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Home Nebraska Bloomfield
Bloomfield, NE Florists
Find Florists in Bloomfield
121 N. Broadway, Bloomfield, NE 68718
Hy-Vee Floral Shop
9707 "Q" St.
Omaha , NE 68127
Genoa Florists
414 Willard Avenue
Genoa , NE 68640
Tecumseh Floral & Gift
117 South 3
Tecumseh , NE 68450
Teresa's Floral And Gift
Saint Paul , NE 68873
Bloomfield Flower Shop News
Sweet smelling thank you goes to 100 for florist's centennial - Montclair Local
So far, the Bartletts have bestowed the bouquets on a Montclair Park Street YMCA employee for her work with seniors; Jane Hanson, co-founder and recently retired executive director of Bloomfield-based Partners for Women and Justice, Inc., which helps those dealing with domestic violence and family law matters; The Bravitas Group CEO Bob Silver, for his work in support of cultural spaces to promote the Montclair Film Festival and Studio Montclair; and others.Hanson said she was extremely touched by the Bartlett family and noted that she received her bouquet in January."They've been wonderful supporters of our organization and have helped us with flower arrangements at our benefit every year since 2003. They are lovely, talented people who make gorgeous floral arrangements," she said.As of March 20, 21 of 100 bouquets had been delivered. There will be more coming, as Bartlett's remains open due to its farm status and as such is an essential business. Nancy Bartlett said future recipients will be first responders and medical personnel. During National Food Pantry Month in September, local groups that feed the hungry will also be surprised by bouquets. https://www.montclairlocal.news/2020/04/11/sweet-smelling-thank-you-goes-to-100-for-florists-centennial/
Flower shop owner waits to get on with his life - Essex News Daily
Roxy Florist, on Saturday, Feb. 22. The building was destroyed by a fire on Tuesday, Jan. 21, his 89th birthday. Now he is waiting to see whether or not the building will be condemned.BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Nick Zois arrives at the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Washington Street six or seven times a week, just to pass the time in the sun or shade. At this corner is where he ran his business, Roxy Florist, and had eight tenants, until a fire destroyed everything on Tuesday, Jan. 21, his 89th birthday."I come down and just look," he said this past Saturday. "My son sometimes opens the door and we look in to see if anything can be salvaged. It's been 65 years since I've been here improving the building."Zois says he got to know the flower business at Forest Hill Florist, his father's shop on Broad and Market streets in Newark."When I was 9 or 10, my mother said I was a bad little boy," he said. "I lived in Newark and, one day, I was walking on the top of a freight train car. A policeman caught me and, for punishment, I had to work in my father's flower store. Everyday I had to go down to his shop to stay out of trouble. I hated the business when I had to do that."After graduating from high school, Zois was drafted into the Army and spent three years, nine months and 15 days in military service as a medic. He was stationed at Fort... https://essexnewsdaily.com/headlne-news/87066
Better Than Roses - The Newtown Bee
Ms Collette, who is currently selling house plants.Around mid-January, Evelyn Lee of Butternut Gardens LLC of Southport shared a presentation in Bloomfield with local farmers on flower growing in Connecticut."We're trying to get Connecticut-grown flowers to become a thing in people's minds," said Ms Lee, adding that this time of the year is hard for local growers. "... I think for next year, there is a better opportunity."Ms Lee shared information about the Slow Flowers Movement, which, according to a website for the movement, slowflowers.com, is "a response to the disconnect between humans and flowers in the modern era. It aspires to reclaim the act of flower growing, recognizing it as a relevant and respected branch of domestic agriculture. Slow Flowers connects consumers with the source of their flowers, putting a human face of the flower farmer and floral designer behind each bouquet or centerpiece. The value of local, seasonal, and sustainably grown flowers is heightened when there is transparent origin labeling of all botanicals sold to consumers and professional florists." The website was created by author Debra Prinzing. Ms Lee recommended Ms Prinzing's book The 50 Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local, and Sustainable Flowers and Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful, by Amy Stewart, for those who wish to know more about the flower industry and the positive impact of supporting local farms.Locally grown flowers stay fresh longer and have a smaller carbon footprint than those purchased from afar. As a result of her discussion with local farmers in mid-January, Ms Lee said she is working to build a stronger consortium of growers. She is also looking for partners in various towns in Connecticut to create flower pickup points for her flower subscription service, which is offered seasonally. Anyone interested in reaching Ms Lee can contact her through her website, butternutgardens.com.Since locally grown flowers are hard to come by at the moment, Ms Lee suggested Valentine's Day gifters can purchase a flower subscription service for their loved ones or a subscription to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. (Shortts Farm & Garden Center of Newtown, an organic fruit and vegetable farm, offers a CSA program. Questions about 2019's CSA program can be e-mailed to farmerjim@shorttsfarmandgarden.com.)Farming 101, a certified organic farm in Newtown, offers more than 60 varieties of organic heirloom tomatoes, flowers, greens, carrots, beets and other seasonal products, according to its Facebook page, Farming 101. Jennifer Gaskins, who owns the farm with her husband, Trout Gaskins, said customers at local farmers markets have observed that locally grown flowers and vegetables last longer than those shipped in from farther away.For those who want an alternative to buying flower bouquets, some greeting cards are made with flower seeds inside them, ready to be planted. There is also a plethora of DIY directions online to create "seed bombs," handy compact clusters that can be made with native seeds.C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, also offers a seed bank in its Gathering Room. Take out a romantic book, select seeds, and make an activity of planting and watching love grow while reading to one another. https://www.newtownbee.com/better-roses/02102019
Petal Power: The 5 Best Florists In Pittsburgh - CBS Pittsburgh
Florist. Located at 2650 Penn Ave. in Strip District, the florist is the highest rated florist in Pittsburgh, boasting 4.5 stars out of 60 reviews on Yelp.2. 4121 MainPhoto: Eugina n./YelpNext up is Bloomfield's 4121 Main, situated at 4121 Main St. With 4.5 stars out of 35 reviews on Yelp, the florist, which offers coffee and tea and more, has proven to be a local favorite.3. The Farmer's Daughter FlowersPhoto: hannah z. /YelpEast Allegheny's The Farmer's Daughter Flowers, located at 431 E. Ohio St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the florist 4.5 stars out of 34 reviews.4. Alex's East End Floral ShoppePhoto: emmy f. /YelpAlex's East End Floral Shoppe, a flor... https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/02/09/best-florists-pittsburgh-flower-shops/
Out of Flowers? Flour? Businesses Contend With Supply Crises - Memphis Daily News
Pliska, owner of Planterra, a commercial florist and owner of a wedding venue where the decor is all about flowers and plants.Pliska, whose company is located in West Bloomfield, Michigan, could have substituted other flowers but wanted to deliver customers' first choices. So he and his employees tinted white roses by hand.Supply shortages can be the bane of a small company's existence. Severe weather and disasters can cause shortages, as can a manufacturer shutting down or stopping production of ingredients, components or raw materials. And shortages can force owners to be creative in finding substitutes or workarounds to mitigate damage to revenue and customer relationships.Shortages can hit companies of any size. Hundreds of KFC stores in Britain had to close in February when they were unable to get shipments of chicken and other supplies. The problem started when KFC switched to a different delivery company that couldn't handle the volume of food the company needs at its 900 British outlets.But small businesses can have an advantage over larger ones in a supply crisis, says Sunder Kekre, an operations management professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. They don't have the bureaucracy of large companies, and that gives them more flexibility in coming up with a solution, he says.Small companies are also better able to stay in touch and negotiate with customers."You might convince them, 'You don't need it now, why not get it in two weeks,'" Kekre says.When Hurricane Irma forced...
Society of American Florists Past President Mel Schwanke Dies at 92 - Greenhouse Grower
Florists and a recipient of the SAF Floriculture Hall of Fame Honor, passed away at his home in Fremont, NE, on Dec. 17, 2018, at the age of 92.Schwanke served as the executive director of the Nebraska Florist Society for more than 50 years and was also the Executive Director of NeMoKan — the Nebraska Missouri and Kansas Florist Association Convention, held annually for many years. He served on numerous committees, including the Retail Florists Council for SAF, and helped to create the American Floral Endowment for research and education in the flower industry.AdvertisementMel and Joey, his surviving wife of 70 years, were known throughout the floral industry for many years for their passion and dedication. They were also known as the famous matching couple, having dressed in coordinating outfits at industry events and everyday in Joey's family business, Greens Greenhouses Inc.Schwanke served as a Marine in World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart for his service. He is survived by his wife Joey, and children Jo Heinz, Cindy McKown, and J Schwanke, along with four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Ludvigsens Funeral Home in Fremont, NE, is in charge of the services. Visitation will be Thursday Dec. 20.Brian Sparks is senior editor of Green... https://www.greenhousegrower.com/management/saf-past-president-mel-schwanke-dies-at-92/
Citizen of the Year: Catlins fantastic florist - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette
J.C. Penney in Danville, where she met her husband, Tim, then a manager trainee.She and Tim married in May 1987. That October, Tim's job with the department store took them to Iowa and then Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming and Minnesota. In Nebraska, Welsh — who continued to work as a florist out west — directed community theater, served on the Miss Nebraska Pageant board of directors and directed the pageant for three years. In Wyoming, she was involved with the Cheyenne Frontier Days, billed as the world's largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration.In 2004, the couple and their young son, Tanner, moved back to Catlin to be near family. A couple of years later, Welsh opened Floral-n-Flair, a flower shop and event-planning business, in the same downtown building she started out in. She and business partner Kay Smoot also own and operate a gift boutique called Pauline's Attic.Welsh was working one evening when Stutsman popped in."Who got it, and how are we going to decorate?" she asked, thinking he'd stopped by to discuss the Citizen of the Year banquet at the Methodist Church, which she decorates.She was floored by his answer."It still hasn't sunk in," she said, the day before the banquet.While honored, Welsh was quick to acknowledge her "crew," including local high school students and residents who help her set up for community events, weddings and parties — and family. Tanner, who turns 21 this month, has autism, and Tim is his full-time caregiver and still finds time to help out at work."I wouldn't be able to do any of this without him," she said."It's always been a team effort," she continued, adding she learned that from her dad who helped out in many ways at the shop and home before he passed away a couple of years ago.Welsh recalled sitting at the family table years ago after her brother became a 1,000-yard rusher on his high school football team."My dad pointed to his picture on the front of the sports page and said, 'He wouldn't have done that without his line that blocked for him.' I've always remembered that. You can't do it alone. You have to surround yourself with good people and work as a team."... http://www.news-gazette.com/noelle-mcgee/2018-11-01/citizen-the-year-catlins-fantastic-florist.html
Four Floral Businesses To Receive The Century Award In Palm Springs
The 2018 Century Award honorees are: City Line Florist in Trumbull, Connecticut; Gould's Flowers in Lockport, New York; Janousek Florist & Greenhouse, Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska; and Lake Forest Flowers in Lake Forest, Illinois.	"Each year when we gather at the SAF convention, we interact with business owners who have determination, vision and grit," said SAF Awards Committee Chairman Marvin Miller, Ph.D., AAF, of the Ball Horticultural Company in West Chicago, Illinois. "But to sustain that for 100 years or more is truly an impressive feat."	City Line Florist Trumbull, Connecticut	City Line Florist has been owned and operated by the Roehrich/Palazzo family since 1918. When Charles Roehrich returned home from World War I, he already had a family history in the floral industry; his grandfather had grown plants in greenhouses in Stratford, Connecticut, in the late 1800s. Charles borrowed a horse and wagon and sold flowering plants and cut flowers at the entrance of St. Michaels cemetery in Stratford, eventually opening up a storefront in Bridgeport, which sat on the city line of Stratford, leading to the name, City Line Florist.	In 1975, Charles' son Bob and his grandchildren, Susan and Carl, decided to move to a new location in Trumbull, where they turned an old horse barn into a charming new florist shop. Bob received the Connecticut Florist of the Year Award in 2005.	City Line, located in a quaint New England town of 30,000 people, has been voted "Best Florist in Fairfield County" for several consecutive years and won the 2018 Small Busi... http://www.perishablenews.com/index.php?article=0069973
Blooming business - Hays Daily News
When it comes to customer service, Sherfick is dedicated to going the extra mile — literally. She has traveled to meet with people all across Kansas and even Nebraska for consultations."I tell them, 'I'll come to you. You have enough to deal with,' and they love that and I don't mind it at all," Sherfick said.Rebekah Lee, Hays, found out the lengths Sherfick will go to for her clients. Lee originally had planned to put together the flowers for her October wedding herself, but decided to contact Sherfick three weeks before the wedding for last-minute help."I found her through Facebook, actually, and she went above and beyond," Lee said. "She met me two days after I messaged her to get an idea of what I wanted, and she met me three other times before the wedding. She's amazing. She did it so quickly, and I loved them."January is a slower month for the Unique Bouquet, but Sherfick is working on bouquets and boutonnieres with a combination of sunflowers and roses for Tiffany Antholz's wedding that will be in Bird City on Feb. 3."It's been fantastic," Antholz said of working with Sherfick. "She's very personable. I was really nervous to begin with because I don't like a lot of attention on myself, and she just makes it so nice. She's just really down-to-earth and just wants to make you happy."While Sherfick enjoys the design aspect of creating floral pieces, the real reward for her is the joy it brings to the brides."When they see it and their eyes light up and they smile, it sometimes bring tears to my eyes because I'm so happy for them."Those wanting to contact Sherfick can call or text her at (785) 743-8149, email her at theuniquebouquet@yahoo.com or through her website theuniquebouquet.com. http://www.hdnews.net/news/20180113/blooming-business


Watch all the highlights of goals and key plays as the USWNT faces Panama in 2019 Women's World Cup qualifying.
The U.S. women's national team continued its World Cup qualifying campaign in ideal fashion, routing Panama 5-0 in Cary, N.C., on Sunday, with a Carli Lloyd hat trick leading the way.
It marked the second straight rout for the U.S. in the Concacaf tournament, after a 6-0 win over Mexico on Thursday. Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe scoried two goals apiece in the rout, but neither featured Sunday, as manager Jill Ellis heavily rotated her squad. Nine changes were made to the lineup, with Ellis confident in her depth in facing the Central American upstart. She had good reason to feel that way, despite Panama's previous 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday.
The U.S., like it did against Mexico, looked to assert itself early, and Samantha Mewis, one of those nine changes, nearly scored in the fifth minute off a free kick. Her blast took a deflection and then was put over the bar for a corner kick by the goalkeeper. Mewis got her goal on the ensuing play. Christen Press's inswinging corner found the North Carolina Courage star, and she headed home from the center of the box for a 1-0 lead.
Lloyd nearly doubled the lead twice less than 10 minutes later, having two cracks at the goal from close range and hitting the post on her second. She made good on her next chance, though, heading in after another U.S. corner kick, making it 2-0 in the 23rd minute with the 103rd goal of her illustrious international career.
Lloyd scored her second in the 29th minute, using a slick move in the box to spring free before curling a right-footed blast in to make it 3-0, and minutes later, Press was played through on a breakaway, where she rounded the keeper and finished from a right-sided angle, making it 4-0 after 32 minutes.
Lloyd got her hat trick two minutes into the second half. Rose Lavelle, off the bench as a substitute, curled in a looping free kick, and Lloyd headed home at the far post for her third of the day, extending the lead to 5-0.
The lead appeared to grow to 6-0 in the 73rd minute on a bit of a freak play. Lloyd was involved in a collision with 17-year-old goalkeeper Yenith Bailey, who went down in a heap. Play wasn't stopped, though, and Mal Pugh wound up with the ball at the far post. She took her time and fired a deflected blast into the vacated net to get on the scoresheet–or so she thought. Well after the incident, as Bailey was getting treatment, the officiating crew got together and elected to disallow the goal–despite VAR not being used in the competition.
Eleven as one. We in this together.
The U.S. finishes group play against Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday, Oct. 10, while Panama closes against Mexico on the same day.


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Akua Amaning
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Akua Amaning is an associate director for Criminal Justice Reform at American Progress. In her current role, she works to advance progressive policy solutions that will ensure a more equitable justice system, while providing protections and opportunities for those who have been directly affected by the criminal justice system. Prior to joining American Progress, Amaning served as the legislative fellow for U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), where she worked on a number of legislative and policy matters under the member's House Judiciary Committee portfolio. She also served as the Nancy Hale Social Policy Fellow at Third Way, a nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C., where she worked in several issue areas, including immigration and policing reform.
Amaning holds a Master of Law from American University's Washington College of Law and a J.D. from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School. She is also a proud alumna of the University of Miami, where she graduated with a B.A. in English literature.
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Netcare welcomes findings into Covid-19 outbreak at St Augustine's Hospital
Durban - The Netcare group has welcomed the findings of a report which investigated the outbreak of Covid-19 at the St Augustine's Hospital. On Wednesday, the investigative report was released and showed that between March 9 and April 30, there were 119 people – among them 39 patients and 80 staff members – who had confirmed cases identified at the hospital. Fifteen of the 39 patients died.
St Augustines Hospital in Durban, South Africa. Picture: AP Photo
The investigation was led by UKZN academics, Dr Richard Lessells, Professor Yunus Moosa and Professor Tulio de Oliveira.
All the recommendations and interventions made by the investigators have been fully implemented. In many cases these interventions were already in place and have been further strengthened and enhanced as a result of the valuable recommendations made by the report,' he said.
'In early March, we were rapidly learning about the nature of Covid-19 as many national policy guidelines were being changed and refined as the pandemic unfolded in South Africa. While this has been a sad and transformative experience for us, we are grateful that together with the National Department of Health and the Ministerial Advisory Committee, many valuable lessons have been learnt for our entire healthcare sector," Murphy said.
During this period, 15 patients died from Covid-19 related complications of their underlying health challenges. Netcare has extended its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of those who passed away.
Murphy said two of the greatest challenges associated with Covid-19 were that those infected did not always show or have any of the symptoms, and the fact that the virus was highly infectious, notwithstanding the absence of any symptoms.
He said despite the presence of extensive and effective infection prevention measures, such as those in place within Netcare facilities, any workplace or gathering of people poses a potential risk for infection.
'Preventing the spread into and from the group's hospitals has been, and remains, of paramount importance to Netcare. The group proactively implemented comprehensive precautionary measures based on the information that was known at the time about the virus and how it spreads,' he said.
'We continue to learn more about the virus and are responding to new research with further precautionary measures. We wish to reiterate our sincere gratitude to all our healthcare workers, nurses and doctors, and their families for their incredible efforts under these trying and challenging circumstances,' Murphy said.
https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/netcare-welcomes-findings-into-covid-19-outbreak-at-st-augustines-hospital-48229318


The science center, which was dedicated on Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, during Homecoming Weekend, houses the departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, the geological and environmental sciences, nursing and psychology. It was designed to complement the college's on-going emphasis on collaborative student-faculty research as a teaching model, and organized to facilitate connections, roles in which it has excelled in the decade since it opened.
Construction on the project began in March 2002. The facility includes an 85,900-square-foot building that was newly constructed and opened for the beginning of the 2003-04 school year, and the original 72,800-square-foot Peale wing, which had opened in 1973 and was renovated after the new building was completed. The science center was named in honor of 1967 Hope graduate Dr. A. Paul Schaap and his wife Carol of Grosse Point Park on May 5, 2006, in recognition of a leadership gift they made on behalf of the project.


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Lawyers to the Rescue
Lawyers to the Rescue is a non-profit organization based in Florida, United States, committed to providing humanitarian and financial assistance to individuals and communities in times of crisis. The organization was started by Spencer M. Aronfeld and Dina Aronfeld as their response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Mr. Aronfeld says he was at a private airport watching air ambulance activities after the earthquake and wanted to respond in some way. He started the organization first as a fundraising effort for the people of Haiti and later evolved the organization's mission to providing legal assistance free of charge to people in need.
In addition to their efforts to raise money for the people in Haiti, Lawyers to the Rescue provided legal aid to Cambodian and Vietnamese fishermen and shrimpers living on their boats off New Orleans after the BP oil spill. BP had entered into contracts with these fisherman enlisting them to voluntarily assist with cleanup efforts, and Lawyers to the Rescue negotiated on their behalf. Their supporters have provided meals for the homeless at Camillus House, Miami, Florida and hosted pro-bono legal clinics at their facilities advising residents on immigration, criminal, human rights and family law. Lawyers to the Rescue members have participated with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in Miami, Florida.
"Sara Rose, Kid Lawyer" is an illustrated children's book by written Lawyers to the Rescue founder, Spencer Aronfeld, to inspire children to become lawyers. The proceeds of the book go to support Lawyers to the Rescue.
In 2012 Lawyers to the Rescue announced the First Annual Public Service Awards to honored distinguished lawyers for their commitment to public service. The awards will be presented at Lawyers to the Rescue's First Annual Public Service Awards reception. The honorees include former Miami-Dade County Public Defender Bennett Brummer for a "Lifetime Achievement Award", Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle for "Lawyer of the Years" Circuit Court Judge Scott Bernstein "Judge of the Year", John Kozyak "Humanitarian of the Year", Jessica Laleh "Young Lawyer of the Year" and Domenick Lazzara "Law Student of the Year." The event was hosted at the University of Miami School of Law on February 28, 2012.
In November 2012 Lawyers to the Rescue hosted a fundraising event for victims of Hurricane Sandy at a local Miami restaurant. The proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross.
On March 14 of 2013 Lawyers to the Rescue held an event to celebrate its Second Annual Public Service Award Ceremony to honors lawyers, judges, law students and other members of the community who have demonstrated an enormous passion for public service.. The event was held at the Camillus House in Downtown Miami and was hosted by television personality Tara Gilani. The honorees include Eugenio Hernandez, Esquire "Lifetime Achievement Award", Matthew Dietz, Esquire as "Lawyer of the Year Award", Norman Braman for the "Humanitarian of the Year Award", Hon. Gill S. Freeman, a Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge as "Jurist of the Year Award", Luda Kogan, Esquire as the "Young Lawyer of the Year Award", Christian Sanchelima an FIU Law Student as the "Law Student of the Year Award", Dr. Siegfried Wiessner of St. Thomas University College of Law as "Law Professor of the Year Award", St. Thomas University's "Graduate Program in Intercultural Human Rights" for the "Law Institution of the Year Award", and Amanda Mkamanga a paralegal from North Carolina as the "Paralegal of the Year Award".
In 2013 Lawyers to the Rescue launched a free series of lectures taught by lawyers to members of the homeless community called the Homeless Education Advocacy Resource Training (HEART) in conjunction with Miami's Camillus House to educate people on how to expunge criminal records, obtain a simplified dissolution of marriage and apply for disability benefits. The program was created by Miami criminal defense lawyer Scott Kotler.
Lawyers to the Rescue Wikipedia
Carina Caicedo
Mohammad Saeedi
Kanika Dhillon


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Star Trek's Susan Diol - Intergalactic Storyteller
Jennifer Lien (as Kes) and Susan Diol (as Dr. Denara Pel) in Star Trek: Voyager. Photo copyright of UPN.
I recently discovered several interviews I did a number of years ago that, for one reason or another, were never published. Rather than have them continue to gather "dust" in my computer, I thought I would share them with you. In this interview - actress Susan Diol talks about her career including guest-starring roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager.
Telling stories has been a part of human history ever since prehistoric man first began drawing pictures on cave walls. Nowadays, of course, the process is far more sophisticated with stories being passed on to audiences in a variety of ways including films and television. It is this art of storytelling that Susan Diol feels is one of the most rewarding parts of her job as an actress.
"I love the challenge of trying to get someone else to understand my character's point of view and, perhaps, foster some compassion for her," she says. "If that fails, then I'll at least try to show audiences why this person does the things they do. I always search for the vulnerability in the character even if it's somebody who is an evil or a supposedly evil person. I think it's interesting, not only to the actor playing the character but to the people watching, to discover how and why they've gotten to this point in their lives. So to me, being a good actor and a good storyteller go hand-in-hand."
Six years ago the actress played a small part in telling a story of galactic proportions with her work in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Silicon Avatar. Diol played Carmen Davila, a colonist whose life is tragically cut short when her planet is attacked by an old nemesis of the Enterprise crew: the Crystalline Entity.
"I had first auditioned for the role of Data's daughter in another episode of The Next Generation [The Offspring] but I didn't get the part" she says. "The show's casting director Junie Lowry-Johnson remembered me, however, and brought me in for the part in Silicon Avatar. I'd watched and enjoyed the original Star Trek as a kid, so I was thrilled to have the chance to work on The Next Generation."
In Silicon AvatarCommander Riker and Data are helping Carmen Davila and her fellow colonists adjust to their new surroundings when the planet is attacked by the Entity. Riker and Data manage to save all but two of the colonists, one of which is Carmen. Although her on-screen time with Jonathan Frakes (Riker) and Brent Spiner (Data) is limited, Diol was able to enjoy a few laughs with the actors behind the camera.
"The cast on that show is very bright and a lot of fun to be with," says the actress. "Everyone would be sitting around and talking to each other about current events or politics and, of course, telling jokes. I just remember the witty repartee between Jonathan and Brent. I had actually gone out on a date with Brent a couple of years before so we already knew each other. My friend Roy Brocksmith was working on an episode of The Next Generation [Peak Performance] and when I came to the Paramount set to have lunch with him he introduced me to Brent. I thought Brent was a very nice man but I had started dating someone else at the same time and things ended up getting serious between this other gentleman and myself. So with Brent it was pretty much wrong timing but he's a very attractive and extremely intelligent man. It was great fun to see him again and work opposite him on the show."
Diol's work on The Next Generation was only the beginning of her association with Star Trek. Not only did she audition for the part of Jadzia Dax on Deep Space Nine, she returned two years later to try out for the role of Dax's former spouse Lenara Kahn in the episode Rejoined. Although she lost out on both these parts, Diol would be remembered once again by Junie Lowry-Johnson. In 1996 she was cast as the Phage-ridden Vidiian Doctor Danara Pel in the Star Trek: Voyager episode Lifesigns.
Unlike her character's fleeting appearance on The Next Generation, Diol had the opportunity to explore many facets of Danara Pel's personality including her struggle living with the Phage disease. "I'd describe Danara as a very passionate individual who's truly striving to find a cure for this disease that is decimating her race," she explains. "At the same time she's ashamed of the way in which the Vidiians must keep repairing themselves by using the vital organs and other body parts of various alien species."
The actress was also able to delve into Pel's softer side when the woman becomes romantically involved with Voyager's holographic doctor. "I don't think she'd truly experienced love before meeting the Doctor, so the relationship they share is really an extraordinary one for her."
When Voyager rescues Danara the Doctor discovers that the Phage has seriously damaged her physical body. He is able to stave off her death by transferring her Vidiian brain waves into a holographic image that is free of the disease. Although this meant a bit more time in the makeup chair for Diol, the actress felt that the transformation helped with her portrayal of the character.
"Well, even when I was the beautiful Danara," laughs the actress, "I still had a pretty extensive forehead piece that had to be put on over my head. That took, I think, two-and-a-half hours. When I was the disfigured horribly diseased Danara they had a prosthetics piece that covered my entire head except for a small area where my real face was exposed. That application took about three hours and the end result was very claustrophobic but also quite realistic. When I looked in the mirror I truly felt as if I were a hideous monster. This was great in terms of helping me play the character because I was really able to relate to what she must experience every day of her life.
"One of the reasons why I love the Danara character so much is because of the underlying message she conveys to the audience about the emphasis that we in our society place on looks. She didn't feel as though she was a very worthy person because of her appearance and the fact that she had always been prejudiced against as well as teased and taunted. Of course, all this turns around for her when the Doctor becomes attracted to her. So the story had a very important moral message to it and I like that."
Diol has nothing but good things to say about working with Robert Picardo (The Doctor) and the rest of the Voyager cast and found the whole filming process to be extremely organised. "It just seemed like everything was very well thought out in terms of schedules and when they needed you on the set. Everyone was so supportive including the cast and the director of the episode, Cliff Bole, and, of course, the crew. I think we were leaving for Christmas vacation or something like that and the sound guys came by and gave everyone microphones shaped like little ice cream cones. It was a real family atmosphere on the set and everybody respected and cared about each other. So it was a wonderful experience for me."
The actress returned to the Voyager set several months later to briefly reprise her role of Danara Pel in the episode Resolutions. As her character only appears in the story via a viewscreen Diol had no interaction with the rest of the cast when it came time to film her scenes. "It was very fast," she recalls. "I basically went in for a couple of hours, shot it and left. I was hoping that I would at least get to see Bob Picardo but he had filmed his material on another day so I had to play my scenes opposite someone reading the Doctor's lines off-camera. The person did the best they could but it wasn't the same as when you have a rapport with someone. I'd love to play Danara again but I think probably too much time has passed for her to come back. The character didn't die, however, so I guess that potential still exists. That's one of the wonderful things about Star Trek - you never know what can happen."
Teacher or thespian? This was the question Diol pondered while she was growing up. Because her father and both her grandmothers were teachers it would have been no surprise if Diol followed in their footsteps. After she graduated college the actress moved to New York and it was not long after this she began working in the theatre. It was because of this early success on stage that Diol decided to pursue acting instead of teaching.
"Teaching will always be in the back of my head because I just love children and being able to teach or share things with people. I guess that's another reason why I like acting because it allows me to give something to the audience. When you're doing theatre the connection with them is much strong because they're sitting right there in front of you. It's more difficult when you're working on film but you're still able to pass on something to the audience. It all relates back to storytelling," she says.
The actress was hired right out of college to appear as Viola in a production of Twelfth Night for the Alaskan Repertory Theatre. At the time Diol was working for a New York casting company and was responsible for auditioning actresses for the role. "I'd go home every night thinking, 'Gosh, I could do this part. I just know it.' One day I went to the director and said to him, 'You know, I really feel like I could play this part and I'd like to audition.' He kind of jokingly said, 'OK, sure. We'll let you read.' So I went in and read and he was amazed. So he hired me. By the way, the director's name was Roy Brocksmith, whom I'd mentioned earlier. That was the first time we had met and since then we've become dear friends. To get my first job doing Shakespeare was such a thrill but Roy's efforts as a director made the work so much more exciting. He really involved the audience in what was going on and in doing this allowed them to form a true connection with the characters."
When Diol returned to New York she took a job as a perfume spritzer girl in Macys department store to help pay the bills in between acting work. Her next big starring role was opposite Uta Hagen, Victor Garber, Amanda Plummer and Phillip Bosco in the Broadway production of You Never Can Tell. "I remember standing backstage the day of the opening and it was as if I were dreaming," she says. "First of all I couldn't believe I was actually in a Broadway play but to then be in one with Uta Hagen, the queen of acting teachers, and Victor Garber, who's a marvelous actor. It was the biggest thrill of my life and probably of my acting career so far."
Since coming to live and work in Los Angeles, California Diol has guest-starred in several television shows including Murphy Brown, Wings, Seinfeld, Party of Five and Touched By An Angel. She has also appeared in various made-for-television movies including Alien Nation: Millennium in which Diol plays an alien woman named Marina Del Ray. "That was another three hour makeup job. I get cast in all the large foreheaded parts," chuckles the actress. "I love the director of the Alien Nation films, Ken Johnson. He's a very compassionate and caring individual who really loves his work. We had some long hours on the film and I remember us doing a long scene on the roof of this building in a very seedy section of Los Angeles. Ken made things a lot of fun and it was an enjoyable atmosphere in which to do your job."
Over the past year Diol has been busy with other television work as well as working on a screenplay which she hopes to eventually produce or direct. "So that'll be my next hurrah," she says confidently. "In the meantime it would be nice to get a somewhat steady acting job."
As noted above, photo copyright of UPN, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: Alien Nation, Alien Nation: Millennium, Brent Spiner, Carmen Davila, Cliff Bole, Doctor Denara Pel, Entertainment, Jonathan Frakes, Junie Lowry-Johnson, Ken Johnson, Marina Del Ray, Robert Picardo, Roy Brocksmith, Science Fiction, Silicon Avatar, Star Trek, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, Susan Diol, TV, Uta Hagen, Victor Garber
Sci-Fi Blast From The Past - Victor Webster (Mutant X)
Victor Webster as Brennan Mulwray in Mutant X. Photo copyright of Tribune Entertainment.
In today's Sci-Fi Blast From The Past, actor Victor Webster talks about his electrically-charged character of Brennan Mulwray on Mutant X.
Most children fantasize about what they want to be when they grow up. Victor Webster's dream was to become a superhero. "That's what more or less fueled my desire to study martial arts," he says. "I wanted to have the ability to save someone's life."
The actor had no idea that his wish would one day come true, at least on the small screen. He is currently playing the super-charged Brennan Mulwray on the hit syndicated action/adventure TV series Mutant X. His character is, in fact, a new mutant whose body can generate enough electricity to light up a small city.
Brennan is recruited to join Mutant X, an elite team of crime-fighters, all of whom possess unique abilities. Their mission includes among other things stopping fellow new mutants from being caught and neutralized by Mason Eckhart, security chief at the biotech firm Genomex. Brennan may never have been on the FBI's most wanted list, but his shady past initially makes him reluctant to accept an offer by Mutant X's leader Adam to become part of the team.
"In his younger days, Brennan was a loner and a man of criminal intent," explains Webster, relaxing in his trailer after an early morning shoot on the Mutant X set in Toronto. "He secretly used his powers to commit crimes in order to get whatever he wanted. However, he eventually became tired of being a rogue and an outcast. He's now reformed and is paying his dues by doing things for the benefit of humanity. Brennan is really a good-natured person but he can also be a little sarcastic at times. He loves to fight, too. He doesn't always depend on his powers because he doesn't have to. My character would rather beat the hell out of a guy than shoot him across the floor with a bolt of electricity.
"Although he's now part of a team Brennan feels that he can get up and leave any time he wants. If he needs time to think he'll go off somewhere. If he feels the need to go after somebody he'll handle it by himself like the Lone Ranger. He's used to and is very comfortable with being on his own. At the same time, Brennan has found a home and a family so to speak and he doesn't want to do anything that might jeopardize his place on the team.
"This is the first time I've played kind of a bad boy, and I've got to tell you I'm having fun," smiles the actor. "The challenge for me so far has been trying to find the balance between being cheeky and sensitive, you know? There are times when you can act like a smart-ass and it can be annoying. Other times you can throw out these little one-liners and they're funny. It's learning where to draw the line. Up to now I really haven't had to rein Brennan in so I guess I must be doing OK."
After a painless but drawn out audition process, Webster was hired for the role of Brennan Mulwray on Mutant X. As with most new TV shows, the cast and crew filmed the third episode first and then the two-part opener, The Shock of the New and I Scream the Body Electric. As Webster says, "this gave us a chance to work out some of the kinks and get into the groove of things." A Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, the actor also holds an undefeated record in the heavyweight Black Belt division and in kickboxing. These skills came in handy during the shooting of the pilot, and, of course, in subsequent episodes.
"We did a lot of wirework in the pilot, which I'd never done before," recalls the actor. "However, I got right in there and loved every minute of it. So far I haven't had my stunt double do anything for me except jump through fire, which the producers wouldn't let me do. Otherwise it's me doing all the flips, kicks, etc. I enjoy it all but it does take time. The fight scene in the climax of The Shock of the Newtook us around eight hours to film and that was mainly because I hadn't had a chance to really practice any of the moves. The final cut ended up looking cool, though. There's another neat scene with Forbes March [Jesse Kilmartin] and I in the opening teaser of the episode Crime of the New Century. Again, that was eight or so hours worth of shooting but it translated to four action-packed minutes of butt kicking the bad guys.
Along with displaying some fancy footwork during fight scenes, the actor has also created a series of intricate hand movements he uses when Brennan discharges electricity. "Making believe electricity is shooting out of your hands is easy," says Webster. "The hard part for me is finding new and creative ways to 'throw it.' I've tried to make it an art and something beautiful to watch rather than simply having Brennan extend his arm and hand and zap someone or something.
"As Brennan works more with Adam [John Shea] to develop his powers he'll find different ways to use them. Perhaps he might electrify his fist and punch somebody as opposed to firing an electrical charge from his fingertips. Or maybe he'll be holding a steel pole and electrify it to use against his opponent. There are endless possibilities. What's great is the action on this show can be as comic book-like as we want. The dramatic stuff can't be, though. That's where we have to be careful and make sure we're grounded in order to be believable."
As noted above, photo copyright of Tribune Entertainment, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
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Tags: Adam Kane, Brennan Mulwray, Entertainment, Forbes March, Jesse Kilmartin, John Shea, Mason Eckhart, Mutant X, Science Fiction, TV, Victor Webster
This Week On Being Human (US) - 01 - 31 - 11
Aidan's (Sam Witwer) efforts to fit in have some unexpected consequences this week on Being Human. Photo by Jill Greenberg and copyright of The Syfy Channel.
SPOILER ALERT!! - Still haunted by his past, Aidan (Sam Witwer) faces the brunt of the curse bestowed upon him: endless time. He makes an effort at normalcy by inviting the neighbors over for a neighborhood watch meeting. Josh is thrown by the gesture, but all seems well until Michael Garrity, a local police officer, eyes Aidan suspiciously...almost like he knows something...
The next day, Aidan and Josh (Sam Huntington) introduce Sally (Meaghan Rath) to Tony - also a ghost. Unfortunately he's a bit of a sleaze, but once they make physical contact, Sally is overjoyed. Tony shows her how to teleport, opening new possibilities for her.
At the hospital, Bishop (Mark Pellegrino) delivers Aidan troubling news: Garrity, the cop from the house meeting, searched Aidan's history on the police database. Unsure as to why, Aidan heads to Garrity's watering hole - instead of the neighborhood watch patrol he and Josh signed up for. Josh is upset, but instantly hits it off with Jesse; a young man who is everything Josh could have been. At the bar, Garrity pulls out a police sketch of the man who killed his father some 25 years before - a sketch that eerily resembles Aidan. Aidan tries to convince him how absurd it is, but the officer wants proof - in the form of a tattoo the killer had over his chest. Aidan leaves, knowing this can only get worse.
Meanwhile, Sally has learned how to leave the house (with Tony's help). She's ecstatic, but he misinterprets her glee as an invitation to romance. She quickly sets him straight, and he disappears, shunned.
Outside the bar, Garrity tries to tear Aidan's shirt off to see if Aidan has the tattoo. They struggle, and Aidan stumbles and lands on a piece of metal, puncturing his torso. Garrity gets his proof, but not before Aidan reveals his true self. Horrified, Garrity runs, leaving Aidan alone - and impaled. Some Thing To Watch Over Me airs Monday, January 31st @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on The Syfy Channel.
As noted above, photo by Jill Greenberg and copyright of The Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: Being Human, Entertainment, Ghost, Mark Pellegrino, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington, Sam Witwer, Supernatural, The Syfy Channel, TV, Vampire, Werewolf
Sci-Fi Blast From The Past - Tony Shalhoub (The X-Files)
Tony Shalhoub as Monk in the TV series of the same name. Photo copyright of The USA Network.
In today's Sci-Fi Blast From The Past, former Monk star Tony Shalhoub looks back at his guest-starring role on The X-Files.
Directors of mystery and horror films often use shadows as a method of injecting fear into their audience. These shadows are usually followed by a much more terrifying and solid menace. What if a person's shadow was to become more of a threat than the person who casts it? This is what Doctor Chester Banton discovers when an experiment in dark matter turns his shadow into a form of instant death.
"He's basically a good man," says actor Tony Shalhoub, who guest-stars as Banton in The X-Files episode Soft Light. "Banton's not evil or a killer. It's his scientific inquisitiveness about this dark matter that gets the better of him. Suddenly he's in way over his head and he tries to figure out how he can reverse the process or, ultimately, do away with himself so that he doesn't harm any more people. He's someone who's too bright and too curious and it's this curiosity that becomes his downfall."
Shalhoub, who costars as Antonio Scarpacci in the successful NBC comedy series Wings, was not that familiar with The X-Files before being offered a part on the program. "Because of my schedule I don't really watch that much television. They sent me the script, I read it and liked the sound of it. When I was growing up I was a big fan of The Twilight Zone, and The X-Files reminded me of that.
"When I mentioned to people that I was going up to Vancouver [British Columbia, Canada] to shoot an episode of the series the response was unbelievable. Obviously, others were much more familiar with the show than I was, and I soon found out that it was a bit of a cult hit, which made the prospect of appearing in it even more appealing."
One of the things that enticed the actor to accept the role of Banton was that the character was so different from the one he portrays each week on Wings. "The first thing that attracts me to a part is if it's a contrast to what I'm currently working on, and, just as importantly, is it going to stretch me as an actor? My character on The X-Files is about as far away from Antonio as I could get, so, that was kind of a nice thing."
Shalhoub chuckles when asked about his most vivid memory from working on the series. "One of the castmembers kept singing Me and My Shadow," he answers. "I really enjoyed working with both David Duchovny [FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder] and Gillian Anderson [FBI Special Agent Dana Scully]. They are consummate professionals and terrific people. David is very funny. He's a closet comedian, really, with a very dry and wonderful wit.
"What struck me most about working on the program was the schedule they keep on these hour-long shows. Basically, the show is just the two of them and the guest-stars, but, compared to the half-hour show I do, their schedule is much more gruelling. It's like shooting a feature in eight days. Sometimes they overlap and start shooting the next episode before they finish the first. It's incredible. They put in at least twice the amount of hours as I do on Wings. Obviously, they've developed a very successful and top-flight series out of The X-Files and it's a tribute to their skill.
"I was also surprised at the amount of location shooting they do," he adds. "Ninety-nine percent of our filming on Wingsis done on a soundstage, while most of their material is shot on location in and around Vancouver. It's an ideal city because it gives producers so many options. They can make-believe that they're anywhere in the country. A half-hour out of the city you can be anywhere you need to be - the deep forest, the mountains, the ocean, in a modern city, or even an old small town."
As noted above, photo copyright of The USA Network, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: Antonio Scarpacci, David Duchovny, Doctor Chester Banton, Entertainment, FBI Special Agent Dana Scully, FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, Gillian Anderson, Monk, Paranormal, The Twilight Zone, The USA Network, The X-Files, The X-Files - Soft Light, TV, Wings
Sci-Fi Blast From the Past - Tracy Scoggins (Babylon 5)
Babylon 5's Captain Elizabeth Lochley (Tracy Scoggins). Photo copyright of Babylonian Productions.
In today's Sci-Fi Blast From The Past, actress Tracy Scoggins chats about booking her role of Captain Elizabeth Lochley on Babylon 5.
In the world of television science fiction and fantasy actress Tracy Scoggins is known for her brains as well as her beauty. In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Destiny she played a Cardassian scientist looking for love in all the wrong places when it came to Chief Miles O'Brien. In Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman her character of Catherine (Cat) Grant was never one to pussyfoot around Clark Kent/Superman, while as the immortal Cassandra in Highlander she enchanted Duncan MacLeod and audiences as well.
The actress's recent work as Captain Elizabeth Lochley on Babylon 5 has gained her a whole new legion of fans. Her character of Lochley replaced the departing Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian) in the show's fifth and final season. Lochley serves alongside ex-spouse Commander John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) and helps keep things ship-shape aboard the bustling space station. She eventually tales complete charge of Babylon 5 when Sheridan's work as the President of the Interstellar Alliance begins to demand more and more of his time. Never one to shy away from hard work Scoggins was thrilled to sign up for space duty.
"The casting directors of Babylon 5 are the same ones who cast me in Highlander, so we already had a good relationship," notes the actress. "They brought me in and I must say they were very supportive of my efforts in getting this role. I used an English accent for both of my auditions and during the second time around one of the producers asked me, 'Would you mind going out and preparing it with an American accent?' I asked, 'Which state?' and they said, 'Yes, use that attitude and come back.'
"I really wanted this role. I've had a real take-it-or-leave-it- attitude with a lot of things in my career but this was not one of them. I was already a fan of the show and had heard good things about the producers and what a happy set they had, which is something that matters very much to me.
"What I truly like about Lochley is that she has the capacity for using diplomacy in situations that call for it, but if that doesn't work she's just as capable of saying, 'Attack!' She's not afraid of a good fight and is equally comfortable with words or warfare. Lochley has a lot of integrity, too. It truly matters to her to try to take the correct path. I believe that in her mind it's not about self-aggrandizement and getting promotions; it's about doing the right thing."
A casting call for Lochley went out after contract negotiations between Claudia Christian and Babylonian Productions fell through. The character of Susan Ivanova does appear in the program's finale Sleeping in Light but it was filmed long before a fifth series of Babylon 5 was officially commissioned and when Christian was still part of the regular cast. While Lochley did assume Ivanova's position she was never intended to be a carbon copy of the character. Scoggins made sure viewers understood that Elizabeth Lochley was a new face in the crowd but beyond that left them to form their own opinions about the stalwart captain.
"One of the things we, Tracy and Elizabeth, have in common is a tendency not to concern ourselves with things that we absolutely cannot control," she says. "I can't force people to like Lochley but what I can do is use my energy creating the most watchable character I possibly can. Notice I didn't say amiable. In the beginning I purposely didn't make her that likable because I think there were different steps to go through in her development. So I feel my responsibility was to create an interesting character and then let people decide."
As noted above, photo copyright of Babylonian Productions, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: Babylon 5, Babylonian Productions, Bruce Boxleitner, Captain Elizabeth Lochley, Cardassian, Cassandra, Catherine (Cat) Grant, Clark Kent, Claudia Christian, Commander John Sheridan, Duncan MacLeod, Entertainment, Highlander, Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Science Fiction, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Superman, Tracy Scoggins, TV
Fringe's John Noble And Christopher Lloyd
John Noble and Christopher Lloyd in Fringe's "The Firefly." Photo by Liane Hentscher and copyright of Fox Television.
In the season three Fringe episode The Firefly (broadcast last Friday, January 21st on Fox), an Observer makes contact with the Fringe Team to help rectify a mistake. Meanwhile, Walter (John Noble) befriends Roscoe Joyce (guest-star Christopher Lloyd), keyboardist for Walter's favorite 1970s band, "Violet Sedan Chair." Walter learns the real reason the band broke up and discovers that his life and Roscoe's, two men who have never met before, overlap in strange and unexpected ways.
Last Thursday, Fringe regular John Noble along with guest-star Christopher Lloyd spoke with myself along with other members of the press about the above episode as well as the series in general. The following is an edited version of our Q & A. Enjoy!
Christopher, can you share with us a little bit on what to expect from the upcoming episode?
CHRISTOPHER LLOYD - Oh, what to expect? Gee, I don't know. I'm only speaking for myself; I was very excited about the role that had in this episode. It was very interesting piece to work with. My character goes through an experience that he never realistically anticipated would ever happen to him, and [we see] his efforts to adapt to that, adjust to that, and hope for a good outcome.
John, were you excited to have Christopher guest-star as your [character's] musical hero?
JOHN NOBLE - Absolutely. I mean he's one of my heroes anyways, so when they said that Christopher Lloyd was coming on it was like a dream come true, and of course to have him play the musician from Violet Sedan Chair, which was this creation of ours, made it even more interesting. We had an amazing time together, these two old guys, reminiscing and getting the music back up again. It was a great deal of fun.
Christopher, how much do you really know about the keyboard? Do you really play?
CL - Oh, I am not a piano player. I had the obligatory piano lessons growing up but I have not really touched a piano since then. [On Fringe] they adapted a piano so that I could pound on the keys without making any noise and sort of go with what they had written at that point for me to play and pretend I was playing it. I grew up in a household where everybody was playing the piano all the time, so fortunately I had kind of a feeling of the type of body movement that went along with it. Hopefully that helped me through it.
Christopher, having played so many great characters can you talk about what you drew from as reference to get inside the mind of Roscoe?
CL - Ahh, let's see. Well I feel he's a man who is sort of retired from life. He'd had some big losses in his life and his life as a rock star has faded, and he's lonely and wants to be in a place around other people at this home. And then surprising things develop that sort of force him to come out of himself and deal with a new reality. The script really gave so much information and clues that hopefully I was able to follow him and make it happen.
Chris and John, can you talk about how dealing with alternate time and universes makes the acting experience more rich for an actor?
JN - We're not playing the ordinary universe; it's the real universe, so I don't think of it as the ordinary. I think that that's provided me and the other actors in our show a great opportunity to play slightly different versions of our characters. And it's been amazing for our set design people to be able to create a world just like ours, but slightly different, and socially slightly different as well, and we go back and we play within those roles. So from an actor's point of view it's been a really wonderful opportunity for us.
CL - Yes, I mean my character, I feel, had been living kind of a very introverted sort of distant life from anything. He's kind of pulled out, retreated from society, and he has a lot of trouble grasping exactly what's going on with the things that happen in this parallel universe because they are quiet extreme and affect him very personally. It was just really a challenge and also a lot of fun to kind of play that bewilderment with the situations that came up for him, and try to make him believable, credible, and real for himself and, again, hopefully for the audience.
Christopher, I was wondering if you could discuss what it was like joining a cast that already has such a great chemistry going already?
CL - I loved it. I love working with John Noble. I mean not to say that because he's on the phone with me here, but it was just such a pleasure. And the cast, the director, everybody was very supportive and I really felt I was being included in a very special ensemble and it was a thrill to experience that.
JN -And speaking from our point of view, we were all just pretty excited about having Christopher Lloyd join us. He was just amazing and had some huge scenes and just hit it every time. We were so impressed and thrilled that he joined us.
Will we get the chance to see your character again, Christopher?
CL - I have no idea.
JN - Wouldn't that be wonderful, Christopher?
CL - It would be wonderful, and I would so love that.
John, this episode features The Observers. How does the episode advance the mythology of the series and what do we really have to look forward to this season?
JN - Well, I think The Observers have been that one thing since the beginning of Fringe that have sort of kept us way up there. Who are these strange bold people that appear everywhere? And so to have Michael Cerveris as the principal observer back in the 26th episode, I think, was fantastic and he got to do some really fine things.
There's the whole question of finding out what the role of these Observers are. I mean, do they stand outside of the universe? Do they stand outside both universes? Are they observers or should they be hands-on? And I think what we've discovered is that if they do become hands-on at any stage then they wreck the natural order of things, and then they try to correct it. One of the founding premises of Fringe is that because of the interference of an Observer, we ruptured the two universes. That happened because one of them interfered in an issue. So it's really interesting to have them return and try to repair the damage, try to put things right. At the end of the episode, The Observer has the last scene and he says something incredibly telling, which I'll leave for you to see, but it just demonstrates how much danger and drama there is ahead.
John, have you ever considered the possibility that Fringe's real universe, you know the one that you've spent most of your time in thus far, is in fact yet another alternate universe?
JN - Absolutely, my friend, absolutely. It's interesting that when I'm playing in the other universe and playing the character of Walter in the other universe, obviously this universe is the alternate universe. We have the other universe, and I imagine from whichever hill you stand on, the opposition is standing on the other one. So yes, I've thought about that quite a lot, and if there were more universes, and there could be, they would all be alternate to the one you're standing in.
John, I wanted to know if you have any personal favorite kind of crazy science fiction moments over the course of the series, either for your character or just to see realized on the scene?
JN - Now let me tell you, and it's not because Firefly airs tomorrow, but probably the best scenes I've had is the stuff with Chris Lloyd because there were these two crazy old guys just trying desperately to communicate with each other. We had a lot of laughs and there was the common thread of trying to find the music again because Christopher's character had forgotten how to play the piano. So we go through this journey of bringing the music back to him and the thrill to Walter. This happens all the way through this very complicated episode, but in terms of pure joy in the lab I think it's probably the episode you see tomorrow night was the one.
John, in what ways would you say your character has further grown and developed in your eyes this season, and what continues to make Walter both exciting and also challenging for you to play?
JN - A bunch of things happen this season. Walter came from a very big fog when we first knew him and slowly he's put the pieces back together and rebuilt his life, and that's all history. Then he went through the terrible second season of realization that Peter (Joshua Jackson) had to know, had to find out, so we did that. We start the third season with this rift between the two men, and that causes a great deal of loneliness and frustration in both men.
The major problem Walter faces is that he thinks he's no longer capable of solving problems because he's been ill and had part of his brain removed, so it's this incredible struggle. He keeps saying, "I'm not smart enough to do this anymore," and Nina Sharp (Blair Brown) keeps encouraging him to do it. And through the course of this season you'll see him finally accept his limitations but also he accepts his strengths, which are more than enough to deal with situations here. It's a beautiful journey really of acceptance for Walter, and he goes through all the emotional stages to get there, but a gorgeous journey of accepting where he is and then moving forward.
Chris, I wanted to find out what would you say makes a career in this industry rewarding for you so far?
CL - Well, certainly the fact that I'm still working at the moment, but I've been able to continue working means a lot to me. I've always admired actors who may have their moment of flash and great success but above all keep sustaining their work, doing their work. Fortunately, being an actor does not have a cutoff time. There's not a retirement age. You just keep going and keep going until you can't go anymore, which is fully what I intend to do and hopefully the work will be forthcoming. It's just sustaining a career today and keep working, which I love doing so much and discovering new roles and discovering yourself in the process is very rewarding.
Christopher, with one of your most famous characters, Doc Brown in Back to the Future, you were able to create this over-the-top and comedic character, and yet you were able to make him seem like a real person. Now you're in a science fiction program that's more dramatic, and there's still very outlandish scenarios going on. What would you say is the secret to sort of bringing these outlandish characters or outlandish scenarios and making them seem real?
CL - I don't know. I feel like I've witnessed a lot of people in my own life who were pretty much on the edge at one time or another and I just try really hard to find the reality of a character. How he perceives things. The way he feels about things and try to put that all together and create a person, a character and it's something I do kind of whatever the role is. It's just a matter of the way I work and I know a lot of other people that work the same way. So no matter how outlandish or far out the character is there is somewhere a line of reality, which I try to connect with and hope for the best.
John, are there any tidbits you can give us on the alternate universe and Walternet? Are we going to be seeing more of that?
JN - Sure, I can give you a few tidbits. We can't resist the alternate universe and having created it we have to go back there because of this huge conflict. We all go back. The character of Walternet [Noble's character in the alternate universe] will be developed, I think, at this stage he's seen as sort of a nasty cold man. We'll give you a little bit more background on why he's like he is over the course of this season, and we spend a few wonderful episodes back in the alternate universe. So I think you've got that to look forward to as the season continues to unfold.
As noted above, photo by Liane Hentscher and copyright of Fox Television, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: Back to the Future, Blair Brown, Christopher Lloyd, Doc Brown, Entertainment, Fringe, John Noble, Joshua Jackson, Nina Sharp, Roscoe Joyce, Science Fiction, The Observers, TV, Violet Sedan Chair, Walternet
This Week On Primeval - 01 - 29 - 11
Hannah Spearritt as Primeval's Abby Maitland. Photo copyright of Impossible Pictures 2010.
SPOILER ALERT!! - Connor (Andrew-Lee Potts) and Abby (Hannah Spearritt) come across myths, fraudsters and a deadly Labyrinthodont as they investigate odd anomaly signals in the small coastal village of Witchfield Cove. Meanwhile, Emily's (Ruth Bradley) disappearance sets Matt (Ciaran McMenamin) on a journey to hunt her down. Episode five airs Saturday, January 29th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.
As noted above, photo copyright of Impossible Pictures 2010, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: Abby Maitland, Andrew-Lee Potts, BBC America, Ciaran McMenamin, Connor Temple, Entertainment, Fantasy, Hannah Spearritt, Impossible Pictures, Labyrinthodont, Matt Anderson, Ruth Bradley, Science Fiction, TV
Sci-Fi Blast From The Past - Jeri Ryan (Dark Skies)
Jeri Ryan as the sexy and brainy Borg Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager. Photo copyright of UPN.
In today's Sci-Fi Blast From The Past, Jeri Ryan goes pre-Seven of Nine and Star Trek: Voyager and talks about her work (as Jeri Lynn Ryan) playing Juliet in Dark Skies.
The year is 1964 and the cold war between the United States and Russia continues to push the world's two superpowers further apart. As always in politics, however, there are certain instances where two warring factions must come together in a unified show of strength. Such is the case when extra-terrestrial beings threaten the very existence of humankind. In Dark Skies, the Soviets recruit a highly-trained, no-nonsense and strikingly beautiful comrade named Juliet to assist in this epic and covert struggle between humans and aliens.
"Originally, I was offered a guest-starring part on the program," reveals Jeri Lynn Ryan, who plays the feisty Juliet. "This was two weeks before the role of Juliet was even created. They had been auditioning people for this guest spot but just couldn't find anyone who they felt fit the character. The casting people knew me and showed the producers my tape. After they saw it they said, 'Great, let's offer her the job.' I was in Chicago [Illinois] at the time, so when they told me this I thought, 'Bonus! I don't have to go for an audition. They're just going to give me this part. I'll fly to Los Angeles for a week, do my work and come back home. It'll be great.'
"I had dyed my hair auburn for an independent film I'd done last summer. When they realized that my hair was no longer blonde they said, 'Oh, we'd love to have you do this role but we really need a blonde for the job.' I said to myself, 'Oh, what the heck. It's no big deal. I didn't have to audition anyway.' Ironically, if I had been a blonde and gotten this particular job I wouldn't have been able to play Juliet.
"Two weeks later the breakdown for a new female series regular came out and it actually specified someone who was dark and mysterious. So I went in and auditioned for the part of Juliet. When I didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks I just assumed that my audition was abysmal," she laughs. "Out of the blue the producers of the show called to tell me that they wanted me to audition for the network executives at NBC. I went in to read for them one afternoon and three hours later they offered me the job. After all this, however, they decided to make Juliet a blonde. The next thing I knew I had to immediately go to the set to have my hair dyed before starting work the very next day. So once it took off it was as if I was being caught up in a whirlwind."
In Dark Skies, Ryan's character is the latest addition to Majestic-12, a top-secret government organization whose main objective is to shield the public from anything having to do with the alien invasion. Armed and very dangerous, Juliet has been compared to the lead character in the film and now television series La Femme Nikita. Ryan herself, however, likens her alter ego to a Russian female version of the very British James Bond.
"Juliet is a tough cookie," says Ryan. "She's very intelligent as well as independent and self-motivated. When you first see her it's 1964, a time when military organizations weren't exactly welcoming women with open arms. She comes in and literally busts down the walls of this old boy's club. Juliet is more than capable of taking on any man in the room as well as handling any situation that may arise and she demands to be taken seriously. She knocks a few heads around and shakes some people up a little bit including John Loengard (Eric Close). Juliet is very much a woman ahead of her time."
Ryan made her debut on Dark Skies halfway through the show's first season in an episode entitled The Warren Omission. In this story Attorney General Robert Kennedy makes a move to expose Majestic when the Warren Commission begins investigating the death of his brother President Kennedy. "It was kind of a nerve-wracking experience," recalls Ryan. "The series had already been around a while before my character was introduced. At this point people had been working together for almost a year. They all knew each other and were like a big family. All of a sudden here was this new girl coming into the picture. I really wasn't sure how the dynamics of everything was going to work. Up to now Megan Ward [Kimberly Sayers] had been the only female regular in the entire cast. I needn't have been worried. Everyone, particularly Megan, has just bent over backwards to make me feel comfortable.
"Another reason why I was nervous had to do with the fact that in my very first scene I come in and take out three Federal agents and then throw Loengard across the room. Juliet is not exactly subtle," laughs the actress. "She knows how to make an entrance. When I got ready to do this scene I assumed that you have a stunt double who does the stunt and that's just the way it works. It didn't take me long to find out that they only do the really, really dangerous work like pulling Megan down a flight of stairs and things of this nature. When it comes to everything else you're pretty much on your own. It's you who's in there doing the kicking, hitting and other physical work. I learned very quickly how to do all these things and, once I got over the initial fear and shock, I found it to be a lot of fun and a great tension release. I was ready to take on the entire crew," jokes the actress.
Ever since Juliet burst onto the scene in Dark Skies the show's writers have continued their efforts to further develop the character. Stories such as White Rabbit and Shades of Gray give viewers the opportunity to sit back and delve into Juliet's past and they find out exactly what makes her tick. "I really enjoyed the one we just finished yesterday called Pray in Darkness which takes place during the 1964 New York blackout. At this point in the programme the relationship between John and Juliet has changed, so there was a bit more for me sink my teeth into and that made the work a lot more fun.
"I can't wait to start work today on our latest episode because it's very much a Juliet story. Most of the action takes place in the Soviet Union and Majestic and it gives you an even greater sense of what goes into the making of Juliet. They reveal more of her background and training as well as talk about all of the people with whom she's dealt with in the past. There's also a great deal of physical action. I get to shoot my little AK-47 assault rifle and whatever else we've got, so I can't wait to kick some alien butt," she chuckles.
Tags: Alien Invasion, Dark Skies, Eric Close, Jeri Lynn Ryan, Jeri Ryan, John Loengard, Kimberly Sayers, Majestic-12, Megan Ward, Trek: Voyager
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome Casting Update
THE Syfy Channel has announced that Luke Pasqualino (Skins - UK) and Ben Cotton (Stargate Atlantis, Hellcats, Riese: Kingdom Falling) have been cast in Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, the highly anticipated 2-hour pilot. The all-new chapter in the Battlestar saga unfolds in the thick of the 10th year of the first Cylon war, as the battle between humans and a sentient robot race rages across the 12 colonial worlds.
Pasqualino will star as the young, talented fighter pilot William Adama, a recent Academy graduate who finds himself assigned to the newest Battlestar in the Colonial fleet: the Galactica. Full of ambition and in pursuit of the intense action that the Cylon war promises, Adama quickly finds himself at odds with Coker (Cotton), the battle-weary officer to whom he reports. With 45 days left in his tour of duty, Coker desires an end to battle just as much as Adama craves the start of it. Though they clash at first, the two men forge an unlikely bond when a routine mission turns dangerous and becomes a pivotal one for the desperate fleet.
From the award-winning producers of Battlestar Galactica, this new action-packed chapter of the BSG canon was written by Michael Taylor from a story by David Eick, Taylor and Bradley Thompson & David Weddle. David Eick will serve as executive producer. Universal Cable Productions will produce the 2-hour pilot with Syfy, utilizing cutting edge CGI and virtual technology.
Tags: Battlestar Galactica, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome, Ben Cotton, Bradley Thompson, Cylons, David Eick, David Weddle, Entertainment, Hellcats, Luke Pasqualino, Michael Taylor, Riese: Kingdom Falling, Science Fiction, Skins, Stargate Atlantis, The Syfy Channel, TV, Universal Cable Productions, William Adama
This Week On Law & Order: UK - 01 - 28 - 11
DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) in Law & Order: UK. Photo copyright of Kudos, Wolf Films and NBC Universal.
SPOILER ALERT!! - When three people are brutally murdered in a shop in central London and a fourth left for dead, DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) and DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) are up against the clock to find the killer who they fear could strike again. Prosecuting the offender proves surprisingly challenging for Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel (Ben Daniels) when he finds himself pitted against a defense lawyer he hadn't bargained for. Season 2 - Episode 3 airs Friday, January 28th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.
As noted above, photo copyright of Kudos, Wolf Films and NBC Universal, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!
Tags: BBC America, Ben Daniels, Bradley Walsh, Crime Drama, DS Matt Devlin, DS Ronnie Brooks, Entertainment, Jamie Bamber, Kudos, Law & Order, Law & Order: UK, NBC Universal, Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel, TV, Wolf Films


Twilight Sparkle challenges Starlight Glimmer to bring a new friend to dinner as a part of her friendship lessons. But her teaching is tested when, out of all the ponies in Ponyville, Starlight befriends Trixie! With a special edition Twilight Sparkle collectible and fun interactive activities, this storybook is the perfect addition to anypony's bookshelf.


text:
Major GOP Donor Just Explained How He's Spending His Tax Cut Refund and It's Not How Republicans Thought This Would Go
Amelia Mavis Christnot
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell with members of the Republican senate leadership. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
During the Obama administration, billionaire Seth Klarman gave more than $7 million to Republican candidates and political committees. His fortune helped fund the GOP takeover of the House and Senate.
But now under the administration of President Donald Trump, where republicans control all of the federal government, Klarman has changed his mind about supporting the GOP.
Since the 2016 presidential elections, Klarman gave about $222,000 to Democrats: 56 running for the House of Representatives and 22 to Senate races. The billionaire explained his decision in a statement to The Boston Globe.
The Republicans in Congress have failed to hold the president accountable and have abandoned their historic beliefs and values. For the good of the country, the Democrats must take back one or both houses of Congress."
I received a tax cut I neither need nor want. I'm choosing to invest it to fight the administration's flawed policies and to elect Democrats to the Senate and House of Representatives."
Klarman plans to continue donating. He donated nearly $2 million to nonprofit organizations promoting gun control, protecting the environment, and bolstering the rule of law — all areas that Democrats claim are under attack under Trump.
In a year end letter from January 2017, the billionaire stated:
Many say reflexively that America and its institutions are strong, so strong that they will survive a Trump presidency. And they probably will. But democracy must never be taken for granted."
Democracies are fragile and cannot be taken for granted. Democratic norms are crucial for the perpetuation of democracy. Political stability depends on the rule of law and adherence to precedent."
"Personally, I'm troubled by Trump," Klarman wrote.
"I've taken the view that each of us can be bystanders, or we can become upstanders. I choose to be an upstander."
Governing is not a joke or a farce, and it is certainly not a reality show. Tragically, Donald Trump has displayed few of the character traits required in a US president, and no aptitude for or interest in developing them."
Many traditional Republican big money donors express concern over Trump and the direction he's taking the country, but most haven't changed their patterns of donating. But as Trump becomes increasingly volatile, talk of jumping ship grows.
"These guys, a lot of them, are fiscal conservatives, and the only thing they see coming out of Trump is the daily crazy tweets," said Rick Wilson, a Florida Republican who does not support Trump. "The contempt for him is profound among the donor community."
A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which Klarman gave $200,000 since 2012, had no comment about Klarman's change of heart. It will be hard to tell if Klarman is alone in his change of heart until more federal campaign contribution data becomes public.
The public are already commenting on Klarman's shift however.
Boston hedge fund billionaire Seth Klarman, new England's biggest GOP donor, is so shocked/dismayed by Trump's erra… https://t.co/Zx3EJ7paxh
— Martha Adams (@Martha Adams)1523819162.0
2018 midterms democrats Donald Trump donor midterm elections Republicans


Victory Park Capital, an alternative asset management firm that provides direct financing solutions to small cap and middle-market companies, has made eight new hires over the last nine months to support the company's growth. The hires deepen VPC's expertise in its Chicago and Boston offices and expand the firm's footprint in New York with a new managing director.
Managing Director Nick Hailey will be responsible for leading the firm's advisory and origination efforts across the ecommerce, Internet and digital media sectors. Hailey brings over 15 years of experience as a strategic advisor, M&A specialist and technology industry business executive and was formerly head of the New York office of Revolution Partners, the Technology Investment Banking Division of Morgan Keegan.
Vice President Derek Ferguson will serve as an investment professional in VPC's Chicago office. Ferguson was previously a Vice President with Maxim Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on entrepreneurial companies in the lower middle market.
In addition, VPC also added one senior associate, two associates, a financial analyst and two middle office professionals.


Overige ingrediënten: Cellulose (Plant Origin), Gelatin Capsule, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate, Silica.
Uitleg: For adults, take two (2) quick release capsules daily, preferably with a meal.
LET OP: Not intended for use by pregnant or nursing women. If you are taking any medications or have any medical condition, consult your doctor before use. If any adverse reactions occur, immediately stop using this product and consult your doctor. Not intended for use by persons under the age of 18. If seal under cap is damaged or missing, do not use. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place.


1. Open-Access advocate Stevan Harnad of Southampton and of UQAM recommends that one look for the comments of Sándor Radnóti, one of the accused in the affair, in this ScienceInsider thread for informed commentary.
2. Harnad also points out that the case against the philosophers has just been transferred by Gyula Budai, the government "accounting commissioner," to the Hungarian prosecuter-general, apparently because none of the other approaches (even police inspection) has generated anything litigable. The announcement also mentions "political complications" as prompting the transfer, presumably referring to the recent growth in international scrutiny.
UPDATE: 20 February, 9:32 am CST: Another English language overview of the case available here.
An article on the Hungarian Philosopher Affair appeared on February 4 in the ScienceInsider section of the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) site, where worldwide commentary is invited.
We are reopening comments. Please consult our comments policy.
Text of the Open Letter sent to the Hungarian Academy of Science.
See here for Daniel Dennett's retraction of his signature to this letter in light of what he calls "the level of vituperation and distrust now poisoning the academic world of Hungary," a small taste of which prompted our temporary shift to moderated comments.


I couldn't agree with you more. We used Internet workshops for animal research projects. After I had modeled this for my class and we created a class book, they flew when it was their turn. They loved using the Internet. It was great not having to worry about what sites they were viewing. Once again it shows how important modeling for our students is.


text:
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class CameraShake : MonoBehaviour {

	public Vector3 shakeDistance = Vector3.one;
	public float strength = 1f;
	public bool useOrigin = true;
	public bool shakeOnStart = false;

	private Transform _transform;
	private Vector3 _origin;
	private Vector3 _targetPos;
	private bool _shake = false;
	private float _strength = 0f;
	private float _strengthTarget = 0f;

	void Start ()
	{
		_transform = transform;
		UpdateOrigin();

		if(shakeOnStart)
		{
			Shake(3f);
		}
	}

	void Update ()
	{
		if(_shake)
		{
			_strength = Mathf.Lerp(_strength, _strengthTarget, Time.deltaTime * 3f);

			if(!useOrigin)
			{
				_origin = _transform.position;
			}

			_targetPos = _origin + new Vector3(
				Random.Range(-shakeDistance.x, shakeDistance.x) * _strength,
				Random.Range(-shakeDistance.y, shakeDistance.y) * _strength,
				Random.Range(-shakeDistance.z, shakeDistance.z) * _strength
			);

			_transform.localPosition = _targetPos;
		}
		else
		{
			_origin = _transform.localPosition;
		}
	}

	public void UpdateOrigin()
	{
		_origin = _transform.localPosition;
	}

	public void Shake(float duration = 1f)
	{
		StartCoroutine(TriggerShake(duration));
	}

	public void StartShaking()
	{
		_strengthTarget = strength;
		_shake = true;
	}

	public void StopShaking()
	{
		_strengthTarget = 0;
		StartCoroutine(ResetShake());
	}

	private IEnumerator ResetShake()
	{
		yield return new WaitForSeconds(0.6f);
		_shake = false;
	}

	private IEnumerator TriggerShake(float duration)
	{
		StartShaking();

		yield return new WaitForSeconds(duration);

		StopShaking();
		_transform.localPosition = _origin;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Shell builds country's first retail station using upcycled plastic waste in Bulacan
Pilipinas Shell has partnered with Green Antz Builders to build a retail station in Plaridel, Bulacan using eco-bricks made from upcycled plastic waste – a first not only in the country, but for the Shell global group.
1st commercial building in the Philippines that is completely made from eco-bricks
"This past year has been all about accelerating our transformation to do better in our financial, social, and environmental dimensions," said Pilipinas Shell Vice President and General Manager for Retail Randy Del Valle. "At Shell, we believe that this milestone station will not only help us reduce our carbon footprint and meet our ambition to reduce, reuse, recycle waste, but also set a precedent for smarter and cost-efficient station design."
The move is a first step in Shell's journey to support a circular economy approach, which is based on the concept that things are designed to last longer and to be reused, repurposed or recycled.
The station was constructed using 26,512 eco-bricks supplied by Green Antz and upcycled 1,200 kilograms of plastic waste, which is equivalent to 80,000 lubricant bottles.
Sourced from Green Antz's Plaridel eco-brick hub, the materials were also gathered from various sources, including the waste management programs of the Malolos, Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliuag, and San Ildefonso local governments with the help of Plaridel's chief eco-brick proponent Jocell Vistan.
The eco-bricks help initiate a circular economy that not only reduces the plastics reaching landfills, but also generates commercial value out of what was previously considered waste for businesses in Plaridel.
"We call it urban mining. Instead of getting all the resources from the environment, we just look around and source for plastic waste," said Green Antz CEO Engr. Rommel Benig. "In fact, we're not calling it waste, we're calling it a resource."
While the eco-brick is more expensive per unit compared to traditional brick, buildings that use this alternative can reduce the overall cost of construction and operation, said Benig. Upcycled from plastic, glass and other debris, the eco-brick is more compact than conventional hollow blocks so less is needed for a build, and up to 5 times stronger, he explains.
Moreover, the design also allows for greater insulation, which in the long run can drastically reduce energy consumption, resulting in lower financial costs and environmental impact.
Aside from this collaboration, Shell is also working with Green Antz through its social development arm, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) to set up an eco-brick manufacturing hub in Cagayan De Oro, helping manage waste in Macajalar Bay, while also providing members of the Macabalan Wharf Porters Association an additional source of livelihood.
"We're seeing a very good trend now. A lot of awareness is being created and more and more companies and organizations are really getting involved in this now. This was not the case five, six, or seven years ago. So, we are excited about the future, where everybody is more environmentally responsible," said Benig. "We cannot do it alone, neither the government nor the private sectors. But if we combine forces, we have a very good fighting chance to address the problem." ###
Shell is a leading member of the Alliance To End Plastic Waste, an alliance of global companies including chemicals and plastic manufacturers, consumer goods companies and waste management companies, along with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. It has committed $1.5 billion over the next five years to end plastic waste in the environment.
Shell launched its #MakeTheFuture campaign with an event designed for kids at the Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City Taguig.
As populations grow and thrive, so does the need for more energy.
Taal Volcano Eruption
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Sesimology (PHIVOLCS) raised the Taal Volcano Alert Signal to Level 4 - Hazardous eruption is possible within days last January 12.


text:
Donna Marie - This World
(DM Records DM001, available from her Myspace page)
Last year Donna Marie released her "Paint The Sky" EP, which instantly became a favourite of mine and infact I voted it single of the year. The reasons were simple: great songs, well written with a pop edge, and lovely guitar playing and vocal performances that made me wonder just how long it would take before someone signed her up and did the decent thing. After all, if the press can hype up people like Duffy, then there's surely a place for many other good female singer songwriters, you know?
With an album due later this year, Donna Marie's done the sensible thing and released the new six track EP on her own label, therefore cutting out the middleman and meaning that you can get it direct from her Myspace page, and only pay the cost plus postage, which seems a very reasonable amount too when I ordered it. Enclosed in a CD single case and professionally made sleeve and indeed a replica of the CD cover on the CD itself, and it just smacks of quality production all round. Also, now she has a full band on board with Mon handling the bass and Greg Morgan on drums, it allows for a bigger space and production to flow. So now to test that theory out, give it a spin and go through the six tracks.
First off is the title track "This World" where Donna Marie goes slightly green. It has plenty of catchy pop sensibilities all wrapped up inside a soft centre of her vocals, asking questions about the world, losing her faith and questioning that all the money in the world won't replace the time we have. The chorus is just infectious and has a good message contained within that "there's time enough for everyone". Definitely the bass guitar and drums enhance to her lead, and sounds sumptuous. Next up is the live set closer and favourite "Goodtime Girl". Here Pat Clarke on harmonica does a grand job on making the song sound a little more countryesque, and I kept thinking of the Dixie Chicks when I heard it done like this (no bad thing to my ears). What hasn't been changed is the fact that there's a catchy hook and chorus throughout, helped by the drums which really give it a bit more oomph. Got to love that chorus line "Steal your heart away from you / cos she's a goodtime girl" which really underpins the whole thing. It builds up nicely to the closing part as well, and sounded like everyone enjoyed themselves too, always important.
Another live set staple, "Perfect Fit" is next up. It certainly sounds good being enhanced with the guitars (especially those by Pete Mason) and fuller production (an acoustic rough cut was on her free "No Frills" EP at the back end of last year) although the only thing I would say is that the backing vocals during part of the chorus just don't seem to be such a perfect fit, as it were. Nonetheless it's a gorgeous pop love song (with a line like "You're the one I need, you know that I suit you", say no more!) and isn't that how it should be eh? From here on in, it's a more reflective feel, and "Home" certainly fits that bill. With Harry Elsby on backing vocal and some lovely cellos from Beth Carlyle, it has room to breathe and really gives you that feeling that you're on your way home from somewhere not so near, perfect for my long distance train travels that I sometimes do. "On the open road, there's a sign there for me, till it leads me home" she wistfully sings, and it just sounds beautifully tender until the closing part which has a nice blend of quicker pace.
"Shooting in the Dark" is another recent live addition, and it's here where Donna Marie's vocals really do start to come into their own. With a slightly quieter and late night feel, this sounds beautifully romantic and soft all at the same time. "Push it from your mind / open up your heart / then you see you're shooting in the dark" is just a great line to hook yourself into, and that just blends nicely at the end of the chorus to really soften the whole thing. It's handled with the gentle touch and sensitively done too, and just gets you in the right mood for the closer, "Faraway". One thing to say about this song: it's utterly gorgeous. In fact, it's pushing "Make You Mine" as my favourite of hers, which says a lot. It's a wonderful love song, which just has the right mood of softness and acoustic guitar, and throughout the lyrics are just wishing that the person in love isn't so far away from here. You can hear her heart as she sings "When you're not by my side / I'm dying here inside / tonight" and it really shows a feeling of love and wanting to be with someone special. And we've all had that at one time or another. It may be quite short, but it's also sweet, to the point and closes the whole thing with a feeling of gentle softness.
In terms of the production values, Donna Marie and Mon doing the production and mixing and engineering between them works well. It sounds clear but not over produced, it also sounds lush without being too sickly as well. Having a core three piece band is also meaning that the songs are pretty tight in terms of their performance, and if a recent live performance is anything to go by, I would say that the hard work in producing this is paying off wonderfully well for her. It really frustrates me that there's many talented artists such as her who don't get the breaks yet are so much better than a heck of a lot of the rubbish the public endures.
So, redress the balance a bit, buy her EP, and listen with an open mind and an open heart. And you'll grow to absolutely adore it and be excitedly awaiting the album like a child at Christmas. Honestly, it's a really good release and you'd be daft to miss out.
Warren's rating: 91%