text:
KY Ct. App.
KENNETH MATTINGLY v. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
Court of Appeals of Kentucky.
KENNETH H. MATTINGLY v. COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
NO. 2010-CA-000168-MR
BEFORE: CLAYTON AND KELLER, JUDGES; ISAAC, Double SENIOR JUDGE. BRIEF FOR APPELLANT: Kenneth H. Mattingly, pro se Green River Correctional Complex Central City, Kentucky BRIEF FOR APPELLEE: Jack Conway Attorney General James C. Shackelford Assistant Attorney General Frankfort, Kentucky
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Kenneth Houston Mattingly appeals from a Grayson Circuit Court order which denied his motion made pursuant to Kentucky Rules of Criminal Procedure (RCr) 11.42. Mattingly claims he was denied effective assistance of counsel in considering a plea offer. He further argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the introduction of incriminating evidence and for failing to prepare an adequate defense. We affirm.
Mattingly was convicted by a jury of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unapproved container for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, and being a persistent felony offender in the first degree. He received concurrent enhanced sentences of twenty-five years on the manufacturing and possession charges. His conviction was affirmed by the Kentucky Supreme Court on direct appeal. Mattingly v. Commonwealth, 2007 WL 2404481(Ky.2007) (2005-SC-001919-MR).
Mattingly thereafter filed his RCr 11.42 motion alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. The trial court ordered the appointment of counsel for Mattingly and conducted an evidentiary hearing on the motion on June 26, 2009. On December 22, 2009, the trial court denied the motion in a lengthy order containing findings of fact and conclusions of law. This appeal followed.
In Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), the United States Supreme Court set forth a two-part test to be used in determining whether the performance of a convicted defendant's trial counsel was so deficient as to merit relief from that conviction:
First, the defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient. This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the "counsel" guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Second, the defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. This requires showing that counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.
Id., 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064.
Under the second prong of the test,
The defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.
We begin by setting forth the facts that are pertinent to Mattingly's arguments on appeal. Mattingly was arrested in 2004 after police discovered a disassembled methamphetamine lab in an uninhabited farmhouse owned by Mattingly's uncle. Upon seeing the items recovered from the lab, one of the police officers, Pat Payton, recognized certain key components as being identical to items discovered in an unrelated search of Mattingly's vehicle in 2000. The items which the officer recognized included identical nylon bags or satchels, identical brass fittings and a valve on a propane tank and identical brand chemicals and supplies neatly packed in satchels. Double Officer Payton's testimony about the items recovered from the vehicle in 2000 was introduced by the Commonwealth to connect Mattingly to the evidence found in his uncle's farmhouse. On direct appeal, Mattingly challenged the admissibility of this evidence under Kentucky Rules of Evidence (KRE) 404(b). The Kentucky Supreme Court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence.
Mattingly's first argument is that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by the actions of the Commonwealth and the trial court, specifically, that he was not given sufficient time to consult with his attorney about a plea offer of a ten-year sentence from the Commonwealth. Accordingly to Mattingly, he first learned of the plea offer at a pre-trial conference on Tuesday, July 19, 2005. At that hearing, the prosecutor and the trial court informed Mattingly that if he wanted to accept the plea offer, he would have to do so on that day. Mattingly did not accept the offer. On the next day, Wednesday, July 20, Mattingly's attorney received notification from the Commonwealth that it would seek to admit as evidence the testimony of Officer Payton about the items found in Mattingly's car in 2000. At that point, Mattingly decided to accept the plea offer but the trial court refused to accept it. On the next day, trial proceedings began with a suppression hearing on the admissibility of Officer Payton's testimony.
Mattingly argues that there is a reasonable probability that if he had been properly informed and advised he would have accepted the plea offer on Tuesday. Mattingly argues that he did not know until Wednesday that the Commonwealth was going to use Officer Payton's testimony and that, had he known, he would have accepted the plea. He asserts that he was placed in a situation in which competent counsel could not render assistance due to the actions of the Commonwealth in placing a time limitation on how long the plea offer was open and that his attorney should have objected to the "today only" aspect of the offer.
In its order denying Mattingly's RCr 11.42 motion, the trial court found, based on the testimony at the evidentiary hearing, that Mattingly's trial counsel had communicated the plea offer to Mattingly in a timely fashion on the Sunday before the pre-trial conference. Mattingly argues that the testimony relied upon by the trial court is contradicted by statements made by his attorney at the suppression hearing, at which he urged the court to allow Mattingly to take up the plea offer. At that time, Mattingly's attorney stated that the plea offer had not been on the table for long, that he had discussed the offer with the Commonwealth for only "the last few days," that there had not been adequate time to discuss it, that there had been no written offer and that it was "not the easiest process to talk to some guy in jail."
"A reviewing court must always defer to the determination of facts and witness credibility made by the circuit judge." Simmons v. Commonwealth, 191 S.W.3d 557, 561 (Ky.2006) overruled on other grounds by Leonard v. Commonwealth, 279 S.W.3d 151 (Ky.2009). The testimony of Mattingly's trial counsel at the RCr 11.42 hearing is not contradicted in any significant way by his earlier comments at the suppression hearing. At the suppression hearing, he was trying to persuade the court to give his client another chance to accept the plea offer. The trial court was under no obligation to do so. See RCr 8.08.
Furthermore, Mattingly had no constitutional right to a plea offer and the conditions attached to the offer by the Commonwealth and the trial court were not unreasonable.
There is, of course, no constitutional right to plea bargain. While a defendant may have the right to hold the prosecution to its bargain in certain circumstances, this right does not attain constitutional significance until the plea agreement is executed. A plea bargain standing alone is without constitutional significance; in itself, it is a mere executory agreement which, until embodied in the judgment of a court, does not deprive an accused of liberty or any other constitutionally protected interest.
Hoskins v. Maricle,150 S.W.3d 1, 21 -22 (Ky.2004) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
Mattingly's second argument is that his counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the introduction of Officer Payton's testimony. Mattingly argues that his counsel failed to render effective assistance by not informing the court that the evidence was "fruit of the poisonous tree," and that if the evidence had not been introduced the outcome of the trial would have been different. This argument is clearly refuted by the record, which shows that Mattingly's counsel did object to the admission of this evidence. As we have already noted, the trial court held an evidentiary hearing to consider Mattingly's attorney's objection to the Commonwealth's motion to admit the evidence. Mattingly's counsel's lack of success in persuading the trial court to exclude the evidence is not indicative of deficient performance.
Finally, Mattingly argues that his counsel was ineffective for failing to prepare a defense that would have explained his presence at the farmhouse where the meth lab was found. One of the incriminating pieces of evidence found at the farmhouse was a drinking glass with Mattingly's finger prints on it. Mattingly contends that, as a means of explaining the presence of the fingerprints, his attorney should have informed the jury that Mattingly's uncle owned the farmhouse. According to the testimony of Mattingly's counsel at the RCr 11.42 hearing, he thought it was not in his client's best interest to show that he had access to the farmhouse. Mattingly himself admitted that any evidence showing he had keys to the farmhouse would make it seem more likely that the disassembled meth lab belonged to him. Furthermore, the record shows that the Commonwealth had evidence that Mattingly was not welcome at the farm, which would have further undermined Mattingly's defense theory. Mattingly has failed to meet the first prong of the Strickland test which places the burden on the defendant to overcome the presumption that "the challenged action might be considered sound trial strategy." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065 (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
The order of the Grayson Circuit Court denying Mattingly's RCr 11.42 motion is affirmed.
ISAAC, SENIOR JUDGE:


Hopefully you have had a chance to see the sample "Teardrop" street light fixtures on the 300 block of Oakwood. The Streetlight Committee wants to hear from you. Many would like to see underground wiring, ornamental poles and light fixtures but with an estimated cost of over 1 million dollars per city block that option is cost prohibitive at this time. In the future a wireless option may be available. For now we have an option of installing these fixtures on the existing light poles as you see them.
About the Bulb – The City of Raleigh and Duke Progress Energy are phasing out the old sodium vapor light bulbs and installing LED's. Whether we opt to go with the Teardrop fixture or not, LED bulbs will be installed.
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Typical "Cobra" style street light that is being phased out.
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text:
金馬的旅行 Journey of the Gold Horse
a record of revelations and journeys
Project China
By China Province
July 31, 2011 by orchidus
TRAVEL: Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Visited June 19-20, 2010.
Six Harmonies Pagoda garden
Attractions Checklist:
Six Harmonies Pagoda (June 19)
Tea Museum at Meijiawu Village (June 19)
West Lake (June 20)
Lingyin (Heart of the Soul's Retreat) Temple (June 20)
Romance of Song Dynasty Show (June 20)
Our visit to Hangzhou was delayed, because our ride was not at the airport when we arrived in Shanghai from Huangshan; as a result, we hurriedly called a taxi to go to our hotel in Shanghai at 1 AM and emailed our tour organizer of the incident. The following morning a guide and driver picked us up and took us to the Hongqiao train station, where we took the train to Hangzhou. The train ride from Shanghai to Hangzhou is approximately 45 minutes to one hour. The cost is ¥64 (~ $10 USD) for a one-way trip.
Six Harmonies Pagoda
We arrived past lunchtime and informed our local guide, Caroline, that we did not have lunch yet. A quick stop at a local noodle place (as recommended by our driver) satisfied our roaring stomachs with generous portions of beef and duck meat noodle soups. Our tour began with Caroline testing my father's knowledge of the Chinese classics and poems. The reason is that Hangzhou was a capital of the Song dynasty (960-1279)—a period during which the Chinese culture flourished from scientific discoveries to literature and the arts. The interest in Buddhism and Taoism peaked during this period.
The Six Harmonies Pagoda is a prominent example of Buddhist influence. Not only was this a place of worship but a popular place for relaxation and meditation. The park nearby the pagoda contains replicas of the world's most famous pagodas.
Tea Museum at Meijiawu Village
Next, we visited the Tea Museum at Meijiawu Village, where we were educated on the process for making tea. Tea leaves are picked and put into a heated bowl, where the leaves are spun around by hand and processed a few times. See a video tour of the museum courtesy of YouTube user, skeels29, here.
Lu Yu, patron and connoisseur of tea of Meijiawu Village
A representative from the tea village gave us samples of the famous Dragon Well Green Tea/Longjing Tea (龙井茶), informed us of the benefits of tea, and showed us how to properly serve, prepare, taste, and choose tea. Choosing tea is important because when picked during different seasons, the tea tastes and smells different; the stronger the smell and the greener the leaves, the better the tea. Early spring is the best time to pick tea. During the summer, tea leaves are picked and put into tea bags—tea bags are considered the worst tea, because there is little smell and flavor. Tea from Hangzhou is a great gift but is quite expensive. We purchased the emperor's blend and spring-time blend of Dragon Well Green Tea ¥500 (~$82 USD).
West Lake in the rain
The following day we went to the famous landscape of Hangzhou: West Lake (西湖). The scenery is very much a poetic scene of lotuses, even in the rain. Caroline told us the tragic love story of the Lady White Snake.
In living for a thousand years, Lady White Snake attains human form through meditation and self-discipline. One day, she visits West Lake, where she falls in love with a young man and becomes his wife. When a Buddhist abbot realizes what she is, she must fight for her marriage and freedom. The curved bridges overlooking the lake were often meeting places for lovers. It was upon such bridge it is said that Lady White Snake met her love.
Beijing Opera illustration of Lady White Snake by Song Nan Zhang
West Lake scenic point: Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond (花港觀魚)
There are ten well-known scenic areas of West Lake, together called the "Ten Scenes of Xī Hú" (10 Scenic Spots in Xī Hú 西湖十景):
Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring (蘇堤春曉)
Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer (曲院風荷)
Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn (平湖秋月)
Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter (斷橋殘雪)
Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset (雷峰夕照)
Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds (雙峰插雲)
Orioles Singing in the Willows (柳浪聞鶯)
Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond (花港觀魚)
Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月)
Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill (南屏晚鐘)
— Via Wikipedia
Map of Hangzhou and West Lake. Courtesy of http://www.china-mike.com/
We walked along the promenade towards most of these scenic areas. Then, we took a river boat cruise and passed by the islands in the center of the lake. Due to the rain, there was a lot of mist that obscured most of the view. I do know that one of the islands we passed is called Sunset Hill, the location of the Leifeng Pagoda, where the Lady White Snake was sealed. When we reached the other side of the lake, we proceeded to the nearby Lingyin (Heart of the Soul's Retreat) Temple.
Lingyin Temple, located northwest of the lake, is currently an active Buddhist temple and one of the largest temples in the surrounding Wulin Mountains. There are five halls in total. At the entrance is the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, where the four statues of the kings: North, South, East, and West greet visitors. Next is the Great Hall of the Grand Sage, which houses the largest wooden Buddhist statue of Shakyamuni, covered in gold leaf. Other halls are the Hall of the Medicine Buddha, Huayan Hall, and Hall of the Five Hundred Arhats. The latter houses the aforementioned five hundred as larger than life bronze statues that lead to a canopy housing the four bodhisattvas.
Stone Buddha carving at Feilai Feng (Flying Peak from Afar) nearby Lingyin Temple
Nearby the temple is the scenic Feilai Feng (Flying Peak from Afar)—the craggy face of the limestone mountain houses caves and grottos with 330 Buddha statues from the 10th to 14th centuries and other carvings. Legend has it that Hui Li, an Indian monk, saw this peak and found it similar to the shape of the peaks in India. He wondered why the peak from India flew and settled in Hangzhou—some say this is a "demonstration of the omnipotence of Buddhist law."1 Hence, the peak is named due to this legend. Also, in one of the grottos, there is a rock ledge where Daoji, a Buddhist monk who attained folk hero status for his eccentric behavior but compassion to the common people, supposedly slept. Touching the ledge is said to bring longevity and good health.
Romance of the Song Dynasty show
That night we went to the Romance of the Song Dynasty show—an acrobatic and cultural show that highlighted the important characteristics of the Song: poetry (scholars), tea production, Buddhism, traditional music, military conquests (hero Yue Fei), myths, and history. Combining visuals, singing, acrobatics, and dancing, the show was entertaining and helped us visualize the history and lifestyle of the Song. This is a show that should not be missed.
Zhejiang (Zhe cai) cuisine, one of eight famous culinary styles in China, is known for its freshness and tender dishes with a mellow fragrance. The Hangzhou specialties are the most well-known. The signature specialties we tried are Dongpo rou (Dongpo pork) and Xi Hu cu yu (West Lake fish in vinegar). The food is very tender, crispy, and tasteful but not salty and soggy.
Dongpo Rou. Photo courtesy of http://cooking.chinaa2z.com
I was impressed by the Dongpo rou. It takes four hours of braising, sautéing, and steaming to prepare. The dark, syrupy sauce that accompanies the pork contains soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (Chinese cooking wine), ginger, scallions, and rock sugar. The original recipe for the pork is found here. For a commentary by one who has tried it, see this post.
Beggar's Chicken. Courtesy of http://my.chinese.cn/en/space.php?uid=185166&do=blog&id=73190
Next time when we go back to Hangzhou, we would try the Jiaohua ji (Beggar's Chicken). It is said that Beggar's Chicken was invented by a Hangzhou thief, who covered the stolen bird in clay and baked it in the ground.2
1Wikipedia. (2011). Lingyin Temple. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lingyin_Temple&oldid=438026912
2It sounds messy but the meat is supposedly flavorful and tasty. Source: Cultural China. (2010, July 2). Zhejiang Cuisine. Retrieved from http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/133Kaleidoscope2806.html
It would be worthwhile to return to Hangzhou during a different season, such as spring. The summer rain and humidity provides only one view and atmosphere of the mysterious West Lake; due to the mist in the summer, it was difficult to see the manmade islands at the lake. In the spring, I can imagine the colors from the blossoming trees bringing life to the stone bridges and pavilions in the lake and the lotuses in full bloom. I also regret not being able to see the Impression West Lake show. See the promotional film here.
For more photos of our visit to Hangzhou, see my Picasa album.
Caroline, our local tour guide for her wonderful commentary and thorough organization of our sightseeing plans; affiliated with Dragon Delight Tours
Almost Bourdain. (2010, August 1).
Chinese Style Twice-Cooked Pork Belly (東坡肉) [Weblog]. Retrieved from http://almostbourdain.blogspot.com/2010/08/chinese-style-twice-cooked-pork-belly.html
China Mike. (2011). Hangzhou map 2010-2011. Retrieved from http://www.china-mike.com/china-travel-tips/tourist-maps/hangzhou/
Cultural China. (2010, July 2). Zhejiang Cuisine. Retrieved from http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/133Kaleidoscope2806.html
Hangzhou Government. (2009, February 9). West Lake. Retrieved from http://www.hzwestlake.gov.cn/English/introduce/introduce.html
Nommy Nom Nom. (2010, September 3). Dong Po Rou 东坡肉 – Twice-cooked Pork Belly [Weblog]. Retrieved from http://nommynomnom.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/dong-po-rou-%E4%B8%9C%E5%9D%A1%E8%82%89-twice-cooked-pork-belly/
Shepard, Aaron, & Zhang, Song Nan. (2001). Lady White Snake: A Tale From Chinese Opera. Retrieved from http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/062.html
Travel China Guide. (2011). Hangzhou West Lake, Xi Hu, Zhejiang China. Retrieved from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/zhejiang/hangzhou/west_lake.htm
Wikipedia. (2011). Lingyin Temple. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lingyin_Temple&oldid=438026912
Wikipedia. (2011). West Lake. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Lake&oldid=441849214
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TRAVEL: Hong Kong →
This is a record of my journey and thoughts about life as I try to find my place in this world. Occasional snippets of creativity can also be seen.
3 Days March
Altabe Studio
Chibird
Hwei Lim
Ryoko Traveler
Sakuradragon
Shadowscapes
Yuumei
Life Away from the Pharm
Moirabee's Sketches
The Sleepy Riceball Chronicles

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Positive News's Stephen Lewis speaks to Satish Kumar, the long-standing editor of the pioneering environmental magazine Resurgence, about the publication's philosophy and achievements.
Forty-five years ago, Britain's first environmental magazine was launched. Resurgence predated publications such as The Ecologist — with which it has now merged – and even existed before Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace were established.
Founded at the end of 1966 by John Papworth, EF Schumacher and Herbert Read at a time of little environmental awareness in the UK, in 1973 Resurgence moved into the hands of its now long-standing editor, Satish Kumar.
Satish had been a Jain monk and was steeped in Mahatma Gandhi's ethic of non-violent resistance to oppression. At the height of the cold war, inspired by British philosopher and peace activist Bertrand Russell, Satish spent most of the 60s walking the world, bringing a message of peace and reconciliation; a journey chronicled in his autobiography No Destination. It was during a visit to Britain that 'Fritz' Schumacher asked Satish to take over the editorship of Resurgence.
Among the many influential articles that have appeared in Resurgence over the years, Satish highlights three: James Lovelock first put forward his Gaia theory in an article titled Stand up for Gaia, Arne Næss promoted the idea of deep ecology, while EF Schumacher first wrote about the concept of 'small is beautiful' in the pages of Resurgence.


Beautiful artwork, Shirley! I love your style of presentation. F/L.
Original photographs are of two orange poppies. The lovely flowers are a brilliant tissue paper orange with bright yellow centers. I enhanced the images by layering the cutouts of the poppies and leaves with a black background. The resulting collage would look nice as a wrapped canvas with black edge or beautiful matted and framed in black. Now offered as Fine Art prints and greeting cards.


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EXCLUSIVE! Kiara Advani On How DIFFERENT It's To Work With Akshay Kumar In Good Newwz & Laxmmi Bomb
Kiara Advani-Akshay Kumar's Laxmmi Bomb is being helmed by Raghava Lawrence and is set to hit the screens on Eid next year.
Pooja Darade
Kiara Advani is all geared up for the release of her film, Good Newwz. Directed by Raj Mehta, the film also stars Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Diljit Dosanjh. In Good Newwz, she is paired alongside Diljit. It is her second release of 2019 after Kabir Singh.
Up next, the actress will be working with Akshay Kumar again in Laxmmi Bomb. She is paired opposite Akshay Kumar in the film. Since the announcement of the film and the look which was revealed earlier, the audience is looking forward to watching the film. It will be helmed by filmmaker Raghava Lawrence and is set to hit the screens on Eid next year.
In an interview with Koimoi, we asked Kiara about the film, the chemistry and working with Akshay again. Kiara Advani said, "It's interesting because they both are very different. In Good Newwz, the chemistry is very different and in Laxmmi Bomb, it will be very different. I'm very excited because they both are such interesting stories. I'm more excited to see how the audience likes it."
Salman Khan Has THIS To Say About Collab With Shah Rukh Khan & Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Chhapaak: Meghna Gulzar Reveals Why Deepika Padukone Is An Apt Choice To Play Laxmi Agarwal
The actress will also be seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 alongside Kartik Aaryan. She is also a part of Indoo Ki Jawani in which she stars alongside Aditya Seal.
What do you think of Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani's pairing for Laxmmi Bomb? Let us know in the comments section below.
Laxmmi Bomb
Aanand L Rai Reacts To Mental Health Criticism Around Atrangi Re: "Was Not Making Film Which Would Give You A Solution"
Did You Know? Raveena Tandon Was Rumoured To Marry Ace Cricketer Rahul Dravid In 2002
Akshay Kumar's Digital Debut 'The End' To Take Off In Full Swing; Talks With Multiple Directors, Premiere Date & Much More Inside
Modern Love Officially Gets An Indian Adaptation Starring Pratik Gandhi, Wamiqa...
John Krasinski Reportedly Entering Doctor Strange 2 As Fantastic Four's Reed...
Fardeen Khan Tests Covid-19 Positive, Says "Happy Isolating"
Indian Idol Season 1 (Telugu): Draws Massive Number Of Entries Online...
Pete Davidson Clicked Kim Kardashian's S*xy Bikini Pics In The Bahamas?...
Hrithik Roshan Shares Glimpses Of Mom Pinkie Roshan's Intense Workout, Writes...
Shah Rukh Khan Fans Trend #WeMissYouSRK As King Khan Stays Inactive...
James Austin Johnson Returns To Saturday Night Live But This Time...


So now is the occasion to upload the last demo I showed there. It's mainly the same as before, except more optimized.
So here is the last version of the demo of A Thief's Melody, a 3D cartoon adventure/stealth game with a contemplative atmosphere, somewhere between "Zelda" and "Beyond Good and Evil". Don't hesitate to test/share/reblog/comment/like if you want to help me!
Beware: This is the alpha (=NOT FINAL) demo of July 2017. If you want to get the latest demo for sure, just check the official website.
You have to know the demo quests are more or less final at the moment. The next official demos (including this one) will only provide bug fixes and graphics/sound/music enhancement.
Lots of draw call optimisations, by merging renderers and colliders at editor time, depending on tags and layers.
Change of the control names in the tutorial to better fit the Xbox 360 conventions.
Better camera moves on cutscenes + new cutscene for locating the Bo dojo.
As a benchmark, I tested on my 8-year-old laptop. Before optimization, the game ran at 5 fps. Now it runs at 17 fps. There is still room for improvement, but that's a good start. Of course on a nowadays PC, the game should run pretty smooth.
Controls are displayed in English, whatever language you choose.


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Home >> News: August 5th, 2016 >> Story
Rio Olympics Coverage Via SiriusXM Satellite Radio Service
You certainly don't have to travel to Rio to enjoy the 2016 Olympics — a special satellite-transmitted channel will be launched by SiriusXM that will provide 24 hour coverage of the Rio Olympics to listeners throughout the US.
Included in this offering will be live, play-by-play coverage of Olympic events, including daily news, commentary and highlights from Rio Report and other programming.
SiriusXM channel 106 is the venue starting on August 5th through the closing ceremony on August 21st and will be presented in association with Westwood One in partnership with U.S. Olympic rights-holder NBCUniversal. Throughout Rio 2016, SiriusXM will highlight NBC Olympics' 6,755 hours of Summer Games coverage across the networks and digital platforms of NBCUniversal.
SiriusXM subscribers will gain access to broadcasts of men's and women's basketball games, including every game played by the Team USA Men, as well as women's and men's soccer, including every match featuring the Team USA Women. Listeners will also hear daily coverage of the Men's Golf competition, which is returning as an Olympic sport after a 112-year absence from the Games. All play-by-play broadcasts will be produced by Westwood One.
At 10:00 p.m. ET each night, SiriusXM listeners will hear Westwood One's Tonight in Rio, a two-hour wrap up show that will provide a comprehensive recap of that day at the Games. Listeners will also receive update reports from Rio every hour, courtesy of Westwood One. SiriusXM's Chris Spatola and Jim Noble will host a daily morning show, Rio Report, on channel 106 that will provide listeners with a brief recap of the previous night's results and a look ahead to upcoming events. Show times may shift occasionally to accommodate live event broadcasts.
Throughout the Games, the Rio Olympics Radio channel will also feature contributions from SiriusXM's experts from various sports who will provide analysis and reaction to key events.
Rio Olympics Radio will feature a USA Basketball preview show hosted by U.S.A. Men's National Team head coach Mike Krzyzewski leading up to his team taking the floor in Rio.
SiriusXM FC host and former Rutgers coach Glenn Crooks, former U.S. Women's National Team member and Olympic gold medalist Aly Wagner and U.S. National Soccer Hall of Famer Eric Wynalda will host pre- and post-game shows airing before and after every U.S. Women's Soccer game.
SiriusXM NBA Radio hosts and former NBA players Jason Terry, Tim Legler, Brendan Haywood, Chris Spatola and Mark Morgan will host pre- and post-game shows before and after every U.S. Men's Basketball game.
On the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel, golf historian Martin Davis will present a special that looks back at the history of golf in the Olympics, and World Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw and Masters champion Craig Stadler will host new editions of their shows that will preview the Olympic Golf competition. On SiriusXM Rush, 1984 Olympic gold medal-winner Mark Breland and former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney will offer boxing analysis.
www.SiriusXM.com/Rio2016


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Limitation Periods in Investment Losses: Rotzang v. CIBC World Markets Inc.
John A. Fabello Gillian B. Dingle Rebecca Wise Nic Wall
Issues: When does a limitation period begin for an investment loss claim where the client continues to have an account with an investment firm but receives no advice and does no trading in that account?
Key Facts: The plaintiffs had three accounts with an investment advisor and dealer. The plaintiffs had a falling out with the IA in August of 2007. The plaintiffs closed two of the three accounts. Many of the assets in the third account were transferred out, but one investment (shares in Seair Inc.) remained. The plaintiffs ceased contact with the IA and dealer—no further advice was provided with respect to the remaining investment, and there was no trading activity. The account was ultimately closed in November 2010 after further losses were incurred from the Seair investment. The plaintiffs filed their claim in May 2011, almost four years after they ceased contact with the IA, but less than a year after they closed the third account.
Key Findings: The dealer pleaded the claim was barred by section three of the Alberta Limitations Act, which bars claims where the plaintiff fails to commence the claim within two years of when the plaintiff knew or ought to have known that the plaintiff could bring a claim. The plaintiffs argued the claim could not reasonably have been discovered until 2010, when their losses were crystallized with the liquidation and closure of the third account.
The Master found the limitation period had begun to run as of August 2007. In upholding this finding, the Court of Appeal held that the plaintiffs clearly knew of their dissatisfaction with the investment advice they had received at that time, and they knew they had suffered significant losses. An exact quantification of losses did not negate that the claim ought to have been discovered: "An exact quantification of losses was no reason to refrain from bringing the action."
The Court of Appeal also concurred with the Master's finding that there was no evidence of any ongoing relationship between the firm and client because there was no trading activity or ongoing investment advice being given by firm or sought by the client beyond 2007. This finding prevented a potential argument that the limitation period should be extended beyond 2007.
What You Need to Know: This case stands in contrast to numerous decisions which reject limitation defences in claims by retail investors by holding that they reasonably ought not to have discovered the existence of their claim despite the passage of time (e.g., Ridel v. Cassin, 2014 ONCA 763). Rotzang suggests that plaintiffs can be held to a more rigorous standard of discoverability, where they clearly take steps that confirm their dissatisfaction with an IA and receive no further investment advice in respect of the securities at issue, and notwithstanding that they may have an ongoing account with the dealer and that the amount of the losses are not known.
To discuss these issues, please contact the author(s).
This publication is a general discussion of certain legal and related developments and should not be relied upon as legal advice. If you require legal advice, we would be pleased to discuss the issues in this publication with you, in the context of your particular circumstances.
For permission to republish this or any other publication, contact Janelle Weed.
© 2019 by Torys LLP.
John A. Fabello
Gillian B. Dingle
Rebecca Wise
Nic Wall
Capital Markets Securities Defence Litigation Securities Regulatory
Securities Defence Litigation
Securities Regulatory
New diversity disclosures under the CBCA effective for annual meetings in 2020
Public naming now mandatory for violations of anti-money laundering laws
Three-year business plan of Canada's securities regulators: Notable items for public companies
Soliciting dealer arrangements: New guidance from IIROC
In-house counsel and insider trading: what can we learn from recent case law?


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Oh Balls
by AdminLuke on March 3, 2013 at 12:01 am
There's a delay between when these pages are finished and when they actually get posted on the site, so looking at the homepage each week is like a blast from the past for me. In other news, I've just noticed that WordPress has quite a few redundantly similar emoticons, and now I'm trying to figure out why…
Like many young artists, I spent a lot of my childhood drawing characters I liked from TV and comics. One of the longest pieces I ever wrote was actually a video game cross-over comic featuring a lot of well known video game characters. The basic set up was quite similar to 'Captain N the Game Master' in that it featured a young boy trapped in a video game world and the only way to escape was to join forces with various heroes and face off against their respective villains. Interestingly, a lot of the pages were split into 12 panels, way more than I'd ever consider using now. These days I don't really enjoy drawing other people's characters. A lot of the cast of 'Every Button…' have really grown on me, its weird to say but when you work on a character long enough you really feel like you know them inside out so its a lot more fun to tell stories through them than characters created by someone else.
Parting is Such Sweet Stupefaction
Attack of the Cosplay Monster
Saturday Night Fighter
Muddy Mortal Refraction Courting?


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Trump and FBI – News Review from Michael_Novakhov (10 sites): Counterintelligence from Michael_Novakhov (51 sites): Edge: World Religion Day Is January 17
By Janet Athanasiou
Student and Alumni Affairs Liaison
January 17 is World Religion Day. This event was started in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'í.
In support of World Religion Day, the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs wanted to highlight the recent accomplishments of our religious and spiritual student organizations.
Start a B.A. in religion at American Public University.
JSA Starts a Holiday Newsletter
One accomplishment was a holiday newsletter, led by the Jewish Student Association (JSA). JSA's President, APU student Hannah Via, says, "The holiday newsletter was designed to raise awareness of the various holidays and to help make the various clubs at the university more culturally aware and inclusive. The JSA plans on making this an annual event, as we believe that education on cultural differences is important for creating a healthy and thriving atmosphere for students in various clubs."
The Newman Center Provides Support for Members during the Pandemic
The Newman Center is a Catholic campus ministry for university students, alumni, faculty and staff. The Newman Center, always an active student organization, has made special efforts to engage members during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Newman Center president and APU alumna Anne Midgley states, "Faced with the COVID-19 shutdown, the Newman Center acted in a variety of ways to serve its members during this challenging period. We welcomed two new associate members — Fr. Rodney Thibault and Fr. Jack Schrader of member Lynn McAfee's parish, Transfiguration of the Lord, in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.
"Lynn began leading daily Facebook watch parties to share Transfiguration's daily and Sunday Masses, Stations of the Cross, and the Rosary. The watch parties have continued throughout 2020.
"With the cancellation of Commencement weekend, we repurposed budget dollars to provide each member with a copy of our prayer book, 'A Companion for the Journey: Prayers and Devotions as well as a St. Benedict Rosary.' We have established this gift set as a new member welcome package and have distributed it on a quarterly basis to new members. In this manner, we have provided spiritual support to members who have been unable to attend church liturgies due to COVID-19 government restrictions or personal risk factors."
Other Faith-Based Student Organizations
In addition to the Jewish Student Association and the Newman Center, other religious and spiritual organizations at the university include the Buddhism & Hinduism Club, the Paganism Club, and Ratio Christi. All of these student organizations provide a space to fulfill the spiritual needs of university students and alumni.
The Office of Student and Alumni Affairs welcomes individuals of all faiths to participate in student organizations and would be happy to work with students who feel their faith or spiritual beliefs are not reflected; we are here and excited to help you create a community on campus! Along with student organizations, the university also offers non-denominational chaplain services for students. The chaplain can be contacted at chaplain@apus.edu.
The post World Religion Day Is January 17 appeared first on Edge.
Counterintelligence from Michael_Novakhov (51 sites)
Trump and FBI – News Review from Michael_Novakhov (10 sites)
← "russian infiltration of both republican and democratic campaigns in elections 2016" – Google News: Teen Cuban infielder among Marlins' international signings – Yahoo News → "Next customers: Flynn and Jr." – Google News: Pet Adoption In The Roanoke Area: See New Dogs, Cats – Patch.com


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The Five: Thought Nuggets
Anthony R. Miller checks in to abuse the format of his article to enable his own laziness (again).
Hey you guys, It's one of those days. For the life of me I just couldn't think of one topic that could merit 5 dedicated thoughts. So today you get a bunch of random, somewhat theatre-related thoughts. And predictably, there are five.
Shotz!
If you're looking for some theatre-tastic fun on a Wednesday night, you need to go to Shotz. Every month, a pool of writers are assigned actors, a topic and a few requirements for a script that have only a few days to write. September's installment will be a hoot for a few reasons. 1) A lot of the same people working on TERROR-RAMA 2 are working on this Election edition of Shotz. Colin Johnson, Jess Thomas, Claire Rice, Alandra Hileman, and I are all contributing in one way or another. My play is titled "I Hope We Can Still Be Friends after the Primary" and it was probably the first positive thing I've done to channel my frustration with this hobo trash can fire of an election. Go see Shotz! At PianoFight Wednesday September 14, DO IT!
KO Mania
Being a Pro-Wrestling fan can often be an exercise in patience. Because when it's bad, it's bad, but when it's go, it's amazing. Usually it's just, pretty good. Now for those of you not in the know, there has been an obscene amount of wrestling to watch these days. Honestly, by last night I was experiencing WWE-fatigue, there was a big match for the champeenship and honestly it felt all too predictable, but of course I watched. Then something magical happened, there was a huge swerve (surprise ending) and it resulted in Kevin Owens become WWE Universal Champion. KO is one of my absolute favorites and he's a beast of a human being, he doesn't look like a typical wrestler and does moves that he just shouldn't be able to do. He's a brilliant bad guy, he's funny, a great performer, there was no way HE was going to win last night, but he did, and it was total shock. I hooted and hollered like I was 10. The thing is, we know it's pre-determined, we know it's not "real", but the best moments of being a fan, is when you forget that, and it feels real.
TERROR-RAMA TIME!
With TERROR-RAMA 2: PROM NIGHT Just 45 days away, things are starting to get exciting. Set construction has begun, costumes are being purchased, and we have super pretty flyers. I cannot wait for this show and rest assured, I will not be shutting up about it. Also, on the subject of flyers, aren't PSPrint sales like, the best?
I Really Need A Window
Unlike most of my writer friends, I'm fairly laptop adverse, I actually prefer to be in a room alone with my computer, a shitty desktop PC with a giant screen, located in what many would call my "Man Room" but it's really just a big closet that turned into an office and put on display all the things my girlfriend does not want displayed in the more public parts of our home. This room is my sanctuary. You will probably never find me writing on a laptop at a café, too distracting. I have always preferred to be alone, unbothered by the outside world. The down side is the cat boxes are also located in this sanctuary of mine, so it kinda always smells like cat poo, and a little day light might be nice too, I'm just sayin, I really need a window.
Nowhere Special, I Always Wanted To Go There
OK, this could of merited like, a trillion thoughts. But there will be plenty of long wordy think pieces celebrating Gene Wilder that will be better than anything I could write. But here's my contribution to the many remembrances of a guy who was by all accounts a comic genius and a brilliant actor; for a lot of people, I think Willy Wonka will always be the character the majority of people will remember Gene Wilder for, but here's the thing. When I was 7 I saw the film for the first time, and when the girl turned into a blueberry and was rolled away, I was mortified. I was scarier than anything I had or ever will encounter in life. I ran out of them room and never watched the film again. In fact I still refuse, it's fucking terrifying. However, I will always remember him for Blazing Saddles and The Producers. Much like the film Airplane!, I have watched Blazing Saddles about 4 trillion times. There are bits he does that still make me giggle uncontrollably, (Like seriously, that "This is my shooting hand" bit never stops being funny.) Maybe it's the soft gentile quality he brings to the humor. Comedy these days is very aggressive, Wilder just let the joke happen, and he always gave his characters passion and empathy, no matter how silly. So here's to one of the greats, he had a great run.
Anthony R. Miller is a Writer, Producer and Educator. His show TERROR-RAMA 2:PROM NIGHT Opens October 14, 2016, keep up with everything at www.awesometheatre.org.
Leave a comment Posted in The Five Tagged blazing saddles, gene wilder, horror-theatre, Kevin Owns, political comedy, primaries, professional wrestling, Shotz, Terror-Rama 2, WWE
Theater Around the Bay: James Nelson and Neil Higgins of "Beer Culture"
The final performance of the Pint-Sized Plays is tonight at 8 PM and we're concluding our interview series by talking with writer James Nelson and director Neil Higgins of "Beer Culture"!
"Beer Culture" offers some of the biggest laughs in the 2016 Pint-Sized Plays festival. When San Francisco hipster Annie (Caitlin Evenson) introduces her Stella-drinking Midwestern friend Billy (Paul Rodrigues) to her bow-tied beer-snob friend Charlie (Kyle McReddie), the stage is set for an uproarious satire of hipster snobbery and West Coast microbrew culture.
Playwright James Nelson knows beer culture.
How did you hear about Theater Pub's Pint-Sized Play Festival, or if you're returning, why did you come back?
James: I generally keep tabs on what Theater Pub is up to — they were the first group to welcome me in when I first was starting out in the Bay, and I've always admired the volume and variety of work that's produced! I submitted to Pint-Sized this time because I was out of practice as a playwright, and wanted to use the festival as an excuse to churn something out.
Neil: I came back for the money.
What's the hardest thing about writing a short play?
James: Establishing a world with rules.
What's the best thing about writing a short play?
James: Honestly, they're very quick to write. And they let you tell stories that are only interesting for a few pages.
What's been the most exciting part of this process?
Neil: Seeing my actors scream about, and orgasm over, beer.
What's been most troublesome?
Neil: Scheduling. Dear god, scheduling.
Who or what are your biggest artistic influences?
James: Brian Friel, Peter Shaffer, Martin McDonagh, Anton Chekhov, Street Fighter (1994 film), and Benvenuto Cellini.
If you could cast a celebrity in your Pint-Sized Play, who would it be and why?
James: Patrick Stewart. It wouldn't make any sense but he's just that good.
Neil: Jesse Eisenberg because he seems like such a douche, which is exactly what my script calls for.
Director Neil Higgins prefers wine.
Who's your secret Bay Area actor crush? That is… what actor would you love a chance to work with?
Neil: When Darren Criss isn't in town, definitely Megan Cohen.
What other projects are you working on and/or what's next for you?
James: I just moved to Indiana to start a MFA in Directing, so I'm knee-deep in grad school at the moment. I do hope I'll have a chance to write while I'm here — I've got a lot of stuff brewing and a school setting is so rich in resources.
Neil: I'm writing for SF Olympians this year, and am directing and acting in Left Coast Theatre's next show, Left Coast News.
What upcoming shows or events in the Bay Area theater scene are you most excited about?
James: I don't want to think about it, I'm gonna cry.
Neil: Seeing if the Llama comes back.
What's your favorite beer?
James: I'll give you a top five in no particular order: Evil Twin (Heretic); Brother Thelonious (North Coast); Back in Black (21st Amendment); Wookey Jack (Firestone Walker); and Ruthless Rye (Sierra Nevada). Also, if you like beer but haven't visited Fieldwork Brewing in Berkeley, you need to go right now. They're going to be the most important brewery in the Bay Area within a few years.
Neil: Wine.
See the FINAL performance of "Beer Culture" and the rest of the 2016 Pint-Sized Plays tonight at 8 PM at PianoFight!
Leave a comment Posted in Pint-Sized Plays, Theater Around The Bay Tagged Anton Chekhov, Benvenuto Cellini, Brian Friel, Caitlin Evenson, Darren Criss, Indiana, James Nelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Kyle McReddie, Left Coast News, Left Coast Theatre Co., Martin McDonagh, Megan Cohen, MFA, Neil Higgins, Patrick Stewart, Paul Rodrigues, Peter Shaffer, Pint-Sized Plays, San Francisco Olympians Festival, Street Fighter, Theater Around The Bay
Theater Around the Bay: Elizabeth Gjelten and Jimmy Moore of "Don't I Know You?"
The Pint-Sized Plays have one more performance, on Monday the 29th. We continue our series of interviews with the 2016 Pint-Sized folks by speaking to writer Elizabeth "Liz" Gjelten and director Jimmy Moore of "Don't I Know You?"
"Don't I Know You?" takes place in a dive bar frequented by expats from an unnamed, war-torn country. A conversation that begins with the cliched old pick-up line "Don't I know you?" eventually takes a darker turn as the characters' past actions come back to haunt them. The play features actors Daphne Dorman, Sarah Leight, and Alexander Marr.
Playwright Liz Gjelten is new to Pint-Sized this year.
How did you get involved with Pint-Sized this year?
Liz: I saw Marissa Skudlarek's post about it on the "Yeah, I Said Feminist" Facebook group, especially noting that she wanted submissions from women playwrights with interesting roles for women. I'd had this idea knocking around in my head, and the bar setting gave me the impetus to see it out.
Jimmy: I heard about it after directing a short play for Theater Pub's On the Spot in March, which I was welcomed to by Stuart Bousel! (Aren't we all?)
Liz: Creating a full life for the characters in a brief period of time. Also, avoiding the temptation to squeeze too much in.
Liz: The chance to see something through from idea to completion in something less than two years! Also, the chance to play with form and ideas.
Jimmy: I love the collaboration between writer, director and actors as we move ink on paper to bodies in space with real stories.
Jimmy: Nothing to speak of.
Liz: The poet Diane di Prima. So many playwrights, but especially Suzan Lori-Parks, Naomi Wallace, Adrienne Kennedy, Erik Ehn, Caryl Churchill.
Jimmy Moore returns to Theater Pub after directing for us in March.
Jimmy: Too new to the scene to have one other than…that guy with the eyes.
Liz: Sorry, I have a weird mental block about celebrities: They look familiar, but I almost never can remember who they are.
Jimmy: Angelina Jolie cause we have a kickass fight sequence.
Liz: I've got two full-lengths in later stages of drafting: One about the difficulties of cross-cultural marriage and the after-effects of torture on both the former detainee and the whole family, and a dark comedy set in 1967 about a pastor's wife who kills her husband. Next up: A site-specific piece about people living in supportive housing in the Tenderloin.
Jimmy: I produce and direct a project called Drunk Drag Broadway. We take an entire Broadway musical and give it the "Drunk History" treatment in drag along with live musical performances boiled down to 30-45 minutes. Our next production will be at SF Oasis in December. We have already produced "Wicked-ish" and "Beauty Is a Beast."
Liz: Young Jean Lee's The Shipment at Crowded Fire this coming September. She's always surprising and brilliant. And I know this is a ways away, but I'm super excited about seeing Robert Lepage's Needles and Opium at ACT next spring. It's a rare and wonderful occurrence to have a Lepage piece staged in San Francisco.
Jimmy: Disastrous at SF Oasis! D'Arcy Drollinger is brilliant and hilarious.
Liz: Any good IPA with fresh ginger juice added (I've been known to bring it to bars in a baggie).
Jimmy: The orange ones…. cause I don't like beer much. 🙂
Remember, you have one more chance to see "Don't I Know You?" and the rest of the 2016 Pint-Sized Plays! Monday, August 29, at 8 PM at PianoFight.
Leave a comment Posted in Pint-Sized Plays, Theater Around The Bay Tagged Adrienne Kennedy, Alexander Marr, American Conservatory Theatre, Angelina Jolie, Caryl Churchill, Crowded Fire, D'Arcy Drollinger, Daphne Dorman, Diane di Prima, Disastrous, Drunk Drag Broadway, Drunk History, Elizabeth Gjelten, Erik Ehn, Jimmy Moore, Marissa Skudlarek, Naomi Wallace, Needles and Opium, On The Spot, Pint-Sized Plays, Robert Lepage, Sarah Leight, SF Oasis, Stuart Bousel, Suzan-Lori Parks, The Shipment, Theater Around The Bay, Yeah I Said Feminist, Young Jean Lee
In For a Penny: Raise a Broken Glass
Charles Lewis III, celebrating the mistakes and the mistaken.
"Let's have a toast for the douchebags
Let's have a toast for the assholes
Let's have a toast for the scumbags
Every one of them that I know
Let's have a toast for the jerk-offs
That'll never take work off"
– Kanye West, "Runaway"
Recently I was watching a review wherein the critic commented on what a colleague had recently said to him, that something "good" can be measured by its lack of anything "bad". The critic argued – and I'm inclined to agree – that "good" should be measured by "the presence of a defined positive, not the lack of a specific negative". After all, how many times has each of us eaten a meal, taken a ride, or experienced a piece of art that was by no means bad, per se – there was nothing to make you swear it off 'til your dying day – but left no impression for you to recommend it? It was serviceable, but not toe-curling – like having mediocre sex just to avoid taking out the trash.
It was with this in mind that I recently began pondering how much I truly appreciate the bad theatre I've had to sit through over the years. I don't mean "so-bad-it's-good" material, in which the cluelessness of the creators makes for a transcendent experience. No, I mean the truly bad shit – the shows that made me want to throw myself in front of a bus afterward; the shows I was cast in that made me want to burn down the theatre a week into the run; the shows which I and fellow audience members discuss as if we're coping with PTSD. The REALLY bad shows.
I'm grateful for each and every one. Why? Because they provide the hurdle over which all the good (not merely serviceable) shows must jump. I've mentioned before that I value the necessary role of the art critic – even when a particular critic pisses me off – because I recognize the fact that they've made a professional duty out of what is really a human instinct. If we didn't have a bar to be raised, we'd never find greatness to celebrate. Life's too short to spend too much time experiencing or reminiscing about something bad, but you're going to come across it eventually. But something terrible can occasionally be as valuable as something wonderful, if not more so.
It's times like this when I like to raise an invisible glass to the folks who've created some of the truly terrible theatre I've seen and/or taken part in over during my 35 years on this Earth. Without them I wouldn't have a clear idea as to what kind of theatre I don't want to make.
Every show I've seen about mental illness that reduced it to a series of "adorable" neuroses.
Every actor who got physical with me on stage because the concept of "boundaries" eludes them.
Every artistic director who overstepped their bounds because they thought they were the actual director.
Every producer who licenses a show and then makes changes because s/he thinks the rules of licensing agreement are just suggestions rather than something that could wind up in court.
Every producer who decides to pre-cast instead of availing him/herself of an amazing, every-expanding talent pool.
Every male and female actor in their 40s who insist on playing the young heartthrob and ingénue.
Every director, artistic director, and producer who decides to personally stage a musical in spite of the fact that s/he "fucking hate[s] musicals".
Each and every single White actor who's taken on a role meant for an actor of color and justifies it by saying "What really matters is how the character is portrayed".
All the above have been used to describe shows I've seen but wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, and these are just a few I can think of off-hand. Yet I learned something from all of these obvious train wrecks and feel a bit richer for having sat through each of them. Not just for the sake of schadenfreude (though there's that, too), but also because it gave me mental checklist of things I'd like to avoid when I write, act, or direct. I can think of two specific shows I acted in that left my theatre colleagues thinking "There but for the grace of God…" and I'd like to think it inspired them to make some of the great work they produced afterward.
So as much as I love to praise good shows to the high heavens, I'd like to take just one moment to salute those that made sitting in the audience a living hell. I hope that my bad shows have inspired you to improve as much as yours have inspired me.
Charles Lewis III was tempted to make this piece about all the bad Tennessee Williams productions he's seen, but there are too many to name.
1 Comment Posted in In For A Penny Tagged bad theatre, Charles Lewis III, In For A Penny
Theater Around the Bay: Tanya Grove, Caitlin Kenney, & Vince Faso of "Where There's a Will" & "Why Go With Olivia?"
The Pint-Sized Plays just got a great review (complete with Clapping Man) from SF Chronicle theater critic Lily Janiak, and they have 1 more performance, next Monday the 29th. In the meantime, here's another in our interview series with Pint-Sized folks.
Vince Faso is directing 2 shows in Pint-Sized this year: "Where There's a Will" by Tanya Grove, and "Why Go With Olivia?" by Caitlin Kenney. In "Where There's a Will," Will Shakespeare (Nick Dickson) visits a contemporary bar and finds inspiration in an unlikely source: a young woman named Cordelia (Layne Austin), whose dad is about to draw up his will. Meanwhile, Lily's review aptly describes "Why Go With Olivia?" as "an epistolary monologue from perhaps the world's most ruthless email writer, played by Jessica Rudholm."
Here's our conversation with Caitlin, Vince, and Tanya!
Caitlin Kenney at Crater Lake.
Caitlin: I live with someone wrapped in the SF theater community, who has attempted submitting before, and thought I had as good a chance as any of piecing something together.
Vince: I've been an SF Theater Pub fan for a long time, been in a few productions, directed a little, but Pint-Sized was one I have always been interested in being a part of, and as I seem to be transitioning to more directing, I seized the opportunity, and am excited to be involved.
Tanya: I have two friends who'd had their plays in the festival last year, so I went to support them and had so much fun that I wanted to take part myself!
Caitlin: Drinking several beers while making a verbal list of pie-in-the-sky ideas with no judgement.
Tanya: While I'm writing, I'm also imagining the performance in my head, so it's like going to the theater all the time, which is my favorite thing to do!
Vince: I'm probably not alone in saying that the actors I'm working with make it special. I've always loved seeing Jessica Rudholm perform, and practically jumped out of my chair at the chance to direct her for a second time. And I've worked on several shows with Nick Dickson and Layne Austin, and it doesn't hurt that they live around the corner and we get to rehearse in my living room. Also, the pieces I'm directing are brilliant in their simplicity, and clever in the flexibility they lend the actors.
Tanya Grove has a head full of ideas.
Tanya: I often have lots of ideas going in many directions, and I have to remind myself to simplify. You can usually get across the same message whether you have a cast of two or twenty, ten minutes or two hours, one scene or three acts. Because one of my day jobs is being an editor, I've learned to pare ruthlessly to get to the essence of text.
Caitlin: Personally, I think it's planting the first seed. For me this means to stop poo-pooing every idea I have and actually start typing something.
Vince: Finding rehearsal time for a festival like this is always a challenge.
What are your biggest artistic influences?
Tanya: My current playwriting hero is Lauren Gunderson. I think she's brilliant. But my style is more William Shakespeare meets Tina Fey…
Caitlin: Richard Brautigan, Joni Mitchell, Sense and Sensibility, and Google (to answer my formatting questions).
Vince: Meryl Streep, because while she is arguably the best around, she seems like she'd be a very giving actor to work with.
Tanya: When I was in high school I had a crush on Richard Dreyfuss, so I guess I would cast 1977 Richard Dreyfuss as my Will. That's as good a reason as any, right?
Caitlin: Any sparkle-charming person with insecure confidence…how about Zoe Kazan? I've been watching the Olive Kitteridge miniseries and she's hard not to watch.
Vince: Such a hard question! At the risk of straying off topic: I've worked with them before, but Scott Baker and Performers Under Stress always give me an intellectual and emotional challenge.
Vince: As an actor I'm excited to get started on a production of King Lear for Theater Pub that goes up in November. As a director, I'm been gearing up for a production of Hamlet with my 7th and 8th graders at Redwood Day in Oakland where I teach. That will also go up in November.
Caitlin: I've got a one-act for middle-schoolers going about a mindfulness-based therapy group with participants vaguely reminiscent of Hamlet characters. I'm finding it really hard to sit down and "crank it out," but if I do, it will probably be entertaining.
Tanya: In September I begin my fourth season as a playwright for PlayGround, so I'm gearing up to write a short play each month. I'm more productive when I have an assignment and a deadline, so the challenge of writing a play in four days based on a prompt works well for me.
Caitlin: I went to the Oakland BeastLit Crawl and fell hard for spontaneous storytelling, so I am looking forward to one day spitting in the mic at StorySlam.
Tanya: I'm looking forward to seeing what Josh Kornbluth ultimately creates from his time volunteering at Zen Hospice. I'm a Josh fan from way back.
Vince: Events like Pint-Sized and the Olympians Festival that allow original works to be read or staged are a must for keeping the independent theater scene in San Francisco alive.
Vince: I'm a sucker for a good IPA, but if a bar is serving Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale then I have to get it.
Caitlin: The Barley Brown Hot Blonde – spiciest, sexiest beer around. Though not around, because it's brewed in Northeastern Oregon and they don't distribute anywhere good for me or you.
Tanya: I used to drink a lot of Corona, but I think I'm more of a Hefeweizen gal now. I don't have a favorite brand, though. Any recommendations?
Your final chance to see "Where There's a Will," "Why Go With Olivia?" and the other Pint-Sized Plays is on Monday August 29th at PianoFight at 8 PM! Don't miss it!
1 Comment Posted in Pint-Sized Plays, Theater Around The Bay Tagged BeastLit, Caitlin Kenney, Hamlet, Jessica Rudholm, Joni Mitchell, Josh Kornbluth, King Lear, Lauren Gunderson, Layne Austin, Lily Janiak, Meryl Streep, Nick Dickson, Olive Kitteridge, Performers Under Stress, Pint-Sized Plays, PlayGround, Richard Brautigan, Richard Dreyfuss, San Francisco Olympians Festival, Scott Baker, Sense and Sensibility, StorySlam, Tina Fey, Vince Faso, William Shakespeare, Zoe Kazan
Theater Around the Bay: Christian Simonsen & Alejandro Torres of "No Fault"
The Pint-Sized Plays have their 4th performance tonight! We continue our series of interviews with the festival's writers and directors by speaking to writer Christian Simonsen and director Alejandro Torres of "No Fault"! (Alejandro also served as the Deputy Producer of Pint-Sized this year.)
"No Fault" introduces us to Jack and Kate, a divorcing couple with an 8-year-old daughter, who've scheduled a quick meeting in a corner bar to sign their divorce papers, make it official, and try to put the past to rest. Colin Hussey and Lisa Darter play the couple.
Christian Simonsen, a writer returning to Pint-Sized.
What made you get involved with Pint-Sized this year or, if you're returning to the festival, why did you come back?
Christian: I have been a fan of the Pint-Sized Play Festival since the beginning, and I was honored to have an earlier short play of mine, the comedy "Multitasking," produced by this festival in 2013. I love immersive, site-specific theater like this, where the actors rub shoulders with the audience. That's not just an expression… if you come to this show, a drunk llama may literally rub your shoulders!
Alejandro: I love this theater company and all the fresh work they bring to San Francisco (and on a monthly basis too). I've directed and performed with them before and have also met some great and talented folks that keep me coming back.
Christian: The challenge to writing a short play is to remember that it's not a full-length play crammed into a few pages. That may sound obvious, but it's tempting during the writing process to forget that. It generally can only be about one thing. Every word of dialogue, every prop, every stage direction must earn its keep. A full-length play can survive three or four weak scenes. A short play has trouble recovering from three or four weak lines of dialogue. As a general rule, a short script can't really handle numerous subplots crisscrossing each other, but it should also avoid being a "mood piece" that just sits there.
Christian: Its purity. Audience members rarely walk away from a short play with mixed feelings; it either worked or it didn't. As a writer, I'm most productive when I'm given boundaries and limitations, and the short play format fits the bill perfectly. For example, in "No Fault," a separated couple are going through the awkward, tense ordeal of signing their divorce papers in a pub that they used to frequent during happier times. The stage directions have both actors sitting at a table for most of the script. But when the woman delivers the most intimate line of dialogue to her now ex-husband, she is standing away from the table while the man remains seated. The ironic contrast of their emotional closeness and their physical distance would be lost (or at least watered down) in a longer play where the actors would be moving around for two hours, willy-nilly.
Alejandro: Simply getting it all together as producer and table work as a director.
Alejandro: Scheduling!
Christian: For scriptwriting in general (short and long, stage and screen), they would include Richard Matheson, Elaine May, Ernest Lehman, Preston Sturges, John Guare, Tina Fey, Aeschylus, Euripides, Shakespeare, Ben Hecht, Tom Stoppard, Horton Foote, Monty Python.
Christian: That's tough, because I try and make it a point not to picture celebrities, whether world-famous or local, when I create characters. My goal is always to write a character that is solid and fully-formed on the page, while still leaving enough wiggle room where an actor can put their own spin on him or her. That being said, for this script I could picture actors Mark Ruffalo, Elden Henson, John Hawkes, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amy Poehler, Sandra Oh.
Alejandro: Hmm… Maggie Cheung and Joaquin Phoenix. I they would make for an interesting dynamic.
Director Alejandro Torres shows off his dramatic side.
Alejandro: This is cheating as I have worked with these two before but have never directed them: Genevieve Perdue and Alan Coyne.
What are you currently working on/what's next for you?
Christian: I was one of the staff writers on Killing My Lobster's August sketch comedy show Game of Nerds, which was a lot of fun to work on. My next project is a collaboration with the multi-talented Sean Owens. We are developing a comedy web series called Under the Covers, which will be both hysterical and educational (or at least one of the two).
Alejandro: The SF Fringe Festival this September will be my next project. I will be remounting an original piece called Projected Voyages about dreams, nightmares, and passing thoughts.
What Bay Area theater events or shows are you excited about this summer/fall?
Christian: I want to see Barry Eitel's The Ice Cream Sandwich Incident. I've always admired Barry as an actor, and I'm anxious to see what he does as a playwright. It also stars two of my favorite local actors, Becky Hirschfeld and Paul Rodrigues. And producer Stuart Bousel's San Francisco Olympians Festival in October is always an exciting event that features new plays by Bay Area writers.
Alejandro: Killing My Lobster's August show Game of Nerds. [ed: this closed last weekend! Apologies for not posting this interview sooner!]
Christian: Stella Artois, but I will happily endorse another brewery if they give me their product or money or both.
Alejandro: IPAs that pair well with whiskey.
"No Fault" and the other Pint-Sized Plays have 2 performances remaining: August 23 and 29 at 8 PM at PianoFight!
Leave a comment Posted in Pint-Sized Plays, Theater Around The Bay Tagged Aeschylus, Alan Coyne, Alejandro Torres, Amy Poehler, Barry Eitel, Becky Hirschfeld, Ben Hecht, Christian Simonsen, Colin Hussey, Elaine May, Elden Henson, Euripides, Game of Nerds, Genevieve Perdue, Horton Foote, Joaquin Phoenix, John Guare, John Hawkes, Killing My Lobster, Lisa Darter, Maggie Cheung, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Monty Python, Paul Rodrigues, Pint-Sized Plays, Preston Sturges, Projected Voyages, Richard Matheson, San Francisco Fringe Festival, San Francisco Olympians Festival, Sandra Oh, Sean Owens, Stuart Bousel, The Ice Cream Sandwich Incident, Theater Around The Bay, Tina Fey, Tom Stoppard, Under the Covers, William Shakespeare
Theater Around the Bay: Alan Coyne & Juliana Lustenader of "Bar Spies"
The Pint-Sized Plays begin their 2nd week of performances tonight! We continue our series of interviews with the folks behind the 2016 Pint-Sized Plays by speaking to writer Alan Coyne and director Juliana Lustenader of "Bar Spies"!
"Bar Spies" is a spy-fiction pastiche, full of false identities, double-crossings, and heightened tension. Actors Courtney Merrell and Andrew Chung show off an impressive array of accents and some slick trench-coated style as the two spies.
Playwright Alan Coyne has a sense of humor.
How did you get involved with Pint-Sized, or, if you're returning to the festival, why did you come back?
Alan: I wrote a piece for Pint-Sized last year ("Relativity"), and this year I figured I'd have another go. I can't write without a deadline, and this festival gives you that plus a setting, so it's exactly what I need to write something.
Juliana: I first got involved with Pint-Sized last year as the writer of "To Be Blue," directed by the wonderful Neil Higgins and featuring the hilarious duo of Eden Neuendorf and Tony Cirimele. The show was such a success last year, I knew I wanted to come back. I'm super excited to return as a director this time!
Alan: For me, the hardest thing about writing a short play (or anything) is getting started. And after that, it's translating the amazing idea in your head into the least-clunky language possible.
Alan: Knowing that everything in it has to matter. That helps focus me on what I actually need to put in, and what I can do without.
Juliana: The most exciting moment for me so far this year was watching my actors read the script for the first time out loud while Alan and I watched. I couldn't stop smiling as Courtney and Andrew took these two silly characters and brought them to life so easily despite the ridiculous accents we are making them do.
Juliana: Scheduling! But that's what I get for wanting to work with such talented folks.
Alan: P.G. Wodehouse and Douglas Adams. They are who I would want to write like, if I could. For this particular play, it's John Le Carre, who wrote Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; "Bar Spies" is very much a parody of that genre, and he, for me, is the best spy writer. And I owe a little something to Tom Stoppard's Hapgood, which is also a spy parody play. And Chess, which is the musical I'm rehearsing for at the moment, and is set during the Cold War.
Juliana: Sean Connery, because he is the best spy with the best accent.
Alan: Alec Guinness, who played the main character in the BBC adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and did so definitively. Luckily for me, Courtney Merrell pretty much is Alec Guinness, so that worked out.
Juliana: Brian Martin is the first to come to mind, though we did do a scene study project in college together. Still, I think it would be a treat to work with him in a more professional setting.
Alan: My next writing project is for the San Francisco Olympians Festival, it's called Hypnos, and it's an excerpt from Shakespeare's lost play, Cardenio. It'll be performed Saturday, October 15. And my next acting projects are the aforementioned Chess for Custom Made (September/October), in which I play The Arbiter, followed by Feste in Twelfth Night at the Metropolitan Club on Saturday, November 5, which Juliana is also directing.
Juliana: Up next, I'm directing Twelfth Night as part of Shakespeare at the Club. I'm also performing in Chess at Custom Made Theatre Company and Avenue Q at New Conservatory Theatre.
Juliana: The Fringe Festival at the Exit Theatre.
Alan: The Olympians Festival is always wonderful, everyone should check that out at the EXIT this October. I had the opportunity to participate in Musical Cafe this year, and they're doing another showcase in November, I highly recommend keeping an eye out for that. And PianoFight always has something good going on, especially shows which feature Andrew Chung.
Juliana: Right now it's Old Rasputin's Russian Imperial Stout, but I'll drink whatever you buy me.
Alan: For this show, I recommend drinking a pint of (Alec) Guinness.
"Bar Spies" and the other Pint-Sized Plays have 3 performances remaining: August 22, 23, and 29 at PianoFight!
Leave a comment Posted in Pint-Sized Plays, Theater Around The Bay Tagged Alan Coyne, Alec Guinness, Andrew Chung, Avenue Q, Brian Martin, Cardenio, Chess, Courtney Merrell, Custom Made Theatre Company, Douglas Adams, Eden Neuendorf, EXIT Theatre, Hapgood, Hypnos, John Le Carre, Juliana Lustenader, Metropolitan Club, Musical Cafe, Neil Higgins, New Conservatory, P.G. Wodehouse, PianoFight, Pint-Sized Plays, San Francisco Fringe Festival, San Francisco Olympians Festival, Sean Connery, Shakespeare at the Club, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Tom Stoppard, Tony Cirimele, Twelfth Night