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Gotham Robin Lord Taylor Talks Batman Arkham Games
GamerHub.TV Staff
 Published October 17, 2015 8:53 AM
Gotham Robin Lord Taylor Talks Batman Arkham Games. The actor who plays The Penguin in the hit Fox TV show talks Season 2 and Batman Arkham video games in this exclusive interview from NYCC.
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Developer Interview
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Developer Interview. Total War: Warhammer II is an upcoming turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War video game series and a sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer.
Published August 18, 2017 11:25 AM , by
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Battle Gameplay
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Battle Gameplay. Total War: Warhammer II is an upcoming turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War video game series and a sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer CONNECT WITH US! FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/shacknews TWITTER: https://twitter.com/shacknews INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/shacknews Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Battle Gameplay. Watch us live at http://www.twitch.tv/shacknews To support the team, visit the site: http://www.shacknews.com
Published August 17, 2017 7:00 AM , by
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Campaign Map Gameplay
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Campaign Map Gameplay. Total War: Warhammer II is an upcoming turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War video game series and a sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer. CONNECT WITH US! FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/shacknews TWITTER: https://twitter.com/shacknews INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/shacknews Watch us live at http://www.twitch.tv/shacknews To support the team, visit the site: http://www.shacknews.com
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Hero Overview
Total War: Warhammer II Skaven Hero Overview. Total War: Warhammer II is an upcoming turn-based strategy and real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. It is part of the Total War video game series and a sequel to 2016's Total War: Warhammer CONNECT WITH US! FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/shacknews TWITTER: https://twitter.com/shacknews INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/shacknews Watch us live at http://www.twitch.tv/shacknews To support the team, visit the site: http://www.shacknews.com


SKU: CR15. Categories: Cows, Cards & Gift Wrap.
Card- blank inside for your own message.
Caroline grew up on the North Yorkshire Moors and went on to study Textiles and Fashion at Winchester.
working in whatever medium suits the subject.


Music for Fragments from the Inside – EAR/Rational Music!
A "classic" from the Sub Rosa catalog, never released on vinyl before. An astonishing piano-player drifts on beats and soundscapes. Recorded during a magical night in the courtyard of a Siena Renaissance Italian Palazzio where the lightness of Harold Budd meets Eraldo Bernocchi's deep electronics. Beats and bass, drones and soundscapes tie together harmonically to meet one of the most emotionally-involving piano players/composers.


Terrence Wright, an 18 year old high school senior from Chicago was shot and killed yesterday.
As Wright was leaving the school at the end of the day, five assailants approached him and  began intimidating Wright. One of them began rummaging through Wright's pockets, and when the high schooler resisted the intimidation, he was shot.
The incident is part of the recent uptick in gun violence and gang activity among teens in Chicago. Some area residents have dubbed Chicago, Chiraq, referencing Iraq and the way in which the city has become a war zone.


PMA offers first class customer service, helping to mainstream your payroll processing, direct deposit, payroll reports and all federal, state and local taxes filings.
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SwipeClock is the perfect solution for today's time and attendance needs. Attendance is collected on a wall mounted time clock or PC and automatically transmitted online.


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Business|HR
PepsiCo names new CEO for Australia/New Zealand
(Source: Supplied)
November 30, 2021< 1 mins read
PepsiCo has appointed Kyle Faulconer as its new CEO for Australia and New Zealand, effective January.
A US native, Faulconer will relocate to Sydney to take up the role. He is currently VP and GM at PepsiCo's Frito-Lay snacks business and is responsible for leading what the company describes as the "strategic agenda" for Walmart, one of its largest global customers.
Danny Celoni, the current CEO of PepsiCo's Australia, NZ & South Pacific business, departs the company soon to head up Carlton & United Breweries.
Wern-Yuen Tan of PepsiCo says Faulconer will bring deep customer experience, a strong track record of driving long-term growth in competitive markets and a people-first leadership to the Australasian team.
The newcomer has been with the US-headquartered company for 14 years during which his roles have spanned field operations, strategic account leadership and direct-to-consumer sales strategy.
"I'm thrilled to join the world-class team and help the PepsiCo business continue to grow across Australia and New Zealand," he said.
"I look forward to creating new opportunities to accelerate our positive, purpose-led impact for our partners, customers and consumers."
Almost three in four people are drinking less alcohol in APAC: GlobalData
Couche-Tard CEO would love second shot at Carrefour deal
Q&A: Here's what I learnt from working at Coca-Cola
Robern Menz rebrands as it chases growth at home and abroad
AFGC demands consistent, nationwide rules on Covid close contacts
Funding & investment
My Foodie Box raises $6 million in IPO, plans expansion
JBS settles Rivalea deal for $175 million
PepsiCo Australia achieves 100 per cent renewable energy target
Irene Dong
Pepsi chief to take the helm of CUB
PepsiCo to reduce plastic use, launch plant-based snacks in green push
Siddharth Cavale
Pepsi virtual restaurant matches fizz with foods

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Education|Non-Profit
Horatio Alger Association
National Survey & News Conference Delivers 300 Million Media Impressions…in One Day
Tags: Media Events / Media Relations / Media Training
For eight consecutive years, Rosica organized and executed an annual news conference for the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans to announce its "State of Our Nation's Youth" survey. Held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Rosica handled all aspects of the news conference, which included coordinating the logistical details, training and rehearsing the participants, as well as conducting event publicity. The news conference was broadcast via a satellite feed to reach as many media outlets as possible.
Each year we secured tremendous coverage, including a Parade Magazine cover story, appearances on ABC's "Good Morning America," and CBS's "Early Show," plus hundreds of radio interviews and articles in major newspapers and newswire services. The Public Relations Society of America honored Rosica with a Pyramid Award for this highly successful campaign.
Open Up Resources
Education, Non-Profit
Easterseals New Jersey
B2B, Education
Sadlier
NJ Seeds
National Society of High School Scholars
Newark Trust for Education
Behrman House


Is it time to have a new door installed?
You're looking at your front door…. you have been experiencing things that makes you think it's time for a new one but you're really not sure. So how can you tell? Sometimes it's easy to know it's time to have a new door installed, other times, you may just think nothing of it. That is where this blog comes into play, if you can answer yes to one or more of the following questions, then it is time to have your door replaced.
Do you struggle to open and/or close your front door?
If you end up getting a work out from trying to open or close your door, it is time for a new door!
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Do your panes of glass get moisture between them?
It is true that nothing last forever and overtime your front door will start to show signs of it's age. If you have a door that has a double-paned windows and there is moisture buildup that starts happening, this is an indication that the seals around your windows have failed, and in return air is being let in and out of your house.
Now that you realized it is time to get a new door installed, you may be thinking you can just go ahead and do it yourself. That is not always the case, check out a past blog of ours sharing why it's important to have a professional handle your door installation.
Here at Window Mania, we can handle all of your door installation needs. We have helped many families throughout Allentown PA and Pottstown PA make sure their doors are installed properly. Should you need a new door installed or new windows, contact us today.
Window Mania is a full service window and door installer. We help many home owners with replacement windows, new windows installation, and door installation. We work with families and businesses in and around Collegeville, PA, Pottstown, PA, Exeter Township, PA, and Allentown, PA.


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CAAFlog » End o' Term Stats » 2010 Term Stats
End o' term stats Part VIII — voting blocs
By Dwight Sullivan, Monday, September 5, 2011
This is likely the last of the end o' term stats posts for the year.
For the fourth year in a row, we looked at which judges were most likely to vote for the same prevailing party as which other judges. The most likely pairings remained fairly consistent from last year with greater variability for the least likely pairings. This year's top three combinations were also last year's top three combinations, though the order within the top three changed. Over the past four years, the most persistent likely pairings have been Judge Erdmann & Judge Ryan and Chief Judge Effron & Judge Erdmann. Of course, Chief Judge Effron will retire from the court at the end of this month, so next year's results will look very different.
There were 17 non-unanimous decisions by CAAF. Six involved lone dissents — three by Chief Judge Effron and three by Judge Baker. Eleven decisions were 3-2. Here are the number of times in which the CAAF judges voted for the same prevailing part in non-unanimous cases. Previous years' rankings for that pairing follow in brackets:
1. Chief Judge Effron & Judge Erdmann (12/17) [3] [3] [3]
2. Judge Stucky & Judge Ryan (11/17) [1] [7] [5]
3. Judge Erdmann & Judge Ryan (9/17) [2] [2] [2]
4. [TIE] Judge Baker & Judge Stucky (8/17) [4] [4] [10]
Judge Erdmann & Judge Stucky (8/17) [7] [10] [7]
6. Judge Baker & Judge Ryan (7/17) [7] [8] [7]
7. Judge Baker & Judge Erdmann (6/17) [10] [8] [6]
8. Chief Judge Effron & Judge Ryan (5/17) [7] [4] [9]
9. [TIE] Chief Judge Effron & Judge Baker (4/17) [6] [1] [1]
Chief Judge Effron & Judge Stucky (4/17) [4] [4] [3]
End o' term stats Part VII — retained civilian counsel
By Dwight Sullivan, Sunday, September 4, 2011
Retained civilian defense counsel represented the appellant in 4 of the 46 cases producing opinions of the court during the 2010 term. The civilian defense counsel prevailed in 50%. In cases where the appellant was represented by a military or DOD civilian appellate defense counsel, the defense prevailed in 42.86%.
End o' term stats Part VI — the certified issue mixed bag
During the 2009 term, certified issue cases flowed in one predominant direction: reversal. During that term, CAAF reversed the CCA in 5 of the 6 certified issue cases. But during the just-completed 2010 Term, the record in certified issue cases was muddled.
During the 2010 term, CAAF decided 7 cases with certified issues. In one of those cases — Eslinger — the certification was in essence of cross-appeal seeking affirmance of ACCA's decision on a separate basis than that presented in the granted issue. CAAF affirmed ACCA in that case. In another case, Daly, CAAF didn't reach the certified issue because it ruled for the defense on a jurisdictional basis unrelated to the issue presented by the certfication. In one case, Hutchins, CAAF reversed NMCCA's outcome. In another NMCCA case, McMurrin, CAAF affirmed NMCCA, though NMCCA's opinion practically begged CAAF to reverse its ruling. In another case, Prince, CAAF summarily affirmed ACCA just 15 days after the oral argument. And in two cases, Rose and Humphries, CAAF summarily remanded the case to AFCCA due to what might fairly be characterized as a technical defect in the CCA's original opinion.
If there's any trend there, I'm missing it.
End o' term stats Part V — how did the CCAs fare?
The service with the most cases before CAAF during the 2010 term was the Air Force, with 19. Next was the Army, with 13. The Navy and Marine Corps had 12. The Coast Guard had one.
The overall reversal rate was 47.8%.
The Air Force Court was reversed in 8 of 19 cases for a 42% reversal rate.
ACCA was reversed in 7 of 14 cases for a 50% reversal rate.
NMCCA was reversed in 6 of 12 cases for a 50% reversal rate.
The Coast Guard Court was reversed in its only case for a 100% reversal rate.
End o' term stats Part IV — most likely dissenters
Which CAAF judges were the most likely to be in dissent? To quantify this, I looked at how often a judge wrote or joined an opinion identified as a "dissent." (This is a different measuring stick than I used in previous end o' term stats posts. For example, two judges may have joined in an opinion labeled as a "dissent" that resulted in a vote for the prevailing party. Such a case would be included as a dissent for purposes of this analysis, but would not have been included as a 3-2 vote, since the vote for the prevailing party was 5-0).
The judge most likely to be in dissent was Judge Baker with 10.
Number 2 was Judge Stucky with 9.
Number 3 was Judge Ryan with 7.
Number 4 was Chief Judge Effron with 6.
The judge least likely to be in dissent was Judge Erdmann with 4.
End o' term stats Part III — which party won?
CAAF issued 46 opinions of the court during its 2010 Term. The Government prevailed in 24 (52.2%) of those cases while the defense prevailed in 22 (47.8%).
Judge Baker was the most likely to vote for the Government, doing so in 33 of the 46 cases.
Judge Stucky was the next most likely to vote for the Government, doing so 30 times.
Judge Ryan was in middle, though closer to Judges Baker and Stucky than to Chief Judge Effron and Judge Erdmann. She voted for the Government 29 times.
Judge Erdmann was the fourth most likely to vote for the Government, doing so 22 times.
Chief Judge Effron was the lest likely to vote for the Government, doing so 20 times.
End o' term stats Part II — the 3-2 anomaly [clarified, I hope]
Last term, there were 10 3-2 opinions with the Government prevailing in 8. This year, counting by votes for prevailing party, there were 11 3-2 decisions with the defense prevailing in 9.
That turn-around is striking enough by itself. What is even more surprising is that while the defense prevailed in 9 out of 11 3-2 cases, three of CAAF's five judges (Judge Baker, Judge Stucky, and Judge Ryan) voted for the Government in more 3-2 cases than they voted for the defense.
Overall, counting all cases including 3-2 decisions, the Government prevailed in 26 cases while the defense prevailed in 22.
Returning to our focus on 3-2 cases, Judge Erdmann was the most likely to vote for the defense, doing so in all 11 3-2 splits. He was also the judge most likely to be on the winning side in 3-2 cases, prevailing in 9 of them.
Chief Judge Effron was the next most likely to vote for the defense in a 3-2 case, doing so in 10 of the 11 3-2 splits. (Fosler was the only 3-2 case in which Chief Judge Effron voted for the Government.) Not surprisingly, he was the next most likely to be in the majority in a 3-2 decision. He was in the majority in 8 of the 3-2 cases.
The remaining three judges all voted for the Government more often than for the defense in 3-2 cases.
Judge Ryan was the third most likely to vote with the defense in a 3-2 case, doing so 4 times. She was also the next most likely to be in the majority of a 3-2 decision. She was in the majority in 6 of the 11 3-2 cases.
Judges Baker and Stucky both voted for the defense in 3 of the 11 3-2 cases. And both of them were in the majority in 5 of the 11 3-2 cases.
The most likely combination of judges to form a 3-2 majority was a tie. Chief Judge Effron, Judge Erdmann and Judge Ryan did so 3 times. Chief Judge Effron, Judge Baker, and Judge Erdmann also did so 3 times.
The most likely combination of judges to be in dissent in a 3-2 case was also a tie. Judges Baker and Stucky joined in 3 dissents as did Judges Stucky and Ryan.
End o' term stats Part I — opinions per judge
By Dwight Sullivan, Saturday, September 3, 2011
This post will pick the lowest hanging of the end o' term fruit. More serious number crunching will come later in the weekend.
CAAF issued 46 opinions of the court during its 2010 term. Five of those were per curiam opinions, leaving 41 authored opinions to spread among the court's five judges. Just like last term, the authored opinions weren't evenly distributed.
Like last year, Judge Erdmann led the CAAF herd with 10 authored opinions. Last year, Judge Ryan was tied for second with Judge Stucky, each of whom authored 9 opinions of the court. Judge Ryan once again came in second this year with 9 authored opinions, but Judge Stucky dropped to a tie for fourth place with 7. Judge Baker took the bronze this year with 8 authored opinions, 2 more than last term. Last year, Chief Judge Effron authored the fewest opinions of the court. This term he authored two more than last term and tied for fourth with Judge Stucky, each with 7 opinions of the court this term.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
95NN04W1
Ballymote
Residential Population: 2,934 (mid-2013 estimate)
Males: 1,476
Females: 1,507
Occupied Households: 1,213
Population Density: 8.17 Persons per Hectare
Land Area: 359.00 Hectares
Daytime Population: 3,443
Crime in 95NN04W1
May 2019 24 2 0 0 12 1 9 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 54
Apr 2019 19 1 0 0 8 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 34
Mar 2019 15 2 0 0 11 3 5 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 41
Feb 2019 16 1 0 1 9 1 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 37
Jan 2019 16 0 0 0 22 0 7 5 5 0 0 2 0 0 57
Dec 2018 4 0 0 0 10 0 6 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 25
Nov 2018 10 1 0 1 7 0 12 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 36
Oct 2018 32 0 0 1 12 0 14 0 4 1 0 0 1 0 65
Sep 2018 21 1 1 1 11 0 15 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 54
Aug 2018 22 0 0 0 19 0 15 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 61
Jul 2018 44 0 0 1 7 1 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 60
Jun 2018 20 0 0 1 9 1 9 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 45
May 2018 14 1 0 1 8 0 6 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 33
Apr 2018 3 1 0 1 6 0 6 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 22
Mar 2018 22 2 0 1 8 0 13 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 52
Feb 2018 18 1 1 0 4 0 12 3 4 0 0 0 1 0 44
Dec 2017 25 0 0 1 8 0 6 1 6 0 0 0 3 3 53
Nov 2017 20 1 0 1 17 0 6 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 50
Aug 2017 23 1 1 1 13 0 7 5 2 0 0 0 0 1 54
Jul 2017 36 0 0 0 12 2 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 57
Jun 2017 23 1 0 0 11 1 7 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 49
May 2017 30 1 0 1 14 0 13 1 5 0 0 1 0 0 66
Apr 2017 28 3 0 1 16 1 22 6 6 0 0 2 1 0 86
Mar 2017 27 2 0 0 11 2 21 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 64
Jan 2017 22 1 0 0 7 1 13 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 52
Nov 2016 8 0 0 0 6 0 6 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 27
Oct 2016 26 0 0 0 8 0 15 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 55
Sep 2016 26 0 0 2 9 0 8 3 4 0 0 0 1 0 53
Jun 2016 30 0 0 0 6 0 14 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 54
May 2016 27 2 0 1 8 0 15 5 1 0 1 0 3 0 63
Apr 2016 12 1 0 0 9 0 13 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 41
Jan 2016 15 1 0 0 16 0 11 5 3 0 0 1 1 1 54
Dec 2015 14 0 0 0 12 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35
Aug 2015 22 2 1 1 9 0 12 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 49
Jun 2015 15 3 0 0 12 0 13 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 48
Mar 2015 18 0 1 0 7 0 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 36
Jan 2015 16 0 0 1 8 1 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 32
Nov 2014 14 4 0 3 13 0 10 2 3 0 0 1 0 2 52
Sep 2014 19 2 0 1 19 0 4 1 3 0 0 0 2 0 51
Jul 2014 10 1 0 3 14 0 10 0 2 0 0 0 3 1 44
May 2014 7 3 0 0 12 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1 32
Apr 2014 9 4 2 2 15 0 3 3 3 0 1 0 2 0 44
Feb 2014 12 1 0 1 19 0 5 5 4 0 0 1 4 2 54
Jan 2014 9 1 0 1 12 0 7 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 36
Oct 2013 15 1 0 0 12 1 7 2 7 0 0 0 2 0 47
Sep 2013 6 1 1 0 9 0 12 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 36
Aug 2013 9 1 0 0 13 0 6 5 2 0 0 0 1 0 37
Apr 2013 27 1 0 1 9 1 4 7 1 2 0 53
Mar 2013 12 1 0 2 4 0 5 2 5 0 1 32
Feb 2013 16 2 0 0 5 1 3 3 0 1 0 31
Jan 2013 13 3 0 3 18 0 18 6 1 3 0 65
Dec 2012 6 2 0 1 8 0 0 4 0 2 0 23
Nov 2012 6 3 0 2 9 0 4 3 4 4 0 35
Oct 2012 12 2 0 0 5 0 5 1 1 1 0 27
Sep 2012 17 5 0 1 7 0 8 3 4 2 0 47
Aug 2012 8 0 0 0 4 0 4 3 0 0 1 20
Jul 2012 17 3 0 0 7 0 3 1 0 0 1 32
Jun 2012 14 2 0 1 4 1 7 2 5 2 0 38
May 2012 24 2 0 0 3 0 10 1 1 2 0 43
Apr 2012 12 4 1 1 10 0 10 1 1 1 0 41
Mar 2012 14 5 0 2 12 0 11 3 1 0 1 49
Jan 2012 13 2 0 0 8 0 8 3 0 0 1 35
Nov 2011 14 3 0 0 9 0 8 6 2 1 0 43
Oct 2011 32 3 0 1 7 0 10 0 2 0 0 55
Aug 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jul 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jun 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
May 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Apr 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mar 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Feb 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jan 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dec 2010 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Crime Plus ASB Breakdown for 95NN04W1
Crime Type and ASB Charts for 95NN04W1


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The sinful greed of the rich: Bosch's painting of The Haywain
Written by Jenny Farrell
in Visual Arts
On the 500th anniversary of Luther's revolt, Jenny Farrell gives us a critical appreciation of Hieronymous Bosch's famous painting The Haywain, a coded criticism of the ruthless extortion by the ruling religious and secular elites in mediaeval society.
Hieronymus Bosch, the famous Dutch Renaissance painter, died in 1516. A year later, on 31 October 1517, 500 years ago this month, Martin Luther made public his 95 Theses against the widespread practice of selling indulgences, clerical corruption. He attacked the Church's claim to be the sole interpreter of the word and intentions of God and defended ordinary human entitlement to God's grace without Church involvement.
The Roman Church was the greatest landowner and represented the central force of European feudalism. Its increasing greed, the ruthless extortion of everybody including the poor, caused discontent. The sale of indulgences, claiming to ensure clear passage to heaven, were used to finance the upper clergy's affluent lifestyle and ever more splendid Church buildings. Such plundering deprived all territories of their financial resources and became an obstacle to early capitalist development.
It is in this context that Bosch's painting must be understood. One of his very famous pieces is a triptych entitled The Haywain. In it Bosch breaks the conventions of the religious triptych at the time. A triptych comes in three parts, with a main, large picture in the middle, in those days usually with a religious scene, flanked on either side by smaller panels depicting more pious images. When the two side panels were closed over, this front usually displayed yet another religious picture.
In The Haywain, Bosch goes with convention in depicting the Garden Eden on the left hand panel, illustrating the fall of angels from heaven and their changing into insect-like demons, the creation of Eve from Adam, her temptation by the snake and Adam and Eve's rejection from Eden. In Bosch's painting, however, Adam seems to challenge the Angel over their dismissal. The centre image is very unconventional indeed, as it is dominated by an enormous Haywain.
There are different theories concerning the symbolism of the hay. In the context of the painting, I think it represents money: The mountain of hay on the cart is too even and smooth to be 'real' hay -compare it to the real hay in the foreground of the picture, where mendicant nuns stuff a sack with hay for the gluttonous monk. Also, there is a German saying for the very rich, that they have money like hay.
Behind this high, laden cart follow leaders of Church and State. They have stacked the cart with the hay (monies) from high taxes and indulgences. It is pulled towards hell by demons, who physically move from the main 'earth' panel into the right-hand 'hell' panel: it is an uninterrupted image – the 'walls' between earth and hell are not fast. We know the cart is pulled by demons as they are creatures that are half animal and half people, it is the way Bosch painted demons.
Over the middle 'earth' section we can spot a rather helpless looking Christ, displaying his wounds, looking down on a sinful population, who do not look up to him. All kinds of folk, including monks, women and men, old and young, also suggestions of non-Europeans (see the turbans) are all clamouring to get what they can from the load with their hay forks from all sides. Some kill and deceive. Others get caught under and crushed by the cart wheels.
This image of greed and sin is continued in the foreground of the main middle section. One man may be a kidnapper, a quack pulling teeth has 'hay' in his purse and a nun offers more hay to a bagpipe player, dressed in a blue garment, echoing the demon atop the hay cart. Bagpipes alluded to promiscuity in Bosch's day as did the jug tied to the pole.
Only on top of the hay are some lovers, the only people not engaged in sinful behaviour, albeit depicted ironically with a demon and a voyeur on either side of them - only one lost angel looks up at Christ.
Echoing the division into three of the triptych, there are three horizontal levels, with the unobserved Christ at the top, the hay cart, pulled into hell by the demons in the centre and then smaller scenes in the forefront of further impious activity. The demons pulling the cart into hell, are accompanied by more symbols of sin, but these double as indications of violence and war: the carrying of pikes, bodies pierced by arrows, a severed, blindfolded head.
My suggestion that the hay probably represents money is underlined by the fact that there is something constructive going on in hell: the building of a tower – most probably an allusion to St Angelo's Castle, which was being built in Rome at the time, paid for by the indulgence monies extracted from people across Europe. The torched city in the background would have been a familiar sight in the Netherlands of the day, as wars were an ever present reality, including the hanged man amid the blaze and a sliced open, disembowelled body on a pike in the foreground.
Is Bosch cynical of humanity? The panels of the Haywain triptych could lead the viewer to a degree of dismay regarding life and the predominance of greedy and sinful behaviour. However, when the triptych is closed, we do not see the expected religious scene, but the depiction of a wayfarer. Images behind him illustrate his perilous life: his path has taken him past the gallows, a bagpipe player, a woman, outlaws and now threatened by a dog with a spiky collar and images of death and decay. There is no allusion to Christ or heaven here, nor is there to hell. This picture presents the hapless life of the dispossessed in the world that unfolds when the panels are open.
Bosch's date of birth is presumed to be around 1450. He was born into a family of painters called van Aken, after the German town of Aachen. Bosch in all likelihood attended the same school as Erasmus of Rotterdam, the famous humanist scholar of European standing. Both Dutchmen employed irony when commenting on the Renaissance society of their day.
Perhaps it is a sign of Bosch's attitude to the hegemony of German Kaiser Maximilian that he changed this name to that of his Dutch hometown, 's-hertogenbosch, or as the Dutch call it, den Bosch, the (pine) Forest.
Bosch's paintings are intriguing and partly obscure at the same time. Many symbols, easily understood in his day, have now become less readable. Nevertheless, we can still look at Bosch's paintings today, enjoy them and understand his overall meaning, reflecting the time just before one of the greatest upheavals in European history, the Reformation and the event this inspired – the Peasant War in Germany.
Hieronymous Bosch The Haywain Luther
Read 2215 times Last modified on Thursday, 19 October 2017 19:06
Jenny Farrell
Jenny Farrell was born in Berlin. She has lived in Ireland since 1985, working as a lecturer in Galway Mayo Institute of Technology. Her main fields of interest are Irish and English poetry and the work of William Shakespeare.
Latest from Jenny Farrell
Anti-war and anti-fascist German art: Otto Dix and George Grosz
Gustave Courbet: the working class becomes the subject of art
Happy 100th birthday, Pete Seeger
Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa and the dialectics of nature
A vision of the world to come: Liam O'Flaherty's 'Hollywood Cemetery'
previous Never again war: the life and work of Käthe Kollwitz
next Alfredo Jaar's Garden of Good and Evil
Displaying items by tag: constructivism


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Suitable to shred Confidential and Top Secret documents. Approved by many International Governments and Military Bodies, it's also being used by the National Security Agency, the US Department of States and the CIA. A special cutting system can shred an A4 sheet in about 20.000 microchips which become absolutely unreadable even if special electronic devices are used. 22-gallon high quality steel cabinet holds high volume of shredded material: 6.000 sheets in High Security cut. Carbon hardened cutting knives. Motor thermal protection. 24 hour continuous duty motor: no duty cycle or timed cool down period.


Where to Find a Villa in Amalfi Coast?
Explore these regions of Amalfi Coast using the map or links below.
If the Amalfi Coast is the destination of your next vacation, you need to consider renting a villa. Amalfi Coast villas offer comfort, luxury and serenity that no other vacation rental option can offer. Your Amalfi Coast villa rental options are also expansive. From villas with pools to vacation rentals with personal chefs, you can find the villa amenities that will match your vacation needs. Still not convinced? Then just browse through our available Amalfi Coast villas for rent. You'll find a villa that no other vacation rental site can beat.
Part of the Campania region, the Amalfi Coast stretches from Salerno to Sorrento. The seaside towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello lie nestled in its craggy coastal landscape. Capri and Ischia, legendary island playgrounds of the rich and famous, offer no end of glittering bays and white sand beaches. While the sun and sea of places like the Villa Capri are sure to captivate, the Amalfi Coast also offers interesting antiquity to those who wish to venture inland, such as the Roman ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii at the base of Vesuvius, and further south, the Greek temples of Paestum. During your stay in one of our luxury Italian villa rentals you'll discover the cuisine of the Amalfi Coast which highlights all types of seafood and locally grown produce such as lemons, tomatoes, and peppers. While enjoying our private villas in the coastal towns of Positano and Amalfi you'll always find insalata caprese, a delicious salad of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. Campania's other specialty is limoncello, a delicate, lemon-infused digestivo that is served ice cold. Throughout the region you'll find an impressive number of excellent eateries, from casual, down-home trattorie to upscale restaurants.
Cascading down the hillside to the Mediterranean in a vertical tumble of white-washed stone, fashionable Positano is a wonder to behold. The view of this beautiful townscape is literally the main attraction. Ancient, winding alleys are festooned with bright boungavillea and steep stairs ascend and descend literally everywhere. Visitors, take note: Good walking shoes and stamina are a requirement!
A visit to Santa Maria Assunta, arguably southern Italy's most famous church with its majolica-tiled dome.
Casual summer lunch at Da Adolfo on Laurito Beach.
An afternoon at Spiaggia del Fornillo, a out-of-the-way gem on the west end of town.
Sunset drinks at the Champagne & Oyster Bar at Le Sirenuse, one of Positano's oldest and most legendary hotels.
Known as the legendary Land of Sirens, Massa Lubrense has been bewitching visitors since ancient times. Situated at the very tip of the Sorrento Peninsula, the town overlooks beautiful Ieranto Bay. There is a small historic center and a vast network of paths and mule tracks that connect the town's 17 frazioni, or hamlets. This is a hiker's paradise with over 100 km of signed trails, so bring your walking shoes! Sorrento is just 3 miles away.
Crappolla Fjord in the Punta Campanella Nature Reserve. Enjoy views of the Li Galli islets while you hike, and then a swim in crystal-clear water.
A day trip to Capri. At just 3 nautical miles from the mainland, it's easy to take a ferry from nearby Sorrento or book a private charter from one of the local harbors.
A farm-to-table experience at La Masseria Farm, where you can taste lemons, olive oil and wine and enjoy lunch or dinner.
A sunset limoncello spritz at Angelo's Bar, a family-owned and operated eatery right on the harbor.
The largest frazione, or hamlet, of Massa Lubrense, Sant'Agata sits atop the crest of the Sorrento Peninsula between the gulfs of Naples and Sorrento. This lovely village in the hills is actually walkable to Sorrento (via a healthy number of steps!) and trails lead off in all directions. Known as a foodie haven, Sant'Agata is home to an impressive selection of restaurants, from humble to Michelin-starred.
A walk up to Monastero di San Paolo (10 minutes above town), which offers some of the best views of Sorrento and Vesuvius.
Dinner at Don Alfonso 1890 (located on the main square), one of Italy's most famous restaurants. Note: Lo Stuzzichino, located next door, is more budget-friendly and equally good!
Edible souvenirs, such as the areas "Sant'Anna" tomatos, "femminiello ovale" lemons, or Monte Lattari cheese. You won't find these anywhere else!
A hike to Torca, and from there on to the Crappolla Fjord, a beautiful beach. Don't miss the Chapel of San Pietro, which according to legend was built on the remains of a pagan temple dedicated to Apollo.
Just east of Positano lies its laid-back neighbor Praiano. The hub of this small, authentic fishing village is bustling Bar del Sole. The main beach is La Gavitella and there's also smaller, more picturesque Marina di Praia (known as La Praia to locals) wedged into the cliffs. Visitors to Praiano should be ready for a relaxed vibe and LOTS of steps! Walking shoes and beach shoes (for the pebbly beaches) are highly recommended. Convenient public transportation to both Positano and Amalfi make Praiano a convenient home base for exploration.
A boat ride to Amalfi. The views of waterfront villas, sea caves and hidden grottos is spectacular.
Sunset craft cocktails (with homegrown herbs!) and the best view of Positano at hidden, intimate Café Mirante.
A visit to the bohemian enclave of Furore and the postage-stamp sized beach that lies at the mouth of the Vallone di Furore Gorge. If you've ogled Amalfi Coast photos on Instagram and Pinterest… you've seen this gorgeous spot!
A walk to Torre di Grado, an ancient Saracen watchtower. It's 500 steps down from the main road… but the views are well-worth the effort on the return trip.
Western gateway to the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento rises steeply above the sea on one of the most spectacular points of the Campanian coast. From here it's a straight shot to Pompeii (by train), or Naples and Capri (high speed ferry). Due to its enchanting position and mild climate, Sorrento has been a favorite resort since Romans times, drawing heavyweights the likes of Agrippa, Augustus, and Antonius. Although it's a popular tourist destination in summer, Sorrento is a lively city year round, making it an ideal home base for excursions throughout Campania in the off season.
Piazza Tasso, the city's heart and soul and an epic spot for people watching. Meander the historic center's narrow lanes lined with artisan workshops specializing in inlaid wood, leather goods and limoncello.
A taste of gnocchi all sorrentina—a local specialty made with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella and basil.
A day trip to Pompeii or Herculaneum via the Circumvesuviana rail line; it's a 20-minute trip. We recommend hiring a guide once you're there, or renting an audio tour device. There's a lot to see!
A seafood lunch or dinner on Marina Grande. You'll find a great selection of humble family-owned restaurants and the view of the waterfront is just beautiful.
Surrounded by dramatic cliffs, the town of Amalfi lies on the sea at the mouth of the Valle dei Mulini, a deep gorge. The town's picturesque white houses cascade down the hillside and are connected by alleys festooned with bougainvillea and steep stairways. At the center of town lies iconic Chiesa di S. Andrea, with its sweeping 60-step staircase and Arab-Norman bell tower. Piazza del Duomo is the town's hub, dotted with sidewalk cafés and elegant shops. A maritime republic the likes of Pisa, Venice and Genoa since the 9th century, Amalfi remains a busy hub, plying regular routes to Capri, Sorrento and Naples. At 40 minutes from Sorrento and 40 minutes from Salerno, this area works well as a central base for day trips to the east or west.
Museo della Carta—an Amalfi institution devoted to handmade paper, for which the town is famous.
Local lemons—whether it's in a glass of artisan limoncello, a pastry, or fresh pasta. In Amalfi, lemons are everywhere!
Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto), located on the bay in nearby Conca dei Marini. It's a remarkable sea cave; visit in the early afternoon for the best possible light. Boats depart from Amalfi.
A walk to the charming village of Atrani.
Located three miles above Amalfi up a winding mountain road, Ravello has long been a magnet. Richard Wagner, Greta Garbo, Gore Vidal, D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf all were drawn to this mountaintop perch to relax, escape and create. Ravello is known for its magnificent sea views, beautiful villas (Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo) and annual summer music and arts festival. There is a pretty main piazza surrounded by outdoor cafés—a perfect spot to wile away your vacation hours.
Charming Ravello apartment, within walking distance to restaurants and shops, offers incredible views of Amalfi coast.
The main beach and port just below the hamlet of Nerano, Marina del Cantone offers something for all types of travelers. Those up for adventure can rent kayaks, charter a private boat for the day, or hike to secluded Recommone Beach, with its white pebbles, sea caves, and secluded restaurant. Lounging under an umbrella more your speed? Marina del Cantone is a full-service establishment, with a selection of beach clubs (L'Africano is a favorite) where you can rent chairs, umbrellas, and purchase beverages and food. Trattorie and cafè/bars line the beach. You will not go hungry!
From Minori, the S.S.163 leads straight to the fishing village of Maiori, once a popular summer playground of the ancient Romans. It's here on the southern end of the costiera that you'll find Spiaggia di Maiori, the largest beach on the Amalfi Coast. Nearby Erchie, a hamlet of Maiori, also has a lovely beach (a UNESCO World Heritage site) flanked by ancient towers. Above Maiori lies the Castello di San Nicola de Thoro-Plano, a Norman fortification. It's accessible on foot and offers beautiful views; steps wind up through neighborhoods and lemon groves.
Meandering the Sentiero dei Limoni (Lemon Trail), arguably the coast's most picturesque walk (45 minutes) that connects Maiori and Minori through lemon groves.
Exploring the Capo d'Orso Promontory, a nature park where the mountains meet the sea. Tip: Hike the trail up to the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Avvocata, a chapel built in 1485 and still only accessible on foot.
Tasting eggplant with chocolate, an unlikely pairing traditionally prepared on August 15th, to celebrate Ferragosto.
Walking to the Abbey of Santa Maria d'Olearia, an ancient monastery built into natural rock. The frescoes are still incredibly vivid!
Known for its underwater caves, pretty historic center and portside seafood restaurants, Nerano is a relaxed fishing village. This is the perfect place to hire a private boat for a day of exploration along the coast, or simply enjoy lunch and a swim at Marina del Cantone, the main beach.
Hike to Recommone Beach, known for its white pebbles or, for more serious hikers, the Bay of Ieranto, which is environmentally protected.
Try spaghetti alla nerano, a legendary dish made with zucchini, caciocavallo cheese and basil. For the original recipe, go to Ristorante Maria Grazia in Marina del Cantone!
The beautiful view, friendly service, and delicious food at Ristorante Le Sirene, located right on Marina del Cantone beach.
At 4 kilometers from Sorrento, quiet Sant'Agnello offers a taste of slow-paced life on the peninsula. There is regular train service (5 minutes) into Sorrento when you're craving some hustle and bustle and even Napoli (one hour by train) is a manageable day's trip. Ancient ruins are literally at your fingertips, with Pompeii (30 minutes) and Herculaneum (40 minutes) just short trips away.
Dinner at Salumeria/Gastronomia Masaniello, a foodie haven. Call ahead to nab one of the few tables. The owner, Nello, and his wife do all the cooking.
Visit the ruins of Pompeii and then take a bus to the summit of Vesuvius. Thanks to the convenient Circumvesuviana rail line, it's an easy day trip.
An Italian-style beach day: Rent chairs and an umbrella at La Marinella, the local stabilimento balneare. Snack bars and restaurants abound.
George Vallets Archaeological Museum in neighboring Piano di Sorrento. Housed in the beautiful Villa Fondi di Sangro, the museum features artifacts from prehistoric through Roman times.
A short drive from Amalfi, Atrani is a tiny, quiet fishing village sandwiched between cliffs. It has a charming main square, Piazza Umberto, and narrow, winding streets. Atrani Beach, with its soft, black sand, lies beneath town. The pretty bay is sheltered by the town and the cliffs, making it stunningly picturesque. Santa Maria Maddalena and its iconic bell tower dominate the townscape, whether you approach by road or sea. Amalfi is a short walk away and even Ravello, which lies directly above it in the hills, is accessible on foot.
The climb to Ravello. Stairs lead up from Atrani and the walk, although strenuous, offers fantastic views. Lunch in Ravello is the perfect pay-off and you can catch a bus back down to Amalfi if you'd rather spare your knees the descent.
Relaxing with a cold drink on Piazzetta Umberto in Atrani, a hidden gem frequented by locals—not tourists.
A visit to Santa Maria Maddalena. The Baroque facade and interiors are a riot of color and the panoramic setting is post card-perfect!
The climb to Santuario Santa Maria del Bando, a small medieval church perched at the base of the mountains. Lots of stairs… but incredible views!
Elegant, exclusive Capri is known for its craggy limestone cliffs, dramatic caves, and surrounding reefs. It is particularly famous for the Blue Grotto, a cave in which the water glows a luminescent blue. The island's main towns are Capri and Anacapri. Inhabited since the Paleolithic age when it was still connected to the mainland, Capri was later inhabited by Greeks, and then Romans. A cosmopolitan colony, writers, painters, expatriates, and movie stars have flocked here for the last 200 years. With its magnificent scenery, mild climate, and rich vegetation, Capri is truly a paradise.
Villa Jovis, formerly the pleasure palace of Emperor Tiberius. Excavated in 1827, a large percentage of the Roman villa remains. The view is spectacular.
Fresh mozzarella, showcased in the island's signature insalata caprese.
A swim at the base of the Faraglioni; spend an entire afternoon eating, drinking and lounging at La Fontelina.
Cocktails on La Piazzetta, the island's main piazza and best location for people watching. We suggest between 7:00 and 9:00 PM, once day trippers have departed.
The largest island in the Bay of Naples, Ischia was an active volcano until 1301. The so-called "Green Island" is renowned for its thermal springs. It boasts an array of hotels and spas where you can take the waters, which attract an international crowd from March through November. The island is divided into six communes: Ischia, Casamicciola Terme, Laco Ameno, Forio, Serrara Fontana, and Barano. Ischia is the most important of the six, as it's home to a bustling harbor and ancient fishing village called Ischia Ponte. Enjoy our private vacation villas in Forio which boasts nature preserves and is the island's largest wine growing zone. The beaches and thermal pools at Citara and Cava dell'Isola are famous and accessible from our luxury Italian villas on the island. The site of a major earthquake in 1883, Casamicciola Terme has some of the island's purest springs. There are also pine forests and hiking trails leading to Mount Epomeo. In addition to its thermal baths, Laco Ameno is historically significant for its ancient past: the remains of Greek civilization were found here, dating back to 757 BC. Located in the island's interior, Serrara Fontana and Barano are mountainous districts that offer quaint villages and excellent hiking opportunities.
Just a 15-minute drive from busy Sorrento (7 km), Piano di Sorrento is its quieter, calmer sister town—with no shortage of tree-lined piazzas and charming bars for an afternoon espresso. What's more, staying here gets you the same convenient access to Capri, Pompeii and Vesuvius. The nearest beach is in Marina di Cassano, an ancient fishing hamlet. There's a small port and several cafés and restaurants, along with various bathing establishments and a section of free beach.
A cappuccino on Piazza Cota, the town's hub followed by a stroll down Corso Italia, the main commercial street.
Villa Fondi and its beautiful public gardens, located on a cliff overlooking the gulf.
A walk in the hills above the hamlet of Colli di San Pietro (located above Piano di Sorrento). The orange and lemon groves and Mediterranean scrub are incredibly fragrant.
Basilica di St. Michele Arcangelo, built on the ruins of a pagan temple.
The Amalfi Coast's oldest comune, or municipality, Scala is located 400 meters above sea level in the hills across from Ravello. There are six distinct hamlets, including Santa Caterina, Campoleone, Campidoglio, Scala, Minuta and Pontone. Almost all are connected by a main road that is pedestrian-friendly and although all very different, they share spectacular views of the coastline. Scala itself is quiet and distinctly medieval in feel, with a handful of shops, restaurants and cafes—plus a bus stop to Ravello (10 minute ride). Hiking in the surrounding hills you'll spot some of the ancient walls that once protected the town and nearby Amalfi, located further down the valley on the sea.
Duomo di San Lorenzo, the town's 12th century church. The bell tower dominates the main piazza.
The hamlet of Minuta. This tiny village sits on a promontory between the valleys that lead down to Atrani and Amalfi. The view from the main piazza is spectacular.
The hamlet of Campidoglio. Stop at one of the many benches that line the road and drink in the view of Ravello and the Bay of Salerno.


Background: From November 2015 to January 2016, the routine air monitoring showed a peak of air pollution (in particular of PM10) that caused alarm in many Italian cities and was widely reported by mass media. After some weeks from this alarm, we tried to evaluate the citizen awareness and interest towards air pollution together with their positive behaviors, using different information sources.
Methods: From September 2015 to March 2016, in parallel with the number of exceedances of the PM10 in Italy we evaluated the press coverage, the average monthly searches on Google and the interest on Twitter. Moreover, a qualitative content analysis on daily newspapers was conducted and a self-compiled questionnaire on the attitudes and behaviors about environmental issues and their determinants was administered to 598 parents involved in the project MAPEC_LIFE (LIFE12 ENV/IT/00614).
Results: The media coverage of the theme of air pollution was very high from the end of 2015 to the beginning of 2016, as well as internet searches and twitter messages. Our qualitative analysis highlighted that only a small portion of articles included information about positive behaviors and environmental awareness. Despite the high media coverage and the satisfactory self-perceived knowledge, the majority of respondents judged negatively the received information (as untrue and incomplete) and declared a limited adoption of pro-environmental behaviors.
Conclusion: The parallel study of mass media information and people's attitudes and behaviors seem to indicate that the high media coverage was not followed by a very high motivation towards pro-environmental behaviors.


text:
The First Comic-Con
By Angela Carone, Maureen Cavanaugh
This week, Comic-Con International, the largest comics and pop culture convention in the world, begins at the San Diego Convention Center. Back in the early 70s, Comic-Con was a much more focused and intimate affair, started by San Diegans who love comic books and science fiction. We'll talk with three of the original founders of Comic-Con.
MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): I'm Maureen Cavanaugh, and you're listening to These Days in San Diego. Huge sci-fi posters drape downtown buildings, the streets are filled with people in costume and celebrities are arriving. There is no doubt that Comic-Con 2010 is underway in San Diego. But this massive convention did not spring fully-formed into the cultural universe. It had to created and nurtured and, at times, trained to behave. Joining me are two of the original founders of San Diego's Comic Convention, Mike Towry and Richard Alf. Mike and Richard, welcome to These Days.
MIKE TOWRY (Co-Founder, Comic-Con): Oh, thanks.
RICHARD ALF (Co-Founder, Comic-Con): Thank you very much.
CAVANAUGH: Now take us back to those early days. I'm going to start with you, Richard. How did the idea for a comic book convention come about?
ALF: Well, actually it wasn't my idea. It was the idea of a man named Sheldon L. Dorf. He was an east coast resident who happened to be here in the summer of 1969 because he helped his parents move here from Detroit. He was running short of money at the time and I was a mail order dealer, buying and selling comic books, and he got ahold of me and told me that he'd like to sell me some comic books and could I come and take a look at them. And it was during that initial visit that he talked to me about how when he was living on the east coast he'd been involved in these comic book conventions, wondered if we had anything like that going out here. I told him we did not. He wondered if there were any clubs in town that dealt with comic books. I told him I didn't know of any. He asked if there were any stores in town that sold…
CAVANAUGH: Uh-huh.
ALF: …used comic books. I could only tell him of one, Lanning's Bookstore down on Broadway, which had coverless comics for sale. And so at that point he said, boy, he says, you know, I would really like to start another comic book convention and he says I'd like to do it here in San Diego. But, he says, I don't know anybody, I'm just out here living with my – staying with my family right now and I don't have a car.
CAVANAUGH: Right.
ALF: But, he says, I was wondering, you seem like a pleasant young man, a businessman, you've got a car, you've got some income coming in, you've got some ambition, would you be willing to help me do this? And I told him, you know, sure, I'd take a look at it. I mean, I already had a lot of things going. I was a high school student, I had my own mail order business, I had a lot of family here. I mean, my life wasn't dull but I said, sure, you know, I'll…
CAVANAUGH: I'll give it a try.
ALF: I – I'll give it a try. And the first thing I did is I called a couple of close friends of mine who were also comic book collectors, Mike Towry, who's with us today…
ALF: It's kind of funny to think that at the time Mike was 14, I was 17. Another good friend of ours, Bob Sourk was 16. And I called them up and I said, hey, I met this guy from – he's out here from Detroit, he's 35 years old and he says he's an expert at doing comic book conventions and he wants to know if we'd like to work with him to do one here in San Diego? I said what do you think?
CAVANAUGH: And, Mike, what did you say?
TOWRY: Oh, well, we said, sure, we'd go talk to him. It was – I mean, that was the era of the generation gap and he was actually like twice as old as any of the rest of us.
CAVANAUGH: Sure, yeah.
TOWRY: The youngest of us was 12, actually, and as Richard mentioned, he was the elder statesman at 17 and then Shel was about twice our age. So, you know, we had to kind of like come to understand what we were talking about and – but it – We were interviewed last year by Pete Rowe, a reporter for the Union-Tribune…
TOWRY: …and we just told him, when I told him that, well, it was five of us kids, you know, and then Shel and he said, well, what made you think a bunch of kids could put on something like that?
CAVANAUGH: Umm-hmm.
TOWRY: And I hadn't really thought of that before because we didn't doubt ourselves in those days and Shel was put a – you know, we had a lot of confidence after speaking with Shel and, you know, he knew what he was doing. And then what really sealed it for us was one day after we'd shortly met Shel we were over at his parents' apartment in Clairemont where they'd retired to and Shel was staying, and he said, well, boys, you know, how many of you are familiar with Jack Kirby? Well, Jack Kirby was known as Jack "King" Kirby to us, the king of comic creators. He…
CAVANAUGH: Right, a great comic book artist.
TOWRY: …co-created Captain America…
CAVANAUGH: Right. Right.
TOWRY: …the Fantastic Four, so many of these great characters and so we all, you know, put our hands up and said, sure, we all know, you know, the King.
TOWRY: And so then – and then Shel said, well, how many of you have ever spoken to him. And all our hands went down because we didn't even know you could speak to these people. They were like on Olympus, some sort of remote godlike figures and – and so then Shel like kind of dropped the bomb and said, well, would you like me to call him now and let you speak to him? And it turned out that Jack had just moved out from New York and he was living up in Irvine and Shel had visited him. So we all got on the phone and he passed the phone around to us and we, you know, shyly, hesitantly, spoke to him and, oh, Mr. Kirby, you know…
CAVANAUGH: Yeah.
TOWRY: …I love your stuff and meeting – But, you know, and then after that Shel arranged for a trip for us to visit Jack and, you know…
CAVANAUGH: So this is all in the process leading up to the very first Comic-Con.
TOWRY: Right.
CAVANAUGH: Now it wasn't even called Comic-Con. Let me invite our listeners to join the conversation because we would really love to hear from all the Comic-Con alumni. When did you first go to Comic-Con? What is your favorite Comic-Con memory? You can join us with your questions and your comments. The phone number is 1-888-895-5727, that's 1-888-895-KPBS. And my guests are Mike Towry and Richard Alf, two of the original founders of San Diego's Comic-Con. Now it wasn't called Comic-Con back then. Richard, what was it called?
ALF: Well, we actually called it San Diego's Golden State Comic Con, and the reason we did that is that in 1969 San Diego was not very well known.
CAVANAUGH: So the Golden State, it's in California, right?
ALF: Right. So we felt that because the majority of the industry was on the east coast, the largest comic con in the country at that time was in New York, probably one of the second largest was in Detroit. Los Angeles, for whatever reason, and San Francisco, there was really not much of anything going on down – out here in California at all. And then suddenly here we are at the very bottom of the state, one of the smallest cities at the time, and we're saying, well, we're going to put on another national comic book convention. So we felt that one of our first tasks was to let people know that, hey, we're on the west coast and not the east coast. So we originally called it San Diego's Golden State Comic Con and I actually have a flyer here of the first convention we did and it shows a map of California on it, and this little dot here down in the lower corner is…
ALF/CAVANAUGH: …San Diego.
ALF: So, again, just to emphasize that, hey, we're right here, right just above Mexico, just south of Los Angeles, you know.
CAVANAUGH: Tell us about the very first gathering, Mike.
TOWRY: Well, the very first gathering was actually a mini-con. It was in March of 1970 and it was in the basement at the U.S. Grant Hotel. And we got the Convention and Visitors Bureau of San Diego, they were helpful. And Shel had gone to see them and put us in contact with the U.S. Grant and they arranged a deal to where they'd let us use their basement for the first mini-con if we'd have the three-day con there in August. And I remember going in and they – the manager of it kind of looked at us, I think, like a little slightly lower form of life, these kids, these comic fans and…
CAVANAUGH: How many people attended?
TOWRY: The first con was probably – it – Numbers vary but it wasn't any more than about 100 at most and, of course, now you have more than that in any line at Comic-Con.
CAVANAUGH: Oh, in any line at any time. I'm wondering, though, back in those days, did you think 100, was that a success for you?
ALF: Oh, absolutely.
TOWRY: Yeah, it was.
ALF: I mean, personally, in our entire universe within San Diego, we maybe knew five people that collected comic books. In fact, one of the things that we did, and a lot of people don't realize this, is that even though Shel and the five of us started a comic book club, we very early realized that there weren't enough comic book people in town to make this thing work right away and so we went out and we met science fiction people and we met film people and so the first convention was actually composed of those three different groups, the comic book people, the science fiction people and the film people. And even with all that going for us, we only pulled 100, but when you're starting from zero…
ALF: …a hundred's 100%.
CAVANAUGH: But that kind of diversity, that all-inclusiveness that you just talked about, the movie people, the sci-fi people, and the comic book people, that's remained a staple of the Comic-Con all through the years.
TOWRY: Right, and that was following, really, the template that was sort of set down by the convention that Shel did in Detroit, the Triple Fanfare, which was sort of the first what you might call multi-media popularized convention, which combined the science fiction, comics and film, though we were comic fans that started it which is why it's called Comic-Con but following that same model, we included films and science fiction from the beginning.
CAVANAUGH: Right. We are taking your calls at 1-888-895-5727 about your Comic-Con memories. And John is on the line from Normal Heights. Good morning, John. Welcome to These Days.
JOHN (Caller, Normal Heights): Hey, good morning. Thanks, you guys, for starting this great event. It's really an awesome event. And I grew up in the seventies like you, reading comic books and enjoying all of the great things we had. My favorite memory – I moved to San Diego 25 years ago and started going to Comic-Con probably not long after that. I don't remember exactly. It wasn't when I first got here because I was in the Navy. But my ultimate, favorite memory at Comic-Con was meeting the great artist Jim Mooney and being able to conduct an interview with him for the paper I write for, the Irish Herald. And he was such a gracious, wonderful man and he is the artist of "Supergirl" from the sixties. He did "Batman and Robin" and many different – "Spiderman." He created "Omega: The Unknown." He did Marvel – Miss Marvel. Just a great artist, a wonderful man, and he died a couple years ago and he's greatly missed and his art was just a great influence to many of us today.
CAVANAUGH: John, thank you so much for the call. Thanks for sharing that memory. We are taking your Comic-Con memories at 1-888-895-5727. Now from what I understand, Mike, the Comic-Con grew out of the U.S. Grant Hotel and went into a number of different locations around San Diego, is that right?
TOWRY: Right. Well, the second year, Richard was chairman of it, and he was a student at UCSD…
TOWRY: …and so he was able to arrange for the convention to actually be held during the summer on the UCSD campus and the empty dorm rooms we got to use at very low cost rooms. And of course comic fans, we never had any money and any money we did have was for buying comics, so it was a big draw for people that year to be able to have these cheap rooms and come and stay out there, and so the attendance went from 300 up to 800 that year.
CAVANAUGH: But, Richard, I hear that you were not asked back.
ALF: Well, that is true. I – You know, it was an unfortunate situation that we became too successful too quickly in some ways. Our first 3-day convention in 1970, we had 300 people, that was an increase from 100 at our one-day convention. We estimate 600 maybe tops at UCSD and they just kept coming.
ALF: And before we knew it we were over 800 and the university didn't plan for that many, we didn't plan for that many. And although we were able to get everybody in there, it created a little bit of a crowding situation, it ran 24 hours a day for three days and, unfortunately, they had booked us in with other study groups. There was a Montessori study group there, there were some other study groups there in the same dorms with us, and they'd interspersed us on different floors. And so it was just a matter of people couldn't get to sleep at night because there were – this constant activity going 24 hours a day.
CAVANAUGH: These crazy comic book guys running up and down the hall.
ALF: They just don't sleep. You know, and, you know, it's amazing. When you go to one of these things, you think, oh, I'm just going to come down here for the day. And if you start meeting people, you start making new friends, you start running into programs you enjoy and start hearing about future episodes that you wouldn't normally hear about and you suddenly forget what time it is.
ALF: All you want to do is keep going to these things. And somebody says, hey, there's an after party over here and there's a special guest here, and before you know it you're running 24 hours a day. It just happens.
CAVANAUGH: Well, Mike, I hear that in the early days of Comic-Con there were a lot more pranks going on. Maybe the attendance age was younger. There were instances of heavy partying. Do you remember any of that?
TOWRY: Well, sure. It's – Comic-Con actually, in the first several years, was really largely put on by kids, teenagers, pre-teens, some people in their early twenties. And at the El Cortez Hotel, that really, really came into evidence. We were young long-hairs and we were kind of putting on our own convention there and so there was, oh, shark repellent in the pool of the El Cortez, turned it yellow, and setting off huge firecrackers and, oh, the lights went out one night and it was a pretty crazy event down there. But it was a lot of fun and it kind of set the scene for the rest of the conventions at the El Cortez for the rest of the decade and that's really kind of – For a lot of people, that's the golden age of Comic-Con. Of course we were young then and you tend to remember…
TOWRY: …when you were young as the golden age. But that was kind of a special time for Comic-Con.
CAVANAUGH: I want to remind our listeners we're asking them to call in and share their Comic-Con memories at 1-888-895-5727. Is that the golden age for you, Richard?
ALF: Oh, absolutely. I think the El Cortez years are the years that people fondly remember the best. The El Cortez had a fairly large complex, you know, up on Ash Street. It was one block just for the hotel plus it had several other hotels around it with connecting ramps and its own convention center. So as the convention grew up into several thousand attendees, we were able to be contained within this area. And it – and we didn't have to deal with other people being there. We took over the whole thing.
ALF: And so we were really able to cut loose, kind of be ourselves. I think one of the incidences I think of is, you know, a lot of people associate the glass elevator and the Starlight room with the El Cortez, you know that room that was at the very top. Well, we would have people, as a prank, that would get out there and go climb outside up the sign and onto the roof and even send off skyrockets at times. I mean, they – this was just one of the normal events that would kind of happen during each year.
CAVANAUGH: It was a really young convention back in those days.
ALF: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was pretty wild. It was pretty wild.
CAVANAUGH: Now when did you basically go on and live the rest of your lives and move away from Comic-Con, Mike?
TOWRY: Actively working on it, Richard and I, after the '73 convention, which took a lot out of us putting that convention on.
ALF: '72, actually.
TOWRY: I mean, I'm sorry, after the '72 convention, then from '73 on we didn't actively work in the convention anymore, though we've continued to attend it.
CAVANAUGH: Right, right.
TOWRY: And Shel Dorf stayed with the convention, though, for – all the way through 1984 and, you know, shepherded the convention and brought in a new group of people and taught them how to put on the convention, a new group of young people, Richard Buttner and some others. And they did a great job. And then, of course, since, you know, you can see now the people there down – John Rogers, Faye Desmond, Jackie Estrada, a lot of the other people, Gary Sassman, our friends who put the Comic-Con on now. You can see the incredible job they've done to build it into the monster it is now. And, of course, the size it is now, kids couldn't do that like it was back in our day and so it's a different experience but it's still a great one and we're happy that we had a, you know, a share in getting the thing going and founding it and we're proud of what it's become.
CAVANAUGH: Now, Richard, I'm wondering, as you see what Comic-Con has begun, what are your feelings?
ALF: Well, I actually find it a little bit awe inspiring. But I always have to think back and – and because I feel like Mike and I, because we were there at the very beginning, we have to take that larger view of what's really going on and my feeling is, is that when we first met Shel Dorf, Mike Towry and I never knew anything about comic book conventions. Within one year of meeting Shel, we had both built one and were getting ready to run them ourselves. And one thing that Shel said from the beginning is he said, I want everybody in our group to be chairman at least once because, he says, I want that experience in depth. And he says, and I also want to keep trying different locations every year until we find a location that we're really happy with. And so I see Shel as having started a process, not just an event but a process that is in two parts, one is the administrative process and the production process that spends all year planning this thing out, putting it together, and then the second process is the convention itself where aspiring artists and writers and people that are looking to getting involved with the popular arts can meet with the professionals that actually produce the products. And both of those processes involve self-development and self-improvement.
CAVANAUGH: Yeah. Yeah.
ALF: Mike and I were businessmen. We were not aspiring comic book artists or writers, and so the administration and production process of the convention gave us a lot of life experience.
CAVANAUGH: There are a couple of people who want to share their Comic-Con memories with us. Jackie's on the line from Lake Morena. Good morning, Jackie. Welcome to These Days.
JACKIE (Caller, Lake Morena): Thank you for taking my call. I love the Comic-Con. When my youngest son was, oh, maybe 14 I took him to two Comic-Cons. I had to drop him off because he was too young to drive, one at UCSD and one at the El Cortez. His name is Joel Mielke.
JACKIE: Some of the guys there might remember him.
ALF: I know Joel.
CAVANAUGH: Okay.
JACKIE: Yeah, from the Comic-Con, Joel did his own comic book, only one, but he now does a strip for the North Coast Journal in Eureka and that all started in San Diego at Comic-Con.
CAVANAUGH: Well, fabulous. Thank you for telling us about that, Jackie. Jim's calling us from Normal Heights. Good morning, Jim. Welcome to These Days.
JIM (Caller, Normal Heights): Good morning, Richard. This is Jim.
ALF: Jim Kennington.
JIM: Yes.
ALF: How are you? How did you get through?
JIM: I called. I don't know. It's how synchronicity works. I just want to say from the beginning, it seemed like it was just all stars and, you know, just forward into the future. And we…
CAVANAUGH: And, Jim, tell the rest of us how you're connected with Comic-Con.
JIM: Oh, I first met Richard at the UCSD Comic-Con in 1970 and we just talked and we had a couple mutual friends and as Richard was saying, it's just empowering everyone. It's like, oh, you want to do it, do it. Just get out there and do what you need to do. Get the wheels rolling, give it a kick and let's see.
CAVANAUGH: Ha, thank you for calling in, Jim. I really appreciate it. There are a lot of people out there who remember those early days. I wanted to make sure that you got to mention something, Mike, that's a tribute to Shel Dorf.
TOWRY: Right, Shel Dorf passed away last November and he was the founder of Comic-Con and Richard and I and everyone else is really grateful for what he did. A group of artists who were friends of Shel's are putting on a benefit art show and silent auction, an event from eight to midnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday during Comic-Con at the Suture Gallery, which is down on Tenth and Market. It's 655 Tenth Avenue, called the AfterCon, and it's to benefit the Shel Dorf New Talent Encouragement Fund which Shel's brother, Michael, decided to set up in Shel's honor to help aspiring artists who are in financial need.
CAVANAUGH: Now I know that both of you are really, on the whole, very, very pleased and even awestruck by how Comic-Con has developed over the years. First of all, Mike, you were telling me that you do get in free.
TOWRY: Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
CAVANAUGH: It's only fair, right?
TOWRY: It's a small perk but it makes us feel good.
ALF: Right.
CAVANAUGH: How do you feel about the prospect of Comic-Con moving to another city?
TOWRY: Well, I mean, I'd really miss seeing it go. I understand the problems they're going through and I know they don't want to move and so they've got good reasons if they do move and it's a struggle for them to decide. And so I'm not going to second guess them. I know John Rogers and the board'll do a great job in deciding to move but I would really miss seeing them in San Diego.
CAVANAUGH: And you, Richard.
ALF: Well, I feel the same way. I think when we started Comic-Con in San Diego, San Diego was a very small city. It wasn't that well known. I think but San Diego has grown with Comic-Con and I think that the people that come to Comic-Con have come to love San Diego as well as Comic-Con. It's almost the perfect combination in some ways. It's not uncommon for people to come out here from the east coast and they might do waterskiing during the days and then Comic-Con in the afternoon and maybe the zoo in the evening. I mean, there's so much here in San Diego that complements Comic-Con that I would personally hate to see it leave.
CAVANAUGH: Well, you know, I want to thank both of you. To take some time out from your Comic-Con experience 2010 to come in and talk to us, I really do appreciate it. Mike and Richard, thank you.
ALF: Oh, it's been a wonderful experience.
TOWRY: Oh, you're welcome.
CAVANAUGH: I want to let everyone know that our guests run a website and they are gathering stories from the early days of Comic-Con. That website is comicconmemories.com. Comic-Con 2010 is sold out but for your information, it runs through this Sunday. We will have an hour-long Comic-Con wrap up show next Monday right here on These Days. If you'd like to comment, please go online, KPBS.org/thesedays. And coming up, it's the Weekend Preview. You're listening to These Days on KPBS.
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Gruesome Murders in the Australian Outback: A Review of 'Wolf Creek' (2005)
Maya Capasso
Exploring the Australian outback is an exciting adventure for any young traveler. Friends Kristy (Kestie Morassi) and Liz (Cassandra Magrath) leave England for the trip of a lifetime, traipsing through the Australian wilderness. They meet up with Ben (Nathan Phillips), a witty and handsome young man who promises to take them to see Wolf Creek, the site of a meteorite crash in the middle of nowhere that attracts tourists.
That's how the Australian film Wolf Creek (2005) begins. The viewers get to know the three characters quite well during the movie's first half. Kristy is bubbly and hilarious, with a bright sense of humor and a fierce joy of life. Liz is more subdued and introspective, yet she is kind, caring, and adventurous. Ben is extremely silly, confident, and charming. He stands up for the women he travels with when creepy men at a gas station confront them. Ben and Liz even start falling for each other and seem excited about their potential relationship blooming once they reach Cairns, their final destination after Wolf Creek.
This well-established connection between the audience and the characters makes the extremely gruesome ending all the more disturbing. When the group reaches Wolf Creek, they enjoy their hike to the meteorite before heading back to the car. They're frustrated to find the car is dead, and no one knows how to fix it. Luckily for them, a friendly man named Mick (John Jarratt) approaches soon after and tows their truck back to his campsite. But soon, the trio discovers that the stranger's kindness was all a ruse.
Once the plot shifts into its horror themes, the pace picks up quick. At the same time, the audience is tempted with so many hopeful moments. Liz escapes her confines at first and is even able to shoot Mick after finding him torturing Kristy in another room. They both escape in his truck at first. But he follows them.
Throughout the rest of the film, hope is presented to the audience and snatched away within the blink of an eye. The utterly disturbing verbal threats and graphic violence Mick displays towards his victims are extremely memorable. I won't give too much away, because you need to see it for yourself.
Another intriguing element of this movie is that it's presumably based on actual events. The film makes it seem like Kristy, Liz, Ben, and Mick were all real people. But this is false. The creator of Wolf Creek, Greg McLean, actually based his film on the crimes of two different men: Ivan Milat and Bradly John Murdoch. These two men committed murders in the outback of Australia in the 1990s and early 2000s.
I'm not a huge fan of manipulating true tragic stories into gory movies made purely for our entertainment. However, I found myself deeply invested in the film. The storytelling is fantastic. It's filled with suspense, intrigue, and compelling characters. The buildup to the horrors at the film's end is incredibly well done. All in all, I give this movie a 3 out of 5. It gains points for excellent storytelling but loses points for sensationalizing real tragedy.
Related Topics:Wolf Creek
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Hey! I'm Maya, a snarky, queer freelance writer, horror enthusiast, and history nerd. My hope is that my writing both entertains my readers and provides educational commentary on human behavior & society. In my spare time, I love to eat food, hang out with my girlfriend, and needle felt little monster sculptures.
Horror fans are constantly searching for a horror movie that will scare them. Predictability is one of the major culprits of the dilution of horror in horror films. Many of us feel it has already been done and then gets redone ad infinitum. There tends to be a format that scary movies follow, making it so that even new films don't feel new. And those that try to differ from this pit of repetition tend to find themselves so far on the fringes that the work doesn't translate well to general audiences.
The film Terrified on Shudder is widely regarded as one of the best that the horror platform offers, and with good reason. With its continuous sequences of pure nightmare fuel, there is no telling what will happen from one minute to the next. As the mystery unfolds, the terror only rises until reaching a crescendo of full-on calamity. Through the perspectives of numerous characters, Terrified tells a chilling story that doesn't let up, even after it's over. If you want a scary movie to watch, Terrified is objectively it.
A Unique Story Structure Created a Great Horror Film
The way the movie opens immediately lets viewers know something otherworldly is happening. The story follows the paranormal experiences of different people in a small place in Buenos Aires and the ensuing investigation into these experiences.
The way Terrified tells its tale is one thing that makes it stand out among other horror movies. The story unravels in a way that makes it feels like everyone is the main character, thus making all their experiences feel much more personal and horrific. It's difficult to know whom we're supposed to be paying the closest attention to, so we pay more attention to everyone, magnifying the horror. Additionally, numerous storylines take place all at once, causing a total onslaught of tragedy and horror sequences in a way that makes complete sense. The storyline also stood out for the fluid timeline as frequent time jumps occur.
Time Flies When You're Terrified
Just as a character remarks in the film, time moves differently here. The constant action-packed sequence of events that unfolds creates a sense of time distortion where minutes fly by. This is because viewers' brains are working overtime to process everything they've just seen – the ramifications of what they've witnessed while simultaneously being thrust into a new scenario, a new horror, another tragedy. The way everything is presented, one gruesome moment after another, it's like your brain doesn't even have time to fully process the last haunting images you saw before you're grappling with another three. The haunting imagery in this film is unrelenting.
What Makes This Scary Movie Worth the Watch
What's a scary motion picture without some haunting imagery? When it comes to Terrified, take your pick. A monster under the bed, footprints that travel up walls, and head-turning corpses are only some of this film's spooky visuals.
The movie uses some gore but does not lean on it to be scary. Likewise, the film doesn't rely on jump scares, but they are sweat-inducingly effective when they inevitably do happen.'
Yet, all of this is not where the true terror of Terrified lies.
Maybe it's because your brain doesn't have time to process every event before another happens. Perhaps it's the strange event sequencing, how time jumps back and forth. Maybe it's the way that everyone is the main character, so the thought of anyone being safe from the events about to unfold feels dismal. Perhaps it's the onslaught of horrific imagery. Whatever the case, Terrified excels as a horror movie because it sticks with you after it's over.
Given the depiction of back-to-back tragedies, the film is immediately rewatchable because it all happens quickly. The way this film can balance so much going on at once without ever feeling sloppy, cluttered, or difficult to follow is an impressive feat. Doubly impressive are the nightmarish images that leave a lasting impact. However, it cannot go without saying that these same images may have been washed out in a lesser horror film had it followed the typical storyline format. Director Demián Rugna's unique approach to storytelling created an action-packed unpredictable tale that makes this movie so recommendable. If you haven't seen this film before, it's time. If you have seen it, you're probably due for a rewatch.
Stream Terrified on Shudder today!
Alex Warrick
Load up those gifs and ready your fingertips because a new horror icon has landed.
She's M3gan, but after a viral marketing campaign that had everyone, including your favorite aunt, calling her "Mother," you already knew that. Directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), with a story by Malignant duo James Wan and Akela Cooper (who also penned the script), this meme has quite the pedigree. The hype train is real, and while M3GAN does an excellent job at sprinkling in iconic moments and one-liners while maintaining a relatable thematic throughline, it does so at the expense of a compelling plot. Its charm, however, is that despite containing story beats you can clock by watching the trailer, M3GAN is simply too much fun to care.
The film follows newly orphaned Cady (Violet McGraw, a young Daveigh Chase doppelgänger) as she goes to live with her quintessentially millennial aunt Gemma (Allison Williams), a brilliant roboticist working at a toy company. Parenting does not come naturally to the detached and overworked Gemma. So, in the only way she knows, Gemma pawns off the responsibility of helping Cady cope with the death of her parents – as well as conveniently enacting live-in nanny status – to her passion project, the true to size and pussy bow-clad AI companion M3gan. Her plan works until it doesn't, and everything goes gloriously haywire. If you think you've seen it before, you almost certainly have, but this familiar story is in drag.
Those memes were not a fluke, and she's here to make it clear: M3gan cuts deep. She knows just what to say to make you second guess everything you've ever done, and her one-two punch carries enough whiplash to leave you in a coma or worse. She's a dancer, a singer, a quadrupedal runner, a killer, and a friend. The film's fusion of practical effects and CGI brings M3gan to life just short of Avatar photorealism, and voice actor Jenna Davis – no stranger to going viral – has mastered the art of feigned innocence. Gemma, M3gan's creator and rival, does her best at holding her ground against the doll as they vie for Cady's affection. Williams has snagged another significant horror role, playing the worst millennial you'll ever meet (Marnie from Girlsincluded) as the Cindy Lauper of Dr. Frankensteins – she just wants kids to have fun. And while M3GAN is relatively low on actual horror stakes, one scene during the film's climax sees the pair facing off at the dining table in a moment fraught with genuine tension.
Given that M3GAN's actual Dr. Frankensteins are behind Malignant and Housebound, it's no surprise that dark comedy is its greatest asset. It is deadly unserious most of the time. When your grin might begin to lose grip, M3gan sings an acapella lullaby of David Guetta and Sia's "Titanium" or casually flings her latest victim's ear over her shoulder. The laughs are a mixture of camp, subtle, and satirical. Lazy parenting, suburban living, and the carelessness of technological advancement are all up for grabs, and no collectible toy is safe from Allison Williams' scissors.
It is to Akela Cooper's credit that M3GAN can bob and weave through such a riotous tale of a killer doll while not losing focus on its ideas about our unhealthy digital reliance and even poignantly touching upon childhood grief. As if the projectionist accidentally spliced in some Saturday morning cartoons, M3GAN opens with a commercial for the fictional "Purrpetual Petz," a traditionally annoying toy not unlike Furbys of the 1990s. This idea of a forever companion, whether in the form of an exotic creature, a 4'4" sassy android, or even an iPad, informs our prevalent lack of connection to other humans. Whether used as a means to avoid reality or as parenting by proxy, M3gan is that digital crutch personified. Before you know it, she's an inseparable "part of the family." What happens when we lose that connection to our versions of M3gan? If Cady's actions are anything to go by, we become indignant Veruca Salts of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory fame. Cooper isn't exaggerating, that's for sure.
However, this wild ride has pitfalls. If you were to de-drag M3GAN, the film's bones are that of your stereotypical January throw-away horror flick. There's no guessing how it will play out – although one of its final scenes does include a nice nod to Aliens – and while I enjoyed myself, I did not leave the theater absolutely gagging as expected. When the action hits its stride, and a lovely needle drop begins the third act, M3GAN does not go as hard as I hoped. I hate to add fire to the flames, but while there are fantastic PG-13 horror films, one as biting as M3GAN deserves a hard R rating. In fact, in a recent LA Times interview, Cooper let the cat out of the bag and said the film had been edited down to PG-13 after its marketing went viral and the suits wanted to cash in on the TikTok crowd. It's a shame because as M3gan devolves into a sadistic killer, that cold AI side of her gets very dark and twisty.
M3gan's dark side definitely ponders her existential Westworld fantasy throughout the film's runtime. While Child's Play is the obvious comparison point, I could not help but find some Jurassic Park philosophizing in there as well. The unintended consequences of our creations through state-of-the-art technology feel like a not-so-distant reality. We may not see dinosaurs in our lifetime, but Teslas are combusting on the streets as you read this, and we have created innate digital addiction as a disease of the human race. On a macro level, we could bring about the End Times as we are all dramatically slayed by agile android dolls. To quote Dr. Ian Malcolm: "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Ultimately, M3GAN succeeds in so many ways that it deserves its time in the sun. It may not be the taut techno-thriller of your dreams, but it's a great way to ring in horror for 2023. Most will know if the film's humor is for them after one glance at its trailer and marketing, and if you're on the fence, just dive in. At best, you'll cackle along with the crowd, and at worst, you'll probably install one of those screen time management apps on your phone. There is, of course, a wink toward a potential sequel by its conclusion and one unresolved plot thread that would allow a revisit to expand upon the film's themes in a big way. Plus, there's the inevitable M3gan/Chucky/Esther/Annabelle pint-sized villain throwdown event the powers-that-be would be fools to ignore.
Spoiler Alert: M3gan would end them.
Make sure you watch the trailer for M3gan below.
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My videos and sculptures reflect the concepts of my childhood dreams and experiences, but from a futuristic perspective. "Doraemon" —a national robotic icon of Japanese animation— fostered a deeper sense of futuristic views that was integration between daily life and technology. Inventions from anime such as the teleportation door, bamboo-copter, and 4D pockets are all inspirations for my work.
The most important part of a new tool is that there is hope in life. My relationship to speculative fiction implies the simple pleasures of daily life that are the most crucial. I feel that the most important use of technology is to enhance positive aspects of life rather than for war and weapons. I make artwork that draws a symbiotic dream with technology and creates small adventures on the stage of everyday lives.
My intention is to integrate technology into natural activity. It is challenging to use existing technology to realize my dream devices. In my work, I attempt to visualize imaginate tools as real. Robotics to bridge computers and human life can be materialized in 3D printed sculptures.
My work demonstrates how computer cameras and sensors can capture human life, temporal patterns, colors, and time. Open-source programing languages, web cameras, and small computer hardware are my materials. Design has functional and practical values. The roots of my work are from design with the intention that artwork itself makes life easier. I want to put functionality in my work even if art does not have to be useful. A sense of humor makes ideas accessible to people, so I like to include jokes within my artwork. Life does not need to be perfect as with machines, the same concept can be said of art. I want to discuss the possibilities of the future in my work, which leaves hope and the simple pleasures of daily life.


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'Dirty Groove' from R-loops is a collection of five Construction Kits inspired by top artists such as Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy Hood, The Runners, Lex Luger, Soulja Boy and more. Inside you'll find 84 royalty-free, high quality multi-format loops. These phrases are best suited to Dirty South, Hip-Hop and other similar styles.
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Nyle (young)
0 · 216 views · located in Terra
a character in "The Multiverse", as played by Shaodow
( if you recognize this cloak then you= win)
height: 5'11 he is taller in his youth, his present self has already went through the common shrinkage that comes with age.
Nyle in his youth was a very different person first off starting with his appearance, he still remained cloaked but his cloak is considerably more showy. In his youth he isn't exactly more relaxed but he is far less grim and serious as he is in his older age. He is alot more brash and never attempts to hide his power, in fact he likes to show it off any chance he got although he is not a true master in his younger days as he is in the present.Even when he was young his face always remained concealed in the shadows of his cloak, his true appearance always a mystery other than the people closest to him.
he doesn't carry anything but he can summon various weapons from a location were he keeps them all securely hidden to aid him when needed. This is due to his unwillingness to conceal his power, unlike in his older age were in he keeps his weapons stashed on him.
like him it is mysterious, he never talks about his family.
So begins...
Nyle (young)'s Story
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# 2011-07-08 00:40:35 , as written by Shaodow
A cloaked man seemed to flicker in and out of existence near the two closest living beings he could find, it sounded like he was trying to speak but his words were lost as he flickered in and out.
Again and again he faded in and out, he couldn't make out were he was due to the fact that he couldn't bring himself into the world fully. This means he must have landed far from his intended target, he tried again to speak to the beings that he was near, he couldn't see them clearly but he sensed them < If there are people near I must be at the right place> he thought. He probably wasn't forming enough for them to notice him, it was clear his words weren't reaching him but he was stuck unless he found to be pulled into the world fully.
# 2020-03-23 04:05:14 , as written by Remæus
Jay Null opens his comms, reaching out to the vessel he notices off his bow.
Is everything okay out there? Do you need a terrestrial assist?
he asked inquisitively.
# 2020-09-09 20:19:44 , as written by Joseph_Bennett
Outside of orbit around the planet Terra.
A medium-sized ship, shaped like a triangle with a blunted end, moves slowly towards Terra and the space station above it. The shape and size of this ship may have been seen before, but this one in particular has never been witnessed by any Terran, or as a matter of fact, any species or beings besides the ones who had made it. If they were able to trace it's origins, then it would point to an unexplored area known generally as RA-619, and even more specifically the Glendathu system. The doesn't seem to be armed, and a scan for life would only turn up three humanoid beings.
The ship made no advances of any sort towards the planet or the station, and seemed to just be there. Watching. Peaceful, it seemed, and the crew had no intentions of attacking. But they were truly awestruck. In front of them was a culture, a sophisticated one, unseen to any of their people, and they didn't know how to feel about it. They were just awaiting orders at this point.
Jay Null shrugged and closed the comms. The traffic in the Terran orbital was bustling as usual, an economic boom brought on by the prolonged period of peace. Alas, he knew the endless waltz of history, and had work to do.
Tapping a few buttons on his console, he maneuvered down towards Wing City Spaceport, leaving a faint thruster trail in his wake.
# 2021-03-09 20:12:32 , as written by lostamongtrees
Meteor appeared as a small flicker in the sky
Meteor zoomed out and away, a twinkle in the sky.
Professor G spotted the shooting star from his view out the station window, and gave an exasperated sigh.
What's this, another Gundam?
he opined, wondering if his cohorts thought the same.
Master O nodded in agreement.
Very well. I'll tell the others.
he said, before grabbing his coat from the rack and departing for the docking bay.