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Ruby Sparks | review
Twee – excessively or affectedly quaint, pretty, or sentimental.
At its best 'the twee angle' (for wont of a better phrase) can present a charmingly naïve view of the world that in turn leads us to look at our surroundings with refreshed, childlike eyes (see Wes Anderson). At its worst twee is simply a denial – a refusal to look at things head on, a frustrating, dishonest and manipulative trait employed for and by ruthlessly egotistical or emotionally weak individuals who'd rather take life as a prescribed dose of cutesy vignettes than face a proper engagement with the world and all of its wonderful difficulties.
Ruby Sparks, for better or worse, has a little of both aspects. It's like an obviously clever child who's a bit too good at giving the doe eyes, and for all it's apparent warmth you can't help but feel there's something really very cold, very clinical, happening underneath. It's an incredibly twee film that sometimes charms, more often manipulates, and never quite escapes the plot bind it fixes itself in. It's populist schmaltz cleverly disguised as subverted schmaltz, with a plot that could have been a novel route to exploring some interesting themes – such as the role of fantasy in our lives – finally content to roam the colourless wastelands of the middle ground.
Ruby Sparks should be seen as a missed opportunity. The film flirts with the idea of really challenging the audience, but instead sucker punches them in the strangest way – by giving them exactly what they want – and leaves with their wallets. It's part set on the West coast, but that cackling you can hear isn't the gulls, and that swishing isn't the waves – it's studio accountants crowing with delight as they read the numbers off the ticker tape. It might just be the most cynical film of this year (and this year included We Bought A Zoo!).
Contrary to the aftermath, the experience of watching Ruby Sparks is on the whole a placidly pleasant affair – if a little close to watching the slew of ukulele-backed mobile phone adverts from the last five years rolled into one. Like you've dropped a few anti-depressants – sit back and watch what were formerly your brain cells pop like mellow fireworks in the distance.
The currently ubiquitous Paul Dano plays Calvin, a self-absorbed writer in a perma-sunny LA (where else?) whose first novel has rendered him a literary phenomenon at a tender age, but who currently finds himself rather lacking in the ideas department. As publishers' demands to see some new work increase, Calvin can't seem to get past his block. He's lonely, but has no friends apart from his dog and his brother, and certainly no chance of finding a girlfriend, which is what he really wants. One night, he has a dream about his perfect girl. Waking up with the fire of inspiration burning hot in his belly he stays up for days on end tippy-tapping away on his beautiful vintage typewriter. Then things go weird. The girl he's written about suddenly appears. Those vintage typewriters, man.
The film potters along in what is essentially a romcom vein, probably exactly as you're imagining, and though there are some genuinely funny moments in amongst the achingly cute set-ups you're always waiting for some kind of conflict.
And then Ruby Sparks dares to do what a romcom would never do – it gives you a taste of real conflict. This is where this film could have become really interesting, and ultimately, where it truly fails, backing away from the difficult questions it starts asking and giving in to a happy ending which isn't just stupid but actually insulting – to everyone who's gone to see the film, but especially to women. Without giving too much away, there's a puzzling plot dilemma Ruby Sparks doesn't even really try to address, breezing on past like a politician happily answering a totally unrelated question.
The film's unremitting support of Calvin and his egocentricity is grating, and there's a faintly misogynistic subtext in the action which makes me surprised this film was written by a woman. It's called Ruby Sparks but really it's about Calvin. Ruby herself (Zoe Kazan) has been written as an ironic comment on the two-dimensionality of female characters in film, literature and the male psyche but is ultimately a plainly two-dimensional character. What kind of a message is that for girls?
Zoe Kazan is very watchable, by far the best actor in this film, which is convenient as she wrote it. Paul Dano, so reliable when playing twitchy borderline psychopaths, looks a little lost having to rein it in. The material doesn't suit him, and he lends Calvin an utter charmlessness that undermines the film's desire to see something good happen to him. Antonio Banderas and Anette Benning pop up as Calvin's mother and stepfather in a sickeningly lovely (more fantastic than Ruby herself) pseudo-bohemian life together – which brings me to my other gripe: if you lump this into the same broad category as Little Miss Sunshine, The Kids Are Alright (or as my mother had it The Children Are Going to Be OK) and The Descendants – decent, respectable, well made Hollywood films that confront 'problems' in a realistic even-handed way – you notice that these problems seem to solely be the domain of middle-class white people with large disposable incomes in a sun-drenched Californian (or Hawaiian) paradisiac alter-world.
This sun-drowned existence is, in the wake of so many films with such a similar aesthetic, so unappealing that it unconsciously starts to look like a kind of weird aspirational purgatory where these annoyingly well-rounded-but-still-lost people enact their problems without ever learning anything, imprisoned forever by a particular kind of dreamy living (what we might call the faux pastoral fantasy of the non-materialist middle classes) – their Organic Farmers markets, their Apple products (how it pains me to be at the point of saturation I feel more or less comfortable writing that line) and their non-committal fucking principles oh god shoot me now for any colour other than beige.
The irony about Ruby Sparks is that, whilst the character of Ruby is supposed to be an avenue to a realistic exploration of the falsehood of an unrealistic idealisation, the 'realistic' world the film is set in is itself a massively unrealistic idealisation. As the quirk drips out of every frame you can't help but start to wonder if this has really been written, not by a person, but some kind of advanced marketing machine that's spent the last three or four years amalgamating the popular life-desires among artistic, sensitive types. Let's sell some vintage typewriters boys!
Ruby Sparks is out in cinemas now
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged Comedy, film, Jonathan Dayton, Paul Dano, Ruby Sparks, Valerie Feris, writing, Zoe Kazan on October 14, 2012 by Ed Wall.
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World | review
You could be forgiven for thinking that a film about how two people spend their last three weeks before an asteroid collides with Earth would be a sci-fi drama. But despite the high-concept, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is nothing more or less than a delightful romcom. Rammed with wit and warmth, it delivers heartily on the rom (the apocalypse acting as a metaphysical Cilla Black) and com (the apocalypse is a rich source of fatalistic humour) fronts.
This is not a sober Melancholia-style cataclysm, it's more like 'Naked Gun doesn't do apocalypses but if it did….' All is good-natured chaos, from the end-of-days countdown on the nightly news to the public posters offering the opportunity to fuck a virgin. Plodding round this circus is Dodge (Steve Carell) who's in no mood to seize the moment as his wife has just literally run off. While his middle-aged friends throw Eyes Wide Shut-for-embarrassing-dad-style parties where they take acid and tear up the rulebook on fidelity, he stoically continues to go into work. The only revelation that takes root as his certain death grows closer is that he should seek out his high-school sweetheart, the lost love of his life.
So far, so downbeat, but then Keira Knightley appears in full Clementine from Eternal Sunshine…, Manic Pixie Dream Girl mode. Her character Penny is a record-loving, impulsive, hypersomniac and the pair end up involved in a buddy-movie road trip as they try to get to the people that matter the most before it's too late. It's no surprise that Carell, whose eyes are brown pools of kindness mingled with weariness, holds his own as a downtrodden wit with a big heart (See Little Miss Sunshine and last year's Crazy Stupid Love for previous form). The revelation is Knightley who, although not quite lost in her character, has an infectious energy that sets the pace. Both she and the film possess the good-natured gait of a puppy that's never been kicked and they race towards the finishing line with giddy abandon.
While the film is about the blossoming relationship between this oddball duo, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World gives generous time to the supporting cast and their subplots. Whether it's the emotional truck driver for whom three weeks is still an eternity to wait to bid goodbye to the cruel world or Patton Oswalt's opportunistic sleaze-ball bowled over with excitement at abounding sexual openness, these colourful characters provide regular blasts of entertainment. A climate of hysteria rises and falls and our leads' ability to empathise with each other in these extreme circumstances makes us root for them.
Some developments feel unlikely but the logic of 'this is the apocalypse' sucks up and owns all bizarre swivels. Warmth pulses from every frame. Penny's record love manifests in classic after classic. Wardrobe and colour palette are all gentle pastels and solid primaries. Liberally sprinkled are cameos so delightful and unexpected that your face will break out in smiles.
It's amusing and a little odd that such a tragic concept is given such wholesome treatment (there's a white picket fence knocking about) but once you see through the disguise of the subject to a solid and heartfelt romcom, all is well. This is a well-written, warm treat of a film about a pair whose unlikeliness is aspirational to anyone who wants to believe that love can grow against all odds.
Contributor Sophie Monks Kaufman can be followed on Twitter @Sopharsogood.
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged apocalypse, Comedy, film, Keira Knightley, Manic Pixie Dream Girl, review, Seeking A Friend For The End of the World, Steve Carell on July 12, 2012 by Sophie Monks Kaufman.
God Bless America | review
Had Falling Down been made by the goofs behind National Lampoon it might have turned out something like this black comedy, which posits itself on the side of intelligence, but is arguably just as inane as the pop-cultural figures it mercilessly assassinates, argues contributor Ed Wall.
"America has become a cruel and vicious place."
So speaks Frank (Joel Murray), the protagonist in Bobcat Goldthwait's gory, silly and occasionally hilarious is-it-or-is-it-not-a-B-movie God Bless America. Frank, a middle-aged divorcee, finds himself at odds with a contemporary America whose vapid culture leaves him cold. Yearning for something more than his anodyne life, he has no outlet. He's surrounded by morons. His pubescent daughter is a bitch. He's a passive victim of our modern mediaocracy: unable to stomach the quality of the programming, yet still compulsively watching the television at night. When Frank is forcefully retired from his beige office job and told he has terminal cancer on the same day (ouch), our grey suburban 'hero' decides enough is enough and tools up. Soon he finds himself joined by disaffected teenager Roxy (Tara Lynn Barr), an intelligent outcast with an unhealthy taste for bloodshed.
Painted in the broadest strokes, Frank and Roxy's rampage through a culturally deficient USA is on the one hand far less shocking than it imagines it is, but also more covertly sinister than it appears. Besides spending the duration wondering quite which America it is Frank might be sentimentalising about, there's an uncomfortable sense that, despite the schlocky feel, the film is actually taking itself reasonably seriously while ultimately upholding the values of the culture it rails against. This leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
Over the course of two hours we're 'treated' to the slayings of various token hate figures including, but not limited to, a far-right religious group with God Hates Fags signs, some Tea Party members and a fat man who may or may not be excusing paedophilia. These set pieces are executed (excuse the pun) with all the snappy dialogue you'd expect from a veteran of the stand-up scene, and decent acting from the two leads (particularly Barr, who endows Roxy with a needs-to-be-loved emotional vulnerability as the flipside to her downtrodden arrogance).
However, in keeping with the trashy pulp aesthetic, there doesn't seem to be any point to all the violence. The film, ultimately, is trying to say something without wanting to be seen to be trying to say something. In advocating exactly the same response to a problem that a prevalent strain of American ideology demands, the film had the potential to be highly satirical. However, the nagging suspicion that for all the protagonists' 'journeying' this isn't really going anywhere is confirmed by a weak final third, replete with all-too predictable twist.
Making a film about the decline of culture that is itself artless, pointless and throwaway is either an unflinchingly brave act of postmodern artistry or a beautifully ironic faux pas, on a level with Alanis Morissette's infamous, blundering misuse of the word 'ironic'. It's child's play simply to list all the things you're against in order to create a groundswell of sympathy amongst like-minded others (ask Vice magazine). Too much in God Bless America is rooted in the same divisive rabble-rousing actually employed by right-wing organisations like the Tea Party.
God Bless America, then, is not the wholly satirical deployment of the phrase that it might appear. I found myself wondering, in view of all of the recent unforgivable loss of human life, not least the truly abhorrent acts committed by the Assad regime in Syria, and those by Anders Breivik in Norway: is there not some kind of solution we can come to that doesn't involve killing everyone?
God Bless America is in cinemas now. It is also available on DVD from July 9.
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged alanis morrissette, Bobcat Goldthwait, Comedy, film, God Bless America, Joel Murray, review, Satire, Tara Lynn Barr, USA on July 8, 2012 by Ed Wall.
The Players (Les infidèles) | review
Before Jean Dujardin came to worldwide attention by winning the Oscar for best actor in The Artist, he was already a star in his native country. He came to prominence as one half of 'Un Gars, une Fille', a comedy TV sketch show revolving around a competitive-to-the-point-of-cruel couple. Dujardin has had success with dramatic roles since but The Players sees Dujardin return to this archetype as modern France's everyman in love (so to speak). UK distributor Momentum is banking on that Oscars success to draw British audiences to what is a very French affair.
The Players is a series of scenarios and sketches riffing on the act of infidelity. Or more precisely, men cheating on their wives and trying not to get caught. Dujardin teams up with the aptly surnamed Gilles Lellouche (they were both in last year's Little White Lies) as partners in philandering.
The separate scenarios plough through the archetypes of Parisian male adulterers: a pair of hard partying buddies, out until 5am every morning fucking any willing pretty woman and covering each other's backs in the face of spousal inquisition; the lusty, but stymied businessman pathetically jealous of his colleague's seemingly effortless ability to sleep with every female employee at the company; the mid-life crisis with a girlfriend's half his age.
It's an unfamiliar cinematic structure, a TV format, with a bizarre car-crash of characters. One might ponder on how successfully this Gallic trope might translate, but the relentless absurdity of it is universally funny. The little minute long sketches in particular are crude and tasteless, but equally ludicrous and farcical: an unfathomable fusing of bodies during sex; S&M and an exposing garage door; a dog and a used condom, to give but a flavour of their components. There's a particularly funny sketch bringing together many of the characters that appear (Dujardin & Lellouche are joined by other 'infidèles' including Guillaume Canet, married to Marion Cotillard) in an Adulterers Anonymous group run by a beautiful therapist.
One scenario sees Lellouche's character openly discussing his infidelity at the dinner table whilst his wife potters in the background, out of earshot. On the way home, the married dinner guest-couple (Dujardin and Alexandra Lamy, the other half in 'Un Gars, Une Fille', and the woman Dujardin married after divorcing his first wife with whom he has two children), besides exclaiming their friend's impertinent flagrance, inevitably end up discussing their own fidelity. Not a date movie, then.
Or perhaps it is. It doesn't bother with the aftermath of infidelity. There's the men for whom extra-marital sex has become the 'normal status'; the man who wants to cheat but can't (not for want of trying) and sees this as fidelity; and the sad man who can't hack the complexities of his 19 year old girlfriend's social life. Women are passing sexual objects or frustrated bystanders. It's all a bit laissez-faire with a comic-moral line that men are stupid and ridiculous and adultery is their natural state. It's innate.
The finale sees our pair of partying buddies from the first sketch heading to Las Vagas to give it 'everything' and the whole thing descends into bacchanalian lunacy of epic proportions. For heterosexual Parisian relationships at least, c'est la vie.
The Players (Les infidèles) is in cinemas now, courtesy of Momentum Pictures.
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged adultery, Comedy, French, jean dujardin, les infideles, momentum, review, The Player, Un Gars, une Fille on July 6, 2012 by John McKnight.
Exclusive PPH Interview | Beats and Sniper of People Just Do Nothing
PPH caught up recently with Sniper and Beats, kingpins of Kurupt FM – West London's second most popular pirate radio station – and stars of People Just Do Nothing, a show which started life as a YouTube web series, but made its big-time debut earlier this week on BBC iPlayer. Down at Kurupt HQ, they told me how they do…
For the uninitiated, what is People Just Do Nothing all about?
Sniper: It's basically a guide to how to successfully run a pirate radio station. By following me around and observing the way that I can deal with any given situation.
Beats: The BBC have cut out most of the technical side in terms of how to set up the rigs and that so now it is more looking at our lives and some of the stuff outside of the station as well.
Sniper: Yeah now it's got bits with my missus and my little girl, and they filmed a lot of stuff with [manager] Chabuds, who's another quite well known character around these ends.
Beats: That's all that equal opportunities though innit. BBC need to have a couple of them in there.
MC Sniper
How did the project get started?
Beats: Funny story actually…
Sniper: Don't you tell it, you always tell it wrong.
Beats: Yeah go on, you tell them.
Sniper: Basically me and Beats were doing sets out of my window, me MCing and him DJing and we used to get loads of people gathered outside on the playing fields.
Beats: Usually they'd be playing football aswell…
Sniper: But you could tell they were there for the music. You can play football anywhere. Anyway one day Steves, who was mates with my brother Phobia, turns up at mine off his nut with a massive aerial and saying that we could start a radio station.
Beats: He'd done acid at a squat rave and had a vision.
Sniper: Anyway, long story short, we ended up getting a transmitter off Chabuds and putting the aerial up on the top of the tower blocks. It was actually really easy to set up.
Beats: We got Chabuds to do most of it didn't we?
Sniper: Yeah but with us telling him how to do it though.
Beats: Once it got going that was it. Never looked back.
Sniper: Never needed to. Don't need to look back when you're moving forwards.
Beats: We started to get a bit of recognition around the estate, built up a decent following. Now we get between two and twelve texts per show.
Sniper: And we've got people like you lot banging our door down for interviews. Everyone watching us on TV and that.
Beats: Via the internet.
Sniper: Still TV though. BBC Three.
Who are your main influences?
Sniper: I'd probably say political figures mainly. Strong leaders. Freedom fighters. Prisoners of war.
Beats: Mine's probably DJ EZ.
PJDN began as a grass roots project with total editorial freedom. What's it been like to work with the BBC?
Beats: They're alright, yeah. They give you free lunches every day and breakfast as well sometimes. We had our mates coming down and we were just handing food out to all the kids off the estate.
Sniper: They didn't say anything. The thing that's weird about the BBC is they already sort of know what they want to film before they start filming so it's like they are trying to tell you how to act…
Beats: We had to pull them up a few times didn't we?
Sniper: I kicked off a couple of times. Beats didn't really.
Beats: Yeah, I would have though.
Sniper: But yeah when we watched some stuff back it just looked a bit weird. They cut all the bits where I was kicking off which is fair enough cos they're trying to avoid complaints or whatever but they also took out a load of other stuff…
Beats: They took out one thing where I gave quite an interesting description of various different types of skunk and the way they can influence the brain.
Sniper: People should know about stuff like that. That's useful information.
DJ Beats
Beats: I've got mates who could have used that information a couple of years back. One geezer went nuts and thought street lights were following him. He had to move to the countryside. Lives in Cheshire or somewhere mad like that.
Sniper: Mostly it's psychological. Stay positive. We're a positive influence for people. Inspirational stories for the young generation.
Beats: Always keep doing what you want to do.
Sniper: Long as it's not something proper stupid.
Beats: Yeah, keep it believable. I find the best way is to aim to do something that you are more or less able to do already. Then make that happen.
Sniper: Yeah, stick to what you know basically. No-one likes a failure.
If it is a success – and we really hope it is – where do you see it going next?
Sniper: Apparently if this gets enough views then they'll film more. Maybe do a whole series about us. That's what we want, basically.
Beats: We might even get paid for some of it I reckon.
Sniper: Probably build the empire, get our own club nights.
Beats: We're trying to get our own fragrance at the moment
Sniper: I Am Kurupt FM.
Beats: That's what it's called. Yeah we emailed Debenhams but haven't heard back. We've got loads of ideas though. Clothing lines, clubnights…
Sniper: It's a shame this didn't happen a bit sooner. Would have been good to be part of the Olympics opening ceremony. Did we hear anything back about that?
Beats: Nah.
Sniper: But whatever happens, we'll keep building.
Beats: Like builders.
Sniper: Literally.
And in a puff of smoke, Beats and Sniper were gone. The first episode of People Just Do Nothing is on BBC iPlayer now. Here's part 1 of the original web series.
This entry was posted in Features and tagged BBC, Beats, Brentford, Comedy, iPlayer, Kurupt FM, People Just Do Nothing, Pirate radio, series, Sniper on July 3, 2012 by Ashley Clark.
American Reunion
Nine years after their last outing American Wedding, and a full, frankly terrifying 13 after the first film in the series American Pie, Jim (Jason Biggs) and the crew return for a 'just the same but brand new' romp which looks at how the guys are coping with the many vagaries of regular-guy adulthood.
We pick up with Jim, now father to a young child, and ensconced in a sexless marriage with erstwhile band camp honey Michelle (Alyson Hannigan). The masturbatory excesses inspired by their barren domestic predicament are demonstrated in an opening scene of brutally tasteless slapstick which, as one might expect, pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the film. If you find the prospect of an infant child with his dad's wanking sock draped over his face funny, you'll be OK.
Jim sees an opportunity to unwind with the forthcoming high school reunion, and it's not long before we're re-introduced to the crew of old; Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) is bearded, successful and with a beautiful lady; eccentric Paul (Eddie Kaye Thomas) is spilling over with vague, improbable tales of international adventure; and hunky Chris (Chris Klein), the sensitive choirboy jock is now a popular-but-cheesy sportscaster. Oh, and of course, there's manic manchild Stifler (Seann William Scott), now an office temp presided over by a fey, domineering boss. As anybody with any sense surely would, the guys do their utmost to avoid the Stifmeister, with limited success.
What follows is a largely predictable compendium of gross-out humour, a college-rock saturated soundtrack, and various shallow-arced journeys toward self-knowledge, punctuated by one or two would-be arch, postmodern nods to generational disparity. As ever, the best thing here is Scott's wild-eyed turn as Stifler. He's effectively the film's wrecking ball; whatever's happening, however unpleasant or mawkish, all he has to do is appear onscreen to provoke a laugh. Whether it's mercilessly bashing a double-entendre into a single one, or shitting into a beer cooler, he's the film's comic heart. Further enjoyment is provided by the redoubtable Eugene Levy as Jim's dad, one or two predictable but amusing cameos, and a surprisingly decent minor turn from Tara Reid as Kevin's ex, Vicky.
However, while no-one will be surprised by frequent swerves toward the grotesque and amoral, genuine alarm is caused by the film's treatment of women. In the first film(s), the girls had significant screen time, and even some half-decent characterization. There's no such parity here, sadly. It comprehensively flunks the the Bechdel Test, (a handy barometer which names the following three criteria for a film for which to pass: it has to have at least two women in it who talk to each other about something besides a man). While it stops just short of the misogynistic viciousness of the likes of The Hangover films, much here leaves a bad taste in the mouth, not least the weirdly conservative agenda that makes women the source of the majority of the men's problems rather than their own ineptitude, yet punishes them for expressing themselves sexually (Your inner/outer feminist will explode with rage at the treatment meted out to the character of Kara, Jim's ex-babysitee). The less said about the ugly duckling-turned-stereotyped "spicy Latina" Trisha (Dania Ramirez) who falls hook, line and sinker for Paul's swashbuckling colonial-lite tales, the better. It's only really the spirited Michelle that saves the day in this respect.
Ultimately American Reunion, while almost wholly unnecessary as an endeavour, is just about what you'd expect. There's a few laughs and a few vaguely sweet moments along the way, and it will certainly represent a worthwhile nostalgia trip for viewers of a certain age and constitution. Really, the film itself is a bit like how one might imagine the experience of hanging out with Stifler. It's initially relatively entertaining, a little bit lovable, frequently disgusting, and when it's over you won't be in any hurry to repeat it.
American Reunion is in cinemas now. A version of this article originally appeared on the website The 405.
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged American Reunion, bechdel, Comedy, Jason Biggs, review, romantic comedy, Seann William Scott, Stifler on May 7, 2012 by Ashley Clark.
Juan of the Dead
Alejandro Brugues' Juan Of The Dead is a fairly amusing horror/comedy from Cuba which ultimately runs out of steam, but not before taking an intriguingly satirical glance at the country's political climate.
Alexis Dias de Villegas – who resembles a near-perfect genetic splice between John Turturro and The Wire's Bubbles – is the eponymous Juan, a charismatically down-at-heel odd-jobs man prone to puttering around Havana with his corpulent, sex-obsessed sidekick Lazaro (Jorge Molina) in tow. Juan's life, other than conducting a risky affair with a married woman, is pretty bare; he's a likeable rogue with a history of failed relationships, and an estranged daughter who lives with her mother.
Before long, creeping zombies begin to attack the town's population, though they are misidentified by our heroes as dissidents paid for by the US government. Following the careworn generic template, a rag-tag band of last-ditch, have-a-go-heroes (led by Juan) assemble and attempt to save the day with inevitably bloody, queasily humorous consequences. The twist arrives when Juan hits upon the idea of making some quick cash from his group's exploits.
The film's greatest strength lies in its creation of a convincingly desolate landscape upon which to unfold the action. Like Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, it takes a recognizably vibrant area and scorches it with a digital sheen, resulting in a creepy, slick barrenness. Despite the film's obviously skimpy budget, there's an impressively inventive approach to gore manufacturing, with early set pieces proving particularly effective.
The acting is of a varying standard. As Juan, de Villegas exudes a shambolic charm, though he is guilty of some pretty wild overacting on occasion (those staring eyes!) The outstanding performance probably comes from Andros Perrugorria as Vladi, Lazaro's cocksure yet sensitive son. Beneath all the manic action, another compelling feature of the film is its unusual satirical bent, which is clearly signposted enough for the uninitiated to cotton onto, but not quite overwhelmingly sledgehammer in approach.
Sadly though, Juan of the Dead never quite gets its pacing right, and starts to drag at a disconcertingly early stage. Scenes feel repetitive, and there's also a distinct lack of chemistry between Juan and his main foil, the rather unpleasant Lazaro. Unlike Shaun Of The Dead (a film which, unsurprisingly, Juan quotes from explicitly), we're never able to feel too deeply for these characters. Neither is the film particularly horrific or suspenseful, placing greater stock instead in comedy. Sadly, much of the humour simply falls flat, recoursing too often to the dodgy waters of 'zany', when a lighter, subtler touch is surely called for.
Worst of all, there's a pronounced strain of homophobia throughout which doesn't appear to be in any way ironic, and finally tips into a retributive viciousness that's immensely difficult to swallow. Whereas Shaun…'s Frost and Pegg embraced the undeniable homoeroticism inherent in the buddy genre, Juan… figuratively coaxes it out, then coshes it in an unpalatable, cowardly cinematic gay-bashing.
Ultimately, Juan Of The Dead emerges as a worthwhile, if not especially memorable, addition to the zombie horror genre. It's not the finished product by any stretch – it's far too uneven for that – but Brugues has certainly marked himself out as a directorial name to watch.
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged Alejandro Brugues, Alexis Dias de Villegas, Comedy, cuba, Horror, Juan Of The Dead, review on May 4, 2012 by Ashley Clark.
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Meet the 2019 leadership award winners
NRN staff | Sep 27, 2019
NRN honors the Golden Chain and Norman Award winners for extraordinary contributions to the restaurant industry
For more than four decades, Nation's Restaurant News has recognized the restaurant industry's most innovative and impactful leaders with its annual Golden Chain awards.
These are the headline makers. Together, they lead businesses with more than $15 billion in combined domestic sales. And whether they're building larger-than-life brands, drawing major investments, pioneering digital tools or incubating the next buzzworthy brand, their accomplishments are impossible to ignore.
The five executives in this year's class of Golden Chain winners are Julie Felss Masino, president of Taco Bell North America; Sam Fox, founder and CEO of Fox Restaurant Concepts; Elizabeth Smith, executive chairman of Bloomin' Brands Inc.; Scott Svenson, co-founder and CEO of MOD Pizza; and Tim McEnery, founder and CEO of Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants.
These winners will be celebrated at an awards gala Oct. 15 during the MUFSO conference in Denver. They will also address the most pressing industry issues during a panel session, sponsored by CardFree, earlier that day.
In addition, Alice Elliot, founder and CEO of The Elliot Group, will receive this year's Norman Award. That honor, now in its 10th year, recognizes an executive committed to developing and elevating restaurant industry leaders in the spirit of the late Norman Brinker, the casual-dining pioneer for whom the award is named. The Norman Award is sponsored by PepsiCo Foodservice.
Read on to see what sets these executives apart.
TAGS: Fast Casual Casual Dining Quick Service Marketing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
City design and city management are essential in people's lives
Engagement's a handy tool
BY FATIHAH MANAF
Urbanisation, although an indicator of development, comes with a set of challenges to a nation. According to the World Economic Forum, cities will face five major environmental threats, resources, inequality, technology and governance.
With the rapid rate of urbanisation, there's an immediate need for a proper and inclusive urban planning solution.
In celebrating Malaysia's 100th year of formal town planning, the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and Nextdor Property Communications have come together to organise City Expo Malaysia 2021 (CEM
City Expo Malaysia 2021
2021) virtually.
CEM 2021 is a 30-day expo for city makers to showcase their solutions for cities from Nov 8-Dec 8, 2021. The expo will also feature a 5-day forum for the public to watch and learn everything about cities.
Before tapping further into the event's details, the President of MIP, Datin TPr Noraida Saludin, shared with @green some major urbanism themes that Malaysian cities are focusing on.
"The major one would be the concept of placemaking, the idea of turning spaces into places. They are two different things here.
"If it is just a space, it could be just a space. If it's a place, then it's activated with people. To activate that, you've got to put in activities, and the activities will have to be something that people are inclined towards."
She said placemaking was the in-thing for the past two years as many cities in Malaysia have implemented it. Along the way, she revealed Malaysia was also looking at creating healthy cities and smart cities.
Touching on placemaking, Imran Clyde, the executive director of Nextdor Property Communications, revealed developers were famous for making a top-down approach.
"Whatever the management wants, people who do designs have no choice and have to do it," said Imran.
"So, we've seen situations where they build a skate park, but an expert in skate parks does not design it. So, what you'll have is that you end up with this space that nobody uses because it was not designed by an expert.
Since city design and city management are essential in people's lives (though they may not see it), Imran said there's a need for deeper engagement with people to get their feedback. It will provide the stakeholders with a clear picture of what's happening and tapping into people's understanding of city issues.
"Engagement is a handy tool in town planning," he said.
Inspiration behind CEM 2021
Imran said CEM 2021 was conceptualised in 2020. It was something that MIP wanted to put together, considering there weren't many platforms available which deep-dive into city issues and connect different stakeholders.
He said some conferences discussed specific parts of cities, but none of them went across different industries.
"City Expo Malaysia became this platform where we could bring together multiple stakeholders and unite them in this discussion about where our cities are going or what had happened in the past and so forth," said Imran.
Added Noraida: "It is also in line with 100 years of formal town planning in Malaysia. So, we thought it would be opportune to showcase and put together everything concerning cities at one place, one platform and one venue."
Noraida shared the expo was supposed to be held physically at first, but the organisers had agreed to move it entirely virtual due to the restrictions caused by the growing cases of Covid-19. It was unfortunate, but Noraida said going completely virtual could give the expo more worldwide exposure.
"We wanted it to showcase everything that is in the past, present and future of cities. We're looking at all sorts of aspects to the city, whether it's technology, green, heritage, culture, environment, or all kinds of things.
"You just go there, and you get everything about the city in one place!" said Noraida.
CEM 2021 brings stakeholders together
Imran believed CEM 2021 would be a platform that unites stakeholders involved in city design and city management. These stakeholders could come together and discuss various issues about city planning.
"For example, one of the most significant issues we are facing now is where our cities are going post-pandemic. Have things and people's perceptions or relationships with space changed or not? Are our policies able to adapt quickly to adjust to the new norms?
"A lot of cities are a slower indicator of change. But we're starting to see different trends, for example, with commercial spaces becoming emptier, what will happen to all these things?
"Planning is more than just looking at it from a top-down perspective. It deals with people, real challenges, real places. There's a need to be very forward-thinking in this sense.
"So, the only way we can get a real analysis of what's happening on the ground is if we bring the people who are managing the cities and designing the cities to come together and have that sort of discussion."
With CEM 2021 being virtual, the expo could attract global audiences and international speakers to participate and share their knowledge. Imran also mentioned that there would be a networking lounge where attendees could pitch ideas and discuss things with other people worldwide.
Learning opportunity at the virtual expo
Noraida agreed that after two years of the pandemic, many things need to be changed and reevaluated.
"The expo will provide a platform to exchange ideas and to learn from each other on how cities were affected by the pandemic," said the MIP President.
She added that there were many learning and re-learning opportunities at CEM 2021 as the people involved in the expo were planners and technology providers, local authorities, etc.
Besides the pandemic, she said stakeholders could also learn about environmental degradation in many places, including the cities.
"We're not just talking about re-learning about pandemic or urbanisation. We're talking about sustainable development. How other cities are dealing with it and what's the best practices and examples.
"Now that we are in the advent of technology, there's a lot of opportunities for everybody involved with cities to go and see what's available out there.
"With the City Expo Malaysia, it's not just the expo exhibition. We'll also be having a five-day, fully packed forum. The expo is going to be free," said Noraida as she emphasised there's no limit in time with it being virtual, and people could access it from wherever they are.
On the reason for the collaboration, Noraida revealed that MIP believed Nextdor went deep into things that could touch the hearts of many people.
"The passion that Imran and Anne (Lourdes) have for placemaking touches the lives in the city.
"Placemaking is about activating places and public spaces, and that's the core in MIP. At MIP, town planner's work touches lives.
"It's not just about spaces, but it's about creating places," said Noraida, adding that people at Nextdor have different aspirations and understanding beyond properties.
Tags: @green@green July/Augustcity expo malaysiasmart cityurban planning
Your way towards environmental sustainability
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text:
// leq.h

#ifndef LEQ_H
#define LEQ_H

#include <vector>
#include <typeinfo>
using namespace std;

#include "stackmachine.h"
#include "executionerror.h"
#include "stackelement.h"
#include "instruction.h"

/**
* 	@doc		Implements the les-operation (less or equal)
*	@author 	Andy Zaidman
*/
class Leq : public Instruction
{
	public:
		Leq(StackElementType type);
		~Leq();
		void execute(StackMachine *stack);
		ostream& print(ostream &os) const;

	private:
		StackElementType fType;
};

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Joseph Hayes and the Shelby Tigers get set for state tourney with the best advice
By Nate Thompson
SHELBY – Sometimes the best advice comes in the simplest forms.
For senior guard Joseph Hayes, when he's feeling the butterflies flutter in his stomach for some pressure-packed free throws, his coach at Shelby High School, Rick Zoulek, will occasionally give him advice that he must have picked up somewhere along the way during his 37 years of coaching experience.
Shelby's No. 5 Joe Hayes. Photo/Leo Valdez
"He'll just tell me to smile," said Hayes. "And just by doing that, it helps calm me down."
Hayes and the rest of his teammates have had a lot to smile about this winter for a rejuvenated Shelby varsity boys basketball team, which at 12-8, is sporting their first winning record since the 2015-16 season.
Hayes, as a senior leader, has been the catalyst for the Tigers' success, elevating his game in numerous areas, including being one of the most accomplished scorers in the West Michigan Conference. Hayes is the top scorer in the league at 23 points per game, which includes a 40-point outburst against rival Hart on Jan. 28. He's also averaging nearly eight rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Standing at 6-foot-1, Zoulek said Hayes won't blow the doors off with his athleticism, speed or leaping ability, but he possesses the intangibles that allow him to flourish.
"He's put in a lot of time in the off-season," Zoulek said. "He played in a travel league during the summer, and in the fall, he'd come in twice a week before school to work on his game.
"He just finds ways to score. He'll hit a couple threes, he'll hit some free throws and he's not afraid to get into the lane and draw contact. He just has an uncanny way to find ways to finish. He's a tough guard."
Zoulek said this about Hayes on the bus ride home on Feb. 24 after he had scored 27 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in a non-conference win over Orchard View, so the praise is definitely validated.
Hayes agreed with his coach's assessment, saying he takes pride in beating opponents by "playing smarter."
"I'm not the fastest out there, but I know when to attack and do other things that help my team win," Hayes said. "Things like knowing how to draw contact when bigs are trying to block me when I'm driving."
Hayes said what's more important than filling up the stat sheet is bringing success to Shelby, especially in the postseason. So far, a district championship has eluded Shelby during Hayes' career. As a freshman, the Tigers were upset by Hart; as a sophomore, Covid-19 shut down the season before the district finals could be played; and as a junior, the Tigers suffered another upset loss, this time to Muskegon Catholic Central.
This year, Zoulek said his team has been better at winning close games, which could serve the Tigers well in tense moments in districts. The Tigers received a first-round bye, and will face the winner of North Muskegon or host Western Michigan Christian on March 9 in the district semifinals. On the other half of the bracket, Holton will face the winner of Hart or Hesperia.
"We're handling the ball better, and our guards are handling the press and getting into the open floor much better this season," Zoulek said. "Our turnovers are way down. Still, we don't have a lot of size and we're not deep. We have three sophomores, three juniors, two seniors and a freshman."
But Hayes said he loves the "togetherness," of this year's squad.
"We celebrate each other's success," he said. "I'd say a few differences with this team is our team chemistry. We've got guys who know how to fill their roles and everyone is playing up to their potential."
Junior post Bishop Lee has been a good sidekick to Hayes, as he's averaging around 12 points and 10 rebounds a game.
Embracing the team aspect of the sport is something Hayes learned when he first started playing under his uncle as a first-grader in a White Lake youth league. Although he also plays soccer and baseball, Hayes said by the time he was an eighth-grader, basketball was his No. 1 love. He's been on varsity at Shelby since a freshman and Zoulek said he really started to come on during the second-half of his junior season.
"Once he gets a little stronger, he could be even better, if he wants to keep playing (at the next level)," Zoulek said.
Hayes said he's reached out to Grace Christian University in Grand Rapids, and Michigan Tech University to see if their coaches would be willing to take a closer look at his game. Maybe they'd even notice a smile or two at the free throw line.
Check out a few photos of the Tigers during the regular season, shot by Leo Valdez
PreviousLady Jayhawks will take a 24-4 record into the NJCAA tournament On March 16th as a 13th seed
NextShillinger scores 20 LaCombe gets his 1,000 career point as Ludington gets by Big Rapids 54-43
Shelby punches out 12 hits in 9-8 win over North Muskegon in softball action
Oakridge volleyball team beats Mason County Central for first league win
Whitehall baseball team pulls out a pair of close wins over North Muskegon
Muskegon Community College split baseball twinbill with Ancilla


Not many people comprehend the significance of dental care in maintaining the general health and well becoming of canines. Just like humans dogs require normal dental treatment. It is the responsibility of owners to make certain that they get it. A accountable canine proprietor requires treatment of their canine's teeth.
Dentists have been stating it for years, and moms have been preaching goof tooth treatment for many years now. Science has finally validated their claims. The only downside to this is the higher cost of Bonita Springs Dentist. It can be extremely costly just to have your tooth cleaned. The solution is individual dental insurance coverage.
I don't think it is possible to go to the dentist each working day to take treatment of your oral hygiene. It probably would be inconvenient and costly. Also, it doesn't truly sound like that much enjoyable.
There are personal tales as well. Don't tell Clint that it's over, simply because he'll disagree with you. He was component of the Saturday crew that labored with the healthcare and dental volunteers.
Let it sit there for a great 5 minutes or more. Following a little whilst, the burning gained't be so poor. You want to give the oil from the garlic time to soak into your gum and the tooth. Just give it some time to function its magic.
People with one or two poor teeth smile simply because I do not want to disrupt. Nevertheless, it is necessary to avoid tooth extraction. Dental porcelain inlay and onlays that ought to provide the final answer.
Dental assistant work do spend pretty well and you will have occupation security. Most vocational schools offer courses and will also offer job placement after the certification is finished. You will also have a time period of internship to give you on-the-job training. If you do not know where to look for dental assistant coaching, then of course you can inquire your normal dentist for a recommendation.


Breaking The Myth – Hiring Professional Interior Designers Is Expensive!
Posted On April 17, 2015 by Team iCynosure.
Last year when we were planning on redoing our home it was such a tough task. We were so very confused about each detail that we choose options with the old age inky-pinky-ponky rhyme. We soon realised that if we continued with this stupidity we would make a mess of what was supposed to be our dream home.
Finally we decided and spoke to our parents about bringing in an interior designer, but we were shooed away. Their argument; we were educated enough to do it ourselves. There was no point in paying huge amounts to the interior decorator who not only charges a fee but also a percentage of the purchase bill amounts. Educated we are but not experts. We had no idea about design specifications, costing, timelines or man-power.
Thus instead of taking the risk heads up we decided to wait it out until we found someone that had the expertise to hold our hands and walk us into a house that we wanted to build but couldn't envisage the journey that would take us there.
And then a few days ago we were introduced to Floorspace an exquisite, professional interior designing brand that makes your dreams a reality. The in-house experts understand your needs from classic to modern and bring in the contemporary individualistic glam-chic within the concept to give the design your personal touch. They offer interior design options that house you in a way that compliments your lifestyle. With hundreds of designs and pricing details available on their website, we could discover our budget without having to waste our time going from store to store.
Floorspace Interior Designs offer solutions for all your design needs via a new generation adaptive interior design concept which is very unique indeed! The platform offers pre-designed interiors that fit into living spaces of thousands of apartment and villa floor-plans thereby enabling you to save design costs. They also undertake niche and totally custom work incase your project is not yet a part of the Floorspace landscape or you need that complete need tailor-made solution. Be it modular wardrobes for your gorgeous bedrooms or a statement modular kitchen to suit your lifestyle as well as your available floor space.
While browsing through the numerous available designs I loved the fact that these modular components are available in various options to suit your budget, color combinations and materials. Not just the bigger picture, there is also a lot of flexibility in customizing each and every little aspect of the cabinets and shelves.
4 easy steps and you can be on your way to start the interiors! You can begin with selecting something that you like on their website and discuss your design needs and choices with an expert without having to pay anything. With more clarity on your needs, the consultant provides you a pretty close estimate for your dream space. Depending on the budgets you can then go about redoing bits and pieces to suit your style and budget at the same time. Floorspace indeed is that bridge that takes you from your dreams and aspirations to an honest reality.
So when you decide to take the home plunge, call out to Floorspace to hold your hand.
…and oh! The best part – Not only we got our dream home but that priceless pat on our back from our parents for we seem to have certainly broken their myth !


text:
Q: Showing a sequence of functions converges uniformly on any bounded interval
Question: Let $\{f_n\}$ be a sequence of continuous functions on $\mathbb{R}$.  Let $f_n \to f$ uniformly on $\mathbb{R}$.  Let $g_n(x):=f_n(x+\frac{1}{n})$ for $n=1,2,3,....$  Then $g_n \to f$ uniformly on any bounded interval $[a,b]$.

I think its apparent that the pointwise limit of the function $g_n$ is $f$.
I'm stuck trying to show this convergence is uniform on any bounded interval.

A: Hint 1: Decompose the problem into two easier questions:
$$
g_n(x)-f(x)=f_n\left(x+\frac{1}{n}\right)-f\left(x+\frac{1}{n}\right)+f\left(x+\frac{1}{n}\right)-f(x).
$$
Hint 2: Continuous implies uniformly continuous on compact intervals (Heine-Cantor).
Details: For all $x\in\mathbb{R}$
$$
\lvert f_n\left(x+\frac{1}{n}\right)-f\left(x+\frac{1}{n}\right)\rvert\leq \|f_n-f\|_\infty.
$$
So the left hand side term of the sum above converges uniformly to $0$ on $\mathbb{R}$, a fortiori on $[a,b]$.
Now $f$ is continuous on $[a,b+1]$, so it is uniformly continuous on this compact interval. This means that for every $\epsilon>0$, there exists $\delta>0$ such that such that $|f(y)-f(x)|\leq \epsilon$ for all $x,y$ in $[a,b+1]$ such that $|x-y|\leq\delta$. Now take $N$ large enough to have $\frac{1}{N}\leq \delta$. Then for all $n\geq N$ and all $x\in [a,b]$, we have $|x+\frac{1}{n}-x|=\frac{1}{n}\leq\frac{1}{N}\leq\delta$ and $a\leq x<x+\frac{1}{n}\leq b+1$. So
$$
\lvert f\left(x+\frac{1}{n}\right)-f(x) \rvert\leq \epsilon.
$$
This proves that the right hand side of the sum above converges uniformly to $0$ on $[a,b]$.
So $g_n-f$, which is the sum of these two terms, converges uniformly to $0$ on $[a,b]$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Rooted in the land, connected with the people.
The tradition of the Schweiger Brewery has a name: Quality!
Since 1934 the Schweiger family name has represented the finest Bavarian beer and social responsibility towards the land and its people. The fourth generation of the Schweiger family continues to maintain this tradition to this day.
Deeply rooted in the region our raw materials such as water, hops and malt are all sourced locally. This is good for the environment and creates jobs in the area.
A combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern brewery facilities ensure the award winning quality, and variety of our speciality beers.
Our beers embody the successful symbiosis of craft brewing, quality raw materials and love of the land.


To create the project in which the console application will be created, you need to execute the menu command File-> New-> Project and select the project type - Console Application , and then specify the name of the project , for example HelloApp, and specify the folder in which the project will be stored (Figure 2.6).
If you accept these settings, the compiler will create an solution, whose name matches the name of the project. In Fig. 2.7 shows how this solution looks in the development environment.
Integrated development systems are multi-window, customizable and have a large number of features. The following four main windows can be avenged.
The Solution Explorer window displays the structure of the solution being created. In the Properties window, you can see the properties of the selected program element. The selected document is displayed in the editor window (the central window), in this case - the program code of the project HelloApp.Program. Note that in this window you can display other documents, the list of which is shown at the top of the window.
In the Output window (below the editor window) the program compilation results ( Error List panel), the results of its execution ( Output panel ) or search results (panel Find Symbols Results).
The constructed solution contains the only project we defined - HelloApp. The project that is created includes logical folders with project properties (the Properties folder) and references to the connected assemblies from the FCL library (the Referencies folder) and the cs file. A file with the standard name Program.cs contains a default class that includes the entry point - the Main () method (in this case, empty).
The project class is included in the namespace , which by default has the same name as the solution , and the project. Thus, when creating a new project , a special structure is created - the solution , which includes the project containing the namespace , which describes a class with the Main () method, which is the entry point to the program. For simple solutions , this structure may seem redundant, but it allows you to structure well complex applications.
The functionality of the project built by default is small. You can compile it by selecting the appropriate item (command) from the Build menu. If the compilation has passed without errors, the resulting assembly will be created, and the EXE file of the project being developed will appear in the Debug folder. The application can be started by pressing, for example, the corresponding keys (CTRL + F5 ) or by selecting the appropriate item from the Debug menu. The application will run under the control of the CLR. As a result of the program execution, a console window will appear prompting you to press any key to close the window.


text:
Reach the games industry with MCV/DEVELOP
MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Video game release dates
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Reigns developer wasn't sure he could make a good free-to-play game
MCV Staff 11th October 2016	Business News
Designer Franois Alliot is a relative newcomer to video games.
Having studied literature at university, he was a consultant for several years, but decided to give game development a shot after he moved to the UK with his partner in 2013.
Forming developer Nerial, Alliot started with mobile puzzle game Singular, which made $200, before giving French billiards a go with Magic Shot. That title brought $2,000 in for the developer, before it made $20,000 from its subsequent title, RTS Devouring Stars.
Nerial then decided started work on its next project, Reigns, a title that merges the simplistic swipe left or right interface of dating app Tinder with a medieval narrative where players are take on the role of a series of kings trying to keep their kingdoms in order.
The initial idea was a prototype that we did with the artist, Mieko Murakami who was spending time on Tinder. So we messed with the idea of using Tinder for games," Alliot says.
We wanted to the apply the mechanic to something totally different. The idea quickly became to play as a king. A monarch has a lot of power – they can send people to their death by the thousands. It was an interesting idea to attach to such a simple mechanic with very complex decisions. The game was a way to comment on how politics work – you have very complex decisions to make summed up in very simplistic views."
Reigns launched on PC and mobile in August. On the latter, the title came with a premium price, opposed to the many smartphone releases that opt for a free-to-play business model.
I wasn't sure we could make a very good free-to-play game," Alliot explains. It involves a lot of skills that I don't really have. I have always played games that I paid upfront for. Also, it's hard to make a successful free-to-play title. Even if have 1m downloads, actually making sure people come back to your game so you can push updates and they get engaged in the game is hard. It's quite difficult, especially as an indie developer, to sustain yourself with a free-to-play game."
So far, Reigns has been something of a success for Nerial having shifted 600,000 units at last report. The firm has also said that the bulk of the sales were on mobile.
"Reigns was a way to comment on how politics work – you have very complex decisions summed up in very simplistic views."
Franois Alliot, Nerial
Reigns was made for smartphones," Alliot says. We sold it on Steam for the same price. It's a nice game to play with a gamepad or with a mouse and keyboard. That was the proof that, beyond the swiping mechanic, the narrative itself was quite interesting. That was a great proof of concept for the mobile version."
And Alliot believes that No Man's Sky had a role to play in his game's performance on Steam.
We were a bit surprised by the results," he says. The timing of our launch was pretty good. We were supposed to launch a week earlier but we had issues with the translation so we bumped it back. That was when No Man's Sky launched and basically no other games were released on Steam. We were so small that we decided to do it. When people had issues with No Man's Sky, they tried our game in the meantime. Personalities like TotalBiscuit and Jim Sterling did a great job promoting our game instead of No Man's Sky.
That was a great way to launch the game. We were also quite lucky."
Tags alex-calvin indie interview interview interviews no man's sky
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"Things have been rapidly changing for the better" – Assassin's Creed III: Liberation composer Winifred Phillips on the growing recognition of game soundtracks
Announcing the return of the MCV/DEVELOP Awards on April 28
Make sure you save the date and prepare to vote in celebration of the UK games industry - in what will be the MCV Awards' 20th year
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MCV 974 January 2022
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This place was a diamond before we even got there. Having been INITIALLY designed by Studio PCH Architects, it was a stunning display of sophisticated and airy modernism. Clean lines, light wood, and views everywhere you looked. You could sit in a room with no furniture and still feel inspired.
It had gone through a few different potential operators and themes before landing on the final Nikita concept. We partnered with NYC's Greg Seider on overseeing Nikita Malibu's launch and Bar, Lounge, and outdoor deck Program. With Seider engaged as the Executive Bar Director we worked to redesign the existing bar, plan and design the deck bar expansion, and work with the Architect and ownership on creating layouts, atmosphere and experience.
Located right on Carbon Beach off the PCH, and sharing property with world renowned Nobu, Nikita has become a go to destination for Southern California with it's stunning views, world class bar program and a menu by Michelin stared Chef Massilimiano Blasone.
Gesundheit! Call you soon. Your exciting!


text:
DNR confirms gobies in Lower Fox
Working with anglers fishing the Lower Fox River, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of round gobies – an unwanted aquatic invasive species -- immediately below the Neenah dam, according to a press release from t
DNR confirms gobies in Lower Fox Working with anglers fishing the Lower Fox River, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of round gobies – an unwanted aquatic invasive species -- immediately below the Neenah dam, according to a press release from t Check out this story on thenorthwestern.com: http://oshko.sh/1UxzfMX
The Northwestern Published 3:44 p.m. CT Sept. 4, 2015
The round goby is an invasive species that was found in the Fox River below the Neenah dam.(Photo: Courtesy of the Wisconsin DNR)
Working with anglers fishing the Lower Fox River, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of round gobies – an unwanted aquatic invasive species -- immediately below the Neenah dam, according to a news release from the DNR.
Kendall Kamke, DNR Oshkosh fisheries team supervisor, said the four gobies caught in recent days are the first evidence of the species in the waterway above the series of locks and dams downstream. DNR is asking area anglers for additional help to determine if the species is also present upstream of the Neenah and Menasha dams in Lake Winnebago and is coordinating efforts with the Fox River Navigational System Authority, which has closed the Menasha lock.
Kamke said the DNR is asking for assistance from anglers to help determine whether the gobies have made it above the Neenah and Menasha dams and are in Lake Winnebago or whether they may still be held in check downstream.
The gobies that have been caught so far have been taken on hooks baited with pieces of worm. Anglers who catch a goby should kill it and, along with specific information about where and when it was caught, bring it to the DNR Oshkosh office, 625 E. County Highway Y, Suite 700, Oshkosh. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Due to the Labor Day holiday, anglers who catch a goby over the weekend are encouraged to freeze it and bring it in during the following week.
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We all make choices in the organizations that we choose to support. That support may be financial, may be time, or it may be some other type valuable support that helps to further the goals of the organization. The FIRST Robotics program as expressed in the activities of Team 1720, The PhyXTGears, is deserving of support, and we do. Littler Diecast Corporation has been a supporting organization for several years. It has been very rewarding for us to participate in the growth of the team; to watch the students develop skills and the confidence that accompanies it. These student team members are engaging in activities that are preparing them to be contributing members of our community. That is worth every minute of time given and every dollar spent in support of Team 1720. Go Gears!!
Team 1720 has impacted me in a way I never could have expected it would, that first day my Mom drove me down the road to where the team holds its meetings. I didn't know anybody or anything about the program. After that first meeting, I knew I had to go back. I've always been interested in building things and inventing new things but before FIRST robotics, I never had any experience in how to actually use the tools and the technology. Because of FIRST and my team, I now have the knowledge and am inspired to find a way to use it in my life. I've decided I want to pursue engineering in college and I'm sure I'll never forget how my robotics team started me on this path.


be an evening long remembered.
even the most optimistic of the committee.
congratulated for their successful efforts.
plenty of fun and amusement to all.
following the style of "Dogpatch," U. S.
~ere willing to attempt the description.
will really tickle your palate.
good acts and novel entertainment.
and some mighty good food.
with you as long as I live."
Hubbard, Mrs. Earl Swaney, Mrs. Fogle, Mr. Swaney, . . Lucas, Helen Klaybor, Carol Heward, Wilham Bodnor.


Ha anche affermato che trasferirsi a New York dalla sua città natale lo ha "obbligato" a crescere come persona Dall'inizio del decennio è infatti apparso in quella che il Boston Herald ha definito «una serie di pellicole indipendenti acclamate e poco viste» che «lo hanno etichettato come l'astro nascente nel circuito del cinema indipendente».
In June 2012, Quantic Dream announced a video game entitled Beyond: Two Souls in which Page and Willem Dafoe portray the protagonists Jodie Holmes and Nathan Dawkins, respectively.
It was released on October 8, 2013, in North America.
Page co-starred in Zal Batmanglij's 2013 thriller film The East a movie inspired by the experiences and drawing on thrillers from the 1970s, alongside Brit Marling and Alexander Skarsgård; Page replaced Felicity Jones, who had been attached to the project, but later dropped out.
Page was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Scene Stealer for the role. Scott of The New York Times described her as "frighteningly talented" Page was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, but lost to Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose.
Page portrayed the title character in the 2007 film Juno. She also earned nominations at all the other major awards including the Golden Globe, BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild The role, however, did win her more than 20 awards, including a Canadian Comedy Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Satellite Award besides the likes of numerous Critics awards including Detroit Film Critics Society, Austin Film Critics Association and Florida Film Critics Circle.
Our Board of Directors is elected annually and consists entirely of independent directors (with the exception of our CEO, Kevin Lobo).
Kan me vlot verplaatsen en zoek geile dominante stevig geschapen mannen, nationaliteit van geen belang.
This is important because surnames with umlauted characters are placed in alphabetic order after regular characters so if you are just scrolling down this sorted list you may find the surname you are looking for in an unexpected place (i.e.


text:
The Soul Purpose er det første studiealbum udgivet af den Boston-baserede underground hiphop-duo 7L & Esoteric. Albummet udkom første gang i 2000 på cd med nedenstående sporliste samt tre bonusnumre: Hell When I Come Through (3:13), Brain In Gear (3:12) og Operating Solo (3:17). Albummet blev genudgivet med nedestående sporliste den 10. juli 2001 på cd og en anden sporliste på dobbelt-grammofonplade. Albummet er kun udkommet i USA.

Sporliste

Kildehenvisninger

Album fra 2000
Hiphopalbum

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
What is the history of gumboots dance?
Gumboot History Gumboot dancing comes from South Africa workers who worked in the gold mines during the migrant labor system and oppressive Apartheid Pass Laws. During this time, workers were separated from their families and forced to work in harsh conditions (Gumboots: Rhythm is a Language ).
Why is gumboot a historically significant dance style?
The gumboot dance is thought to represent hope of better prospects, and symbolizes the oppressive and despicable treatment of those who were enslaved in the gold mines of Johannesburg.
What are the characteristics of gumboots dance?
It is an amalgamation of language, music, and dance that still continues to evolve. The musical characteristics of gumboot dancing include inobtrusive changing meters, accents, and polyrhythms that are performed through imitation, improvisation, and call-and-response.
When did gumboot dance form first start?
GUMBOOTS premiered at the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa on June 29, 1999. The production sold out within days, earning standing ovations at every performance.
Where did gumboots dance started?
Origin. Rooted back in the dark gold mine tunnels of South Africa, gumboot dancing has come full circle. Initially a codified tap used by black miners deprived of conversation, gumboot dancing today is one of the most expressive South African dance genres.
How is gumboot dance performed?
The gumboot dance (or Isicathulo) is a South African dance that is performed by dancers wearing wellington boots. In South Africa these are more commonly called gumboots. The boots may be embellished with bells, so that they ring as the dancers stamp on the ground.
Where did gumboots come from?
What is the meaning of gumboots dance?
plural. gumboot dances. DEFINITIONS1. a high-stepping dance that started among mine-workers in South Africa, and is usually performed wearing rubber boots and overalls.
Where does the name gumboot come from?
The term "gum boot" in New Zealand is thought to derive from the 19th-century kauri-gum diggers, who wore this footwear, or perhaps because the boots were made from gum rubber. The term is often abbreviated to "gummies".
Who performed gumboots dance?
Who invented gumboots?
Arthur Wellesley
Gumboots were invented in the early 1800's by Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington. Prior to the gumboot, the Duke (well known in history for his victory at the Battle of Waterloo) wore soft calfskin boots called Hessians to battle.
Categories: Users' questions
What is a countryman microphone?
How do I get emergency housing in Ontario?


text:
/*
This sample demonstrates how to map, fetch, and
 manipulate the Oracle VARRAY as a custom object.
 This sample can use managed ODP.NET or ODP.NET Core.

Database schema setup scripts:

1. Connect to HR or another similar schema.
2. Run the following SQL scripts to create a varray of
 numbers, a table of that varray, and a stored
 procedure inserts a new varray into that table.

drop procedure odp_varray_sample_proc;
drop table odp_varray_sample_rel_tab;
drop type odp_varray_sample_type;

create type odp_varray_sample_type as varray(10) of number;
/

create table odp_varray_sample_rel_tab
  (col1 odp_varray_sample_type);

create procedure odp_varray_sample_proc(
  param1 IN OUT odp_varray_sample_type) as
  begin
    param1.Extend(1);
    param1(param1.Last) := 9;
    insert into odp_varray_sample_rel_tab values(param1);
  end;
/

*/

using System;
using System.Data;
using System.Collections;
using Oracle.ManagedDataAccess.Client;
using Oracle.ManagedDataAccess.Types;

class VArraySample
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Enter user id, password, and Oracle data source (i.e. net service name, EZ Connect, etc.)
        string constr = "user id=<USER ID>;password=<PASSWORD>;data source=<DATA SOURCE>";

        string sql1 = "select col1 from odp_varray_sample_rel_tab";
        string sql2 = "odp_varray_sample_proc";

        // Create a new simple varray with values 1, 2, 3, and 4.
        SimpleVarray pa = new SimpleVarray();
        pa.Array = new Int32[] { 1, 2, 3, 4 };

        // Create status array and indicate element 2 is Null.
        pa.StatusArray = new OracleUdtStatus[] { OracleUdtStatus.NotNull,
            OracleUdtStatus.Null, OracleUdtStatus.NotNull, OracleUdtStatus.NotNull };

        OracleConnection con = null;
        OracleCommand cmd = null;
        OracleDataReader reader = null;

        try
        {
            // Establish a connection to Oracle DB.
            con = new OracleConnection(constr);
            con.Open();

            cmd = new OracleCommand(sql2, con);
            cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;

            OracleParameter param = new OracleParameter();
            param.OracleDbType = OracleDbType.Array;
            param.Direction = ParameterDirection.InputOutput;

            // Note: The UdtTypeName is case-senstive.
            param.UdtTypeName = "ODP_VARRAY_SAMPLE_TYPE";
            param.Value = pa;
            cmd.Parameters.Add(param);

            // Insert SimpleVarray(1, NULL, 3, 4) into the table.
            // The stored procedure adds a fifth VARRAY element with a value
            //  of 9, then inserts the VARRAY into the table.
            cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

            // Print out the updated Simple Varray.
            // Results should return values: 1, NULL, 3, 4, and 9.
            Console.WriteLine("Updated SimpleVarray: " + param.Value);
            Console.WriteLine();

            // Modify element 3 to Null and element 2 to Not Null.
            pa.StatusArray[1] = OracleUdtStatus.NotNull;
            pa.StatusArray[2] = OracleUdtStatus.Null;

            param.Value = pa;

            // Insert SimpleVarray(1, 2, NULL, 4) into the table.
            // The stored procedure adds a fifth VARRAY element with a value
            //  of 9, then inserts the VARRAY into the table.
            cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

            // Print out the updated Simple Varray.
            // Results should return values: 1, 2, NULL, 4, and 9.
            Console.WriteLine("Updated SimpleVarray: " + param.Value);
            Console.WriteLine();

            // Add/Remove some elements by converting the Int32[] to an ArrayList.
            ArrayList pa1 = new ArrayList(pa.Array);

            // Create a corresponding array list to track each element's
            //  Null or NotNull status.
            ArrayList sa1 = new ArrayList(pa.StatusArray);

            // Remove the first element. (2, 3, 4)
            pa1.RemoveAt(0);
            sa1.RemoveAt(0);

            // Add element 6. (2, 3, 4, 6)
            pa1.Add(6);
            sa1.Add(OracleUdtStatus.NotNull);

            // Add element -1. (2, 3, 4, 6, -1)
            pa1.Add(-1);
            // Make the new element NULL now when inserted into DB.
            sa1.Add(OracleUdtStatus.Null);

            // Convert ArrayLists into a SimpleVarray
            pa.Array = (Int32[])pa1.ToArray(typeof(Int32));
            pa.StatusArray = (OracleUdtStatus[])sa1.ToArray(typeof(OracleUdtStatus));

            param.Value = pa;

            Console.WriteLine("Updated SimpleVarray: " + param.Value);
            Console.WriteLine();

            // Insert SimpleVarray(2, NULL, 4, 6, NULL) into the table.
            // The stored procedure adds a sixth VARRAY element with a value
            //  of 9, then inserts the VARRAY into the table.
            cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

            cmd.CommandText = sql1;
            cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
            reader = cmd.ExecuteReader();

            // Fetch each row and display the VARRAY data.
            // Results should return values 2, NULL, 4, 6, NULL, and 9
            // for the last SimpleArray returned.
            int rowCount = 1;
            while (reader.Read())
            {
                // Fetch the objects as custom types.
                SimpleVarray p;
                if (reader.IsDBNull(0))
                    p = SimpleVarray.Null;
                else
                    p = (SimpleVarray)reader.GetValue(0);

                Console.WriteLine("Row {0}: {1}", rowCount++, p);
            }
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
        }
        finally
        {
            // Clean up
            if (reader != null)
                reader.Dispose();
            if (cmd != null)
                cmd.Dispose();
            if (con != null)
                con.Dispose();
        }
    }
}

// SimpleVarray Class
// A SimpleVarray class instance represents an ODP_VARRAY_SAMPLE_TYPE object.
// A custom type must implement INullable and IOracleCustomType interfaces.
public class SimpleVarray : IOracleCustomType, INullable
{
    [OracleArrayMapping()]
    public  Int32[] Array;
    private OracleUdtStatus[] m_statusArray;

    // OracleUdtStatus enumeration values specify the object attribute
    // or collection element status.
    public OracleUdtStatus[] StatusArray
    {
        get
        {
            return this.m_statusArray;
        }
        set
        {
            this.m_statusArray = value;
        }
    }

    private bool m_bIsNull;

    // Implementation of INullable.IsNull
    public bool IsNull
    {
        get
        {
            return m_bIsNull;
        }
    }

    // SimpleVarray.Null is used to return a NULL SimpleVarray object.
    public static SimpleVarray Null
    {
        get
        {
            SimpleVarray obj = new SimpleVarray();
            obj.m_bIsNull = true;
            return obj;
        }
    }

    // Implementation of IOracleCustomType.ToCustomObject()
    public void ToCustomObject(OracleConnection con, object pUdt)
    {
        object objectStatusArray = null;
        Array = (Int32[])OracleUdt.GetValue(con, pUdt, 0, out objectStatusArray);
        m_statusArray = (OracleUdtStatus[])objectStatusArray;
    }

    // Implementation of IOracleCustomType.FromCustomObject()
    public void FromCustomObject(OracleConnection con, object pUdt)
    {
        OracleUdt.SetValue(con, pUdt, 0, Array, m_statusArray);
    }

    public override string ToString()
    {
        // Return a string representation of the custom object.
        if (m_bIsNull)
            return "SimpleVarray.Null";
        else
        {
            string rtnstr = String.Empty;
            if (m_statusArray[0] == OracleUdtStatus.Null)
                rtnstr = "NULL";
            else
                rtnstr = Array.GetValue(0).ToString();
            for (int i = 1; i < m_statusArray.Length; i++)
            {
                if (m_statusArray[i] == OracleUdtStatus.Null)
                    rtnstr += "," + "NULL";
                else
                    rtnstr += "," + Array.GetValue(i).ToString();
            }
            return "SimpleVarray(" + rtnstr + ")";
        }
    }
}

// SimpleVarrayFactory Class
// An instance of the SimpleVarrayFactory class is used to create
// SimpleVarray objects.
[OracleCustomTypeMapping("ODP_VARRAY_SAMPLE_TYPE")]
public class SimpleVarrayFactory : IOracleCustomTypeFactory, IOracleArrayTypeFactory
{
    // IOracleCustomTypeFactory
    public IOracleCustomType CreateObject()
    {
        return new SimpleVarray();
    }

    // IOracleArrayTypeFactory Inteface
    public Array CreateArray(int numElems)
    {
        return new Int32[numElems];
    }

    public Array CreateStatusArray(int numElems)
    {
        // CreateStatusArray may return null if null status information
        // is not required.
        return new OracleUdtStatus[numElems];
    }
}

/* Copyright (c) 2021, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. */

/******************************************************************************
 *
 * You may not use the identified files except in compliance with The MIT
 * License (the "License.")
 *
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 * https://github.com/oracle/Oracle.NET/blob/master/LICENSE
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
 * WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 *
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 *
 *****************************************************************************/


text:
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Lidia Vitale attends Alice Nella Citta' 2017 Presentation on October 6, 2017 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends the premiere of 'Piuma' during the 73rd Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 5, 2016 in Venice, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends 'La Santa' Premiere And 'Fear Of Falling' Premiere during The 8th Rome Film Festival on November 11, 2013 in Rome, Italy.
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Lidia Vitale and Carlotta Natoli attend the Howtan Re Preview Party at Howtan Space on December 06, 2019 in Rome, Italy.
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Actress Lidia Vitale is photographed for Self Assignment during the 8th Rome Film Festival on November 9, 2013 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends the 'La prochaine fois je viserai le coeur' Red carpet during the 9th Rome Film Festival on October 20, 2014 in Rome, Italy.
Actress Lidia Vitale attends the 'La Santa' Photocall during the 8th Rome Film Festival at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica on November 11, 2013 in...
Actors Francesco Siciliano, Michael Schermi, actress Lidia Vitale and director Cosimo Alema with actors Marianna Di Martino, Massimiliano Gallo and...
Actress Lidia Vitale at the Santa Barbara Award Honoring Saoirse Ronan Presented By UGG during The 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival at...
Lidia Vitale walks a red carpet for 'Stronger' during the 12th Rome Film Fest at Auditorium Parco Della Musica on October 28, 2017 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends Netflix's Suburra The Series Premiere at The Space Moderno on October 4, 2017 in Rome, Italy.
Actor Lidia Vitale attends the premiere of "Tulipani, Love, Honour And A Bicycle" during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Ryerson...
Lidia Vitale attends the "Tulipani, Love, Honour and a Bicycle" premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival at Ryerson Theatre on...
Actors Ksenia Solo, Anneke Sluiters, Gijs Naber and Lidia Vitale attend the "Tulipani, Love, Honour and a Bicycle" premiere during the 2017 Toronto...
Lidia Vitale attends a photocall for 'The Startup' on April 3, 2017 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends Burton's 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' Premiere In Rome on December 5, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale walks the red carpet for Tim Burton's 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' on December 5, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends the 'Master Of Photography' photocall at Villa Medici on July 5, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends the 'Outcast' premiere at Auditorium Della Conciliazione on April 19, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Actress Lidia Vitale attends the '3rd Premio Anna Magnani' at Casa del Cinema on March 21, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends a red carpet for 'Lo Chiamavano Jeeg Robot' during the 10th Rome Film Fest on October 17, 2015 in Rome, Italy.
Lidia Vitale attends a photocall for 'Era D'Estate' during the 10th Rome Film Fest on October 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy.


Outdoor enthusiasts, active inner loopers, and Houstonians can rejoice, as the highly anticipated hike-and-bike trail connection between White Oak Bayou Greenway and Buffalo Bayou trails is now complete.
In a week that included the announcement of a revitalized downtown Jones Plaza and a $70 million development grant for Memorial Park, the new connector was officially christened during a public ceremony on April 28, hosted by Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and various city and parks officials and foundation leaders. The ceremony marked the last of the six-part, $30 million "Houston Regional Bike/Ped Connections to Transit" project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The connection adjoins the White Oak Bayou Greenway to the popular Buffalo Bayou trails and green spaces — including Buffalo Bayou Park, which was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. City and park officials also tout the new connector as a link to downtown's East End, transit centers, communities, and recreational areas, and as an alternative thoroughfare for downtown students and commuters. The connection should provide easier access to destinations north of White Oak Bayou Greenway and across the I-10 corridor.
The connector is part of a series of projects by Bayou Greenways 2020, a public-private partnership between the nonprofit Houston Parks Board, the City of Houston, and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and the Harris County Flood Control District. The plans call for a transformation of some 3,000 acres of underutilized land along nine major waterways into a 150-mile linear park and trail system that crisscrosses Houston.
The link should also come as a relief to active East End hikers, joggers, and cyclists who have needed safe access to the Buffalo Bayou trails and park.


Deeper meanings discovered within the depths of fog as we tip toe down dampened streets. Observing nature in its natural state while hoping for undulations to stimulate the juices. 60F outside and full of humidity. No winds though SW tendencies are alive. Trace mixes of swells newly arrived have not yet been introduced to our coastline. Filling tide just now turning the corner may well elicit the best in all of us.
CHANNEL: Hypo-active NW windswell may soon be bolstered by new energy but currently remains calm and breaking in the knee high perspective. The activated left revolving along the deeper Channel bar is your go to for the most consistent of the least size. As the day unfolds more swell may unwind and add to the efforts and bring them above lackluster.
PATCH: SW swell on the prowl though not yet germinated enough to galvanize the masses. More tide may bring more determination and confluence to the area and allow loggers the easy cruise they choose. For now we wait and watch in the grey light and know that all things do change in time.


text:
August 15, 2010 by Moderator
Hostility to minorities is held by the far right majority of the Republican Party
No matter the group, one can almost feel the seething disgust the GOP has for people they don't like.
Simply put, there is one party that welcomes people of all colors and faiths, and there is one that does not.
– brooklynbadboy.
Harry Reid really touched a nerve when he said: "I don't know how anyone of Latino heritage could be a Republican, OK?" … "Do I need to say more?"
Out of necessity, 1st Congressional District Republican candidate Raul Labrador, who was born in Puerto Rico, weighed in:
"Harry Reid's latest race-baited words are simply unacceptable to all members of the Hispanic community and I fully expect his party and Walt Minnick to condemn these terrible comments immediately." he said
Calling Reid's comments "ill-tempered," and "ignorant," Labrador, issued the following statement:
I cannot believe an elected leader of Harry Reid's stature can continue to make racist comments about huge numbers of Americans. Harry Reid's latest race-baited comments are simply unacceptable to all members of the Hispanic community. Denigrating the entire Republican Hispanic community, including myself, is simply outrageous. Contrary to Senator Reid's beliefs, the Latino community is perfectly capable of making choices of political affiliation that are in its best interests, including being Republicans.
"Statements such as these prove the message of the Democrat Party as one of inclusiveness and tolerance is nothing more than cynical political posturing," Labrador added. "I expect the Democrat (sic) Party that continues to keep Reid in a position of Leadership to denounce his statements and I fully expect my opponent Walt Minnick to condemn these terrible comments immediately."
On Daily Kos, Brooklynbadboy felt differently:
This blunt language encapsulated the basic argument the entire Democratic Party has to make to Latino people: hostility to minorities is held by the far right majority of the Republican Party. No matter the group, one can almost feel the seething disgust the GOP has for people they don't like. This is obvious to people who can see it and are honest about it, including plenty of people in the Republican Party who are genuinely disgusted by racism. But those folks are increasingly being forced out of the party as it turns its moral center away from big business and Christian evangelicals in favor of white supremacists and extremists.
Harry Reid may have been speaking something that usually lingers just below the surface of political debate in this country. Simply put, there is one party that welcomes people of all colors and faiths, and there is one that does not. Therefore, it is a rather curious thing to find people of color becoming leaders of a party that is openly hostile to people of color. Despite the hostility, the GOP does produce them. Michael Steele, Bobby Jindal and Marco Rubio come to mind. There is a strand of the GOP that puts ideology before all, even if the results of that ideology have negative effects on minorities. Still, it isn't difficult to join Harry Reid in asking why anyone of color would want to join the Republican Party.
The majority of the GOP is openly hostile to Latinos. The Arizona racial profiling law they passed is good proof. The reason for this hostility has many different causes. But regardless of motive, it is clear that when Republicans talk about border fences, troops on the border, crime on the border, securing the border, you name it on the border…they mean Latinos.
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taufan | August 16, 2010 at 1:28 pm


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"I've traveled around; I've been all over this world.
A little mountain town that sits right along the shore has quickly become one of my favorite places to be. Dramatic hills with houses built into the sides, endless fields of yellow wildflowers, the constant ring of waves, and the best hot chocolate thus far.
Folk music. Bright colors. Gaelic. Laughing. Dancing. Traditional fare. Cobblestone. River-lined streets. And wandering through this dream at golden hour. Galway's vibrancy and magic won this girl's heart.
TRAVEL TIP : We love renting cars. It is definitely an extra expense. But for us, it is completely worth it. Getting lost in the countryside, the slowness and ease, pulling over for pretty things (all-the-freaking-time); We just love it. It adds a couple hundred dollars to our trips, but there aaaare a few ways to save on cars : Learn STICK / MANUAL (Seriously! We saved $300 for Italy!), opt for a car share, choose the "mini", book from an off-airport location, and always, always make your reservation online (In Charleston, because we thought we would just Lyft, we sat in the airport booking on our phones because booking at the desk was an extra $80. WHAT?).
Know how you travel. Splurge on key things. Cut on others.