Kia has always been known for producing small, fuel-efficient vehicles. The Pride has practically become a 90s icon of sorts. But of course, the Korean carmaker has gone with the times and created a few SUVs. And now, it gives us its largest offering the date, the Telluride, which was unveiled at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Followers of the motoring beat may have already seen this Kia in concept form but now, Kia gives us the production version. It doesn't differ much from the show car, which means you get the same boxy yet still stylish cues. The lights are one of the stylish points as they offer some unique shapes and signatures.
The boxy profile pays off nicely in terms of interior room. Kia dubs this an eight-seater loaded with numerous tech toys. You've got a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. There's also a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, as well as 6 USB ports and a wirless charging pad, just to name a few.
Power comes from a 3.8-liter V6 with 291hp and 355Nm of torque. All that juice is sent to either the front or all wheels via 8-speed automatic. And the driver can select four drive modes: Smart, Eco, Comfort, and Sport. There is even an additional Snow mode for extr tricky conditions. What's even cooler is that the amount of front:rear power distribution varies depending on the drive mode.
And yes, safety is top notch, says Kia. This means you get stuff like Blind Spot Warning, Lane kep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Smart Cruise Control, and much more. It's practically designed to drive itself in certain situations.
The Kia Telluride will be available beginning in the second quarter of 2019.


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Sermons of Tony Evans
Your Time Is Now - Tony Evans, full sermon (July-17-2019)
Your Time Is Now - Tony Evans Sermon (July-17-2019). Every time we get ready to do something important, it seems like everything starts to fall apart. When it comes to spiritual preparation, Satan stands in the wings ready to wage war against our efforts. But as Tony Evans points out, God's perfect timing uses the strategies of Satan against him and works them in our favor.
What Spiritual Growth Looks Like - Tony Evans Devotional (July-16-2019)
What Spiritual Growth Looks Like - Tony Evans Devotional (July-16-2019). Real spiritual maturity means we are being transformed into the image of Christ.
Living in Light of Eternity - Tony Evans Sermon (July-14-2019)
Living in Light of Eternity - Tony Evans Sermon (July-14-2019). We should pursue holiness and righteousness, which will be the hallmark of our eternal destination.
The Motivation for Ministry - Tony Evans (July-07-2019)
Tony Evans (July-07-2019) Sermon: The Motivation for Ministry. As followers of Christ, each of us has been called into the ministry of sharing with all people the hope that is found through Jesus Christ. The goal of this ministry is that each person might be presented in Christ before the Lord. Therefore, our motivation is to stand before God successful in fulfilling this goal.
Strategies for Spiritual Warfare - Audio Sermon by Tony Evans (July-05-2019)
Strategies for Spiritual Warfare - Audio Sermon by Tony Evans (July-05-2019). The only power that Satan and his demons have is the power we give them. In this message, Tony Evans explains how to start saying "no" to the devil and making it stick.
Override Addictions - Tony Evans (July-03-2019)
Tony Evans (July-03-2019) Sermon: Override Addictions
Encountering God's Process - Tony Evans (June-30-2019)
Tony Evans (June-30-2019) Sermon: Encountering God's Process. It's not easy or fun to be a project in progress, but Dr. Tony Evans explains why it's worth it. It's an honest look at why the Lord sometimes has to break us to remake us.
How to Activate God's Power in Your Life - Tony Evans (June-28-2019)
Tony Evans (June-28-2019) Short Sermon: How to Activate God's Power in Your Life. Faith activates God's power in your life.
Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, founder and president of The Urban Alternative, chaplain of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and author of over 100 books, booklets and Bible studies. He has been named one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World by Baylor University. His radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 1,300 US outlets daily and in more than 130 countries.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home De-Escalation Hamza Al-Mustapha, Ameh Ebute Sets Tongues Wagging on Insecurity in Nigeria
Major Al-Mustapha
Hamza Al-Mustapha, Ameh Ebute Sets Tongues Wagging on Insecurity in Nigeria
Posted By: adminon: December 31, 2021 In: De-EscalationTags: Capitalism, Elite consensus, Security StudiesNo CommentsViews:
The claim about rich and powerful Nigerians being behind the generalized insecurity in the country has echoed again, setting tongues wagging. The first in recent times came from Ameh Ebute, a former president of the upper Chamber in the National Assembly in the Third Republic barely a week ago. This time, it is Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha who is saying exactly that, the transcript of whose interview with a foreign radio station has been splashed in a few Nigerian newspapers.
Senator Ameh Ebute
Unlike Ebute who went specific with names, Al-Mustapha rather put a general claim on the table. Both have set tongues wagging because their position returns Nigeria to an old argument. President Buhari has made that claim sometimes in 2018 during one of the intriguing explosive moments in Jos but he never returned to the theme again in terms of presidential pronouncements for public consumption. The poser raised in response to that hint from the president was why his government was not negotiating with such rich people if the intelligence and security establishment could not burst and shame the spoilers.
The matter died down since then only to resurface in the past week. While Al-Mustapha is a trained security operative, Senator Ebute is not. It is not clear what grade of security reports Senator Ebute received as a Senate president and if he still gets any such thing as for his audience to attach what weight to what he is saying.
Tongues are, therefore, wagging and questions being asked such as why might what has been a life and death issue for thousands of people killed, kidnapped or raped becoming a football of allegations, claims and counter-claims in the media? Why is an elite consensus that makes a united action against insecurity impossible and why are discordant tunes emanating when what looks like such a consensus is in the making?
When will these members of the elite overcome their little quarrels from their military service days?
In fairness to Al Mustapha, he said in the interview that "the few Nigerians benefitting from the country's mineral resources seemed to be unstoppable". In other words, his own analysis traces the insecurity to a specific explanation, not atavistic individuals out for the Buhari regime. There is something serious in that line because it is also the position of other informed Nigerians who have granted interviews on the issue. One of them became a party boss recently. All such views totalize into the overarching claim that capitalism itself has become more criminal and more violent and weak state structures operating with pre-Cambrian security practices as in Nigeria are most vulnerable. Al-Mustapha equally made the same point in the interview where he said "From the way, they've access to weapons today in Africa, and different kinds of drugs, and from the kind of people that are given such things and they are using it, these have shown that the strength they have has started to overpower the laws of African countries, especially here in Nigeria".
Although there is no outright contradiction in that, Al-Mustapha has said some two years ago that the people in the Buhari Government do not have the technical capacity to fight the current phase of insecurity. Col Dangiwa Umar (rtd) said something similar in a very recent newspaper interview too. But their position is not a consensus as General Mohammed Magoro offered a different outline of how to confront the crisis.
Al-Mustapha emphasizes elite consensus of patriotic Nigerians as the way to go but nobody sees any aggressive mobilization of the elite into such a consensus. While a few members of the elite appear to be so inclined, the government of the day does not appear friendly to such approach. President Buhari appears incapable of overcoming his ancient feuds with his former superiors as quarrel breaks out between him and Chief Obasanjo now and there, for example. If that continues, where will the consensus come from? In recent years, academic study of security has been dominated by the contention that security is never about safety but about power: who gets protected, by whom, where, how and why? Isn't Nigeria proving this theory correct?
Tags: CapitalismElite consensusSecurity Studies
Mediating the 'Mustard Seed': Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah and Empowerment in Nigerian Politics
Lenin and the National Question In the Context of the Agitation for "Restructuring" in Nigeria
The "National Question" and Restructuring in Nigeria: Some Historical Perspectives to a Thorny, Contemporary Issue
Probe Siege On Our Office, CISLAC Writes DG, DSS


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Q: How to validate whether a string-value is a parsable date-format? I am running the code below, checking if the string is a date. One of my input values is 'text' which returns the NaN value but my if clause does not work as expected.

function isDate(myDate) {
  console.log('myDate = ' + myDate);
  return Date.parse(new Date(myDate));
}

// var date1 = '1/5/22'; // good date
var date1 = 'test'; // bad date

var whatDate = isDate(date1);

console.log('date = ' + whatDate);

if (whatDate == 'NaN') {
  console.log('bad date');
} else {
  console.log('good date');
}

A: in your if statement you are checking if whatDate is equal to string "NaN". what you want to check whether whatDate is a number or not.
you can try
if (isNaN(whatDate))

A: You're almost there:
if(whatDate == 'NaN'){
    log.debug('bad date');
}else{
    log.debug('good date');
}

Instead of comparing whatDate to 'NaN' use the function isNaN():
if(isNaN(whatDate)){
    log.debug('bad date');
}else{
    log.debug('good date');
}

Alternatively, if you really want to compare to 'NaN' you first have to convert whatDate to a string:
if((whatDate + "") == 'NaN'){
    log.debug('bad date');
}else{
    log.debug('good date');
}

Is one possibility. Another way would be
if(whatDate.toString() == 'NaN'){
    log.debug('bad date');
}else{
    log.debug('good date');
}

A: The following answer, in addition to what already was explained about how to detect a NaN value, wants to reach further.
A check or test function especially if it also carries the prefix is in its name should always return exclusively a boolean value.

*

*Thus the OP firstly would implement such a function in a way a user would expect it to work.

*Secondly the OP had do deal with the NaN issue exactly once within the test function's implementation.

Edit according and thanks to the clarification of RobG
... and ... according to the ECMAScript's spec with instantiating a Date object, the argument passed to the constructor function will be parsed and assigned to the internal thisTimeValue slot. The number type of the latter is the NaN value for a non parsable (invalid) argument.
Any valueOf related operation does return the value of the internal thisTimeValue slot.
Any toString related operation will compute a date string format from the latter value. For a thisTimeValue of NaN the returned string value has to be 'Invalid Date'.
Thus a validation / test implementation could have been something like ...
function isParsableDateRepresentative(...args) {
  return String(new Date(...args)) !== 'Invalid Date';
}

... but preferably it should be closer to the next provided one ...
function isParsableDateRepresentative(...args) {
  return !Number.isNaN(new Date(...args).valueOf());
}

Tests:

function isParsableDateRepresentative(...args) {
  return !Number.isNaN(new Date(...args).valueOf());
}

console.log('new Date("1/5/22") ...', new Date("1/5/22"));
console.log(
  'isParsableDateRepresentative("1/5/22") ...',
  isParsableDateRepresentative("1/5/22")
);
console.log('\nnew Date("test") ...', new Date("test"));
console.log(
  'isParsableDateRepresentative("test") ...',
  isParsableDateRepresentative("test")
);
console.log('\nnew Date(new Date("test")) ...', new Date(new Date("test")));
console.log(
  'isParsableDateRepresentative(new Date("test")) ...',
  isParsableDateRepresentative(new Date("test"))
);

console.log('\nnew Date() ...', new Date());
console.log(
  'isParsableDateRepresentative() ...',
  isParsableDateRepresentative()
);
console.log('\nnew Date(null) ...', new Date(null));
console.log(
  'isParsableDateRepresentative(null) ...',
  isParsableDateRepresentative(null)
);
console.log('\nnew Date(undefined) ...', new Date(undefined));
console.log(
  'isParsableDateRepresentative(undefined) ...',
  isParsableDateRepresentative(undefined)
);
console.log('\nnew Date("") ...', new Date(""));
console.log(
  'isParsableDateRepresentative("") ...',
  isParsableDateRepresentative("")
);
.as-console-wrapper { min-height: 100%!important; top: 0; }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The World Trade Organization was created in 1995 through Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations. The WTO provides both a trade liberalization role through international negotiations aimed at reducing tariff and nontariff barriers, and the adoption of rules to govern international trade. The WTO also provides a dispute settlement forum, established by the DSU, the Dispute Settlement Understanding, with an adjudicatory panel structure, and an Appellate Body. The WTO is the successor organization to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which was a forum for negotiations, not the organization the WTO is.


text:
Organisation and People
Friends of Friendless Churches
About Casework
Casework Gallery
Annual Register of Total Demolitions
Become a Member today and support our work
2018 AMS Autumn Visits
2017 AMS Autumn Visit: Charlton House
2017 AMS Autumn Visit: St Albans Abbey
2016 AMS Autumn Visit: Kelmscott House
New Director of the AMS Announced
Lucie Carayon has been announced as the AMS's next Director.
Trustees of the Ancient Monuments Society (AMS) were delighted to announce at their AGM on Thursday 22 June that their Casework Secretary, Lucie Carayon, will be taking on the Directorship of the Society in early 2018.
Matthew Saunders, who has been Secretary to both the AMS and its partner organisation the Friends of Friendless Churches for over 40 years, has announced his intention to retire next year. AMS Trustees have asked Lucie to take on the additional responsibilities which come with the Directorship of the Society, while continuing in her role as Caseworker. The Friends will be appointing their own full-time Director later this year.
Lucie joined the AMS in 2011, having completed English Heritage's two-year Historic Environment Traineeship scheme. She has 20 years' experience of working in the heritage sector and has a background in campaigning and public affairs. She has a degree in Art History from the University of Kent and an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute. She studied Architectural History at Birkbeck College and has a particular interest in vernacular and Twentieth Century buildings.
Giles Quarme, Chairman of the AMS said, "We are delighted that Lucie has accepted our offer to take on the Directorship of the AMS following Matthew Saunders's retirement in 2018. Lucie has a great combination of skills which Trustees feel will help the AMS secure its place as a key player in the sector."
Lucie said, "I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to lead one of the sector's most respected organisations. I look forward to working with AMS Trustees and members on strengthening the Society's public profile and sector reputation. It has been a privilege working with Matthew Saunders and I will do all I can to ensure his long-term ambitions for the Society are realised."
Matthew Saunders said, "it is a real comfort to be able to leave the Society in such capable hands and I wish Lucie all the best. I count it an enormous privilege to have worked for the AMS (and The Friends) all my working life and to leave both organisations in fine fettle. One of the great strengths of the planning system in England is the involvement, unique in the world, of the voluntary movement. The AMS has played a key part in the defence of historic buildings as a result and it is good to think that we have made a perceptible difference".
Lucie will be introducing herself more fully in the next edition of the Society's newsletter.
« 2017 Annual General Meeting
New Director sought for the Friends of Friendless Churches »
The Ancient Monuments Society is a Registered Charity No: 209605.
Registered Office: St Ann's Vestry Hall, 2 Church Entry, London. EC4V 5HB
email: office@ancientmonumentssociety.org.uk
© Ancient Monuments Society


4. Feet shoulder width apart, holding the ends of a stick in the lowered hands. Not omitting all stick straight arms rewound her left shoulder (right end - above, below-left) while turning the head to the left - a breath. Move the stick in his right shoulder and down, turning his head to the right - an exhalation. Repeat 2-3 times.
5. Feet shoulder width apart. Both hands on the stick standing vertically. Rotate the pelvis, torso keep straight, do not lower your head. Breathing arbitrary. Repeat 5-6 times in each direction.
6. Feet shoulder width apart, hold the ends of the stick in the direct hands at chest level. Turn the torso and head to the right - a breath, stand up straight - exhale. Similarly, the left. Repeat 2-4 times in each direction.


text:
KBYS' MOVIE REVIEWS ON LAKE CHARLES' BEST SPORTS SHOW – THIS WEEK: WONDER, COCO & OLAF'S OFFENSIVE ADVENTURE
http://www.homeschoolmommoviemavin.com/podcast-player/4158/kbys-movie-reviews-on-lake-charles-best-sports-show-this-week-wonder-coco-olafs-offensive-adventure.mp3
HERE'S OUR NOVEMBER 26, 2017 RADIO INTERVIEW WITH MATT AND COREY ON MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY'S LAKE CHARLES' BEST SPORTS SHOW ON KBYS.FM (88.3). THE MORNING SEGMENT STARTS EVERY SUNDAY SOMETIME BETWEEN 9 AND 9:30 AM, EXACT TIME DEPENDING ON THE SPORTS NEWS HEADLINES.
THIS WEEK WE DISCUSSED:
OLAF'S FROZEN ADVENTURE
NEXT WEEK'S SHOW – OUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES
http://www.homeschoolmommoviemavin.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Kathy-Barrilleaux-11-26-17-Copy.m4a
Posted on November 27, 2017 December 3, 2017 Tags Audio recording, Coco, Frozen, KBYS, materialism, McNeese, Olaf, rekligion, secularism, Sports show, Stranger Things, WonderLeave a comment on KBYS' MOVIE REVIEWS ON LAKE CHARLES' BEST SPORTS SHOW – THIS WEEK: WONDER, COCO & OLAF'S OFFENSIVE ADVENTURE
STRANGER THINGS – BLAST FROM THE PAST
My sister and I just finished binge watching both seasons of Stranger Things over the last week. And if you gentically spliced together: Alien, Dean Koontz and……….Pretty in Pink – you would end up with this show. NOT that Stranger Things is derivative. By no means. S.T. is one of the most creatively original shows I've seen since Fringe. But it is POPULATED by and decorated with homages to practically every blockbuster movie of the 1980's and the early '90's.
At turns Stranger Things is funny, charming, whimsical, nostalgic, terrifying, grotesque, suspenseful, intriguing, and as addictive as Hershey bars.
The premise is that in a small Indiana town a group of three just pre-pubescent boys – Will (Noah Scnapp) Byers, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) Henderson, and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) Sinclair bike home from the house of the fourth member of their group Mike (Finn "It" Wolfhard) Wheeler, after a game of D&D (Dungeons and Dragons – role playing, interactive board game involving mages, wizards and demigorgons). This is the '80's when there was a reasonable assumption that children could make their way at night safely this way. Like any other night the smallest – Will – bikes a shortcut through the private property of a local research center. Unfortunately his timing is astronomically and cataclysmically poor as on this same night "something" gets out of the research center's secret lab at the same time a little girl dressed in a lab gown with a shaved head and supernatural powers, Eleven (MillieBobby Brown), runs into the boys on their forbidden venture to help find their missing friend.
The show revolves around the meaning and consequences of Will's disappearance.
Without giving any but the smallest of spoilers: one of the things that makes this STRANGER things so watchable is the characters. The kids act like kids – they speak with the rhythm natural to kids – blunt, with a short cut language specific to their group. They spearhead the acceptance of the dangers they face with an openness born of a creative mind. The adults have flaws and blind spots like any other humans but they are caring, attentive and good people.
For example the Sheriff, Jim (David Harbour) Hopper, is a burnt out boozer suffering from a crushing past tragedy but is always there to do his job with judgement, calm and fairness and is both incredibly and recklessly brave.
Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), grows from narcissistic jealous jerky boyfriend to the best and worst babysitter ever and becomes one of the group's big brother figures.
The parents of the other kids are distracted in their own ways but involved and generous with their time and attention, providing for their kids with a loving home.
The teachers genuinely care and are interested in their students' welfare and generously take time to help them when they can, especially Mr. Clarke who is always providing much needed expositional information, though he is not "in the know".
Even many of the smaller characters have memorable scenes – like Murray (Brett Gelman) Bauman the alcoholic snarky cynical investigative reporter who can see right into the heart of people. On for about 5 minutes but I wouldn't mind if he popped up again in season three.
As most of the characters come from the same small town and grew up together, went to the same school and know each other they have a shared history reflected in their interactions which pull you into the story with a three dimensional feel that makes you a part of their group, just as Eleven is included in the group of nerdy boys.
And homages abound. The tribute references of situations, character personality traits or habits, items, set ups and visuals reads like a list of every iconic and blockbuster movie of the '80's and early '90's: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Goonies, Poltergeist, Alien, Carrie, The Excorcist, Stand by Me, Firestarter, Jaws and……….Pretty in Pink. Bikes and hiding the unusual creature from your parents, empty creepy halls full of monsters and unseen terrors that yank people into the dark. Other dimensions and super powers. Pre-pubescent crushes and coming to manhood and responsibility teens.
The songs conjure up my early college days: "Heroes" as sung by Peter Gabriel, "I Melt With You" by Modern English, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by the Clash, "Hazy Shade of Winter" as sung by the Bangles, "Sunglasses at Night" – Corey Hart.
Even some of the actors themselves are nostalgia incarnate:
Winona (Heathers, Edward Scissor Hands and here she thought Beetlejuice was scary??!!) Ryder plays Joyce Byers, Will's desperate mom and I thought her performance was painfully spot on. As a mother of six it was wrenching to watch her go from mild concern to terror fueled panic as she discovers her youngest child missing then MISSING.
Paul (Diner, Beverley Hills Cop I and II, Mad About You, Aliens) Reiser is Dr. Sam Owens the head of the research facility on season two who has murky motives.
Matthew (Full Metal Jacket, Birdy) Modine is Dr. Martin Brenner – pretty much…a mad scientist.
Sean (Rudy, Goonies, Toy Soldiers) Astin is Bob Newby, the Byers family friend.
Charles Heaton plays Will's older brother Jonathan Byers, beaten down from having to shoulder the responsibility of the "father" figure in his abandoned home but is kind and gentle. While he does not have the historic pedigree connection to the '80's the older actors do, he looks so ridiculously much like a young Stephen King I thought it must have been one of the audition requirements.
Like a treasure hunt in a haunted house escape room, the writers have placed little scenes and moments lifted out of other movies and positioned like decorations all over the movie. One example and a very SMALL SPOILER: Paul Reiser appears in the second season and during one crucial moment watches a radar making a distinctive noise that I KNOW goosebumped the hair on every inch of him with some SERIOUS Deja Vu. There are secret labs with evil government henchmen, horrifying monsters, alternate universes and —– humor.
One of the biggest charms of the show is its unpredictability. The characters are funny – not like a comedy but in the way only people can be funny in their day to day decisions, mistakes and the way personalities bounce against each other with familiar interactions born of long acquaintance. The secretary who snatches a donut out of the hand of the Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour) to replace it with a carrot. The clueless but well meaning and harmless deputies who come to useless conclusions. Eleven's favorite food. The nicknames even the adults have for each other (Hop, Bob the Brain). The extreme adorable nerdiness of the boys. Dozens of moments defuse this otherwise very suspenseful show in healthy ways to create the ebb and flow necessary for a successfully scary watch. Otherwise the tension gets too much and you will numb up.
The kids are wonderful and adorable. The adults lend a relatable genuineness to their roles, not minding looking ugly or awkward if the moment requires it. People often either are not completely what they appear to be or genuinely learn and grow from their extreme experiences to become better people. Willingness to self sacrifice in many ways, generosity, loyalty, family/friend bonds are generously demonstrated by all but the most unredeemably evil characters. These are good, decent and plain old nice people – both adults and children – from a small town banding together to face the extremity of bizarre with courage and grace under pressure.
The show has some bad language and tastefully referenced teenaged intimacy. Much of the violence takes place off screen but you do see some aftermath, the suspense is intense and there are graphic scenes of characters being psychologically experimented upon, especially Eleven.
Obviously we are talking mid teens and up. Younger kids should NOT watch this show unless you want them sleeping in your room with the lights on until they move to college. But for those of you with even moderately stout hearts this is a show well worth your time – it's smart, scary, and surprisingly warm of heart.
Posted on November 26, 2017 December 3, 2017 Tags 1980's, Alternate dimension, David Harbour, Dean Koontz, Duffer Brothers, Dungeons and Dragons, eleven, Horror, humor, Paul Reiser, science fiction, Sean Astin, Spielberg, Stranger Things, The Upside Down, Winona Ryder2 Comments on STRANGER THINGS – BLAST FROM THE PAST
JUSTICE LEAGUE: DC v. MARVEL – It's a COMIC book not Kafka…..so be nice
Justice League is an amusing and entertaining excuse to unite the DC comic book characters into their version of Marvel's Avengers but requires some parental supervision because of two short but poorly chosen off hand political and anti-Christian polemics which should require discussion between younger viewers and their parents.
Writing an origin story isn't easy. You have to deal with a lot of exposition and expectation all while trying to find a new way to tell an established or sometimes even cliched story line. Sometimes it works spectacularly well – like the Chris Reeves' Superman or this year's Wonder Woman. Sometimes not so well, like Wolverine or Eric Bana's Hulk. And when you're trying to do a team effort that issue becomes exponentially more difficult.
Such is the challenge facing Justice League, especially when three of the characters have only appeared in cameos in Batman V Superman: Flash/Barry Allen (Ezra "Fantastic Beasts" Miller), Cyborg/Victor Stone (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman/Arthur Curry (Jason "Drogo from Game of Thrones" Momoa).
The premise is that Bruce Wayne/Batman, in the wake of Superman's untimely demise, has discovered that the void left by his super-colleague is attracting very ugly aliens called parademons who look an awful lot like larger flying version of the dwergers from Hugh Jackman's Van Helsing.
To prepare for the invasion by the parademons master, Steppenwolf (super villain, not the '60's band) who seeks to remake the world in his own image, Bruce and Wonder Woman/Diana set out to recruit other supers. Bruce to seek the Flash and Aquaman, Diana to convince Cyborg. All three of the newbies have troubled pasts (Cyborg, Flash and Aquaman can put their baggage in the closet with the steam trunks from the traumatized Batman and grieving Wonder Woman) but eventually agree, only to find out that their considerable combined efforts will not be quite enough to even create a stalemate with Steppenwolf.
A nice little theme of not putting your light under a bushel, of being able to overcome your fears of failure or worse, dread of the responsibility in leadership, is interwoven in the storyline, but only as light embroidery, not as sustaining warp and woof of this cinematic costume quality fabric.
Other reviewers have complained the story felt disjointed and somewhat disconnected. By necessity this is what happens when you try to introduce three major players into a five "man" mix with a story intended to propel them together and still try to keep the movie less than 15 hours long. A few things have to be cut and you have to edit down a bit.
While Justice League isn't as lighthearted as Guardians of the Galaxy nor near the apex of the genre that is The Avengers, or Wonder Woman, it's an engaging enough flick. And isn't that good enough?! I mean, come ON, it's a live action comic book!! If you want Shakespeare then you could watch…..well, OK Branagh's Thor….
But seriously, there are at least four compelling reasons why I liked Justice League and can forgive them a lot of plot and presentation weaknesses because of them:
1. We get the return of Wonder Woman in a vehicle which did not require a three year wait as many other sequels are glacially cranked out. It was very nice to see Gal Godot don the Amazonian one piece and watch as she balletically beats up bad guys again.
2. DC has managed, as with Wonder Woman, another transformation I would never have thought possible. As a kid Aquaman was on the top of the list for the lamest of super heroes. Mostly a Ken doll who could hold his breath for a very long time he didn't even make a blip in my Superman-loving radar. But in Justice League Aquaman is a whiskey swilling, tatooed, long haired Norwegian-ey good ole boy who looks like a wrestler and acts like a rock star. This guy is just fun to watch as he exudes the kind of joy battling parademons we haven't seen since Woody Harrelson's delightful walking dead killing spree in Zombieland.
3. We see the return, albeit in cameos, of Jeremy irons as Alfred, JK Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Cyborg's father Silas Stone played by Joe Morton, whose pedigree with sci fi dates back a lot further than you might think – through a stint on Warehouse 13, to a key role in the Terminator franchise all the way back to 1984's quirky sci fi indie Brother from Another Planet.
4. And most importantly, which reason would have been enough to get me to see this movie all by itself……..well……I'm not going to tell you, but you'll know it when you see it.
That being said, there are also three reasons I have to take exception to, which are largely unrelated or at least unnecessary to the story or comic book characters per se:
1. GLOBAL WARMING PROPAGANDA:
Bruce shoehorns a throw away comment to Aquaman about global warming as though it is an established fact rather than the cock and bull fantasy of environmental wackos who want an excuse to tyrannically limit First World progress into the 21st century in order to feather their own Al Gore-jet flying coffers.
2. ANTI-CHRISTIAN CHEAP SHOT:
Lex Luther takes a gratuitous stab at Christianity which I, for one, didn't appreciate. Granted, he is a bad guy, but his comment stepped right over offensive into blasphemy. When a statement is so over the top that it shocks you out of the suspension of disbelief it does nothing to promote the storytelling either. It neither served the plot or character well nor will endear it to any Christian audience members, and was just plain rude. I continue to be annoyed by the singular targeting of the Judeo-Christian faith by a Hollywood which used to produce movies like Going My Way and Schindler's List.
3. As I have alluded to in the earlier part of this post there is an awful lot of derivatives, echoes and dopplegangers between the two rival comic book universes DC and Marvel. Along with the ones I have already mentioned like parademons, there is Steppenwolf (DC comics) who looks a LOT like a combination of the fire demon Surtur who appears at the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok (Marvel comics) and Thanos from Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel). Further Steppenwolf's goal is to bring together three "mother boxes" (DC) which are not explained well but when glowing look like red versions of the blue Tesseract from The Avengers (Marvel), and when joined will reshape the Earth with tentacle transformers made of Element X (DC) which look an awful lot like the tentacles from Thor: The Dark World set loose by the Dark Elf Malekith from the Aether (Marvel).
See what I mean? After a while they all kind of blend together. In addition, the are a LOT of other counterparts in each world. I have made a short list below of the most noticeable ones. (And the years they first appeared in order to put to rest any debate about who predated whom. In short – DC and Marvel took turns being "first".)
DC vs Marvel
For the most part Justice League is an airy simple romp. Lots of cartoon violence, super powered heroics, and over the top demonic bad guys. Bringing the "old band back" is a hoot to watch and like the first Star Trek movie, or the first waffle off the griddle, they are entitled to "warm the pan up," so to speak, for future efforts. Besides, they should be able to pull off pretty much anything now that they have Wonder Woman and………you'll see.
Posted on November 18, 2017 December 3, 2017 Tags Aquaman, batman, Ben Affleck, Comic, Cyborg, Ezra Miller, Flash, Gadot, Henry Cavill, heroes, J.K. Simmons, Jeremy Irons, Joe Morton, Justice League, Momoa, Ray Fisher, Superman, Wonder WomanLeave a comment on JUSTICE LEAGUE: DC v. MARVEL – It's a COMIC book not Kafka…..so be nice
BRANAGH'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS – The Perfect Movie
I have seen a lot of filmed murder mysteries from drama to slapstick: Thin Man series, China Town, Minority Report, The Usual Suspects, The Maltese Falcon, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Clue, Rear Window, Scoop, Murder by Death, even the occasional Dr Who and the TV shows Columbo, Grimm and Perry Mason. There's something truly satisfying about solving a puzzle with the end result the protecting of the innocent and the meting out of justice. But my favorite has always been Murder on the Orient Express. A group of strangers stuck on a snow bound train with a murdered man and a famous detective and one of them a murderer. A bit like Christie's Ten Little Indians but, to me, Orient Express has more pinache.
I've seen the 1974 version many times. Knowing the ending does nothing to undermine the enjoyment of watching the mystery unfold like a beautifully formed rose bud – all the parts slowly falling into place. Who wouldn't like it?! With the star studded cast including the likes of Albert (Bourne franchise) Finney, Sean (James Bond) Connery, Lauren (Humphrey Bogart's wife) Bacall, Ingrid (Casablanca) Bergman, SIR John Gielgud, Anthony (Psycho) Perkins. The list goes on – it is a BIG cast.
But as good as the 1974 version was, it is only the amusing movie hors d'oeuvre to the cinematic banquet that is Kenneth Branagh's 2017 Murder on the Orient Express. Not only is this the best rendition of a murder mystery I have ever seen, it is one of those rarest of birds – a perfect movie. Branagh brings brilliance to anything he undertakes – from Thor to Cinderella to Hamlet* (ALL of which he directed). He is one of those auteurs, like Orson Welles and Woody Allen who can both star and direct in the same movie and create masterpieces.
Prudence, by defintiion, is the virtue of knowing the right thing to do at any given time. When you are someone who sees the subtle imperfections of the world this virtue becomes an obsession. In a detective this can be a superpower…and a curse. Such is the struggle of Branagh's Hercule Poirot. This kind of complex personality overlay onto an already brilliant screenplay is an example of what makes Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express special. It could have been refilmed as another lovely remake with modern celebrities. The last theatrical version was in 1974, as I have said, so it is due for a remake. But true to his genius and his respect for his audience, Branagh is not content with merely revamping an already rich treasure of a story but like Gershwin's ability to create a timeless song from a simple catchy line of music, Branagh takes a classically fun tale and reworks it into a presentation worthy of a Shakespearean telling.
As in the original, the premise is that a murder takes place on a train, which locomotive is almost immediately and Providentially caught in an avalanche of snow. The manager of the train, a good friend of Poirot's, implores Poirot to solve the mystery for him before the train is freed and the killer has an opportunity to escape. As well as catching a killer, he also (by the way) wishes to avoid the shame of scandal to the Orient Express from an unresolved atrocity committed aboard this regal moving institution.
Of all the movies I have ever reviewed this is the one about which I would be most loathe to commit a spoiler ……. so will not.
But I will say there are a few minor tweaks to the story, re-imagined by Michael Green from, obviously, the Agatha Chtistie novel of the same name. These changes work well, and add depth of character and intrigue to even Christie's fascinating creation. One such contribution is Branagh's Poirot which, while I will not go into detail, is a brilliantly satisfying choice which makes the usually taciturn and ascerbic character more approachable and likeable, aware of his own shortcomings and has a character arc which dovetails beautifully with the theme and complexities of the story.
If you have not read the book or seen the 1974 movie, which by the way is very good, and are then fortunate enough to be able to see this 2017 version with virgin eyes, do NOT watch any trailers, see any interviews, read any opinions but go straight to the movie with childlike delight. If you ARE familiar with the story then go to revel in the brilliant directing. Branagh stages the film like a fairy tale with all the exotic detail that was Stamboul (Old Istanbul) in 1934 and the extreme elegance of the Orient Express which in its day was host to Princesses and Counts. The colors are bright, the costumes splendid reflections of the complex suspects. And enjoy the sheer artistry of Branagh direction as he shoots with elegance equal to the time and place. He uses mirrors, windows and framing to fracture images hinting at characterizations; overhead shots to both reveal and hide clues at the same time. Dramatic events are bold and large as life; intimate scenes feel almost intrusive into private tensions and personal conflicts. At turns I laughed out loud and was brought to tears.
And Branagh knows how to work an ensemble cast. From the musical rendition of Shakespeare's Love's Labours Lost to the light comedy A Midwinter's Tale to Hamlet with its massive star studded cast, he knows when to shine and when to hold back and always gives every member of his cast ample opportunity to be memorably in the forefront.
Every one of the actors does a superlative job. Not suprising as any director who could inspire a good Shakesepearean performance out of Keanu Reeves in Much Ado About Nothing could get a good perfromance out of even a dust mop. But most of these guys do not need such inspiration as they are already accomplished actors.
It is my honor and delight to mention each of the main performers:
Kenneth Branagh, director and lead, plays Poirot himself. I have seen enough Branagh to know that if he thought someone else could have done a better job he would have hired him. I'll tell you this is the best Poirot or classic detective of this genre I have seen anywhere.
Johnny (Jack Sparrow) Depp plays Edward Ratchett, American gangster and suspicious ne'er-do-well who brings a frightening intensity to what otherwise could have been a cookie cutter stereotype.
Sir Derek Jacobi – friend and collaborator of Branagh in a number of previous outings from the aforementioned Hamlet to Henry V to Cinderella, plays Edward Henry Masterman, British manservant to Ratchett. Jacobi is a knighted Shakespearean thespian who lends a graceful sympathy to Masterman.
Josh (Beauty and the Beast) Gad plays Hector MacQueen, Ratchett's assistant, lends a surprisingly effective though odd combination of Bogart and Peter Lorre from Casablanca into this character of questionable motives.
Daisy (Rey from Star Wars) Ridley plays Mary Debenham, stepping away from her interstellar Jedi to bring a singular classy elegance to her role as governess.
Leslie Odom portrays Dr. Arbuthnot, a man of many surprsing talents with skill and credibility.
Dame Judy Densch – M, Shakespearean actress of tremendous dignity and comportment – continues to demonstrate her command of her art in even one of the smaller roles as the elderly Princess Dragomiroff.
Willem Dafoe (Green Goblin from Spiderman, Platoon, Odd Thomas, voice of Gill in Finding Nemo) equally at home in comedy or drama, as villain or hero, brings his many talents to bare for the German professor Gerhard Hardman.
Olivia Coleman is solid as Princess Dragomiroff's personal maid.
Manuel Garcia (Magnificent 7) Rulfo is charming as Biniamino Marquez the Italian born newly Americanized citizen car salesman.
Marwan Kenzari is Pierre Michel, the ubiquitous conductor.
Michele Pfeiffer redeems herself from her awful participation in the terrible Mother! as the wealthy manhunting widow, commanding and entertaining in every scene she's in.
Luc Boynton portrays the fragile ephermeal Countess.
Sergei Polunin is almost comic relief in his intensity as the tightly wound Count, protective and attentive husband of the Countess.
Tom Bateman plays Bouc, playboy, friend of Poirot and ultimately responsible representative of the owners of the Express with style and contagious enthusiasm.
Penelope (Pirates of the Caribbean, Nine) Cruz, in a surprising turn plays Pilar Estravados, the intense missionary with an unexpected tough streak.
So go see this masterpiece of film making. Whether you have never heard of Agatha Christie before or if you've got the story memorized from a previously favorite version, you will more than be rewarded for your time in viewing this crown jewel retelling of the ultimate murder mystery.
* Branagh's Hamlet is the most spectacularly filmed Hamlet ever to grace the screen and the ONLY filmed theatrical unabridged Hamlet so far in existence.
Posted on November 15, 2017 November 15, 2017 Tags Branagh, Christie, Cinderella, Cruz, Defoe, Depp, ensemble, fairy tale, Hamlet, Jacobi, Josh Gad, Love's Labours Lost, murder, Murder on the Orient Express, mystery, Orient Express, Pfeiffer, remake, Stanboul, updateLeave a comment on BRANAGH'S MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS – The Perfect Movie
OUR FIRST AUDIO REVIEW!!! Thank You For Your Service and Murder on the Orient Express
http://www.homeschoolmommoviemavin.com/podcast-player/3937/our-first-audio-review-thank-you-for-your-service-and-murder-on-the-orient-express.mp3
The fellas at Lake Charles' Best Sport Show on McNeese University's radio station kbys.fm on your radio dial at 88.3 have been gracious enough to take my call about movies every Sunday morning between 9 and 9:30 am for the last few months. This week we talked about Thank You For Your Service and Murder on the Orient Express.
My daughter copied it and sent it to me as an M4A download.
I still plan to publish written reviews but ————
——— here it is – our first audio review!!!
KBYS AUDIO REVIEWS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE and MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
http://www.homeschoolmommoviemavin.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Kbys-Kathy-Barrilleaux-Nov-12-2017.m4a
Posted on November 12, 2017 Leave a comment on OUR FIRST AUDIO REVIEW!!! Thank You For Your Service and Murder on the Orient Express
THE 39 STEPS – Carefully Crafted Chaos at Lake Charles Little Theater
SHORT TAKE: Do NOT MISS the opportunity to see THE 39 STEPS at Lake Charles Little Theater – November 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 2017 – a hilarious send up of the famous Hitchcock spy thriller of the same name.
LONG TAKE: As I have oft told our kids – it's not necessarily WHAT you say but how you say it that makes all the difference. This is brilliantly demonstrated in the current offering by Lake Charles Little Theater, THE 39 STEPS.
Set in 1935 England, The 39 Steps, in its original incarnation as a spy thriller, is about Richard Hanney, an every man suffering from a severe case of ennui, who attends a theatrical performance of a man with a prodigious memory. While there he is entreated by a mysterious foreign woman for help. The woman is murdered in his apartment, and Hanney becomes the prime suspect, thus kick starting the misadventures of Richard Hanney "accidental hero".
Beginning life as a novel by John Buchan along the lines of Ian Fleming's Bond series, The 39 Steps was made into a movie several times, the most famous of which is Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 entry. However, in 2005 Patrick Barlow got the bright idea of turning it into a comic play.
The Hitchcock movie, while employing Hitchcock's trademark bit of tongue in cheek, is a drama. The author of the play, Patrick Barlow, included the original material, most of the dialogue, and all of the plot convolutions but has presented them as would an ambitious Alfred Hitchcock fan might with a minimalist amount of props and an extremely limited pool of actors.
Four actors portray all of the many characters. This is just one of the aspects of the play that turns an intriguing drama into an irresistible comedy.
In the brilliantly funny rendition at Lake Charles Little Theater, Clay Hebert and his toupee play the lead Richard Hanney. Whether narrating to the audience, reluctantly falling in love with his female protagonist, or performing slapstick maneuvers required of his character, Clay's Hanney is the anchor that keeps the production steady as insanity reigns around him. Clay provides just the right amount of tongue in cheek, committed to his "serious" role in one moment then feigning exasperation at having to deal with the limitations of the set and ensemble the next.
Alexandra Landry shows her talents in triplicate to all three of the romantic female roles who cross Hanney's path. She is great as Hanney's side kicks – in turns the doomed German femme fatale, the reluctant English female romantic lead, and an unhappy Scottish housewife, lending accents and different body language to each.
The remaining dozens of other roles, including policemen, henchmen, evil doers, a milkman, fellow train travelers, a conductor, tavern owner, various passersby and minor female roles – oft without even changing clothes entirely from their previous character – are all juggled by the two "Clowns," Joseph Comeaux and Greg Stratton, the latter who also wears the hat of the play's director. Stratton and Comeaux do a magnificent job of filling in all the many and varied roles, bouncing from one supporting character to another, sometimes required to change clothes on stage due the exigencies of the story.
Comeaux and Stratton occasionally even have a different hat in each hand with which to do moment by moment changes right in front of us, deliberately stressing our suspension of disbelief in a humorous bald-faced dare to the audience to not be convinced. And every once in a while Hanney has to "correct" the two "Clowns" as their overburdened schedule leads to "miscues" and "mistakes". Of course these "mistakes" are all part of a complex and intricately timed and blocked play which is demanding for any cast, even one as experienced as the one here. But like a troupe of skillful magicians, they make it look easy.
There is no fourth wall. Hanney starts by addressing his audience and conveying his woes. Further, without giving anything away, I advise you to watch carefully as much goes on during and around the main action – small moments you won't want to miss. Then there are the minimalist props, which are reused in a variety of ways Steamer trunks serve as tables, beds, train seats and even in one especially memorable scene the ROOF of a train. Silhouettes and photos on a screen enhance the idea of large elaborate rooms and open air scenes…without actually HAVING large elaborate rooms … or use of the open countryside. How the cast deals with the prop aided pantomime is another comedic element of the play.
Although based on one of Hitchcock's earlier movies, the comedy was written in 2005 and so features blatant references and affectionate homages to a half dozen other Hitchcock movies written after The 39 Steps.
And, of course, all this chaos is deliberately written into the play. I once read that it takes a lot of thought to appear glib. I've also noted it takes an erudite, thoughtful and intelligently gifted actor to appear a fool – note Jerry Lewis, Moe Howard and Charlie Chaplin were all highly dedicated and methodical men who planned out every lunatic action for maximum effect based upon years of experience and practice. Similarly it takes a tremendous amount of timing, organization and rehearsal to appear this daft and haphazard. But Stratton and company pull it off beautifully. And the result is a delightfully smart and funny play.
So call 337-433-7988 or log onto www.thelclt.com and order tickets for The 39 Steps. Appropriate for all ages. You won't want to miss the opportunity to see it, maybe more than once at Lake Charles Little Theater, 813 Enterprise Blvd. November 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 7:30 pm November 12, and 19 for 2 pm matinees.
As a side note, I had puzzled over the title, The 39 Steps, for years. What relation does the word "steps" have to do with a spy organization? I finally got a tip from an article I read recently by Vanessa Thorpe of The Guardian. Apparently, while recuperating from an ulcer, Buchan would walk down from a garden to the beach using a walkway which had…you guessed it…39 steps. In the book, movies and the play the 39 Steps refers to a spy ring which seeks to steal away a "secret" vital to England's national security (it really doesn't matter what is, but is merely the "McGuffin"). Explained in the book, but not either the play or the famous movie, the 39 steps are the number of steps in a walkway which leads to the quay which holds the spy ring's escape ship ….just so's you know.
Posted on November 9, 2017 1 Comment on THE 39 STEPS – Carefully Crafted Chaos at Lake Charles Little Theater
THOR: RAGNAROK – EXACTLY WHAT IT SHOULD BE
The wise and ancient Greek aphorism "Know thyself" which was said to hang in the forecourt at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi can apply to many things, even to movies. Movies of a particular genre are best when they adhere to the rules of their own known Universe. A romance should have long gazes and lovers who overcome obstacles. Horror movies should have jump scares. Disaster flicks should feature near misses and heroic self sacrifice. And movies based on comic books should bear the irreverent broad strokes of plot and illustration from which they originate.
Suffice it to say that Thor: Ragnarok understands its pedigree and is abundantly familiar with its own inner workings.
The premise, obvious from the title, is another in the line of adventures featuring Thor, Son of Odin and god of Thunder (Chris Hemsworth). Here he seeks to prevent the foretold, Ragnarok, the fiery destruction of Asgard, his home world.
SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THOR: THE DARK WORLD
Thor's goal is complicated by Loki (Tom Hiddleson) who is hiding in the guise of Odin.
SPOILER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE THOR: RAGNAROK TRAILERS
Thor is also hindered in his quest by Hela, the goddess of death, (Cate Blanchett) and by The Grand Master (Jeff Goldblum) who conscripts him into a gladiatorial competition against Hulk (Mark Ruiffalo).
This is a movie which THANKFULLY does NOT take itself too seriously. The colors are bright, the tale is full of creatures and fighting, narrow escapes and changing alliances, spaceships, and the most unexpected cameos in the strangest places and characters which are WAAAAY over the top.
Jeff Goldblum's Grand Master appears often as a hundred story hologram to his city which is imagined as the world's biggest gameshow.
Hiddleson brings back Loki, the favorite Avenger Universe character one loves to hate in all of his snarky, clever, quipping, never-quite-absolutely-sure-what-he's-going-to-do-next, ever so fun unpredictability. And every once in a while you get the feeling he is the only sensible adult in a room of idealistic children.
Anthony Hopkins reprises his role as Odin – first, in a comic turn, as Loki pretending to be Odin, then as the real Odin bringing to bear all of Hopkins' Odin's gentle dignity as a king and father.
Cate Blanchett's Hela sports long dark hair which, when she brushes it back with her hands become enormous imposing deer antlers – a look, (much like Jason Isaacs' ridiculously tall beaver hat adorning his Colonel Tavington in The Patriot), which only the likes of a great actor such as herself could sell as frightening.
As a side note, it is interesting to consider that Blanchett also played Galadriel, another extremely powerful supernatural being – the Queen Mother of the elves in Lord of the Rings who, when offered the Ring by Frodo gave a terrifying vision to Frodo should she accept:
"In the place of a Dark Lord you would have a Queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Morn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth! All shall love me and despair!"
But who then musters heroic self restraint and refuses ownership of the treacherous Ring.
"I have passed the test. I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel. "
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeell just imagine if Galadriel had hungrily embraced the proffered ornament, eagerly put it on her finger, crushed Lord Sauron between her greedy fingers then you would get an idea of Hela – the flip side of Galadriel.
And Blanchett has a Hela-va (think about it) good time munching on this role. She chews scenery, mows down soldiers, blows up castles and mews theatrically about being so very unappreciated in magnificent anti-hero finery. Hela is a worthy counterpoint to Thor's beautifully strutting, splendidly self-aware position as the hero of the story.
But the story is not nearly as Wagernian as you might think, as characters, in very human fashion – make mistakes, trip, run into walls and annoy each other.
The screenwriters manage to run right up to that line in the sand between parody and affectionate homage and occasionally even plant one foot on either side. But they keep the ebb and flow between the comedy and genuine tragedy balanced as skillfully as a sword juggler at a PT Barnum circus.
Thor: Ragnarok is exactly what it should be: a live action comic book, brought to a gloriously larger than life by its director Taiha Waititi a New Zealand born child of both Maori and Jewish heritage, who also plays a wry rock monster gladiator named Korg.
Thor: Ragnarok is a perfect example of its kind. Like a two hour Disney ride it leaves you awash in eye-popping breath taking images, gentle humor which makes otherwise grandiose heroes familiar, and a plot which will carry you along like the Kali Rapids River Ride at Disneyworld. Thor: Ragnarok is, at turns, funny, heart-wrenching, heroic, endearing and ridiculous in only the way a comic book hero can come alive.
So grab your popcorn, turn your brain off and let Thor: Ragnarok take you on one of the most entertaining rides of the year. Had they been part of the same mythology, Thor: Ragnarok would have made Apollo proud.
Posted on November 5, 2017 Tags Anthony Hopkins, Apollo, Asgard, Cate Blanchett, Chris Hemsworth, comic book, Delphi, Galadriel, Grand Master, Hela, homage, Hulk, Idris Elba, jason isaacs, Jeff Goldblum, Karl Urban, korg, Loki, Mark Ruffalo, Matt Damon, Odin, parody, Ragnarok, Sam Neil, Thor, Tom HiddlesonLeave a comment on THOR: RAGNAROK – EXACTLY WHAT IT SHOULD BE


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Home Buzz	Don't Miss: Judy Kuhn and More at NJPAC Gala
Don't Miss: Judy Kuhn and More at NJPAC Gala
Judy Kuhn (photo provided by GreenHouse Publicity)
While the tri-state area braces for a weekend full of chill and rain, the New Jersey Performing Arts center (NJPAC) forecast includes shining stars in rays of spotlight as it hosts their annual gala for the Women's Association of NJPAC this Saturday, October 3 at 7 p.m..
This year's event, under the musical direction of Sirius XM Broadway host Seth Rudestsky, will celebrate the songs of one of Broadway's most well known composers, Stephen Sondheim.
Tony Award winners and nominees including James Monore Iglehart (Aladdin), Vanessa Williams (Into the Woods), Tony Yazbeck (On the Town), and special guest Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd) will present an evening of Sondheim songs. The program will also include a brief awards ceremony. Judy Kuhn, currently starring in the award winning hit Fun Home, will also join the starry lineup. The Broadway Blog caught up with her to discuss the event:
BB: How did you become involved in the NJPAC gala and what can audiences expect to hear from you on Saturday night?
JK: Seth Rudetsky and I are old friends and colleagues and Oberlin Alumni! He asked me to participate which I am thrilled to be doing. The audience can expect to hear some favorite tunes, but I don't want to give away which ones!
Judy Kuhn in 'Fun Home' (Photo: Joan Marcus via The Broadway Blog.)
BB: The Women's Association of NJPAC shares the same mission as you with regards to Arts Education for students. Why is exposure to the performing arts so vital to younger audiences?
JK: I don't think it can be overstated what arts programs of any kind do for young people, no matter their skills. It builds confidence, encourages and teaches self-expression and collaboration, all of which are crucial for success in any field they may want to go into.
BB: You are no stranger to Sondheim repertoire, having performed in his revival of Passion at Classic Stage Company. What is it about his vast collection of songs that inspires performers to constantly perform and reinvent them?
JK: No one writes for actors the way Sondheim does. He writes the way people think and speak, and the connection between words and music is profound. It is endless what you can explore in his writing.
BB: What is your all-time favorite Sondheim song and why?
JK: That is a tough one…I would say one of my favorites is from Passion: "I Wish I Could Forget You," which Fosca sings to Giorgio in the form of a letter she dictates to him addressed to her. Complicated, layered and the most heart rending melody. I always loved that moment of the show.
For tickets and information to the NJPAC gala, visit: http://www.njpac.org/events/detail/spotlight-gala-2015
Here's a sneak peek of Judy Kuhn and Seth Rudetsky
Don't Miss: Judy Kuhn and More at NJPAC Gala was last modified: October 2nd, 2015 by Matthew Wexler
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Why it matters: Transparency, expertise, and diversification are key considerations.
Changing market and economic conditions have refocused attention on the prime brokerage services at major global banks. The growth of the size, scope and complexity of the hedge fund industry has resulted in some banks greatly expanding their prime services capabilities.
At the same time, however, various regulatory changes since the 2008-9 financial crisis have complicated the prime services landscape, as the more stringent capital requirements for prime services has made these lines of business less attractive at times for some investment banks. One of the major results of this growth and evolution in the industry has been the creation of more competition and differentiation in the provision of prime services, including a greater emphasis on bespoke solutions.
Current market conditions have created a valuable opportunity for alternative asset managers to strengthen and/or reposition their relationships with their prime services partners. This might include an assessment of whether current partners are meeting their needs, and even whether a manager should in fact diversify its prime services partners according to the nature of each type of transaction. However, before doing so, managers should review three key considerations when selecting their prime services partners: 1) transparency; 2) strengths and expertise; and 3) diversification.
One of the most significant changes in the prime services space since the global financial crisis has been greater transparency with respect to services and fees. This transparency has come as a result of changes in regulation around the world, such as the Markets In Financial Instruments Directive II ("MiFID II") in Europe, but also from demands from hedge fund managers for greater accountability and insights into the fees they pay.
With prime services now itemized and unbundled, asset managers now have the opportunity to view the full range of prime brokers' full business and capital markets services. This puts them in the advantageous position to develop holistic relationships across the prime broker's organization.
It's a win-win situation. The transparency of a given prime broker gives both the broker and manager the opportunity to develop a more effective relationship, with the broker better able to develop a deeper understanding of the manager's firm and strategy, and the manager in a position to leverage the other operational competencies of its broker.
Service elements: Some prime services brokers have greater efficiency and expertise in certain functions, including synthetic equity financing, risk analysis and electronic trading platforms.
Securities specialization: Service providers may be specialized in different asset classes and/or investment types, such as fixed income or equity.
Geographic reach: The scale and regional scope of a prime service partner's organization can be a determinant of how effective it can be when a manager's prime services needs cross borders. An investment bank with a strong pre-existing global franchise or business in a particular region may be more effective for transactions of an international nature, for example.
Appetite: Not all banks view the value of their prime services business the same way. With bank capital requirements under narrower restrictions because of financial crisis-driven regulatory reforms, the amount of their balance sheets banks wish to devote to their prime services business can vary significantly from firm to firm, and can even vary according to current market conditions.
As the prime services industry has evolved and expanded over the past decade, so too can the approach managers take in their relationships with their prime services partners. Just as no two prime services partners are the same, no two prime brokerage transactions are the same. Consequently, the level of transparency and differentiation currently in the industry gives managers an opportunity to build a portfolio of prime brokers who each represent the optimal solution for a given transaction. In other words, the current prime services environment offers clients a much higher level of customization and flexibility.
Such an assessment could be based on factors such as the partners' areas of expertise, geographical reaches, their appetite for different lines of business and pricing and margin rates. This should be done not only to achieve the optimal service levels for each transaction type, but for business continuity reasons as well: reliance on a single prime broker can be risky should the broker's firm decide to offload a manager's business.
A truly global bank: Scotiabank's history dates back to 1832 – the year when The Bank of Nova Scotia was founded. For the duration of the 19th century, and throughout the next, Bank branches expanded across Canada, into the U.S., and overseas. Its commitment to being a local bank (centred in one of the world's most stable financial markets) with global reach has not wavered.
Scotiabank is considered a leading global wholesale bank, with offices in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The Bank's ability to execute transactions across geographical boundaries means that Canadian asset managers are no longer limited to using non-Canadian banks for their international transactions.
Diversity of services: Scotiabank offers a comprehensive array of prime services – including synthetic prime brokerage, foreign exchange execution and risk management, analysis and reporting – which positions the Bank to act as a manager's principal prime services partner or to deliver on a manager's specific prime services needs that may not be optimally delivered by any of its current prime services partners. For example, an asset manager looking for a partner with specific global expertise might benefit from Scotiabank's strength in this area.
Structural integration: Scotiabank's Prime Services and Collateral Management and Funding ("CMF") group are managed under the same capital markets umbrella. The CMF group handles repo financing for Scotiabank's clients as well as the Bank's own trading positions. Having both of these financing businesses in the same management framework helps Scotiabank and its clients better ascertain their financing needs holistically and which lines of business might be better suited for a given transaction.
As Canada's international bank, Scotiabank can leverage the broad scope and comprehensive coverage of its prime services business to bring added value to clients in this increasingly pivotal aspect of the banking and financing process.
1. Laura Noonan, "Jump in prime brokerage boosts investment banking," The Financial Times, May 23, 2018.
2. Lindsay Fortado, Laura Noonan, "Banks raise bets on prime broking for struggling hedge funds," The Financial Times, January 9, 2019.


text:
package io.crate.blob.v2;

import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
import org.hamcrest.Matchers;
import org.junit.Test;

import java.nio.file.Path;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertThat;

public class BlobIndexTest {

    @Test
    public void testRetrieveBlobRootDirDoesNotThrowNPE() throws Exception {
        Path root = Paths.get("/");
        Logger logger = LogManager.getLogger(BlobIndexTest.class);

        assertThat(BlobIndex.retrieveBlobRootDir(root, "dummy", logger), Matchers.nullValue());
    }
}


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text:
Skyline Beef
Our Adventures- True or False Quiz
by Nikki Neves March 5, 2021
Just so you know... all of these stories are 100% true!
One time we shared cereal - Honey Bunches of Oats to be exact- with a fella that was living in his car near Jackson Hole. Andy ended up giving him his Cowboy hat.
On a similar trip, Andy's friend (who was driving) picked up a hitchhiker and let him ride on the back of his flatbed truck. We had bedrolls tied on the back and we didn't notice until we were going really fast that he was behind the 5th wheel hitch. We forgot to tell him that he was welcome to sit on the bedrolls.
The aforementioned hitchhiker had lunch with us and Andy's friend gave him a beer. The hitchhiker may have been interested in Andy's friend.
Nikki was terrified during both events because she had always been taught never pick up hitchhikers or talk to strangers.
Once we were headed out on an adventure and pulled up to two guys stopped in the road totally in shock walking around the middle of the highway.
They had just hit and killed a deer and didn't know what to do next.
We assisted with Step 1: Pull your car off the road and quit walking around aimlessly in the middle of the road. They said, "but we just killed a deer." We assured them that moving their car out of the road and standing on the shoulder would probably still be the best idea. And yes the deer was 100% dead!
We have been on quite a few adventures with bad maps (and a hippy friend who is a bad map reader). We never end up where we plan but always have a good story at the end.
One time we made a diaper for Baby Ty out of duct tape and an old t-shirt. It didn't work- at all.
One time Andy's dad (named Virgil) invited a vagabond to our camp dinner. He had a steak and told us some (weird) stories.
The next morning, as we were riding horses up a canyon he was on the top looking down with his hiking poles swinging in the air yelling, "Virgil! Virgil!"
After 110 miles on a horrible hellish washboard dirt road, Andy suggested we go on another dirt road to see another historical site. Nikki cried.
PS- have you ever driven to the Hole in the Rock trailhead in Utah?
One time in Hovenweep Nikki took a family picture for a polygamist family and then all the kids wouldn't leave her dog alone. Andy had to get a little stern with them to get all the kids away from us. I think their mom's were all trying to get the dad's attention. They weren't paying attention to their kids for sure!
Andy and Nikki both had Mule Deer tags in 2020. After 3 days of hunting, Andy told Nikki "I don't care about hunting anymore. Get your gun we'll go get load of firewood and YOU can hunt after."
Right after we gathered a load of wood we pulled around the corner and Andy yelled, "there's deer! Give me the gun!"
He shot the biggest buck of his life.
It's fine. I've missed A LOT of big deer in my life! Once Andy started crying I think. He was sitting by a tree and he just kept saying, "Nikki that was the biggest deer I have ever seen in my life!" (To his credit, the neighbor told us it would have easily been a state record.)
Andy flipped a raft full of scouts in warm springs rapid on the Colorado River once. To see actual live footage, click this link.
Ring tailed cats took over our camp one night on a trip. Nikki got her flashlight out and they were everywhere. Andy thought about firing rocks at them with his slingshot but then decided not to because it's illegal.
Once we went to gather horses and found an old old mare with super long feet. We planned to catch her and take her home but she gave us a run for our money and we have never seen her since.
Once we were 1000 miles from nowhere and we locked the keys in our truck. Nikki thought about riding her horse to the nearest town. It probably would have taken days. In about 30 seconds Andy had a piece of wood shoved in the door and unlocked the truck with a piece of wire!
Once Andy tried to rope a coyote and just as he was about to throw his rope his horse slipped on the ice and endo-d! His friend tried the same thing 2 weeks later and did the same thing. No horses were harmed.
Once while waiting in our car at a stoplight in Las Vegas, we watched a man with nothing but a t-shirt on jump out of the bushes, look both ways, run across the road, then hide in the next bushes on the other side of the road.
Andy's childhood friend had cats named Elvis and Pelvis.
We rode our horses 28 miles to the highest point in Utah, got a good look at it but didn't bother to jump off and walk an additional 200 yards to the top.
Ty was born on Halloween. About 15 hours later, in the middle of the night, I woke up to a gothic hooker in my hospital room. She scared me to death!!!
She said, "yeah this is really funny to my co-workers because it's totally not like me."
Andy's first truck was stuck on 70s country radio. He had no choice but to listen.
Now I dare any of you to try to beat him in a "name the singer" contest. He'll get it done in about 3 beats.
"Buck Owens Tiger by the Tail!"
On one of our adventures we lost the trial in rattlesnake country. We were walking 6 miles through knee high grass in sandals. I kept asking Andy if he'd seen any snakes. He kept telling me he hadn't seen any. When we finished our hike he said, "I can't believe you didn't see a snake. There were SO MANY RATTLESNAKES!" Wow.
I can't think of anymore stories so I guess that's it for now! Thx for reading.✌🏼
I genuinely want to see the footage of you flipping the raft. The link isn't working though.
The snake one…no. just no. I wouldn't have gone into the grass.
You have so many adventures!
Corinne Hammond March 9, 2021
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A place to the rhythm of melodies of timbales and bongo, for lovers of Cuban music and son. To enjoy the entertainment of the Caribbean region, the ideal place for the Salsa celebrations.
Do you like the salsa rumba? In Bartolo's Platanal all weekends prepare a luxury program for your visitors to enjoy the best cocktails, meals of the Caribbean, salsa track, excellent sound and extraordinary presentations with artists of international stature. An environment of salsa rumba.


Letters to the Love of My Life Read Me When Box – Blush Crate & Co.
Create a treasure trove of letters for your main squeeze. Simply fill in the blanks on eight situation-specific missives, seal them in their corresponding envelopes, and present the whole package in its keepsake box. The letters can then be opened at just the right moment in the future to provide your personal thoughts and encouragement.
Fill in the Loveå¨åÊto create sweet love letters for him or her!


text:
Clarinda, Iowa
United States / Iowa / No Metro Area / Page County / Clarinda / Zip Codes
Politics & Voting in Clarinda, Iowa
The Political Climate in Clarinda, IA is Somewhat conservative.
Page County, IA is Moderately conservative. In Page County, IA 25.7% of the people voted Democrat in the last presidential election, 69.5% voted Republican, and the remaining 4.9% voted Independent.
Page county voted Republican in the previous five Presidential elections.
In the last Presidential election, Page county remained very strongly Republican, 69.5% to 25.7%
The BestPlaces Liberal/Conservative Index
Clarinda, IA is Somewhat conservative
Page County, Iowa is Moderately conservative.
Iowa is Moderately conservative.
The BestPlaces Liberal/Conservative Index is based on recent voting in national elections, federal campaign contributions by local residents, and consumer personality profiles.
VoteWord™
Displaying 16 years of Presidential voting, visualized in one word.
Clarinda, Iowa: R R R R R
Here at BestPlaces, we were looking at the voting patterns since the 2000 election and realized that we could express the results of each election as one letter. R if the Republican candidate won, D for the Democrat and I for the Independent. The five elections (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) would be expressed as five-letter word (R R D R R).
Then we went a little further and added the dimension of magnitude. If the difference of victory was greater than 10 percent, the letter is upper case, and lower case if the difference was less than 10 percent. This allows us to see interesting voting patterns at just a glance.
Here's the VoteWord for Iowa – d r d d r. In the last five elections the state has been closely contested, voting narrowly for the Republican candidate in 2016 after voting Democratic in 2008 and 2012. Virginia (r r d d d) has voted narrowly Democratic in the last three elections.
Individual Campaign Contributions in Clarinda, IA
In the last 4 years (2015-2018), there were 114 contributions totaling $12,483 to Democratic and liberal campaigns, averaging $110 per contribution.
In the last 4 years, there were 264 contributions totaling $31,212 to Republican and conservative campaigns, averaging $118 per contribution.
(source: Federal Election Commission)
PAGE COUNTY, IOWA POLITICS VOTING
PAGE COUNTY, IOWA POLITICS VOTING HISTORY
VOTING MAP
Percent Independent (US Avg: 1.73%)
Percent Democrat (US Avg: 51%)
Percent Republican (US Avg: 47%)
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MAPS OF CLARINDA, IOWA
ZIP CODES IN CLARINDA, IOWA
NEW LISTINGS IN CLARINDA
110 W Garfield St
200 W Logan St


If you own or manage a business you know how important it is to have a healthy profit margin on your product or service. It is also important to control expenses. A well-managed business only nets about 7% of revenues as profit. Higher operating or material costs quickly erode the 7% to zero or into the red. But there is a third dimension of profit that most business owners and managers don't focus on.
Suppose your well-managed business has revenues of $1M annually and payroll costs are at 25% of revenues ($250K). Provided that costs are under control you should net $70K annually. Now suppose staff productivity is 25% below optimum because they are untrained and poorly motivated. You will need 25% more people to get the work done, raising your costs by ($250K X .25) $62,500. Instead of $70K net it is now only $7,500. Which brings us to the real job of management – how we handle people. A recent scientific study shows that productivity correlates directly with how well bosses meet their employees' needs. Owners and managers all have a 'blind spot' – the inability to treat employees' needs equally with their own. That level of concern and sacrifice is uncharacteristic of most owners and managers. And net profit suffers for it. Our Lord spoke about giving more than we are normally inclined to.
The key to higher net profit is caring more about the people God has given us. The same study shows that two management behaviors guarantee higher productivity : Leadership and Nurturing. Where are we headed and what support does our staff need along the way? Being certain about those answers and acting on them puts a lot more in our own pockets. Then we can give even more to others and to God.