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Tag Archive: villain
Star Wars Episode VII: Jacen Solo.
Filed under: Fantasy Casts — 2 Comments
Yesterday, I took a look at the character of Jaina Solo and put forward a few suggestions of who should play her if she was to be included as the main character of the upcoming new Star Wars trilogy. Today, I will be looking at her twin brother, Jacen Solo.
Who knows why the Star Wars families go like this (probably because it makes for a good theme of family and good showdowns which classic lines such as "I am your Father") but for every good member of the family there's an evil one: for every Luke, there's an Anakin. And the Solo twins are no different with Jacen eventually growing up to become Darth Caedeus, a prime antagonist in the Star Wars expanded universe. So who could play Jacen Solo?
The actor that immediately sprung to my mind was Dane DeHaan. Shooting to fame last year in surprise hit Chronicle, DeHaan became an instant success and has subsequently been cast as Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I think that DeHaan would be a perfect fit and could easily perform the kind of conflicted personality and the turn to evil that encompasses Jacen Solo.
Obviously world renowned for his role as that pesky Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series. Since then Felton has failed to really do much with his career, releasing an awful music single and unleashing almost just as awful American accent for his villainous role in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. His seemingly below-par acting skills may see him quickly cut out of the running for this part and Felton himself may not want to play another bad guy. Although with Jacen beginning the trilogy as a hero that could convince him.
I have made it quite clear in an earlier blog that I am disappointed about Abrams being the director of Star Wars as well as Star Trek so it may be more than a little bit hypocritical for me to suggest Anton Yelchin (Chekov) for a main part in the Star Wars franchise. However, Yelchin doesn't really feature as a big part in the original Star Trek reboot and I doubt he will have a bigger part in Into Darkness. Really, he deserves greater attention and with a connection with Abrams already established he may just be in mind.
Stick around, maybe there'll be some casting suggestions of Anakin Solo and Ben Skywalker heading your way soon.
Tags: 2013, anakin solo, anton yelchin, ben skywalker, blog, chekov, chronicle, dane dehaan, darth caedeus, draco malfoy, entertainment, episode vii, fantasy casting, film, gaming, harry potter, hero, into darkness, jacen solo, jaina solo, jj abrams, movies, new star wars trilogy, news, oscars, rise of the planet of the apes, star trek, star wars, star wars franchise, the amazing spider-man 2, tom felton, trilogy, videogames, villain
'Wreck-It Ralph' Review
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For some unknown reason Wreck-It Ralph was released in the United States three months earlier than here in the United Kingdom, meaning I had to sit here while all the praise rolled in and the Academy Award nomination got announced and I was yet to see it. Finally I have, but did it live up to my expectations?
For anyone who doesn't know (but lets face it why wouldn't you?) Wreck-It Ralph is a story of an arcade video game villain named, you guessed it, Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly). Ralph grows tired of being a villain due to his lack of recognition and being forced to live in the dump while his rival in the game, the good guy, Fix-It Felix Jr (Jack McBrayer). received medals, cakes and parties. Eventually, Ralph decides to go 'turbo' and abandons his game, causing disruption and hysteria throughout the arcade as he puts several other games in jeopardy of being shut down.
Wreck-It Ralph is ultimately a story about change; it promotes the idea that it doesn't matter what people think of you, you always have the ability to go against your 'programming' and be what you want to be. Whether it's Ralph being a hero, Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) giving into her feelings and going against 'the most depressing back story ever' or Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) turning her 'glitch' into something positive. Disney always try and promote these messages to kids throughout their films but that doesn't mean that Wreck-It Ralph is just for children; there is just as much to behold for adults.
In almost every scene for the first half an hour there are references to hundreds of video game characters of past and present. Whether that be Pac-Man, Bowser, Ken and Ryu, Frogger or Q*Bert, there is something for everyone and part of the fun while watching Wreck-It Ralph is trying to spot all the references to video game history, right down to the 8-bit movement of the residents of Ralph's game. It has an incredibly authentic video game feel to the world which only enhances the viewing.
The four heroes of the story: Wreck-It Ralph, Fix-It Felix Jr, Sergeant Calhoun and Venellope are some of the best characters Disney have ever come up with in my opinion. I was incredibly impressed with Calhoun and thought she was a great addition to the story but for me, it was Venellope von Scheetz who stole the show. Her animation, the way the character is written combined with Silverman's voicing talents make her just about the most adorable thing to ever be seen on screen. There are some really heartwarming and also heartbreaking moments between Venellope and Ralph but it becomes one of the best on screen partnerships out there.
And as for the twist… wow! The more you get through the film you realise what the danger is for Ralph and Venellope and you come to accept who the real bad guy is and you're quite content there. And then Rich Moore (the brilliant director of the film) hits you with a twist that you wouldn't have seen coming in your wildest dreams but, in actual fact, makes perfect sense. This reveal was one of the most enjoyable parts of the film for me.
Wreck-It Ralph is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend your time for adults and children alike. For many people Toy Story is seen as the epitome of animation, the best animated film ever made. Now it has true competition.
Tags: 2013, 8-bit, academy award nomination, arcade, arcade video game, blog, bowser, disney, film, first person shooter, fix-it felix, gaming, hero, jane lynch jack mcbrayer, john c reilly, movies, news, pac man, sarah silverman, street fighter, toy story, video game characters, video game history, video games, videogames, villain, wreck it ralph
What are Leonardo DiCaprio's Best Film Roles?
Leonardo DiCaprio recently announced that he is to take a break from acting after he has been busy making three films in the last two years. While The Great Gatsby and The Wolf on Wall Street are yet to be released, Django Unchained is in cinemas now.
Since getting his break in the film world back in 1993 playing a mentally challenged teenager in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Leonardo DiCaprio has gone on to become one of the most consistent, most versatile and most sought after actors. DiCaprio is one of my favourite actors so I have compiled a list of his top five most iconic performances. And it was incredibly hard, there are some big performances and big films that miss out, but feel free to tell me what you think in the comments. Here goes…
5. Jack Dawson – Titanic
As much as I don't like Titanic and I don't buy into the whole audience love for it that comes with the film there is no doubting that Titanic was the film that made DiCaprio 'king of the world' and really launched him into the limelight. Playing the young and poor Jack Dawson made DiCaprio an international heart throb and opened so many doors for him, allowing him to take his career in any direction he liked. The success that Titanic became has made sure that nobody could ever forget DiCaprio.
4. Calvin Candie – Django Unchained
Django Unchained marks the first time that DiCaprio plays the villain, and what a fine villain he makes. Calvin Candie is one of the most unlikeable character's in film; he has so many moral issues and just because of the time period of the film he's a despicable human being. But DiCaprio plays him with such menace and intensity that you just want to see more and more of him. It's one of DiCaprio's most enthralling and guiltily enjoyable performances.
3. Jim Carroll – The Basketball Diaries
Believe it or not, DiCaprio did have a career before Titanic. In 1995, a film was made of Jim Carroll's juvenile diaries chronicling his kaleidoscopic free-fall into the harrowing world of drug addiction. While there may be a few problems with the film (it's not one of DiCaprio's best) DiCaprio puts in a fantastic performance as the drug addicted teen and it is one that highlighted his acting talent very early on and it was plain to see he was made for stardom.
2. Howard Hughes – The Aviator
The Aviator is another biopic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and this one actually got him an Oscar nomination. DiCaprio shows Hughes' rise to success in the field of aviation and film production and even more convincingly, brings us down with Hughes' decline of mental health. It's a wonderful film directed by Martin Scorsese and quite rightly got nominations over the board for the film as a whole and DiCaprio's mesmerising performance.
1. Danny Archer – Blood Diamond
Another role that got DiCaprio nominated for an Oscar. This is one of his best performances and Blood Diamond is one of my favourite films that he has done. DiCaprio got critical acclaim for mastering the difficult South African accent and really puts in a flawless performance that shows his character develop from selfish smuggler to a hero. It's a wonderful performance which is truly moving by the end of it, DiCaprio puts on a wonderful show.
So that's my top greatest roles taken on by Leonardo DiCaprio. As you can see there are some brilliant movies that miss out: Gangs of New York, Catch Me If You Can, The Departed, Shutter Island and Inception. For me, all this does is make clear that DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors of his generation with a filmography to match!
Tags: 1993, 1995, 2013, basketball diaries, blog, blood diamond, calvin candie, career, catch me if you can, danny archer, django unchained, drugs, entertainment, film, gangs of new york, great gatsby, heart throb, howard hughes, inception, international heart, jack dawson, jack dawson titanic, jim carroll, leonardo dicaprio, martin scorsese, mental health, movies, news, oscars, shutter island, smuggling, south africa, teenage hearth throb, the aviator, the basketball diaries, the departed, the great gatsby, the wolf on wall street, titanic, villain, whats eating gilbert grape
News of the Week (21/11/12) – Star Wars, Spider-Man…. Pinocchio?!
Filed under: News — 2 Comments
Blah blah.. Disney… blah blah… Star Wars. Exactly. With Michael Arndt currently writing Episode VII it has now been announced who will write Episodes VIII and IX, clearly Disney is expecting big things from their newest franchise. Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg are the two people chosen to write the next sequels but it is unclear who will write which one as of yet. These are very good choices as Kasdan has previous with the Star Wars series (so why wasn't he chosen to write Episode VII?) as he wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. simon Kinberg also has experience with blockbusters, he has written Sherlock Holmes and is currently writing Days of Future Past, the sequel to X-Men: First Class. However, Kinberg has previously had writing credits on Mr & Mrs Smith, Jumper and X-Men: The Last Stand, not such a good choice after all?
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is picking up the pace now. We know that Jamie Foxx is in the running to play the villain and probably will do so but now we know that Harry Osborn will feature in the film and several actors are being auditioned. Those in the running include Dane DeHaan (Chronicle), Sam Claflin (Snow White and the Huntsman), Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn) and Boyd Holbrook (Milk). If it was up to me I would be snapping up Sam Claflin to play the past as soon as I could. Claflin is a British actor that I have seen a lot of (Pillars of the Earth, United, Snow White and the Huntsman) and has also landed himself roles in other big blockbusters such as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. It is clear he is going to have a great career and I really would love to see him emulate James Franco in this role.
Claflin gets the thumbs up from me to play Harry Osborn.
Scoot McNairy is getting around a lot in Hollywood at the minute. As soon as I first saw him in Monsters I was a fan, he is a very good actor and deserves all the success that comes his way. This year he has starred in Killing Them Softly with Brad Pitt and Argo with Ben Affleck. This week, McNairy has been cast in two more films. These are The Rover, an "existential western" set in the "near future" starring Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce; the other is Frank alongside Michael Fassbender. Scoot McNairy is fast becoming one of my favourite actors! (expect a blog all about him in the next week or so).
Finally, Pinocchio. The classic tale of a carpenter who makes a puppet that turns into a real boy. The story has been done several times, most famously by Disney and probably most recently on television show Once Upon A Time. For months and months this project has been in the works with two names attached to team up to make it happen and they are, arguably, ideal for the job. the two in question are director Tim Burton and (no, not Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter) the brilliant Robert Downey Jr, who would play Geppetto! The film has been on and off more than Ross and Rachel in Friends (can you believe its 10 years since that finished? I can't!) but now a writer has been hired to produce a script. And that writer is Jane Goldman, the woman behind such hits as Stardust, Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class and The Woman in Black. Good times!
Tags: 2012, argo, ben affleck, blog, boyd holbrook, brad pitt, british, catching fire, chronicle, dane dehaan, days of future past, disney, eddie redmayne, edpisode viii, entertainment, episode ix, episode vii, film, first class, frank michael fassbender, friends, gaming, guy pearce, harry osborn, helena bonham carter, hollywood, jamie foxx, jane goldman, johnny depp, jumper, kick ass, killing them softly, lawrence kasdan, michael arndt, milk, monsters, movies, mr and mrs smith, my week with marilyn, news, news of the week, on stranger tides, once upon a time, oscars, pillars of the earth, pinocchio, pirates of the caribbean, puppet, return of the jedi, robert downey jr, robert pattinson, sam claflin, scoot mcnairy, simon kinberg, snow white and the huntsman, star wars, stardust, stranger tides, the amazing spider-man, the empire strikes back, the hunger games, the last stand, the rover, the woman in black, tim burton, united, villain, x-men
Skyfall Review
The arrival of a new James Bond film is always treated as a special occasion because the Bond films hold such a high place of regard in the history of film. Never has that been more true than this year with the arrival of Bond 23: Skyfall. 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of James Bond on screen and with the amount of time fans have been waiting Skyfall has to be something exceptional… and it is.
Skyfall sees M come under review and her ability to head up the Secret Service in doubt. This is after the Secret Service's intelligence is broken and a list of agents has been stolen and in attempt to retrieve that list Bond has gone missing, presumed dead. However, when the Service itself comes under attack at the hands of suspected terrorists Bond is drawn back to London only to find that the person behind the attacks, Raoul Silva, claims a personal connection to both Bond and M, which forces Bond to question his loyalty to M.
Director Sam Mendes' take on the world's most famous spy marks the first time that an academy award winning director has taken the helm of a James Bond flick. Citing Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight as one of the main influences on his take on the film you could tell that he was clearly going to make sure he put in a shift directing Skyfall. And he does not disappoint. Skyfall is shot superbly and combines a rare treat in Bond films of giving the characters equal billing with the action sequences, without one outweighing the other.
Right from the very first sequence, which includes a motorbike chase over rooftops as well as a shootout on a train, the bar is set very high. The set pieces are absolutely wonderful, explosions galore all the way through the film but this is not just action for the sake of it which is clear by the amount of emphasis put on characters throughout the film. Mendes manages to really add layers to Bond, M and the villain of the piece Raoul Silva and it is brilliant to watch these characters grow throughout the film.
Many fans of the James Bond series say that a Bond film is only as good as the villain and Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva delivers a villain not easily forgotten. As a rogue agent he is an equal match physically for Bond but his intellect is on a rather high level too and it seems as though his resources are endless. There is something incredibly creepy and sinister about the character and this performance is easily the best of the film. Although perhaps too much was put in to Bardem's character because it seems as though the Bond girls were somewhat forgotten. After seeing all the promotional shots for the film I was expecting both Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe to play a much larger part in Skyfall than they actually did and it seemed to render their characters almost irrelevant other than to have something nice to look at.
Is it Sean Connery? Is it Roger Moore? The debate goes on and on among fan communities about who is the best Bond and with Skyfall Daniel Craig goes a long way to stamping out any doubt that would deny him of the accolade. Craig is a wonderful fit the Bond role, he's a rough and ready guy with a charm to him; he delivers his one liners excellently and you can't help but like his portrayal. Couple that with the fact that Craig actually is a very very good actor and you get a great combination of on screen presence. And I have to mention that Ben Whishaw certainly pulls off the Q role perfectly.
Skyfall is a Bond film that, for me, stands alone above the rest. It does a great deal in differentiating itself from the rest of the films and makes sure it is better than Quantum of Solace. The opening sequence, the soundtrack, the title sequence; everything is wonderful. And I deny anyone to at least get a smile on their face when the famous James Bond music kicks in the middle of a scene. Skyfall is full of twists, turns and huge explosions that comes to its conclusion with a fantastic, yet incredibly surprising, ending. Enjoy!
My Rating: 9/10.
Tags: 2012, action, adele, ben whishaw, berenice marlohe, bike chase, blog, bond 23, christopher nolan, daniel craig, entertainment, espionage, film, franchise, gaming, hero, james bond, james bond film, james bond flick, javier bardem, judi dench, M, mgm, movies, naomie harris, news, quantum of solace, Raoul Silva, review, roger moore, sam mendes, sean connery, secret service, shootout, skyfall, spy, the dark knight, transportation, videogames, villain
Disney Looks Set to Win Again: Wreck-It Ralph Trailer
UK Release Date: 15th February 2013.
Stars: Rich Moore (director), John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch.
Plot: A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfil his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
With Disney raking in all the money from Pixar and Marvel these days it seems as though their feature length films will become less frequent and they seem to be focussing more on their animated shorts. However, with the release of Wreck-It Ralph I think Disney will be proving that they haven't lost their touch at all.
Wreck-It Ralph is the latest animated family film from Disney and it seems as though there will be plenty to enjoy. As it is a Disney film you have to sort of expect it to just be a hit commercially anyway. However, I do think that older people, teenagers and young adults will probably get the most from Wreck-It Ralph because it features cameos from video game characters that were popular when this sort of audience were younger.
Among the cameo stars are Bowser from the Super Mario games, Sonic the Hedgehog and his rival Doctor Eggman, Ken and Ryu from Street Fighter,one of the flashing ghosts from Pac-Man: Clyde, Kano from Mortal Kombat, Neff from Altered Beast and the Paperboy. With a rich and vast range of characters I think adults will be more than happy to sit through Wreck-It Ralph.
Obviously with it being Disney you have to imagine that Ralph will leave his 'bad guy' days behind him and become a good guy in his own video game, but even if you know the ending Disney always manages to take you on an unforgettable journey along the way. And that if more important than the ending.
Tags: 2012, altered beast, arcade, blog, bowser, disney, doctor eggman, entertainment, feature length, feature length films, film, gaming, hero, hollywood, jack mcbrayer, jane lynch, john c reilly, marvel, mortal kombat, movies, news, pac man, paperboy, pixar, rich moore, sarah silverman, short film, sonic the hedgehog, street fighter, super mario, super mario games, trailer, video game characters, video games, villain, wreck it ralph
There's a feeling around these parts that these Bondurants is indestructible – Lawless Review
Can Shia LaBeouf really act? How much does Gary Oldman need to be in a film to make a lasting impression? How tough can a man in a cardigan really be? These are all questions that Lawless poses and answers in it's running time. Lawless is a post-western gangster flick based on the novel The Wettest County in the World: during the prohibition era the Bondurant brothers run a liquor bootlegging operation but new crooked Special Deputy Charles Rakes is after a share of the profits. The backbone of the story is the coming of age journey of the youngest brother, Jack Bondurant.
Jack Bondurant is played by Shia LaBeouf and this performance soon put to bed any doubts I had about his ability to be taken serious as an actor, I think that Lawless will be the film that builds the bases for LaBeouf's future audition tapes because he is surprisingly good! However, he isn't good enough to steal the show, despite being the main character. Guy Pearce was the stand out performer among an all star cast as the villain Charles Rakes; Pearce is incredibly good that as the film goes on you just can't help but actually be filled with genuine hate towards his character. Gary Oldman manages to make sure his part of the film, although small, is unforgettable; Oldman pretty much picks up a check for shooting a car to pieces and hitting someone in the face with a shovel. Job done. Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska do their jobs well to stand up well in a very testosterone driven film and the latter is definitely going to steal some hearts with this performance.
Tom Hardy who is having a terrific career puts in a performance just as good as any he has done before. He doesn't have a lot to say as his character, the leader of the Bondurant boys Forrest Bondurant, isn't much of a talker but as everyone soon finds out, if you anger him you will know about it. It is Tom Hardy that really proves that even though a man is wearing a cardigan he can still kick your ass ten times over before you even have time to raise a fist in defence. The real quality of Hardy's performance comes in his timing and delivery which is perfect all the way through the film. There is a running joke (sort of a myth or a legend rather than laugh out loud puns) that the Bondurant boys are invincible, immortal or indestructible and after a few scenes with Forrest Bondurant you certainly believe this to be true.
I have read that the script has been accused of being lazily written in places but I found Lawless to be very well written; it was slow paced that led up to a big ending in the final act with enough action in between to keep everyone happy. Guy Pearce and Shia LaBeouf have a great fight scene which is one of the best and most genuine I have seen for a while. The relationships between the Bondurant brothers and their dynamic is really what makes Lawless interesting and the character development throughout is wonderful.
The final act comes down to what most gangster films end with. A gun fight. A lot of the time I am not a big fan of a shoot out because I don't really find them that exciting, I would much rather see people going toe to toe in hand to hand combat but I found that the amount of care you had invested in the central characters did enough to make the shoot out a riveting watch as you jump around in your seat hoping and praying that none of your favourite characters are going to die and you can do nothing but wish and wish and wish that Pearce's villain finally gets his comeuppance.
Lawless isn't for everyone, but it was certainly for me.
Tags: 2012, action, blog, bondurant, bootlegging, cardigan, character development, entertainment, film, forrest bondurant, gaming, gangster, gangster flick, gary oldman, gun fight, guy pearce, hollywood, howard bondurant, jack bondurant, jessica chastain, lawless, mia wasikowska, moonshine, movies, news, novel, oscars, prohibition era, review, shia labeouf, shootout, the wettest county in the world, tom hardy, villain, western
Let's All Celebrate Cillian Murphy
Filed under: Careers — Leave a comment
Cillian Murphy strikes me as being a very interesting performer; I have seen quite a few of his films and always find his performances enthralling and I consider him to be a fantastic actor. For a time, though, it seemed as though acting would not be Murphy's destination in life as his first real passion for entertaining was music. When in his teens and early twenties he formed a band with his brother, most of their (small scale) successes came while they performed under the name of The Sons of Mr. Greengenes. In 1996 the band were offered a five album record deal by Acid Jazz Records which the Murphy brothers had to turn down because Cillian's brother Paidi was still in school. Murphy went on to attend University College Cork where he studied law and failed his first year exams; the reason being he had 'no ambition to do it' and later admitted that within days of starting the course he knew law wasn't going to be it for him. So he came to be an actor.
Murphy started off his acting career on the stage where he quickly got noticed and then started making several short films and independent films in his home land of Ireland, including On the Edge and How Harry Became a Tree. It was a role in the film version of Disco Pigs (a role that was Murphy's debut on the stage too) that he has to thank for the way his career has panned out afterwards as it was his performance here that brought him to the attention of Danny Boyle. Boyle was looking for someone to cast in the lead role of his film 28 Days Later and Murphy seemed to fit the bill. 28 Days Later subsequently became a hit all over the world and put Murphy in front of the huge crowds he could only ever have imagined. His performance earned rave reviews and Boyle was hailed for finding such a talented unknown actor.
Murphy starred alongside Colin Farrell in Intermission which became the highest grossing Irish film at the Irish box office ever (the record was broken in 2006 but Intermission held it for a while nonetheless) and Murphy also bagged himself supporting roles in his first Hollywood features: Cold Mountain and The Girl With the Pearl Earring. Even with his new found fame and success Murphy still returned to the stage and toured Ireland in theatre roles proving that he still had great affection for his beginnings. Then he got a call that would change anyone's career…
Cillian Murphy was asked to come and audition for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in 2005's Batman Begins. Murphy himself suggested that he knew he wouldn't get the part because he didn't have the physique to play a superhero yet he went and auditioned anyway. Director Christopher Nolan was so impressed with his performance that he cast Cillian Murphy in the role of Dr. Jonathan Crane, Scarecrow, the villain. He also appeared as the villain in Red Eye, a thriller in which he was the antagonist to Rachel McAdams' protagonist. Murphy received huge acclaim for his villainous roles and got himself a handful of nominations at several awards shows.
Making it big in Hollywood didn't change Murphy though and he once again returned to his roots to make Irish film Breakfast on Pluto, in which he played a transgender Irish foundling in search of her mother. Murphy had actually auditioned for the role back in 2001 but director Neil Jordan was hesitant to make the film so soon after his earlier works; Murphy continually tried to get Jordan to make the film before Murphy was too old to play the part and Breakfast on Pluto was eventually made. I think that this shows Murphy has a serious passion for his career and is desperate to take on roles that will not only challenge him as an actor but also challenge that audience's perception of Murphy.
In 2007 Cillian Murphy reteamed with Danny Boyle to make science fiction film Sunshine, in which Murphy had the lead role. This is the first film that I remember seeing Murphy in and actually knowing who he was and it was this performance that led me to search for some of his earlier works because I thought the film was fantastic and Murphy himself was brilliant to watch. Another director who clearly found Murphy a great actor to work with is Christopher Nolan as he not only cast him in his masterpiece Inception but also allowed Murphy to reprise his roles in his Batman sequels: The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.
And even appearing in one of the biggest, most loved and most successful trilogies of all time still can't keep Cillian Murphy away from Ireland as he continues to ply his trade in independent cinema with turns in Perrier's Bounty and Broken. Cillian Murphy is an actor who clearly loves his work and he has a very clear idea of how he wants his career to go as he aims to work with Michel Gondry, Johnny Depp and Meryl Streep. Yet it is amazing that he still remains down to earth, very genuine, humble and homely; despite being friends with fellow Irish actors Colin Farrell and Liam Neeson Murphy's closest friends remain those he had before he became successful, he keeps his private life just that which is why not many people may know him as they should. Best of all, I think, Murphy could have his pick of Hollywood films if he wanted but he won't have because he refuses to move to Los Angeles full time because he doesn't wish to distance himself from his family. What a nice guy!
Tags: 2012, 28 days later, acid jazz records, actor, batman, batman begins, best villain, bill 28, blog, breakfast on pluto, broken, career, christopher nolan, cillian murphy, cold mountain, colin farrell, danny boyle, disco pigs, entertainment, film, hollywood, how harry became a tree, inception, independent, intermission, ireland, johnny depp, jonathan crane, law, liam neeson, los angeles, meryl streep, michel gondry, movies, mr greengenes, music, neil jordan, news, on the edge, oscars, perriers bounty, red eye rachel mcadams, rock band, scarecrow, science fiction, stage, sunshine, the dark knight, the dark knight rises, the girl with the pearl earring, the sons of my greengenes, theatre, transgender, university college cork, villain
Karl Urban. Who? You know, that guy from that film.
Sometimes, appearing in a huge franchise can make you become a household name across the world and the rest of your career becomes easy, but for some actors (and quite often better ones) are forced to play from the sidelines; consistently being a supporting actor and never the main role, this is the case for Karl Urban. Urban is an actor from New Zealand who, despite having gained critical acclaim for films in his homeland he has never been thought of as a leading man for Hollywood, yet unless you have been living on Mars you will have seen him in quite a few of his films, ones that you could even count among your favourites, but you just might now know.
As I mentioned Urban started out working in his home country of New Zealand and here he started out working in the theatre and appearing on television adverts. Karl Urban then got a break after being seen internationally by appearing on the television series' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess in the recurring roles of Cupid and Julius Caesar. After fulfilling his work on television he appeared in an offbeat romance film entitled The Price of Milk for which he received a nomination at the New Zealand Qantas Film and Television Awards; he later appeared in Out of the Blue (2007), a dramatisation of New Zealand's Aramoana massacre and gained positive reaction and the Qantas Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.
So now lets move on to what I know him for: being a supporting actor in a number of franchises. The first of them, and arguably the biggest of all of his films is Lord of the Rings. Now, Lord of the Rings has a huge cast and story that spreads itself over three films so there's no doubt that you're not going to be able to name all of the actors an actresses who were a part of the project, but Karl Urban had a pretty decent role in The Two Towers and Return of the King. Karl Urban played Éomer. Éomer has quite a significant role in the books which is diminished in Peter Jackson's trilogy but he still plays a part. In the films Éomer is made an outcast but is present at the Battle of Helm's Deep as he remains loyal to the King of Rohan, he is also responsible for the death of the leader of the Haradrim. After this part in one of the most successful trilogies of all time you could have forgiven Karl Urban for thinking he was going to have a pretty tasty career.
The final chapter of The Lord of the Rings trilogy was released in 2003 and in 2004 Urban appeared in two more franchises significantly differing in quality. First was The Chronicles of Riddick where Urban plays the villain to Vin Diesel's hero and as such Urban's character dies in the climatic battle scene. This was a first taste of Hollywood films really and an encouraging start although the film itself didn't go down well with critics. Despite this, Urban's next choice was superb. If you missed Karl Urban in Lord of the Rings you may have seen him in The Bourne Supremacy (part of another of the best trilogies of all time). In Supremacy Karl Urban is again the villain playing second fiddle to Matt Damon's hero who everyone loves; Urban was the Russian agent Kirill who killed Marie but inevitably failed in his mission to kill Bourne himself.
In 2007 Karl Urban got a shot at being the leading man in Pathfinder, a Viking adventure film. The film itself lacks in the dialogue area and replaces it with an emphasis on violence, blood and gore… this was probably a reason for the harshly negative reaction to it, however I don't mind the film but it certainly didn't do anything to help Karl Urban's career.
As a childhood fan of Star Trek Urban actively pursued a role in the 2009 reboot.
In 2009 Urban returned to doing what he does best and decided to hang around in the background of another huge blockbuster: Star Trek. This is probably a role that Urban is most famous for to fans across the globe. In JJ Abrams reboot of the famous science fiction series Urban plays Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy who becomes Kirk's first (and pretty much only) friend at Starfleet Academy. As Bones, Urban injected (a nice little pun for those who have seen the film) some comedic moments into Star Trek and his performance is held in high regard by fans of the original series.
After appearing in Red and Priest, Urban gets another chance at being a lead man in a big blockbuster this year in Dredd, a reboot of the 1995 film starring Sylvester Stallone, in which Urban will be playing Judge Dredd. The film itself is being hotly anticipated by fans of the comic book character and it received positive reception at Comic Con which has probably the hardest crowd to please in the world.
At the age of 40 it may be a little late for Karl Urban to make that step to the forefront after being in the secondary roles for so long but it is not unheard of. Urban has a real talent for acting and I have enjoyed every one of his performances that I have seen. In my opinion Karl Urban has not got the recognition or fan base that he deserves but with the Star Trek franchise looking as though it could stretch out easily for a few films then he may get it there or in any upcoming Judge Dredd sequels. He deserves it, that's for sure.
Here's a video of Karl Urban talking about his role in Star Trek and just generally being cool. His colleagues seem to love him too!
Tags: 2012, actor, aramoana massacre, battle of helms deep, blog, captain kirk, career, comic con, cupid, dredd, entertainment, eomer, film, franchise, haradrim, hercules, hercules the legendary journeys, hollywood, jj abrams, judge dredd, julius caeser, karl urban, kirill, lead actor, lord of the rings, mars, matt damon, movies, new zealand, news, offbeat romance, oscars, out of the blue, priest, qantas film and television awards, red, return of the king, rohan, romance, science fiction, sequel, series hercules, star trek, starfleet academy, supporting actor, sylvester stallone, the bourne supremacy, the chronicles of riddick, the legendary journeys, the price of milk, the two towers, trilogy, villain, vin diesel, warrior princess, xena, xena warrior princess
The Best Comic Book Movie Castings?
Casting is a vital part of the film; if you get the wrong actor to play a character it can go horribly wrong and the whole movie could fail because of it. Never is this more true than in the world of comic book movies. Millions of fans all over the world are already in love with the characters before they are brought to the big screen and if you cast someone that the fans are not happy about they will not hold back, you shall know about it! But when casting goes right, it brings out some of the best performances and best characters in the world. Here are my top eight perfectly cast comic book movie characters.
8. Chris Evans as The Human Torch
Known to many comic book fans now as Captain America, Evans made his first appearance in comic book movies in the awful Fantastic Four films. Despite both films being criticised heavily by almost everyone, fans and critics alike, nobody could criticise Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. He outperformed the rest of the cast by a country mile and bought a much needed charm and sense of humour to the role.
7. Ed Norton as Bruce Banner
When it was announced that Ed Norton would not return for The Avengers as Bruce Banner fans were outraged and with good reason. Norton's performance as the troubled scientist who turns into the Incredible Hulk was brilliant. Norton had a lot of hard work to do because of the negative fan reaction to Ang Lee's 2003 interpretation of the character but the casting of Norton and his incredible performance won the hearts of many Hulk fans.
6. J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson
The original Spider-man trilogy, directed by Sam Raimi, may not have been the most perfectly cast Spider-man film in the world but J.K Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson was a masterpiece. He looked identical to the comic book portrayal of the character and fans loved his performance. A highlight of the, soon to be rebooted, Spider-man franchise.
5. Christopher Reeve as Superman
Does this really need explaining? The man IS Superman. There has never been a better Superman before or since on neither the big screen or small screen. Reeve was an excellent casting as the Man of Steel and is still celebrated among comic book fans.
4. Heath Ledger as The Joker
Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his appearance as the Joker and rightfully so. Ledger managed to bring this psychotic vision of The Dark Knight's arch nemesis to the screen and make him genuinely scary. It was a sad loss when he passed away but he will always be remembered as the Joker and one of comic book movie's finest castings.
3. Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl
Many people don't think of Kick-Ass when they think of comic book adaptations but this is where the origins of the story lie. Chloe Moretz is great as the 'hero' Hit Girl. She is a small girl who packs a powerful performance and is the star of Kick Ass without a doubt. She has a huge career ahead of her built on this performance.
2. Patrick Stewart as Professor X
Straight off, Patrick Stewart looks the part, down to a tee. But his performance further proves why he was the perfect choice to play the mentor to the X-men, Professor X. His calm and cool demeanour brought a lot of character to the role and then in the second instalment, X2 (one of the best comic book movies ever made) he was able to show off the emotional side to his character even more. And as well as that, his chemistry with Ian McKellen's Magneto was a joy to behold. A fine casting decision.
1. Robert Downey Jnr. as Tony Stark
The perfect casting of a comic book character if ever there was one. Downey Jnr doesn't just play the character, he actually is Tony Stark. He has the look sorted; he has the charm, the wit, the charisma and you believe his intelligence. Iron Man was the beginning of the whole Marvel Universe which comes together this summer with The Avengers so a lot was riding on this first film and Robert Downey Jnr drew the plaudits right from the offset. Tony Stark came to life in the Iron Man films and made Downey Jnr a household name again; his performance was a joy to behold and I sincerely hope he is Tony Stark for a long time to come.
Ian McKellen – Magneto
Kelsey Grammer – Beast
Ron Perlman – Hellboy
Jackie Earl Haley – Rorschach
Anthony Hopkins – Odin
Tags: 2012, ang lee, anthony hopkins, beast, blog, bruce banner, captain america, chloe moretz, chris evans, chris evans as the human torch, christopher reeve, clark kent, comic book fans, comic book movies, comic books, ed norton, entertainment, fantastic four, film, heath ledger, hellboy, hero, hit girl, hollywood, human torch, ian mckellen, incredible hulk, iron man, j jonah jameson, jackie earl haley, jk simmons, johnny storm, kelsey grammer, kick ass, magneto, man of steel, movies, news, odin, patrick stewart, professor x, robert downey, robert downey jnr, robert downey jr, ron perlman, rorschach, sam raimi, spider man film, Spider-Man, spiderman, superman, the dark knight, the hulk, the joker, tony stark, villain, x-men, x2


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Mexico auctions cars seized from drug lords, others to support poor
Rodriguez Davis
MEXICO CITY — Mexico's government will auction a Lamborghini, homes and other assets seized from gangsters and at least one former politician, officials said on Tuesday, part of a "Robin Hood" program to use millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains to aid the poor.
The first auction, set for Sunday, will seek bids for 77 vehicles with a total starting price of around $1.5 million, Ricardo Rodriguez, head of the newly created Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People, said at a news conference.
"Before, this worked like a reverse Robin Hood … taking from the people and giving to the corrupt. Not anymore," Rodriguez said.
The proceeds will go to two municipalities in the southern state of Oaxaca, which President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said are among the poorest in the country. The vehicles up for auction include Porsches, Corvettes, Mercedes-Benzes, a Mustang convertible and a 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago.
A 2017 report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development noted that recent studies estimated Mexico lost between 5% and 9% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to corruption annually.
Since taking office in December, Lopez Obrador, a leftist, has rolled out a string of welfare programs for the poor and the elderly, cut salaries for top civil servants and said he is saving public money by eliminating corruption. He announced plans for a "Robin Hood" institute in April.
The Mexican president, who has shunned the often luxurious trappings of the country's wealthy elites and was known to drive through the capital in a modest white Volkswagen Jetta, added that two cars and an ambulance donated by the King of Jordan will go to the National Guard, a new security force.
One of the auctions will seek to sell three homes worth at least $7 million, including one with an indoor pool in an upscale Mexico City neighborhood. The money will go towards a youth drug rehabilitation program.
Proceeds from another auction of jewelry seized from organized crime groups will go to communities in the mountains of Guerrero state, where many families struggle to eke out a living by growing opium poppies.
Not all the assets come from drug lords. Rodriguez said one of the homes up for auction belonged to a former politician.
Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon.
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Twenty-year-old Braxton Cook, a sophomore in the College, has been slowly taking over the D.C. jazz scene with his alto saxophone. A regular performer in D.C. jazz clubs, Braxton has received countless accolades for his music: gold medalist at the National ACT-SO competition, NFAA Young Arts finalist, member of the Grammy Jazz Ensemble, to name a few. He has been followed by The Washington Post and has played with legends Wynton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock. Currently, Braxton is deciding whether to accept an offer to study at The Juilliard School of Music in New York City.
In fifth grade I signed up for the trumpet for band and they ran out. My second choice was saxophone. The school ran out of trumpets; I played sax. That's the normal story; the deeper story was when I used to listen to my dad play old show tunes on the alto sax when I was a kid. And that sound kind of caught my ear. In my memory it was great, and that helped me sort of gravitate toward the saxophone.
Not every saxophonist plays jazz though. What was it that got you focusing on that genre in particular?
In high school, when I auditioned for jazz band, the band director said,"No." He cut me and put me in the marching band, and I thought, "This is horrible!" And all the jazz band kids didn't have to do marching band, so I thought, "You know what, I'm gonna get into this jazz band." So I took some time to figure out what I had to do, and went to a summer camp the summer of 10th grade. And that was it. I met my mentor Paul Carr and he put me on to Charlie Parker and all that jazz. Then in 10th grade Marsalis came to our school and told me I sounded good. It's little things like that, because somebody needs to tell you that this is a legitimate path. You have to see people doing that.
Have you been innovative with your own style of jazz?
People have told me that I have a mix of straight ahead and R&B just in my tone and compositions. And that makes sense because that's the music I've grown up on — Motown and Jazz.
Speaking of music you've grown up on, who are your inspirations?
Stevie Wonder. Favorite record: "Songs in the Key of Life." But the thing is, I listen to Stevie, I don't study him. I don't listen to his tracks ten times over, repeating the same sections and learning the instrumentals. I study jazz. But Stevie, Marvin Gaye and then with instrumentalists — teachers, musical inspirations — John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley.
Are you still learning formally?
I'm not taking any actual classes anymore. The best learning comes from your peers and records. Playing at gigs, coming up with your own workout. The good thing about D.C. is that it's a pretty live music scene and accepts younger musicians. But at the same time, that's why I'm thinking about going to Juilliard: to get some concrete direction. And in New York, the possibilities are endless.
You can't just come out the womb and magically play notes. You have to practice and master the instrument and master the pitch, learn the jazz language like any other language. It's a lot of hard work. And with jazz specifically, you can't not give it your all. It's rude and disrespectful because this music is about history and musicians who've come before you and the circumstances they've been through. You have to connect to that, which is why I don't think jazz is for everybody. But at the same time, the genre is so broad, that there are always conversations about what is jazz.
You're a decorated musician at a young age — what elevated you above your musical peers?
I love to work at it. Where some people see it as work, it's more fun to me. It still is. It never became work. I don't count the hours. I forget time during practice because it's so much fun. I love it.
You can catch Braxton Cook at the Dupont 18th Street Lounge on Saturday nights from 11 p.m. – 2 a.m. He also regularly performs at Twins Jazz on U Street with the Braxton Cook Quartet.


text:
Giovanni Carlo Bovio (Brindisi, 3 januari 1522 – Ostuni, september 1570) was bisschop van Ostuni (1550-1564) en aartsbisschop van Brindisi (1564-1570), twee bisdommen in het koninkrijk Napels. Napels was een koninkrijk in Zuid-Italië bestuurd door de Spaanse Habsburgers. Bovio behaalde bekendheid door zijn deelname aan het Concilie van Trente in de jaren 1562-1563; dit concilie had als doel de Contrareformatie formeel neer te schrijven, als reactie op het protestantisme in West-Europa.

Levensloop

Bovio werd geboren als zoon van Andrea Bovia, een militair, en Giulia Fornari, in het koninkrijk Napels. Zijn kerkelijke carrière begon in 1535, aan de leeftijd van dertien jaar, als aartsdiaken in het bisdom Monopoli. Zijn ouders stuurden hem naar de universiteit van Bologna. In 1546 werd hij coadjutor met het recht zijn oom Pietro Bovio, de bisschop van Ostuni, op te volgen. Dit leidde naar de bisschopsbenoeming in het jaar 1550, nadat zijn oom afgetreden was. Bovio maakte zijn studies in Bologna af door te doctoreren zowel in het kerkelijk recht als in de theologie kort nadien, in het jaar 1552. In 1558 ontving bisschop Bovio de bisschopswijding.

In 1562 trok bisschop Bovio naar Trente voor het Concilie. Hij liet er zich eerst opmerken door zijn tussenkomsten voor een catechismus en voor een index van verboden boeken. Het discussiethema waarmee hij in Trente het meest opviel was de residentieplicht van bisschoppen. Bovio was een heftige voorstander. Dit lag niet bij alle bisschoppen goed want velen onder hen kregen van de paus dispensatie om buiten de bisschopsstad te wonen. De pauselijke legaten in Trente zagen Bovio als een oproerkraaier tegen de paus. Bovio kreeg het lastig en kreeg het verwijt te horen dat hij Spaanse standpunten doordrukte om promotie te kunnen maken tot aartsbisschop van Brindisi. Bovio omschreef de residentieplicht voor een bisschop als een goddelijk recht. Bovendien ging Bovio verder te keer tegen Rome door te pleiten voor een terugkeer naar de Kerk van de eerste christenen. Hieronder verstond hij meer macht voor de lokale bisschop. Bovio gebruikte als kerkjurist de term Ecclesiae primitivae forma of de vorm van de primitieve Kerk. Deze term legde hij uit in lezingen en geschriften op het Concilie van Trente. Hij citeerde hierbij kerkvaders en paus Clemens I, de vierde paus van Rome, en een keer zelfs, citeerde hij Homeros die het gezag van Zeus (de paus) in vraag stelde.

Kardinaal Michele Ghislieri verbood Bovio's publicaties in de steden Trente en Rome. Bovio publiceerde dan maar in Venetië (1563) en nadien in Lyon en Parijs (1564). Het Concilie aanvaardde uiteindelijk de residentieplicht van bisschoppen. Koning Filips II van Spanje beloonde Bovio met het aartsbisdom Brindisi (1564).

Als aartsbisschop van Brindisi hamerde Bovio op de kerkhervorming van Trente. Misbruiken pakte hij aan. Dit maakte Bovio onpopulair en Bovio zag zich verplicht buiten Brindisi te wonen. Hij bouwde een aartsbisschoppelijk paleis in Oria, waar hij resideerde. Oria was na de Normandische verovering van Zuid-Italië een afgeschafte bisschopszetel in het aartsbisdom Brindisi. Bovio stierf in Ostuni, zijn vroegere bisschopsstad, en werd begraven in de ex-kathedraal van Oria. Formeel was hij tot zijn dood aartsbisschop van Brindisi geweest.

Italiaans jurist
Aartsbisschop van Brindisi
16e-eeuws bisschop

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


At Domaine Carneros, we employ méthode traditionelle practices to produce our sparkling wines.
We are passionate about Pinot! Celebrating 25 years producing Carneros Pinot Noir.
Estate Chardonnay, Rosé, and other exclusive, limited-production still wines.


> "ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:802:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave"
> But the program plays sound with good quality --- that time only.
I killed my sound daemon (esd), then I ran an Allegro program which managed to play sounds.
I loaded back esd but the sounds from my window manager didn't come back.
I tried an SDL program and got the same message as above, and no sound at all.


text:
package org.gnucash.android.ui.report;

import android.content.res.ColorStateList;
import android.os.Build;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.support.annotation.Nullable;
import android.support.v4.app.FragmentManager;
import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
import android.support.v4.view.ViewCompat;
import android.support.v7.widget.AppCompatButton;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.TextView;

import com.github.mikephil.charting.charts.PieChart;
import com.github.mikephil.charting.components.Legend;
import com.github.mikephil.charting.components.Legend.LegendForm;
import com.github.mikephil.charting.data.Entry;
import com.github.mikephil.charting.data.PieData;
import com.github.mikephil.charting.data.PieDataSet;

import org.gnucash.android.R;
import org.gnucash.android.db.adapter.AccountsDbAdapter;
import org.gnucash.android.model.Account;
import org.gnucash.android.model.AccountType;
import org.gnucash.android.model.Money;
import org.gnucash.android.ui.report.barchart.StackedBarChartFragment;
import org.gnucash.android.ui.report.linechart.CashFlowLineChartFragment;
import org.gnucash.android.ui.report.piechart.PieChartFragment;
import org.gnucash.android.ui.report.sheet.BalanceSheetFragment;
import org.gnucash.android.ui.transaction.TransactionsActivity;
import org.joda.time.LocalDate;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;

import butterknife.BindView;
import butterknife.OnClick;

import static com.github.mikephil.charting.components.Legend.LegendPosition;

/**
 * Shows a summary of reports
 * @author Ngewi Fet <ngewif@gmail.com>
 */
public class ReportsOverviewFragment extends BaseReportFragment {

    public static final int LEGEND_TEXT_SIZE = 14;

    @BindView(R.id.btn_pie_chart) Button mPieChartButton;
    @BindView(R.id.btn_bar_chart) Button mBarChartButton;
    @BindView(R.id.btn_line_chart) Button mLineChartButton;
    @BindView(R.id.btn_balance_sheet) Button mBalanceSheetButton;

    @BindView(R.id.pie_chart) PieChart mChart;
    @BindView(R.id.total_assets) TextView mTotalAssets;
    @BindView(R.id.total_liabilities) TextView mTotalLiabilities;
    @BindView(R.id.net_worth) TextView mNetWorth;

    private AccountsDbAdapter mAccountsDbAdapter;
    private Money mAssetsBalance;
    private Money mLiabilitiesBalance;

    private boolean mChartHasData = false;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        mAccountsDbAdapter = AccountsDbAdapter.getInstance();
    }

    @Override
    public int getLayoutResource() {
        return R.layout.fragment_report_summary;
    }

    @Override
    public int getTitle() {
        return R.string.title_reports;
    }

    @Override
    public ReportType getReportType() {
        return ReportType.NONE;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean requiresAccountTypeOptions() {
        return false;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean requiresTimeRangeOptions() {
        return false;
    }

    @Override
    public void onActivityCreated(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onActivityCreated(savedInstanceState);

        setHasOptionsMenu(false);

        mChart.setCenterTextSize(PieChartFragment.CENTER_TEXT_SIZE);
        mChart.setDescription("");
        mChart.setDrawSliceText(false);
        Legend legend = mChart.getLegend();
        legend.setEnabled(true);
        legend.setWordWrapEnabled(true);
        legend.setForm(LegendForm.CIRCLE);
        legend.setPosition(LegendPosition.RIGHT_OF_CHART_CENTER);
        legend.setTextSize(LEGEND_TEXT_SIZE);

        ColorStateList csl = new ColorStateList(new int[][]{new int[0]}, new int[]{ContextCompat.getColor(getContext(), R.color.account_green)});
        setButtonTint(mPieChartButton, csl);
        csl = new ColorStateList(new int[][]{new int[0]}, new int[]{ContextCompat.getColor(getContext(), R.color.account_red)});
        setButtonTint(mBarChartButton, csl);
        csl = new ColorStateList(new int[][]{new int[0]}, new int[]{ContextCompat.getColor(getContext(), R.color.account_blue)});
        setButtonTint(mLineChartButton, csl);
        csl = new ColorStateList(new int[][]{new int[0]}, new int[]{ContextCompat.getColor(getContext(), R.color.account_purple)});
        setButtonTint(mBalanceSheetButton, csl);
    }

    @Override
    public void onPrepareOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
        menu.findItem(R.id.menu_group_reports_by).setVisible(false);
    }

    @Override
    protected void generateReport() {
        PieData pieData = PieChartFragment.groupSmallerSlices(getData(), getActivity());
        if (pieData != null && pieData.getYValCount() != 0) {
            mChart.setData(pieData);
            float sum = mChart.getData().getYValueSum();
            String total = getResources().getString(R.string.label_chart_total);
            String currencySymbol = mCommodity.getSymbol();
            mChart.setCenterText(String.format(PieChartFragment.TOTAL_VALUE_LABEL_PATTERN, total, sum, currencySymbol));
            mChartHasData = true;
        } else {
            mChart.setData(getEmptyData());
            mChart.setCenterText(getResources().getString(R.string.label_chart_no_data));
            mChart.getLegend().setEnabled(false);
            mChartHasData = false;
        }

        List<AccountType> accountTypes = new ArrayList<>();
        accountTypes.add(AccountType.ASSET);
        accountTypes.add(AccountType.CASH);
        accountTypes.add(AccountType.BANK);
        mAssetsBalance = mAccountsDbAdapter.getAccountBalance(accountTypes, -1, System.currentTimeMillis());

        accountTypes.clear();
        accountTypes.add(AccountType.LIABILITY);
        accountTypes.add(AccountType.CREDIT);
        mLiabilitiesBalance = mAccountsDbAdapter.getAccountBalance(accountTypes, -1, System.currentTimeMillis());
    }

    /**
     * Returns {@code PieData} instance with data entries, colors and labels
     * @return {@code PieData} instance
     */
    private PieData getData() {
        PieDataSet dataSet = new PieDataSet(null, "");
        List<String> labels = new ArrayList<>();
        List<Integer> colors = new ArrayList<>();
        for (Account account : mAccountsDbAdapter.getSimpleAccountList()) {
            if (account.getAccountType() == AccountType.EXPENSE
                    && !account.isPlaceholderAccount()
                    && account.getCommodity().equals(mCommodity)) {

                long start = new LocalDate().minusMonths(2).dayOfMonth().withMinimumValue().toDate().getTime();
                long end = new LocalDate().plusDays(1).toDate().getTime();
                double balance = mAccountsDbAdapter.getAccountsBalance(
                        Collections.singletonList(account.getUID()), start, end).asDouble();
                if (balance > 0) {
                    dataSet.addEntry(new Entry((float) balance, dataSet.getEntryCount()));
                    colors.add(account.getColor() != Account.DEFAULT_COLOR
                            ? account.getColor()
                            : ReportsActivity.COLORS[(dataSet.getEntryCount() - 1) % ReportsActivity.COLORS.length]);
                    labels.add(account.getName());
                }
            }
        }
        dataSet.setColors(colors);
        dataSet.setSliceSpace(PieChartFragment.SPACE_BETWEEN_SLICES);
        return new PieData(labels, dataSet);
    }

    @Override
    protected void displayReport() {
        if (mChartHasData){
            mChart.animateXY(1800, 1800);
            mChart.setTouchEnabled(true);
        } else {
            mChart.setTouchEnabled(false);
        }
        mChart.highlightValues(null);
        mChart.invalidate();

        TransactionsActivity.displayBalance(mTotalAssets, mAssetsBalance);
        TransactionsActivity.displayBalance(mTotalLiabilities, mLiabilitiesBalance);
        TransactionsActivity.displayBalance(mNetWorth, mAssetsBalance.subtract(mLiabilitiesBalance));
    }

    /**
     * Returns a data object that represents situation when no user data available
     * @return a {@code PieData} instance for situation when no user data available
     */
    private PieData getEmptyData() {
        PieDataSet dataSet = new PieDataSet(null, getResources().getString(R.string.label_chart_no_data));
        dataSet.addEntry(new Entry(1, 0));
        dataSet.setColor(PieChartFragment.NO_DATA_COLOR);
        dataSet.setDrawValues(false);
        return new PieData(Collections.singletonList(""), dataSet);
    }

    @OnClick({R.id.btn_bar_chart, R.id.btn_pie_chart, R.id.btn_line_chart, R.id.btn_balance_sheet})
    public void onClickChartTypeButton(View view){
        BaseReportFragment fragment;
        switch (view.getId()){
            case R.id.btn_pie_chart:
                fragment = new PieChartFragment();
                break;
            case R.id.btn_bar_chart:
                fragment = new StackedBarChartFragment();
                break;
            case R.id.btn_line_chart:
                fragment = new CashFlowLineChartFragment();
                break;
            case R.id.btn_balance_sheet:
                fragment = new BalanceSheetFragment();
                break;
            default:
                fragment = this;
                break;
        }
        FragmentManager fragmentManager = getActivity().getSupportFragmentManager();
        fragmentManager.beginTransaction()
                .replace(R.id.fragment_container, fragment)
                .commit();
    }

    public void setButtonTint(Button button, ColorStateList tint) {
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT == Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP && button instanceof AppCompatButton) {
            ((AppCompatButton) button).setSupportBackgroundTintList(tint);
        } else {
            ViewCompat.setBackgroundTintList(button, tint);
        }
        button.setTextColor(ContextCompat.getColor(getContext(), android.R.color.white));
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Archive for category: Knowledge Base
What is Sage Drive?
What is Sage Drive ? Many clients ask "What is Sage Drive?" Designed to allow a user to work from home or a bookkeeper or accountant to access and work…
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I reconciled my bank account last week. Now I see that my matched balance has changed – what has happened?
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Configuring anti-virus software
How to configure your anti-virus software not to conflict with Sage.
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Logon Problems
How to remove the message: 'Username in use - the program cannot connect you at this time'.
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Return of Trading Details
In the Republic of Ireland, all VAT registered traders must submit an annual return of trading details on form RTD EUR. This return was introduced by the…
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Debtors and Creditors Report
Reasons why the Debtors or Creditors Control Accounts do not agree with the aged debtors or creditors reports, and how to take corrective action As part…
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Sage 50 VAT Returns
First Step: Setting up your TAX CODES By default they are set up for the UK Vat system so this is one of the first things we need to change in Sage 50…
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How to use the Search Option
To do a basic search use the Quick Search option which will look up the relevant word for you e.g. John and click Quick search in Customers Module, this…
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Data Corruption in Sage 50
What is data corruption? Data corruption in Sage means that errors have occurred in the underlying database which stores all your financial data. Corrupt…
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How to run the Year End?
Running your Sage 50 year end routine is simple and takes care of all your financial year end accounting. Once you have prepared by posting your final…
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Canadian Cancer Statistics 2017 will be released on June 20, 2017, at 3:01 a.m. Eastern standard time. This annual publication presents information on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival as well as other measures for the most common types of cancers. The burden of pancreatic cancer in Canada is a special topic in this year's publication.
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2017 was prepared through a partnership between Statistics Canada, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and provincial and territorial cancer registries. For more information about Canadian Cancer Statistics 2017, visit www.cancer.ca/statistics.
For media inquiries about Canadian Cancer Statistics 2017 publication, contact the Canadian Cancer Society (416-934-5338; rosie.hales@cancer.ca).


Recently, it seems like I have been privy to a relatively high number of insureds asked by their carrier, following a loss, to submit to an examination under oath (commonly referred to as an EUO). The most common question I received was, "Can I just choose not to answer or attend?" Although the choice is ultimately the insureds and the ramifications of refusal vary by justification, when dealing with Arizona insureds, I generally advise against such blanket refusals.
In short, yes, provided that the insurance company can articulate a basis to show that the question is material and relevant to its investigation and potential liability.
An EUO can be a trap for the unwary, and insureds should be careful when submitting to an EUO. If unsure or uncertain, an insured should consult with (and/or retain) a knowledgeable insurance attorney before providing sworn testimony to the carrier.
1 Home Ins. Co. v. Balfour-Guthrie Ins. Co., 13 Ariz. App. 327, 328-329, 476 P.2d 533 534-535 (App. 1970).
2 Warrilow v. Superior Court of Arizona for the County of Pima, 142 Ariz. 250, 253, 689 P.2d 193, 197 (App. 1984).
3 Warrilow, 142 Ariz. at 254, 689 P.2d at 198 (the "compulsion" to respond arose not from any governmental action, but rather solely from the terms of the parties' contract).
4 Twin City Fire Ins. Co. v. Harvey, 662 F.Supp. 216 (D. Ariz. 1987).
I personally don't see anything wrong w/an Insured submitting to an Insurance Company's request for an Examination Under Oath ("EUO") if – of course – the policy makes it a condition precedent to recovery. The carrier is usually looking for various ways to low-ball, stone-wall, deny, etc., an Insured's claim, so submitting to an EUO where required is prudent. The Insured should be properly prepared and have the proper documentation to support its claim.


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Sipping the Kool-Aid
by Caleb
I just started here at Carrot, but my experience with the company began long ago...
...over five years ago, to be exact, when I was studying graphic design at Indiana University. On one of those countless nights at the library, I was crawling the web for resources on brand identity and came across Just Creative, a blog about just that. It turned out that the blog was run by Jacob Cass, an employee at Carrot, a creative shop in NYC. That's cool. Seed planted.
I graduated college and landed my first job at a NYC-based agency. As anybody who's moved to NYC knows, it's a rush. You're basically on crack. There were so many like-minds who were also excited about the possibilities that lay at the intersection of creative marketing and digital media. It wasn't long before I ran into Chris Petescia and a number of other Carrots at Digital Dumbo (they roll deep). Nice people. +1.
Only a couple of years later and I was already on a fast track towards becoming yet another jaded advertising exec. I'd been at several shops and the work just wasn't rewarding. That's when I ran into Mitch Kapler, an ex-Hollywood hustler who also had more ambition than his 9-5 job could pay off on. We started the side hustle, landed some sweet gigs, launched an iPad magazine... and then he joined Carrot. WTF!
It started to feel like Carrot was everywhere. I ran into their people out in the city and at parties. The entire time I'm thinking, what is the deal with these guys and their Twitter avatars? They must be drinking some serious kool-aid over there in DUMBO.
Year five in the city: It's a big benchmark. You're no longer on that NYC high; the honeymoon is long gone; but there's really no where better to go. Where are you supposed to go? I flirted with Los Angeles, San Francisco, even Detroit, but none of them were right. Instead I moved to Brooklyn, a compromise and personal memo to start a fresh phase in the city. And that's right around the time that RG, Carrot's strategy director, hit me up. We had chatted casually before, but this time he had an opportunity... and I jumped on it. The timing was just right. Part of this new phase in NYC was a goal to distance myself from companies where turnovers and layoffs are not only the norm, they are an epidemic. I wanted to be somewhere that values culture, where people are a priority, and where all of that leads to better work.
Carrot radiates of all of these things, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it's exactly this that has made them successful and will make them even more successful in the longterm. Now, after all of these years of being on the periphery, I'm excited to say that I'm part of the Carrot family, as a senior strategist, and am honored to be taking a sip of that kool aid. I even have my very own Twitter avatar!
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The Rector Set | Pete Myall
Growing up in middle-class Britain, it's easy to fall in love with the Liberal Democrat way of life. The promise of great change without messy revolution, quietly radical and faintly utopian, proves a strong draw to those who awaken to find that the world isn't as it should be. And perhaps one of their greatest talents as a party is finding leaders to represent this philosophy: far from the fire and brimstone and smug pandering of those on either side of them, they're seen as Dumbledore figures, separate from and slightly amused by the devious goings-on of authoritative and paternal British politics.
Charles Kennedy is a shrewd and very clever politician who took the Liberal Democrats from strength to strength, to the point where they constantly seemed one lucky break away, just one more Tory scandal, one last push to become the official opposition, and to stand a chance of becoming the first non-Tory or Labour party to be in power in 85 years.
Of course, this never quite panned out. He was forced to make his drinking problem – the worst kept secret in Westminster – public, and over three days his party made it increasingly clear that they would not operate under his leadership. He resigned to the back benches, and his party never quite recovered.
Addiction or not, he has strong links with Glasgow University and his legacy is unassailable: president of the GU in 1980, British Observer Mace university debating award champion, MP at 23, leader of his party for eight years, and even after his resignation, one of the most respected politicians in recent history. The reaction to his disclosure was testament to the level of affection he even now maintains – "Oh, Charlie", was the general response, as if he was a teenager sneaking in late and drunk. We pinched his cheek and sent him on his way. He's smart, with a keen sense of public image and an unerring ability to make it seem as if disagreeing with him was never even an option.
And now he wants to be your rector.
Meeting Kennedy in person is an oddly familiar experience. All the customary meeting-someone-famous tropes are present: he's slightly shorter than you'd think, slightly older-looking; his schoolboyish flash of red hair is beginning to recede. But all the words and mannerisms are there: over the 25 years that he's been in public office, he's honed his manner of speaking into a precise weapon, being disarming when he wants to be, incisive when he needs to be, and candid, well, nearly never. Give him a topic and he'll dance round it, speaking meticulously and without hesitation, like he's reading from a well-rehearsed script. You have to keep reminding yourself that you're not watching him on television.
Running for rector seems to be an odd sideways move in a long career in mainstream politics. Not that odd, he insists. "I do know from my dealings over the years with campus that there is a big entry for rector at the moment and for a working rector, who's treating it, if you like, as being the constituency MP for the student body as a whole," he says. "Also, given the fact that I am a Westminster MP… If there are bigger problems that are coming up for Glasgow University, and it doesn't feel that its needs are being sufficiently being taken into account, then that is something that you have a legislative platform to articulate, and I'd want to use that opportunity if that was required."
Some have suggested that his party allegiance might affect his time in the rectorship. Many people might be put off by the previous rectorship of Mordechai Vanunu, nominated and elected for political reasons, despite being under house arrest in Israel for his entire tenure. Could the rector, the representative of the students to the university court, really be said to represent everyone if he was espousing social democrat politics in Westminster every other day?
"Obviously, being a candidate, I would hope that people who were Liberal Democrats might feel inclined to support me, there's no doubt about that," he says. "But I think that that's very different from using it as a party political platform. When we see who all the candidates are in a few weeks or at the end of January, we will see to what extent some might regard this as a party political referendum, or vote. Now that's now how I'm approaching it or regarding it, either the election, or if I was successful the job that then follows."
Again, a seasoned politician, precise and concise. But not a politician with any real ambition of working his way back up to the top, despite speculation. The hardest thing to draw out of a politician is a straight answer, and here Kennedy specialises: he has never said outright that he never wants to run for the leadership of his party again."Any time I've been asked, I've said look, I'm quite happy with the role that I've got in a party sense; I'm quite happy, I'm not seeking other positions or titles or handles or anything like that. But it is a wise thing in life never to say never."
This is when I bring up the subject of his resignation. And completely imperceptibly, the Kennedy PR machine shifts into high gear.
What is it like, being the victim of a political scandal?
"Controversy," he corrects. "There's a difference, I think." I guess there is. If you think you're in a controversy, then you think you're right.
"You know, as I said, I've been in politics for a long time and you go in with your eyes open, and you just know that things blow from time to time to time, things get plastered across newspapers from time to time and so on and so forth. It's never been my experience, I'd have to tell you, that not being leader of the party, or the circumstances I made clear at the time that I decided to stand down as leader of the party, that that has really in any way held me back politically. I don't think it has at all. That's my honest view, based on my experience."
So do you think it's possible to be the leader of a major political party and an alcoholic?
"I think, yes, I think it can be done, actually. You have to define the word alcoholism…"
How would you define it?
"I would say that I took advice for what I would recognise had become a drink problem. Whether people would define that as alcoholism I do not know. I think there's no set formula. I think I got about… a combination of letters and emails, something in the region of 8,000 – 10,000 at the time that I stood down, and no two people's experiences I took out of reading every single one of them are in any way the same. So I don't think I can really sit and say that's a definition of anything."
If you feel that way, then why resign?
"Oh, well, quite straightforwardly, it was a parliamentary decision – it had become clear that there were a sufficient number that may or may not have been a majority, because I had already taken the decision by that point. But there was a sufficient number of parliamentary colleagues who felt that they didn't want to continue in posts under my leadership. Well, if that happens you have to have a straightforward recognition of reality, so it becomes a very easy decision, as a matter of fact."
Of course, this is Kennedy's version of events. It's the carefully-constructed tale of Charlie the Angel, cultivated by press managers and spin doctors; the story of a great politician who enjoyed a drink, probably still does in moderation, who unfortunately found himself in a position where he could not effectively run the party to which he still had so much to give. But there's also the story of Charlie the Devil, spread by tabloids and enemies, portraying him as a drink-sozzled wreck who was too drunk at times even to attend important budget debates, a man so far fallen to his vice that his closest friends in parliament had to take him down for his own good and for the good of the party. Obviously, neither is completely true, but both entertain a ring of plausibility, and both are going to be repeated ad nauseum over the coming weeks and months of the election campaign; his relationship with drink will probably be the issue that settles the vote one way or the other. Charlie's going to read you a story. And, like all things in politics, it doesn't matter if it's true or not. But what you believe will have a huge effect on the way campus is run over the next three years. It's up to you to decide.


With 6 Years Experience in ASP.NET , 4 year Experience in Oracle Database SQL and 2 Year Experience in Microsoft SQL Server SQL.
Company Name: SISL Infotech Pvt Ltd , Velocis Systems Pvt Ltd ,IAP Company Pvt. Ltd.
Description:- Core Treasury System (CTS) web portal is designed and developed to provide user interface to various users of treasury department in the state .This portal provides real time data of treasury transactions on central data server through dedicated lease line connecting all 91 Treasuries/Sub Treasuries across the state. Department of Finance, Secretaries, Treasuries, Head of Departments, Finance Controllers, Bankers, RBI, CCL, PLA, Autonomous Bodies, Employees and Pensioners can get instant information through internet by using their login and password. This will help more than 4345 DDO's of the state to reconcile the receipt and payment details with treasury figures. More than 120 HODs will be benefited to get their grant/scheme wise progressive expenditure / Budget details.
Company Name: GLOBE PUBLICATION PVT. LTD.
Development work in ASP.NET, VB.net.
Description: – The Birdres is a system that will be used by travel agent(s) for booking their Flights,Rail,Cinema,Hotels,Mobile Recharge,Calling Card,Segway,Cruise,Charter Service,Coaches,Visas and making customers to make booking by travel Agents online by searching as per criteria.
B-Tech (2006-10) with specialization in Computer Science & Engg.
Completed B-Tech with 68% marks in 2010.
Institute: Dev Bhoomi Institute of Technology, Dehradun affiliated to UKTU (Uttarakhand).