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Tag: X Men
*NEW* LOGAN REVIEW *NEW*
March 17, 2017 June 3, 2017 by pmbayobale, posted in Action, Adaptation, Best and worst films, Cinema, Comic Book, Drama, Film essay, Hollywood, Marvel, Movie review, Uncategorized
The BEST Wolverine movie?! Well, it didn't have much to go up against.
He saw it and it was good.
A fitting swansong. It's just a shame that we finally get the Wolverine spin-off we deserve when Jackman decides to hang up the claws. 17 years? Has it really been 17 years since the first X-Men movie hit the silver screen?
A franchise I grew up with (Well, a movie franchise. I'll confess the comic books never appealed to me. Sacrilege, I know). In fact, it took me multiple watches to like the first X-Men movie BUT there was always one character that stole the show for me. Any guesses on who that could be?
Hugh Jackman is a fantastic actor but after all the hype and praise, I feared the worst for another botched Wolverine flick. Origins was a drawn out mess (Let's not forget the Deadpool subplot) and The Wolverine was shambolic. I mean, come on! A metal samurai robot?! Really?
BUT thankfully, third time's the charm.
In the near future, a weary Logan (Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) somewhere on the Mexican border. However, Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant (Dafne Keen) arrives, pursued by dark forces.
The brutally violent and bloody opener set the tone. This Wolverine had had enough. An embittered man ready to die. Done with the world and the people who live in it.
Mangold and co. really took advantage of that 15 certificate. The carnage was relentless. And let's not forget the endless F-bombs.
BUT it also established a much more cynical and darker feel to the X-Men movies. A direction that would perfectly suit any upcoming DC movie. If they are lucky to be green lit any more.
Patrick Stewart was superb as Charles Xavier. The man who had all the answers. Lost in his own mind. Heartbreaking. I always loved the fractious relationship between him and Logan.
Never giving up on the soldier who had deemed himself a lost cause.
"I'm a glorified truffle pig" – My favourite line of the film. Mangold penned a cracking script.
I was a little anxious when I saw Stephen Merchant's name pop up in this super-serious gritty neo-Western but the boy from Bristol did well as the albino mutant tracker Caliban. He delivered a much needed comic relief.
Boyd Holbrook was wasted in his role as the slick toothed Pierce. A gold toothed mercenary with cyber-enhancements. The Narcos star made a memorable introduction BUT he soon whimpered into the background to make way for Richard E Grant's (incredibly weak) and slimy Dr. Rice.
I loved Mangold's little nods. A Western to its very core. I loved the Shane movie montage sequence. Contrasting the frail and bloodied Logan to the iconic cowboy as he tried to refuse the call.
One last mission. To save a young mutant girl who was being made into a weapon. Something old Wolfie could relate to.
He soon met his match with Rice's latest creation. NO SPOILERS HERE.
Dafne Keen didn't do too bad as Laura. It didn't really come as too much of a revelation about her abilities. Although comic fans will already know. I just wish the trailers hadn't spoiled it.
Her incessant screaming and zombie stares did do my nut in at times BUT she worked well with Jackman. They made a good duo especially when they teamed up to dispose of their pursuers. One bloody corpse at a time.
John Mathieson's cinematography was fantastic to look at. Beautifully captured. The special effects were incredible. Great action set pieces and cracking CGI.
The pace meandered by the 80 minute marker and the middle act did draw things to a slump BUT we were soon rewarded with a no-holds barred visceral action packed gore fest.
The only other niggle was that I was left with questions. The meta-textual references with the X-Men comics was a nice in-joke BUT I wondered what had happened to the rest of X-Men. No passing comments. Nothing. Gutted.
After all the time-altering in Days of Future Past, what changed? I'm trying to be as cryptic as possible without divulging too much story.
Mangold tried to make an accessible solo effort BUT I found he isolated the little things that would have polished it off for me.
BUT that didn't spoil what was a bloody good watch. There were genuine moments where I actually felt a little tear in the eye for the Professor and his miserable protegee.
It may have taken two dreadful movies BUT we got there in the end and I don't think any X-Men fans will be disappointed.
BUT I'll let you be the judges.
*DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE CREDITS. There are no teasers or spoilers. Nothing. Just a thank you to the people who made this movie. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME*
Tagged Boyd Holbrook, Dafne Keen, DC, Deadpool, Hugh Jackman, James Mangold, John Mathieson, Logan, Narcos, Patrick Stewart, Richard E Grant, Shane, Stephen Merchant, The Wolverine, X Men, X Men Origins: Wolverine, X Men: Days of Future Past1 Comment
*NEW* SPLIT REVIEW *NEW*
January 25, 2017 August 26, 2017 by pmbayobale, posted in Best and worst films, Cinema, Film essay, Hollywood, Movie review, Thriller, Uncategorized
A return to form from the maestro who brought us The Sixth Sense?
Or another dud to add the ever-growing backlog from that guy who gave us The Happening?
In a nutshell, meh.
BUT one thing can be agreed, James McAvoy was excellent.
Three girls are kidnapped by a man diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities. They must escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.
I think it's fair to say that M. Night Shyamalan's movie have . . . split audiences. Ba-dum-tssh. I read that somewhere and had to put it.
I've always loved the premises BUT his execution? Well . . .
Desperate to be the next modern Hitchcock (The opening title sequence for Split resembled something out of Psycho!)
His big "twists" and mad endings have failed to impress of late; The Visit (Laughable), After Earth (Jaden Smith, say no more!), The Lady in the Water (Apart from that breaking of the 4th wall moment, woeful) and The Happening . . .
How could I forget?!
What do you mean, where's Signs and The Village? I *shuffles collar* actually enjoyed those movies. Yes, I know. Aliens attack Earth and their sole weakness is water. I know! BUT Mel Gibson and Johnny Cash, man!
I digress. I was actually excited by all the trailers to see Shyamalan's latest thriller and I didn't mind it. It was alright BUT it just didn't quite live up to my expectations.
The opening didn't mess about. An air of unease established straight from the get go as McAvoy's "Dennis" made his introduction to the unsuspecting trio.
Funny that I was praising Anya Taylor-Joy in another mediocre movie (Morgan). She played the withdrawn but resourceful Casey well.
I didn't expect to see Grace from Skins (Jessica Sula) in the troubled party either.
Their initial captivity felt like something from Kiss the Girls with a hint of Misery.
The first half hour set a slow burning atmospheric thriller with all sorts of questions flying around.
Every time I could feel my patience wading, McAvoy's Dennis would introduce another personality.
McAvoy continues to impress yet again. I don't think I would have been half as interested if he wasn't at the helm.
He stole the show with everybody else playing second fiddle.
And that was part of the problem, every time the action was taken away from him, I lost interest.
Betty Buckley (Carrie) didn't do a bad turn as Dr Fletcher, the therapist desperate to help the troubled mad man. Fighting for "their" cause. Playing a very dangerous game.
There were genuine moments where I felt tense. Especially when she worked out that she wasn't talking to the "right person".
The girls played their parts well and were quite resilient.
I expected more cliched horror movie gaffs with three teenage girls at the centre of the chaos BUT they were fairly strong characters. Not bad, Mr Shyamalan.
BUT one thing that bugged me the most was the film's actual premise. 23 personalities?
All those trailers, billboards, posters. 23 personalities. Did we actually get 23 personalities?
*POSSIBLE SPOILER*
For the majority of the film, we only had 4. Great performance from Professor X but a measly number that increased to maybe 7 by the end? Come on now.
It was great how with a twitch in the face and a burrow of the brow; McAvoy's infantile nine year old Hedwig could transform into the meticulous and obsessive compulsive Dennis.
His Patricia could easily have bordered on a parody of Mrs Doubtfire.
Thankfully, it didn't.
BUT this could have been done in 90 minutes and been better for it.
The pacing hammered the piece for me and the final act dragged.
There was so many meandering flashbacks into Casey's past, I kept wondering what the relevance of them were?
They killed the tension and annoyed the hell out of me.
All the talk of a Beast. This new and vicious 24th personality. Those crazy descriptions and the big reveal, the "What a twist" moment didn't quite deliver.
It was certainly creepy and unsettling with Shyamalan teasing the die hards BUT it didn't quite pan out the way I hoped.
Different. Watchable. BUT thriller of the year? Meh.
Certainly worth a view for one stellar performance from the super Scot.
A return of sorts. Not his best. BUT certainly NOT his worst by a country mile.
Tagged After Earth, Alfred Hitchcock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Carrie, Jaden Smith, James McAvoy, Jessica Sula, Johnny Cash, Kiss the Girls, M. Night Shyamalan, Mel Gibson, Misery, Morgan, Mrs Doubtfire, Psycho, Signs, Skins, Split, The Happening, The Lady in the Water, The Sixth Sense, The Village, The Visit, X Men1 Comment
*NEW* DEADPOOL REVIEW *NEW*
October 24, 2016 June 26, 2017 by pmbayobale, posted in Action, Adaptation, Best and worst films, CGI, Cinema, Comedy, Comic Book, Film essay, Hollywood, Marvel, Movie review, Uncategorized
Stupid, ridiculous, violent and . . . not bad at all.
I couldn't think of anybody better than "God's Perfect Idiot" to take on the iconic role of everybody's new favourite foul mouthed anti-hero.
How many chances can Ryan Reynolds have bringing a comic book character to the silver screen? Thankfully third time's the charm.
A fast-talking mercenary with a morbid sense of humor is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers and a quest for revenge.
From the mental opening sequence, I knew what I was getting myself into. A lewd, crude, brutal BUT incredibly funny shoot em up.
The way people were raving about Deadpool; you would have thought you've never seen Ryan Reynolds shout and scream profanities!
The film swiftly flicked back and forth between Deadpool's relentless revenge spree to his "unconventional" love story with the feisty hooker Vanessa (Morena Baccharin – Homeland).
I couldn't resist laughing at Reynold's quick witted one liners and smart ass insults while he clocked up the body count. This role really was made for him.
To be honest, the film only really lost momentum when it tried to take itself more seriously.
The pace lagging when we got to the origin stuff. Sorry, the NEW origin stuff.
Apparently we're supposed to forget about Deadpool's origin story in X-Men Origins: Wolverine now. Especially during Wade's experimentation.
Completely breezed over that little question with silly (BUT hilarious) meta-textual references. Reynolds even had a pop at himself with a Green Lantern gag for good measure.
I know we had to see the humble beginnings of this quick witted mad man BUT no matter how many sly digs, gags and 4th Wall breaking, you couldn't hide the fact that it was the same old cliched story.
As much as Baccarin and Reynolds had great chemistry and the cheesy luvvy duvvy exchanges were replaced with messed up foreplay and a year long bonkathon montage to commemorate their romance, it was still boy meets girl.
"Oh, that's because it's Christmas Day Dopinder and I'm looking for someone on my naughty list!".
I was actually more interested in the naive cabbie Dopinder's (Karan Soni) subplot. Coaxed into ferrying Pool around on his vengeance-seeking killing spree.
I've never really rated Ed Skrein's acting (The Transporter Refuelled) but he played the maniacal "British villain" Francis quite well. The man that made Deadpool; "A penis with teeth".
Gina Carano (Haywire)'s delivery may have been colder than Colossus' steel BUT she nailed the hard ass (and ironically titled) Angel Dust a treat.
T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley) was good as the Comic Relief BUT there wasn't enough of him.
The same could be said for Deadpool's blind crackhead roomie Blind Al (Leslie Uggams).
The pair's bickering over IKEA furniture while gunning up for battle was hysterical!
"It's like the studio couldn't get another X-Men". I'm not going to lie. I've never read the comic books. I wasn't aware that Deadpool existed in the same universe as the X-Men.
Shock horror. It was great to see Colossus the metallic bad ass that owned the opening sequence from X-Men: Days of Future Past get a little more screen time.
We were even introduced to a new face; the moody emo-looking Negasonic Teenage Warhead (played brilliantly by Brianna Hildebrand).
The unlikeliest crime fighting trio I've seen so far.
It was funny watching Deadpool 'refusing the call' to be an X-Men. Evading capture from Colossus by cutting his own hand off. Ouchie. God knows how he would fit in with that mad bunch?!
The shoot em ups and fighting sequences were brilliantly choreographed and deliciously gory.
I just wish the deaths were a little more creative. Spelling enemies' names with bodies, yes! Kicking a guard's amputated head to disarm another guard, yes!
BUT once you've seen ol' Pool slice and dice through a dozen bodies, it got a little repetitive.
BUT despite it's flaws, it was a breath of fresh air to see a film openly rip and poke fun at the endless superhero entries that are relentlessly bombarding the big screen.
It really was a mad riot with Reynolds on fine form.
If that sounds like your kind of thing, then it won't disappoint.
I'm sure I don't have to say it BUT please persevere through the credits for a little treat. Chicka chika!
Tagged Brianna Hildebrand, Deadpool, Ed Skrein, Gina Carano, Gotham, Haywire, Homeland, IKEA, Karan Soni, Leslie Uggams, Morena Baccarin, Ryan Reynolds, Silicon Valley, T.J.Miller, The Green Lantern, The Transporter Refuelled, X Men, X Men Origins: Wolverine, X Men: Days of Future Past4 Comments
*NEW* X-MEN: APOCALYPSE REVIEW *NEW*
October 13, 2016 by pmbayobale, posted in Action, Animation, Best and worst films, Blockbuster, CGI, Cinema, Comic Book, Drama, Fantasy, Film essay, Hollywood, Hollywood mess, Marvel, Movie review, Uncategorized
Was another one really necessary? Probably not BUT with Singer at the helm, I knew I was in for a treat.
After the re-emergence of the world's first mutant, world-destroyer Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan.
I loved the X-Men movies (Yes, even The Last Stand. No, really! I've seen worse. Trust me). BUT I couldn't get into X-Men: First Class and felt the Wolverine spin-offs were a massive let down (Although I still have high hopes for Logan!). A shame considering the cast, the characters and Hugh flippin' Jackman!
Disappointing affairs that there were either too long, too dull or riddled with far too many plot holes and I didn't even read the comic books.
Thankfully Days of Future Past was a return to form and mixed the old cast with the new perfectly. Singer's direction being the missing ingredient. I had to laugh at his sly dig about the third movie always being the worst in a "Star Wars" debate. Righting so many wrongs in one action packed package.
So here we are . . . *WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS!* After the bombshell that was delivered at the finale of Days of Future Past, I really wanted to see the next installment. BUT one that followed on. NOT going back into the past again! I was a little disappointed BUT it was still a highly watchable and enjoyable effort.
The idea of mutants existing through history and NOT just from experimentation was a different angle.
The opening felt like something out of The Mummy (The Stephen Sommers saga) with all the crazy golden swag everywhere and demented ritual stuff. BUT it got things going and set up the chrome-esque Humpty Dumpty looking and (poorly named) Apocalypse quite well.
Looks a bit like Ivan Ooze.
Despite all that make up and silly voice tampering, Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina) was still a convincing super-villain (Even if he spent the majority of the film monologuing). A god hell bent on bringing the Second Coming with the help of his chosen Horsemen.
Writer Simon Kinberg and Singer explored the origins of the old favourites quite well. Tye Sheridan (Scouts' Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) was very good as a young Scott Summers/Cyclops. Sophie "Game of Thrones" Turner was excellent as Jean Grey. Her accent was impeccable.
There wasn't enough of Kodi Smit-McPhee's (Let Me In) Nightcrawler. He captured Alan Cummings' mannerisms perfectly and stole every scene. Alexandra Shipp's Storm was tragically lost in the mix far too much. A bit like her older counterpart in Future Past. Shame.
It was intriguing to see Fassbender's Magneto portrayed as the tormented anti-hero. Doomed to never have a normal life after trying to start a family in Poland. The only problem was that despite giving an extra depth to the maniacal metal man, it left him skulking around for the rest of the film. Gutted.
I loved the transformation of Mystique's character. To change from a morphing femme fatale to a conflicted symbol for the mutants' fight for survival. BUT then again what did you expect when you have Jennifer Lawrence taking on the role?!
The only problem was that it felt like a retread from FP with Raven refusing to take the call. Even though you knew the inevitable outcome.
BUT where Singer and Kinberg explored old faces, they tried to bring in new ones which didn't quite work. Ben Hardy's Angel and the beautiful Olivia Munn's Psylocke were a waste of time. Even Sabre Tooth and Toad made more memorable minions.
However, there was one face I was happy to see return and that was Evan Peters' (American Horror Story) Quicksilver. He stole the show in Future Past and did it yet again. Featuring in one of the best animated sequences I've seen in a long time.
You thought the prison breakout was impressive in FP, you ain't seen nothing yet. The detail. The effects! Fantastic. It may have taken months to shoot BUT it was worth every frame. And all perfectly timed to the rhythmic beat of Eurthymics' Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).
It was entertaining as hell as Quicksilver kung fu kicked doors and moon walked across fiery hallways while his clueless comrades stood frozen in time; oblivious of their impending doom.
I was a little annoyed with the influx of new faces that didn't get enough back story to make a proper introduction. Scott's brother Alex or Havok (Lucas Till) was hyped up as such a crucial character BUT it was his first appearance in the franchise. An unnecessary addition by the time the credits rolled.
The pace did test in the final third and the finale, despite the amazing visuals, felt like a retread of FP and First Class with Magneto sulking and wanting to end the world (Again). Yawn.
It might help to have watched the other entries to appreciate all the little nods. Especially First Class because I had completely forgotten about Rose Byrne's character and her silly little love subplot with Professor X. Thankfully Singer and co. did a quick recap to jog the memories of those who aren't up to speed on their X-Men history.
BUT there was still enough fun and action to keep me entertained. The only problem by trying to fill in the gaps and explore new territory, Singer unwittingly put more cracks in the time frame from the original efforts. There was a revelation surrounding one character that came out so half arsed that I wondered why they even bothered in the first place?!
Despite my gripes, Apocalypse still fitted perfectly as a precursor to the first X-Men movie (That's the 2000 release for those who want to be pedantic with the crazy time frame) and wasn't quite the wash out that people had me believe.
The cast were great, the effects and set pieces were breathtaking and I still had fun after 16 years and 7 films (Does The Wolverine count? Okay, 8. What about Deadpool? Steady on).
Tagged Alan Cummings, Alexandra Shipp, American Horror Story, Ben Hardy, Bryan Singer, Deadpool, Eurthymics, Evan Peters, Ex Machina, Game of Thrones, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Let Me In, Logan, Lucas Till, Michael Fassbender, Olivia Munn, Oscar Isaac, Rose Byrne, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, Simon Kinberg, Sophie Turner, Star Wars, Stephen Sommers, The Mummy, The Wolverine, Tye Sheridan, X Men, X Men First Class, X Men Origins: Wolverine, X Men: Days of Future Past, X Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Apocalypse
*NEW* MIDNIGHT SPECIAL REVIEW *NEW*
June 9, 2016 by pmbayobale, posted in Action, Best and worst films, Cinema, Drama, Film essay, Hollywood, Movie review, Science Fiction, Special effects, Uncategorized
Not that special.
A father (Michael Shannon – Man of Steel) and son (Jaeden Lieberher – St. Vincent) go on the run, pursued by the government and a cult drawn to the child's special powers.
Overhyped, drawn out and disappointing. A patchy affair, to say the least.
The opening 30 minutes was everything I expected. It was tense, slow burning and mysterious as we watched Roy (Shannon) and Alton (Lieberher) hiding out in motels. Only travelling at nightfall. Evading capture at any cost. A suspenseful encounter with a state trooper after a late night car collision was nail-biting.
All the questions with none of the answers. Hook, line and sinker! Joel Edgerton (Warrior) worked well with Shannon as his friend and partner in crime. Lieberher excelled yet again (after a stellar turn in St. Vincent) as Alton. He felt like a cross between ET and D.A.R.Y.L. If said aliens were brainwashed by a religious cult.
I did expect more from Shannon's performance. He didn't impress as much as I hoped. Was a leading role a stretch too far after so many iconic supporting roles (Man of Steel/Boardwalk Empire)? He just wasn't charismatic enough. I wanted to care for the pair. BUT as the film drudged along, my patience was soon tested.
Thankfully Jeff Nichols didn't explore too much of Sam Shepard's (Mud) crazy ranch cult. I was happy NOT to be stuck with that dreary subplot. It felt like a pale imitation of Big Love (A show I would highly recommend). The perception that Alton was a gift from God was different BUT it didn't really go anywhere.
Kirsten Dunst (Fargo) was wasted in her role. Her character was so weak and one dimensional. There was NO connection or chemistry between her and Shannon (or their characters) and by the time the frenetic finale came to a close, you realized how unnecessary her character really was.
NOT even Kylo Ren could save the day. Adam Driver's (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) initial introduction was annoying and dull. His communication babble and co-ordinate guff put me into a mini-coma.
It probably didn't help that he looked like Matt from the hilarious Saturday Night Live Star Wars Undercover Boss skit (Check it out – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaOSCASqLsE). However, Driver's nerdy shtick soon won me over and was a much needed boost in this increasingly drawn out yarn.
The mystery throughout the first half of the film was the only thing keeping me going. The fact we didn't know why Alton was special. Why did he have to leave? Who was coming for him? Did he even have powers? Was it a hoax? Mere pandemonium from a bunch of deluded zealots?
All we knew was that he had to wear goggles during the day and stay out of the sunlight. BUT the second half of this sci-fi snooze-fest threw that out of the window with Alton blazing light out of his eyes like Cyclops from X-Men. Pulling satellites out of the sky and babbling in radio frequencies.
Don't get me wrong, when it (finally) kicked off, there were moments to be had. The special effects were brilliantly executed and the chase sequences soon stopped me fidgeting in my seat.
BUT I think it would have worked much better if Nichols had played out whether Alton was an alien or not up to the very end. The sci-fi stuff was revealed far too early. Killing a lot of the tension and suspense for me.
I loved the Close Encounters of Third Kind vibe to the piece BUT it was far too patchy. There were only so many sweeping shots from Adam Stone's beautiful cinematography and brooding scores (from regular Nichols stalwart David Wingo) to keep my interest.
The finale was frantic and baffling BUT ultimately by the closing credits, predictable and disappointing. A bizarre set design, that was supposed to be breathtaking and captivating, looked like something from Tomorrowland.
Nichols left it on a strange climax with more questions. I could see what he was trying to do BUT by the end I really didn't care. For all the mystery and tension, it couldn't hide what was a rather weak and tame alien road movie that (despite all the promise) lacked in depth or originality.
It was watchable BUT far too patchy and overhyped. Personally, Mud is still my favourite out of Nichols' works.
Tagged Adam Driver, Adam Stone, Big Love, Boardwalk Empire, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, D.A.R.Y.L, David Wingo, ET, Fargo, Jaeden Lieberher, Jeff Nichols, Kirsten Dunst, Man of Steel, Michael Shannon, Midnight Special, Mud, Sam Shepard, Saturday Night Live, St Vincent, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Tomorrowland, Undercover Boss, X Men3 Comments
*NEW* THE GOOD DINOSAUR REVIEW *NEW*
December 1, 2015 December 5, 2015 by pmbayobale, posted in Animation, Best and worst films, Cinema, Comedy, Disney, Drama, Film essay, Hollywood, Movie review, Pixar, Uncategorized
Not good enough, I'm afraid.
An epic journey (Well . . . ) into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) makes an unlikely human friend.
The thought of having two Pixar movies in a year should have been a treat BUT this latest offering failed to hit the same highs as any of its predecessors.
I tried my best NOT to draw comparisons BUT it was hard not to when the story was so flat and predictable. Don't get me wrong. It was watchable and there were some nice moments that still cracked the embittered cynic in me but memorable?
The opening with the infamous asteroid avoiding the Earth 65 million years ago teased a "What if dinosaurs weren't wiped off the face of the planet scenario" BUT Pixar's only answer to that was farming, apparently.
Really? It was easygoing enough but a little tame as Arlo and his family tended to their crops. Seeing Arlo as the runt of the pack and battling his fear of everything had been done to death. What didn't help was that Ochoa's voice really grated against me throughout the whole film and when Arlo howled with Spot (Far too many times), I prayed for them to stop!
Jeffrey Wright (Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace) played the role of Poppa well. Sharing his words of wisdom and desperately trying to get Arlo to conquer his fears and make his mark (Well, footprint) on the family wall (And the world, most likely). Awww. Yuck. While poor Frances McDormand (Fargo) was completely wasted in her role as Momma.
What baffled me was the Southern accents? It felt like a Western take on Ice Age. On paper, it had potential BUT it's a shame that it didn't really amount to much.That's NOT to say it was all bad.
Pixar still delivered with their fantastic visual effects. The panning shots as Arlo rode down the river made you feel like you were there with him and there was a beautiful sequence in which Arlo and Poppa run through a field of glistening glow flies (Lame. Hey, it was great). I think that was the only moment where I wished I had invested in 3D. Otherwise, I don't think the experience would have been enhanced in any way.
Despite its flaws, Disney and Pixar still have a way of dispatching tragedy that can break even the most cynical of critics. A spiritual send off may have been predictable BUT it still tugged a little at the heart strings.
The role reversal of the cavemen being more primitive than their prehistoric predators was a nice touch BUT had the gang NOT heard of a film called Ice Age? The introduction of Spot (Jack Bright) helped set up a nice pairing after a heated scrap. One that gets them lost and far away from home. The relationship helped keep the formulaic journey watchable and delivered the little chuckles as the pair put their differences aside to get back home.
Steve Zahn's (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) pterodactyl Thunder Clap was probably the only other memorable character. He delivered the laughs but soon overstayed his welcome once he began to repeat the same gag, a mispronounced expression. One that was hardly a "relevation". Yup, that bad. Things did take a slightly better turn when Thunder Clap decides to put Spot on the menu.
The stalking and chase sequences were racy and picked up the pace. The fins surfing through the skies like something out of Jaws was brilliant. What annoyed me was that Pixar were always able to bring a different take on something we've seen before. Inside Out was essentially a different take on Osmosis Jones.
The dinosaur angle wasn't used enough in this. The idea of T-Rexes being 'cattle handlers' was cute BUT entertaining? Not for me. Sam Elliot did what he does best. Grumbling in an inaudible style and sharing his words of wisdom BUT it was far too corny for my liking. It took me until the credits to realise Anna Paquin (X-Men) was voicing one of the other T-Rexes.
Maybe Pixar's charm is wearing off on me. For the wonderful animation and nicey nicey moments, it was rather disappointing. This ranked en par with the Plane movies. Watchable for the little 'uns BUT it didn't soar high enough for me.
Tagged 3D, Anna Paquin, Cars, Casino Royale, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Disney, Fargo, Frances McDormand, Ice Age, Inside Out, Jack Bright, Jaws, Jeffrey Wright, Osmosis Jones, Pixar, Planes, Quantum of Solace, Raymond Ochoa, Sam Elliot, Steve Zahn, The Good Dinosaur, The Lion King, X Men
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON REVIEW
May 31, 2015 August 21, 2017 by pmbayobale, posted in 3D, Action, Animation, Best and worst films, Blockbuster, CGI, Cinema, Comedy, Comic Book, Fantasy, Film essay, Hollywood, Marvel, Movie review, Superhero Movies, Uncategorized
Did the second instalment do what the first couldn't?
Was I left fuming yet again? Or did I have to swallow my words?
They're back. Bigger, badder but better? There's only one way to find out.
When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron (James Spader), things go horribly wrong and it's up to Earth's Mightiest Heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans
I will admit straight off the bat. I really didn't like the first Avengers. I know? SACRILEGE! It just didn't do it for me. Overlong, mind numbing and overhyped. If not for Tom Hiddleston's superb turn as Loki and a thrilling 30 minute closing crescendo, I would have given up on the franchise.
I was furious at how rushed the endless superhero entries were. Just to get to the Avengers release date. Okay, the Thor films were fantastic. Hawkeye and The Black Widow didn't even get an origin story. Iron Man 1 and 3 were good. Don't get me started on 2.
The numerous Hulk origin attempts with Bana and Norton misfired (I actually liked the Ang Lee blockbuster. What?). Captain America was rushed. I was happy to see more of the superhero fighting in the past. BUT the Winter Soldier sequel did restore my faith a little.
Inevitably after the crazy money that the first Avengers film took, we had another. And after much deliberation and note taking, I can firmly say . . .
Well done, Mr. Whedon. You have won me over.
The opening was racy, fast paced and straight to business. The team finally gelled together and in the zone. The special effects were fast and furious. The overuse of CGI did make things a little too cartoony in parts. But how else are they going to create a nine foot Hulk?!
There were numerous SHIELD references that went over my head in the opening. I knew it had something to do with Marvel Agents of SHIELD but I'm not that big a fan. It might help to recap on Thor or the first Avengers as a certain sceptre is used quite heavily again.
Whedon's witty one liners zinging left, right and centre like the endless cannon fodder. The banter between the team was top notch. The old fashioned Cap (Chris Evans) telling Stark off for using foul language being an ongoing joke was a particular highlight.
The team dynamic really worked for me and made for great viewing. I mean even the scene in which the gang were trying to lift Thor's hammer as a drunken party trick shouldn't have worked but was so funny.
Ultron was a perfect maniacal menace. Spader (Ol' Red from The Blacklist) applying his gravelly gravitas with aplomb. The animation and detail was excellent.
I liked the brewing romance between Banner/Hulk and The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). The lullaby that they use to calm the Hulk was a nice touch even if it reminded me of Shrek and Fiona. But I honestly thought there was always something between The Widow and The Cap? Oh, that cheeky minx. Anyway . . .
Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson made a more convincing couple as the Maximoff twins than they ever did in Godzilla. My only quibble with Taylor-Johnson was that his character Quicksilver was very much like a character in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Evan Peters played him. He ran really fast. What was he called? Oh yeah. Quicksilver. Hmmm . . . Interesting that. Copyright issues were there?
Olsen was always my Kryptonite even if she has been in some terrible movies. But she did the role of the Scarlet Witch justice as did Kickass.
I wasn't really bored. It just got on with it and zipped along. Dipping only in a few parts to allow some much needed character development on some neglected heroes. *Cough* Hawkeye *Cough* Black Widow.
Renner had taken to the role well. But he was so one-dimensional. I mean, come on Whedon. Surely you've seen Arrow? But without spoiling anything, Whedon finally ventured into his background and gave him more depth. He was able to stand out among the ever-expanding roster of superheroes.
The trippy dream sequences that the Witch uses to play on her opponents' minds was interesting as we got a little peak into The Black Widow's past; most notably her training.
It was funny, intense, action packed. Great acting (Check), top banter (Check), cheeky Stan Lee cameo (BIG CHECK!). There were a few surprises to be had. BUT I couldn't help but feel that there were too many characters from the Marvel-verse being introduced. Paul Bettany's The Vision was an addition that felt like a mish-mesh of everybody else and didn't really make as much of an impression as I expected.
And considering the huge ensemble, there were a few faces not to make an appearance. Merely mentioned in a passing comment. I'm looking at you, ladies. Ms Portman and Paltrow.
Inevitably it is all left wide open for more. SPOILERS! Behave. BUT this time round, I cannot wait for the next installment. I'm actually a little excited.
3.5/5 With grounds to change to a 4
NOTE: Obviously stay behind and endure the relentless credits for a cheeky ten second teaser.
Tagged Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ang Lee, Arrow, Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Winter Soldier, CGI, Chris Evans, Days of Future Past, Edward Norton, Elizabeth Olsen, Eric Bana, Evan Peters, Godzilla, Gwyneth Paltrow, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, James Spader, Jeremy Renner, Joss Whedon, Kickass, Mark Ruffalo, Marvel Agents of SHIELD, Natalie Portman, Paul Bettany, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Stan Lee, The Blacklist, Thor, X Men7 Comments


heartofdakota.com • View topic - Loving this study had my first day!
Loving this study had my first day!
If you have used "God's Hands in Life's Little Moments", please share your experience with us.
I just did my first lesson in God's Hands in Life's Little Moments. It was awesome! Of course before I did the lesson I had an event designed to show me I needed it. And the first one is attitude as a Christian woman. That was certainly the spot of me I needed to work on today. I think this is going to be a great study for me. Today I read and did all but the music because my kids were working and I plan on going over it again before dinner and doing the music. But I can see that this is really something that would be worth making a small effort to do before you do anything else in the day. I can see how it would set the mood of your day. And it really does not take long at all but the effect is big. Glad I am able to enjoy this book and look forward to experiencing it with the ladies on this board.
So enjoyed hearing the details about your day with God's Hand...let us know how you like the music portion. I did not order the music but, may do so. I am still waiting for mine to arrive and really looking forward to getting started. Thanks so much for your initial post about God's Hand...I don't think many had really considered it before then, myself included. Look forward to starting this with everyone!
Last edited by Candice on Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I've had this book on my shelf and recently took it back down to really focus on devotional/growing time for me - an area that I desperately need work on. I've read Lesson 1 but will reflect more on it this evening after the children are in bed and will listen to the music then (Michael Smith version). I have a feeling that I'm going to sleep so much better knowing my mind and heart are focused on the right direction and that can only mean better daytimes ahead!
I could not decide either. I went to CBD and listened to both. I went with the Michael W Smith and I am glad I did it is awesome! It is the first Worship one and it is very worship style. Love it!
I just recently ordered the Michael Smith CD. Very much looking forward to it's arrival.


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Articles tagged "maasai"
Climbing The Mountain Of God, The World's Weirdest Volcano
by Adam Hodge on May 27, 2013
huguesn, Flickr
In the northern Arusha region of Tanzania near the border with Kenya, a geological oddity pokes its nose out of the rift valley floor. It's Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only volcano in the world that erupts with natrocarbonatite lava.
Natrocarbonatite is half the temperature of the glowing silicate lava you see oozing out of Hawaiian volcanoes and it flows many times faster. It spills forth like water in black frothing streams. If you don't want to melt your Merrells in 950-degree rivers, you have to watch your step on the summit.
In the Maasai language, Ol Doinyo Lengai means "Mountain of God." The Maasai's supreme god and the creator of the world, Ngai, has resided there since time immemorial. Presumably it's rent controlled.
From afar, the peak of Ol Doinyo Lengai looks like it's puffing out small clouds, as would a cartoon train. Up close it's apparent that little clouds have condensed around its cone. It's not that high, though, at just under 10,000 feet. But height is not the only obstacle to summiting the volcano. When you travel to the middle of nowhere with no guide, luck is a huge factor.
Twenty of us were in Tanzania on a geological field trip with our university's Earth and Planetary Sciences Department. As an aside, if you want to travel for work, don't become a travel writer. Become a geologist. You'll spend way less time in front of a computer and far more time in the middle of beautiful nowheres.
After landing in Nairobi, we rented a 4×4 and two vans to haul us – 19 students and one enduring, stoic professor – into and around Tanzania for two weeks. By the time we reached the turnoff from the paved road to Ol Doinyo Lengai, our luck had expired.
Kerry Klein, Flickr
The road to ODL angled parallel to the shoulders of the Gregory Rift, part of East Africa's Great Rift Valley, across flat expanses of grassy savannah and past a skeletal acacia trees. We were at the tail end of Tanzania's brief dry season and the acacias had been picked clean months before. The new grasses had yet to take hold in most places, and the road rapidly deteriorated into fields of soft earth. Our vans constantly sunk deep into the loose soil and even our 4×4 lost its footing regularly.
On the uninterrupted African savannahs, you can see a plains storm from a long way off. The dark clouds billow across the sky and below them a torrent of rain dims a uniform trapezoid on the horizon. Dramatic to watch from afar, but impossible to drive through on the unprotected veld.
At this time of year a storm brought more than rain. In front of us on the road, a dark squall sagged heavily looking like a bubble waiting to burst. The fierce winds whipped up dust and sand from the parched fields in skinny sepia tornadoes. We eventually came to a complete halt as we plunged deeper into the storm. The visibility dropped to zero, and we had to sit it out with nothing to look at outside but a uniform swatch of cafe au lait dust.
Adam Hodge, Gadling
By the time we arrived at where we thought the Maasai village was supposed to be, 9 hours had passed, and the sun had long since gone down. As we searched for the village in the pitch black nowhere, one van's bash plate (the protective cover on the bottom of the engine) tore off and then the 4×4's radiator went on the fritz, causing its engine to overheat and die.
Jerry-rigging a temporary fix for each took time and it was already midnight when we finally found the village. Our plan to begin climbing at 2 a.m. in order to avoid getting roasted by the equatorial sun was completely out the window. None of us had slept. The base of the volcano was still an hour's drive away. And since we had two broken vehicles we that meant we had to shuttle three separate groups to the mountain in the one working van. Starting at 4 a.m. the first group set out on a couple hours of sleep. With any luck we would get everyone there before the sun launched a full assault on our climbing party.
No luck. The final group began the ascent at about 11 a.m., just as the sun came down on us like Thor's hammer. I was part of the last group. It took me 5 hours to climb up the steep barren slope, feeling every step like Sisyphus, and clawing my way up on hands and knees near the top. The porters were up in only a few hours, bouncing from rock to rock as if they hadn't heard of gravity.
At the top I crawled into a shaded tent and collapsed into dreamless sleep. The sun, sensing my respite, sought out my hiding place and began to suffocate me inside. Two ravens named Never and More then lived at the top of the volcano and they squawked with displeasure from their perch on the crater ridge as I burst from the tent gulping for air.
We spent the day exploring the summit, taking samples and clambering around the outer edge of the crater. The summit is filled with tiny peaks called hornitos, which are formed from solidified lava. We came across one spewing forth natrocarbonatite, black like oil. It gushed out of a wound in the hornito's side and cascaded rapidly down the crater's slope. Natrocarbonatite lava is completely dehydrated, so it reacts quickly with humidity in the atmosphere and turns white within hours. You can tell how old a lava flow is by its color.
The view from the crater's ridge was superb. Storms lashed the sky at the depths of the scene, though it was calm and clear nearby. The volcanic ash that has landed around Ol Doinyo Lengai (and other long-dormant volcanoes in the region) creates an extremely fertile soil that grass thrives in, which in turn supports the expansive grasslands' millions of wildebeest, antelope, zebras and a pantheon of famous predators. An apt name, the Mountain of God.
Night came quickly, as it does by the equator. I was looking forward to a night's rest on the soft, pliant floor of the crater. Earlier, my friend and I hadn't thought to tie down our tent because it was so calm in the shadow of the crater ridge…
… Our tent billowed as the gale-force winds became more powerful. We recognized when the tent was smothering us that someone would have to sort this out. I stepped out to pin it down and was immediately soaked and almost knocked over in the wind. None of the pins held when I stuck them in the soil. I called my friend out of the tent to hold it down. He emerged, got soaked, and clutched one corner as I gripped the other. The tent began to lift off the ground, pulling us up and away. We had idiotically attached ourselves to a massive sail. We dug our heels into the ground and braced against the wind. After a moment we looked at each other knowingly, and with a nod let go of the tent. It whipped away, plunging into the blackness.
We fled, pelted by the rain, to the nearest shelter, an occupied one-person tent that had already flooded. The three of us crammed close together to keep warm, knees to our chests, and tried to sleep under one sleeping bag in two inches of water. I listened to the others shivering and noted the cruel irony of being freezing cold while sleeping above a lake of lava.
In the morning light, we found the remains of our tent 20 meters away where it had sailed into the crater wall. I hope his few seconds of freedom were worth it.
With only one van at the bottom of the volcano to bring us back, we decided to retrieve the second van from camp, lack of bash plate be damned. We had driven about 3 miles from the volcano toward the camp when the rumble of a deflated tire brought us to a stop. We had a spare, but predictably the tools to remove it from the underside of the van were AWOL.
Incredibly, after a futile hour of trying to jar the bolts loose with a metal rod, another vehicle came by on the lonely road. A tour guide was scouting out the volcano for a hike the next week and he offered to drive one of us back to camp to fetch the other van. Several hours later, as we sauteed on the road in the no man's land between the mountain and camp, the injured van came hobbling along, and we were able to use its tools to release the spare tire.
The group reconvened at camp by the early afternoon. We fixed the radiator leak in the 4×4 with an egg, strung up the bash plate with a bit of flimsy wire and negotiated down the porters, who were trying to fleece us for double what we had agreed to pay. As the sun winked out, we lurched away from camp, navigating through honking zebras in the dark, soft-soiled open plain.
The wire holding the bash plate in place promptly failed within 20 minutes and every time the metal intestines of the engine crunched against the hard ground we held our breath. Like an inauspicious totem, I changed vans and immediately my new transport was rendered immobile. I hopped out to check what was going on and saw the van was perched happily on solid ground. We tried four different gears and none would engage. Our clutch was shredded.
Under the van's headlights we attached a tow strap to the 4×4, which snapped on cue each time we drove through a dip in the road, significantly shortening our lead. When we got up to speed again on the final gravel section, the front of our van was no more than four feet from the rear of the jeep. When the 4×4 braked, if we didn't react we would careen into its bumper. As we hit 50 miles an hour on the last stretch of gravel road, I turned around to see everyone in the back snoring obliviously. Then I looked over to Jake in the driver's seat, staring wide-eyed at the taillights of the 4×4, taking deliberately long breaths and blinking on purpose.
When we reached the paved road it was 5 in the morning, 11 hours after we left the village. Jake engaged the parking brake, stepped down unsteadily from the driver's seat and collapsed in a deep sleep directly on the pavement.
Under a clear night sky next to a crackling fire on a Zanzibar beach two days later, we sipped cold Kilimanjaro beers and toasted our calamitous success. Some adventures are meant to be enjoyed in memory only.
Besides, it could have been worse. Thirteen months to the day that we had slept on the summit, Ol Doinyo Lengai blew its top, spewing ash and lava over the plain in the largest eruption seen in decades. Where we slept on the summit is now a deep crater.
New photography book on food and travel profiles meals around the world
by Laurel Miller on Dec 27, 2010
There are a few key things that unite mankind, one of which is the need to eat. Whether the act itself is one of indulgence or subsistence is largely a cultural and geographic, and not just economic, issue. It's this dichotomy that forms the theme for a fascinating new addition to the food and travel book genre.
What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets is the work of photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith d'Aluisio. The duo traveled to 30 countries to profile 80 vastly different people and the "food that fuels them over the course of a single day." Each profile features extreme examples of the subject's diet and caloric intake, rather than a daily average, and provides a window into world foods we might not otherwise be aware of.
The authors also note on their website, "While we have been diligent about providing cultural context and geographic relevance in each of our stories, the people profiled represent only themselves and no one person, or even five, can represent an entire country. Please use this work to further your exploration and understanding of the world."
Profiles include a Maasai herder in an extreme drought in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, a Bangladeshi seamstress, a Latvian beekeeper, a Minnesotan teen who works in a mall, a Mexican rancher, and a Tennessee man who is a candidate for obesity surgery.
You can see a slideshow of sixteen of the book's subjects on Time's website, here.
Wildebeest migration one of the natural wonders of the world
by Sean McLachlan on Jul 11, 2010
Every year during this season, millions of wildebeest migrate northwards from Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. It's part of their annual cycle of looking for green pastures and plentiful waters. Zebras, antelopes, and other animals come along too, with predators like lions and cheetahs hanging on the edges of the herds hoping to catch the slow or the weak.
The Maasai Mara Game Reserve and Serengeti National Park are the two most popular places to see the migration, and the Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation reports hotels are already full, with even the Kenyan tourism minister saying he couldn't find a room.
The annual migration is like a dream safari intensified, with the plains blackened by the herds. This National Geographic video shows just how big this mass movement of animals is. So if you want to see what ABC News has dubbed one of the new wonders of the world, you better book early for next year so you don't get caught out. Sadly, there's another reason to act soon. Observer Science Editor Robin McKie includes the migration in his list of ten natural wonders we can no longer take for granted due to global warming. McKie points out that if current trends continue, the plains will dry up and there won't be enough pasture for the herds.
Image courtesy user Haplochromis via Wikimedia Commons.
5 Reasons Delays Are Harder on Flight Attendants Than Passengers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Thrall, wise shaman and the war chief of the Horde, has sensed a disturbing change . . . Long ago, Azeroth's destructive native elementals raged across the world until the benevolent titans imprisoned them within the Elemental Plane.
Despite the titans' intervention, many elementals have ended up back on Azeroth.
Over the ages, shaman like Thrall have communed with these spirits and, through patience and dedication, learned to soothe roaring infernos, bring rain to sun-scorched lands, and otherwise temper the elementals' ruinous influence on the world of Azeroth.
Now Thrall has discovered that the elementals no longer heed the shaman's call.
While Thrall seeks answers to what ails the confused elements, he also wrestles with the orcs' precarious future as his people face dwindling supplies and growing hostility with their night elf neighbours.
The fate of Azeroth's great races is shrouded in a fog of uncertainty, and the erratic behaviour of the elemental spirits, troubling though it is, may only be the first ominous warning sign of the cataclysm to come.


I'm an older generation photographer and I'm very lucky to have had a contract with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) for photography for near on 12 years now. It's actually the second contract, which I have tendered and won with them, the first having been for 3-5 years which extended to 6 before the new contract kicked in.
To keep a large government organization like NHSBT satisfied for 12 years with changing fashions and styles I suppose is a compliment to my skills. And it has become oblivious over the years that what the organization like about my work is the social interaction I manage to capture in what many might consider difficult circumstances. All without causing a disturbance in the general running of the session.
NHSBT run regular donor sessions where they collect blood from people for use in operations etc. They need to continually advertise for new donors from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds. They also want to attract the young to donate to replace those that are aging and can no longer give blood.
With this in mind there is always a continual need for fresh new pictures. These images need to show ease of giving blood, the friendliness of donor carers and funnily enough no needles! I seem to have developed from my extensive experience in event work an easy way with people that works well in these sort of situations.
What you can't control in a live event is what's going to happen both when and where so the ability to second guess the likely chances of a shot becoming available is all down to experience. Not only the experience to have your camera ready and framed for the shot you want but also to have enough understanding of people to know when a likely interaction is going to produce a beneficial picture.
Getting these sort of shots isn't so much luck as skill combined with perseverance and accumulated knowledge. Doing photography for more than 32 years as a professional has some advantages, doing some things almost becomes second nature. This could be anything from assessing lighting to knowing the best angle to get a shot from to capture branding and subject.
Older Photographers have experience that there is no replacement for.
So if you are looking for a photographer to cover your event or produce the sort of stunning images you need for a case study or advert don't discount the older photographers. Expecting a young one to be just like you, expecting them to be more in tune with your needs might not be an advantage. Older photographers only became older photographers because they have been good enough to produce the goods time after time for many years!


A Connecticut woman has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars for her role in using the U.S. Mail to ship cocaine to Connecticut.
Alba Lorengie Filomeno-Gomez, 23, of New London, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford. Once out of jail, she will have five years of supervised release, for her role in a cocaine trafficking ring.
John H. Durham, U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, said the matter stems from a DEA New Haven Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service-led investigation into a New Britain man, who is alleged to have coordinated the shipment of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Mail from Puerto Rico to various locations in Connecticut.
More than 12 kilograms of cocaine were seized during the investigation.
"Filomeno-Gomez, on behalf of the organization, accepted packages containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico," according to a U.S. attorney's office release.
Filomeno-Gomez was arrested on Oct. 25, 2017. On July 17, 2018, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess 500 grams or more of cocaine.
This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Middletown and New Britain Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney H. Gordon Hall.


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https://www.mckinsey.com915b5091-0d7e-44d2-a8c4-cf08267e52fe
Back to Digital disruption in insurance: Cutting through the noise
Caught on Video—Thought Leader Insights
The case for digital reinvention
Digital technology, despite its seeming ubiquity, has only begun to penetrate industries. As it continues its advance, the implications for revenues, profits, and opportunities will be dramatic.
Clara Shih: It's all about the experience
March 1, 2017 – Insurance agents must be where the customer is, and that is on social, mobile and digital channels, says the founder and CEO of... advisor marketing cloud company Hearsay.
Tom King: Building for the long term
March 1, 2017 – Tom King is a senior director at US-based software developer Pegasystems. He talks about the pitfalls of legacy systems in bringing... about an omnichannel experience, and insurers' need for flexible platforms that will enable them to respond to market and strategy changes in five, ten, or 20 years time.
Marcus Ryu: The danger of strategic lock-in
March 1, 2017 – The co-founder and CEO of Guidewire, a US-based software provider for P&C insurers, talks about why carriers need to move... on from legacy systems designed primarily for financial record-keeping to the new generation of digital systems that make the customer the central entity.
Brad Auerbach: Mobile first
March 1, 2017 – Innovate, iterate, and go where the consumers are, says Facebook's US industry manager. Fundamentally, that's mobile.
Andrew Rose: Consumer conditioning
March 1, 2017 – The president and CEO of US-based auto insurance website Compare.com talks about consumer expectations, the coming of virtual... agents, and the changing definition of insurance.
Adam Lyons: Looking out for the consumer
March 1, 2017 – Connecting customers with carriers online relies on seamless technology, says the founder and CEO of auto insurance start-up TheZerba.com.... The ability to tell those consumers what product is best for them relies on trust.
Digital disruption in insurance: Cutting through the noise
See the full compendium
Connect with Digital Insurance


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Craig Snyder
Partner, Co-Portfolio Manager, Special Opportunities
Mr. Snyder is a Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager of Special Opportunities in the Ares Private Equity Group, where he focuses on investing across the various Ares fund platforms in the public and private markets. Mr. Snyder serves as a member of the Ares Private Equity Group's Special Opportunities Investment Committee and the Ares Insurance Solutions Investment Committee. He currently serves on the boards of Ferrell Gas and Convene Global Holdings. Prior to joining Ares in 2017, Mr. Snyder was a Managing Director at GSO Capital Partners/Blackstone where he was Global Head of Trading for the GSO platform and served as a Portfolio Manager and Investment Committee member for its special situations funds focusing on both the public and private markets. Previously, he was a Senior Investment Professional for investment firm Kingstreet Capital. In addition, Mr. Snyder was an investment professional at Caxton Associates. He holds a B.A. from Bucknell University in Political Science.


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RMMS Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik LLP
RMMS Recognized as Litigation Leader in IAM Patent 1000 - William Rakoczy and Deanne Mazzochi Receive Individual Recognition
News > RMMS Recognized as Litigation Leader in IAM Patent 1000 - William Rakoczy and Deanne Mazzochi Receive Individual Recognition
RMMS was recently recognized for its extensive litigation experience in the eighth edition of IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Professionals. The firm is included in IAM's silver band for patent litigation in Illinois.
IAM noted that, "You'd be wise not to overlook Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik – it's a well-run outfit that punches above its weight in numbers and a powerhouse in Chicago when it comes to pharmaceutical litigation and FDA regulatory law." Additionally, IAM noted that "the firm is really making its mark in the area of biologics."
In addition to the firm's recognition, Founding Partners William Rakoczy and Deanne Mazzochi were singled out as leaders in the field. In doing so, IAM noted that Mr. Rakoczy "is one of the deans of the Hatch-Waxman bar," "has great presence in court and is an excellent advocate who is admired by judges." Similarly, Ms. Mazzochi is recognized as a "great trial lawyer with tons of Federal Circuit experience."
The IAM Patent 1000 identifies the top patent professionals and firms in key jurisdictions around the globe. The guide is compiled after an extensive research process. Individuals qualify for a listing in the IAM Patent 1000 when they receive sufficient positive feedback from peers and clients with knowledge of their practice and the market within which they operate. Firms qualify for a listing on the basis of their depth of knowledge, market presence, and the level of work on which they are typically engaged, as well as positive peer and client feedback.
Small Molecules and Biologics
Regulatory Litigation
Litigation Highlights
Patent Counseling
Regulatory Counseling
Copyright © 2019 Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik LLP


Graduates at Kepler, according to Senior Manager Edward Mottley, get two things they might not always find as easily working elsewhere in consulting: exposure to business leaders, and detailed insight into the financial workings and strategies of companies.
Kepler concentrates on advising on executive remuneration - how incentives for senior employees are structured. It's an issue that's central to any business because, in order to achieve its strategic and financial objectives, it must make sure that its leaders are set the right goals and motivated to achieve them.
Edward has been at Kepler for seven and half years. He joined the firm straight after graduating, having been attracted to this "small and ambitious firm" because of its desire for the two or three graduates it recruits each year to develop quickly along with the business. "The one thing I didn't want was to be sat on a structured two to three-year graduate scheme," he says. Kepler has doubled in size since Edward joined, taking its headcount up to around 20 employees, and he's progressed into a senior position.
"Much of our work is supporting the remuneration committees of publicly listed companies, these are groups of non-executive directors who decide the structure of pay for the company's management team, including how much to pay," says Edward. "We bring together data from across the market, analyse it and draw conclusions. We don't set pay levels or structures ourselves, but support the committee through its deliberations." Consultants at the firm also advise on setting targets, tracking performance, and producing materials explaining pay and bonus structures to staff.
The fact that Kepler advises many different kinds of businesses keeps the work varied: "Our clients," says Edward, "range from companies in the FT30 right down to small privately-held ones, and in all kinds of sectors - banking, manufacturing, retailing, aerospace and defence, and mining. I'm probably working with eight to ten companies, across multiple sectors, at any one time."
The breadth of the firm's client list allows consultants here to compare organisations right across the business world. "We have wide knowledge," says Edward, and explains that the way remuneration is structured can vary considerably and is often tailored to the features of a particular industry.
"In mining, there is often significant upfront investment in a project which might have a 15-year life cycle, so executive incentives tend to be focused on longer-term performance." Remuneration for executives in retail, by contrast, is usually more focused on the shorter term, such as sales performance. And while executives' achievements in retail are usually measured in absolute terms, such as percentage growth in like for like sales, in mining they'll often be assessed through comparisons with competitor companies because price volatility in the markets where mined commodities are sold makes absolute figures less reliable indicators of management's own performance.
The international nature of Kepler's clients means that its consultants also gain experience in a range of geographical markets. For example, Edward explains, many UK-based companies have significant operations in the US, where philosophies on pay are different: long-term equity awards are often solely dependent on the share price of their company. In the UK meanwhile, incentive payouts tend to be determined by a number of additional performance indicators, such as profit and relative share price performance.
Graduates joining Kepler can expect to progress quickly: "We are a meritocracy that aims to hire the brightest and best," says Edward, "so we recognise the people we hire will be highly ambitious and we want to keep them engaged. Here you can progress at your own pace. Those likely to fare well at Kepler," he adds, "will be intellectually curious and proactive, with a good eye for detail."
Executive pay has become more and more high-profile since Edward joined Kepler as a graduate himself and the subject now hits the headlines on a regular basis, which means it is "an exciting time to be in the field". But, he adds, incentivising employees will always be key in the business world so there will be continued demand for expert advice and assistance on the complexities of doing so.
Why did you choose to join Kepler?
Remuneration consulting is connected to some of the microeconomic topics I enjoyed studying at university, particularly how business owners approach the motivation of their employees. By joining Kepler I hoped to apply what I had learnt to the business world and to find out more about the inner workings of businesses - how they structure their internal processes to achieve their goals. It's all about making your resources work as effectively as possible and I felt human resources, as some of the most complicated, would be some of the most interesting.
I sent off my CV, had a phone interview, then did a maths test and a written test, where I had to write a short report making recommendations on a proposed remuneration package. Then I came to the office for an assessment day, which involved a discussion-based task and two interviews, one with our managing director.
I've been involved in all kinds of different projects. As a new graduate, I'm closely involved in research and data analysis. At the moment, I'm working on producing updates for a number of companies on how their business has been performing in the past year and how this may translate into payouts under their reward schemes in the future.
What have you enjoyed working on most since joining Kepler?
My favourite project so far concerned a client who wanted to know how the pay package of their below board-level executives compared to the rest of the market. The data collection process was interesting because there is much less disclosure for these roles than for board-level ones. I have since been involved in developing a new database for use on such projects in the future. I enjoyed working on the project from the beginning and feeling that I'd made a contribution to the company.
How do you find working life at Kepler?
I like being at a small company - over the past few months I've worked with everyone here, and there is a great sense of being part of a larger team. We tend to eat lunch together and go out for drinks on a Friday evening if we're not too busy. The company also organises a ski trip - this March we're all going to Courchevel!
How do you see your future at Kepler?
I'm aiming to develop the skills to move from being an associate to advising clients directly. I'm working on increasing my responsibility for and ownership of projects, so that I'm able to develop them myself from beginning to end.


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LADIES— it's time to get jacked up (sorry, had to). This weekend only, we'll have accessory and veils designer Sandra in the showroom taking appointments to help you put the final touches on your wedding day look. Want some styling inspiration for that headpiece? We'll have a hair stylist on-hand for that too. Your girls weekend waiting to happen, expect the tunes on high and your drinks on ice, with a bridesmaids giveaway from Park + Fifth for all who attend! You don't want to miss.


BEAR BINGE The more a black bear snacks like a human, the more likely that bear is to skimp on hibernation, a new study says. And shorter hibernation might accelerate aging at the cellular level.
The more sugary, highly processed foods that 30 female black bears scrounged from humans, the less time the bears were likely to spend hibernating, researchers found. In turn, bears that hibernated less tended to score worse on a test for aging at the cellular level, wildlife ecologist Rebecca Kirby and her colleagues conclude February 21 in Scientific Reports.
The new research grew out of an earlier project to see what wild black bears across Colorado were eating, says study coauthor Jonathan Pauli, a community ecologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Kirby, his Ph.D. student at the time, checked diets from hundreds of bears across the state. Hunters there are not allowed to set out bear bait, such as heaps of doughnuts or candy, so the animals' exposure to human food comes mostly from scavenging.
Looking for the telltale forms of carbon in that earlier study, the researchers found bears in some places scavenging "really high" proportions of people's leftovers. On occasion, these leftovers made up more than 30 percent of bears' diets, Pauli says.
In the new study, Kirby looked at the impact of diet on hibernation. Bears typically slumber four to six months, during which female bears give birth. Kirby and her colleagues focused on 30 free-roaming females around Durango that were monitored by Colorado's Parks and Wildlife department. The team first tested bears for carbon-13, and determined that the ones that ate more human-related foods tended to hibernate for shorter periods of time.
Studies in smaller hibernating mammals hint that these seasonal metabolic slowdowns might delay the ravages of aging. If that's true, shortening hibernation bouts might have a downside for the bears.
To measure aging, the researchers tested for relative changes in length of what are called telomeres. These repetitive bits of DNA form the ends of chromosomes in complex cells. As cells divide over time, telomere bits fail to get copied and telomeres gradually shorten. Various researchers propose that tracking this shortening can reveal how quickly a creature is aging. Among bears in the study, those that hibernated for shorter periods had telomeres that shortened more quickly than those of other bears, suggesting the animals were aging faster, the team found.
R. Kirby et al. The cascading effects of human food on hibernation and cellular aging in free-ranging black bears. Scientific Reports. Published online February 21, 2019. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-38937-5.
T.H. Saey. A healthy old age may trump immortality. Science News. Vol. 190, July 23, 2016, p. 16.
C. Vanchieri. At-home telomere testing is not a reliable marker of aging, researcher says. Science News. Vol. 193, June 23, 2018, p. 4.
T.H. Saey. Nobel in medicine honors discoveries of telomeres and telomerase. Science News. Vol. 176. October 24 2009, p. 14.
R. Kirby, M.W. Alldredge and J.N. Pauli. Environmental, not individual, factors drive markers of biological aging in black bears. Evolutionary Ecology. Vol. 31, August 2017, p. 571. doi:10.1007/s10682-017-9885-4.


text:
Уолтер Джерри Пэйтон (, 25 июля 1953 — 1 ноября 1999) — профессиональный игрок в американский футбол, выступавший в Национальной футбольной лиге за команду «Чикаго Беарз» на позиции раннинбека. За свою карьеру Пэйтон 9 раз участвовал в Про Боулах и один раз признавался самым ценным игроком Про Боула. Он удерживал рекорды НФЛ по количеству сделанных за карьеру ярдов на выносе, тачдаунам, скримаджам и в многих других категориях. Его восемь пассов, завершившихся тачдаунами, являются рекордом НФЛ для игроков не квотербеков. В 1993 году он был введён в Зал славы профессионального футбола. Член Зала славы как игрок и тренер Майк Дитка описал Пэйтона как величайшего игрока, которого он когда-либо видел, но ещё более великого как просто человека .

Пэйтон начал карьеру футболиста в Миссисипи, а позже стал выдающимся игроком университета Джексон Стэйт, где он включался во всеамериканскую сборную. В 1975 году он был выбран на драфте НФЛ клубом «Чикаго Беарз» в первом раунде под четвёртым номером. В 1985 году Пэйтон с командой стал победителем Супербоула XX, а сам стал самым ценным игроком НФЛ.

1 ноября 1999 года Пэйтон умер в возрасте 45 лет от редкого заболевания холангиокарциномы.

Ранняя жизнь
Уолтер Пэйтон родился 25 июля 1953 года в Колумбии (штат Миссисипи) и был одним из трёх детей в семье Питера и Эйлин Пэйтонов. Его отец работал на заводе, и играл на полу-профессиональном уровне в бейсбол. В детстве Уолтер принимал активное участие в бойскаутском движении, играл в Литтл лиге, а также посещал местную церковь. Учась в школе Джона Джефферсона он играл на барабане в марширующем оркестре, был членом легкоатлетической команды и пел в школьном хоре. Вне школы он играл в джаз-роковой группе.

Его брат Эдди был членом команды по американскому футболу, сам же Пэйтон не играл в футбол, частично из-за нежелания соревноваться с братом. После того, как Эдди выпустился со школы, футбольный тренер попросил Пэйтона вступить в его команду. Уолтер согласился с условием, что он продолжит играть в оркестре.

Уолтер сразу же достиг больших успехов на позиции раннинбека. С его ростом 178 см он не был особенно крупным игроком, но благодаря силе и скорости он стал одним из ключевых игроков команды. В этом же году его школу объединили со старшей школой Колумбии и их главный тренер в объединённой команде стал всего лишь ассистентом. Эта перестановка сильно огорчила игроков, а сам Пэйтон в знак протеста бойкотировал часть весенних тренировок, однако вернулся в команду осенью. Благодаря его выдающейся игре, Колумбия показала в сезоне результат 8-2, а сам Уолтер получил множество наград, в том числе включение в сборную штата. Его выступления также сыграли роль в уменьшении общественного напряжения, связанного с десегрегацией.

Статистика
Пэйтон удерживал рекорд НФЛ по количеству ярдов на выносе и общему количеству ярдов до сезона 2002 года, когда Эммитт Смит сумел побить эти рекорды. До 2000 года ему также принадлежал рекорд по количеству сделанных ярдов на выносе в одной игре, пока Кори Диллон не превзошёл его достижение. Пэйтон был лидером лиги по сделанным ярдам на выносе и тачдаунам в сезоне 1977 года. По состоянию на конец сезона 2013 года он занимает второе место в истории НФЛ по ярдам на выносе и четвёртое место по тачдаунам, сделанным на выносе. Вместе с Френком Гиффордом Пэйтон кинул шесть мячей, которые были перехвачены, что является рекордом для игроков НФЛ, выступающих не на позиции квотербека. Он также сумел сделать восемь пасов, которые закончились тачдаунами.

Статистика за карьеру

Статистика по сезонам

Память
Американский джазовый саксофонист Эрик Александер посвятил Пэйтону композицию «#34 Was Sweetness (For Walter Payton)», записанную на альбоме The First Milestone.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Payton34.com, the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation
 Walter Payton Cancer Fund
 Walter Payton Liver Center at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago
 Walter Payton tribute page at the Chicago Bears
 Payton needs liver transplant, Sports Illustrated, February 2, 1999
 Biography at Bearshistory.com
 Walter Payton on the cover of Sports Illustrated (issues in 1976, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1999, and 2011)

Игроки в американский футбол США
Раннинбеки
Игроки «Чикаго Беарз»

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


About 13 years ago I found a tick in my right arm. We lived among animals in the Surrey countryside so my mum was adept at removing it. It left no mark, there was no rash and I thought no more about it until a few months ago.
In the intervening years I had moved to London and begun my career as a journalist. I was fortunate that I could manage this, because much of the time I was fighting a host of debilitating symptoms.


text:
Q: Nonseparable counterexamples in analysis When asking for uncountable counterexamples in algebra I noted that in functional analysis there are many examples of things that "go wrong" in the nonseparable setting. But most of the examples I'm thinking of come from $\mathrm C^*$-algebras (equivalent formulations of being type I; anything having to do with direct integral decompositions; primeness versus primitivity, etc.).

Question. Are there also good examples from Banach space theory, or from harmonic analysis? Or from analysis in general? (Or even other
examples from $\mathrm C^*$-algebra that I might not know about?)

A: The norm of (even a continuous convex function on) a separable Banach space is Gâteaux differentiable on a dense $G_\delta$-set (Mazur), but the canonical norm on the nonseparable Banach space $\ell_1(\Gamma)$, $\Gamma$ uncountable, is nowhere Gâteaux differentiable.

A: One situation which highlights the difference between separability and non separability is that of an important class of locally convex spaces which fail many of the properties which are relevant to closed graph theorems (barrelled, bornological, etc.) but which do satisfy such a result for mappings into SEPARABLE spaces. This has interesting consequences, one of which we will now sketch.
A fascinating phenomenon involving non separability is the fact that many classical Banach spaces consist of bounded objects (continuous, uniformly continuous, measurable functions, linear operators) with the supremum norm and such spaces are ALWAYS non separable, or rather only separable under tight conditions.  Thus separability of $C(K)$ implies that $K$ is metrisable, separability of $\ell^\infty$ requires finite dimensionality as does that of $L(H)$ and so on.  There is a meta explanation of this fact which goes back to work of Saks, more precisely his original version of what is now known as the Vitali-Hahn-Saks theorem.  Saks used a Banach-Steinaus-type theorem (rather than a closed graph theorem but these two themes are known to be closely related).  The novelty of his approach lay  in his use of the Baire category theorem (what else?), not on a Banach space but on the unit ball of an $L^\infty$ space topologised by the $L^1$ norm.  The fact that the latter is not a linear space  and the importance of translation in the Banach case made the proof more delicate and it required a geometrical condition relating the norms, now called $\Sigma$.
This led to the theory of Saks spaces—a unified approach to a class of Banach function or operator spaces for which the fact that the norm was too strong for certain applications (dual too large, bad density properties...) was remedied by replacing it with a weaker, but in these respects more suitable,  l.c. topology (two-normed spaces, mixed topologies, Saks spaces ...).  The paradigmatic example is, perhaps, the strict topology on the space of bounded, continuous functions on a locally compact space (R. C. Buck, et al.)—the elements of its dual space are precisely the bounded, tight measures.
The relevance of this to the question on the table is that one can use Saks' ideas to obtain a closed graph theorem for linear mappings from certain Saks spaces into SEPARABLE Banach spaces.  This means that in the concrete examples of interest, separability of the original Banach space forces a kind of collapse—the Saks space structure coincides with the Banach space one and this can only happen under restricted conditions.
Details are in the book "Saks Spaces and Applications to Functional Analysis" which can be found online.

A: When $1< p< \infty$, the space $L_p(0,1)$ has an unconditional basis (the Haar basis). Enflo and Rosenthal proved that for $p\not=2$ the space $L_p(0,1)^\gamma$ does not have an unconditional basis when $\gamma \ge \omega_\omega$.

A: As seen in some contributions here, non separability of a Banach space can lead to pathology in the properties of measures or measurable functions with values therein.  As an example of this phenomenon, I would mention Stegall's result that a non-separable dual of a separable Banach space fails the Radon Nikodym property.  The construction that he used even charactises dual spaces $E'$ with RNP as those for which separable subspaces of $E$ always have separable duals.  The details are in the classic text by Diestel and Uhl.

A: Every separable Banach space is bi-Lipschitz isomorphic to a subset of $c_0$. But there are Banach spaces that do not uniformly embed in $c_0(\Gamma)$ for any $\Gamma$. See

*

*Jan Pelant, Petr Holický, Ondřej F. K. Kalenda, $C(K)$ spaces which cannot be uniformly embedded into $c_0(\Gamma)$, Fundamenta Mathematicae 192 (2006) pp. 245–254 (journal abstract page).

A: For AF C*-algebras, there are a number of differences between separable and nonseparable algebras, and something weird happens at $\aleph_2$, too.
Recall that an AF (C*)-algebra is the norm-closure of a directed limit of finite-dimensional C*-algebras (the norm is uniquely determined), equivalently, for every $\epsilon > 0$, any finite set of elements can be approximated to within $\epsilon$ by elements of a finite-dimensional algebra.
George Elliott proved that for separable AF algebras (the usual kind), ordered pointed  K$_0$ is a complete invariant (for isomorphism), and Effros Handelman and Shen determined exactly which partially ordered abelian groups can so arise; these are known as dimension groups (partially ordered abelian gps satisfying Riesz interpolation and unperforation)
When the locally semisimple subalgebra has first uncountable dimension (which corresponds to the smallest nonseparability condition for the C*-algebra), it was already known (from the 40s, in a Russian paper) that ordered pointed K$_0$  is not complete. However, it was shown (by Goodearl and Handelman) that every first uncountable dimension group could arise as the ordered K$_0$ of an AF algebra with first uncountable dimensional locally semisimple algebra.
However, when the dimension group is of cardinality $\aleph_2$, it was shown (by a well-known mathematician whose name escapes me at the moment), that there exist dimension groups of this cardinality which cannot be realized by a suitable direct limit, hence cannot be realized by corresponding AF  algebras.

A: Sobczyk's theorem: if $Z$ is a subspace of a separable Banach space $X$ that is isomorphic to $c_0$, then $Z$ is complemented in $X$, fails for many non-separable spaces such as $X=\ell_\infty\cong C( \beta \mathbb N)$.
For related reasons, the Borsuk–Dugundji extension theorem (which says that if $F$ is a closed, metrisable subspace of a compact space $K$, then you can apply the Tietze–Urysohn extension theorem in a linear way, i.e., there is a contractive operator $T\colon C(F)\to C(K)$ such that $(Tf)|_F=f$ for $f\in C(F)$) fails when $F$ is non-metrisable, that is, $C(F)$ is non-separable in the uniform norm. (Here, $F = \beta \mathbb N\setminus \mathbb N \subset \beta\mathbb N$ is the easiest counterexample.)

A: Probability theory can get pretty weird in the non-separable case. For example, write $B$ for the non-separable Banach space of sequences $a = (a_k)_{k \ge 1}$ such that
$$
|a|^2 := \sup_{n \ge 0} 2^{-n} \sum_{k=2^n}^{2^{n+1}} |a_k|^2 < \infty\;.
$$
Take now an i.i.d. sequence of Gaussian variables $\xi = (\xi_k)_{k \ge 1}$. Then, one has $|\xi| < \infty$ almost surely but, for any fixed $a \in B$, one also has $P(|\xi-a| \ge 1) = 1$, so the notion of "support" becomes pretty problematic...

A: Farah and Ozawa showed that there are uncountable (free) abelian groups $\Gamma$ which admit bounded homomorphisms $\theta:\Gamma \to {\rm Inv}{\mathcal Q}(\ell^2)$, ${\mathcal Q}$ being the Calkin algebra, which are not unitarizable: that is, there is no invertible element of the Calkin which conjugates $\theta$ to a unitary representation. (See the original preprint by Farah and Ozawa:
arXiv 1309.2145v1.)
One can refine their original construction so that $\Gamma$ is a direct sum of uncountably many copies of ${\mathbb Z}/2{\mathbb Z}$ and the homomorphism $\theta$ takes values in the $(\ell^\infty/c_0)\otimes {\bf M}_2$ (see the "later editions" of the aforementioned preprint, via arXiv 1309.2145).
In both cases, if one restricts attention to countable abelian (or even amenable) groups then unitarization is possible by a variation on the classical averging argument of Dixmier, Day and others.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
EU member state backing for cross-border road safety enforcement welcomed
European Parliament urged to green-light revised proposal ahead of May 2015 European Court deadline
Road safety campaigners and European traffic police have welcomed the agreement, in today's meeting of EU transport ministers under the Italian EU Presidency, to back a change to rules on cross-border enforcement of traffic offences such as speeding.
The European Commission published a revised cross-border enforcement law in July. The proposal was launched in response to a European Court of Justice ruling in May that said the existing rules, which only came into force in November last year, were adopted on an incorrect legal basis. The ECJ has said the current law could remain in effect until May 2015 while new legislation is agreed.
Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council said:
"These rules mean that foreign-registered drivers are no longer able to ignore traffic laws safe in the knowledge that they won't be penalised when they return home. They are a smart way of deterring people from dangerous driving when they go abroad but will also help member states follow up on traffic offences when drivers put other people's lives at risk.
"But the clock is ticking because the current rules, which have already been implemented in most countries, will expire if the EU can't agree on this new legal proposal before May 2015. In reality, the changes rest on a legal technicality, so we urge MEPs and transport ministers to reach an agreement as soon as possible. With 500 deaths on EU roads on average every week, there is no time to waste."
European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL) President Aidan Reid commented:
"Cross Border Enforcement is a vital tool for police officers in the road safety work they carry out, and to ensure that there is no more driving away from justice. We have already seen examples of Cross Border Enforcement bringing very encouraging results in countries where arrangements for reciprocal sharing of information are already in place. Make no mistake, this law will save hundreds of lives on Europe's roads each year."
Speeding is a primary factor in about one third of fatal collisions and an aggravating factor in all collisions where it occurs. According to the European Commission, non-resident drivers account for approximately 5% of road traffic in the EU but are responsible for 15% of detected speeding offences.
– Frequently Asked Questions on the EU Cross Border Enforcement Directive
70% of road deaths in European cities are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists
European Parliament backs new vehicle safety standards
ETSC comments on publication of 2018 EU road death figures
ETSC welcomes provisional deal on new vehicle safety standards
European Transport Safety Council welcomes deal on safer EU road rules
MEPs back life-saving vehicle safety standards in key vote
In-vehicle technology vital to tackling speeding in Europe
MEPs back new road and vehicle safety rules
Transport ministers aiming to weaken new road infrastructure safety rules
← Belgian government backing for ISA
Managing the Road Risk of Van Fleets →


The enhanced FGA product is not yet available in CA. Please refer to your state specific Brochure and Broker Guide located under the Sales Resources tab.
The Focused Growth Annuity is a single-premium, deferred annuity offering a robust set of client-friendly features plus a market-value adjustment feature, which optimizes the growth potential of your client's savings.
Your client may choose a 3, 5, 7 or 10-year initial interest rate guarantee period and receive the rate in effect at the time they buy the annuity for the entire length of the guarantee period. Interest is calculated and credited daily. At the end of the term, they may withdraw their money or automatically start a new guaranteed-rate period.
If your client chooses to continue their annuity, a new interest rate guarantee period and surrender-charge period automatically begins at the end of the initial term, then again at the end of each subsequent term.1 All subsequent terms will be for the same duration as their initial guarantee period.
During the first 30 days of each subsequent term, your client may withdraw some or all of their funds without a surrender charge or market value adjustment.
The Standard sets a new interest rate at the beginning of each subsequent rate guarantee period, and we guarantee the rate for that period. The new rate may be higher or lower than the interest rate of the initial rate guarantee period.
Surrender-charge periods match the rate guarantee periods. For example, if your client selected a Focused Growth Annuity 3, all subsequent guarantee periods will be 3 years.
At the end of each guarantee period, new interest rate guarantee periods and surrender-charge periods automatically begin.1 During the first 30 days of each subsequent surrender-charge period, your client may withdraw some or all of their funds without a surrender charge. In addition, the FGA offers withdrawal options without a surrender charge or market value adjustment to help in certain situations.
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2 Applies after the first contract year. May not be available in all states.
The Focused Growth Annuity offers growth potential through competitive interest rates. The Standard has a longstanding history of reliable fixed annuity performance.
Whether your client chooses the Focused Growth Annuity's 3, 5, 7 or 10-year guarantee option, the initial interest rate is guaranteed to remain level during the initial rate guarantee period. At the end of the term, your client may withdraw their money or automatically start a new guaranteed-rate period.
The MVA is a key design feature that helps optimize the growth potential of the Focused Growth Annuity over the long term. The presence of an MVA helps protect the insurance company against early withdrawals from the annuity, and in turn, the MVA allows the insurance company to generally credit a higher interest rate to the annuity contract. For those clients who do not plan on taking distributions beyond the penalty-free withdrawals allowed during the surrender period, the MVA can work to their advantage by helping them receive a more competitive interest rate.
Create FGA Numerical Examples with your own premium and interest rate.
The enhanced FGA product is not yet available in CA.
Policies # ICC17-SPDA, SPDA. The FGA includes an MVA.


text:
Journal Home About Tutorials Issues in Progress Current Issue All Issues Early Posting Feature Issues
•https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.14.002128
Mathematical analysis of motion-opponent mechanisms used in the determination of heading and depth
Constance S. Royden
Department of Computer Science, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02181 USA
C Royden
Constance S. Royden, "Mathematical analysis of motion-opponent mechanisms used in the determination of heading and depth," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 14, 2128-2143 (1997)
Eye movements
Field size
Original Manuscript: August 16, 1996
Revised Manuscript: February 20, 1997
Manuscript Accepted: February 20, 1997
Equations (53)
A mathematical analysis is presented of a model that uses motion-opponent operators similar to neurons found in the primate middle temporal visual area, to determine observer heading and depth from optical flow information. The response of these operators to depth changes in the form of a slanted plane or a step edge is analyzed, and the outputs of odd-symmetric operators are compared with that of circularly symmetric operators. The analysis shows sources of error from these operators in determining heading and depth and suggests how some of these errors can be mitigated. Simulations are presented that show that the model performs well for a variety of situations.
Dynamical use of different sources of information in heading judgments from retinal flow
Antje Grigo and Markus Lappe
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 16(9) 2079-2091 (1999)
Method for recovery of heading from motion
Mitsuhiko Hanada and Yoshimichi Ejima
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 17(6) 966-973 (2000)
Eye movements and optical flow
William H. Warren and Danial J. Hannon
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 7(1) 160-169 (1990)
Model for the computation of self-motion in biological systems
John A. Perrone
Modeling the simulated real-world optic flow motion aftereffect
Robert Patterson, Lisa Tripp, Jason A. Rogers, Alan S. Boydstun, and Andreas Stefik
Olga Korotkova, Editor-in-Chief


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