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Homethriller
The House on Pine Street
October 3, 2016 October 3, 2016 tom drama, Horror, thriller, US	horror, thriller
The House on Pine Street.
Directed by Aaron and Austin Keeling (more known for their short movies) An interesting idea which ultimately lets itself down by giving us too much and tool little at the same time, creating a movie which is a mixed bag of everything. A young couple recov ering from issues which reveal themselves as the movie goes on, move in to a house in a sleepy Kansas sub-urban town. Here immediately the film falls for its biggest weakness, cliché; as the couple is introduced to us arriving at the home, the host/estate agent is the type of mono-syllabic character Which makes Lurch (Adams Family 1964) seem carefree and reckless, as it turns out he was a red-herring, appearing nowhere else for the film.
We find out that Jennifer (Emily Goss) is 7 months pregnant and has agreed to move back to her home town with her partner while he takes a temporary job locally. Straight away the scene is being set as we see the house deliberately set to look suitably old and scary. Which is fine except, one room is perfect and nicely restored, while the hallway etc. has bubbling peeling paint. Nothing much happens at first, then little things start to happen, but only as long as we the watcher sees them. As the house continues to make its presence felt, the stresses build up for Jennifer. Stresses which are not helped by her over-bearing mother. It turns out her mother arranged the house and job, despite the two of them barely being on speaking terms. As Jennifer is drawn deeper in to the horror of the house, the others (including some local friends of her mother) are more and more inclined to believe it is Jennifer, and not the house which is the issue. It also does not help, that as her hate of the house and her surroundings grows, her husband (Taylor Bottles), is settling in to town and has accepted a full-time position.
This could have been an excellent movie, but there was nothing new in the offering, if the writers had decided not to actually show the entity, it might have been a better movie, as it would have kept the mental terror whole. The tension between Jennifer and her mother (Cathy Barnett) is perhaps a little too much given the already occupied story-line. Somewhat cluttered in its presentation, leaving the viewer to try and catch-up a number of times, it could have tried to do its own thing.
The film builds to its ultimate end, not a million miles from expected and so not reaching too high an achievement. The Taking of Deboragh Logan (Adam Robitel, 2014) was a much better piece of work. Over all a familiar take of a familiar story, which could have been much more interesting.
Overall a "Middle of the road" 2.5/5 (I could not stretch to 3)
June 9, 2015 June 9, 2015 tom Cyber crime, thriller, US	Cyber crime, Michael Mann, thriller, US
If I was writing a school report from this movie, I would probably write "Could do better…". It is not a bad movie, but given who is involved, I was expecting more. Directed by Michael Mann (Public Enemies, 2009), I came away with the feeling the effort that should have been put in to the movie was not used. Despite the name this is simply a police procedural, thriller type movie with relatively little in the way of "techno-plot" indeed given some of the errors and continuity breaks I think those involved perhaps did not have the technical know-how to close out the movie from a plot perspective.
The movie opens with an excellent graphics sequence (possibly a highlight) showing code being sent to a computer which turns off a fan at a Chinese nuclear power station and causes a breach (they said meltdown at one stage, but if it was, there would not have been people running around the site in civilian clothes just days afterwards). Shortly after the commodities markets in New York are hacked and feedstuffs a spiked netting a $75m profit for our bad guy. While working on the nuclear a Captain, Chen Dawai, (Leehom Wang, My Lucky Star, 2013) in the PLA (a rising Princeling judging by his description) he recognises some old code he is responsible for, he along with his old room mate in college, Nick Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth, Thor 2011), who just so happens to be doing a prison sentence for hacking some banks and costing them about $50m, depending on which part of the movie we refer to, he is either doing 13 or 15 years in prison for this.
Long story short, Hathaway is released on furlough after Captain Chen links with the FBI and his Network engineer sister ( Wei Tang, The Golden Era, 2014). Despite initial reservations the FBI lead investigator, Carol Barrett ( Viola Davis, The Help, 2011) sees their worth and backs them as they end up following clues around the Far-East.
Eventually Hathaway puts the clues together, not so much from his cyber skills as from his ability just to stand back and look at the complete picture.
If you ant to look at this movie with any sense of seriousness, you will be disappointed, if however if you like a movie with people running all over the place, shooting everybody and anybody while seemingly never getting in trouble, then you will love this.
There are a number of huger plot holes – if you are trying how to disable a pump PLC system , you don't need to find one of the pumps at a nuclear power plant, which will raise headlines. Speaking of PLCs (Programmable Logic (not Launch) Controllers are a fairly basic piece of kit that even I was programming when in college a generation ago, so no big challenge there. There are also a number of continuity errors, in Tshirts changing colour, stains on suits suddenly disappearing etc.
Hathaway who is supposedly a SW genius does some funny stuff like use a browser/domain name to indicate an IP address (dodgy) and I'm not going to ask when he got in to an illegal server farm, how he managed to find the drive he needed and hack it.
As a chase-'em, shoot 'em up movie it works, but anybody with more than an ounce of engineering or coding skills is going to be entertained much. The closing scenes in Jakarta also strain the imagination, it is noteworthy how many people ignored gun & knife toting westerners as they possessed along the road with their torches. I also have a problem with the "little things". After arriving in Malaysia (illegally) they seemed to have no shortage of ready cash and indeed in the closing scenes Hathaway actually takes €5000 out of his, supposedly secret Swiss bank account; two things in the few hours he was in Malaysia, how did he mange to get his bank card (there nothing to suggest he had this or other private belongings prior to the last arrival), oh and why use Euro when going to Switzerland, rather than Swiss Francs.
I started off giving this a *** rating but the more I think about it, and how unconvincing the movie was from both a characterisation and technology perspectives I have to revise down to **. This might be a little harsh, but like I said at the beginning "could do better". A final comment is the effect of mixing the digital and 35mm camera work, hmm – small doses please, it was certainly over used and grated a few times.
Caché (Hidden) (2005)
January 13, 2015 January 13, 2015 tom french, Haneke, thriller	Daniel Auteuil, France, Julliette Binoche, Michael Haneke, thriller
This work from Michael Haneke (The White Ribbon, 2009) opens with a street view which we soon discover is actually video footage of a couple which was left on their doorstep. Why was this done, is somebody playing a prank on the couple or is something more sinister brewing. The couple, Georges (Daniel Auteuil, The Widow of Saint-Pierre, 2000) is a TV host while his wife Anne, (Juliette Binoche, An Open Heart, Mila, 2013) ) who works in publishing. Anne thinks a fan of Georges is responsible for the recordings.
This is only the beginning though. They soon after receive another recording , wrapped in a gruesome picture of a child vomiting blood, the same picture which is sent to their young son. As the tension surrounding these events grows, Georges again receives a new communication, this one leads him to his childhood home.
As George tries to get to the bottom of the hidden secret he descends to an almost comical version of himself. The Search for answers brings us to Majid (Maurice Benichou, La Grande vie, Kowalski, 2009) an old childhood friend who provides us with evidence of a dark past impacting today's life.
This is a Haneke film, so it need not be shot in a tried and tested conventional manner. He does not necessarily follow the chronology of the story, often mixing scenes, showing clips out of time, but which ultimately build to the conclusion.
What makes this film so significant is its use of allegory, much of the film can be seen as a reflection on aspects of France's colonial past. The cinematography is essential to the film, with Haneke daring to use full takes which work to build the scene rather than just carry forward the story.
This thriller is based on a mysterious event, from the start we are left to ask the questions, it takes up on to the very last scene before we can say the question has been answered and that which was hidden revealed. What past secrets do we carry with us, hidden from the world?
There is something very Hitchcockian about this movie, it is the mystery which drives us with the characters and cinematography being carefully sculpted to tell a story. It must be watched in full to appreciate just how well it works. The fact that the primary actors are two of Frances greatest in their profession also helps deliver a very worthwhile movie.
**** and a bit more.
January 5, 2015 January 5, 2015 tom American, New Reporting, thriller	Jake Gyllenhaal, Los Angeles, Nightcrawler, Rene Russo, thriller
Nightcrawler opens by introducing us to a young man, Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal, End of Watch, 2012) looking for an income and work. We very quickly get a picture of him as he sells stolen metal to a building site. Using negotiating skills he observed/learned from others he tries to maximise his income. Trying to turn the situation to his benefit he asks for a job, only to be refused, pushing for roles, the site-supervisor tells him out-right that he will not hire a thief.
As he tries to make a living he come across an accident being filmed by a stringer, Joe Loder (Bill Paxton, Edge of Tomorrow, 2014) who fills him in on what is happening. This is something Louis thinks he can do. Buying a new camera (financed through the theft of a sports bike) he begins to film accidents and issues using a police scanner to get to incidents. Trying to always stay one step ahead of the others he meets and develops a working relationship with Nina (Rene Russo Outbreak, 1995) , a night news director at a local news station.
As each night progresses he learns from those around them and shamelessly robs ideas from them always trying to stay ahead. As part of his attempts to move forward he interviews and hires an young out-of-work assistant, Rick (Riz Ahmed, Four Lions, 2010) on what can only be described as "slave-labour" terms. The interview process and subsequent interaction shows us in no uncertain manner just what kind of guy Bloom is.
As business grows for Bloom we see that it is on the back of others, always moving forward and quite happily at the expense of others. As we see the relationship with Nina develop we are left sitting in a mix of shock and wonder. This is clearly a man whose moral compass is different to ours. The increasingly complex relationship with Nina is mirrored in his relationship with Rick, his assistant. In no "legitimate" organisation would Bloom's behaviour be acceptable but young Rick is desperate and needs the job.
Bloom is a person who sees a problem and works to a solution, regardless of whether or not the solution is ethical or legal.
This approach to those around him leaves us considering if Bloom is actually sane. Those around him question likewise. The movie develops along with Bloom to the extent that when he decides to take a very unconventional step with life-changing consequences we firmly see just how twisted he is. As he says himself, his issue may not be that he cannot communicate with people but that he does not like people. Beating the police to a home invasion Bloom discovers more than he bargained for. Breaking into the house he films ultra graphic scenes of the murder, but also captures the images of the murders (which he does not release to the police or other media). Thinking only of his advancement "to the next level" bloom orchestrates a series of moves which entail him avoiding police arrest (for being on the scene) and ultimately tracking down the people responsible for the home-invasion so that he can film the arrest and gain more prestige in the industry. A move that has tragic consequences.
Is this movie good? It is okay. Is Jake Gyllenhaal any good in the movie? He is brilliant. This is probably Gyllenhaal's most significant acting role, watching the movie I see Louis Bloom not Jake Gyllenhaal. The one weakness I would have is the treatment of Rick by Bloom, surely no employee could be so hard-up as to continue for as long as he did with Bloom, paid so little and abused so much. The dialogue is excellent through-out with Gyllenhaal's Bloom fully succeeding in creating a character we dislike EVERY time he opens his mouth.
Rene Russo's Nina is a very smart character, an ideal foil to Bloom. The developing relationship is worked to a surgical precision, with the relationship echoing closing the unfolding events, events which lead up to the high-octane denouement.
With a different cast this movie could have been a poor reflection of itself, as it stands it has been tightly directed with a cast who were able to deliver more than just the lines required of them. The characterisation is key to this film, with events working to supply the characters with the ammunition needed to portray the roles just as needed.
This is a **** Movie. There are certain plot gaps which I felt took away from the "perfect" label many have attached to this movie, but don't let that take away from the experience, it is an excellent film.
December 1, 2014 tom art-house, drama, thriller	Ethan Hawke, Predestination, thriller, time travel
An excellent all round piece of work.
Written and directed by Peter and Michael Spierig, the team behind Daybreakers (2010). Time travel has been conquered, at least to a limited extent based on a time zero in the early 1980's. From this time limited travel over a period of 53 years is possible. However the time travel take its toll on those who travel, slowly degrading them physically and mentally. The number of jumps in time is regulated and overseen. The time travel itself is secret and limited to 12 agents in the Temporal Bureau, the travel is controlled and monitored, with strict rules about missions and and deviations from missions. The impact of travel is carefully monitored. Noah Taylor (Lawless, 2012) plays the part of Mr. Robinson, the shadowy figure who seems to interweave the lives of our protagonists, his role and influence becoming clearer as the story progresses.
The Story opens with an agent (Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight, 2013) trying to stop a bomber detonating his latest effort when the arrest goes wrong and the agent is blown-up and nearly killed, such are his injuries that his have needs to be reconstructed. The reconstruction allows him time to get ready for his last case, the travel back to hunt for the "Fizzle " bomber, a serial bomber whose works have been escalating to the extent that in March 1975 he killed almost 10,000 people in New York.
Our agent recovers and returns to the time as a barman, he he meets a woman a single mother (Sarah Snook Sleeping Beauty, 2011), with a fascinating story, one she says cannot be beaten. The story details her unique life from the day she was dropped off in an orphanage and the various struggles she had fitting in (her younger self played by Freya Stafford) right up to her adult life and the challenges she has faced. We see how these challenges have quite literally shaped her. The agent listens and actually offers her a a chance to make do a wrong, a chance she finds unbelievable, she takes him up on the offer. He lets slip a little detail of her life, how did he know this, he explains it away, but we are warned.
Pretty soon, it becomes obvious that things are not as they seem. This is a thriller, one where suspense is not a dirty word. I am tempted to say there are a number of twists to this move with plot developments coming left, right and center, but that would be to do the film a dis-service. This plot is one of the most well thought-out I've come across in years, there are not twists in the plot so much as well directed curves which ultimately lead us to the climax.
I cannot say too much because to say anything risks giving away an excellent plot. This is a film where all of the aspects must come together for it to work. The script is tight, remarkably so, the cinematography is aligned perfectly to the plot developments, with the subtle stylization for the different time periods. Movies with twists are often just average movies where a writer or producer etc. decides something else is needed. Here there is nothing else needed. This is a carefully plotted story which brings you along .
If you are the type to run about in and out to the kitchen making coffee or pop corn during a movie, then this one is not for you. Once you turn on this film you need to sit down and watch it through. This is a story with no space fillers or padding. It is brilliantly executed. A lot cold be said to analyze this film and the subject of time travelling paradoxes, but that would ruin the experience of the movie. That said it would be no harm to understand the concepts of the paradoxes.
November 17, 2014 November 17, 2014 tom drama, Hollywood, thriller	Brooklyn, James Gandolfini, Mob, The Drop, Tom Hardy
Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini, Enough Said, 2013), runs a neighbourhood bar, which he used to own until about 10 years previous, when the Chechen mob took it from him. He is aided in running the bar with his cousin Bob ( Tom Hardy, Locke, 2014) who is calm quiet individual, who might be taken for being slow of the mark, but may not be a quiet as he seems. The bar is a mob "drop" bar where once selected for a given night, is the drop point for mob bookies through the city. One particular night, with no special drops, the bar is raided and about $5K stolen. As a result of a head injury to one of the staff, an ambulance is called and so the police. Bob let's slip that one of the robbers had a broken watch, this turns out to be a vital clue. The detective, Torres (John Ortiz, Fast and Furious, 2006) who is assigned the case turns out to be a regular mass goer in the same church as Bob. Being a detective, he has noticed Bob never takes Communion, he asks Bob about this, but gets no answer, is there something deep and dark in Bob's past?
As he is dealing with the fall-out from the robbery, he comes across an abandoned and injured puppy in a woman's rubbish bin, through rescuing the puppy, he gets to know the woman in question, with a delicate fledgling relationship begins. Before it can develop, things take a negative turn. It turns out the puppy was owned by a local thug, Eric Deeds, (Blood Ties, 2013) who also happens to be the ex-boyfriend of the woman in question, Nadia (Noomi Rapace, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, 2009). Deeds has been recently released from prison/psychiatric hospital and is widely believed to have cold-bloodily killed a former gang leader and general all-round nasty thug some years ago, this belief has given Deeds a reputation he is happy to live up to.
It soon becomes clear that there was something more behind the robbery, Bob tries to steer a straight line, surviving by keeping his head down, minding his own business and doing nothing to annoy the Chechens.
At first glance we see parallels to the character Hardy played in Lawless (2012) in both cases we see a man getting on with life, quiet and thoughtful, a thinker. Hardy is to be acknowledged as playing two similar roles but managing to give completely different characters; Forrest was confident and sure is what he was doing, he did not speak because he did not need to. Bob on the other hand comes across as a man not so sure of himself, even taking on the "Responsibility" of the puppy is a matter of concern for him.
AS the plot develops and pressure starts to mount, we learn there is to be an added complication; the bar is to be the drop bar for the mob on Super-bowl night, the biggest money night of the year. Will it be robbed again? One of the original thieves was found and executed with the money returned. However our friend Deeds is involved somehow. As the situation develops, Bob takes precautions to first and foremost protect himself. The night of the big match arrives, and things get complicated, caught up between Deeds, Nadia who is forced there by the more and more deranged Deeds needs to be protected and against all of this is the underlying threat to his dog, which he is not taking lightly. The night unfolds with nothing going to plan. Secrets are revealed, and justice meted out, but to whom.
Hardy is the star of the show, once again transforming himself to the role, Gandolfini plays to his type (excellently, as was his way).
It is a firm 3 star show, nothing overly wrong with it, a lot right with it, but just missing that little extra to make it stand out. Also the role of Detective Torres role comes across as under played. Yes the detective put "two and two " together to realise the secret of an old mystery and yes he develops a relationship with Hardy but it seems almost like an add-on, maybe suffering a little in editing. There is a certain something missing for some of the film, but noting serious.
Atmospheric and well set, it will keep you entertained. Written by David Lehane (Mystic River, 2003) we can see how Lehane again is able to use the edginess of the situation to move along the story and give a sense of menace to the background which does not need to be overly stated.
November 5, 2014 November 5, 2014 tom Ben Affleck, Carrie Coon, David Fincher, Gone Girl, kidnap, Kim Dickens, Neil, Patrick Harris, Rosamund Pike, thriller, Tyler Perry	Ben Affleck, Carrie Coon, Gone Girl, Rosamund Pike, triller, tyler Perry
This is a movie which initially left me thinking if this is a good or bad movie. It grew on me as it progressed and turned in to a thriller I was happy to watch. Not the best movie ever made but far from the worst. It reminded me of the old Noir thrillers such as Dial M for Murder (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) or Joan Crawford's What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962). Ben Affleck (Argo 2012) is the ordinary everyday guy who, on the day he is celebrating his 5th wedding anniversary, comes home to scene of a struggle in his house and his wife missing. The events take place the town of North Carthage a sleepy backwater which is a mirror to the busy New York lives Affleck and his wife lived prior to coming to the town (for personal and economic reasons). Following the initial call from Affleck's character, Nick Dunne, the police wonder if all is not quite what it seems. The missing wife Amy (Rosamund Pike, A Long Way Down, 2014) is actually the inspiration for a children's book character by her parents. Upon hearing of her missing the Parents come to town and quickly set-up a volunteer network to find their daughter. Through a series of flash-backs we see how Nick and Amy met, and eventually ended up back in small town North Carthage. This also allows us to get to know the missing wife and sets the scene for the action to unfold as the movie progresses. The tension between Nick and Amy's parents is palatable if under played, very nicely done. As with any detective story we are immediately fed with a collection of possible suspects and a town who is growing increasingly hostile to Nick and his sister as they are suspected of Amy's disappearance. The deliberate clues being left behind don't help the situation either. As is always the case we begin to get the self-opinionated locals with this own theories as to what happened. In the middle of all this is Detective Rhonda Boney ( Kim Dickens, Sons of Anarchy, 2013-14) who does not let the emotions of the small town crowds cloud her judgement. She is looking for a missing woman. Having been a suspect, events unfold and Nick is eventually released again, such is the objective nature of Detective Boney, that Nick at one stage turns to here and asks "so we are friends again?" Her response is a calm, yes, now that she is happy he is not guilty. As the search progresses we start to see cracks appear in the perfect marriage between the Dunnes, we also learn of the history of people and their romantic pasts. Nick Dunne is originally from the town and spends a good deal of his time with his sister, who unwittingly becomes involved in the evolving situation. As the situation descends Nick is forced to hire an expensive New York lawyer, Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry, The Single Moms Club, 2014) to protect himself. The only other person Nick has on his side is his sister, Margo (Carrie Coon, Intelligence, TV, 2014) with whom he shares ownership of a bar, "The Bar" in town. It also does not help Nick's cause that his perfect marriage, has a kink in it, both husband and wife are feeling the tension in their marriage and we later learn Nick might have been doing something he should not have. However things are not as they seem and as the movie progresses we see the true crime reveal itself through the deliberate clues placed previously by his wife, Amy. This movie may place the character of "Amy" as one of the better Noir characters full stop. The support cast with the likes of Neil Patrick Harris (The Muppets, 2011) is excellent, such is the picture painted of Harris's character even before we meet him that it (deliberately) shadows our opinion of him right to the end, as the movie unfolds his past is something that sits in the shadows waiting to come out. I would love to tell you about the movie, but there are so many twists and turns that anything said will impact the story. With some movies twists are thrown in to try to keep the audience engaged and sometimes look purely as an attempt to keep the audience. Here the twists are an essential part of the plot without making it feel laboured or drawn-out. I had certain concerns about this movie starting off, but they quickly disappeared. The movie is directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, 1991, The Social Network, 2010), his experience shows, we are brought along as the plot and characters develop. Rating a solid 7/10, not perfect, but not bad and it keeps us well entertained, drawing us in to the continuously unfolding story. Just as we get to one level or accept a twist, there is another one quickly following behind. The Screenplay is written by Gillian Flynn, who also wrote the novel as a result the team knew the movie they wanted to make and did so. Watch it and enjoy it.
October 5, 2012 October 5, 2012 tom Action, European, thriller	Europe, hooligans diamonds, London
This is a capable piece of entertainment, at times it perhaps attempts to be something greater than it is, but overall enter taining. Director by Frank Harper (This is England, 2006) who also co-wrote thje screenplay with Urs Buehler who up to now has been mainly technically involved in movie projects supporting camera and electrical work. Harper also stars in the production as Micky Mannock. Micky together with his cousin Ray Collishaw (Craig Fairbrass, London's Burning, 1990). Craig wants to get out of the family business, His cousin Micky who runs the business with him agrees to buy him out.
This is where the trouble starts. Needing a sizeable amount of cash quickly Micky agrees to smuggle in a drugs load for the Netherlands. This is where things go badly wrong. Firstly he is working with Russian Mafia who life up to all of the stereo types for violence. This is a fight on the boat over – the boat is capsized in a storm and the Russian on board is shot.
As a result of this, the Russians want vengeance for their man, along with their £20 million; this would be troublesome enough except for the fact that they also have the police after them in the guise of two of Scotland Yard's finest Inspector Nixon (Jamie Foreman, Layer Cake, 2004) and his subordinate, Proctor (Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers, 2002).
This all leads to a spot of bother where the two cousins need to raise the necessary cash and try also guarantee their safety. In order to buy themselves some time they engage the services of Trenchard, (Charles Dance (Michael Collins, 1996), a London underworld kingpin who is in a position to negotiate a truce and make arrangements for the cousins to pay back the money.
Paying back the money is the problem, but crime partner Albert Ball (Vincent Regan, Troy, 2004) who arranged the original shipment and is based in Amsterdam knows of a blood diamond smuggling route via one of the carriers. Working with the cousins they begin to formulate a plan for the diamonds.
In order to get the diamonds they piggy back to Europe with other family members and friends who happen to be football hooligans on their way to a match in Europe for an organised fight at it's fringes.
Using the fight as cover they hatch a plan to rob the diamonds and get out of trouble. The Russians and the police close behind them thanks to an informer add more pressure than is needed. What unravels is a decent crime caper with a well-populated supporting cast. It perhaps looks to its background alongside movies as The Football Factory etc. but perhaps it also has pretensions to classics such as The Long Good Friday (John MacKenzie, 1980), it falls short here. It should be said in their defence; TLGF is a very high target to aim for.
The many twists have a feel of Deus ex-machina after a while, where one wonders if they are used to strengthen plot weaknesses.
Rating 6/10 an entertaining yarn which should keep gangster and underworld movie fans happy. All of the clichés are here and the movie very much panders to the jack-the-lad London image of rough diamond jingoism masking as patriotism.
October 5, 2012 tom Action, drama, English, European, thriller
Directed by two first timers; James Nunn and Ronnie Thompson, they take their experience and create a very passable offering. Once you have overcome certain hurdles with the setting first.
The setting is that of working class estate tower block which is being emptied with the residents moved else where. This comes on the back of a murder about a year previously where the killers got away because the local would not help the police.
As the film opens we are given small glimpses of our main characters, a drunk, some thug, working families, single mums and generally ordinary people As our "heroes" wake up one seemingly uneventful morning only to have a sniper fire in through their windows and start killing whoever he sees.
This, obviously, brings the survivors out to the corridor where they size what happed. Stopping here to reflect for a moment we need to forget the logistical issues, for example a tower block with residents only on one side, and those residents are on the top floor, the Health and Safety guys could make a whole other movie out of that.
I had to get that out of my system. Once the shooting starts and the cast come together we have real start of the movie. Within seconds it is obvious, we are not talking (Attack the Block , 2011 ) where our heroes defend the block (and the Earth) against terrifying aliens, of even (Dredd, 2012) where he battles out major urban warfare both something more subtle. I was immediately put in mind of Lifeboat (Hitchcock, 1944) or Das Experiment, 2001).
What we have here is not a lecture in social ethics and morals, it raises the questions and answers them through the various cast members, we are then allowed to almost "judge" the characters by how they respond to being trapped and frightened.
Jack O'Connell (Skins, James Cook, 2009) plays the local yob Kurtis, who a day previous was forcing extortion money from his neighbours such as Becky (Sheridan Smith, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, 2001), a single women going about life as best she can. It should be noted that Smith flawlessly transitions from her normal comedy roles, as a matter of fact a number of the cast are better known for their more humorous roles.
As the story develops and people get killed we get shown more and more of the personalities of the people involved. Russell Tovey (Grabbers, 2012, see below) plays a lonely depressed alcoholic trying to come to terms with life, while Ralph Brown (Killing Bono, 2011) plays Neville a retired soldier who together with his wife just wants a quiet life. In the chaos following the initial shootings it falls to him to deal with Kurtis.
This is a good and very watchable ensemble piece which thankfully stops short of patronising us. The supporting cast is made of some of the UK's better known young actors and this definitely helped. What we have here is our cast trying to escape and in so doing needing to overcome the physical obstacles of the building, traps by the sniper and their own selves.
We are brought along as much by the characters as by the movement of the film itself. I am deliberately being vague about the plot; simply put the survivors need to escape, overcoming the sniper, themselves and their environment. This had the potential to be bad but managed to escape it
6/10 engaging movie which knows where to hold back and not patronise to the audience any more than necessary.
June 19, 2012 tom Hollywood, thriller	Carlotta Valdes, Golden Gate, Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novak, Mission, San Franscisco, Vertigo
Another old classic…
I was recently on an extended business trip to China and knowing I'd need to have a stock of DVD's with me I dug up some old classics to bring along. One of these was Vertigo. It is a number of years since I watched it last and so I thought it was time for a revisit. I've been to San Francisco since I last saw the movie and it was interesting to recognise various locations (such as the Mission Dolores Church and graveyard near the Castro district) .
We of course know the story of a San Franscisco detective, John 'Scottie' Ferguson (James Stewart, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey, 1948) who retired from the force after a case of vertigo during a chase which lead to the death of a fellow officer while trying to rescue our hero as he hung from a roof ledge. While trying to decide what to do with himself, the independently wealthy former detective spends a lot of time talking with ex girlfriend and fiancé Midge Wood -for a short while (Barbara Bel Gedes, Dallas, Miss Ellie Ewing, 1978 – 1990). During the discussions the subject of an old college friend wanting to talk to him pops up.,
Scottie meets this friend, Gavin Elster (The Time Machine, Anthony Bridewell, 1960), who it transpires is quite wealthy, having married in to a shipbuilding family. He asks Scottie to follow his wife Madeleine (Kim Novak, Bell Book and Candle, Gillian Holroyd, 1958) as he thinks she may be ill. Scottie reluctantly agrees to do this and very quickly begins to notice certain odd behaviours. When these are discussed with Gavin Estler, he reveals some of the story behind Madeleine's grandmother, the tragic Carlotta Valdes.
While further watching Madeleine, he tracks her to the Presidio area under the Golden Gate Bridge where she seemingly jumps into the water. He of course rescues her and takes her home to recover. There is a certain tension between them at first, but this soon develops into a relationship with Scottie trying to help Madeleine as much as possible. This help ultimately results in the couple in a small museum village about 100 miles south of San Francisco which is central to the dreams Madeleine is having. Having forced her way into the old church and up the spire tower, Scottie struggles with his vertigo and while trying to get to the top, he hears a scream and sees her fall to her death outside.
Following a harsh coroner's report and the general shock Scottie reverts into himself, suffering from a prolonged depression. While recovering he meets a lady who reminds him of Madeleine. Is all as it seems? A relationship develops here also and as it does certain events begin to link this women to the dead Madeleine and her grandmother Carlotta Valdes.
This culminates back in the same church tower, only this time both are able to climb to the top. Watching this movie with a critical eye, at one stage I suddenly realised I was waiting to see how it ended, as a thriller, it dragged me in and brought me along to the end. Always giving the viewer enough clues to bring you along with Scottie Ferguson, it still leaves you with that small piece of doubt which obviously lingered with Scottie. It is easy with the music, camerawork and story line to see why this film is such as classic.
Rating = 9/10. Nothing is perfect, but this movie well stands the test of time and captures the growing sense of unease felt by our hero.
Aside June 18, 2012 tom European, Hollywood, thriller	De Niro, fraud, Murphy, physics, thriller, Weaver
Dr. Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver, Aliens 1986) and Dr. Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy 28 Days Later, Jim, 2002) are two academics who use both physics and psychology to debunk the myths of physic charlatans. Both a firm believers in controlled academic study and in Matheson's case, despite over 30 years of investigation have never found a genuine physic. We see this skeptiscism stretch also to other departments on the University where they work. Dr. Paul Shackleton (Toby Jones, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Percy Alleline, 2011) is the head of the Scientific Paranormal Research Centre (SPRC) at the university and the constant butt of Matheson's swipes. Such is her lack of respect for his work that when she is asked to view some work which is promising results she debunks the work in the corridor in front of more junior colleagues. Of course this is done objectively and once again seemingly validates her position.
A complication arises in the form of Simon Silver (Robert De Niro Killer Elite, Hunter, 2011), a famous physic who retired from public life 30 years ago following the fatal heart attack of a journalist critic at one of his shows. Now returning to public life, Silver comes to the team's attention. Buckley is eager to go after him but Matheson is somewhat more reticent given the dealings she had with him all those years ago. As the discussion moves forward and events unfurl it seems possible Silver might just be the physic he claims to be, or is he?
Silver agrees to a bank of tests to be conducted by the University's SPRC under Dr. Shakleton. There are still some questions and Buckley has two of his students look over the test footage. They may have found something. The movie builds to a climatic end where we learn more about our key characters, but not before a few twists. I could not help but compare this to a Hitchcock effort and in a number of places I found myself wondering how the maestro would have worked certain scenes better.
Cortés performed well with Buried (2010), but not quite as well here. He does however manage to convincingly portray damp northern US country even though his movie was shot largely in Spain. This is a solid B movie which while not damaging careers, will not do much to enhance them. This said, the saving grace for the movie was the delivery of the laed characters to deliver on what was required, despite possibly miscast. De Niro is possibly a waste in the role he plays, while Murphy is like a hound straining at the leash through most of the movie. Weaver is under-used also. There is also some interesting support work going on. Ben (Craig Roberts, Submarine, Oliver Tate, 2010) works well in his supporting role.
Overall this is a middle-of-the-road movie which mostly brings the audience along, even if we do have to ask ourselves once or twice where exactly it is going.
Rating 5/10, essentially a good old fashioned 3 star but could be close to 2 star only for the quality and work of the lead cast members.


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Malaysia arrests fake police officers providing vehicle escort services
Video of Duo impersonating traffic police nabbed
Jan 6, 2016, 12:43 pm SGT
http://str.sg/ZrvB
KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Pretending to be police officers, they blared their sirens and lights while escorting a VIP convoy of luxury cars in the city centre of the Malaysian capital.
But as they cut their way through the 7pm rush hour traffic while directing cars to make way for their VIP convoy, the situation took a comical turn when the "escort officers" got pulled over by the real police.
As policemen handcuffed them, the VIP convoy consisting of a Chrysler, an Audi and a Mercedes Benz sped off.
The imposters were dressed the part and their CBX 750 Honda motorcycles looked like real patrol officers' vehicles.
"One of them was a fried kway teow seller and another was a security guard," said the police officers as they pulled the imposters' vehicles into the Kuala Lumpur traffic police station.
The two 36-year-old men had been providing "official" outrider services for foreign VIPs, namely from Zimbabwe and China.
They were dressed in yellow and blue jackets that resembled those of traffic officers and had blue and white helmets that looked similar to the ones worn by police.
The motorcycles they rode were retired police vehicles that had been auctioned off and bought by the suspects for RM9,000 (S$2,950) each.
But what unnerved officers most was the extent the two men went to make the vehicles look like real police motorcycles.
"Its exactly the same!" Kuala Lumpur staff officer for traffic investigation and regulation Markandan Subramaniam said as he inspected the vehicles.
The sirens and lights were the exact match of a serving police cruiser and the imposters even attached a "Terima Kasih kerana memberi laluan" (Thank you for giving way) sticker on the back mudflap of the motorcycles.
The only thing missing was the word "Polis" (police) on the vehicle, Deputy Supt Markandan said.
But when officers checked the motorcycles' storage compartments, they were shocked to find two "Polis" stickers, two walkie-talkies and an official luminous yellow police jacket.
The police also found a bottle of soya sauce in the compartment of the fried kway teow seller's motorcycle.
"The suspects claim the jacket belongs to a serving police officer friend who gave it to them. We are looking into that. We are investigating how they obtained the parts to make their vehicles appear like police motorcycles and how long they have been operating like this," DSP Markandan said.
"The reason why we are telling the public this is so that they are aware that there may be people impersonating police officers with vehicles," he added.
If an officer approaches a motorist, he said, members of the public should demand for the officer's police card to verify their identity.
The two suspects are being investigated under Section 170 of the Penal Code for impersonating police officers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The 53-year-old prince was one of 10 people handed jail terms of four to 10 years in connection with an operation which landed two tonnes of cocaine at an airfield outside Paris in 1999. The judge ruled to uphold international arrest warrants against Prince Nayef and the nine other defendants, who include three former Colombian drugs barons.
Prince Nayef was convicted of illegally importing drugs, of complicity in the transport, detention and provision of drugs and of criminal conspiracy. He is accused of using his diplomatic immunity to smuggle drugs to France on board a private jet. A grandson of Saudi Arabia's founding monarch Abdulaziz and son-in-law to the Saudi deputy defence minister, the prince denies any involvement in drug trafficking. A Saudi representative at the hearing said he intended to appeal.
The investigation leading to his prince's conviction began in June 1999, when police acting on a tip-off seized 800 kilos of cocaine with a street value of $30 million a raid near Paris. Prince Nayef - who is alleged to have made contacts with Colombia's Medellin cartel while studying at the University of Miami in the early 1980s - is accused of providing a jet to transport the drugs from Colombia to Paris.


The Japanese Sega Saturn Collection includes 395 (J) Games spanning 26 DVDs. Play all your favorites dating back from 1994 to the final titles ever released. The images can be played using "SSF" and "Satourne" Emulators on the computer or burned to a CD and played on the original console using a modchip or swap disc method. The images are in .bin and .iso format.
The Sega Saturn (セガサターン, Sega Satān?) is a 32-bit video game console that was first released on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe. The system was discontinued in Europe and Australia in 1998, April 1999 in North America, and in 2000 in Japan.


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Mary Briggs Kendall
AUBURN — Mary Briggs Kendall died peacefully at her beloved Brookside Farm in Auburn.
Born in Augusta, the daughter of Henry and May Briggs, Mary spent her childhood in Augusta and her college years at Boston University's Sargent College. A longtime lover of outdoor sports and athletics, Mary was voted the outstanding female athlete in her graduating class of Cony High School and completed her college degree with a major in modern dance. Her early employment was at the Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, R.I., as a dance teacher. She was soon married to her high school sweetheart, Richard Kendall, and together they raised eight children.
Her local involvements included trustee of the Washburn-Norlands Living History Museum, seven years as a teacher in the Auburn public school system; a founding member of Women's Hospital Association, a founding member of the Lost Valley ski school program where she established the children's after-school program. She was an avid dancer, equestrian and holder of multiple state and New England championship titles in women's tennis. There were few sports she didn't love and almost none she hadn't tried.
She will be long remembered for her boundless energy, her love of children and family, her open and cheerful good nature and her deep, kindhearted, joyful love of life.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Richard Kendall; and is survived by her many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, who will miss her indomitable spirit.
auburn maine, Boston University, Cony High School, lost valley, providence, Rhode Island, RI, wheeler
Photos: Slick sailing on Sabattus Pond
— Daily Obituaries —
Know when to
pay your respects.


text:
package org.n52.iceland.event.events;

import org.n52.janmayen.event.Event;

public class AbstractFlowEvent implements Event {
    private final Long eventsGroupId;

    public AbstractFlowEvent(Long eventsGroupId) {
        this.eventsGroupId = eventsGroupId;
    }

    public Long getMessageGroupId() {
        return eventsGroupId;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Uladzimir Uladzimiravič Mackievič (also Uladzimir Matskevich; ; Vladimir Vladimirovich Matskevich, ; born 14 May 1956, Cheremkhovo, Irkutsk Oblast, RSFSR, USSR) is a Belarusian philosopher (methodologist), social and political activist. He was arrested on 4 August 2021 by the Belarusian authorities. Human rights organizations declared him a political prisoner.

Biography
His Belarusian parents were forcibly transferred to Siberia where Mackievič was born. His family was soon rehabilitated and returned to Belarus in 1966. He graduated from the Leningrad State University with a degree in psychology. He was strongly influenced by Georgy Shchedrovitsky and the Moscow methodological circle.

In the late 1980s, he lived in Latvia and participated in perestroika there. In 1994, he returned to Belarus. In 1990s, Mackievič participated in different electoral campaigns as a candidate and as a political technologist. He also consulted 3 parties that merged into the United Civic Party. Charter 97 was also formed with his participation. Mackievič is a longtime critic of Alexander Lukashenko, in 2011 he characterized the political situation as a "personalist dictatorship that established martial law". He supported the protests after 2020 presidential election and called Lukashenko the "illegitimate president". In February 2021, Mackievič welcomed the appearance of the recently published strategy of the joint opposition but criticized much of its content.

In 1994 and 1996, Mackievič participated in the development of two projects of educational reform by request of the Ministry of education of Belarus, but these projects weren't implemented. In 2007, Mackievič participated in the creation of  NGO which is a member of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. He also founded and led the Humanitarian Technologies Agency (). Mackievič together with a sociologist Tatsiana Vadalazhskaya created the "Flying university" () which focused on the development of critical thinking.

He was detained on 4 August 2021. Tatsiana Vadalazhskaya and several other activists related to him were detained on the same day. On 6 August, 8 Belarusian human rights organizations declared him a political prisoner in a joint statement. He was charged with "organizing of actions that grossly violate public order" under article 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus.

On 4 February 2022, Mackievič declared a hunger strike demanding to change the preventive measure to a recognizance not to leave, complete the investigation and set a date for the trial. He also threatened to start a dry hunger strike (refusal to take food and water) on February 15. He stopped his hunger strike on the eve of 16 February after he was visited by the interrogator.

In 2011, he had more than 50 published works.

Further reading
Uladzimir Mackievič's texts and videos
 About three generations of techniques working with public conscience and activity in the political framework
 Special Project "Political techniques in modern authoritarian regimes"(Video with English subtitles)
 The Road Map Of The Belarusan Revolution
 Cultured Politics. Program for the Transformation of Belarus
 Public dialog in Belarus: from grass-roots democracy to civic participation

References

External links
 Faces of EuroBelarus
 Profile, eurobelarus.info
 Library of EuroBelarus that includes several works written by Matskevich
 "Uladimir Matskevich". Contemporary History in Faces / Aliaksandr Tamkovich (2014), pp.267-269

Living people
Belarusian politicians
Belarusian political scientists
Belarusian philosophers
Belarusian educators
1956 births
People from Cheremkhovo, Irkutsk Oblast
Political prisoners according to Viasna Human Rights Centre

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Ceres-Negros retained the Philippines Football League title with three games to spare after a 6-1 demolition of Global Cebu Wednesday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
A hattrick from Bienvenido Maranon and a goal each from Blake Powell, Omid Nazari and Mike Ott propelled the Busmen to their 17th win of the season, jacking up their tally to 54 points.
With the win, the Busmen now hold a 21 point advantage against second place Kaya Iloilo, which has two games in hand. Each team plays 25 matches, which means Ceres' win effectively snuffs out Kaya's challenge.
Unlike last season when Ceres had to beat Global in a one game final after a classification round, the Busmen rolled to the crown as the PFL reverted to the traditional league format.
Relentless throughout their campaign, the Busmen turned on the style when it mattered, firing three spectacular goals in the first half.
Nazari's rocket from the edge of the area in the 39th minute highlighted Ceres' dominance that also saw Maranon open the scoring after a fine ball from Manny Ott. Mike Ott got on the scoresheet with a powerful strike in the 36th minute.
Marwin Angeles pulled a goal back three minutes after the restart, but Ceres flashed its newfound depth to cap the victory.
Flashing their newfound depth, the Busmen also got goals from Powell who scored from the spot in between two more strikes from Maranon.


Key programming details have been announced for the Oscar-qualifying 22nd annual New York International Children's Film Festival, running February 22 through March 17. The Opening Night film will be actor Chiwetel Ejiofor's directorial debut The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, based on William Kamkwamba's memoir, fresh off its Sundance premiere and screening ahead of its Netflix release on March 1. The Opening Spotlight selection screening Feb. 24 will be Juan Antin's animated Andes quest Pachamama. And the 2019 country of honor has been named as the Netherlands.
Making its East Coast premiere at NYICFF, Pachamama is a vibrant 3D CG/2D hybrid film which follows a young shaman-to-be and his friend on an incredible journey as they strive to safeguard the ways of their indigenous people. Director Juan Antin will appear in person on Feb. 24. This film is also set for release via Netflix.
Pachamama (Argentina/Canada/France): Tepulpai is your average kid — headstrong and a bit naughty. It may seem unusual that he has a pet armadillo and wants to be a shaman, but not if you live in the ancient Peruvian Andes like he and his wise friend Naïra do. The two embark on a young heroes' quest to locate their community's stolen treasure and must confront the Inca and newly arrived Spanish to retain their indigenous ways. With a vibrantly-hued palette and Pre-Colombian soundtrack of ancient flutes and condor wings—Pachamama exuberantly celebrates nature, culture, and community.
NYICFF's third edition of its country of focus/partner festival program Friends & Neighbors is being created in collaboration with the Netherlands Consulate General in New York, with the Netherlands' premiere children's film festival Cinekid and EYE International to present a series of shorts by the country's most accomplished live-action, animation and documentary filmmakers for young audiences, as well as highlight new Dutch feature filmmaking for youth. Friends & Neighbors: Netherlands is part of Never Grow Up!, a yearlong initiative bringing an abundance of Dutch film, literature, and performing arts for young people to the United States (dutchcultureusa.com/nevergrowup).
Ticket for the NYICFF go on sale January 10 at www.nyicff.org.


text:
23 US states have now reported at least one coronavirus-related death
On Thursday, officials in Oklahoma have confirmed the state's first death linked to the coronavirus as cases of the virus near 10,000 in the United States.
According to the Tulsa Health Department, a man in his 50s was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday and died a day later.
"It is with great sadness that I confirm that a Tulsa County resident has passed away due to COVID-19," said Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Dr. Bruce Dart. "This is a tragedy for our community. In these unprecedented times, everyone feels the weight of this loss. COVID-19 has impacted our community on a monumental level, but today I ask you to take a moment to pause and recognize that a family has lost their loved one. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."
You will find more infographics at Statista
Oklahoma now joins the growing list of states that have reported deaths in connection with the virus. According to a database kept by Johns Hopkins, at least 23 states have reported at least one death in connection with COVID-19.
According to that same database, there are currently more than 9,400 confirmed cases of the virus. The United States confirmed its 1,000th case of the virus over the weekend.
The numbers in the U.S. have spiked in recent days due to the FDA's much-needed emergency approval of testing methods for COVID-19. Health officials believe the true number of those infected is still likely much higher.
Worldwide, more than 200,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease, and more than 9,000 people have died.


Auto-Sync photos and videos to computer?
I've just switched to AirDroid today since my HTC Sync Manager is having some problems. Is there a way for my phone to automatically sync photos and videos to my laptop so that I can easily have access and backup to those files on my laptop?
Re: Auto-Sync photos and videos to computer?
Sorry, auto sync is not supported now. You need to sync them to your laptop manually.
I have the exact same question. You can double click on a photo on your airDroid app on Mac laptop and under the share icon, click on 'send to iPhoto'. Unfortunately, my Mom says that will take forever to transfer all the photos.
I would appreciate a SME or the AirDroid admin to give us an answer.
How do you transfer more than one file to iphoto?
Update to: Auto-Sync photos and videos to computer?
Since last post is 2yrs old already... I believe AirDroid has worked on -and supposedly solved- the problem of automatically syncronize photos and videos since, although I don´t manage to find the feature still.
As there are several picture/video folders on mobile device and AirDroid only backups 1 single folder...how can one be sure everything is being backuped?
Any update on this topic?!
Do you want to know how to use Backup from phone?
What you have mentioned is clear, as I have already had backuped that DCIM folder of my Android.
´As there are several picture/video folders on mobile device and AirDroid only backups 1 single folder...how can one be sure everything is being backuped`?
MACies are used to ´TimeMachine´, right? Everything automated.
It seems to me that AirDroid is aiming into the right direction but still there is several things to be done manually to make sure ALL data from the phone is backuped, but I may be wrong.
Backuping DCIM does that really include all data like 1) every photo & video-folder 2) contacts 3) music?!
SD-card has to be backuped separately as one can not choose both origins (phone+SD) at the same time, correct?
though automatic backup is activated files do not sync to MAC right away. After I manually touch ´backup´ they do. Would I have to wait longer in order for automatic transfer?


This book takes a ground-breaking approach in explaining transfer pricing in a logical, clear and easy-to-understand way with liberal use of diagrams and practical illustrations. The issue of transfer pricing has put companies with global presence like Starbucks, Google and Apple in the news.
The latest edition of the LexisNexis Annotated Statutes of Singapore Stamp Duties Act is a must-have, timely and authoritative resource for tax practitioners and business enterprises. It is a section by section commentary of the Stamp Duties Act and includes updated and convenient reference information from various sources such as subsidiary legislation, court judgments, case law and IRAS circulars.
The LexisNexis Annotated Statutes of Singapore - Stamp Duties Act 2015 comprehensively explains how stamp duty can impact businesses, families and individuals in relation to documents used in their commercial and non-commercial dealings.
This book is a pioneering, current and in-depth tax publication written by 3 leading tax practitioners regarding the direct and indirect tax implications of the insurance business in Singapore.


text:
Premier Picks
What have Notts County got in store for us next?
by Scott McCarthy share
13/10/2009 | 01:54pm
Football FanCast columnist Scott McCarthy feels that Notts County were crazy to dispense of Ian McParland.
Notts County are fast becoming the laughing stock of world football. Nobody seems to have any idea who is actually behind the clubs Middle-East owners Munto Finance, Sol Campbell joined on a long term contract with the promise of bringing Premiership football to Meadow Lane before walking out after defeat in the glamorous surroundings of Morecambe's Christie Park, and the much heralded Sven-Goran Eriksson could be prepared to follow his former-England centre back out the door if the chance to manage his native Sweden arises.
The latest instalment in the circus that is fast developing on the banks of the River Trent has seen County reward manager Ian McParland for his achievements in taking his side to fifth in the League Two table, four points behind first place Bournemouth with an unbeaten home record and the best goal difference by giving him his P45.
The writing had been on the wall for McParland since the arrival of Eriksson, and not even his status as a popular former player with the County faithful following his 267 appearances over 8 years of distinctive service, and his performances in keeping them away from the trap door to non-league wilderness after years of under-investment could save him from the chop.
So, what next for the Football League's oldest club? Well, it depends what you believe really. Eriksson doesn't want the job and is going to lead the quest to find the right man to take Notts County into the Premiership (presuming, of course, that he isn't to walk out in the next few days for the Sweden job). According to some sources, Roberto Mancini is set to follow up his Serie A titles with Inter Milan by attempting to lead Notts County to League Two glory. Of course, if he does take the job, it will be to "be part of something special", "to build a legacy", to "be committed to taking Notts County to the top". (Delete as applicable – obviously it will have nothing to do with the rumoured £12million wage packet over 5 years). Another candidate being put forward is Steve McClaren, which would be a particularly bizarre move bearing in mind he is doing a pretty good job of rebuilding his reputation with FC Twente.
The trouble with such a high profile manager who is used to top facilities and world class players coming in is that there is a world of difference between a Milan derby at the San Siro and a Tuesday night visit to Saltergate, Chesterfield. Sol Campbell realised he couldn't cope with the drop in standard after one game, and the same questions would have to be asked of such a big name manager taking to the dugout at Meadow Lane. What knowledge does Mancini have of League Two; would his Serie A style of management be able to get results within the rough, nitty gritty style of England's basement league? Probably not.
What County need is a manager with experience of League Two and who knows what they would require to get out of that league. Somebody like Peter Taylor, who has promotions from the bottom two divisions with Gillingham, Brighton, Hull and Wycombe to his name would be perfect. Despite these qualifications, he probably will not even be on the Munto Finance radar – although if Eriksson has any clue on the qualities required to get County out of League Two, he will seriously consider the man he entrusted with the England Under 21 side.
Notts County could do a lot worse than look into the home dugout at the Don Valley Stadium on Saturday when they begin life post-McParland against Rotherham United for an example of what happens when you sack a manager for a bigger name. The new Millers boss Ronnie Moore was replaced with John Barnes at Tranmere despite guiding them to 7th in League One, one place outside the play-offs. Barnes was, despite a disastrous managerial record, deemed the man to take Tranmere forward due to his reputation in the footballing world as opposed to Moore's obvious qualities at doing the job. They now find themselves managerless having had to part company with the ex-Liverpool man following a slide from play-off contenders to relegation candidates.
McParland had the knowledge and the experience to lead Notts County out of League Two and help them take their first steps towards the holy grail of Premier League football. A world class manager will serve them well should they ever get within touching distance of realising that dream, but at this moment in time they may have just got rid of the most qualified man to begin that journey. The footballing world looks on and wonders what on earth the Meadow Lane circus has in store for us next
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text:
In the TEDx glare
On 27th May 2016 I took up an invitation to speak at a TEDx event in Brasov.
I'm used to public speaking and am not usually nervous, at least not once I've stepped on stage and got going. But I was quaking with terror all the way through this – if you see the video, you'll hear my voice shaking as if in the middle of a 7.0 earthquake…
So rather than posting the video here (I'm sure you can hunt it down if you really really want to), I'm posting the text. It's quite long, about 14 minutes as a video. If you read the whole thing, I'd love to hear your feedback.
27 May 2016, TEDx Brasov
Imagination. Creativity. Innovation. All the same thing, aren't they? Actually, no. They're quite different, and you need all three to bring something new to the world.
Employers want ideas people. Problem solvers, innovators, creatives. They know that's where the smart money is. Inventing and reinventing products, processes, management style, that's what keeps a business ahead. Ideas. But ideas aren't enough.
Take me. I'm full of ideas. Great ideas, a lot of them. But I'm lousy at innovation, and I can't make things. And I'm not very confident. And I'm lazy. So most of my great ideas turn to dust. Except with books – and it wasn't till I was 43 that I discovered that I could make books, and loved making books. Not just the words, but the actual objects – the choice of paper, binding, typefaces, all the twiddly bits – books that people liked to hold and read and possess. Of course I needed technical experts to do the bits I couldn't but somehow I knew how to turn a heap of words into something that readers would enjoy reading, what would look good, feel good, smell delicious. Who else loves the smell of new books?
I'm a competent writer – and I'm not a bad cook.
But making things? Handicraft? I'm terrible. I have this detailed image in my head, but I make a horrible mess of creating it. I can't manipulate wood, or fabric, or whatever to make that image a solid reality. For instance – I stand in my wild mess of a garden and have visions – ooh – a climbing rose here, and a tamarisk tree just there, and a fireplace over there, with a bench and a windbreak, and a table with a chessboard in it… The image is crystal clear, 3D, in my head – colours, textures, shapes, everything – but I need a creator to build it for me, because I don't have the magic in my hands.
So… it takes more than one person to give the world something new. Innovation, creativity, imagination. Let's look at those three words. We'll work backwards.
Innovation is putting something new into use, getting it on to the market, getting it out into the world. For example – I've just finished writing a book, so innovation will be the day my book is published, when it's out on the bookshop shelves. (Autumn) For an architect, it might be getting his radical carbon-neutral earthship house on TV. For a mother, it's giving birth to her baby. That's innovation – getting the new thing out.
Before you can put something new out into the world, you have to create it. The word create comes from the Greek word kreas – which means meat, or flesh. So when St John wrote about the Creation: 'In the beginning was the Word….' he was talking about God, the Creator, turning the Word – the nebulous idea – into the world and everything in it. And then his only son: "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us…" Jesus was born. Created as a human.
So, a creative person is someone who turns an idea into reality. Literally, puts meat on the bones of a concept. Brings it to life. Just as a mother grows a child from conception to birth.
Creativity is not the same as being artistic. Of course, artists are creative, but so are some accountants – everyone can take a creative approach to what they do. Often, the 'creative person' is two, three or more people working together. It's very rare that one person has the god-like genius to be good at all three parts of the process, from idea to innovation.
In the 1950s the French artist Yves Klein invented a new colour: International Klein Blue. A blue so intense and vibrant that every molecule of pigment looks as if it has a tiny light inside it. It's extraordinary. Klein had the artistic idea, but needed Edouard Adam, a Parisian art paint supplier, to create it.
In 1915, physics genius Albert Einstein believed that his own theory about gravity would be impossible to prove – and for 100 years, he was right. But this year, at last, scientists created the experiment and proved the impossible – they measured gravitational waves for the first time.
This is creativity – the ability, sometimes the genius, to make a dream come true.
But to make a dream come true, first you need the dream. This is imagination. The idea always comes first.
But lots of people believe they have no imagination. The question that authors get asked more often than any other is: 'where do you get your ideas?' People don't know how to find their imagination, don't know how to exercise it.
So how do we lose that imaginative power? Little kids have no problem. They can play on their own for hours, lost in their fantasy worlds. We encourage them. We play with them, read them fairy stories, take them to see Disney films. Little kids make up songs, draw wild pictures, tell bizarre stories. They have imaginary friends who are as solid and alive to them as their parents are. You did all those things, submerged in your imagination. We all did. Some of us still do…
But then comes school…. and for unlucky kids who don't get good teachers, imagination is put away. From now on, life is all about finding your place in the world, being made to choose one path, and being obedient. They tell us: Stop daydreaming. Stop wasting time. Don't talk nonsense. That's not real. That's wrong. Don't draw outside the lines. Get on with your work. Don't ask stupid questions. Be quiet and do as you're told.
Once we get through the education system, we're spat out into the working world, and unless we're lucky enough to get a good boss, it's: Get a proper job. Don't argue with me. Don't make trouble. That's not the way it's done. Be quiet and do as you're told.
We're educated from the age of five or six, so those messages are drummed into us for a minimum of ten years, usually our whole lives. An added problem is that failure is completely unacceptable. You fail, you're out. Get it right first time. Mistakes will be punished. Do, or don't do – there is no Try. But invention involves a lot of trial and error.
Employers say they want creative people, innovative thinking. But they also want employees to follow company rules, to do as instructed. You see the problem….
Releasing the imagination
But there's good news. Everyone has a rich, living imagination, even if it's locked away in the unconscious. And it doesn't take much to release it.
Now and then I run workshops for people who want to write fiction. Novels, plays, films. They itch to write, but they struggle to think up original stories, original characters. 'Where do you get your ideas?' I spend a day with them, but after three minutes their only struggle is to write fast enough. I give them the key to the cage, and after that I just watch their ideas fly. It's magical. Sometimes it makes me cry. Sometimes it makes them cry. I just love it. And it never fails. Whether they're 12 or 70, it works every time. It's how our brains function. We can't help it. We may be taught to ignore our imagination, because it's uncontrollable (therefore dangerous), but it's there, waiting.
There are lots of theories about creativity and imagination – where ideas come from, the process of invention. You must be alone. You must immerse yourself in experience. You must do this, you must do that. As far as I'm concerned there are no wrong answers. The only rule of the imagination is that there are no rules. It's open, limitless, infinite, cosmic. In your imagination you are godlike – you can do anything, go anywhere, change everything. What's more, it's free, and needs nothing but your dangerously magical head, and time.
The essential factor is curiosity. Ask endless questions. The truth depends on where you're standing, so move. Look at it from different angles. Upside down. Inside out. Question everything. Why? How? Why not? and the really important one: What if?
What if this wasn't normal? What if that hadn't happened? What if I did this instead? What if I push that big red button….?
What if leads to new ideas. Radical ideas, fantastic ideas, idiotic ideas, award-winning, world-changing ideas. From there, it's a creative challenge, and after some mistakes and retakes, with the help of your team, some of those ideas reach the point of innovation.
So which are you: the imaginative ideas person, the magical creator, or the cunning innovator? Who has the skills that you're missing? What could you do with the right team?
Just imagine… Start today. Why not start now?


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Dr. Lynsi Lewis
Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and Registered Yoga Instructor
After receiving her Bachelor of Science from Troy University in Alabama, Lynsi completed years of training at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine before she moved to San Diego to continue her education at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (PCOM), earning her Master of Science and Doctorate in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture.
Lynsi completed her internships at the PCOM clinic, Cancer Center of Encinitas, HIV/AIDS Clinic of UCSD Hospital, and the Integrative Wellness Center located in downtown. While at PCOM, she received advanced training in cosmetic acupuncture and electively studied the Japanese style of acupuncture. She now specializes in mental health, orthopedics, women's health, chronic pain, cupping therapy, oriental massage, herbal medicine, and nutritional counseling.
Her desire is to merge both Eastern and Western medical worlds in order to bring about the highest potential of health for the public. She believes in the future of integrative medicine and has committed her career to building bridges between all healing modalities. She is passionate about empowering her patients with education on self-care practices and disease prevention. She also values evidence-based medicine and strives to research new studies on a case-to-case basis. She has led workshops on "The Science Behind Acupuncture" and enjoys collaborating with primary care providers and other allopathic physicians.
Lynsi is a life-long learner who is dedicated to acquiring new skills and continuously developing improved approaches to healthcare. She views the practitioner-patient relationship as sacred and understands that each learns from one another. Her commitment as a healer extends into her entire community where she volunteers her time and services to better the environment and bring awareness through activism in human and animal rights.