a television series in which the much maligned 1%ers actually ARE evil incarnate? So, the series boasts not only a solid cast (Vanessa L. Williams also stars), but also a timely premise. But there are other Lostian aspects this show offers, which could end up making it a success, if the writers handle them correctly.
Just like that "other show," 666 Park Avenue offers an over-arching mystery, along with some tantalizing questions that, if producers play their cards right, viewers can chew over and discuss for seasons to come. What exactly is the Devil doing in real estate? What happened to the last managers of the Drake Apartments (I think most of us know the answer to that already. "Warmer climates?" HA!) What's the deal with the dragon etched on the basement floor? And, perhaps, most importantly, what are the HOA fees for living in a place like that?
But what's really going to make or break 666 Park Avenue, I think, is its cast of characters. Lost explored the lives and backstories of its various survivors with great sensitivity, and depth. 666 Park Avenue has the opportunity to do the same thing with its various apartment tenants. Who are these people who live in the Drake? What drives them, and what ultimately enticed them to sell their soul for some extra square footage, a view of Central Park, and an on-site gym?
Only time will tell . . .
CULT – THE CW
Folks who have spent these past few weeks wondering what happened to vampire-slaying history teacher, Alaric Saltzman, after he croaked on The Vampire Diaries, can breathe a sigh of relief now . . .
Though often written off as a "teen television" channel, over the past few years, the CW has enjoyed a surprising amount of success producing shows for a slightly younger, hipper audience who are seeking series that are a bit darker, and grittier than your typical "bright and shiny" network fare. And from the looks of it, Cult might just prove to be the darkest and grittiest of them all. Just watching the trailer gave me chills . . . probably because that TV Guy / Possible Cult Leader looks and sounds like a cross between Hannibal Lecter, Kevin Spacey's character in Seven, and, of course, Benjamin Linus from Lost . . .
But of course, Cult shares more in common with Lost than just an average-looking, kind of creepy, but still oddly charismatic, intellectual type, who might be a cult leader. Much like it's predecessor, Cult will offer its fans countless conspiracy theories, clues to unravel, mysterious happenings to be explained, lots of oddly dressed folks with dubious motives to puzzle over, and most importantly, confusing, but compulsively rewatchable, YouTube videos . . .
What intrigues me most about Cult is how unabashedly "meta" it seems to be. I mean, here is a show that blatantly eviscerates the one thing it needs to survive as a series: a diehard fandom. This, of course, begs the question, could Lost fans be driven to commit murder, simply because Benjamin Linus asked them to do so? Well, maybe if he asked really nicely . . .
Revolution – NBC
Here's another timely premise, in light of the world's increasing dependence on technology to survive (not to mention Facebook's catastrophic failure as a stock IPO.) Imagine a world completely without technology, that's populated by folks like us, who can't remember a time before the existence internet, and who can't let a day go by, without checking our e-mail, sending a text message, or asking SIRI if it's raining outside.
Of all the shows on my new TV viewing roster, this J.J. Abrams-produced one probably wins the prize for being the most Lost-like. Let's see, we've got an unexplained supernatural phenomenon and/or terrorist act, that has cut off our main characters from technology, a sustainable food source, and the benefits of generalized medicine, forcing them to spend hours wandering aimlessly in the woods, looking dirty . . . and hot . . .
We've got repeated flashbacks to a climactic event, which, when viewed together, at the end of the series should explain everything . . . almost. We've got various factions of people, some who want things to remain as they are now, and others who want to "go back" to the way things once were . . .
We've got snarky rogue-loners, who begin the series looking out only for themselves, but inevitably "learn to love" and become the series' obvious unlikely heroes . . .
We've got nerdy professor types who spend the entire series looking vaguely confused, while trying to "figure it all out."
Heck, we even have weird ancient-looking symbols, and those dopey, green-screen computers from the 80's . . .
But beyond all those superficial similarties, I think "Revolution" has the potential to be a true character study, just as Lost was. After all, nothing exhibits the true nature of a person better, then putting them in a completely unfamiliar situation, without the benefits or camouflage that modern-day luxuries provide. In the words of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes, "DUUUUUUUUDE."
The Last Resort – ABC
Forget, "You sunk my battleship." Something tells me, come this fall, everybody will be yelling at their TV screens, "YOU SUNK MY SUBMARINE!" If Revolution is the series that most resembles Lost in terms of plot points, The Last Resort most resembles its tone, high production values, and cinematic quality. In fact, if I hadn't spied the ABC logo on the corner of screen, I could have sworn this was war movie. Heck, they even hired That Movie Guy with the Oddly Deep Voice to do the narration! Conspiracy theorists, war aficionados, and political pundits alike will find much to love in this series, which, like it's famous predecessor will revolve around an international cover-up . . .
. . . the result of which will strand our main characters on an island, separating them from the people they love, and putting their lives in constant imminent danger . . .
Hey, this place even looks like Lost island. Where's Vincent the Dog? WAAAAAAAAALT!
And of course, there will inevitably be dealings with "those pesky others."
But mostly, I'll just be watching this one, because Ben from Felicity will be there . . .
Speaking of completely shallow reasons to watch a television program . . .
Chicago Fire – NBC
At the beginning of this post, I admitted to you that really only four of the five series I chose for my Watch List were like Lost. Chicago Fire doesn't resemble Lost at all . . . unless you count the repeated obligatory shots of Sometimes dirty-faced and slightly bloody cocky alpha males who never met a shirt they actually liked to wear . . .
I'd be lying if I said the prospect of having a naked Taylor Kinney on my television screen every week, wasn't a big draw for my choosing Chicago Fire for this blog post. But personally I think the trailer for this series boasts more than good looking shirtless guys with bad attitudes. The in-fighting between the squad members, caused in part by the oh-so-cliched concept of The Fallen Comrade shows promise for solid character development. The kickass females in the series make my feminist heart proud. And if done right, those inevitable Burning Building sequences are going to look really awesome in HD.
Besides, who doesn't love a man in uniform . . . or out of it?
And there you have it folks, my five Lostian . . . and not so Lostian picks for the best new shows of Fall 2012. So, what's on YOUR Must Watch List?
Filed under 666 Park Avenue, Chicago Fire, Cult, Lost, Revolution, The Last Resort
Tagged as 666 park avenue, ABC, Al Pacino, Alaric Saltzman, Alona Tal, analysis, andre braugher, animated gifs, Ben, Ben Linus, blackout, Chicago, chicago fire, cult, CW, devil, dharma, fall 2012, fandom, Felicity, hanso foundation, Hurley, island, Jack Shepard, John Locke, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Lost, Matt Davis, Michael Emerson, NBC, Network, New York City, Oceanic Flight 815, others, pilot, revolution, Sawyer, Scott Speedman, screencaps, shirtless, Submarine, Taylor Kinney, teaser, technology, Terry O'Quinn, the devils advocate, the last resort, Trailer, tv shows, upfronts, vanessa l williams, walt, YouTube
The One Where Little J Ruins EVERYTHING (and finally leaves)! - A Recap of the Gossip Girl Season Finale "Last Tango, Then Paris"


Nishant Babaria received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. He is pursuing a M.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue. He has previous experience developing medical devices from undergraduate research at UT Austin and from working alongside the Corporate R&D team at Smith and Nephew.
Ranajay Mandal received his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. He also received his Master's degree with a specialization in Instrumentation and Signal Processing from IIT KGP. He is pursuing his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University and has multiple years of research experience in design, development and fabrication of biomedical devices.
Dr. Zhongming Liu is an assistant professor in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Zhejiang University in China. He received his Ph.D degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Minnesota at Twin Cities in USA. Before joining Purdue, he was a research fellow in Advanced MRI section, Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging at the National Institutes of Health. His primary research interest is imaging, stimulating, and modeling the brain for advancing neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
MR-Link aims to deliver novel medical devices for physiological recording and stimulation during concurrent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on technologies developed at Purdue University. Imaging, recording, and stimulation are complementary ways to study the structures, functions, and pathologies of the brain. Our products are unique, affordable, and offer a scalable solution to integrate multiple diagnostic imaging techniques and their respective benefits. The company's long-term goal is developing its technology to deliver an affordable and MRI-compatible EEG system to the clinical human market. The path the company will take to reach this goal is to primarily cater its products to the animal research market to refine the technology for clinical trials, FDA approval process, and ultimately meet the standard required in the clinical setting for human subjects. We at MR-Link believe that our technology will accelerate the progress in the understanding, diagnosis, and prevention of various brain disorders and enable researchers and clinicians to develop novel treatment plans with improved success rates and a better quality of care for patients. Recently, MR-Link received a Federal grant from NIH, an STTR for $230K, to develop their technology.


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Frederick MacSorley or McSorley  (1892 – 9 February 1948) was a Belfast-based Irish surgeon and independent member of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland.

He unsuccessfully stood as an independent for Queen's University of Belfast before being elected in July 1945. His initial run for office was seen as encouragement for more Catholics to vote.

Biography
MacSorley came from a middle-class Belfast Catholic family with deep clerical and medical connections - one brother was a member of the Redemptorist order, a sister a nun and several cousins and brothers also doctors.
He was educated at St. Malachy's College and entered Queen's University Belfast. He qualified as a physician in 1916, took his doctorate of medicine in 1922. In 1930, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.  He worked as a visiting physician at both the Mater Infirmorum Hospital and Belfast City Hospital for many years.

While still in office, he died at his home in Belfast, aged 56. He was survived by his wife, Jane Mary, with whom he had four sons, Rev. Liam MacSorley, Dr. Michael MacSorley, Rev Frederick MacSorley, and Dr. Eamon MacSorley, and daughters Maureen MacSorley and Kathleen MacSorley.

At his funeral Bishop Daniel Mageean presided and the Archbishop of Armagh John D'Alton attended. Significantly the Unionist Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough was represented by Mr W.N. McWilliam.

References

1892 births
1948 deaths
People educated at St Malachy's College
Surgeons from Northern Ireland
Independent members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland
Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland for Queen's University of Belfast
Members of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland 1945–1949
Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
20th-century surgeons

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› News & Events › Nature of immune cells in the human brain disclosed
2 November 2018 Huitinga Group
Nature of immune cells in the human brain disclosed
Researchers from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and Amsterdam UMC have disclosed the nature of how T cells protect the brain against harmful viruses. The results of the research, which are published in Nature Communications, are important for investigating the role of the immune system in numerous brain disorders.
The immune system protects the body against infections and cancer. The so-called T cells play a key role in this process. When T cells do not work properly, an inflammation can develop in for example the brain. Until recently, little was known about the properties of these cells in healthy brains. "With this research, we have gained more knowledge about the location of T cells in the brain, how they look, what kind of inflammatory proteins (cytokines) they produce, and how they are controlled," says researcher and neurologist in training Joost Smolders.
The scientists have found that the two proteins CTLA-4 and PD-1 are present in large quantities on T cells. These proteins, for which the Nobel Prize for Medicine has been awarded to the discoverers this year, are important inhibitors for T cells.
"If we understand the rules of the game, which T cells in the brain adhere to, then we can understand how T cells deviate from this in brain disorders. This can lead to advances in the understanding and treatment of diseases such as multiple sclerosis, but also in the treatment of tumors in the brain."
Brain donors
With financial support from the MS Research Foundation, the scientists have investigated T cells from brain tissue of brain donors from the Netherlands Brain Bank (NBB). "For the understanding of the role of the immune system in brain disorders, a donor program such as the NBB is of crucial importance. The quality of the material makes unique research possible" says Smolders.
Huitinga Group
The Neuroimmunology group aims to investigate the molecular and cellular factors underlying multiple sclerosis (MS). Special emphasis is put on the role of microglia in the initiation and expansion of MS lesions. The group investigates effects of neurosteroids (sex steroids, glucocorticoids and Vitamin D), complement, CD200 and scavenger receptors on microglia activation and MS lesion development using post mortem MS brain tissue and CSF from more than 200 MS brain donors of the Netherlands Brain Bank and in vivo and in vitro models of demyelination.
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Q: Write program to compute & print average of the numbers in a text file, which include both text and numbers using two higher-order functions How to write program that computes and prints the average of the numbers in a text file, which include both text and numbers using two higher-order functions?
Input of text file is like:
Age of ram is 40.his fathers age is 90.he has 4 cars, & 8 two wheelers.

I have to find average of the integers value present here, ignoring the alphabet.
I tried it for other file simply containg integers not the alphabets
import functools

file = open("integers.txt", 'r')
file = file.read()

file = file.split()

file = list(map(int, file))

print(functools.reduce(lambda x, y: x+y / len(file), file, 0))

A: text = 'Age of ram is 40.his fathers age is 90.he has 4 cars, & 8 two wheelers.'
# Replace other characters with space and join them
# Split to get numbers
number_txt = ''.join([c if c.isdigit() else ' ' for c in text]).split()
# Convert number text to int
numbers = list(map(int, number_txt))
# Find average
avg = sum(numbers)/len(numbers)

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Bryan Markowitz has served as the Executive director of the Georgia Optometric Association since 2008. He also has the unique circumstance of having served as the executive director for another affiliate (NJ 2002-2008). He was born and raised in Central New Jersey where he graduated from Rutgers University and received his Masters in Public Affairs and Politics from the Bloustein School of Public Policy at Rutgers University. He has always had a passion for politics and public policy even as a small child. He has lobbied two different legislatures since 1993 and always enjoys developing legislative strategies and seeing those strategies implemented to create laws. During his time in Georgia, he has sought to work diligently in order to continue to bring as much value as possible for each and every member of the GOA. Outside of work, Bryan spends a great deal of time with his wife and two children enjoying activities in his home of Decatur.
Vanessa Grosso is a New York native who moved to Georgia in search of job opportunities (and much warmer weather) after graduating college from SUNY Plattsburgh, where she studied Mass Communication. Vanessa has worked for the Georgia Optometric Association since October 2003, starting as the Meeting and Project Coordinator to the position she holds today as the Director of Meetings and the Associations' Operations Manager. She openly admits to being a workaholic, but in her downtime is an avid fisher, loves cooking and doing all things creative.
Kim Hollis, born and raised in Georgia, received her Business Administration degree while attending Lagrange College. Her areas of most interest included accounting, finance and management. Kim has worked for the Georgia Optometric Association since 2012. Prior to joining the GOA team, Kim maintained a long-term position with Hallmark, the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. When the retail industry took a large hit years later, Kim took another job in the Optometric field. It was there she developed a strong interest in optometry, and her education and business experience translated well into the association management environment. In Kim's spare time you will most likely find her relaxing with family, at a race rack or riding back roads and mountains on the Harley with her husband, Steve.


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Standards-Based Grading Comes To Superior School District
Steve Tanko Published: May 7, 2021
Letter grades (A, B, C, D, and F) have gotten an "F" from the Superior School District. The upcoming school year (2021-2022) will see the district shifting from traditional letter grades to so-called "standards-based grading" - a move that reflects an emphasis on proficiency over points, curves, and percentages. While the grading method has been in place at the elementary school level for about ten years, this would place the system into the middle and high school levels as well. The move was discussed at the Superior School Boards meeting on May 3; a final confirmation vote is set to happen on May 10.
According to details in the Superior Telegram, "[t]he system replaces letter grades with numbers between 0 and 4, indicating how proficient a student is in each subject". The grading system has been used by other districts throughout Wisconsin for many years.
Truth-be-told, the standards based grading system won't be entirely new to some parents and students at the middle school and high school. "Forty teachers...have been piloting standards-based grading this year (2020-2021) and changes have been based on their experiences" - helping to refine the system.
If finalized, the shift would change the way that report cards look for parents. Parents of middle school students could expect to see letter grades completely disappear from quarterly reports - with the number scale replacing them. However, students at the high school level would see both a standards-based grading system number and a letter grade; additionally, those students in the high school would also see a grade-point average. At the same time, the traditional honor roll would still be compiled and published.
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Filed Under: superior, twin ports, wisconsin
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In an age of increasing political apathy, a new documentary demonstrates how a single concerned citizen can take a stand to make change. 'Divide in Concord,' premiering Monday at the IFC Center, is about a small New England town's consideration of novel legislation that would prohibit the sale of bottled water. We spoke to Kris Kaczor, the Brooklyn filmmaker behind the project.
Brooklyn Brief: Tell us about Divide in Concord, your first feature film.
Kris Kaczor: It's a story about Concord, Massachusetts, the first town in the world to attempt to enact legislation to ban the sale of single-serve bottled water. It's revolutionary in a sense, certainly a precedent setting moment for the bottled water industry, which is an interesting entity in itself. It's the third largest billion dollar industry in the world.
BB: Bottled water seems ubiquitous, but it's also a very recent phenomenon in terms of our popular culture. Did you learn a lot about this industry in producing the film?
KK: Absolutely. There's a character in the film, Mary White, who said it best: "an industry that did not exist 40 years ago is now the third largest industry in the world, only behind electricity and oil." A large argument for the initiative was that bottled water was destroying the public aquifers and draining them, eroding the ability of the public to retain rights to their own water sources.
BB: How did the idea for the film come about?
KK: It was all spearheaded by an 84-year-old woman named Jean Hill. She's a fiery octogenarian, she doesn't take no for an answer. And this was her third attempt to pass this legislation. Her grandson Mac inspired her when he told her about the great pacific garbage patch. Doing further research, she realized that bottled water was a big contaminant to the environment, as only twenty percent of the bottles are recycled. With 1500 consumed a second in the U.S. alone, eighty percent of this plastic either goes to a landfill or the ocean.
BB: Did you reach out to opponents of the initiative, like the bottled water industry? What did they have to say?
KK: We wanted to talk to some heads of the industry–we reached out to different representatives at Nestle, Poland Spring–but no one called us back. We also attempted to get in touch with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), but with no luck. So our "con" arguments in the story come from residents in the town who did not want the ban to happen.
BB: What were the arguments of the residents, both for and against the legislation?
Everyone was very sincere and wanted to have their voices heard. We wanted to talk to everyone and let them say what they wanted to say. We explained that we were only there to make an objective documentary.
BB: What was the town itself like?
KK: Concord was a very interesting town. It's the home of the American Revolution, and home of a literary revolution with Thoreau, Emerson, and Hawthorne, with the transcendentalist movement emphasizing a return to nature. Concord is where the "shot heard 'round the world" rang out, triggering the revolution. Jean said she wanted to send out the "second shot heard 'round the world" with her initiative.
Praised by Michael Moore, Huffington Post, Boston Globe and more, Divide in Concord will make its NYC debut at the nation's largest documentary film festival, DOC NYC Film Festival, on November 17. The 82-minute documentary will be one of 130 films featured at the eight-day film festival, and will be shared with over 100 special celebrity guests.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Matthew Taub.
Has Curtailment of "Stop-and-Frisk" Caused Ditmas Park's Rising Crime?


Thank you Neelu for giving me the opportunity to be a guest blogger on your blog. Your blog has always been fun and very inspirational to read so it is a real pleasure to have this opportunity to talk and share a bit about myself and my love for art and craft with your readers.
As way of an introduction; hello all, my name is Shruti. I am a new mom and an avid paper craft hoarder! I would have loved to call myself a paper craft-er but the fact of the matter is that these days I am more of a hoarder than a craft-er, thanks to my 'bundle of joy'. But I definitely have got to thank Pretty Paper Studio (Neelu) for letting me be a part of their design team which keeps my creative juices in check and help me keep in touch with the art.
I recently bought a new journal from Paperchase. I decided to go for this simple one as compared to all the beautiful ones they have at their store, as I planned to give my journal a personal touch. I love the pink and white polka dot design on the sides of it.
Now getting on to give it a makeover!
Here are some of the tools I used for this project. One of my favorite flower stamp, a stamp press, some white embossing powder and embossing ink pad, a white card-stock and some markers.
I started off by stamping some flowers on to the white cardstock with versamark. I later poured some white embossing powder on to it so that they stick to the flower image.
I used my heat gun to help melt the embossing powder. This is how it ends up looking. I know, it looks dull at the moment, but wait till the next step!
Now the fun part. Color up your flowers using some markers. I decided to give it a bit of a gradient effect. You can also use water colors.
Once colored, cut them out. (The bad lighting does not do justice to the beautiful colors). Randomly arrange them and stick them on to your journal.
I also added some embellishments to finish it off. Here I have used some enamel dots and stickles.
I also added some glitter alphas and voila! We are done!! Here is the finished look.
I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial on making my journal from drab to fabulous!
Thank you Shruti for this wonderful tutorial! Your journal definitely looks fabulous now.
You can find more of Shruti's work on her Blog, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Most of these supplies can be found in my store as well. You can read rest of the series here.
Beautiful up cycling of the journal Shruti ...your work always has a touch of elegance to it and I so love your color choices :) absolutely love this !!


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Tuesday, April 3, 2012 12:00 PM
Silent Hill Downpour provides yet another mindless, by-name-only Silent Hill game
in Video Gaming | Game Reviews by MegaBearsFan
I didn't have high hopes for Silent Hill Downpour. As such, I didn't buy it new. I waited two weeks, bought it used off ebay, and finished it over a weekend. Sadly, pretty much all of my pre-release expectations turned out to be true.
Upon booting up the game, I was immediately given mixed opinions about the game. There was a mandatory install, which fortunately only took a few minutes, but which is always an annoying thing to sit through (except for Metal Gear Solid 4, which managed to make it somewhat amusing). After the install though, I was treated to a stylish title screen with new composer Daniel Licht's enjoyable title track.
Then the game starts, and the very first thing you do as the new main character, prison inmate Murphy Pendleton, is murder a defenseless fellow inmate during a combat tutorial that takes place in the prison showers. Murphy clearly has some beef with this fellow inmate (named Napier), and it seems like Napier probably deserved it, but murdering a defenseless person in cold blood is hardly what I'd expect from a Silent Hill game.
Combat so clumsy, it makes Silent Hill 2 look like Soul Caliber
Fighting (or running) for survival
Weather the storm
Pointless side quests
Almost useless map
A good protagonist doesn't save a derivative story
Spoilers for Downpour and other Silent Hill games.
Downpour ends up being a very sloppy game
Visual improvements over Homecoming are stifled by technical issues
Unnecessary darkness
Trying to fix the things Climax and Double Helix did wrong
Breaking itself with underwhelming design
Monsters and Otherworld are uninteresting
It just isn't scary
And it's not a Silent Hill game
a67ddc95-77b6-40e5-9a04-23f4912e6f2b|9|4.4
Tags:Silent Hill Downpour, Silent Hill, Silent Hill Homecoming, Konami, review, PS3, Achievement unlocked, Murphy Pendleton, survival, horror, survival horror, fan fiction, XBox 360, Vatra Games
Monday, February 27, 2012 12:25 PM
Silent Hill Over?
in Video Gaming by MegaBearsFan
Following the review of Silent Hill 3 on Twin Perfect's "The Real Silent Hill Experience", DerFuzhwar, Fungo, and Rosseter assert that Silent Hill 3 should have ended the series: "Silent Hill over".
Twin Perfect declares "Silent Hill Over".
They don't seem to have any confidence that Vatra or any other developer will be able to replicate the success of Team Silent, and that future installments are only going to dilute the quality of the series as a whole. Although they appreciate Silent Hill 4 for making a contribution to the game's universe, they also say that it was not necessary to make, as Silent Hill 3 wrapped up the story of the franchise successfully and satisfactorily.
While I agree that the outside developers have completely squandered their attempts opportunities with Silent Hill, I respectfully disagree with their position that the series should be terminated. I still think there is plenty of material in the context of the first four games that is left to explore.
1547f117-5041-48b2-9340-d3d15a6162f6|11|3.6
Tags:Silent Hill, Silent Hill Downpour, Konami, K.C.E.T., Team Silent, Vatra Games, Tomm Hulett, The Real Silent Hill Experience, Eternal Darkness, Twin Perfect, Cybil Bennett
Thursday, February 24, 2011 07:06 AM
Opinions on the Previews of Silent Hill Downpour
Konami recently released some early assets for the upcoming game Silent Hill Downpour. Included in these assets were new screenshots and a downloadable preview of the first track of the game's soundtrack, which is now being composed by Dexter composer Daniel Licht after series veteran Akira Yamaoka retired from Konami last year (a sad day for Silent Hill fans everywhere).
4a0d19ef-8371-48e7-8910-312f38ce7f4d|1|5.0
Tags:Silent Hill, Silent Hill Downpour, Konami, Akira Yamaoka, preview, horror, Vatra Games, Murphy Pendleton
'Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai' brings Japan (and the 'Total War' franchise) into the industrial era with a bang!05/02/2012 I finally published my full review of Total War: Shogun 2 recently in preparation for writing this review of that game's second expansion: Fall of the Samurai. Fall of the Samurai is the second expansion for Shogun 2; the first being a "prequel" Rise of the Samurai. I skipped Rise, but when I saw the trailers for Fall, I just...


"The Creator of all things rests in the tabernacle of the virginal womb, because here he has prepared his bridal chamber in order to become our brother; here he sets up a royal throne to become our prince; here he puts on priestly vestments to become our high priest. Because of this marital union, she is the Mother of God; because of the royal throne, she is the Queen of heaven; because of the priestly vestments, she is the advocate of the human race".
My sermon for today's memorial of the Queenship of Mary can be read here.
Mosaic detail from the Lady chapel of Westminster Cathedral.


The fencing in and around your property serves many purposes, it keeps out intruders and also provides a level of seclusion and privacy, and with the right design and colour, your fencing can really transform your home and add style and elegance.
Every property is unique in its own way, and for that reason, any fencing should be tailor made to fit the building, and with modern powder coated aluminium or traditional steel, you will have low maintenance fencing that is both affordable and pleasing to the eye.
If you have smaller sections with supporting walls, slat fencing is the ideal solution, and with a choice of widths and colours, you can create something unique that is exclusive to your property. Our range of powder coated colours is extensive, and if you prefer a more natural look, we have a selection of faux wood grain finishes to keep the character of your home.
Whether you prefer the clean look of anodised aluminium, or the more traditional steel fencing, we can make any style you have in mind, although we do have certain favourites that our customers like. It is an ideal solution for the homeowner to be involved at the design stage, and at Sheriff Fencing, we welcome your input, and will do what we can to turn your vision into a reality.
We manufacture our fencing precisely, so whether you wish to install it yourself or have our team of experts carry out the work, we are flexible. If you happen to be a DIY enthusiast, self-installation is easy, and with all the fittings and fixtures supplied, you can save money by installing the fencing yourself. If you would prefer the job to be done by our team of professional installers, we are more than happy to carry out the work.
If you are thinking about having a pool at home, you will want the fencing to match the existing setting, and we specialise in blending our fencing with existing screening. Aluminium slat fencing is by far the best solution, as you can have a level of privacy, while also having adequate visibility. Fencing is essential around any pool as it prevents children and pets from falling in, and with a lockable gate, you can relax, safe in the knowledge that the pool area is secure.
We like to think we know fencing, and we like the challenge of designing something special for our customers. So whatever your fencing needs, if you are in the Perth area, contact Sheriff Fencing today and we would be more than happy to discuss your screening options. Our garrison range comes in a variety of colours and sizes, and with a long list of styles, we can match your existing fencing.
Whatever the ambience of your home, if its fencing you need, talk to Sheriff Fencing, who have many years of hands-on experience supplying and installing quality fencing solutions.


text:
package mobi.pocketmedia.nativeadslib.core.openers.webview;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.net.Uri;

import mobi.pocketmedia.nativeadslib.R;
import mobi.pocketmedia.nativeadslib.core.NativeAd;
import mobi.pocketmedia.nativeadslib.core.openers.NativeAdOpenerInterface;
import mobi.pocketmedia.nativeadslib.util.Logger;

/**
 * This class improves the user experience by opening an ad by creating a transparent webview
 * to follow the ad click url redirections until the final google play URL is reached
 * (or the HTML landing page).
 * @author Pocket Media
 */
public class NativeAdWebViewOpener implements NativeAdOpenerInterface {

    private Activity activity;

    public NativeAdWebViewOpener(Activity activity) {
        this.activity = activity;
    }

    /**
     * Starts loading the ad within the current context (controller and navigation)
     * @param ad the ad will be displayed.
     */
    @Override
    public void load(NativeAd ad) throws Exception {

        if(ad == null) {
            throw new Exception("ad is null");
        }

        if(ad.getClickURL() == null) {
            throw new Exception("The clickUrl is null");
        }

        Intent webViewIntent;
        if (!ad.getShouldBeManagedExternally()) {
            webViewIntent = new Intent(activity.getApplicationContext(), NativeAdWebViewActivity.class);
        } else {
            webViewIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse(ad.getClickURL()));
        }

        webViewIntent.putExtra("url", ad.getClickURL());
        activity.startActivity(webViewIntent);
        activity.overridePendingTransition(R.anim.push_left_in, R.anim.push_up_out);
        Logger.debug("Open Ad - web view");
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Robins & Day Peugeot Preston are excited to reveal a brand new LCV facility!
The dealership is now in the rare and almost unique position to unique position to work on several large or high LCV units at any one time with brand new LCV dedicated workshop area. This includes 4 brand new LCV dedicated ramps with added height and weight capacity, and a front and rear entrance exit specially designed to allow quick and easy through flow of work. This entire area is dedicated to ensuring Preston can offer the fastest and most efficient service to keep LCV assets on the road, reduce downtime costs, and improve the productivity of LCV fleets.


text:
Home/around the world/Nikolai Karachentsov died
Nikolai Karachentsov died
Sohail October 26, 2018
He was 73 years old.
Nikolai Karachentsov. Photo by Ilya Pitalyov, RIA "News"
Actor Nikolai Karachentsov died in Moscow one day before his 74th birthday. This was reported by TASS his son.
Karachentsov died in the intensive care unit of the 62nd Oncological Hospital in Moscow at 8:50 am. His heart stopped after a kidney failure.
Nikolai Karachentsov was born on October 27, 1944 in Moscow. In 1967, he graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School and, by distribution, went to the Moscow Leninsky Komsomol Theater, which in 1991 was renamed Lenkom. The fate of the actor was associated with this theater.
Karachentsov during his career played in 140 films. One of the most famous paintings with his participation were "White Dew", "The Eldest Son" and "The Man from the Capuchin Boulevard". The role of the actor was also brought to the roles in the rock opera "Juno and Avos" and the play "The Star and the Death of Joaquin Mureta". In addition, Karachentsov dubbed cartoons and foreign films, for example, voiced the role of Frenchman Jean-Paul Belmondo. The actor also loved to sing and recorded over 100 songs.
In 2005, Karachentsov had an accident on Michurinsky Prospekt in Moscow, in which he received a head injury. After the operation and 26 days in a coma, he learned to walk and talk again.
In November 2017, the wife of the actor told me that doctors had found a malignant tumor in his lungs. He was treated for cancer, including in Israel.
Karachentsov was awarded many state awards. He is the Honored and People's Artist of the RSFSR. He was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th degree, the Order of Honor, and the Golden Order of Service to Art.
# of incident
WWF launched a stream with the decomposition of a plastic bottle
A three-year-old boy told the police that his father had killed his mother, but they did not believe him. 20 years later he found her remains
In the "unlucky notes" on Channel One "censored" rock carving
The head of Primorye promised to release all animals from the "whale prison" in the natural environment


text:
Home Travel Paris 10 Great Movies Set in Paris
10 Great Movies Set in Paris
By Keith Van Sickle -
Paris has long attracted filmmakers and why not? The beauty of Paris makes any movie better! And when you add in glamorous movie stars like Audrey Hepburn and Alain Delon back in the 1960s or Tom Cruise and Audrey Tautou today, what you get is visually stunning. Paris is one of the stars, and so beautiful you can't look away from it.
The list of great movies set in Paris is long. Let's take a look at 10 favourites.
An American in Paris: public domain
An American in Paris (1951)
You can't talk about films set in Paris without including this classic musical starring Gene Kelly. The winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, it includes some of the greatest dance numbers in film history. The only downside is that it was almost entirely filmed in Hollywood backlots, rather than in the City of Light.
Le Ballon Rouge: Wikipedia © Films Montsouris
Le Ballon Rouge / The Red Balloon (1956)
This short and charming film is about a balloon that follows a young boy around Paris, causing mischief along the way. As it does, we see lovely Parisian street scenes, especially in the Montmartre neighborhood. Le Ballon Rouge won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, despite being only 35 minutes long.
Zazie dans le Métro / Zazie in the Metro (1960)
A zany and sometimes surrealistic film, it follows the adventures of 9-year-old Zazie as she visits Paris for the first time. Arguably director Louis Malle's finest work, the storyline is odd but the scenes around Paris are wonderful.
Charade (1963)
A thriller starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, Charade has been called "the best Hitchcock movie that Hitchcock never made." Unusually for its day, the film was shot in Paris and there are wonderful scenes all over the city, especially the dramatic one near the end of the film, among the colonnades at the Palais Royal.
La Haine / Hate (1995)
This is not your typical Paris movie, as it shows us a part of the city that few of us ever see—the banlieues where many poor immigrants live. The film follows the lives of three young men in the aftermath of a riot, which exploded after the police beat a crime suspect. Not an easy film to watch, but an important one and as relevant today as when it was released. French Prime Minister Alain Juppé thought it so important that he commissioned a special screening for his cabinet, which ministers were required to attend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWrXQ8LsKYg
Amélie (2001)
This quirky movie is about a lonely young woman who tries to bring happiness to others. It is also the highest grossing French film ever in the U.S.! If you want a virtual tour of Paris then this is your movie, as it was filmed in 80 different locations around the City of Light.
Before Sunset (2004)
The second film in a trilogy starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as star-crossed lovers, this one is set in Paris. Fall in love with the city as Ethan and Julie fall in love with each other.
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Tom Hanks unlocks the secrets of the Holy Grail after a stunning murder in Paris. Based on Dan Brown's bestseller, this film gives us a wonderful inside look at the Louvre and other landmarks like the Saint-Sulpice church, plus a dramatic chase scene through the streets of Paris.
Midnight in Paris (2011)
This movie is worth the price of admission just for the opening montage of Paris—it reminds you that there is no more beautiful city in the world. A fantasy/comedy with a star-studded cast, it was filmed at numerous locations throughout Paris and is a feast for the eyes.
Mission Impossible—Fallout (2018)
Tom Cruise and the gang save the world once again in this action-packed adventure. The high-speed motorcycle chase through the streets of Paris is spectacular, especially when you consider that Cruise does his own stunts and was not wearing a helmet! The film had its worldwide premier at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, converted into an IMAX theater for the occasion.
Also For Your Consideration
Sabrina (1954)
Funny Face (1957)
À bout de souffle / Breathless (1960)
The Pink Panther franchise (1963-1976)
Le Cercle Rouge / The Red Circle (1970)
Diva (1982)
La femme Nikita / Nikita (1990)
Forget Paris (1995)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Paris, Je T'aime (2006)
Ratatouille (2007)
Inception (2010)
Hugo (2011)
Intouchables / Untouchable (2011)
Les Misérables (2012 and 2019)
Previous articleRestaurants: La Musardière in Giverny
Next articleTop 12 Cultural Attractions in the Charente Valley
Keith Van Sickle
https://www.keithvansickle.com
Keith Van Sickle is a lifelong traveler who splits his time between California and Provence. He is the author of the best-sellers "One Sip at a Time" and "Are We French Yet?", both available from Amazon. Keith's observations on life in France can be found on his website www.keithvansickle.com.
French Cinema: Profile of Actress and Director Fanny Ardant
Janice Barandes July 15, 2020 at 5:58 pm
The opening montage in Midnight in Paris captures the essence of Paris. When I'm sad I can't travel to Paris, i watch this.
Anthony Tambourini July 16, 2020 at 10:23 am
Great Article -love the vintage poster re Ballon rouge
Michael James July 16, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Sorry to nitpick but not a single scene was filmed in Paris. It was all on a sound stage in Hollywood. We wuz robbed, and a disgrace for a film with Audrey Hepburn!
By contrast the 1995 remake, by Sidney Pollack and starring Julia Ormond & Harrison Ford had about 20 minutes shot in Paris, and which was rather good. The Parisian segment in which Sabrina gets her education under instruction from fashion photographer played by dreamy Patrick Bruel, and her boss/confidant Vogue editor played by Fanny Ardant. Another nice touch was when Linus Larrabee/Harrison Ford reneged on his promise to go to Paris with Sabrina, she departs solo on an Air France 747, only to have a change of heart a few hours later and arrives in Paris before Sabrina by taking Concorde.
Oh, and the famous Sabrina maxim "Paris is always a good idea" was not in the 1954 movie, and only in the '95 remake. True, even if mostly everyone will swear they remember Audrey saying it!
For these reasons, and that Julia Ormond was rather terrific in the role and better matched to Harrison Ford (and Greg Kinnear as the original Larrabee brother lover interest) than Bogart, leads me to sacrilege: the remake should replace the original film on these lists.
And speaking of Harrison Ford, I would nominate Polanski's Frantic which is entirely shot in Paris and is a terrific thriller that gets better with each viewing. But I have a sentimental attachment because it was shot when I was living in Paris.
Jetagain July 16, 2020 at 7:12 pm
You should include "Frantic" with Harrison Ford.
Michael James July 20, 2020 at 3:33 pm
I see that the music was by Ennio Morricone who died two weeks ago. It was another thing in the movie that was extremely well done, including the use of Grace Jones' "I've seen that face before" in almost hypnotic fashion throughout.
Jean-Jacques Lasne August 1, 2020 at 9:09 pm
Not sure why American movies that were filmed on a studio stage in Hollywood or Burbank were included. Also, Ratatouille is an animation film so it does not qualify either. I would add Reversible by Gaspard Noe which would show the underbelly of Paris and is a lot more "hardcore" than La Haine. There is also a Kevin Costner film which I just watched titled 3 Days to Kill written by Luc Besson and taking place mostly in Paris. There is even a scene on Place Dalida in Montmartre.
Michael James August 16, 2020 at 3:31 am
Funny you should mention 3 Days to Kill as it was on tv the other night, and I watched it. Though it is not a good movie on most counts, turns out to be one of those movies one (well, me) is happy to rewatch, and it seems to get better each view. (Except Amber Heard. Each viewing only deepens the mystery of her (mis)-casting.) One thing is that it is almost entirely set in Paris which is nice compared to most spy-thrillers which insist on pogo-ing around the world's big cities in rather fatiguing fashion. And it messes around with the geography less than most movies. Place Dalida features multiple times because his estranged wife (portrayed by Connie Nielsen) and daughter (portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld) live there, on rue de l'Abreuvoir. The Cité Universitaire is a stand-in for her school.
It has that quirky humour of Besson which sometimes works but sometimes misses. For example, the Costner character's surly teenage daughter programs his mobile phone to play the iconic snippet ("I don't care – I love it", Charli XCX) when she calls him, and it recurs at amusing moments throughout the film. However that may owe more to the director, McG, whose career began with music videos.
Unlike a usual frenetic pacing it has a certain languidity; though there are the obligatory absurd car chases on Parisian streets (so much for cred) there's also Kevin Costner on a bicycle, and teaching his daughter to ride a bicycle on the viewing terrace in front of Sacré Coeur.
Avery Wright September 21, 2020 at 4:58 am
Gigi? With the song "I Hate the Parisians." I'm not saying you need to have a Leslie Caron film festival, but check out her list of films.
sylvia Kingsley November 12, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Hello I've just signed on..your youngest new member…93 last week!
Long ago National newspaper writer. and travel writer…UK. now a painter..
Where and how can we see these films..? Should love to come to Provence…
Regards Sylvia


text:
Command & Conquer Wiki:Editing guidelines
This page contains the Command & Conquer Wiki's command & Conquer Wiki:Editing guidelines.
Any registered editor is free to edit this page to improve its readability as long as the essence of the article remains unchanged.
If you would like to suggest content changes or propose a new policy or guideline, please use the wiki discussion forum.
See the policies and guidelines page for an overview of this wiki's policies and guidelines.
This page is intended to provide a reference point for writing articles for the Command & Conquer Wiki. When in doubt, read it up!
1 General article style guidelines
2 Layout tips
2.1 Capitalization
2.2 Spelling tips
3 General talk page and forum style guidelines
General article style guidelines
Professional style is encouraged. While not as strict as Wikipedia in this regard, the Command & Conquer Wiki is also an encyclopedia and as such needs to represent a certain level of quality.
Use third person when writing about the player. Keep in mind that this is a website addressed also to those, who don't play Command & Conquer games and just want to learn about the series.
Use formal English. Articles are supposed to be encyclopedic entries, not forum posts. The occasional sarcastic comment or jab is fine, but don't overdo it.
If you really need to make a joke, make it a smart one. If the article really needs a humorous part, then ensure that it is subtle and tasteful.
Link to articles once per section. To make reading easier, limit the amount of linking to the same articles. For example, if a character's name is mentioned once in the infobox and five times in the article, then link to that character's article once in the infobox and once in the article.
Infoboxes are good. When creating or editing an article that doesn't have one, check the infobox template category and add an applicable one to the article.
Use suffixes. If the article subject exists in multiple universes or games, use the proper suffix to differentiate them, e.g. Conscript (Red Alert 2), Conscript (Red Alert 3) and Conscript (Renegade 2). Exceptions can be made with subjects that have clear naming systems which acknowledge different subjects of the same name, e.g. Mammoth Mk. II, Mammoth Mk. III.
Avoid subjectivity. Having a favourite (or least favourite) game or unit is good, but writing articles without trying to assume an objective standpoint is not. We are here to preserve facts, not flair or speculations. You're welcome to post subjectively on your profile and blog posts, however.
Layout tips
Try to create articles according to this layout:
An overview of vehicles and buildings.
Background, non-gameplay information related to the unit/character
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This includes the <references/> tag.
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Proper nouns include terms like the White House or Leviathan.
Spelling tips
When game titles are used in articled, spell them with all the capitals and dots included (e.g. Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun.
It is acceptable to omit the Command & Conquer title when referring to a game in the context of its content.
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Be brief. Avoid posting walls of texts if it's not necessary.
Retrieved from "https://cnc.gamepedia.com/Command_%26_Conquer_Wiki:Editing_guidelines?oldid=7429"


I really enjoyed The Municipalists by Seth Fried — it was definitely outside of my book comfort zone (tbh I'm not totally sure what genre this book falls under), so I was a bit worried initially that I wouldn't like it but it was a fascinating story! I read it super quickly too, in less than twenty-four hours. The writing was very James Bond-ish but still full of enough factoids that it felt like a cross between sci-fi, mystery and historical fiction. ✨ The Municipalists follows the story of USMS agent Henry Thompson and his AI companion, OWEN, as they try to uncover and thwart a plot by domestic terrorists, who want to destroy and then rebuild the largest city in America, Metropolis. Along the way, Henry (who is a very by-the-book guy) is forced to confront ugly realities about himself, his job and the world in which he lives. ✨ I can definitely see this book becoming popular with book clubs or high school reading lists because it's an upbeat and adventurous story while also being packed full of interesting relevant modern topics for debate and discussion. If you haven't grabbed this one yet, I'd absolutely recommend it!
Barnes and Noble #bookhaul! I went in there for a birthday present for my friend and happened to walk by a table with buy 2 get 1 free paperbacks and I couldn't resist! Anybody else use deals like that to try new authors? I've heard such wonderful things about all of these authors and can't wait to see what the hype is all about. Let me know what you think of them or the books themselves!
Happy Easter! What are you reading this weekend? I'm halfway through Practical Magic, but I don't know how far I'll get with all the family stuff going on over the next few days. The covers on both of these Alice Hoffman books are absolutely gorgeous, don't you agree?


Show your loved one how much you care with this romantic anniversary card featuring intricate, laser-cut heart designs! With silver foil accents paired with a lovely shade of blue, this card delivers style and charm. Paired with a loving, me-to-you message, it's the perfect anniversary card for the love of your life!
Show your loved one how much you care with this anniversary card featuring an intricate laser-cut heart design.Features silver foil and laser-cut design.Envelope Included.Extra Postage Required.


text:
Jimmy Kimmel and Chelsea Handler Need to Stop Using Queer People for Laughs
When supposedly liberal comedians weaponize queer culture for jokes, the only people who get hurt are us.
By Phillip Henry
This week, prominent liberal comedians — and ostensible LGBTQ+ allies, to boot — seemed hell-bent on setting a new low for casual homophobia in political humor.
First there was Jimmy Kimmel. Ever since Kimmel made fun of Melania Trump's accent during a segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live last Monday, he's been embroiled in a feud with Sean Hannity that's spanned TV and Twitter — and struck a chord with the queer community Friday, when Kimmel told Hannity to "just keep tweeting - you'll get back on top! (or does Trump prefer you on bottom?)" After facing criticism for the joke, Kimmel apologized — yet he was far from the only one to use homosexuality as a punchline this week.
Just a day before, Chelsea Handler tweeted, "Imagine waking up, turning over, and seeing @realDonaldTrump and his bedhead looking like this. I feel so sorry for Putin." And if that wasn't enough, she followed it up the next day by tweeting, "Jeff Session is definitely a bottom." Because homophobic remarks are better in pairs. (Handler has yet to apologize for either remark.)
This isn't the first time Handler has casually made a homophobic tweet, and while LGBTQ+ people and publications slammed her and Kimmel for their remarks, the damage is done. In 2018, you'd expect comedians with platforms like those that Handler and Kimmel enjoy to have more sense, but in a late night landscape in which James Corden regularly kisses straight men for laughs, maybe that's expecting too much. Using queer people as punchlines should be a dying joke format, but instead, it's seen a resurgence since Trump took office — and it's a kind of liberal homophobia that's just as toxic as that which Trump and his administration spew daily. If these comedians are trying to harness the Trump administration's evident disgust with gay people against them, they should realize that they're not hitting the achilles heel they're trying to — and the only people these jokes truly hurt are the LGBTQ+ community.
Handler and Kimmel's jokes are simply antiquated, cheap comedy, peddling the idea that there's something inherently funny about men having sex with men and that being gay is worthy of mockery. Even worse, both betray the misogynist logic that views bottoming as shameful and effeminate, playing into the worst kind of homophobic trope. The whole situation harkens to the early 2000s, when queer celebs like Wanda Sykes had to do campaigns advocating against the use of "gay" as a synonym for "dumb" or "stupid."
Presumably Handler, Kimmel and their peers aren't consciously homophobic themselves. Handler and Kimmel are comics with a knowledge of queer culture, who have worked closely with LGBTQ+ people like Fortune Feimster, Ross Matthews and Guy Branum; Handler especially has prided herself as being an ally of the LGBTQ+ community in the past. Their intentions may have been good and they may have been hurling these insults to get a rise out of the their opponents, but professional comedians should absolutely be able to do so without maligning the queer community in the process. There is no reason that queer people should have to pay the price for their terrible jokes.
Handler and Kimmel need to understand that their alleged allyship brings with it a kind of privilege — the type of privilege that makes them feel entitled to use homophobic remarks with their head held high, without first considering the concerns of those they alienate. True allies need to recognize their privilege and uplift queer communities instead of using them as the butt of their jokes. Having gay friends and having an appreciation of queer culture doesn't give them a right to weaponize it in order to insult others.
In the court of public opinion, queer sex has been routinely treated as deviant and taboo. When queer people engage in intimacy and affection it comes with a certain level of scrutiny and judgement that straight people aren't subjected to. Because of that scrutiny, straight people sometimes feel that queerness is something they are entitled to license in order to get attention — as though there's nothing wrong in employing a voyeuristic sense of how queer people navigate the world. When comedians like Corden and Kimmel do things like kiss other straight men for a laugh, they operate with an immense amount of privilege, engaging in homosexuality to garner attention right up to the line they feel is comfortable and funny. In short, they get to co-opt queerness for laughs without taking on any of its dangers. It has to stop.
Queer comedians, entertainers, and people are too overlooked and underrepresented in mainstream media to let grievances like these go unnoticed. We have fewer platforms, fewer mainstream icons (and even fewer icons of color), and our stories are told less and told less thoroughly than those of straight people. When mainstream culture engages with queer culture, it's often met as if it's deviant and wrong; as a result, queer people are often forced to hide and downplay our identities as a method of survival, which makes it all the more insulting when straight people exploit our culture for giggles. In a society that regularly maligns queer people, it's incredibly important that people like Handler, Kimmel, and Corden don't contribute to that just to get a cheap laugh.
Queer love and queer identity is and continues to be a revolutionary act. It has immense power and has been used by queer people to incite action and build coalition. Would-be allies like Kimmel, Handler and the like may see that ability to incite reaction and feel entitled to use it. But it's not their power to wield. As non-queer people, they are shielded from the negative effects of using queer identities as a weapon, and when they use gay panic as a way to inflict injury, the net result sails over their heads and hits us. In the end, our allies must be better — because it's us who are on the line.
Phillip Henry is a writer, comedian, advocate, and performer in New York City. His writing can be seen in various publications including Teen Vogue and Mic. He hosts a weekly LGBTQ comedy variety show The Tea Party in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.
Tagscomedianshomophobiabottom shamingevergreen