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Capsule Reviews: Television and Movies (Legend of Korra, Babalas, etc.) Animation | Anime | Live-Action | My Reviews 23 APR 2014
I don't really feel like typing up reviews any more, and in truth, I haven't been doing so for a while. However, I do like coming back every couple of years to see if my thoughts on a particular movie or television show has subsequently changed (like how I found Love Hina hilarious the first time I watched it and then atrocious the subsequent time I tried to rewatch it), hence this quick capsule reviews.
The Legend of Korra [Season 2] (2013)
The second season, Book Two: Spirits, is set six months after the events of the first season, with Korra learning that restless spirits called Dark Spirits have been terrorizing the south seas. Feeling that she can not learn to calm the Dark Spirits through Tenzin, Korra turns to her uncle Unalaq, the Northern Water Tribe chief, for guidance. However, as civil war among the Water Tribe branches erupts from the Northern Tribe's forced occupancy, Korra learns that the exile of her father Tonraq was arranged by Unalaq who is using her to achieve his own agenda. Which now means that Korra and her comrades will have to unite once more in order to put a stop to whatever it is that Unalaq is putting in motion!
As with the first season, I absolutely loved this second helping of the Legend of Korra. Fantastic animation and backdrops complement an intricately woven story that carries the right amounts of drama, action and of course humour when necessary. It's a great blend of elements that then combines well with a fantastic voice cast and soundtrack, making for a very polished, and very enjoyable animated television show.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
When time travel allows a past wrong to be righted for The Flash and his family, the ripples of the event prove disastrous as a fractured, alternate reality now exists where a Justice League never formed, and even Superman is nowhere to be found. Teaming with a grittier, more violent Dark Knight and Cyborg, Flash races to restore the continuity of his original timeline while this new world is ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman's Amazons and Aquaman's Atlanteans.
Another hit addition to the DC Original Animated Movie stable, The Flashpoint Paradox is a slick and polished animated film with high production values, featuring a great story (loads of action, surprise character reveals, and plenty of drama), an excellent score and fantastic voice acting. I thoroughly enjoyed this animated outing and will definitely watch it again in the near future.
Community [Season 5] (2014)
Jeff Winger and most of the old study group find themselves back at Greendale, after failing to have made the cut in the real world following their graduation. Now on the committee to save Greendale from the various problems that always seem to land at its doorstep, the gang is at again as if they had never left… (though with one or two new faces thrown into the mix, mind you)
So the good news is that Dan Harmon is back. The bad news is that Community should probably not have returned after the third season. They continue to do the same thing over and over again, this time with a slightly tweaked cast, and to be honest, the humour is now very much stale. There is only so much that you can rely on meta-humor and pop culture references in order to make your show funny, and unfortunately this limit feels as very much as it has long since been reached. It's a pity really to watch this show fizzle out just as much as it has. (Sigh, and to think I absolutely adored the first two seasons of it…)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine [Season 1] (2013)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a comedy television series set in New York, telling the story of a group of detectives in the Nine-Nine Precinct. With a new, by the book, Captain to please, these detectives should probably get themselves back into line – though to be fair, that's not really how they do things in this particular precinct…
Definitely one of our favourite comedy television shows to sit down to at the moment, the acting team of Andy Samberg, Terry Crews, Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio and Chelsea Peretti do a fantastic job of bringing to life some very funny scripts, and with some clever writing and decent plotting to boot, it is no wonder that Chantelle and I can't wait for the second season to come rolling in!
Man of Steel (2013)
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
It is always a bad sign when you are forced to watch a movie over two sittings, and then fall asleep during both sessions. Zack Snyder's Man of Steel is unfortunately a prime example of a comic book movie that just fails to have any real substance, in fact, making it par for the course when it comes to live action Superman films of recent years. Although the visuals and action sequences are stunning, the character development is non existent and thus one's emotional attachment to the story is just not where it should be. It is a polished production to be sure, but I just didn't like it, and the fact that they did a very un-Superman-like thing at the end did just enough for me to simply not have enjoyed the experience. Quite a pity really.
DC Super Villains Superman: Worlds At War! (2013)
This is a compilation disc pulling together episodes from Superman: The Animated Series (10 stories), plus 3 Superman-centric episodes of Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Everything is Darkseid and Apokolips based, meaning that naturally there is no surprise as to the flavour of the villain of the day for all the various stories.
Nevertheless, it is a good trip down memory lane if you haven't seen any of the classic DC animated universe stuff for a long time, and pleasingly the quality of the story telling remains right up there. That said, chances of you not having seen this material before is pretty slim, and if by chance you haven't in fact seen these before, then honestly you'd be better off purchasing the series DVD releases instead, because obviously they give more variety in the stories being told. Still, I did enjoy seeing these again…
Tiger & Bunny [Season 1] (2011)
In a futuristic city, people born with super abilities train to be Heroes, sponsored do-gooders that protect the city and fight crime for points, all in front of a cheering television audience. One of the older heroes, old fashioned, clumsy but with a will of steel, Wild Tiger is about to be assigned a brand new partner – the calculating and efficient Barnaby Brooks Jr. The thing is, Barnaby Brooks Jr. brings somewhat of a history with him – and its a mystery which both he and the old man will have to work together on in order to solve!
This is a difficult one. I'm a bit off anime these days, but I have to admit that overall I really did enjoy this show, despite its sometime over the top goofiness and silliness that at times threatened to derail the seriousness and drama of the story being told. The animation is a good blend of traditional and CG, and the action sequences are well choreographed, particularly the various fight scenes. However, the character models are sometimes a little too goofy for my liking. It's an action ability-powered hero story at the heart of it all, and as such, delivers on the points that it is expected to, thus making for a watchable and relatively fun show at the end of the day. That said, I can't ever see myself re-watching it any time in the near future…
Babalas (2013)
An events co-ordination company executive goes in search of the nostalgic Boet and Swaer from the old Castrol ads to lure them to a big gala event at Emperor's Palace. What follows is a road trip of misadventure, fueled of course by copious amounts of alcohol – the good old fashioned South African way!
I hate to say it, but the trailer for this movie is what reeled me in – I definitely thought it could be funny and a bit of a trip down memory lane to see a movie revolving around old South African television adverts that used to air when I was growing up. Sadly, that was not the case, and this time around, the trailer is by far better than the movie itself. It's not very funny, Jack Parow is really not an actor, and in short, I should probably just have picked up a Hollywood blockbuster instead. Still, I did rather enjoy the very cool South African soundtrack that accompanied this rather limp script…
Wednesday 23/04/2014 Animation, Anime, Live-Action, My Reviewsbabalas, blue rose, brooklyn nine-nine, community, flashpoint paradox, jack parow, justice league, korra, legend of korra, man of steel, tiger & bunny, wild tigerCraig Lotter
Capsule Reviews: Movies (John Carter, The Wolverine, etc.) Animation | Live-Action | My Reviews 21 APR 2014
I'm not really into spending time collecting my thoughts in the form of movie, gaming, television reviews any more, but that said, I do like coming back three of four years later to see just how my enjoyment/appreciation of any given piece may have changed over time.
Hence these little capsule reviews of things I've watched over the last few months.
John Carter (2012)
Civil War vet John Carter is transplanted to Mars, where he discovers a lush, wildly diverse planet whose main inhabitants are 12-foot tall green barbarians. Finding himself a prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, who is in desperate need of a savior.
I have to say, I enjoyed this otherworldly sci-fi action film literally from start to finish. Great actors, great action sequences, wondrous worlds and a truly enjoyable story + ending means that I can't help but give a solid thumbs up for this polished epic.
When the powerful Darkseid and his massive, relentless forces invade Earth, a group of previously unaligned super heroes – misunderstood and, in some cases, hunted by the authorities – discover that the only way to fend off the attack will be to work together as a cohesive unit. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Shazam! and, in his origin story, Cyborg combine their respective talents in an all-out battle to save the planet.
The animation is slick and superb, the voice acting is perfect, and the action is perfect comic book action. The New 52 angle means a fresh look at some tired faces, and quite frankly, everything just works in this over the top, enjoyable, and action-packed Justice League animated movie hit!
JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time (2014)
With Lex Luthor granted the power to go back in time and eliminate the Justice League before it was even started, it is left up to young heroes of the 31st century, Dawnstar and Karate Kid to travel back in time and try and fix this disaster they accidentally unleashed – before all the timelines are completely altered beyond repair!
This is a standalone direct to video film that doesn't form part of the current DC Animated Original Movies stable, the reason being that it is pitched at the slightly younger viewer and as such the story comes with a strong moral motivation attached to it. I'm not the primary audience and as such can't say I really enjoyed it, even if there isn't really any wrong with it per say. That said, the fact that the primary Leaguers aren't the stars of the show here, might just hurt it as well.
Pacific Rim (2013)
Giant monsters arise from the deep and threaten to overrun the world. Earth's only defense are the gigantic fighting mecha known as Jaegers. But after years of slugging it out, the Jaegers have all but fallen, and the monster Kaiju appear to be increasing in number and strength!
An absolute visual feast, there is no other way of describing this epic sci-fi monster versus mecha slobber knocker. It's a great film from start to finish, loads of action and drama, plus a satisfying storyline even if the majority of the international Jaegers get so little screen time! Excellent acting and a fantastic soundtrack makes for a very polished film outing which I thoroughly enjoyed!
God of Thunder Thor finds himself disobeying Odin one too many times, and as a result, is punished by being banished to Midgard (Earth) for his disobedience to the All Father. However, this perfectly orchestrated play by the Trickster Loki, is exactly the opening he has been waiting for – and his allies the Frost Giants at his side, the play is made to make Asgard his once and for all!
This movie couldn't have been better cast quite frankly, with the characters and actors all being perfectly matched up. Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki are literally perfect, and in the end, so is the movie. This is a fantastic comic book movie done right, with a larger than life story, mind-blowing visual affects, and just the perfect amount of drama and fantasy action. Comic book movie perfection in other words!
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
A malevolent evil spirit is awakened, and bonded with the hapless Jane Foster. This in turn awakens the Dark Elf Malekith, and with him comes a renewed attempt to take down Odin and Asgard with him. With Jane now under Asgard's protection, Thor is forced to team up with his imprisoned brother Loki if there is any hope of stopping Malekith's overwhelming forces – and the immense power of the Aether!
Following on from the slick and thoroughly enjoyable first Thor movie, this second outing pretty much continues where the original left off. Once again the actors are perfect, and in turn, the story is a perfect fantasy comic book yarn, with big stakes, plenty of action, and not to mention more than a little drama to go around. Great soundtrack, superb visuals, this is yet again another comic book film done right!
The Wolverine (2013)
An old acquaintance sends word from Japan that he is on his deathbed and as such would like to personally thank and say farewell to Logan. Of course things are never quite so cut and dry for the Wolverine, who soon finds himself leaving his self-imposed exile, travelling to Japan, and embroiled in the middle of a fierce battle over the daughter of a powerful and rich family. A life that needless to say he feels responsible for and must save, no matter the cost!
The first standalone Wolverine movie (X-Men Origins: Wolverine [2009]) was quite frankly horrible. Pleasingly, this time around it is much, much better. Hugh Jackman has without a doubt grown much more into his Wolverine persona, and with a drama-filled story that features exotic locales, ninjas, yakuza and not to mention exhilarating (and bloody) action sequences, The Wolverine ends up being a fantastic comic book movie. It is ever so slightly too long, but that isn't a complete deal breaker for me, and in the end I seriously enjoyed it – which is great, because the X-Men family of movies really does need a bit of a boost in my book (based purely on how bad they look compared to the awesome current crop of Marvel Universe releases!)
The World's End (2013)
Gary King and the lads are all grown up these days, well everyone but Gary King that is. A man with a lot of personal problems to deal with but with no concept of responsibility anyway, rounds up the old gang for the sole purpose of completing a pub crawl they failed to complete as lads. The final target of the 12 pub crawl being the renowned World's End. Unfortunately for the group though, they're about to find out first hand that something downright alien is going on in their old stomping grounds…
Rounding out the so-called Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End), this is another Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost collaboration and thus blends the same everyday life and drama with some completely over the top twists and then some completely over the top action sequences. As expected, the film is slickly done and well put together, the twist is over the top – as expected, and to be honest, it really does fit in as another installment of the Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz puzzle. In other words, if you liked those, then you'll like this one. As for me, it wasn't horrible, I did laugh occasionally, but I can't say I necessarily walked away having enjoyed it.
Monday 21/04/2014 Animation, Live-Action, My Reviewsjla adventures: trapped in time, john carter, justice league, justice league: war, loki, nick frost, pacific rim, simon pegg, the world's end, thor, thor: the dark world, WolverineCraig Lotter
JLA Cosplay: Wonder Woman (Giorgia Vecchini) Cosplay 09 JUN 2013
The well known and popular Italian cosplayer Giorgia Vecchini gets her bling on and tackles the first lady amongst superheroines, William Moulton Marston's most famous creation, Diana Prince, Princess of the Amazons, aka Wonder Woman!
Sunday 09/06/2013 Cosplayamazons, babe, comic, Cosplay, dc comics, diana prince, giorgia vecchini, italian, jla, justice league, justice league of america, lasso, themyscira, wonder womanCraig Lotter
Animation Update: The Dark Knight Returns (Part 2) | Justice League: Starcrossed | Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Vol. 4) Animation | My Reviews 04 JUN 2013
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 (2013)
Continuing from where the excellent Part 1 of this two part movie adaptation of the great Frank Miller story line left off, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 is an excellent addition to the DC Universe Animated Original Movies stable.
Batman, now once again active after years of retirement, finds his presence reawakening some very deadly, and deranged foes, and before long his dark and violent retaliation against these crimes results in the United States calling in their favourite Son to try and put a stop to what they see as out of control vigilantism.
But then there is also the problem of a Soviet nuclear strike to deal with, all of which culminates in probably the biggest hero showdown ever imagined!
Keeping close homage to Frank Miller's unique style, the fluid, bulky animation is fantastic to look at, giving the characters more age, more presence, and almost certainly more impact. The stunning visuals are then mixed with a highly dramatic, edge of your seat story that will have you cringing with the violence and melodrama on display, not to mention the intense action sequences that litter the story.
Voice acting is superb and the musical soundtrack just phenomenal. This is a fantastic story which is expertly adapted and certainly serves as one of the more powerful pieces in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series.
Definitely worth picking up, especially for Frank Miller fanboys!
Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Dark_Knight_Returns_(film)
Justice League: Starcrossed (2004)
Starcrossed was the 2004 3-part second season finale of the fantastic Justice League animated series, which later got bundled up and released as a standalone DVD. The story revolves around the appearance of a Thanagarian battle ship that arrives just in time to shoot down another alien vessel that started attacking a gathering of the world's leaders, bringing with them a message of imminent danger and the promise of immediate assistance against this advancing threat.
At first the world's leaders and the Justice League accept their new found allies with open arms, but it isn't too long before the Thanagarian Justice League member Hawkgirl reveals some rather disturbing secrets of her own, with the end result being a potential cataclysmic event that threatens to end the very existence of our world itself!
The original Justice League animated series was one of the best animated super hero shows to hit the airwaves in the early '2000s, and Starcrossed goes a long way in showing exactly why. This is a top notch super hero yarn that has all the dramatic elements of love, betrayal and duty, masterfully blended in with loads of action as well as a twinge of humour, the perfect mix through and through. And although the familiar stylized animation of the series isn't perhaps the best ever seen, its clean lines and fluid animation is more than entertaining enough. Combine all of this with a fantastic voice cast and an even better musical soundtrack, and you have an animated package just begging to be watched.
Very enjoyable for all the comic book fans out there!
Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starcrossed_(Justice_League_episode)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Volume 4) (2009)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold Volume 4 packages four episodes from the first season into a DVD, featuring the tales "Mystery in Space!", "Trials of the Demon!", "Night of the Huntress!", and "Menace of the Conqueror Caveman!".
The first tells the tale of a depressed Aquaman that eventually joins Batman in battle on the planet Rann as they attempt to assist the space hero Adam Strange is his battle against the invading Gordanians. The second story sees Batman transported back in time where he assists Jason Blood (the Demon Etrigan) and Sherlock Holmes in solving a particularly gruesome murder mystery. The third tale has Blue Beetle and the Huntress joining Batman in a fight against the heavily armed Babyface and his recently escaped gang, whilst the fourth and final part sees the always amusing Booster Gold team up with an unwilling Batman to take on the immortal tyrant Kru'll the Eternal (who happens to be a hyper intelligent caveman).
Batman: The Brave and the Bold has from the start divided the fans, being a very campy outing that serves up huge dollops of nostalgia and nods to the longtime comic book fan, but which is ultimately best suited for younger viewers given the colourful format and often simpler stories. That said, it does have its fair share of supporters as well, and in the end is probably not a completely unwatchable show for the older fanboy I suppose.
I can't say that I love it, but it does feature an interesting, simple, fluid animation style that suits the campy nature of the show perfectly and the voice casting as per usual is top notch – made even better when you realize that Diedrich Bader of the Drew Carey Show fame is the voice behind the Bat for this particular outing. A fun soundtrack completes the package and this is certainly a show you could pull out and sit down to watch with your kids, much like say Teen Titans.
Worth pulling out if you have some kids to watch it with, though that said, I do own the first four volumes so it can't be all that bad! ;)
Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_Brave_and_the_Bold
Tuesday 04/06/2013 Animation, My ReviewsBatman, batman brave and the bold, batman the dark knight returns part 2, booster gold, brave and the bold, bruce wayne, dark knight returns, frank miller, hawkgirl, justice league, justice league starcrossed, thanagarCraig Lotter
JLA Cosplay: Wonder Woman (Giorgia Vecchini) Cosplay 27 SEP 2012
Thursday 27/09/2012 Cosplayamazons, babe, comic, Cosplay, dc comics, diana prince, giorgia vecchini, italian, jla, justice league, justice league of america, lasso, themyscira, wonder womanCraig Lotter
Review: Justice League: Doom (2012) Animation | My Reviews 21 JUN 2012
The Justice League consists of Earth's finest super heroes and protectors of humanity. But in the mind of the Dark Knight, it contains potentially the most dangerous people on the planet. Over time, Batman has compiled top-secret contingency plans should any of them go rogue. When these files are stolen by a rising group of super villains, the Justice League embarks on a collision course that will test the very fabric of its alliance!
Director Lauren Montgomery and producers Bruce Timm and Sam Register are back, with the last ever movie script penned by the venerable Dwayne McDuffie before his untimely passing. Released in February 2012, Justice League: Doom is the 13th film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.
The JL line-up for this outing consists of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), The Flash (Barry Allen) and Martian Manhunter, with the assistance of Cyborg who ends up playing a pivotal role in the saga. Up against them is Vandal Savage, leading a group consisting of Metallo, Mirror Master, Cheetah, Star Sapphire, Bane and Ma'alefa'ak – basically a villain from each hero's rogues gallery and thus perfect to round things off. What follows is an excellently paced action drama that sees each of the heroes incapacitated in a surprising manner, as Vandal sets about his plan to create a new world order – which of course makes for quite an epic ending.
Being a team-based movie, not a lot of time is lavished on one single hero, but the air time is split evenly enough that you don't feel hard done by if you support a particular character, and the various threads all combine very nicely to provide a solid and enjoyable super hero tale that has plenty of drama, intrigue and of course fist pounding action (not to mention a giggle here and there)!
Although not a direct sequel to the earlier Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the movie does use the same character designs as the former, and to be frank, despite some of the more pretty boy faces like Superman to get used to as well as the sometimes too sparse line-work, the visuals are for the most part crisp, clean and very well animated, with some fluid choreography and effects, not to mention the vibrant colour palette it sports.
Christopher Drake scores the film and complementing the great soundtrack is a stellar vocal performance from all of the voice actors attached to the project, which includes the likes of Kevin Conroy as Batman, Time Daly as Superman and Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern.
In summary this is yet another excellently crafted super hero movie and a worthy inclusion in what is a fantastic DC animated movie line-up. Strong story which keeps you engaged from start to finish, great visuals and animation, plus a polished sound makes Justice League: Doom well worth tracking down!
Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League:_Doom
Thursday 21/06/2012 Animation, My Reviewsanimated, Batman, bruce timm, christopher drake, cyborg, dc, flash, green lantern, justice league, justice league: doom, lauren montgomery, martian manhunter, movie, nathan fillion, review, superman, warner bros., wonder womanCraig Lotter
Review: Justice League Beyond #1-4 (Jan. 2012) Comic Books | My Reviews 11 JUN 2012
The understaffed Justice League Beyond outfit consisting of Superman, Warhawk, Kai-Ro, Barda, Aquagirl and Micron, have finally managed to get Terry McGinnis, aka Batman, onboard with the team.
As it is, his skill set is now needed more than ever, seeing as the group believes that Micron may have switched sides in order to join the snake-obsessed Kobra cult, who appear to be hatching a scheme that involves many of the remaining mystical artefacts currently on Earth.
But they're going to have to find him first.
Alongside Batman Beyond, Justice League Beyond marks a new chapter in DC's digital distribution strategy by being pushed out on a weekly basis,weighing it at half the page count of a normal comic per issue, but with each page neatly chopped in half to give you landscape sized images, perfect for reading on tablets or other digital devices. Every month the digital issues get collected and pushed out as a giant issue, meaning that it's distribution model should hold something for everybody.
Konstriction comes from creators Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen, who work together on the script, and then switch hats to provide the art. And apart from doing a great job of introducing the characters of this futuristic Justice League, their main story is shaping up to be an absolute blast, containing all the necessary drama, action and twists that you expect from a Justice League tale.
On the art front, Dustin Nguyen provides the perfect stylized cartoony visuals associated with the Beyond universe, and although the style is simple, it does work, particularly if you are already familiar with the look and feel of the established futuristic universe.
Overall, this is a good one, with plenty of action, good visuals and a decent story, making it well worth picking up if you have the chance.
Monday 11/06/2012 Comic Books, My Reviewsaquagirl, barda, Batman, batman beyond, dc comics, derek fridolfs, dustin nguyen, justice league, justice league beyond, kai-ro, kobra, micron, superman, terry mcginnis, warhawkCraig Lotter
Animation Update: Justice League Unlimited Season 2 | Justice League (Secret Origins) | Star Wars: The Clone Wars My Reviews 02 MAY 2012
Because I don't have all the time in the world to spend on blogging, here are some thoughts on a couple of animated features I recently watched, instead of my usual review efforts. Sorry about that, but priorities, priorities! :P
Justice League Unlimited Season 2 (2005)
Now widening the net to include all manner of DC heroes, both primary and secondary, the second season of the fantastic Justice League Unlimited franchise moves on from Project Cadmus, which dominated much of the first season, and instead provides a overarching plot that sees Gorilla Grodd and his sinister Secrety Society now tangling with the various members of the Justice League as the standalone episode format eventually dovetails into a brilliant extended finale.
If you are a long term follower of the DC comic book universe then you'll definitely get a kick out of this season, meeting a lot of fringe characters not normally afforded screen time, and as a whole, season 2 of Justice League Unlimited really does make for an enjoyable, animated super hero watch.
It comes with the perfect mix of drama, action and comedy, looks great with its slick, simple but stylized animation, and is voiced by an incredible collection of talented people, all mixed in with a great soundtrack.
If you are a comic book fan then there is simply no way that you won't enjoy seeing this.
Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_Unlimited
Justice League (Secret Origins) (2002)
This DVD collects the first three episodes of the stellar original Justice League run, stitching them up into a single movie experience. It's a great League origin story with compelling drama, likeable characters, a touch of humor, and of course great super hero action.
The simple but effective (and stylish) DCAU animation style works well for this show and combined with some fantastic voice talent and musical scoring, this really is a fun outing if you enjoy your animated super hero fare!
Certainly a classic and well worth the watch.
Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice_League_%28TV_series%29
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
I'm not a Star Wars fan, so luckily for me, I can walk into this animated movie experience without expecting too much. Frankly, it is an enjoyable tale of how Anakin gets saddled with an unwanted, brash student and who are then thrust into a difficult situation as they seek to rescue the kidnapped child of their foe – before time runs out.
If you can ignore the stupid (childish) lines that the poor droids often get saddled with and the sometimes stilted dialog between the Jedi, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an enjoyable watch with plenty of action, a decent amount of drama, and the occasional giggle or two (though not from the forced humor which is driven through the droids. Didn't really understand the need for that).
Visually the stylized CG is a treat, and of course aurally the movie is just as strong, with some great performances from the various voice actors involved. As you can expect, the musical score is also as strong as ever for something involved in the Star Wars universe, and so in summary, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an enjoyable movie lead-in to animated series shown on Cartoon Network.
But like I said, I can walk into this movie without expectations, and thus ended up enjoying it. Real Star Wars fans apparently pan it. I can only guess that they're sore from having their beloved franchise stretched even further from its original roots!
Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_Clone_Wars_%28film%29
Wednesday 02/05/2012 My Reviewsanakin skywalker, Batman, gorilla grodd, green lantern, justice league, justice league unlimited, martian manhunter, secret society, star wars, star wars: clone wars, superman, the flash, wonder womanCraig Lotter
Review: Justice League #1 (Oct. 2011) Comic Books | My Reviews 25 APR 2012
Leading the charge of DC's huge universe overall, dubbed "The New 52!", was Justice League #1, written by Geoff Johns, pencilled by Jim Lee and inked by Scott Williams.
Seeing as this is the relaunch of the line, Geoff gets to build a brand new origin story for the League, and he starts off with gusto, as we're thrown right into the mix of Batman being chased by military helicopters, who in turn is chasing a parademon across the rooftops of Gotham. Star City's Green Lantern intervenes, and in the ensuing confusion, the parademon escapes, forcing Green Lantern and Batman to track it down before it can do any more damage.
With the retrieval of a Motherbox, Batman and Green Lantern head to Metropolis in the hope that the resident alien there might be able to shed some light on their new mystery… though its not like this particular alien likes to be told what to do!
Geoff weaves a great introduction story, and he creates some particularly witty and enjoyable banter between Batman and Green Lantern, capturing their personalities perfectly. The tale flows well and the setup for the final page leaves you wanting more, always the hallmark of a well written issue.
Jim Lee can hardly ever do wrong with the pencil, and once again he and Scott Williams produce some fantastic, detailed and dynamic layouts and sequences, making Justice League #1 a proper superhero visual treat.
Well worth picking up in other words.
Wednesday 25/04/2012 Comic Books, My ReviewsBatman, comic book, dc, geoff johns, green lantern, jim lee, justice league, scott williams, superman, the new 52Craig Lotter
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Curiosity, Travel, Family, and Discovering New Places. An Exploring South African is a family travel blog by aspiring travel writer and full-time software developer Craig Lotter.
Craig Lötter
South African software architect and developer at Touchwork. Husband to a wedding cake baker and father to two little girls.
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You can write a review for ADT and also view its ratings and comments posted by others.
Read 2 Customer Reviews for ADT.
I'm a USAA member and got a ~$7 discount on ADT's monthly monitoring service on our new home. The house already had a security system installed, but since I use VOIP ADT had to install a wireless cell thingie so that the system can call ADT for alarm events. The cost? Pretty much $300. Felt like a rip-off, but what can I do?
A simple door to the control panel of my home is broken and ADT asks to send a technician to identify the problem!!
My entire community has ADT hardware installed in our homes.
I have never come across a more ridiculous scenario!!
I have to spend close to $200 to have the system looked at, and all I need is a door. You sell the product but not the part, and if you do you charge an unfair amount... I despise your company and the treatment I've received!
I will FOREVER tell this story to everyone interested in your services!!
Adt Rating: 2.5/5 (18 votes cast) [2 votes came from reviews] 2 reviews by users total.


text:
<?php

namespace Acme\BookBundle\Controller;

use Doctrine\ORM\Query;
use Knp\Bundle\PaginatorBundle\Pagination\SlidingPagination;
use Knp\Component\Pager\Paginator;
use Symfony\Bundle\FrameworkBundle\Controller\Controller;
use Doctrine\ORM\QueryBuilder;

class DefaultController extends Controller
{
    public function indexAction($page = 1)
    {
        $manager = $this->getDoctrine()->getManager();
        /**
         * @var Query $query
         */
        $query = $manager->createQuery('SELECT a FROM AcmeBookBundle:Post a');

        $paginator  = $this->get('knp_paginator');
        $pagination = $paginator->paginate(
            $query,
            $page,
            5
        );
        $pagination->setUsedRoute('acme_book_homepage_page');
        $form = $this->createForm('post');
        $form->handleRequest($this->getRequest());
        if ($form->isSubmitted() && $form->isValid()) {
            $message = $form->getData();
            $manager->persist($message);
            $manager->flush();

            return $this->redirect($this->generateUrl('acme_book_homepage'));
        }
        return $this->render('AcmeBookBundle:Default:index.html.twig', array(
                'pagination' => $pagination,
                'form' => $form->createView(),
            ));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
[Adapted from website:] Khaneh Maddahan
[Date:] 21 Esfand 1390 [11 March 2012]
Baha'ism Goes Beyond a False Religion
The perverse Baha'i sect is one of the false religions, which also operates abroad. In this article, which relates the experiences of the author during his student years abroad, an attempt has been made to provide aspects of the activities of the members of this sect abroad that he has personally observed and obtained information about, to notify his compatriots and the youth.
By sending its propagators to all parts of the world, the sect has created an extensive network that carries out its mission against Muslims and Iranians with specific purposes.
The main target of this group is us Shias, especially Iranian Shias. In their gatherings and the propaganda they perform, in addition to inviting people to convert to their so-called religion, they are questioning and destroying the international image of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and recently they seem to have realized that the reason for the Iranian people's not welcoming them is not only their opposition to the Islamic Republic, but also because the people themselves are not interested in them and reject them. They have also targeted the Iranian people with their poisonous propaganda.
Here, the question arises as to why, if their only goal is really to invite them to the Baha'i sect, they work and propagandize everywhere against Muslims, Shias, the Islamic Republic and even the rules and laws of Islam?!! Thus, it is clear that there is malice behind this sect, which has targeted the religion and beliefs of the Iranian people under the guise of introducing and inviting them into their illegitimate sect.
Baha'is enjoy various protections from hostile countries, the most notable of which are:
Attending all scientific, cultural, social and political meetings and conferences with the support of Israeli and American embassies and diplomatic centres. In all local programmes, the names of these people are provided to the organizers so that with their regular presence, they are informed about the issues and they can get to know more people in such gatherings.
Diplomatic protection of Baha'is is such that, in the event of a problem or any other issue in the country of mission, the embassies of the United States and Israel support them as their own nationals. So here it becomes obvious that one of the purposes of marrying U.S. citizens is to get diplomatic support.
Financial support, Baha'i teachers have a permanent salary for a prosperous life and all their mission and travel expenses are paid in full. In addition, the amounts paid to individuals for cooperation and recruitment should be also considered. Teachers will receive between $1,000 and $2,000 as a reward for each new member, depending on the country of mission.
Another important factor is the fluency in the Persian language of non-Iranian Baha'is abroad. These people, the vast majority of whom are American citizens, have been trained in Persian for years in order to communicate with Iranians in the course of their mission, which is also something to consider. And here we come to the certainty that their main addressee is me, a Persian-speaking Iranian!!!
Baha'is who are sent on missions to various countries, especially to countries and university cities, continue to work under the auspices of university professors and teachers, which has benefits for their purposes.
In fact, what experts and masterminds are the members of this sect, who try to impress the minds by showing oppression and demagoguery, and in this way draw an ugly face on Iran and Iranians!
It is necessary for the youth to be aware of the tricks and deceptions of belief and ideology, to get rid of such worldly differences and to be fully aware of the tricks and methods of deception and influence of this group; in other words, they need to have insight, so that in case of encounter, they will be able to distinguish true from false.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, civil rights hero and martyr who claimed victory in his lifetime crusade to establish a non-racial democracy for South Africa. He was arrested as a political prisoner in 1962 and spent 27 years in prison, released in February 1990. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and became the nation's first black president in May 1994. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.
The events of his extraordinary life while staggeringly powerful in themselves do not do full justice to the true standing of Mandela. He was a global icon. If a poll was taken worldwide to establish the individual who made the most positive contribution to humanity in the 20th century, few people would gain more votes than Nelson Mandela.
It's only natural that Mandela was born with the Sun in Cancer as he was the true founding father of the South African Rainbow Nation and the whole country, black and white was his family. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999 and he used his global influence to support many humanitarian and reformist movements throughout the world. His protective Cancer Sun extended to put an arm round the whole of humanity.
Few people could have lived a life of such extremes. Being sentenced to life as a terrorist and spending 27 years on Robben Island much of the time in solitary confinement, to emerge and become President of the nation that imprisoned him is the most extraordinary story. It is the equivalent of sinking to the deepest and darkest part of hell to rise phoenix like to the gates of heaven. Only one astrological sign would permit such possibilities within one life and that would be Scorpio and of all the planets the one that would go deepest in that sign would be the Moon. Nelson Mandela had the Moon in Scorpio.
Mandela's Sun and Moon were in flowing, harmonious trine aspect showing that these two definite themes in his life were beautifully connected, one could not have occurred without the other.
The Sun shares Cancer with a conjunction between the noble Jupiter and revolutionary Pluto. Mandela was born into the Thembu royal family.
The major theme in Mandela's life was shown by a T Square. Mercury is conjunct Saturn in Leo showing someone who came from a traditional ( Saturn ) royal ( Leo ) background. Mercury and Saturn are opposite the rebellious Uranus in the sign of political idealism and change, Aquarius. An opposition between planets in Leo ( leaders ) and Aquarius ( rebels ) is very common amongst leaders of revolutionary groups. This opposition focuses onto the apex Moon in Scorpio showing that this particular rebel leader would be forced in his own personal hellhole.
There is no definite birthtime available for Nelson Mandela and so his chart is constructed for noon. In the absence of a birthtime many renowned astrologers have come up with a rectified time of around 3.00 pm. This would produce a chart that seems to fit quite well as it would place the Sun in the 8th house reinforcing the incredible highs and lows of his life and his own powerful ability to transcend his problems and reinvent himself. This birthtime would also place the Scorpio Moon on the cusp of the 12th house and this house traditionally rules prisons so the symbolism works quite well.
Mandela began his secondary education at a Western-style institution that was the largest school for black Africans in Thembuland in 1935. This move made him socialise with other students on an equal basis, and he claimed that he lost his "stuck up" attitude, becoming best friends with a girl for the first time. This was an important turning point for Mandela as Pluto was conjunct his Sun at the time.
In 1950, Mandela was elected national president of the ANCYL. In 1951 Mandela altered his entire perspective, embracing a united racial front, and influenced by the Soviet Union's support for wars of independence, Mandela's mistrust of communism also broke down. He became influenced by the texts of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong, and embraced dialectical materialism. Pluto moved into Mandela's T Square in 1950 – 51 conjunct Mercury and Saturn for this radical change in his thinking ( Mercury ) processes.
He rose to national prominence in the ANC's 1952 Defiance Campaign when Pluto was square the Moon. He was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities during the period when Pluto was opposite Uranus, 1955-6.
Mandela was imprisoned in 1962 at a time when no obvious transits were happening. This is such a significant event that it would have to be indicated by a major transit. Capricorn Research does not generally do rectification as it is unscientific but as Mandela was an exceptional man it is appropriate to make an exception.
A birthtime of 9.25 am would give Nelson Mandela a Virgo Ascendant. This does seem more appropriate than the Sagittarius rising given by the 3.00 pm charts. Most people that have met Mandela have remarked how humble he was as a man despite his great fame. Humility, a strong concern for the downtrodden and a desire that other people should take the credit for his own work are classic Virgoan traits. It certainly does not fit with Sagittarius rising which would if anything tend to exaggerate his own importance in the general scheme of things. This time would also place Pluto on his Ascendant at the time he was imprisoned. It would also place his Sun in the 11th house of political ideals but more significantly for someone who would go on to become such a much loved and revered President he would have Venus, Jupiter and Pluto in the 10th with Venus conjunct the Midheaven.
Capricorn Research does not hold strongly with the idea that the 12th is a house of retirement and imprisonment. This is certainly not backed up by the fact that 20000 plus public figures have the Sun more frequently in the 12th house than any other. It seems that other rectifiers have tried very hard to make the 12th house connection when such a chart shows nothing in the 10th house which is unlikely for someone who rose so high.
The most significant transit of Mandela's life occurred in 1990 when he was finally freed from prison. Pluto was conjunct the powerful apex Scorpio Moon and he was delivered from hell. Within a year he was elected President of the ANC and within 4 years President of South Africa.
In a way this watershed backs up the rectification chart. Pluto went over Mandela's Ascendant in 1962 taking away his personal freedom. In 1990 he was freed so Pluto on the Moon in the 3rd house gives him the freedom to move around and communicate with other people ( 3rd house ). The other transit that confirms the issue is in 1999 when Pluto was square Mandela's Ascendant, his time in office as President came to an end.
In the end Old Father Time Saturn took Mandela from us as it was conjunct his powerful Scorpio Moon in December 2013. May it serve to give him as much release as when Pluto did the same thing in 1990.
By any measure, Nelson Mandela was a great man, possibly the most powerful force for good in the last 100 years. To lose him at the age of 95 is sad, but to have witnessed his life was utterly inspiring.


text:
Shining Light On The Truth
Rebel Siren
I am PRO-HEALTH, aren't you? QUESTIONING VACCINE SAFETY
Love Canal Tragedy Remembered Decades Later As History Repeats Itself In Riverview Florida
What Does A TRUE Leader Look Like?…
Spring Forward – Warning, Herbicides In Use!
Smart Grid Dangers Exposed – Take Back Your Power – Documentary by Josh del Sol
BP – Deceiving The Public About Carbon Dioxide Removal
Alzheimer's Association Forgets As History Doomed To Repeat Itself
BP – Deceiving The Public About Geo Engineering
"Gulf Oil Spill" – Ocean Portal Team, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (click photo)
"We decided to change our name to "Beyond Petroleum" because it isn't just land and sea that we destroy with our unsustainable oil drilling, exploitation, and depletion of finite natural resources, we also do our best to destroy the sky, climate, and ozone layer, damage people's health, and wipe out wildlife"…
The above quote ought to be BP's so called "green" slogan… Green as in ill, not earth friendly.
Click Orange Link For Article: BP Bids $42 Million For NEW Gulf of Mexico Drilling leases (as if they haven't done enough damage to the Gulf already)
How much disinformation are we routinely being fed in the mainstream? PR (public relations) and marketing companies downplay disinformation by referring to it as a "spin", or an "image", but in reality, it's a lie. In other words, an intentional tactic of deceit designed to be a gross propagandized manipulation to influence public opinion for the sole purpose of furthering the agenda and profit margin of corporate profiteers, with no consideration to any future health or environmental impact. Let's take a look at "it" in action, using "big oil" company, BP, as an example. Remember when they changed their name from "British Petroleum" to "Beyond Petroleum"? Nice marketing "spin", BP, not transparent at all. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/nov/20/fossilfuels-energy (if the links do not open in a separate window, use your browser's back button to return).
BP's catastrophic Deepwater Horizon Gulf Coast spill recently hit its 4 year mark. Did aerially sprayed chemical dispersant "Corexit" solve the problem, or have long term damages been swept under the rug? This is an informative blog from 2010, with input and comments by actual Gulf residents about the extreme toxicity of "Corexit": http://summerburkes.com/2010/07/corexit-and-agent-orange-not-so-different-just-ask-monsanto/
For a current status of the Gulf, here is a detailed update entitled, "Four Years After The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, The Gulf Is Still Suffering", (but grab a box of tissues first, I cried while reading this): http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/04/20/3428269/bp-oil-spill-four-year-anniversary/
"Chemical Dispersant Made BP Oil Spill 52 Times More Toxic" – Mother Jones (click photo)
If we take some time and start connecting the dots, the smoke begins to lift and the connections become clear. Monsanto, (Bill Gates, Monsanto shareholder, funds climate engineering research 2010): http://news.sciencemag.org/2010/01/bill-gates-funding-geoengineering-research), Nalco/Monsanto VP/CFO Carl Casale, and Nalco's nanotech chemical, "Corexit", used in the BP Deepwater Horizon spill "clean up". According to this detailed declaration of accountability with several verifiable references, BP is nothing short of a criminal entity: http://declarationofaccountability.com/problems-and-solutions/gulf-accountability The images of BP's devastation to the Gulf of Mexico are absolutely heartbreaking.
"A Deadly Toll: The Gulf Oil Spill and the Unfolding Wildlife Disaster" – Center for Biological Diversity (click photo for article)
The revolving door keeps on "spinning", this is Carl Casale's Forbes Magazine profile: "On October 31, 2013, the board of directors of Ecolab Inc. announced that it has appointed Carl M. Casale to the Ecolab board effective December 5, 2013. Since 2011, Mr. Casale, age 52, has been president and chief executive officer of CHS Inc., (CHS Inc. is a Fortune 100 business owned by US agricultural coops). Previously he spent 26 years with Monsanto Company in various management positions before being named Monsanto's Chief Financial Officer in 2009. He was a member of the board of directors of Nalco Holding Company from 2008 until its merger with Ecolab in 2011".–
"Eco-lab"? The name alone is an intentional disinformation "spin" since it's designed to conjure up the notion that this company is ecology minded, when in fact, that couldn't be further from the truth. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-11-28/ecolab-s-nalco-dismissed-from-lawsuits-over-2010-bp-spill
Ecolab, (formerly known as Nalco, manufacturer of toxic "Corexit"), self description: "A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2013 sales of $13 billion and 45,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world".–
-CONVERSELY-
This is an excerpt from a Takepart article entitiled, "Corexit: An Oil Spill Solution Worse Than the Problem?" "Kolian, 51, is convinced that his illnesses were triggered by a chemical product designed to disperse petroleum in water, a substance euphemistically marketed as Corexit. Now, three years after the disaster that left some 210 million gallons of Louisiana crude and 1.8 million gallons of dispersant in the Gulf of Mexico, a growing body of evidence supports his contentions": http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/04/17/corexit-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill
"Corexit" makers are claiming to be a leader in "sustainability and food safety"? That sounds about as believable as the Monsanto "spin" of "feeding the world", while patenting nature, bullying farmers, dominating the global market, and systematically destroying our organic crops, soil, and future sustainability, with their genetic mutations and warfare herbicide.
Click Orange Link For Article: GULF OIL DISASTER FIVE YEARS LATER
BP is included among the big oil companies notorious for funding "climate denial", (along with the Koch brothers, except when they profited from Koch Weather Derivatives, of course): http://exiledonline.com/the-koch-brothers-dark-lords-of-derivatives/ and Exxon, (while openly calling climate change an "engineering problem"), http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/us-exxon-climate-idUSBRE85Q1C820120627, et. al, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/who-funds-contrariness-on/ Yet, when we dig a little deeper, we find that BP is simultaneously on the list of acknowledgements in Climatic Research Unit, "one of the most popular sources of climate research and data": http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/about-cru/history
Also, according to this ETC Group GeoMap, BP is first on the list of participants in a climate engineering program of "greenhouse gas mitigation"! http://www.etcgroup.org/files/PDFs/GeoMap-References.pdf So, BP, which is it, are you a climate science denier or a climate science supporter? Make a choice, you can't be BOTH.
And now, after all of that, BP has a drone?! "FAA Green Lights BP Drone": http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram/articles/2014/06/10/faa-green-lights-bp-drone Excerpt: "The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that permission for the first commercial drone flights over U.S. soil had been granted to BP energy company and drone-builder AeroVironment". — Connect the dots: http://coloradopublicbanking.blogspot.com/2013/10/weather-modification-climate-change.html
Also: Exxon Under Investigation For Possible Climate Lies
Our world has many ills, but unless we dare to look beyond the heavy veil of disinformation and see clear to prioritize, and address the most urgent issue of global climate engineering programs being funded and politically manipulated by BIG OIL, coal, biotech (big ag), et al., we're wasting our time.
No matter where you may stand on the "climate debate", the bottom line is, if we do not put our energy into saving our atmosphere, nothing else is going to matter because our planet will be rendered uninhabitable and all life, including the human species, will cease to exist.
Planet earth's poor stewardship at our hands may naturally heal over time if we stop allowing industrialized pollution to run unabated and start cleaning up our mess; however, in the meantime "we" will have been successful in perpetuating chaos, suffering, and mass extinction… For what? A few measly bucks?
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Dirty Energy Secrets and Lies
Carbon Dioxide Removal
climate denial
climate engineering
Climate Lies
corexit
political tactics
Toxic Water
NASA Von Karman Lecture "Geo Engineering and Climate Intervention – What We Need To Know"
13 thoughts on "BP – Deceiving The Public About Geo Engineering"
Rebel Siren says:
Fossil fuel industry funding wolf killing too: http://www.wildmesquite.org/news/oil-and-gas-industry-funding-anti-wolf-groups/062614
Here is another well researched and detailed article, a must read for anyone that cares about the state of our planet and the consequences from the BP oil spill catastrophe, "The Gulf of Mexico Is Still Dying: A Special Update On The BP Gulf Oil Spill" – http://stateofthenation2012.com/?p=6500
Russell Brand exposes shills a.k.a. Fox News and their connection to big oil, their bold faced lies about climate science, their bullying "troll" tactics, and profiting off of war: https://rebelsiren.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/russell-brand-exposes-trollsshills-a-k-a-fox-news/
Rejecting the advice of his own attorney general and dozens of legal scholars, Louisiana governor and potential presidential contender Bobby Jindal effectively blocked a New Orleans-area levee board from suing oil and gas companies for allegedly destroying the state's coasts – and in so doing, may have also derailed state and local claims against BP for damages and tax revenue lost following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill."
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/06/bobby-jindal-signs-bill-to-block-lawsuits-against-oil-and-gas-companies
You cannot put a price on the destruction, devastation, and loss of life, but it's a start. Hold these criminals responsible! http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-bp-reckless-gulf-oil-spill-20140904-story.html
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Pingback: UN and IPCC call for an end to gasoline and fossil fuels by 2100. "...failure to act could affect all life on Earth.." - DAILY NEWS GLOBAL CENTERDAILY NEWS GLOBAL CENTER
lordnelga says:
Reblogged this on Lordnelga's Weblog – Psiberrealm and commented:
A lot of good links and some great information.
All 1,965 StumbleUpon likes have been erased and all the previous facebook likes resetting it to zero (thanks a lot WordPress, grr)… but it's good to know the article was shared so much, yay! That's the most important thing!
http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=110
Pingback: The Hypocrisy Of Plutocracy | Rebel Siren
Reblogged this on Rebel Siren and commented:
It is a fact that the fossil fuel industry has been funding climate skepticism and obfuscating the truth in order to continue exploiting finite resources and polluting for profit putting their bottom line above our health while jeopardizing the future sustainability of this planet, funding "denial" to distract and divide as our planet burns before our very eyes.
As we sift through the haze of disinformation, we begin to see that the "hoax" is the debate itself, along with the politics & carbon tax nonsense associated with it, which is just another way for disaster capitalists to profit from man made destruction of our planet while evading any and all responsibility.
If we do not accept responsibility for what we (the human species) have done to this planet, but instead, continue to 'argue' while it goes down in flames, who wins?
Isn't it time we put an end to the argument, put aside our differences of "opinion" and unite for the collective good before it's too late?
Warning: Trolls, Shills, and Cyberbullies' comments will be disallowed and may be exploited for educational purposes, including publishing your IP location. By proceeding with troll comments, you have given your full consent to your information being published and used as an example to alert the honest public about your rampant deceitful disinformation tactics, targeting and attacking awareness posts on social media forums. Cancel reply
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Featured Articles – (hover & click)
Love Canal Tragedy Remembered Decades Later As History Repeats Itself In Riverview Florida (as residents fall ill from toxic water)
Spring Forward – (and protect your kids and pets from unabated use of toxic weed killer)
What Does A TRUE Leader Look Like? ("If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, YOU are a leader" – MLK)
Smart Grid Exposed – Take Back Your Power Documentary by Josh del Sol (exposing the dangers and serious health risks of smart meters)
Alzheimer's Association Forgets – History Doomed To Repeat Itself (Alzheimer's Association with strong ties to pharmaceutical & aluminum profiteers, denies the scientifically proven link between aluminum exposure and the disease)
BP – Deceiving The Public About Geo Engineering (focusing on the tragic aftermath of the Gulf oil spill)
NASA Von Karman Lecture "Geo Engineering and Climate Intervention – What We Need To Know" (the disturbing reality of geoengineering)
Keynote Speaker Rosalind Peterson (former USDA crop loss adjuster) Addressed Weather Modification, Climate Engineering, and Jet Fuel Pollution At The United Nations Conference Back In 2007
Francis Mangels – Retired USDA Biologist with the US Forest Service – Scientific Findings, Lab Reports Conclusive Evidence of Climate Engineering
Documented Government Experiments on US Citizens (and globally, as history teaches us)
Questioning 9/11 – (facts beyond the "official narrative")
The Hypocrisy Of Plutocracy – (featuring "The Dirty F**ing Hippies Were Right", poem/video by Joyess)
Hawaii – Pristine Paradise or Monsanto's Playground?
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Vietnam War Weapon To Be Sprayed On US Corn Crops
The World According To Monsanto
Spilling The Milk On Monsanto's Cancer Causing Bovine Growth Hormone COVER UP!
The Science Of Patents, Profits, and Propaganda! Crisis Position, Richard Strohman, PhD (exposing the flawed science of GMOs)
Scientists Under Attack (documentary intro addressing the serious issue of routine bullying of unbiased scientists by big biotech)
The Buzz On Monsanto's Monstrosities
Beware of the Masters of Disguise… (corporations that profit from the growing awareness of organic while spending big money fighting GMO labeling laws)
What Is Organic? (exposing the profit over people monopoly of big ag/biotech warfare chemical corps controlling our crops)
Seeds of Freedom – Documentary
The Science Of Patents, Profits, and Propaganda! Crisis Position, Richard Strohman, PhD
SEEDS OF DEATH – A Gary Null Production
Scientists Under Attack – Documentary About Biotech Bullying


Combine the pineapple, butter, brown sugar, and vanilla paste in a large sauté pan. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes or until the pineapple is tender and the brown sugar is caramelized. Serve warm over cake or ice cream.
**Clarified butter: Clarified butter is melted, and the white milk solids are skimmed off the top, which allows the butter to be less heat sensitive and reduces the risk of burning.


Looking to recruit an apprentice in Leeds, Bradford or Wakefield?
From January 2019 we will open our recruitment process for the September engineering intake. To access our bank of pre-tested applicants, be sure to return the attached Company Recruitment Form, especially if you plan to use our Engineering Training Centre in Bradford. Spaces on certain courses have limited availability or become oversubscribed quickly.
As a not-for-profit, registered charity, Appris is governed by a membership of employers, whereby a subscription is required for every year an apprentice remains in learning.
For employers who self recruit or already employing the potential apprentice, subscription fees are waived.
We pride ourselves on being a specialist, employer-led, training provider. Our recruitment process includes working with schools and stakeholders to promote engineering and manufacturing to potential candidates. These applicants are tested, screened and interviewed to creating a detailed candidate profile for employers to interview directly.
For businesses recruiting non-apprentice staff, a standard flat rate of £1500 plus VAT, payable after 3 months continued employment.
10% discount to members on all Health & Safety and Electrical course costs (excluding awarding body and exam fees where applicable). This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers.
15% discount on room hire to all members in relation to any business or social event that the company wishes to hold.
All Members are invited to the Annual General Meeting held in January each year, which gives your opportunity to meet staff and other member companies.
All member companies have the benefit of payment on account or direct debit and are not required to provide payment in advance for short courses and other commercial business.
To become a member or discuss your recruitment needs, contact Dean Coleman-Walker, Business Development Advisor on 01274 668149, alternatively by email at d.coleman-walker@appris.co.uk.
Designed by employers for employers, an Apprenticeship is a work based learning programme, through this programme you can train both your existing staff and any new employees that you are thinking of recruiting. All apprentices follow an approved 'Apprenticeship Framework'.
A National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is assessed in the workplace by carrying out observations, professional discussions and producing evidence to prove the apprentice is working to a high level within their job role.
A Technical Certificate contains the essential, generic background knowledge and understanding for a range of common work roles and understanding of the personal and interpersonal skills required to work effectively.
Functional Skills in Maths, English and ICT address the personal development of an individual in these specific areas. Note, ICT Functional Skills is not required in some frameworks where the use of information technology is limited or not required.
ERR (Employee Rights and Responsibilities) – This covers vital legislation such as Health & Safety, data protection and discrimination, responsibilities and rights at work and other key policies and procedures to an apprentices job role.
PLTS (Personal Learning and Thinking Skills) – These are generic skills that are essential to life, learning and work. There are 6 PLTS: independent enquiry, creative thinking, reflective learning, team working, self-managing and effective participation.
If you would like more information about how to take on an apprentice, please contact Dean Coleman-Walker, Business Development Advisor on 01274 668149 or email d.coleman-walker@appris.co.uk.
All Apprenticeship Levy employers will utilise their online digital account to pay for the learner's apprenticeship.
Non-Apprenticeship levy paying employers, and levy paying employers with insufficient funds must co-invest 10% of the agreed training cost up to the maximum value of the funding band and 100% where this is above the funding band. You will need to invoice employers separately for any employer co-investment, including any VAT.
Where employers access government funded co-investment for the apprenticeship, employers must make a financial contribution of 10% by payment up front, or agree a payment plan of monthly or quarterly invoicing.


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CenturyLink $50.00 ** 10 - 940 Mbps DSL 76%
CenturyLink $50.00 ** 10 - 940 Mbps Fiber-optic 4.520%
Midcontinent Communications $50.00 10 - 1,000 Mbps Cable 82%
Venture Communications Cooperative $70.95 100 - 1,000 Mbps Fiber-optic 5.070%
**Speeds/pricing may vary. Service is not available everywhere.
Provider: Midcontinent Communications
At 100%, broadband coverage in the 57501 ZIP code is comparable to the rest of South Dakota - 98%, and comparable to broadband coverage across the U.S. - 95%.
There are five internet providers serving the 57501 area, and 80.90% of households will have internet options from more than one provider. Among five internet providers in 57501, prices start at $50 and available download speeds reach up to 1,000 Mbps.
Average internet speeds in Pierre
Midcontinent Communications 120 Mbps 29 Mbps Cable
*Data sourced from M-LAB speed tests taken by real users in Pierre.
Pierre – 109 Mbps
SD – 104 Mbps
Pierre – 58 Mbps
SD – 32 Mbps
The largest internet providers serving the 57501 ZIP code are CenturyLink, Midcontinent Communications, and HughesNet bringing DSL, cable, and satellite options to the area.
DSL internet from CenturyLink is available to most in the 57501 ZIP code, covering 76% of households. Many will also have the option of cable from Midcontinent Communications, which covers 82% of the area. Pierre's third most-available internet provider, HughesNet, offers satellite to around 100% of residents in the 57501 ZIP code.
CenturyLink DSL internet
DSL from CenturyLink offers broadband to most households in the 57501 ZIP code, covering 76% of the area.
DSL internet from CenturyLink uses telephone lines to deliver service, which often leads to lower prices and higher availability, though download speeds are likely to be slower than cable or fiber-optic internet.
Internet prices for CenturyLink start at $50/mo.*, which is significantly lower than the average starting price for internet in Pierre, $61.19.
CenturyLink customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 10 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $5.00 per Mbps, significantly higher than the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Pierre, $1.85.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, CenturyLink offers download speeds up to 940 Mbps and upload speeds up to 40 Mbps in 57501 ZIP code. These download speeds are available to 76% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Pierre's providers, 626 Mbps.
Midcontinent Communications cable internet
Midcontinent Communications
Cable from Midcontinent Communications offers broadband to nearly all households in the 57501 ZIP code, covering 82% of the area.
Midcontinent Communications's cable network is likely to offer faster speeds than DSL or satellite service, but 57501 residents in densely populated areas may experience slowed speeds during peak usage times.
Internet prices for Midcontinent Communications start at $50/mo.*, which is significantly lower than the average starting price for internet in Pierre, $61.19.
Midcontinent Communications customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 10 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $5.00 per Mbps, significantly higher than the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Pierre, $1.85.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, Midcontinent Communications offers download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and upload speeds up to 20 Mbps in 57501 ZIP code. These download speeds are available to 82% of the area, and are much faster than the average max speeds from all Pierre's providers, 626 Mbps.
Internet prices for HughesNet start at $64.99/mo.*, which is about the same as the average starting price for internet in Pierre, $61.19.
HughesNet customers who choose the lowest-priced plan can expect speeds up to 25 Mbps, which comes to an estimated $2.60 per Mbps, about the same as the average cost per Mbps for the lowest priced plans in Pierre, $1.85.
For those who value internet speed as much as cost, HughesNet offers download speeds up to 25 Mbps and upload speeds up to 3 Mbps in 57501 ZIP code. These download speeds are available to 100% of the area, and are much slower than the average max speeds from all Pierre's providers, 626 Mbps.
Midcontinent Communications is the fastest internet provider in the 57501 ZIP code with download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. These speeds are available to 82% of households in 57501. The next fastest internet provider in the 57501 ZIP code is Venture Communications Cooperative, offering download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps to 5.070% of the area.
CenturyLink offers the cheapest internet in the 57501 ZIP with service starting at $50/mo. This is significantly less than the average starting price for internet in Pierre, $61.19.
Venture Communications Cooperative is the largest fiber-optic internet service provider serving the 57501 ZIP code, covering 5.070% of the city. CenturyLink also offers fiber internet in 57501 and is available to 4.520% of households.
How can I boost my internet speeds?
Resetting your router and optimizing your router settings can give you an instant speed boost. Consider Wi-Fi extenders if your signal is weaker in certain areas of your home. Also, be sure to check your Wi-Fi network to see if there are any unknown devices or users connected that could be slowing your network.
How much speed do I need for streaming?
Each video streaming service has varying recommended speeds, but speeds up to 10 Mbps will often handle streaming on one device. For HD and 4K streaming, consider faster speeds of at least 25 Mbps to reduce buffering and maintain optimal picture quality.
How much should I pay for internet?
Monthly costs for internet can range from $20 to $60, depending on which providers are available in your area. Added fees for Wi-Fi service and equipment can add to that cost, but your internet provider may give you the option to use your own router, which can lower the monthly internet cost.
Home page South Dakota Pierre 57501


Most people believe that they are already living in the future, with all the innovations and technological advancements that the modern world has to offer. However, as the influence and power of the emerging sectors rise to the pedestal, the older and less technology-based industries are slowly shrinking.
Here are the rapidly dying industries that may not be able to cope with the pace of a technology-driven future.
The increasing reliance of consumers on the internet has caused several industries to crash, and one of these is the recordable media manufacturing industry. CDs, DVDs and cassette tapes used to be the compact and portable solution for music lovers worldwide, but the latest introduction of music and movie streaming services online made these once practical options a rather inconvenient and old-fashioned alternative.
In fact, recent statistics show that the shift to music streaming has caused the music industry to lose billions in revenue, primarily because of the sudden change in consumer listening behavior.
The decline of the data recovery industry has been predicted years ago when the cloud storage technology was introduced to the public. Cloud-based systems from companies like Google, Amazon, and Rackspace give private users and even companies to store digital files of their system in a secure and easily accessible online storage.
Even your trusty landline is facing an industry decline. Ever since the world became fascinated with the wireless and cordless power of cellular phones, many have seen the imminent death of the wired telecom carriers industry not only in the U.S. but also around the world.
Landlines used to be the main channel for communicating, but mobile smartphones have exceeded the former's capabilities in terms of function, cost, and connectivity.


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Colbert says goodbye to the real Joe Biden, but hopefully not the fake one
Dan Caffrey
Photo: CBS
Here's what's up in the world of TV for Tuesday, December 6. All times are Eastern.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 p.m.): As the Obama administration continues its long goodbye over the next 45 days, one of the teariest farewells will likely be reserved for Vice President Joe Biden. And no, we're not just saying that because of the hard-livin', hard-lovin', Scorpions-listenin', Trans Am-drivin' mythology put forth by The A.V. Club's comrades at The Onion. (Okay, maybe we are.) Stephen Colbert will also miss him—so much that he's invited him back for a second interview. Although this is the latest in a series of proper sendoffs for the beloved VP, hopefully it doesn't mean the end of Diamond Joe.
This Is Us (NBC, 9 p.m.): Astute What's On Tonight readers may have noticed the sly inclusion of This Is Us in our regular coverage last week. This week, it gets the top-pick treatment just in time for its first-season finale. Titled "Last Christmas," the holiday episode finds the Pearsons at the hospital when Kate comes down with appendicitis. While there, they realize a doctor who once helped them needs their help in return. Molly Eichel is on call to handle this one and report whether the show uses Wham!'s "Last Christmas" over the credits or the superior cover version by Jimmy Eat World. Hot take!
Reggie Watts: Spatial (Netflix): Word on the street is that Reggie Watts' latest standup special is especially wild, experimental, and exhilarating, even by Reggie Watts standards. And by "word on the street," we mean Dennis Perkins, who will lower his fedora, stamp out his cigarette, and pop the collar on his trench coat as he heads into the night to pen his review.
The Flash (The CW, 8 p.m.): As The Flash prepares to go into hibernation for the winter (do speedsters hibernate?), Barry Allen tries to celebrate the holidays with Iris. Unfortunately, he gets distracted by having to stop Alchemy and Savitar. Will he win the fight and be free to sit around the Christmas tree, unwrapping presents and chucking chestnuts into the fireplace at an alarming rate? Scott Von Doviak will keep us posted in his review of the midseason winter finale.
Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, 10 p.m.): It's unclear if Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own winter finale will involve Christmas. Probably not, as it takes place in Los Angeles, and L.A. Christmas stories (especially ones with action sequences) are only allowed to be written by Shane Black, or so Alex McCown-Levy tells us.
Drunk History (Comedy Central, 10:30 p.m.): Call us revisionist historians, because we're about to rewrite What's On Tonight: A Compendium. Last week, we incorrectly reported that last week's Hamilton episode was the season finale of Drunk History. We were wrong. The finale's actually tonight. It's called "Shit Shows" and features Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt, and others. To make up for our blunder, here's a picture from the episode of Oswalt posing on a Harley. Nice hog, Patton!
Photo: Comedy Central
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, 8 p.m.)
WWE Smackdown! Live (USA, 8 p.m.)
New Girl (Fox, 8:30 p.m.)
No Tomorrow (The CW, 9 p.m.)
Henry Gamble's Birthday Party (Netflix): With an Altman-sized cast confined to one location, Henry Gamble's Birthday Party could have easily buckled under its own weight. But Chicago filmmaker Stephen Cone fully develops his characters through subtle body language and pared-down dialogue—no small feat considering the film examines the challenges of being gay in an evangelical household, among many other other things. No wonder it made our "Best movies of 2016 that we didn't review" list just last week.
Recent from Dan Caffrey
South Park goes full (or half) Stephen King in its season finale
South Park feels like a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive episode
South Park shortchanges two of its strongest supporting players


Today we will see 5 sites with tools to number the pages of a PDF online and free: each of these portals has an easy-to-use interface, which makes the addition of numbering on PDF pages very simple and immediate. Some of these sites also provide you with other interesting features, such as the ability to set the page range, or to number only odd or even pages. Besides all this, you can define the position of the number, the font, the size and any other element of the formatting.
The first of the best sites to number the pages of a PDF online and free is ILovePDF: a portal that allows you to apply the numbering to your files through a simple option. Among other things, on this website you can also select a particular font, a specific color or set the size of the numbers differently. You can also select the first page by excluding it as the cover page, or set the different page ranges you want to number. Basically, on ILovePDF you will find a real paradise of features and options to modify this file format.
Also PDFdu.com turns out to be one of the best sites to number PDFs, and for sure it is our favorite, with the only defect that allows you to upload only one file at a time. Having made this important premise, on PDFdu.com you can for example set the page range, add numbers in the different positions of the sheet, define the alignment, choose the font and style, and so on. Then it should be added that the interface of this site is very simple and also its use is immediate: an option that we would like to recommend you warmly.
PDF.io is another interesting website, which makes simplicity its best feature, with its pros and cons. This means that if you simply want to add the numbering to the pages of your PDF file, with this site you can do it literally with a snap of fingers. But if you need a portal for more professional needs, or simply because you want to play with other options related to numbering, then this is not the tool for you, as very basic and brittle. Despite this, the site still allows you to change the size and character.
The fourth of the best sites to number the pages of a PDF online and free is Konwerter.com: even in this case we talk about a basic tool, which still allows you to add up to 10 PDFs at a time, which is nothing short of extraordinary. It should also be noted that this site is able to add batch numbering, but we do not recommend using it, as it is full of bugs and does nothing but shoot error messages. Therefore, if you want to be on the safe side and avoid wasting time, it is better to add the numbering to a PDF at a time.
We have decided to close our current guide with Sejda.com. It is a website with excellent features and a number of more than good options, which you can then consider as an alternative to the first two sites to number the pages of a PDF of our list. Specifically, you can set the page number style, then define alignment, font, color and size.


New Fender USA Willcutt 50th Anniversary Guitars! $1999.00!
Willcutt Guitars worked with Fender to develop a guitar to commemorate our 50th Anniversary. It took months of planning and a trip to Fender to get it just right.
Taylor Guitars recognizes WillcuttGuitars.com as a dealer who is committed to serving the online community with high standards of Taylor guitar selection, customer satisfaction and professionalism.


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Q: 100% height resizing issue on IE 11 In my theme, http://ghost-theme-stretch.dreamsonline.net/ the initial header and its inner div is given 100% height.
e.g. HTML structure

     some content...

The code used to stretch these 2 elements to 100% screen height is:
$('.home-template #site-head').css({'height':(($(window).height()-30))+'px'});
$('.home-template .site-head-background').css({'height':(($(window).height()-30))+'px'});

I have also used JQuery plugin Backstretch http://srobbin.com/jquery-plugins/backstretch/ to apply a background image to the

.
This works great in Chrome and Firefox, but in IE 11, the image is not stretched completely

I tried lot of things but still lost on how to solve this. Any help would be appreciated.

A: The easiest way to do this without plugins/js is to use the vh unit. It is fully supported in ie 11 (see here). For example:
header {
    height: 800px; //fallback
    width: 100%;
    height: 100vh;
    background-image: url('..') center center no-repeat;
    background-size: cover;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Go to the movies. Hold hands go to the park. Lock eyes and kiss. Then the next date go to the beach and get a room.
Chilling with me and my man....Ready for action!#pleas no games!!
Date: nice dinner at a fancy resturant. Somewhere that has a beautiful view. Get to know the person a little bit. Maybe something fun after like bowling and let the ball roll and take it from there.
Just meeting for dinner and getting better acquainted with you.
Dancing and flirting our way around the dance floor.
Dinner and movie fancy restaurant, go back to my place for a nice nightcap!!
We could meet. Have a a good meal, good time and get to know each other well before we proceed. We are cool about it.


New Co-Leader Webinar: What Can a Cookie Do?
Activities Activity List New Co-Leader Webinar: What Can a Cookie Do?
The cookie sale is not only a fundraiser for your troop; it is an amazing learning opportunity for your girls! Join us as we share ideas on how to prepare for your cookie sale and learn more about how the cookie sale can help girls learn financial planning, decision making, and build self-confidence.
This interactive, monthly webinar series is specifically planned with new troop co-leaders in mind, but open to all! Each webinar in the series is designed to introduce a major component of the Girl Scout program year and help new troop co-leaders navigate their way through their first year. Packed with great information and ideas, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and discover how to give their girls the best Girl Scout experience possible. We strongly encourage all new co-leaders to attend; however, anyone is welcome to join in on the fun! Unless otherwise stated, New Co-leader Webinars typically last 30 minutes.


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IBM Tightens the Screws on Database Tools Field
HAMBURG, Germany	- 06 Mar 2001: IBM today said its database tools business nearly tripled since entering the market segment just six months ago. The growth is a direct result of the company's continuing database market momentum and the growing role of automation driven by the industry's shortage of database administration skills.
According to a recent SEC 10-Q filing from BMC Software, IBM's entry into the database tools market is putting increased pricing pressure on its chief tools competitor. In the report (Date: February 14, 2001, BMC SOFTWARE INC - Quarterly Report, SEC form 10-Q), BMC states that "IBM continues to focus on reducing the overall software costs associated with the OS/390 mainframe platform. IBM continues, directly and through third parties, to aggressively enhance its utilities for IMS and DB2 to provide lower cost alternatives to the products provided by us and other independent software vendors. IBM has significantly increased its level of activity in the IMS and DB2 high-speed utility markets over the last two years and recently launched a significant research and development commitment to compete in these markets."
IBM's database toolset is priced, in some cases, as much as 50 percent less than competitive offerings.
"Up until six months ago, DB2 users had to choose from a small list of high-priced tools vendors -- such as BMC and CA," said Janet Perna, IBM general manager of data management solutions. "The explosive growth we've seen in this segment clearly points to the industry's appetite for more cost-effective alternatives."
Since September 2000, IBM delivered 37 database tools to the market, supporting the latest releases of IMS and DB2. At the company's technical conference here, IBM announced several new or enhanced database tools and utilities aimed at improving customer productivity while continuing to reduce customers' total cost of database ownership.
New data management tools announced for DB2 include DB2 Archive Log Compression Tool, DB2 Automation Tool, DB2 Change Accumulation Tool, DB2 Object Comparison Tool, and DB2 Table Editor. DB2 utility functions are now offered as DB2 Diagnostic and Recovery Utilities, DB2 Operational Utilities, and DB2 Utilities Suite. New data management tools for IMS include IMS Command Control Facility, IMS High Performance Sysgen Tools, IMS MFS Reversal Utilities, IMS Database Control Suite, IMS Fast Path Online Tools, and IMS Online Recovery Service.
Enhanced data management tools for DB2 and IMS include DB2 Administration Tool, DB2 Bind Manager, DB2 Log Analysis Tool, DB2 SQL Performance Analyzer, IMS Database Repair Facility, IMS Fast Path Online Tools, IMS High Performance Pointer Checker and IMS Image Copy Extensions.
More than 40 million people from more than 300,000 companies worldwide rely on IBM data management technology. For additional information on IBM's data management portfolio, visit http://www.software.ibm.com/data.
* Indicates trademark or registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation or its subsidiaries.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective companies.


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Melanotaenia lacustris male
Melanotaenia lacustris female
Melanotaenia lacustris
Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish
Melanotaeniidae
Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province. Endemic to Lake Kutubu and the River Soro, which flows out of the lake.
Lake Kutubu is one of Papua New Guinea's largest lakes, measuring around sixty square kilometers in area. It was formed when debris from an erupting volcano blocked off a valley. It's very remote and 10 of the 14 fish species thus far recorded there are endemic. The water is very clear and still, and the rainbowfish tend to congregate around areas of aquatic vegetation, or submerged roots and logs.
4.8″ (12cm), although usually a little smaller in aquaria.
An active species requiring an aquarium measuring at least 48″ x 12″ x 12″ (120cm x 30cm x 30cm) – 110 litres.
Aquarium filters which have been highly recommended by customers in your area can be found here.
This species, like most rainbows, looks most at home in a planted aquarium. Provide areas of dense vegetation, along with some open areas for swimming. Other decor is not particularly important. The choice of plants should reflect the slightly hard, alkaline conditions preferred by the fish. Filtration and tank maintenance should be very efficient to encourage the male fish to develop their spectacular colouration. Water movement should be kept to a minimum.
Temperature: 68-77°F (20-25°C)
pH: 7.0-9.0. It will not do well in soft, acidic conditions.
Hardness: 10-20°H
To search for high quality aquarium heaters, click here.
Like most of its congeners, it's an unfussy, omnivorous species and will accept most dried, frozen and live foods. Regular feedings of the latter will help to ensure the fish exhibit their best colours.
To find high quality fish foods, click here.
Very peaceful but can disturb smaller or slow-moving fish with its rapid movements and relatively large size. Good tankmates include other similarly-sized rainbowfish, characins, danios, barbs, freshwater gobies and catfish such as Corydoras. It can also be kept with many species of Rift Lake cichlid, due to its water requirements.
The Lake Kutubu rainbowfish can be quite skittish and does far better when kept in a shoal of at least 6-8, preferably more. The males will also be encouraged to display their best colours in the company of conspecifics. Obviously, a suitably-sized aquarium would be required for a very large group.
Mature males are larger and exhibit brighter colouration than females. They also develop a much deeper body than females as they grow.
As with other members of the genus, this is not a difficult species to breed, being an egg scatterer. The fry, however, can prove somewhat tricky to raise. The breeding aquarium should be at least 30″ long and contain slightly hard, alkaline water with a pH of around 7.5 and a temperature of 72-75°F. A small air-powered filter will provide sufficient oxygenation and flow. The tank should be filled with fine-leaved plants such as java moss, or nylon spawning mops. No substrate is necessary.
The adult fish are best conditioned as a group in a separate aquarium with plenty of live and frozen foods. As the fish come into condition the females will appear noticeably plumper, and males will display to each other almost constantly. They also develop an orange patch above the gill flaps. Select the fattest, best-coloured pair for breeding and introduce them to the spawning tank. A small raise in temperature can often induce spawning. The pair will spawn for a period of several weeks, laying batches of eggs each day. These are attached to surfaces by a small thread. The adults tend to eat the spawn, and it's easier to raise the fry in a separate aquarium, so we recommend checking the plants or mops regularly and removing any eggs you find to a raising tank containing water from the spawning tank. The eggs hatch in 7-12 days, depending on temperature, and the tiny fry initially require infusoria–type food, before graduating onto free swimming foods, such as brine shrimp nauplii, after a week or so. Sinking foods are unsuitable as the fry tend to stay very close to the water surface.
Unfortunately the prisitine environment form where this fish comes is being threatened by overfishing (much of it for the aquarium trade) and industry, with an oil development being built at one end of the lake during the 1990s. M. lacustris has therefore been given "vulnerable" status on the IUCN red list. The lake was designated a Wetland of International Importance in 1998, as both it and the Kikori Basin where it lies contain some of the earth's greatest biodiversity in terms of rare fauna and endemism. The WWF and other conservation groups are now working to ensure that the lake is preserved in its natural state.
If you want to buy some of these rainbows, don't look for the beautiful blue fish in these pictures! Adult specimens are rarely seen, and it's the much drabber juvenile fish that are almost always offered for sale, usually as "blue" rainbowfish or similar. However, exercise some patience (even on a good diet, full colour development can take over 12 months) and you will be rewarded with what is surely one of the most stunning tropical freshwater species available in the hobby. The colouration of adult fish can be somewhat variable depending on water conditions.
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