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Writing for Television
A few years back, Creative Screenwriting magazine had a column called Know Your Show. It was targeted to TV writers trying to "spec" [write unsolicited screenplays for] different TV series. Spec scripts are a way to showcase your work for agents and showrunners.
One of the most important rules for specs is to know the story rules that govern the show you've chosen. Know Your Show was designed to make those implicit rules explicit, breaking down the requirements for different shows by talking to the showrunners themselves. It was a great column. Here's one I wrote for it.
KNOW YOUR SHOW:TRUE BLOOD AND BURN NOTICE
Ted Rabinowitz
Spec for TV long enough, and someone will tell you to "fill the gap." If you've written two killer procedurals, that means write a Gossip Girl or 90210. If your portfolio bulges with twisted but critically praised fare like Dexter, then try a Psych. With that in mind, we've chosen to examine two popular shows that differ from each other in virtually every way: True Blood, HBO's vampire serial; and Burn Notice, the action-oriented spy procedural on USA Network.
True Blood offers a Deep Southern look at issues like drugs, sex, dysfunctional families...and vampires. It's a good way to showcase your (melo)dramatic chops. Burn Notice is a tightly plotted, high-testosterone action series with a lighter feel. It emphasizes con games, plot twists and authenticity in its covert-ops sequences.
Both shows are internationally distributed, with a deeply loyal fan base. True Blood has received several WGA, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and a Golden Globe Best Actress win for Anna Paquin; Burn Notice has won an Edgar for Best Screenplay, received a WGA nomination, and inspired two novelizations so far.
Created by Alan Ball, True Blood is based on Charlaine Harris' SouthernVampire mysteries. With a weekly audience of 6.8 million, it is now one of the most critically acclaimed series on HBO.
Ball, the creator of Six Feet Under and American Beauty, read the first Southern Vampire novel while waiting for a dental appointment. "It was an impulse buy," he says. "And it was so entertaining, I immediately ordered the rest of the series on Amazon. The world was already so complete; I liked how funny it was, how scary it was, and how romantic."
The first episode premiered on September 7, 2008; the series just ended its second season, and the third will air in the summer of 2010.
With the creation of synthetic human blood, vampires no longer need to hunt humans or hide from them, and they have become one more minority in America's melting pot. When Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) a telepathic waitress in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, meets Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), the town's first Vampire-American, she's immediately attracted to him; as a vampire, Bill is the first man whose thoughts Sookie can't read. Sookie and Bill become lovers, despite the disapproval of Bon Temps' human citizens and the contempt of Bill's vampire community.
"Sookie is a strong young woman who felt that she was a freak, alone in the world," says Ball. "Now she's found love with someone like her."
Meanwhile, Sookie's best friend Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley) and her brother Jason (Ryan Kwanten) struggle to find their places in a world that is becoming more and more supernatural. Jason is a "horndog" who never thinks ahead; Tara is smart and tough, but her defensiveness alienates boyfriends, bosses, and anyone who might care about her.
Each season is loosely based on one of Harris' books. "It's about 50% us and 50% the novels," says Ball. The storylines center on Sookie, her relationship with Bill, and the lives of Jason and Tara. In addition, there is usually at least one external threat or mystery. In the first season, a string of murders threw suspicion first on Bill, then on Jason; in the second, a maenad gained control over Bon Temps while Sookie and Bill searched for a missing vampire elder.
PRIMARY LOCATIONS
Merlotte's Bar
Sookie's House
Bill's House
Fangtasia Vampire Bar
THE STORY THUS FAR
In the first season, Sookie and Bill became lovers. Sookie had to adjust both to her first romantic relationship, and to a vampire world in which Bill has killed other vampires to save her (although she has also saved his life). Meanwhile, Jason's fecklessness led him from womanizing to vampire-blood addiction to prison; and Tara's search for stability was sabotaged by her abusive, alcoholic mother, Lettie Mae (Adina Porter).
The second season has been dominated by three storylines: Sookie and Bill's search for the missing vampire leader Godric (Allan Hyde); Jason's involvement with the Fellowship of the Sun, an anti-vampire church and paramilitary group; and the seduction of the citizens of Bon Temps by Maryann Forrester, a maenad who encourages and feeds on violence and sexual frenzy. One of Maryann's key converts is Tara, who falls under her hypnotic influence and begins a relationship with "Eggs" Benedict Talley (Mehcad Brooks).
Ultimately, Sookie and Bill rescue Godric from the Fellowship, only to see him commit suicide as penance for his failures. Sam, Bill and Jason (all in their own ways) try to save Sookie and Bon Temps from Maryann's sacrifice to her dark deity, the God Who Comes.
Along the way, there are other developments. The local vampire "sheriff," Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård), connives to feed his blood to Tara's cousin Lafayette Reynolds (Nelsan Ellis) and to Sookie. This links them to Eric, both psychically and sexually, and makes Eric Bill's mortal enemy. Lafayette, who spent an horrific time as Eric's prisoner for selling vampire blood, now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammel), who has carried a torch for Sookie for years, uses his shapeshifting abilities to save Bon Temps from Maryann. While doing so, he's forced to drink Bill's blood, marking a resolution to their conflict over Sookie.
After Maryann is dispatched, Bill proposes to Sookie. Before she can say yes, he disappears, and the season ends on a cliffhanger.
The target page count for a script is 54.
Minor storylines usually run four beats, with the major story in each episode at six or seven beats.
Each episode begins with a teaser that addresses the previous episode's cliffhanger, and ends with another cliffhanger. Story lines are layered – scenes switch back and forth between stories.
The regular characters must be serviced in every episode. Sookie, Jason, Bill and Tara must be at the center of their story lines.
True Blood's vampires are similar to, but not exactly the same as, other vampires. They're inhumanly strong and fast. They have no problems with crosses, holy water, garlic or mirrors, but silver and daylight burn them, and they cannot enter a house uninvited. Drinking a vampire's blood directly from its veins creates a psychic bond between the vampire and the drinker.
Vampires are connected to the older vampires who "made" them. Humans hunt vampires both from fear and from greed: Vampire blood, when drained surgically from the vampire, is a powerful narcotic for humans.
The vampire world has its own politics and lifestyle choices. Vampire territories are ruled by sheriffs, who are ruled in turn by kings and queens. Vampires are split between those who "nest" – live with their own kind – and those who are trying to "mainstream" back into the human community. Mainstreamers are trying to fit in; nesters tend to be the nasty, creepy predators everyone knows and loves from horror movies.
Characters: The regular characters are the heart of True Blood. Get them right, and the rest will follow. "We try to root the story in the characters," says Ball. "For instance, [in Season 2] Tara wouldn't have fallen under Maryann's influence if it weren't for her mom's interference."
To nail the characters, you need a handle on the sources of their actions. "Jason puts on a big macho show, but all his behavior – the horndog aspect, the drug abuse –comes from a deep well of insecurity," says Ball. "He's lost everyone he's ever loved, except Sookie. He wants to feel needed. Deep down, he's a good guy." People think that Jason is stupid. Even though he jokes about it, he's scared they're right.
In her own way, Tara has the same issues Jason does. "But instead of acting out sexually," says Ball, "she's a smart-ass." Tara is smarter and stronger than Jason. Like him, she wants a family. Right now, that family is Sookie and Lafayette – and she is still in love with Jason.
Ball's advice on Tara and Jason: Don't push their main attributes too far. "People love it when Tara mouths off, but don't make her too tough. And don't make Jason too stupid. A little bit goes a long way."
Sookie is strong and moral, but not perfect. "She's a little self-righteous," concedes Ball. This is easy to see when she's in conflict with Bon Temps' good ol' boys and their vampire opposites.
"Bill speaks very formally, because he came of age in the 19th Century," says Ball. Bill's character note is the dichotomy between his courtly, gracious side and his lust for blood and power. He knows the fear he inspires in humans, and he's not above using it.
"Lafayette can play different roles. He's an entrepreneur – that is, an opportunist." As with Bill, there's a useful dichotomy between Lafayette's campy persona and the hard-core fighter and hustler he can be when the need arises. Lafayette is also a fan favorite – although he dies in the novels, he proved to be so popular that he survives in the series.
"After Sookie, Sam Merlotte has the strongest moral compass of the regulars," says Ball. "Like her, he's an orphan and, like her, he thought he was a freak." Although he "pretends to be easygoing and gregarious, that's part of his job. He's actually very cautious and very suspicious." He still loves Sookie and tries to protect her.
Dialogue: When it comes to dialogue, less is more. "We'll always choose subtext over something overt," says Ball. "Nothing on the nose. The best writing is when you understand why someone's doing something without having it explained."
Future seasons: The best way to spec a serial is to know what's happening in advance. The next season of True Blood will focus on Club Dead, the third Southern Vampire novel. Consider reading it before you write your sample – but be aware of the significant differences between the book and the series.
In the third season, we'll see more of the vampires' Byzantine politics. We'll also see werewolves for the first time. "They're kind of like cowboy gang members," says Ball. "Really arrogant."
Southern Gothic melodrama...with fangs. Gritty stories about dysfunctional people trying to be their best selves.
"I've seen so many vampires that are 'operatic,'" says Ball. "But Charlaine's vampires are small-town Louisiana. This is not Underworld. This is not Anne Rice. These are Wal-Mart vampires."
True Blood is a hot series. A good spec will demonstrate your ability to write for premium cable (i.e. to write grittier, more "R" rated material). It will also showcase your chops with vampires, serialized shows, small towns, and (most important) character-driven, atmospheric drama.
CHARACTER GUIDE
Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin, X-Men, The Piano): A waitress and a telepath, Sookie has "a strong sense of right and wrong that sometimes makes her a little self-righteous." At the start of Season One, she thought she was a freak, alone in the world; now she's found love with another outsider, Bill Compton.
Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer, Quills, 88 Minutes): A vampire and a veteran of the Confederacy, Bill is trying to "mainstream" – live as a normal human. His vocabulary is reminiscent of the Old South, and he retains his courtly manners – unless his vampire nature gets the better of him. He would die or kill to protect Sookie. As a vampire, he's immune to her telepathic abilities.
Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley, Numb3rs, How She Move): Sookie's best friend. Smart and strong, she has a troubled past that also makes her angry and defensive. Her abusive mother Lettie Mae is a constant obstacle in her life, and she is in love with Sookie's brother Jason.
Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten, Don't Fade Away, Flicka): Sookie's brother, Jason is a womanizing ex-jock who can't stay out of trouble. Fundamentally good-hearted, he's deeply insecure. He fears that he's stupid – and then acts in ways that confirm it.
Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell, AVP:Requiem, Going to California): Owner of Merlotte's bar, Sam is friendly, guarded, and in love with Sookie. He's also a shapeshifter – a secret revealed in Season One.
Lafayette Johnson (Nelsan Ellis, The Soloist, The Express): Tara's cousin, and the cook at Merlotte's. A drug dealer, hustler, and role-player, Lafayette genuinely cares for Tara and Sookie, but he's sold drugs to Jason, and he can be ice-cold when he needs to. He's gay, but not currently in a relationship...with anyone human. After being a vampire's prisoner in Season #2, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and a psychic link to the vampire Eric Northman.
In the middle of its third season and returning for a fourth, Burn Noticepremiered on June 28, 2007. The premiere episode won an Edgar Alan Poe mystery award for Best Screenplay. Its creator, Matt Nix, was primarily a movie writer before approaching USA Network with the project that became Burn Notice.
Nix's initial vision was for a dark and gritty spy series set in Newark. After meeting with USA Network execs and getting a sense of their programming, he lightened the tone considerably and set it in Miami.
"My friend Michael Wilson" (a producer and consultant on Burn Notice) "was an inspiration for the show," says Nix. "He has a long background in intelligence, but his stories don't focus on danger and violence; they're about things like the sand in Afghanistan screwing up your Walkman. That formed the sensibility of Burn Notice."
Covert operative Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) is in the middle of an operation in Nigeria when he gets a "burn notice" – someone has tagged him as unreliable. He barely escapes with his life, passes out from his injuries, and wakes up in his hometown of Miami. His accounts have been frozen, and agents follow his every move to ensure that he doesn't leave the city. The only people who will talk to him are his ex-girlfriend and gunrunner Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), his old spy buddy Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell), and his mom Madeline (Sharon Gless). With no other options, Michael dedicates himself to finding out who burned him and to helping local residents with problems no one else can solve.
Episodes usually feature an A and B story. The A story is the "case of the week" in which Michael, Fiona and Sam use their covert-ops skills to help friends, family, and needy strangers defend themselves against the scum of Miami, from hit men to human traffickers. The B story is the "Burn Notice runner," in which Michael tries to salvage his career. In Seasons 1-2, that meant discovering who had burned him and why; in Season 3 the focus is on getting his job back.
Often woven into the A and B stories is a C story that focuses on Michael's relationships with his friends and family, or (rarely) on the status of another regular.
Michael's loft (Int./Ext.)
Madeline's house
Café Carlito
Fiona's house
By the end of Season Two, Michael had escaped the power of "The Organization," the shadowy group that had burned and then forcibly recruited him. Leaving has had consequences, however. Although the Organization controlled Michael, it also protected him from other groups and from old enemies. Now he is "back on the radar"...and still burned. Soon the Miami police, in the person of Det. Michelle Paxson (Moon Bloodgood) are investigating Michael's activities, and old enemies are out for revenge.
After neutralizing Det. Paxson by helping her solve a case, Michael uses Diego Garza (Otto Sanchez), a local operative, to reestablish contact with his old spymasters. Fiona tries to be supportive, but she can't hide her disappointment that Michael still hasn't given up his dream of "getting back in."
Matters escalate when Michael is approached by "agent to the spies" Tom Strickler. Strickler offers Michael money and information if he'll take the assignments Strickler offers. When Michael resists – he feels that accepting will make him a mercenary, not a patriot – Strickler offers the one thing Michael can't resist...a way back in.
Michael accepts, only to find that Strickler has arranged for Fiona's death in order to keep Michael focused on the mission. When Strickler tries to stop Michael from mounting a rescue, Michael kills him to save Fiona.
Strickler's death triggers a firestorm. The first nine episodes of the third season end with the killing of Michael's one agency contact by anonymous assassins, and Michael waiting as they come for him.
Scripts run between forty-nine and fifty-two pages; usually they're at fifty-one pages "packed to the gills." There are four acts, a teaser and a button:
The teaser runs one to two scenes in three pages.
The first act ends in the late teens.
The second act ends in the late twenties (often at 29).
The third and fourth act are ten pages each.
The button is 2-3 pages.
Michael's voiceovers on tradecraft must be dry, matter of fact, and impart information that is both true and unexpected.
For the case of the week, Michael will have developed a plan by the end of Act One and will pursue that plan through Acts Two and Three. At the end of Act Three, something unpredictable will disrupt that plan, and Michael will be forced to improvise a new one...and this is the hard part.
"I cannot tell you how many stories die on that particular beach," says Nix. "The second plan cannot be unrelated to the first plan. It must be a logical outgrowth of the first plan that leverages the successes and failures of Acts Two and Three."
Although each episode has at least two storylines competing for time, Nix says the best ones are those where there's "a thematic echo in all three stories. For instance, in the episode "Broken Rules," everything is about rules and breaking them: In the A story, we have two bad guys – Diego (Tony Perez) who follows the rules of the old gangs, and his boss (Idalis de Leon) who breaks them. In the B story, we have Agent Bly (Alex Carter) who breaks the rules by going after Michael's family, so Michael blackmails him by creating evidence that proves he's corrupt. And in the C story Michael and Fiona break their own rules by sleeping together."
POV rules are strict. The audience can only know what Michael knows, or occasionally what Fiona and Sam know.
Finally, there must be a scene in which the case of the week is resolved conclusively, preferably at the moment in which the Bad Guy thinks he's won. "We don't let the Bad Guy go in the case of the week," says Nix. "He can be arrested, intimidated, fled, whatever, he doesn't escape consequences."
Nix and his fellow writers are espionage aficionados who focus on the covert-ops details when writing. "When writing a new episode, we often work backward from a spy technique we like," says Nix. "We copy a lot of 'bad guy' techniques. So we'll say something like 'Here's how Hitler bamboozled Stalin. Why can't we do that?'" If you can pitch an episode based on an interrogation method or covert strategy they haven't used, that's sure to impress.
Another possibility is to take a technique that's already been used and "stand it on its head. We do that a lot," says Nix. "If you watch some episodes closely, you can see where they relate on a deep level to other episodes."
The cases of the week can't be about run-of-the-mill crime solving. "It's important that these are problems that cops or PIs can't solve," says Nix. "Michael is neither, and if the case demands something other than Michael's unique skills, he'll pass."
Solving the problem can involve intimidation, explosions, break-ins, con games, impersonation, interrogation, and gunshots, but not depositions, eyewitnesses, or whodunits. "We have a certain minimum level of mayhem," says Nix.
Michael's motivation is always personal. "Michael has no abstract commitment to justice," says Nix. "He helps individual people with problems. I know a pitch is going to fail when I hear the words 'Michael decides to investigate.'"
Another pitfall: spending more screen time with Michael's clients than with the bad guys who hurt them. "The Bad Guy is usually the guest star," says Nix, "not the Client. Unless the Client is a source of conflict in some way, it's the Bad Guy who's more important."
Light and fast, but not frothy and not filled with gags.
"This danger is the water they swim in," says Nix. "So the humor arises from the tonal contrast, from the human side of the dire situation." A bad break up or a smashed loaner car matters as much as the man trying to kill them.
A Burn Notice spec is a good showcase for your ability to write believable action and espionage, to generate story twists, and to write to a demanding structure. However, to do it, you must truly enjoy the world of John leCarré and Tom Clancy. Nix advises caution.
"Everyone tells me this is the hardest show they've ever had to write. I've actually never heard of a completed Burn Notice spec, only abortive specs that were abandoned after ten pages."
Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan, Changeling, Crossing Jordan): Once a world-class covert agent, Michael now uses his skills to help clients with nowhere else to go. He is an expert in martial arts, surveillance, and undercover tactics. The son of an abusive father, Michael is more comfortable with guns than emotions - especially when it comes to Madeline and Fiona.
Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar, The Tudors, Scent of a Woman): Gunrunner, ex-IRA member, Michael's girlfriend, and practitioner of therapeutic violence, Fiona never holds anything back. She feels that Michael always puts the mission before their relationship, but she also knows that he remains the most important thing in her life, even when they are not together.
Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell, Evil Dead, Hercules): An amiable ex-Navy SEAL, Sam can take a punch, cause a distraction, or run an interrogation. His friends in law enforcement are Michael's primary source of background information. When not helping Michael, Sam successfully pursues his two other vocations: women and beer.
Madeline Westen (Sharon Gless, Queer as Folk, Cagney & Lacey): Michael's mom, a chain-smoker and hypochondriac who can still push his buttons. Madeline knows that she did not protect Michael from his dad as she should have, and is trying to reconnect with him. She is also tough and savvy – bad guys underestimate her at their peril.


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Annaleise Carr, 16, has ended her marathon fundraising swim across Lake Erie a little early, arriving at Long Point, Ont., instead of her planned destination of Port Dover.
Team spokesman Aaron Gautreau says Annaleise Carr ended her swim at 4 a.m. ET Saturday. She had been planning to stay in the water and finish the swim around 11:30 a.m., but the marathon ended after she consulted with her swim coach and other officials.
Gautreau said the swim was still a great success, with Carr raising around $130,000 for Camp Trillium, a childhood cancer support centre.
The native of Walsh, Ont., had been swimming six to eight hours a day to prepare for what she expected would be a gruelling 30-hour swim.
Two years ago, Carr swam across Lake Ontario at the age of 14, becoming the youngest person known to have ever accomplished the feat.
Carr's 2012 swim raised $115,000 for Camp Trillium.


Massachusetts is already home to one slots parlor and will also see the likes of at least two major resort casinos. The referendum vote on November 4, 2014 was unsuccessful and communities like Charlestown largely approved of a neighboring gambling establishment, despite all of the traffic concerns. Wynn has already started a massive cleanup of an industrial site in Everett, while MGM just pushed back its start date to 2018. Aside from the politics and lawsuits involved in the process, citizens who voted in Massachusetts were largely in support of three major resort casinos. At McGee's Law, we are interested in helping individual entrepreneurs who are developing gaming products or platforms. Additionally, we can support non-profits or other local entities to ensure that they follow not only federal law, but also state rules and regulations.
Plainridge Park Casino officially opened it's doors on June 25, 2015. This is the first and only slots parlor in Massachusetts. If you feel wronged by an inaccurate payout or have any dispute with a gambling operator, contact us today.
It's no surprise that charitable gaming is highly regulated in Massachusetts. Even the sale of a raffle ticket can have legal consequences. Consult with McGee's Law if you are running a charitable event or a non-profit seeking to have a recurring charitable game such as poker.
In November 2011, the Expanded Gaming Act became law as Chapter 194 of the Mass. General Laws. Other laws apply to gaming and gambling within our Commonwealth.
The rise in popularity of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) brings with it a host of interesting legal questions. There are specific federal guidelines that allow for making wagers in fantasy leagues, but that doesn't make pay-to-play fantasy legal in every state. Our firm can assist individual gamers who may have a legal dispute with a fantasy sports provider. We can also provide guidance to start-ups interested in entering the crowded field of fantasy sports websites.


1. Heat a tsp of oil in a pan over moderate flame.
2. Add the ginger garlic paste and stir.
3. Add the tomato puree and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder.
5. Mix well and add the chicken pieces.
6. Stir-fry for 3 minutes, stirring all the time.
7. Now add the yogurt, boiled corn and capsicum.
8. Add salt and mix well.
10. Cook till the gravy is a little thick and chicken is completely cooked.
11. Add garam masala powder and garnish with coriander leaves.
Feel free to comment or share your thoughts on this Murg Makkai Recipe from Awesome Cuisine.


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All Events in the Lounge Are Free
Current schedule for music in the Lounge:
Live music Friday's and Saturday's from 8pm-11pm.
"Monday Night Jazz" is on Thursday nights from 7pm-9:30pm.
James Warren is a singer-songwriter based out of central Minnesota performing an eclectic blend of Americana, Folk and Alt Country. Nominated 3 times for the Best Original Artist in Central Minnesota, you'll find James touring the mid-west sharing the stage with national acts or in a small acoustic setting. In 2015 James released the Honest Man EP. This project was recorded at High...
Jesse Eugene
Jesse Eugene is a singer-songwriter from Little Falls, who performs in a one-man-band style to create a unique, yet familiar sound. Jesse enjoys blending genres with songs that vary from lonesome blues to upbeat garage rock to create a fresh take on Americana music. Jesse often performs with his backup band, the Regulars, adding bass,...
The Nick Scott Project
Nick Scott, a North Dakota born, American roots guitarist and songwriter has been entertaining audiences for almost 20 years. Scott's style effortlessly changes from swaggering blues and supersonic soul, to chickin' pickin' country. Scott has toured nationally with his guitar playing casinos, theatres, and honky-tonks. He has won awards for blues music, has shared the...
February 10 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Scott Keever
Scott Keever is a guitarist/composer, specializing in solo fingerpicking acoustic guitar, and is influenced by American, Balkan and Celtic folks styles, as well as jazz and classical. Scott studied guitar at the University of MN (Minneapolis), and Amala School of Romany Music and Culture (Valjevo, Serbia). As a soloist, he has opened up for Pat...
Aksel Krafnick
Aksel Krafnick is a St. Cloud local who has made a name for himself in the local music scene. While playing in the lounge over the years Aksel has developed his own unique sound as a solo artist and released an album of original work that has become a favorite on the lounge sound system....
Skarlett Woods
Emerging indie artist Skarlett Woods has won or been nominated for countless folk awards in the nation. She has opened for such acts as Stephen Stills, Judy Collins, and the Blues Traveler. While the exquisite voiced singer/songwriter has earned comparisons to Joni Mitchell and KD Lang. Her Americana-Jazz style is what captivates audiences amongst the...
Jon Theis
Jon Theis is a writer of sad country songs amongst other styles. He performs original music as well as Classic and Honkytonk Country Covers.
Muggsy Lauer
A little of this, a little of that, some jazz, some folk, some country, some originals, maybe even a few surprises. You may have seen Muggsy performing with long-time local groups such as Monday Night Jazz at the Veranda Lounge, with the George Mauer Group, or with Collective Unconscious. When not performing, he is a...
The Hero and the Villian
March 10 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
The Hero and The Villain, a singer/songwriter with musical roots in Folk, Rock, Country, and countless other genres has arrived to tell stories and sing songs all over the great state of Minnesota and beyond. With a penchant for deeply personal lyrical concoctions and the ability to unapologetically deliver a song bursting with raw emotion,...
Haydn Streeter
Haydn Streeter is a local artist playing a variety of covers from the 90s to today. Hailing from the Brainerd lakes area, Haydn also shares originals when on the stage.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Choclatedrop obtained 7th Legionnaire's Bloody Drape.
Choclatedrop obtained 7th Legionnaire's Shield.
Falron obtained Ritual Binder's Ring.
Babybloom purchased item Relinquished Azerite Chestpiece.
Babybloom obtained Conch of Dark Whispers.
Reuben obtained Dashing Bilge Rat Shoes.
Choclatedrop obtained Sinister Gladiator's Plate Gloves.
Neelu obtained Belt of Gleaming Determination.
Silvervane obtained Moss-Covered Wingtip Shoes.
Grimace obtained Sabatons of Rampaging Elements.
Oakeydoke earned the feat of strength Challenger: Battle for Azeroth Season 2.
Choclatedrop obtained Sinister Gladiator's Safeguard.
Choclatedrop obtained 7th Legionnaire's Battle Hammer.
Silvervane obtained Battalion Veteran's Greatcloak.
Neelu earned the achievement Time Flies When You're Having Fun for 10 points.
Choclatedrop obtained 7th Legionnaire's Gauntlets.


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More Carbon Dioxide Means More Photosynthesis
by Admin | Oct 10, 2016 | Climate Change, Information
New research indicates that ironically, as we stabilize carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and begin to reduce it, the carbon land sink—the CO2 stored in soil and plants—will decline. This comes from research by scientists in Germany and the United Kingdom, who have found that doubling carbon dioxide concentrations will result in about a one-third increase in plant photosynthesis.
Basically, as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, plants will take in more of it, though they will never quite catch up.
It is widely accepted that plant photosynthesis will increase with carbon dioxide, so long as nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, are not limiting, say the researchers.
Plants use carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis, after which they release oxygen into the atmosphere. Plants are in turn eaten by animals, and so forth. It's a process we're all very familiar with, but the math of it all is something that we're learning more about all the time.
The more we know about how CO2 is stored naturally, the more we can learn about how to store it through artificial means, which could produce tools that allow us to decrease the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Study co-author Professor Peter Cox of the University of Exeter, says "despite nutrient limitations in some regions, our study indicates that CO2-fertilization of photosynthesis is currently playing a major role in the global land carbon sink. This means we should expect the land carbon sink to decline significantly when we begin to stabilize CO2."
Soil, trees, and oceans store a lot of CO2, but these systems aren't perfect. Plants don't photosynthesize in the winter, soil is far more effective if it's part of old growth forest, and the oceans have reached a storage peak: More carbon there means more acidic water, which has many negative side effects.
Ultimately, stabilizing the carbon sink will be the best choice for all life on the planet. Until then, though, we can give credit to plants for their help in balancing out the carbon dioxide emissions produced by humankind.


The Pixel 2 XL may be a year and a half old, but that doesn't mean it isn't still one of the best Android phones around (our review), thanks to steady updates, a rock solid camera, and no Pixel 3 XL notch. Buying might not be easy for long, though. I say that because it's starting to age and deals will soon pop-up to clear out inventory. Take Best Buy's current deal on it, for example, where you can buy one for $399, without a contract. That's $450 off!
Now, this is technically the Verizon model. However, the Verizon model works on all carriers, so using it elsewhere shouldn't be a problem. You still may need to activate it first on Verizon before doing that, assuming Verizon is utilizing its activation-unlock on the Pixel 2 XL. You'll want to confirm that with Best Buy if you do plan to take it to another carrier right away. As for a longer SIM lock period, Verizon isn't supposed to have implemented their new garbage 60-day lock policy yet.
Typically, when Best Buy hosts a deal like this, they will only give you the big discount if you sign-up for a 24-month contract or activate the phone today, but that's not the case here. As you can see in the screenshot below, the "Activate Later" price is also $399.99.
Good deal here, folks, on a rock solid Google phone.


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Pollution Research Paper
Vol 38, Issue 3, 2019; Page No.(528-535)
PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY OF WATER OF AN URBAN POND NORTH-EAST OF ALGERIA
HAMLI ALOUIA, REGGAM ASMA, MAAZI MOHAMED-CHERIF AND HOUHAMDI MOUSSA
The Tamlouka pond is the only urban water feature of the highland wetland eco-complex; located northeast of Algeria. This pond is extremely threatened by the risks of agricultural and industrial pollution and the intensification of urbanization. It receives wastewater discharges directly from cities and neighboring municipalities. To assess the evolution of its state of health and its impact on the environment and public health, physicochemical analysis of the water of this pond were carried out during the year (2015-2016). Twelve parameters were measured: Temperature (T), pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Hardness (TH), Phosphates (PO4 3-), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Organic Matter (OM), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+) and nitrogen compounds. The water samples were collected from six sampling stations (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6) selected according to the urbanization of the watershed and the hydro logical importance of the effluents and discharges. It has been noticed from the analysis of various water sampling stations the presence of nitrogen compound and PO4 3- with an increasing gradient at stations S4 and S5. Waters in stations S1 and S2 are strongly mineralized, where electrical conductivity levels have exceeded 9350 μS/ Cm. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed two gradients: the first represents the degree of organic pollution, while the second describes the mineralization of the waters to address the main causes of pollution.
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The client was looking for something that would grab the attention of 7000 attendees specifically matched to the target audience. A bright yellow hardhat stress toy was chosen because it is the most recognizable construction icon. The website was demonstrated online to attendees at which time they were given the hard hat toy. The toys were displayed in the booth is tall clear cylinders which added amazing impact to the booth visuals!
This was such a successful promotion for my client they repeated it for 3 consecutive shows and also added and hardhat stress key chain for their youth trade fairs.


A trans-institutional team of researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt University has received an $11 million Cancer Moonshot grant to build a single-cell resolution atlas to map out the routes that benign colonic polyps take to progress to colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer among both men and women in the United States.
The work entails gathering thousands of data points per cell for each participant and then transforming that information into multidimensional geographic maps that enable scientists to study interactions among tumor cells, the microbiome and the immune microenvironment.
Vanderbilt is one of only five institutions designated a Pre-Cancer Atlas (PCA) Research Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The four other institutions will lead similar efforts involving precancerous lesions of the skin, lung and breast.
The principal investigators leading the Colon Molecular Atlas Project (Colon MAP) are Robert Coffey, MD, Ingram Professor of Cancer Research and director of the Epithelial Biology Center at VUMC; Ken Lau, PhD, assistant professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, and Martha Shrubsole, PhD, research professor of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology. They will lead an effort to identify which people are at greatest risk for colon cancer, discover cell characteristics that could lead to chemoprevention strategies and possibly recommend changes in screening and surveillance practices.


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House of the PeopleCouncil of States
House of the People
Basic information > About parliament
Historical data for Speaker
Data on the age of parliamentarians is collected at start of the legislature, following the most recent elections. This data is not updated during the legislature.
Average age of all members Age at the time of the last election or renewal.
Historical data for Average age of all members
Year Average age of all members
Youngest member (years) Age at the time of the last election or renewal.
Youngest member
Chandrani Murmu (Female)
Oldest member (years) Age at the time of the last election or renewal.
Oldest member
Shri Shafiqur Rahman Barq (Male)
Total number of MPs, 45 years of age or younger
102 See historical data for this field.
Historical data for Total number of MPs, 45 years of age or younger
Year Total number of MPs, 45 years of age or younger
Total number of MPs, 46 years of age or older
Historical data for Total number of MPs, 46 years of age or older
Year Total number of MPs, 46 years of age or older
Total per sex
Total of male
Historical data for Total of male
Year Total of male
Total of female
Historical data for Total of female
Year Total of female
Total per age interval
Historical data for Total number of MPs of 21 - 30 years of age
Year Total number of MPs of 21 - 30 years of age
Number of members, by age
Breakdown of members by age and gender
Totals per gender
Totals per age interval 0 4 50 48 68 158 144 29 3 0
Total <= 45: 102 Total >= 46: 402
Male 0 3 34 39 57 138 133 25 3 0 432
Female 0 1 16 9 11 20 11 4 0 0 72
Percentage of members, by age
Age as last election or renewal
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or youngerCompare data of this field. 0.79% 0.6% 0.2%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or youngerCompare data of this field. 10.71% 7.34% 3.37%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or youngerCompare data of this field. 20.24% 15.08% 5.16%
Reserved seats and quotas
Electoral quota for youth Quotas to promote the representation of youth in parliament.
Elections > Election system
Eligibility and voting
Minimum age of eligibility The minimum age to become a member of parliament, or to run in parliamentary elections, may be different for each chamber in bicameral parliaments. The age of eligibility is sometimes higher than the minimum age for voting.
Minimum age for voting in parliamentary elections What is the minimum age for voting in parliamentary elections?


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For the Haiti-benefiting remake, Mary J. Blige channels Tina Turner and Celine Dion includes a Cyndi Lauper-esque vocal run.
"We Are the World" and its Haiti-benefiting remake both brought a galaxy of pop stars under one roof for charity. Put the two songs side by side, and you can see why certain singers were offered verses that were originally laid down by some of the 1980s' most prominent musicians.
The most talked-about torch-passing in the days leading up to the song's release was Lil Wayne being given a verse originally ad-libbed by rock icon Bob Dylan. Wayne and Dylan's voices share a distinctly buzzy quality, although in the finished product Weezy's delivery was smoothed over by Auto-Tune and backed by Carlos Santana's furious guitar playing.
But from the first verse — in which Justin Bieber takes over for "We Are the World" co-writer Lionel Richie to sing "There comes a time/ When we heed a certain call" — to the song's ending, in which Wyclef Jean toasts Haiti over the song's chorus fading out, there are other notable vocal parallels.
Jennifer Hudson more than ably performed a verse originally sung by Stevie Wonder; Pink, singing a line originally taken on by former Journey lead singer Steve Perry, played up the rock elements of her gritty voice; and Mary J. Blige paid tribute to pioneering R&B singer Tina Turner with her take on Turner's 1985 performance.
The big-voiced Celine Dion was given a verse originally wailed by outlandish pop star Cyndi Lauper, who ad-libbed an octave-leaping "whoa, whoa, whoa" in the lead-in to her verse, and Dion paid dutiful homage to that iconic vocal run.
Barbra Streisand stepped in for a fellow diva, Diana Ross, on the lines "There's a choice we're making/ We're saving our own lives/ It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me." And Miley Cyrus sang a line originally performed by Dionne Warwick with pitch-perfect inflection.
Two singers paid homage to vocalists who appeared on the 1985 version of the track: Adam Levine used his verse to channel Stevie Wonder (Levine's verse was performed originally by pop/rock singer Kenny Loggins), and Jamie Foxx re-created some of the ad-libs performed by soul pioneer Ray Charles. That's nothing new for Foxx, since he won an Oscar for his portrayal of the pianist/singer in the 2004 film "Ray."
Finally, the late Michael Jackson's vocal contributions to "We Are the World" remained intact, with his sister Janet singing along to the tracks he laid down for the song's original release. Jackson co-wrote the song with Richie in 1985.


Abstract Averitte Corley graduated from Purdue with a BS in Agriculture in 1976. He came to Purdue in the 1950s and had planned to play football as he had in high school. An injury cut his playing time short. He talks about campus life in the 1950s and camaraderie with the football players and coaches, e.g. Joe Dienhart, Stu Holcomb, Bernie Flowers, and professors John Hicks and David Pfendler.


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Geraldine Spiteri
Opinion: A Commercial Court for Malta ?
Earlier in 2017, the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government held a public consultation, titled "Setting up of the Civil Court, First Hall, Commercial Section". This was concluded in July 2017.
While we have not been active in commercial litigation for a relatively long while, we still believe that this is the way forward. Questions included whether there should be a commercial section within the civil arm of the Maltese courts, and whether the remit should be wider than matters related to the Companies Act.
The feedback received applauded the initiative of introducing this section, especially since, in the past, the Maltese judicature included a Commercial Court section which was eventually discontinued. However, in the current litigation climate, it was felt that the introduction of this section would increase in the efficiency of justice being handed down, provided the necessary human and other resources were ensured in order to guarantee success.
Mention was made of the fact that matters falling under the Commercial Code should also be included within the scope of this section's jurisdiction, as well as other laws such as the Trusts and Trustees Act and other codes that deal with matters of a commercial nature (e.g. banks). Clarification is to be sought as to a clear line of competence of this court in matters that could potentially fall under the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure.
The use of ADR, including pre-trial conferences and/or arbitration or mediation were also suggested as an efficient means to resolve disputes and to provide direction in cases that are deemed to be high-risk.
Online filing and payment of fees is also considered to be worthy of consideration in order to facilitate the filing of claims. Other legislative amendments were suggested in order to ensure that the new Bill respects the provisions outlined in the law.
In late 2017, the Government published its response to the consultation and stated that, subject to Parliamentary approval, it is intended to enact the new legislation in early 2018, with the new Commercial Section commencing operation in the second quarter of 2018.
This post was written by Geraldine Spiteri.
Published December 30, 2017 .
Posted in: Business • News • Opinion
Tagged: commercial • companies • court • enactment • law • litigation
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Danny Ferry's Post-Draft Quotes
Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty Images
Here's what Hawks President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry said after the NBA Draft Thursday night in response to questions from the media:
Opening Statement after drafting Payne:
"We want to play with pace and space, and Adreian is someone that can do both. From being able to run the court and compete on both ends, along with being able to shoot the basketball, he fits the way we want to play. Along with that, Michigan State guys are guys that we like. They play with a high level of competitiveness. It's a program that we greatly respect, and obviously he's been raised the right way by Tom Izzo and Michigan State. Excited to have him."
You consider him a stretch four then? Someone who can shoot a three?
"He's a stretch big. He'll be able to shoot and open the court up for our guards and everybody in general. That's something we value."
You've spoken a lot in the past about wanting character guys, was his character something that helped make your decision?
"He's a good young man," Ferry said. "We look forward to getting to know him even more. Coming from a program like Michigan State and being around Tom Izzo and the values that program has, and playing in a style that we think fits the style that we play. We like shooting, we like guys that can get up and down. I think he's a good fit for what we're trying to do."
Because he's a little older and not a guy who's like a freshman or sophomore is he a guy that can help you right away?
"I don't know. That's something they'll have to determine on the court, but he is a little older with four years of college, and where we were drafting that may be a good thing. He might've been a little undervalued because he's older. Sometimes we overvalue the younger guys and undervalue the guys who have been in college for four years. Hopefully this is one of those instances."
What are the advantages of having somebody from that type of program who stays for all four years? What are the advantages of bringing someone like that to your team?
"Playing for a guy like Tom Izzo for four years can be nothing but good. He's a terrific coach and he's a mentor to the young guys he has. We have tremendous respect for the program and Adreian's been raised the right way, and hopefully we can help him continue his development as a person and a player. Again, he fits the values and the way we want to play."
Last year you go with Lucas and Dennis, guys who you need to develop and can have an impact somewhere down the road, is Adreian a guy who can come in and contribute immediately?
"We're trying to develop everyone. I think Kyle Korver got better last year. I think DeMarre Carroll got better last year. We'll want Dennis and we'll want Adreian to get better as well. That's a pillar for us, having a strong player development focus, and we feel like we do a good job with that. Another good challenge for our group and we look forward to that."
Did you work Payne out?
Edy Tavares. Did you get a chance to look at him a lot with Lucas and Mike [Muscala] in Spain?
"You know, Walter is an interesting player. Obviously his size is unique, but he's also a guy that's a very hard worker and a young player and only been playing for a few years. We felt like it was a good risk to take, and we look forward to helping him develop going forward."
What do you think about his athleticism?
"He's made great progress over the last couple of years as it relates to his athleticism, and he's an interesting player. He's a kid that will work hard and do the things that he needs to do and 7'3", 260 pounds, we felt like with where we were picking, it was a very good opportunity for us to try."
The two picks that you made, what can you tell us now that you have a draft as a whole, were there chances to do other things [with those picks]?
"There were lots of conversations throughout the league on different ways to move up, move down, move around, move a player. In the end, I feel like in the first round getting a big who's got pretty good college experience that can play the way we want to play, and in the second round Walter is a very interesting player, and if we can help him develop we might have something unique. Lasty. Lamar is a player that just knows how to play basketball. Smart, good feel for the game. Good passer, and he would fit into our system in regards to just his ability to see the court and pass the ball."
Three years in, with all the picks you've made, and bringing in Coach Bud and installing a system, where do you feel you are?
"It feels like I've been here for a short time. I think in some ways it hasn't been three years. It's been a lot of change over the last year in establishing an identity in who we want to be and how we want to play, and I feel like we made great progress with that last year and we need to keep chipping away at that. Continue to build an even stronger identity and get better at that, and get good players. At the end of the day, this is about players. The system that we play, all of the things that we do hopefully puts them in the best position to succeed, but we have to get good players."
Hawks, Danny Ferry, Adreian Payne, Edy Tavares, Lamar Patterson
Hawks Drop Contest to Pistons at Home
Teague Tallies 15 PTS and 7 AST In Return To Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks and Danny Ferry Part Ways
Atlanta Nabs Solid Two-Way Bench Player In Bazemore
Hawks Acquire Future First-Round Pick From Minnesota
New Hawks Getting More Comfortable With System


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Supernatural: Ladies Drink Free
Posted by: Kyle Tetarenko // March 30, 2017 @ 11:20pm
When a werewolf attack leaves one boy dead and his sister alive, the Winchesters will need the help of a not-so-old friend to solve the case.
After arriving in Wisconsin to look into the latest werewolf attack, the Winchesters, along with Mick Davies, have their work cut out for them. Dean isn't thrilled at the idea of a tag along but Sam has to babysit so it should be fine. The three of them arrive at the hospital to check on Hayden Foster but her mother isn't having it. In a show of quick thinking, Mick puts his accent to use to and disguises himself as a doctor to examine Hayden while the boys talk with her mother. Sam and Dean learn that someone already came to speak with Hayden's mother from the department of Fish and Wildlife but she was far too young and had a bad attitude. After getting a description of the girl, Sam and Dean realize that it may be none other than Claire Novak. Meanwhile, Mick examines Hayden and eventually finds a bite marks from a werewolf but decides to not tell the boys about it. Later on, the Winchesters call Claire and meet up with her to discuss the case and find out why she is even there. Claire is more or less playing hooky from Jody and is out hunting while she lies and says that she is looking into colleges. She also tells them a few details about Hayden and how the bartender at the local dive bar is more than a little friendly with younger girls. Just then, Mick has to suddenly run out and write a report for the Men of Letters. It's then that he goes back to the hospital and reluctantly kills Hayden moments after she turns into a werewolf. The next day, Dean and Mick have a chat with the touchy bartender but don't get any closer to finding the werewolf but Dean knows something is up. After hearing that Hayden has died he confronts Mick and confirms his suspicions about how he killed Hayden. Mick says that he was following orders but how can the Winchesters track a werewolf if they can't trust the man there to watch their backs?
Though well intended, Ladies Drink Free felt clumsy in its execution due to a weak guest star and a concepts that ultimately contradicted themselves. To start off, I haven't been the biggest fan of the Claire Novak character for quite some time now and Ladies Drink Free didn't do anything to change that. This is largely due to Claire's insistence on being a hunter but never moving past the phase of being a defiant teen. The parallel between bitten by a werewolf and losing who you are to an older attractive man, only to rediscover your true independent self isn't lost on me. It's a difficult thing to write into a shorter story but where it fell entirely flat in Ladies Drink Free is how Claire was not responsible for anything besides being in the same location as Sam and Dean. Every time that she makes an appearance, Sam and Dean are the ones that rescue her and this time was no different. She couldn't take criticism so she walked away; which lead to her being attacked by the werewolf. After that, she was rescued by Sam, Dean, and Mick who were able to cure her from lycanthropy. Having Claire drive off in the closing moments to Wild One felt empty because Claire's biggest accomplishment in the episode was telling Jody that she was going to be a hunter for a while... via voicemail. The next time we see Claire, I hope we see a character that is responsible for her actions and not a plot obstacle that Sam and Dean need to rescue.
Though he has been a mystery for the better part of the season, Mick Davies is turning out to be a surprisingly good character. After the attack by the alpha vampire, Mick has been quite shaken up. No longer do we see the laser focused Men of Letters with striking confidence but instead a man that is very aware of his own mortality and limits. Although he knew that killing Hayden may have been the right thing to do, he took no pleasure in her death and it provides a stark contract to Mr. Ketch. Davies didn't want to kill a young woman but had no choice once his orders were given. Adam Fergus has been more than capable in the role of Davies and I'm very interested to see what he will do with the character now that Davies has been on the ground level of the fight.
Overall, Ladies Drink Free just wasn't a great episode due to a stagnant character in Claire Novak that became the entire focus of the story. I guess we'll see what happens next week when Mick decides to join the hunt in The British Invasion.
Tags: Supernatural, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki