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PVA in the News
Bank of Hawaii Mililani Wins Kukulu Hale Award
The 2021 NAIOP Kukulu Hale Awards celebrated the synergy of Peter Vincent Architects and Bank of Hawaii in the New Project Category. The new Bank of Hawaii Mililani Branch at the Town Center of Mililani, is a celebration of team effort and resilience in the midst of a global pandemic. The 4,057-square-foot space is the 11th of the Bank's "Branch of Tomorrow" concept, replacing a former location that was too small for it's customers. The new branch provides a dynamic space that celebrates their 50 years in the Mililani community, with a design inspired by the vivid constellations and thousands of stars that brighten up the clear night sky in Mililani. The team met an aggressive schedule, while responding to construction, supply, labor and pandemic related challenges. The project was on time and on budget, in spite of the challenges faced, and was a true crowning achievement and testimony to the dedication and efforts of the entire team.
Read about this award-winning project in Hawaii Business Kukulu Award Insert by clicking here.
2021 BIA Awards: PVA and MHPB win for Multi-generational Residence
AIA Honolulu - Spreading Holiday Cheer
© 2020 Peter Vincent Architects.
Site designed & developed by Wall-to-Wall Studios.


Several keys can be found in Lothric, some of which are required to progress through the game, some just to open convenient shortcuts or optional areas.
Unlocks Greirat's cell in the High Wall of Lothric.
Found in a room in the building next to the Tower on the Wall bonfire.
Unlocks the lever in the library behind the Corvian Settlement in the Painted World of Ariandel.
Reward for defeating Sir Vilhelm.
Unlocks the entrance to the Grand Archives.
Found right in front of the entrance to the Grand Archives.
Opens a door in the sewer of the Undead Settlement.
Sold by the Shrine Handmaid for 1,500 souls after returning the Mortician's Ashes.
Opens a shortcut inside the Irithyll Dungeon.
Found in the Irithyll Dungeon, in a cell on the opposing side of the Irithyll Dungeon bonfire.
Opens several cells in the Irithyll Dungeon, including Karla's.
Found in a secret passage in the Irithyll Dungeon that can be reached from the Profaned Capital.
Unlocks the door to the elevator shaft below the Tower on the Wall bonfire.
Received from Ringfinger Leonhard after acquiring a Pale Tongue.
Unlocks Siegward of Catarina's cell in the Irithyll Dungeon.
Found in the sewer section of the Irithyll Dungeon.
Unlocks the door to the small tower behind the Firelink Shrine.
Can be bought from the Shrine Handmaid for 20,000 souls.


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High Schooler Flips Over Catcher Mid-Slide for Winning Run
Duke Adds No. 3 Player in America to 2021 Class
Joe Grobeck, August 25, 2020 1:58 pm
Ohio State Swipes Top-10 Recruit Out of Florida
4-Star WR Could Be FSU's Next Big Playmaker
Texas A&M's First 2022 Commit is a 230-Pound DE Beast
Matt Kovitz, January 19, 2021 3:04 pm
YouTube: Al Ward
Long, lean, and spry forwards who can shoot are the model for modern basketball. This evolution in the game even convinced the Houston Rockets to abandon centers altogether.
Paolo Banchero of O'Dea High School in Seattle, Washington, fits the mold. The Italian basketball player can work in the post or step beyond the arc — Two attributes equipped to succeed in the NBA.
Paolo Banchero's Highlights
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward is too quick for bigs and too big for guards. If a frontcourt defender is on him, he'll blow by them towards the rim where he has consistent finishing ability. He converts with solid touch — possessing the capability to adjust in the air — or more authoritatively with dunks.
Banchero can shoot from the outside off the catch or dribble. His high release makes it hard to contest. If the three-point shot isn't there, the five-star recruit has a nice midrange game. The Seattle-product is patient and takes his time in evaluating the floor. He delivers on-the-money passes to cutting teammates and can lead the fast break. His handles are controlled in space.
The high school standout monitors the glass and pounces on the ball. He's reliable in snatching a board in clutch situations. Defensively, his long wingspan allows him to chase down blocks in transition, and he's athletic enough to guard multiple positions.
His frame reminds me of Jayson Tatum — Broad shoulders supplemented by a defined build. Although, Banchero is more of a post player than Tatum.
Paolo Banchero Recruiting
RELATED: 'Phi Slama Jama' Made Dunking an Art Form
The O'Dea forward is the third-ranked player in the 2021 recruiting class per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He narrowed his choices down to six finalists in late April 2020. Panchero's list includes Kentucky, Washington, Gonzaga, Arizona, Tennessee, and Duke.
He held a virtual visit with the Arizona Wildcats this May. Coach K and the Blue Devils hosted Banchero on an official visit in October 2019, then again virtually in April.
☏⁶ pic.twitter.com/GT0yiAJkeJ
— Paolo (Paul-Oh)🇮🇹 (@Pp_doesit) April 29, 2020
According to 247Sports' Crystal Ball Predictions, Banchero is leaning towards playing college basketball at Washington or Kentucky. UK head coach John Calipari conducted a second virtual visit with Banchero in June. Something to remember: Banchero's parents both were Huskies.
The senior-to-be projects high on 2022 NBA Draft Boards. NBADraftRoom.com ranks Banchero as the fifth-rated prospect behind the likes of Emoni Bates and Chet Holmgren. With number one 2021 recruit Jonathan Kuminga reclassifying to the class of 2020 and gravitating towards the G-League, Banchero has the potential to snag the top spot in the class as the season progresses.
UPDATE (August 25, 2020): With uncertainty hanging over the 2020-21 high school basketball season, Banchero announced via Twitter that he intends on playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
The decision came without much warning, but Banchero told ESPN's Paul Biancardi on Instagram Live, "I knew and I wanted to announce it. I did not want to waste any time."
End Of The Beginning…COMMITTED💙😈 pic.twitter.com/Jrr1rMy5zB
— Paolo (Paul-Oh)🇮🇹 (@Pp_doesit) August 20, 2020
This article was originally published June 12, 2020. It's been updated to track Paolo Banchero's recruitment.
MORE: Jabari Smith Jr., Class of 2021 PF, Weighing Multiple SEC Offers
About the author: Joe Grobeck, The League
Joe is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and lives in Austin, Texas. He believes Ndaumkong Suh should've won the 2009 Heisman and is an avid basketball fan.
Coach K
John Calipari

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: Problems with deploying Kohana to a cloud machine - 404 I have uploaded all my project files onto my cloud machine in the drectory /var/www/html/.
When I visit the IP address of this machine through a browser, it shows me the expected page, which routes to MyCtrl/index.
However, if I manually go to IPAddr/MyCtrl/index, I get an apache server 404 error.
None of the other routes work either. eg. IPAddr/MyCtrl/someOtherAction results in a 404 as well.
The fact that the homepage loads means that the default configuration for MyCtrl/index is working, but maybe URL rewriting is not being done right?
Can someone tell me whether the problem is with my bootstrap.php file or with my .htaccess file, along with a possible fix?
It's the first time I'm deplying an application onto a cloud machine, so I'm not really sure what the problem is.

A: So if anyone has the same issue, here's the fix:
(This is considering that all project files are in /var/www/html/
Changes have to be made in /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
From:
<Directory /var/www/>
    Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride None
    Require all granted
</Directory>

To:
<Directory /var/www/>
    Options All
    AllowOverride All
    Require all granted
</Directory>

This answer helped me out:
Kohana The requested URL /home was not found on this server

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


You can now create launch configurations for profile and release modes for Flutter apps. For now, this requires you to create a launch.json and set the flutterMode argument.
For more information on using profile and release modes, see Running Flutter Apps in Profile or Release Modes.
When running a profile build (or if you set showMemoryUsage in your launch configuration) the total memory for your applications heaps will be shown in the status bar.
Note: This is heap usage and not total process memory. In debug builds it may not be reflective of actual usage in a release build.
Long running tasks like Flutter: Get Packages and Flutter builds will now show more obvious progress notifications with progress animations.
As part of this, these actions may also now be cancelled from the x in the notification.
Flutter icons now show correctly in tooltips and completion descriptions instead of chunks of HTML.
An Extract Widget refactor is now available on the lightbulb menu that creates a new Widget class and inserts a call to its constructor in the original position.
An Extract Method refactor is now available on the lightbulb menu.
Failed renames will now show errors directly in the editor instead of window-scoped notifications that require dismissing. In an upcoming VS Code release we will stop the rename input box from appearing at a location that does not support a rename.
A new setting (dart.previewExperimentalWindowsDriveLetterHandling) has been added. Setting this value to true will cause all drive letters to be converted to uppercase when Dart Code interacts with services like the analysis server. This should fix a number of issues affecting Windows users (unexpected errors like Type 'x' cannot be assigned to type 'x' or completion and errors not updating when referencing code with package: imports). In future this behaviour may become the default so please try it out and send feedback.


Nash and Slater did not hold back and were particularly harsh on Brooks but occasionally attacked Gregory too whilst the Somerset bowlers countered with some testing balls. The batsmen's driving was particularly impressive as the Somerset bowlers searched for movement. In the seventh over Slater drove Gregory through the covers for four. In the eighth Nash twice cut Brooks for four. In the ninth Slater twice played and missed as Gregory hit back. For the tenth Davies replaced Brooks, who had conceded seven an over, and immediately ran in with that smooth, almost stealth-like run-up of his. Almost immediately he induced a feather of an edge from Slater and the ball duly carried through to Davies' gloves. Nottinghamshire were 51 for 2. Off the last ball of the next over Clarke edged Gregory, and Davies, having to dive hard to his right this time, took his second catch of the innings. 54 for 3 with just 11 overs gone. Boundaries had come and the bat been beaten in roughly equal measure. Neither side pulling back from the attack. The question of whether the insertion had worked still hung in the balance but leaned in favour of Abell's decision.
I always incline to the view that those running the team and playing in it know better than those of us on the outside what is the best available option when all the aspects of the situation, many of which are known only to them, are considered. And when a chosen option fails it does not, of itself, mean there was a better one. There is no straightforward immediate alternative to the current one. But a good and sustained start to an innings or two would help settle supporters minds.
After tea Gregory bowled Fletcher whilst Wood added to the score with some more drives. "Shot!". He brought up his fifty with a rocket of a straight drive along the ground off Gregory to the Pavilion boundary. When he tried to drive the next ball it took the edge and looped high towards deep point. Abell set off from cover like a collie after a stray sheep. All the way my brain was constantly calculating the distance Abell had to cover and the speed at which the ball was travelling. The outcome of the calculation was always gthe same. Abell would not quite make it. Then came the dive, out stretched the arms and the ball dropped straight into the hands. Wood 52 and the innings was over for 268. It was as if it had been played on the outer edge of a whirlwind.


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Deborah Metters
Fundraising for Hospice UK
Deborah's Nightride2012
Event: Nightrider 2012, 09 Jun 2012
Hospice UK
We support hospices throughout the UK to deliver the highest quality of care.
Yes, I've lost my mind, again. It's not London to Oxford, but it's a similar distance, although this time it's a big circle round London, starting at Alexandra Palace at midnight and climbing Highgate to Whitestone Pond, past Kenwood House, through Camden, past London Zoo, Lord's, Regent's Park, Oxford Circus, on to Covent Garden, over Waterloo Bridge, to the Imperial War Museum, past the Oval, over Westminster Bridge, past the Houses of Parliament, along Whitehall, towards Hyde Park, the Royal Albert Hall and the South Kensington museums, back over the Thames, through Clapham, and a long climb (I don't like the sound of this) to Crystal Palace.
That's halfway, apparently, whereupon I get fed (or possibly humanely destroyed), and put back on the bike towards Blackheath, past the National Maritime Musem towards Rotherhithe, back over the Thames at Tower Bridge, past the Tower of London and into the City via the Lloyds Building, the Bank of England, and St Paul's Cathedral, on into the East End - Bethnal Green, Stepney, and on to Canary Wharf, then on to Mile End before the final climb to Alexandra Palace past the Emirates Stadium.
And, once again, it's in aid of Help the Hospices who do some amazing work supporting hospices around the country. Collectively hospices have to raise an incredible £500million pounds every year to continue providing end of life care and support to loved ones.
Anything you are able to donate will make a huge difference, especially as I have paid the registration fee myself, meaning that every pound you donate will go straight to the charity.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it's the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Hospice UK is the national charity for hospice care. We champion and support the work of more than 200 member organisations, which provide hospice care across the UK, so that they can deliver the highest quality of care to people with terminal or life limiting conditions, and support their families.


To make sure that you're cooling your house as efficiently as possible, why not call in a pro who can weigh some key considerations and come up with the right size AC unit for your home?
Even if your old system seems to be humming right along, it may be worth a review. The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star division recommends having HVAC systems that are 10 years old or older professionally checked to assess their efficiency. Today's new air-conditioning systems offer much more efficient cooling power than ever before—so long as you select the right size to meet your home's needs.
Air-conditioning systems are rated by the seasonal energy-efficiency rating (SEER) and measured by tonnage. The SEER rating indicates how energy efficient the unit is—the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. Tonnage, meanwhile, indicates the operational size of the unit. A single AC ton is equivalent to 12,000 Btu per hour (Btu/h), or approximately the amount of coolness emitted by 1 ton of ice melting over the course of one day. An average 2,500-square-foot home might require a 3.5- to 4.5-ton unit, but there are many variables, and getting the tonnage exactly right is vital to both controlling cooling costs and maintaining comfort.
Even though it may run constantly—and run up your energy bill in the process—an undersized AC unit is unlikely to cool a house adequately. It simply doesn't have the power to do the job. But bigger isn't always better in the case of a new AC unit, according to Dave Lincon, Director of Product Management and Business Development for Sears Home Services.
If an oversized unit cools the air and then shuts off too soon, it never has the opportunity to dry the air effectively, leaving much of the humidity (and general stickiness) unresolved.
To ensure that homeowners purchase the right size system for their houses, the professionals at Sears Home Services use Manual J (Residential Load Calculation)—a precise formula determined by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)—to compute an individual home's cooling needs. Nothing is left to speculation. From a home's floor plan to its geographical location and even its method of construction, all relevant details are analyzed to come up with the correct system size. Among the many variables the formula factors in, the following five may be the most significant for determining the correct tonnage needed for a given house.
Your home's size offers a good starting point for determining cooling needs. During the initial home analysis, Sears Home Service professionals will not only measure your home's square footage, but they will also measure the height of your ceilings to determine your home's cubic foot volume. A home with high, vaulted ceilings requires more cooling power than a home with standard 8-foot ceilings.
House style is also an important factor. A two-story home and a ranch-style home may have similar square footage, but their cooling needs will differ for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the ranch home could have twice as much roof as the two-story house.
"A house in Colorado will have different cooling needs than a similar-size house in Texas or Florida," Lincon advises. Typically, houses located in hot and humid climates require larger AC systems than houses in cooler, drier regions.
And while the prevailing climate in your geographical region is a major component of "location," the term also encompasses considerations specific to your property: Is your yard full of large trees that offer midday shade? Does your house lack any protection from the harsh rays of the sun? How is your house oriented toward the sun?
Windows bring in light and offer wonderful views of the outdoors, but in many homes they're a source of energy loss, which translates into increased cooling needs. According to Lincon, not only does the number of windows in your home affect the size of the AC system you'll need, but the type of windows also matters.
When performing a Manual J load calculation, Sears Home Services representatives will make note of how many windows your home has, their dimensions, and their type. Single-pane windows are less energy efficient than double-pane, triple-pane, or low-e windows (low-emissivity film-coated windows that reflect the sun's heat away from your home). The presence of energy-efficient windows can reduce the tonnage requirement.
Insulation plays a major role in keeping outdoor heat from penetrating your home on a hot summer's day. Sears Home Services reps will note both the type and the amount of insulation in your home's attic and walls. Insulated entry doors will also be taken into account.
Most communities have building codes that require a minimum amount of insulation in both walls and ceilings, but older homes that were constructed before the codes went into effect may have inadequate insulation. These older structures could require a larger AC system to keep the home comfortably cool.
The type and condition of your home's current ductwork is another consideration in sizing an AC system. A certified Sears Home Services contractor can connect a new central-air system to existing ductwork, or even install new ductwork if the existing ducting is leaky or poorly situated.
If new ductwork is necessary, Sears will install it in accordance with the ACCA's Manual D (Residential Duct Design) standards. As these may be more stringent than your local building standards, homeowners can rest assured that they're getting not only the right size AC system, but optimal ducting as well—and new ducting is yet another factor that could reduce the required size of an AC unit.
While these five factors are important, they're far from the whole picture. In using the Manual J formula to determine AC system sizing, Sears Home Service reps will need to gather many other details. For example, Lincon brings up the "human factor," which includes such variables as the number of residents currently living in the home and the existence of either "hot spots" or spaces that never seem to cool adequately. Even the presence and types of window treatments can be a sizing consideration.
As you can see, AC sizing can be a complicated calculation. Certainly, shopping for a new AC system isn't everyone's idea of fun, but professionals like those at Sears Home Services can help simplify the task so you can find the right size unit, keep your family comfortable, and maybe even see some savings on your next energy bill.


Independent Oil and Gas plc ("IOG" or the "Company"), (AIM: IOG.L), the North Sea focused oil and gas company, is pleased to provide a funding update to shareholders.
A further investment of £145,000.05 has been secured through the issue of 609,500 new ordinary shares in the capital of IOG ("IOG Shares") at 23.79p per new IOG Share, representing a 51.05 per cent. premium to the closing mid-market share price on 18 June 2015.
The Company is now adequately funded until 04 September 2015, when the remaining loan balance of £358,155 is due to be repaid to Darwin Strategic.
Long term financing discussions on the funding of Skipper, Cronx, Elgood and Blythe through to production are progressing well with an internationally listed group with a multi-billion dollar market capitalisation and all parties continue to work towards a completion date of 15th August 2015.
It should be noted that the funding is subject to negotiation and the approval of various counterparties and IOG and that there can be no guarantee that IOG will secure such financing.
Application has been made for 609,500 new IOG Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Admission is expected to occur at 8:00 am on 25 June 2015.
Following Admission, there will be 69,857,264 IOG Shares in issue. Accordingly this number may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
The Company will publish its Annual Report and Accounts on 30th June 2015.
As previously advised the Company's AGM will be held at the offices of SGH Martineau LLP, 5th Floor, One America Square, Crosswall, London EC3N 2SG on 26th June 2015 at 3:30 pm.
An Extraordinary General Meeting for shareholders to approve the accounts will be announced in due course.


Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) is actively participating in the socially relevant, environment friendly water conservation measures and has been providing cost effective solutions since its inception. Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Cell at KSCST is established to study the needs of the people and provide sustainable and simple solutions through innovation and implementation pertinent to Rainwater Harvesting and Ground water recharge. Since November 2005 RWH Cell has provided technical support for planning rainwater harvesting systems in over 300 institutions (Public and private sector, Multinationals and Educational Institutions) in Karnataka and other states. Several thousand visitors have personally visited KSCST and availed the benefit and technical knowledge on RWH, water conservation and ground water recharge.
RWH cell established at KSCST is providing policy support to the Government departments for water conservation and rainwater harvesting programmes in Karnataka and other states in India. The guidelines established by RWH Cell are instrumental in pursuing State Government to amend several acts and issue guidelines for mandatory installation of RWH structures in all the government buildings, public parks, roads and open spaces. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has collaborated with RWH Cell of KSCST and brought in the legislation to compulsorily install RWH system in certain category of properties in Bengaluru.
Quiz and Debate programs are organised to build awareness among students and faculty of schools and colleges. Over sixty five Quiz and Debate programs were conducted in Schools and colleges between October, 2013 and February, 2017 at sixty five Private and Government High Schools and Colleges in Bengaluru. This program has benefited 15,000 students and around 300 school teachers who participated in Quiz. The programmes were organised with the cooperation of over 150 volunteers from Nisarga Mahila Samaja.
Technical support and interaction is being provided through, email, web site information, facebook, blog and Do It Yourself RWH web and android based app supported by UNESCO.


Dr. Pogue is originally from Coral Springs, Florida. She moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida, where she received both her Bachelor of Science and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees.
After graduation, she completed a one year Small Animal Rotating Internship at Blue Pearl Georgia Veterinary Specialists in Atlanta. She liked the city so much that she decided to make it her permanent home and joined the team at Pharr Road Animal Hospital. Dr. Pogue lives in Roswell with her husband, Brandon, and two cats, Emma and Mia. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.


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Category: The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes
Only allowed to watch 100 of these classics? Seems kinda odd. Well, several people collaborated to make a book listing the cream of the crop. (Naturally, any that made it on the list of the 50 greatest, are all here.)
Posted on January 27, 2019 May 12, 2019
Page Miss Glory
"Call for Miss Glory!"
Supervised by Tex Avery; Words and music by Warren & Dubin; Modern Art Conceived and Designed by Leodora Congdon. 3/C. A Merrie Melody released on March 7, 1936.
Another one of the 100 greatest. The oldest one in fact.
Hicksville is a pretty slow, country town. It's the kind of place where one can't open their mouth without a yawn jumping out. So, the slightest event will really catch the populace's attention. In this case, a celebrity is coming to town. Her name is Miss Glory, and since this is such a big occasion, the entire town is pitching in to make the place worthy. She will be staying at the only hotel in the place, where the staff is also prettying up for her.
The bellhop is a young man named Abner. He is excited to be a part of everything and practices bellhop manners. Everything is ready, now all we need is the guest of honor. If the clock is to be believed, several days have passed without her showing. (Pft. Celebrities.) As the time passes, Abner sleeps and dreams. In his dreams, not only is he less ugly, (Getting some clothes that actually fit, a haircut, losing his ugly buck teeth) but the hotel becomes an art-deco place of beauty. And Miss Glory is here in Abner's dreams too.
Being a bellhop, he is asked to page the titular woman. While we are treated to the title song, we do get some gags thrown in as well. After Abner stands on a guest's train, it tears off of her. She rolls with it and does a fan dance. (If only she was 50 years younger, it would be okay to be turned on by this) Another highlight is the patron getting served a mountain of food, but only eating a bite of an olive.
Abner is not having much luck finding the woman, and things only get more complicated as the hotel announces that Glory is at the hotel. This attracts the attention of every single man in the place, who storms in her direction. Clogging the elevators, Abner is unable to follow and perform his duties. He does eventually get in one, but the operator heads out on his lunch break. Abner decides to send himself up, but due to coming from a world where hotels are not more than one story high, he doesn't know what he's doing, and sends the elevator up and down at a high speed. Eventually popping out of the building, and landing him in front of a streetcar.
But that bell isn't just part of a dream! It's his boss! Miss Glory has finally arrived! (She must be a big deal. If the crowd is any indication, Clampett, Avery, Jones, and Melvin Millar have all shown up to catch a glimpse of her.) Abner prepares to do what he was meant to do, but the question remains: Is Glory as hot as he dreamed? Not unless you're a pedophile. Miss is an appropriate title, as the woman in question is at max, six years old.
Posted on December 30, 2018 June 2, 2019
Much Ado About Nutting
Directed by Charles M. Jones; Story by Michael Maltese; Animation by Lloyd Vaughn, Ken Harris, and Ben Washam; Layouts by Maurice Noble; Backgrounds by Philip DeGuard; Voice Characterization by Mel Blanc; Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling; Orchestrations by Milt Franklyn. A Merrie Melody released on May 23, 1953.
A brilliant little silent short from a brilliant man who knew exactly how to tell such stories. Not only considered one of the greatest, but the picture's star would go on to at least have a cameo in "Back in Action."
On a lovely warm summer day, a little squirrel crosses the street and heads towards a nut store. Unlike how it usually is in these cartoons, this squirrel doesn't speak. In fact, he acts quite a bit like a real life squirrel. For the most part. For example, I don't think he read the sign saying "Nuts" judging by how his nose twitches, he acted like most squirrels do and simply smelled the food. Luckily for him, (I'm just assuming the squirrel is a male. Everything I've read about this short says so.) all humans have mysteriously vanished from the picture, so there is no one to stop him from heading straight to the peanuts. (Which aren't really nuts. I claim false advertising)
It's not long before he spies the walnuts for sale. (An actual nut this time. Good for them.) Since they are bigger, he doesn't hesitate to ditch the peanuts for a more abundant food source. But there's always a bigger fish and he ultimately lays eyes on the coconuts. (Which really aren't nuts, but nobody cares at this point.) They're big enough for the squirrel to just need one, so he heads back across the street to enjoy some lunch.
But here's where the conflict really begins. Despite being a rodent, his teeth don't make so much as a crack in the fruit's shell. He decides to act smarter than the average squirrel, (which to be fair, is still rather smart.) and uses some tools. Seeing as he is an animal, he starts with one of the tools chimps swear by: a rock. Upon slamming it onto the fruit, the rock snaps in two. And dropping it from a tree just embeds it in the ground. Time for the human tools. (There are too many obvious jokes for me to use here, so just use your favorite one.)
First up: a saw that loses its teeth. Then a jackhammer that is weathered away by the coconut. Eventually, the squirrel is forced to take drastic measures. It's time to drop the thing from the highest building he can. We get some great shots here. Several fade-ins to show the squirrels progress as he slowly, but surely hoists the heavy load up the countless stairs. The poor thing! I would gladly carry them to the top. But the squirrel is determined, and does ultimately make it. And he drops his meal. Wouldn't it be great if this worked? Instead, the fruit just makes a chunk of the street lower than the rest.
That's it. The squirrel gives up. And he is thoughtful enough to return the thing to where he found it. (Besides, there are many more things to choose from. Those walnuts looked pretty tasty.) But just as he puts it back in place, it slips and lands back on the ground. And it finally is cracked! The squirrel hurries over and pries open his prize. Alas, this appears to be a rare subspecies of matryoshka coconut, as there was another one inside it. Adding disbelief upon stress, the squirrel passes out.
Posted on December 2, 2018 May 12, 2019
Rocket-Bye Baby
"Somebody goofed."
Directed by Chuck Jones; Story by Tedd Pierce; Animation by Ken Harris, Abe Levitow, and Ben Washam; Layouts by Ernie Nordli; Backgrounds by Philip DeGuard; Effects Animation by Harry Love; Film Editor: Treg Brown; Musical Direction by Milt Franklyn. A Merrie Melody released on August 4, 1956.
Back in the year of 1954, the planets of Earth and Mars got a little too close to each other. Because of this, two babies, both of whom were heading towards the planets got intercepted and each ended up heading to the other one. (That's right! Babies come from space. You didn't really think a stork delivered them, did you?)
Enter Joseph Wilbur. He's about to become a father. While nervous, he is also quite happy. So when he is called to see his new child, he is quite excited. His kid is really cute. (When Jones draws something that is supposed to be cute, it is DANG cute.) Chubby body, little eyelashes, big smile. Oh yes, and green skin and antennae. (Perfectly normal for that age. I'm sure it will clear up by his teens.)
Father is a little bit ashamed to of his offspring. But Martha, the wife, won't have any excuses and sends the two off for a afternoon stroll. Those antennae are marvelous things! They allow the infant to communicate with insects and act as an extra pair of limbs. Perfect for taking an old ladies glasses off, and giving them a try. For some reason, the broad goes into hysterics. Maybe Dad had a reason to be so wary?
Martha also soon sees that the kid is much more different than your usual baby. He does income tax, builds molecule models, and predicts the possibilities of hurricanes thirty years into the future. You'd think most parents would be over the moon to find their kid gifted with such intelligence, but they are more in the "worried" camp. Considering we humans don't especially like strange things that can't be explained, it's probably for the best that they try to make him take up more age appropriate activities: like TV watching. Seeing "Captain Shmideo" holding up a toy spaceship inspires the lad to make his own. (I'd think that the parents would freak out again, but this time they are more impressed than anything. Hypocrites.)
Later, they get a message. From Mars of all places! Turns out, they have the wrong baby. The Martians would like to exchange the two. (Given how self-sufficient the Mars variety is, they are probably going insane with all care they have to supply the Earthling with. On another note, at least the Martians bothered to give both babies names. Joseph and Martha couldn't even be bothered to do that. So from now on, our green baby is Mot and the one we never see is Yob)
Wouldn't it be interesting if it turned out that the Wilbur's actually decided they loved the kid they were given? Well, that's not happening. It's the 1950s! What makes you think a white suburban couple would want to look after a child who dared to be part of a different race? Sign them up for the exchange! Only one problem: Mot's ship he was building actually works, and Joseph has to chase after him. The Martians aren't going to give him squat if he doesn't hold up his end of the bargain. Despite Jo's efforts, the chase ends with him missing his chance to grab the baby and falling out of a open window several stories up. Mot meanwhile, makes his way aboard the (in this case probably literal) mother ship. They got what they came for, they leave. (They're probably just going to eat Yob)
But Joseph doesn't die, because it was all a dream. He is back at the hospital and goes to look at his normal human baby. But before you get upset for the use of the most cliched of twist endings, do note the band on the babies wrist. It must be in some kind of foreign language. I mean, what on Earth does "Yob" mean?
Posted on November 11, 2018 May 12, 2019
Chow Hound
"I've gotta get more food!"
Directed by Charles M. Jones; Story by Michael Maltese; Animation by Phil Monroe, Ben Washam, Lloyd Vaughan, and Ken Harris; Layouts by Peter Alvarado; Backgrounds by Philip DeGuard; Voice Characterization by Mel Blanc (Bea Benaderet); Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling. A Looney Tune released on June 16, 1951.
One of the hundred greatest, and possibly Jones' darkest picture ever!
Butch the cat is put out for the night after a nice steak dinner. But as soon as he is outside, he appears terrified. And he has good reason to be. A dog demands the steak that it turns out, he didn't eat. You'd think that'd be it, but the dog (who I will name after his voice actor, John T. Smith, who we've seen in "Water, water, Every Hare", "Homeless Hare", and "Bunny Hugged".) is not through with him.
They stop at a different house. John pretties up Butch and sends him to the door. The woman living there identifies the cat as Harold. (Which leads me to wonder what his name REALLY is. And while I'm on this tangent, if animals could talk, would they name themselves?) Despite how loving the lady sounds, she must secretly want the cat dead as she gives him some chicken bones with his dinner. He doesn't get a bite, John takes it again.
What's the next stop? Some crummy place where John has another animal held hostage: a mouse. Now the cat (now going by Timothy) will get another meal for his master, by pretending to be a mouser. The mouse doesn't like this arrangement anymore than the feline, (although he actually begs to be free. Unlike the cat who just takes it) The old man living in the building gives the cat more food, the dog takes it, and the mouse is put back in the can.
The next part of the plan requires it to be daytime, as the local zoo isn't open at night. (A very pretentious establishment, as they use the term: "Zoological Park" Nice touch guys, wanna give the animals actual environments next?) Feeding time is going on and a keeper tosses various meats to various cats. There appears to be a newly discovered species today: The Saber Toothed Alley Cattus. (Felidae chuckmeat) The keeper isn't entirely sure about this, but he is paid to feed, not think, so the cat is given another steak. (He tries to hide a firecracker in this one, but it only registers a burp with John)
Seems this has been going on for weeks, and it's finally getting to John. He's not getting a conscience or anything stupid like that. He's just annoyed with how little meat each place actually gives. (In the case of the zoo, I agree. A 10 oz. steak won't do much for a full grown tiger) I guess this "zoological park" has a history of animals trying to find greener pastures, because they actually have a sign offering rewards for missing animals. This gets John thinking…
The four places mentioned notice their lack of cat and soon they are offering money for its safe return. Read the paper carefully. Not only does the park offer a "liberal" reward, but the first guy is apparently animator Lloyd Vaughn (living at Termite Terrace of course) and the old guy is animator Ken Harris. (Which just strikes me as hilarious for some reason) John puts his master plan into action and returns the cat to each place, and taking away when he leaves. (And these people don't bat an eye at giving a dog money. I love cartoons) John is clearly enjoying this too, as he returns the zoo animal in the guise of a hunter. (The mouse is humiliated to be roped in again. This time as a racially insensitive pygmy. On another note, John looks awesome with that mustache.)
Success! That liberal reward really must have helped, as the dog now has enough money to ensure he never need worry about food again. His purchase? A meat market of course. Self control? Never heard of that. A cut to an animal hospital reveals that John couldn't control himself, and ate as much as he could fit in his belly and then some. He is now nearly obese as Piggy Hamhock. The doctors leave, and the dog receives two visitors he really doesn't need: his slaves.
See, if forcing them to collect food wasn't enough, he was also constantly berating them for not bringing him any gravy. Well, they got plenty of it now. And John can only stare in horror as they stick a funnel in his mouth, and force feed him the stuff. Ooh! Deliciously dark! No better way to end things. (Not surprisingly, that dog never made another appearance. Dead hounds don't appeal to many audiences.)
Russian Rhapsody
"Silly, isn't he?"
Supervision by Robert Clampett; Story by Lou Lilly; Animation by Rod Scribner; Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling. A Merrie Melody released in 1944.
One of the hundred greatest Looney Tunes and well worth that title!
Germany isn't doing so hot these days. (These 1941 days to be precise) All of the planes they send to bomb Moscow are being destroyed mysteriously. Could it possibly be gremlins? It couldn't be! Not with Disney refusing to allow any cartoons about them being made at the time. Hitler is furious. (And let's be real here, this is the funniest Hitler to ever exist. He screams, he speaks in random words with a bad German accent, and he moves like a spaz! It's the only time I can say: "I love this guy!") He finally decides to just send the finest person Germany has to offer: himself. As he flies to Moscow, (which, did you know, borders Berlin?) it appears that he is not alone. Several gremlins are on board and they sing a hauntingly catchy song. What's more, they appear to be caricatures of various looney people. Tedd Pierce, Friz Freleng, Chuck Jones, Leon Schleshinger, and the man himself, Bob Clampett. They set to work destroying the plane. A "Tubby" gremlin tries to stab Hitler in the butt, one saws the plane and just barely misses his pal, a adorable teeny one smashes the dials with a hammer, and one unleashes a termiteski to devour the plane. (Unlike termites which eat wood, termiteskis subsist on only the finest of messerschmidts.) One joke that is kinda dated is replacing Hitler's C card with an A card. (Gas rationing. C is more.) The "Millar" gremlin finally gets Adolf and the fuhrer finally realizes he has company. (Also the little one he talks to is holding a feather, that magically morphs into a hammer) They put his nose in an electrical socket, and the resulting shock turns him into a glowing swastika, skunk, and donkey in that order. He pulls a knife on them, but they scare him with a Stalin mask. (And then the short immediately jumps to him on the floor. I can't help but wonder if a scene was cut) With him taken care of, the gremlins cut around him and he falls to earth with the plane crushing him. He pops out of the ground to comment on how "Nutzis is the cwaziest peoples." The gremlins pound him back under his grave where he belongs.
A Ham in a Role
"Temper, hasn't he?"
Directed by Robert McKimson; Story by Sid Marcus; Animation by Charles McKimson, Phil DeLara, J.C. Melendez, and Emery Hawkins; Layouts by Cornett Wood; Backgrounds by Richard H. Thomas; Voice Characterization by Mel Blanc; Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling. A Looney Tune released in 1949.
And here we are with another of the 100 greatest. And the only one starring the Goofy Gophers. Good thing too, those guys are so underrated.
Our story begins with the ending of your classic Warner Bros. cartoon. A dog (who has no name, so let's call him Hammy) is hit with a pie and flaps his lips. The end. It's the brevity of this short that makes it work so well. It's the soul of wit. All right, I'm done pretending you're actually falling for this. In reality, he is fed up with cartoons. He thinks it's degrading. (He is clearly an idiot. Well read, but still an idiot.) He decides to quit. (Before doing so, he is subjected to gags without even leaving the room. You're making so many of us smile. Why would you want to quit?) He decides to pursue more "noble" acting and heads off to his country house to recite some Shakespeare. (Yeah, the man was talented, but animation is entertaining. To everyone.) It's been awhile since he's been here it seems, as there are gopher holes everywhere. But I suppose Mac and Tosh realized the house was empty at some point and decided to move in. Hammy finds them asleep in one of his books. He throws them out and gets to work. Not taking kindly to their forced exit, the two began planning some pranks to get back at him. And cleverly enough, they will all allude to what line the dog is reading. Mentioning "tormenting flames" results in a hotfoot. Asking to "drink the joy of life" gets him a tub of water poured on him. And when commenting on how "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," he finds Limburger cheese dropped on his head. But these are annoyances at best, the gophers next dress one of them (I can't tell them apart. I'll just guess it's Mac) as a skeleton just as Hammy is lamenting on "poor Yorrick." (Poor Hammy.) While reciting some lines from "King George and the Dragon" he dresses as a knight. Now covered in metal, the gophers have the chance to fling him around with magnets. And for their grand finale? "A horse! A horse!" Hammy is kicked out of the house and flies all the way back to the studio. They appear to have been waiting for him, as they are ready to start shooting. He opens with his best "To be…" but is silenced by a pie in the face. Welcome back to the fun side. We've missed you.
Okay to be fair, I don't hate Shakespeare. Those are some really well written stories. I just don't think it fair for Hammy to call animation "degrading." It's art. That's not up for debate.
Dog Gone South
"I'll take care of ya."
Directed by Charles M. Jones; Story by Michael Maltese; Animation by Ben Washam, Lloyd Vaughn, Ken Harris, Phil Monroe, and Emery Hawkins; Layouts by Robert Gribbroek; Backgrounds by Phil DeGuard; Voice Characterization by Mel Blanc; Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling. A Merrie Melody released in 1950.
Another of the "100 greatest! (I'm talking about these a lot this year, huh? And I'm planning on doing it again next week.) This is Charlie Dog's sole inclusion on this list, and I'm glad. I love this guy. And of his five appearances, this is probably his best. You probably thought I'd choose one of the his times with Porky huh? Speaking of Porky, this is the first time Charlie appeared without him. We see the hound being kicked off of a train. He is in the south as the title suggests. Acting like most dogs would, he sets about to finding himself an owner. Colonel Shuffle is a nice pick. Really, Colonel Shuffle from "Mississippi Hare" is also in this short. (Though never mentioned by name) He's not interested in Charlie, not because Charlie is kind of annoying, (and I mean that in the best possible way) but because he already has a dog. Belvedere, a Marc Antony styled bulldog who is so top heavy, his hind legs raise in the air when he runs. That, and Shuffle is full of Southern pride. He is not too happy to hear Charlie sing "Yankee Doodle" on his property. Keeping quiet on the Northern front? That's simple. Getting rid of Belvedere is the hard part. Charlie starts by dressing him up in a Yankee style hat, and giving him a "North Forever" banner. Shuffle chases after him in a Confederate outfit. Seeing his chance, Charlie does the same and acts wounded. Shuffle agrees to take him in, but Charlie ruins things by suggesting a meal of Yankee Pot Roast. I guess Belvedere is forgiven then. Seeing as the Colonel hasn't beaten him to death yet. Charlie then dresses him up in a New York Yankee's uniform. (Which looks cute on him) Belvedere notices this and grabs a club to hit Charlie with. He hits Shuffle. Seeing Belvedere coming for him still, Charlie gets Shuffle again, who is once more beaten. That does it, and Belvedere is kicked off the plantation. Seeing as he now has no dog, Shuffle agrees to take Charlie in. Just then, another man walks by. He would like a dog, and would treat him like a king. Charlie, (proving all he really wants is a home, and could care less about who owns it) takes him up on that offer and leaps into his arms. The man in turn throws him onto a leaving train. Turns out it was Belvedere. He happily goes back to Shuffle. (Poor Charlie. Guys named Charlie are always being rejected despite being really great guys. Charlie Brown just wants love. Charlie Tuna just wants people to eat his delicious flesh. Charlie Horse just wants plastic surgery so his face will stop giving me nightmares.)
(Okay, maybe not that last one.)
Satan's Watin'
"I'm not takin' anymore chanceth with you!"
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Directed by I. Freleng; Story by Warren Foster; Animation by Virgil Ross, Arthur Davis, Manuel Perez, and Ken Champin; Layouts by Hawley Pratt; Backgrounds by Irv Wyner; Voice Characterization by Mel Blanc; Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling. A Looney Tune released in 1954.
Another one of the 100 greatest! And don't let the fact that the cartoon says Tweety is the star here. He's but a means to an end. This is strictly Sylvester's short. While doing the usual chase thing up on a building, Sylvester skids off the edge. But by using a couple of Tweety's feathers, he manages to fly his way back up to safety. Tweety thanks him for returning them. Without those, Sylvester plummets. While it is true that cats land on their feet, gravity is still accounted for. With that pulling down on him, Sylvester smashes into the pavement. He's dead. I'm not joking. His soul actually leaves his body. Two different escalators also appear. Any newly deceased being would choose the one going up, but it's roped off. Sylvester has no choice but to take the one going down. In Hell, the devil (or one of his minions shaped like a bulldog) welcomes the cat. Looking him up in his book, the devil dog finds Sylvester is indeed supposed to be here. (Why? For trying to eat? Or do all cats go to Hell? In the real world, I'm not complaining. I hate cats. But I love Sylvester! This hardly seems fair.) Seems an eternity of being mauled by satanic dogs awaits him. There's just one catch: since cats have nine lives, nothing happens until the rest of them show up. So I guess cats just go to hell then. What if his other lives were (whatever the divine powers that be in this short) deem good? Doesn't matter. Back on Earth, Sylvester the second comes to. He reuses to chase Tweety anymore. (Not that it matters) Satan tempts him into it though, and the chase leads right in front of a steamroller. Sylvester's second life sits next to his first, flat as the day he died. (Shouldn't Tweety have died there too?) Sylvester three is told by Satan that having seven lives left means he's lucky, and he chases the bird into an amusement park and into a haunted house. He is literally scared to death. Life three remains pale as a ghost. (Sadly, this ends the lives all looking different. But I guess that would be too morbid, because…) After coming to again, the fourth reiteration of the cat chases the canary into a shooting gallery. This was a different time, as those guns fire real bullets and lives 4-7 end up wasted. Tweety hops on a roller coaster, with Sylvester waiting with a club. Failing to keep his body in the vehicle at all times is what costs him life #8. Still thinking he has a choice in the matter, Sylvester runs off vowing to give up the chase. He decides to spend the remainder of his days in a bank vault. (I guess he knows by now that he's screwed, so he might as well make his time last. It might be boring, but at least it'll be peaceful.) That night, some burglars come into the bank, aiming to blow open the safe with nitroglycerin. If playing Crash Bandicoot has taught me anything, it's that that stuff is a good way to get yourself killed. Surprise! They get themselves killed. And robbing a bank was enough to seal their fate, and down they go. Unfortunately for him, Sylvester was caught in the crossfire. Whoops.
Wholly Smoke
"I ain't a p-puh-puny puss!"
Supervision by Frank Tashlin; Story by George Manuell; Animation by Robert Bentley; Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling. A Looney Tune released in 1938.
You know, you really shouldn't smoke. It's bad for you, makes you unpleasant to be around, and eats up funds you could be using for something more important. And don't give me any of that: "It's too addicting" crap. You don't want to learn the hard way. My pal Porky did.
Another of the 100 greatest and my personal favorite from Tashlin.
It's a lovely Sunday and Porky's momma calls her offspring down. (Hilariously voiced by Ted Pierce) She sends him off to church with a nickel for the collection plate. (Why isn't she going too? I guess she just doesn't want her child to be an atheist like herself.) On the way, Porky comes across some kid smoking a cigar. He points out that it's bad but the kid doesn't take him seriously. Instead, he shows off some tricks he can do with the smoke. Making a target and hitting it with an arrow, creating a duck that flies, and kicking his cigar like a hackey sack and catching it again in his mouth. (Set to an ominous "Merry Go Round Broke Down") With his masculinity threatened, Porky bets the thug 5 real cents (They're children and this is the thirties, that's some serious dough right there) that he is just as tough. The kid accepts and hands over his cigar, taking the nickel. (He hasn't won yet, but he doesn't need to stick around really. Porky is practicing.) He treis to show off some tricks with the smoke. He makes a target but hits his own behind with an arrow, creating a duck that flies and lays an egg on his face, and kicking his cigar like a hackey sack an catching the lit side in his mouth. (Set to an adorable "Merry Go Round Broke Down") But all that tobacco takes its toll on poor Porky and he woozily blunders around, coming to a stop in a smoke shop. There he is spotted by some kind of smoke gremlin. He has the power to shrink Porky in size and wake him up with a snap of his fingers. He is a little shocked Porky doesn't know who he is. All smokers know his name: Nick O' Teen. (Who is one of the scariest things Looney Tunes has to offer. With his soulless eyes, magical powers, and soft voice. (Again, brilliantly portrayed by Pierce.) Nick ties Porky up and prepares to go "Pigs is Pigs" on him. With musical accompaniment. There are some singing matchsticks who look like they have blackface, (but you could say its debatable since they are extinguished) some chewing tobacco, and the three stogies. Singing a frightfully creepy version of "Mysterious Mose" about how little children shouldn't smoke. (No one should, but they don't want to come across as preachy.) Porky is forced into smoking more cigars, and given chewing tobacco, (which the poor guy swallows) as all the mascots come to life to scold him. (I would say it's a nightmare version of "Foodfight", but the original already earned that title, so this is the family friendly version by default) Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee are there as some "Crooner" brand cigars. (Corona) Cigarettes march, snuff boxes are drums, and even a pipe cleaner gets in the fun by imitating Cab Calloway. (Taking a break from appearing in Betty Boop cartoons) Porky does manage to get free and wakes up from this trippy… "pipe dream?" (Screw you, it's funny) Hearing the church bell, he hurries over. Except, he still needs that nickel. He takes it back from the bully, shoves the cigar in his face and goes back to church to donate it. He vows never to smoke again. (Except he did in "Rocket Squad." And "Deduce, you say." And "The Awful Orphan." And… Well, at least he never smoked a cigar again. So take it from me and Porky: Don't smoke. Or we won't be your friend.)
Scrap Happy Daffy
"What I'd give for a can of spinach now"
Supervision by Frank Tashlin; Animation by Art Davis; Story by Don Christensen; Musical Direction by Carl W. Stalling. A Looney Tune released in 1943.
Another one considered to be one of the 100 greatest Looney Tunes. This was also the first cartoon Tashlin directed upon coming back to Warner Bros. after leaving Columbia Studios.
We open on Daffy climbing his giant scrap pile. He's got plenty of American pride! (And cans whose insides change colors.) Would you like to make your own scrap pile? It's easy! Their is plenty of items you can donate to help the troops, and Daffy is happy to list them all! (Although he will take a quick break to whistle at the bathing suit model painted on his fence.) This will surely get the ire of Hitler. And it does indeed. Daffy's pile is known the world over and Hitler is furious. He wants that pile destroyed and sends one of his subs to do so. The sub has a secret weapon. The perfect way to get rid of metal in a cartoon: a goat. (I would like to point out how scientifically inaccurate this is, but I hope you already know it) The goat happily chows down, but soon comes down with a case of hiccups. A patrolling Daffy hears the noise and attempts to intimidate the intruder, before realizing he's looking at his reflection. Finding the real source of the noise, he takes pity on the ungulate and mixes him up a hiccup cure. Not long after this, he spies the swastika on the goat's collar and realizes what it is there for. (And calling it one of the best names I've ever heard: a tin termite. Brilliant.) The goat tries to strike, but Daffy takes advantage of its moral compass by wearing glasses. (Nazi goats have limits to their cruelties) All too soon though, he loses this protection and is sent flying. He wants to give up, but the apparitions of his ancestors remind him that Americans don't give up. (Did you know Lincoln was a duck? A duck that somehow grew a beard even) Filled with some new found pride, Daffy evolves into: SUPER AMERICAN! (Two references to cartoons from the Fleischer studios based on already existing characters in one Looney Tune? It must be my birthday! No wait, that's this Sunday) With his new abilities, Daffy has the goat running back to the sub. The Nazis fire their cannon at him, but he punches their shots away one by one. With no other alternative, they try to escape. Daffy grabs hold of the sub's periscope before the screen dissolves to him wrestling with a faucet back at his pile. It was nothing but a dream! However, the goat and Nazis are there too, with their sub now part of Daffy's collection. They ask to be left out of his next dream.


text:
The 2004 La Flèche Wallonne was the 68th edition of La Flèche Wallonne cycle race and was held on 21 April 2004. The race started in Charleroi and finished in Huy. The race was won by Davide Rebellin of the Gerolsteiner team.

General classification

References

2004 in road cycling
2004
2004 in Belgian sport

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A man is in hospital with serious injuries and another has been arrested after an alleged dog attack and assault.
Police are currently in the Bevanlee Road area of South Bank following an alleged incident at about 5.15am today where a 55-year-old man suffered serious injuries in a dog attack and subsequent assault.
He remains in James Cook University Hospital awaiting treatment.
A 24-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and he faces questioning.
Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent Charity Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppers-org.uk or by phoning 0800 555 111.
Three dogs have been seen at the house where the alleged incident took place. All three have been removed by police, say neighbours. Police are making house to house inquiries in the area.
Neighbours said the victim lives with his wife and is disabled. He often uses a wheelchair.
The family of the injured man have gone to hospital, say neighbours.
A neighbour said she saw an injured man stumbling across the road and an ambulance arriving at the scene.
Forensics have removed items from the scene. Items removed from the scene included a rock and a large wooden stick.
A police cordon remains at the scene on Bevanlee Road in South Bank.


text:
Plane crash-lands in Weslaco
by: Steven Masso
WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An aircraft pilot suffered minor injuries after a crash landing in Weslaco.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the plane made the emergency landing after a mechanical failure in a grassy area near Mile 4 1/2, north of Mile 9.
Authorities said that a civilian quickly responded to help the pilot, who suffered minor injuries in the crash.
Photos sent by DPS show the red aircraft nose-down, in an upright position.
https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/plane-crash-lands-in-weslaco-pilot-suffers-minor-injuries/
PreviousPilot mostly uninjured after plane catches fire mid-air, crashes in Yolo County, officials say
NextFriday the 17th of June, 2022
Friday the 29th of May, 2020
Police: Pilot who made emergency landing on I-70 was intoxicated, carrying gun and drugs in plane
Monday the 30th of August, 2021 – Day 1 of the ARFFWG 31st Annual Conference
NTSB Prelim: Cessna 182D


ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KWES) - Angel Deleon, 41, wanted for his alleged involvement with a prison gang in New Mexico, was arrested in Mexico Friday, March 1.
DeLeon was allegedly involved in one of two murders on March 26, 2001, in service of the gang.
December 1, 2015, a federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, after DeLeon was charged federally with violent crimes in aid of racketeering (murder).
The FBI worked with Mexican authorities to track down and arrest Deleon and the process to extradite him to the U.S. is underway.


text:
Plastic Surgery Key
Fastest Plastic Surgery & Dermatology Insight Engine
Aesthetic plastic surgery
Craniofacial surgery
Reconstructive microsurgery
Blisters and Vesicles
Ramsey-Hunt syndrome
Disseminated infection
Herpes gladiatorum
Herpetic whitlow
Hutchinson sign
Neonatal herpes simplex virus infections
Blisters and vesicles represent a common category of cutaneous disease. Blisters are an important physical finding because only a limited number of diseases present in this fashion. Usually, in bullous conditions, the clinical presentation, biopsy results, and results of direct immunofluorescent studies will allow for a singular diagnosis. A biopsy from a fresh blister is of greater use in the diagnosis because blisters can occur by different mechanisms (e.g., spongiosis, acantholysis). Blisters may be broadly divided into fragile and and tense blisters.
Fragile Blisters
Bullous impetigo
Hailey-Hailey disease
Pemphigus (all variants)
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
Tense Blisters
Allergic contact dermatitis (severe)
Bullous drug eruption
Bullous eruption of diabetes
Bullous fixed drug eruption
Cicatricial pemphigoid
Dyshidrotic hand dermatitis
Epidermolysis bullosa (genetic)
Erythema multiforme
Hand, foot, and mouth disease
Herpes simplex virus infection
Herpes gestationis
Linear immunoglobulin A (IgA) bullous dermatosis
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Second-degree sunburn
Vaccinia infection
Varicella-zoster virus infection
Important History Questions
How long have the blisters been present?
Some conditions, such as allergic contact dermatitis due to poison ivy, may cause acute blistering, whereas other processes, such as bullous pemphigoid, may be chronic in nature.
Have you had blisters before, and do the blisters occur at the same site(s)?
Repetitive blistering could indicate an ongoing exposure, such as poison ivy, ongoing drug use or drug exposure (e.g., fixed drug eruption, repeat Stevens-Johnson syndrome), recurrent bullous erythema multiforme, or recurrent herpes simplex infection.
Are the blisters symptomatic?
Some vesiculobullous disorders are asymptomatic (bullous diabeticorum), whereas others are painful (e.g., toxic epidermal necrolysis) and others are pruritic (e.g., dermatitis herpetiformis).
Are you taking any medications?
Medications may produce blistering disorders, such as bullous drug eruptions, drug-induced linear IgA bullous dermatosis, drug-induced pemphigus, toxic epidermal necrolysis, bullous fixed drug reactions, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis. Also, some other vesiculobullous diseases may be aggravated by medications.
Important Physical Findings
How old is the patient?
Some blistering disorders occur chiefly in neonates (incontinentia pigmenti), whereas other disorders are more likely to occur in children (e.g., chickenpox), in young adults (e.g., erythema multiforme), in middle-aged adults (e.g., porphyria cutanea tarda), or in geriatric patients (e.g., bullous pemphigoid).
Is the patient a woman of childbearing years, is she pregnant, or has she just delivered a baby?
Gravid or recently gravid status is important in establishing a diagnosis of herpes gestationis.
What is the distribution of the blisters?
Some blisters have characteristic distributions or configurations. For example, sharp lines or irregular shapes often suggest an exogenous origin, such as contact dermatitis or toxic injuries to the skin.
Is the oral mucosa (or other mucosal surfaces) involved?
Mucosal surfaces are often involved in herpes simplex infections and in erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), toxic epidermal necrolysis, and pemphigus vulgaris or paraneoplastic pemphigus.
ICD10 code L01.03
Impetigo caused by staphylococcal infection is usually associated with group II (phage group 71) Staphylococcus aureus . The blister is caused by a toxin, elaborated by the bacterium that lyses an adhesion molecule (desmoglein 1) necessary for keratinocyte adhesion. The split occurs in the superficial aspects of the skin. Infections are more common in the summer months and in humid climates.
Bullous staphylococcal impetigo is more common in neonates, small children ( Fig. 11.1 ), and HIV-infected individuals.
Fig. 11.1
Bullous impetigo in an infant.
(From the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center Collection, Aurora, CO.)
The primary lesions are small vesicles that progress rapidly to flaccid, pus-filled, and fragile bullae.
The purulence inside the blister space may layer out, with a turbid yellow color ( Figs. 11.2 and 11.3 ).
Patient whose axilla demonstrated numerous flaccid blisters in various stages of development.
Patient with a flaccid blister demonstrating layering of pus at the base, a finding sometimes seen in bullous impetigo. Note that the superficial blister on the right has broken.
The surrounding skin demonstrates minimal or mild erythema.
Blisters collapse easily, yielding a varnished appearance to the skin where the blister was located.
Some variations demonstrate only yellow-colored exudative erosions, without active blisters.
The clinical presentation of flaccid, pus-filled bullae, with yellow crusting, is often diagnostic.
Gram-positive cocci in flaccid blisters, as demonstrated with a Gram stain, supports the diagnosis but does not allow for accurate differentiation between streptococcal and staphylococcal causes.
The diagnostic test of choice is a surface culture, with antibacterial sensitivity testing.
The diagnosis may be made by biopsy, but this is not usually required.
Topical mupirocin or retapamulin ointment (applied bid for 5 days) is a suitable treatment for limited disease.
More generalized cases of bullous impetigo are treated empirically with a β-lactam antibiotic, such as oral dicloxacillin (250 mg PO qid for 7–10 days) or cephalexin (250–500 mg PO tid to qid for 7–10 days), because most community-acquired bullous impetigo is not methicillin resistant; this may vary in different areas. This is in contrast to staphylococcal folliculitis, furunculosis, and dermal abscesses.
Any antibiotic regimen prescribed empirically can be altered once antibiotic susceptibility studies have concluded, based upon the results of culture.
Oral erythromycin or azithromycin may be used for penicillin-allergic patients, although erythromycin-resistant staphylococci are prevalent (19%–50% of strains) in some regions of the country.
Methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) can be treated with ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, doxycycline (in older children or adults), or topical mupirocin. The management of recurrent impetigo, often due to colonization of S. aureus , is a complex issue beyond the scope of this text.
Clinical Course
Most cases do not require follow-up but if the patient continues to get new lesions, beyond 3 days after starting the antibiotic, the veracity of the diagnosis should be reassessed. Correlation with culture or bacterial susceptibility studies should be made. Some patients may become chronic carriers of impetigo-producing S. aureus strains.
Pemphigus Foliaceus
ICD10 code L10.2
AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER
Causes of Drug-Induced Pemphigus Foliaceus
Captopril (common)
d -Penicillamine (common)
Enalapril (rare)
Sulfasalazine (rare)
Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) is an uncommon autoimmune bullous condition caused by immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies directed against desmoglein 1, a molecule involved in the normal cohesion of keratinocytes. In this condition, the split occurs below the cornified layer or in the superficial granular layer. This is the same location as the split in bullous impetigo and SSSS. PF can also be induced by some medications.
Middle-aged and older adults are usually affected, but, on occasion, children may be affected.
There is a predilection for the head and trunk, but in some cases it may involve the entire body surface area, causing erythroderma.
Primary lesions are often ruptured vesicles or, less often, intact bullae that arise on normal or erythematous skin ( Figs. 11.10 and 11.11 ).
Fig. 11.10
Large erythematous plaques of pemphigus foliaceus, with an edge of flaccid blisters.
Close-up of a more subtle example of pemphigus foliaceus presenting as red papules, with flaccid vesicles.
In some cases, the blister may become cloudy or even appear pustular.
The Nikolsky sign is present in many cases (see p. 166 ).
Scaling and crusting are common, and, in some cases, the condition may resemble dermatitis ( Fig. 11.12 ). Verrucous lesions may even resemble a seborrheic keratosis.
Severe generalized pemphigus foliaceus that, at first glance, has the appearance of dermatitis rather than a blistering disorder.
Drug-induced PF appears clinically identical to idiopathic cases ( Fig. 11.13 ).
Subtle case of pemphigus foliaceus induced by d -penicillamine.
Recurrent, superficial, often ruptured blisters, with a background of scaling and crusting, are highly suggestive of the diagnosis. There should be no oral involvement.
It is useful to culture the blister contents to exclude bullous impetigo.
A shave or punch biopsy, performed at the edge of the lesion, is necessary to establish an acantholytic blistering disorder; this is a cardinal feature of PF.
DIF of perilesional skin is the diagnostic method of choice. This can be performed using a shave (preferred) or punch biopsy. The tissue must be placed in immunofluorescence transport media, normal saline (for periods of <24–48 hours), or snap frozen.
If a direct immunofluorescent medium is not readily available, blood can be drawn in a red-top tube (serum separator tube) and sent to an immunofluorescence laboratory for indirect immunofluorescence or to a reference laboratory for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurement of desmoglein antibodies.
First-line therapy is oral prednisone (0.5–1.0 mg/kg per day) with a slow taper, using steroid-sparing agents as the taper proceeds.
Other medications and/or steroid-sparing agents include methotrexate, azathioprine, dapsone, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab.
Any drug known to induce PF should be discontinued or substituted with an unrelated agent.
The disease is often chronic and may last for years. Children are more likely to demonstrate a short course of disease. In contrast to pemphigus vulgaris, PF has a more benign course, and fatal outcomes are uncommon. Patients with drug-induced PF typically demonstrate resolution over weeks to months, after withdrawal of the inciting medication.
Pemphigus Vulgaris
Pemphigus vulgaris is a serious autoimmune bullous disorder caused by autoantibodies directed against desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 ( Fig. 11.14 ). These molecules are involved in the normal cohesion of keratinocytes, and hence, the condition leads to large flaccid bullae that are easily ruptured. The mouth is often involved. Rarely, pemphigus vulgaris is triggered by drugs (see box) or foods such as garlic and leeks.
Netlike deposition of IgG autoantibodies in the epidermis in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris.
Drug-Induced Pemphigus
Amoxicillin (rare)
Ampicillin (rare)
Cephalosporins (rare)
Penicillin (rare)
Rifampin (rare)
The condition typically affects older adults (40–60 years old).
Persons of Jewish or Hispanic heritage are more often affected.
The condition may be localized (often on the head or trunk), or it may eventuate as a generalized eruption ( Fig. 11.15 ).
Generalized pemphigus vulgaris demonstrating a classic admixture of crusts, erosions, and superficial blisters.
Vesicles and bullae (up to several centimeters) arise on normal or erythematous skin ( Fig. 11.16 ).
Flaccid vesicles and bullae of pemphigus vulgaris on the trunk, with crusting of an older lesion.
The Nikolsky sign may be present.
Blisters rupture in 1 to 3 days, with a painful, raw, erythematous base.
Scaling and crusting of older lesions are common.
Oral involvement is present in more than 90% of patients ( Fig. 11.17 ) during the course of the illness, and often it is the initial site of the presentation.
Typical oral pemphigus vulgaris demonstrating erosions. Blisters are not typically seen in oral lesions.
A vesiculobullous disorder with marked mucosal involvement suggests the diagnosis, especially if the Nikolsky sign is present.
A shave or punch biopsy from the edge of the lesion should always be done.
DIF using perilesional skin may be performed on a shave biopsy (preferred) or punch biopsy and submitted in immunofluorescent transport media, in saline (for up to 24–48 hours), or snap frozen.
If a direct immunofluorescent medium is not available, blood can be drawn in a red-top (serum separator) tube and sent for indirect immunofluorescence examination or ELISA testing.
Pulse corticosteroids (250–1000 mg/day of methylprednisolone sodium succinate) for 1 to 5 days may be used for severe disease or for patients with a poor response to oral prednisone.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), 400 mg/kg per day for 5 days, with the addition of cyclophosphamide (100–150 mg/day) in severe cases, results in clearing in 80% of patients within 2 weeks.
Methotrexate, azathioprine, rituximab, and cyclophosphamide are steroid-sparing agents that may be used in select cases.
Untreated, pemphigus vulgaris has a fatality rate of more than 90%. Treated pemphigus has a fatality rate of about 10%. Typically, the disease has a chronic course, lasting years, but spontaneous remissions may occur. Maintenance of hydration and proper nutrition are challenges in those with marked mucosal involvement.
Bullous Allergic Contact Dermatitis
ICD10 codes L23.0 to L23.9
EXTERNAL ETIOLOGY
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is discussed in depth in Chapter 10 . Although most cases of ACD present as an eczematous process, severe ACD may present with marked blistering, particularly if contact is prolonged or if the host response is intense. One should suspect a bullous ACD when blisters are in a distribution (linear) that suggests an exogenous process and/or when pruritus is extreme. Some allergens, such as poison ivy, are well recognized to produce blisters.
This presents with erythema and blisters 24 to 72 hours after contact in sensitized patients ( Fig. 11.18 ).
Classic linear distribution of blisters seen in poison ivy contact dermatitis.
The distribution initially follows points of contact but may involve adjacent areas later in the course.
The configuration is typically asymmetric and does not follow normal anatomic lines. Sharp unnatural lines are often present ( Fig. 11.19 ) due to contact with the exogenous agent.
Unilateral, severe, bullous allergic contact dermatitis caused by benzocaine (Lanacane). The patient was mistakenly diagnosed as having toxic epidermal necrolysis and was transferred from the emergency room to the burn unit.
Bullous ACD is nearly always intensely pruritic.
In bullous ACD, overlying tense blisters may be unilocular or multilocular ( Fig. 11.20 ).
Bullous allergic contact dermatitis due to contact with adhesive tape. Note the multilocular nature of the blisters, a finding seen in many types of intraepidermal blisters.
New blisters and erythema may develop for up to 3 weeks, even without additional exposure.
Bullous ACD should be suspected in any blistering condition with an asymmetric and exogenous distribution pattern, particularly when linear arrangements are present.
A careful history of potential recent exposures to allergens, such as poison ivy or topical medications, is important in establishing the diagnosis.
A shave or punch biopsy may be useful to rule out other bullous conditions.
In rare cases, a perilesional skin biopsy may be useful to exclude autoimmune bullous disorders.
In patients for whom an allergen cannot be otherwise identified, patch testing may be used to establish the diagnosis and cause.
Remove or discontinue suspected and/or potential allergens.
Apply potent or ultrapotent topical steroids (e.g., fluocinonide, clobetasol) bid until resolution.
Generalized cases may require oral prednisone (20–40 mg qd for 7–21 days).
Antihistamines may provide symptomatic relief for pruritus but do not shorten the disease course.
Even though the patient may have only had a single exposure to an allergen, new lesions may continue to appear for up to 3 weeks in severe cases. In particular, the allergen in poison ivy (uroshiol) binds irreversibly to the skin and will require treatment for up to 21 days. So-called dose packs of steroids, used for about 5 days, should be avoided because the patient will frequently rebound and flare after the dose pack is completed.
Bullous Insect and Arthropod Reactions
ICD10 code T14.1
ARTHROPOD REACTION
Insects and arthropods can produce hypersensitivity reactions in the skin. Saliva from the bite of the organism (e.g., bedbugs, ticks) or feces (e.g., scybala of scabies) may serve as an allergen. When allergen exposure is limited, the host response is usually minor. However, when the antigen exposure is more substantial, or the host response is exaggerated, a vesiculobullous reaction can ensue. Common causes of bullous arthropod reactions include bedbugs (Cimex lectularius), fleas ( Fig. 11.21 ), and chiggers.
Dog flea recovered from the carpet of a patient's home. Dog fleas and cat fleas are nearly identical in appearance.
Patients may or may not recall the insect or arthropod bite.
Lesions are often located on exposed areas of the body and range from urticarial papules to bullae.
Lesions may be solitary or multiple, and lesions can be grouped, especially in bedbug bites.
The blister may be unilocular or multilocular on an erythematous base ( Figs. 11.22 and 11.23 ).
Two arthropod reactions received at the same time. One is a crusted papule that never blistered, whereas the second demonstrates a pruritic, tense, unilocular blister.
Arthropod reaction demonstrating a central punctum that represents the bite site. This bite is instructive in that it shows that both unilocular (left side) and multilocular (right side) blisters can occur in an arthropod reaction.
Bedbug bites occur most often on parts of the body exposed during sleep (face, neck, hands, and arms), and bites are often arranged in linear configurations (so-called breakfast, lunch, and dinner arrangement).
Bullous insect and arthropod bite reactions are nearly always intensely pruritic, except for blistering reactions caused by cutaneous exposure to members of the blister beetle family.
In some cases, the patient may bring in the offending insect or arthropod (see Fig. 11.21 ).
Bedbugs are a particular problem of travelers, and a travel history should be elicited.
According to a major national extermination company, the top 10 cities for bedbugs includes Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Dayton, Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dallas–Fort Worth, and San Francisco.
A shave or punch biopsy is not usually indicated but, in problematic cases, the findings in a biopsy can be supportive of the diagnosis.
Sedating antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine) may be used at night for symptomatic relief and to promote sleep.
Potent or ultrapotent forms may be used in a directed manner for a limited duration.
Oral antibiotics may be appropriate if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected.
Depending on the clinical situation, other treatments might include repellants, removal of pets or wildlife (e.g., an abandoned bird's nest near a bedroom window), and/or professional extermination.
ICD10 code B01.9
Chickenpox, or varicella, is a primary infection with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Prior to the introduction of a live attenuated vaccine in 1995, there were about 4 million new cases/year, with approximately 100 deaths annually. Since mass vaccinations began, there has been a continued progressive decline in reported cases. VZV is acquired mostly in an aerorespiratory fashion.
The incubation period is 14 to 17 days.
A prodrome of mild upper respiratory tract infection—malaise, low-grade fever—may be present.
Primary lesions are 1- to 4-mm vesicles arising on an erythematous base (so-called dewdrops on a rose petal; Figs. 11.24 and 11.25 ).
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Tags: Urgent Care Dermatology: Symptom-Based Diagnosis
Sep 15, 2018 | Posted by drzezo in Dermatology | Comments Off on Blisters and Vesicles


Was February as Cold and Snowly as it Seemed?
Was February as Cold and Snowy as it Seemed?
Earlier this week I called Tom Hoverstad who is a scientist at the Southern Research and Outreach Center at Waseca. Tom tracks the official weather data at the Southern Research and Outreach Center. So, was February as cold and miserable as it seemed? I guess it depends on your personal opinion but it was definitely cold with a lot of snow.
While February was cold we did not set any records for temperatures. February of 2019 was in the top 5 coldest on record. Temperatures averaged 12 degrees below normal. However, we received 30.8 inches of snow which set the record for the most snow in February. Tom said they have weather records in Waseca that go back over 100 years.
The 30.8 inches of snow that fell in February amounted to just over 3 inches of precipitation. That is double the normal precipitation for February. With over 3 inches of precipitation on the landscape there is potential for flooding this spring. Tom said hopefully we will see daily highs a little above freezing and lows at night below freezing allowing all this snow to melt slowly! So, bring on spring, but not too quickly!
Filed Under: was February as Cold and Snowy as it Seemed?


5392DF Kinsmart - McLaren 675LT with Prints Hardtop. 1:36 scale diecast collectible model car. This McLaren is a 5"Lx 2.25"Wx 1.25"H diecast metal car. It features pull back action and openable doors. Manufactured by Kinsmart. 12 pcs per display box in assorted colors. 72 pcs per inner box.


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Cuddling With Strangers
July 23, 2016 by Carmela Baranowska
Professional cuddling services that provide non-sexual snuggle sessions to customers have been opening up around the world. But can these services really alleviate loneliness—or are they a Band-Aid on an open wound?
Interview with Director/Producer Sara Joe Wolansky
My single friends and I often bemoan the fact that we "just want someone to cuddle with." We are used to getting almost anything else we want, after all, at the click of an iPhone app. So when I found out about Steve's "professional cuddling service" called "The Ecstatic Embrace," my interest was piqued. I was curious to see if this really could serve as a surrogate for non-sexual physical intimacy that normally can only be found with a romantic partner. I tried out a session with Steve and realized that the complexity of the emotions I experienced were worth exploring further through the documentary medium.
Imagine I'm a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's not a tragedy. It's not a comedy. It's a little bit of both--just like real life. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll be inspired to re-examine your own intimate relationships.
There have, in fact, been other films about cuddle services--and the majority of them treat professional cuddling as the butt of obvious jokes. Although, of course, there *is* something funny and awkward about professional cuddling, my film transcends lazy punchlines and delves into the real emotional journeys that many cuddle practitioners and clients experience.
The appeal of the film is not solely limited to the small percentage of people who have participated in a cuddle party or professional hugging session. The topic may be niche, but the underlying emotions experienced by the people in the film are universal. Thus, even those who would never in million years consider stepping anywhere near a "professional cuddling service" can still relate to the film subjects' psychological journeys.
One of the core themes of the film is the idea of loneliness. What does it mean to really know someone? To feel connected? Can intimacy be constructed? Our desire for connection is the real driving force of the film.
Holding someone carries an unspoken message. "You are not alone. I care about you. It is okay to be vulnerable here. You can trust me." Our bodies respond positively to this type of intimate contact, and experts have reaffirmed non-sexual touch's physical and emotional benefits. My film does not seek to confirm or deny the benefits of touch (it's taken as a given) but instead strives to test the limits of non-sexual touch's power.
Is it possible to produce laughter, tears, feelings of elation, and a deep sense of trust in a situation that involves a financial transaction? From what I have observed through my own personal experience and through filming others, it appears so. Can these services really alleviate loneliness—or are they a Band-Aid on an open wound? That's left up to the viewer's interpretation.
Since this is a documentary project, the film's narrative evolved as we learned more about our subjects and the stories they shared with us. Like most films, we had to "kill some babies" -- a term for leaving a treasured interview, shot, or other priceless moment on the cutting room floor out of concern for length, clarity, or making the overall film stronger.
There was one interview that we did that I remember thinking, "this is it, we nailed it!" It was one of my favorite interviews that I've ever done. I thought for sure that this interview would be absolutely vital in crafting the story of this documentary. To my surprise, we ended up cutting out that footage completely. I loved that interview in a vacuum--but it ultimately didn't contribute anything to the overall narrative of the film.
I think people have been surprised by the direction that the film takes, as well as its relatability! As I mentioned earlier, many of the existing documentaries simply make fun of professional cuddling services without going much deeper into why someone might seek a service like this out or what the emotional landscape of a cuddling session actually entails. I think many people go in to the film expecting a joke-a-thon, and come out with a much more introspective reaction than they anticipated having.
One of the other pieces of feedback that I have consistently gotten is that people have found themselves thinking about the film days later. Although the topic itself sounds kind of light and silly--and even the word "cuddle" implies a certain amount of frivolity, I do think that the film strikes people in deeper places than they were expecting.
Some of the scariest feedback to receive as a documentary filmmaker is that of your subjects, who have been brave enough to make themselves vulnerable (and put up with endless hours of your camera in their face). I recently received a letter from Steve about how his thoughts had evolved on his own work, which I'd like to honor here (paraphrased):
"What I have discovered is that touch, particularly reciprocal touch, is a tool for well-being. My work approaches it in a particular way, but there are many ways to express care through touch. We need ongoing access to touch to thrive and sustain the benefits that it delivers. My response to the question you pose in the film is: One would never expect for all our problems to be repaired by a therapist in a couple of sessions (or ever), as one won't be cured permanently from loneliness from a couple of sessions with me, though they may well feel powerfully opened up from the experiences and newly appreciative both of the value of being held, as well as the quality of connection and vulnerability that is expressed there."
One of my fears going in to the film is that some people would be turned off by the topic. I understand that it can be hard for some people to accept that these types of services are not sexual in intent. I worried that people would be too distracted by that to pay attention to the (in my opinion) much more fascinating and nuanced emotional story I was interested in telling. I am delighted that most people seem to understand that the story is about something deeper.
(And honestly, if I had wanted to make a film about a rub-and-tug, I would have just *made* the film about rub-and-tugs. It would have been a lot easier and more straightforward!)
Every documentary has hours and hours of great footage that gets left on the cutting room floor. Although I strive to be as truthful as I can, the final product is inevitably filtered through my unique point of view. Every camera, editorial, and sound choice involves including some details at the expense of others--and thus my representations are not and can never be truly objective. Hearing feedback inevitably challenges my point of view for the better. It forces me to justify why I chose to craft the story that I did through the means by which I did it.
I'd love to connect new viewers with my film. Reaching the widest possible audience is always the goal--after all, I made the film to be seen!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film's message?
We would love to screen the film at more festivals, as well as have more press coverage in order to increase the number of people interested in the film.
Critical accolades and film festival acceptances have been amazing. We recently were fortunate enough to receive the award for Best Short at the American Documentary Film Festival. My favorite type of reception, however, happened at a recent festival screening. After one of the showings of the film, an audience member found me in the theater's foyer, gave me a huge hug, and just took a second to cry in my arms. Knowing that the film made a real difference for at least that one person was priceless.
On a separate note, I would love to generally spread the word about the existence of professional cuddling. This type of service may not be a great solution for everyone--but there are definitely people out there who would greatly benefit from professional cuddling and simply do not know that it is an option.
What's a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What does having a meaningful connection with another human being entail?
Thanks so much to everyone featured in the film for opening up to me and trusting me with your stories. Thanks so much to all my hardworking creative collaborators for making this project possible.
What are you developing or working on now?
Sara Joe (director) is directing her first feature documentary. The film is currently in the middle of production. Alix (cinematographer) will be the cinematographer for this project as well.
Director: Sara Joe Wolansky
Producer: Sara Joe Wolansky
About the writer, director and producer:
Sara Joe Wolansky is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who crafts stories that blur the line between comedy and tragedy. More information about her work is available at www.sarajoewolansky.com
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above :)
Funders: Kickstarter
July 23, 2016 /Carmela Baranowska


This stylised tree sculpture is realised in Sui's signature style where the final form is achieved through a single ""twist"" of clay before being cast in stainless steel. The clay's malleability results in a form which is both soft and rich in movement; so how apt is the title of Cloud Tree! The sculpture's rhythmic upward spiral thus poetically reflects the steady influx of cars and people to the tower, signifying prosperity and aspiration to a higher plane.


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Tech & InternetView in App
Google in talks to buy social media platform ShareChat
Social media firm may be valued at about $1.03 billion; founders may retain a small stake; current investors likely to exit
By Surabhi Agarwal, ET Bureau | Updated: Nov 24, 2020, 10:18 AM IST
Google is in preliminary talks to acquire regional language social media platform ShareChat, according to two people privy to the development. The Bengaluru-based startup, which also counts Twitter as an early backer, could be valued at about $ 1.03 billion, sources said.
The internet giant is currently conducting a due diligence exercise after having signed a term sheet or non binding proposal with ShareChat, said the people cited above who also confirmed the appointment of bankers to oversee the negotiations.
"The founders ( of ShareChat) may retain a small stake post the deal", said one source, adding that all the existing investors in the five-year old startup will exit the company, if the sale negotiations with Google fructify.
Earlier in September, ShareChat raised $40 million from a slew of investors taking its total funds raised to $264 million. People aware of the details told ET that the startup was last valued at about $650 million.
"More funds will be required if the company expands globally taking the platform to countries in the Middle East," the source said.
"It is a good time to sell since this is a money intensive business. There is a lot of capital required to get music licenses, influencers etc. Moreover, it is a very competitive market to be in with the launch of so many players," the person added.
ShareChat declined comment on the developments, while a representative for Google said, "we do not comment on rumours or speculation."
Earlier this year, Alphabet-owned Google earmarked $10 billion for investments in India and began by putting in $4.5 billion investment in Reliance Jio Platforms for a 7.73% stake. The deal was recently approved by India's competition watchdog the Competition Commission of India (CCI)
For the American search giant, a successful buyout of ShareChat will provide an entry into the Indian social media space, especially the short-video format that has recorded phenomenal growth after China's ByteDance-owned Tiktok galvanised the market triggering a spate of clones.
ShareChat, founded by IIT Kanpur graduate Ankush Sachdeva along with Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh has gained enormously in the six months since the ban on TikTok by the Indian government. Its monthly active users has now catapulted to 160 million and it offers content in some 15 Indian languages. While Moj, the short video format that it launched in July has garnered about 80 million users according to industry estimates.
Following the ban on Tiktok, there has been a spate of launches in the short video format space. This includes apps such as MX TakaTak by Times Internet's MX Player and Josh by DailyHunt. Facebook brought in Reels, while Google introduced Shorts making this a hyper-competitive segment.
ET had reported in August that ShareChat is looking to raise fresh funding of $150-200 million and is in discussions with investors and technology companies including Google and Microsoft along with existing investors.
Subsequently, ShareChat raised a pre-Series E round of $40 million from investors such as Pawan Munjal, chairman of Hero MotoCorp, DCM Shriram Promoters Family Office, SAIF Partners, Twitter, Lightspeed Ventures and India Quotient. The funding was said to be earmarked to drive growth for Moj, the newly launched short video platform.
Twitter had previously led ShareChat's Series D funding round with additional backing by SAIF Partners, Lightspeed Ventures and India Quotient.
Google has earlier said that it will invest in India through a mix of investments and partnerships over the next five to seven years as it aims to consolidate its position in the country, which is emerging as the largest Internet economy in the world with close to 700 million Internet users.
In Video: Google in talks to buy social media platform ShareChat
ShareChat names Ajit Varghese as its Chief Commercial OfficerDec 09, 2020, 11.48 AM IST
ShareChat acquires HPF Films for undisclosed amountSep 16, 2020, 02.24 PM IST
ShareChat |Short videos |google |acquisitions |social media |Google India
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