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Tag Archives: Steven St. Croix
Color is only Color: A Review of B Skow's Color Blind
by Rich Moreland, October 2016
B Skow believes a little political incorrectness teaches all of us an important lesson. In Color Blind, he attacks racial stereotyping in broader society while offering support for diversity in the adult film business.
Meal time in the family kitchen opens Color Blind. Along with daughters Noelle (Kasey Warner) and Shauna (Adriana Chechik), Mom (Reena Sky) and Dad (Steven St. Croix) are watching the evening news . . . sort of. Noelle is unsighted; her vision is hearing and touch.
A small television is positioned on the counter behind Noelle and for the family, especially Dad, watching it means looking past his daughter. It's an image that defines where this film is going.
The year is 1992 and rioting is devouring South Central Los Angeles as the African-American community protests the arrest of Rodney King. Clips of what we sadly see too much of today—looting, vandalism, and general mayhem—move front and center in the opening moments of Color Blind.
B Skow has set the mood. Dad and his daughters will ultimately clash like the chaos on the streets.
By the way, this is a working class family that doesn't live in LA. Shauna flippantly mentions her all-knowing father should move to California to straighten things out.
Steven St. Croix in another B Skow film, Proud Parents
Dad goes through a litany of stereotypes, suggesting the modern large screen TV is the black man's "forty acres and a mule," a reference to the expectations of freedmen immediately after the Civil War.
To set the record straight, they got sharecropping and an unrelenting cycle of poverty instead.
Relying on a history he interprets only in sound bites, Dad, an angry replay of Archie Bunker, offers one of his own. He calls the rioters, "dumb shits."
Later when racist language comes unexpectedly from a frustrated Noelle, he reacts with shock, wanting to know who "taught" her the nastiest of all words.
"You did, every single day without saying a word!" she screams.
Color Blind pokes fun at stereotyping by using stereotyping.
Fried chicken, corn on the cob, and iced tea, a favorite menu in the South, grace the family table. Dad reminds everyone that basketball and unprotected sex are cultural staples in the black community though, unbeknownst to everyone, he has an African-American stripper girlfriend (Layton Benton) on the side.
But in Dad's mind, that's okay. A little cheating never hurt anyone and don't black women crave sex anyway?
Incidentally, he does her bareback in the movie's third sex scene.
Fed-up with his tirades, Shauna sarcastically says she'll iron his KKK shirt because he'd "make a great wizard" in a statement that carries a double meaning: the racist Grand Wizard and the 19th century Populist vision of the Wizard of Oz, who is nothing more than political hot air (Donald Trump, anyone?).
Later Shauna mentions that her father caught her with her "pants down" using a dildo she affectionately calls "a big, black cock." We see her frolic with the satisfier in a well-shot scene.
By the way, there's more to come for Shauna when flirting with Tyson (Jovan Jordon) works to her advantage.
Skow takes one more shot at stereotypes when Dad speaks with Noelle. He mentions the word "special" and how God makes some people different from others, creating more than one interpretation of "special."
Of course, it's his way of telling Noelle that her blindness is her burden, making her "different" in a good way.
His attitude changes when she challenges him about the "different" people on TV. They are not special, he says, in so many words.
It's the height of hypocrisy.
What makes Color Blind a must-see film is its social statement. The groundwork is laid early when a pair of Bible sellers, Mathew (Isiah Thomas) and Tyson show up at the front door. They "are reaching out" to their neighbors, "extending the hand of friendship," they announce.
The African-American brothers are a bit uncomfortable peddling the "Good Book" in a neighborhood that is alien to them. To soothe the way, Mathew remarks that "love is blind, color is only color, skin is just skin."
Of course, Dad will have none of this and slams the door. But the girls are persuaded; the brothers have much to offer emotionally and physically (this is a porn film, after all) which is the narrative's remaining journey.
Speaking of sex scenes, all are solid and three are interracial which carries a stereotype of its own as I have heard in the industry.
Two stand out. First is Kasey Warner/Isiah Maxwell. . . . not the usual porn fare. Tender and warm, it's the sexual awakening of a girl for whom color is meaningless. Remember, touch is part of Noelle's vision that makes this sex scene unique.
On the other hand, for gonzo fans Skow includes an extended anal romp featuring Jovan Jordan and the raunchy interracial sweetheart of this film, Adriana Chechik.
Not a Single Color
The final ten minutes is the movie's tour de force, but the resolution is traumatic and thought-provoking. Not surprisingly, the word "boy," another stereotype, makes an appearance.
In an overwhelming moment, Noelle shouts at her father, "I've never seen a single color in my entire life," deflating the central stereotype of Color Blind. What the eyes see is too often culturally programmed and not individually felt.
Simply put, everything is neutral until given meaning.
Accolades are extended to Steven St. Croix who holds the narrative together with superb acting. He captures the Archie Bunker persona perfectly. Also, Kasey Warner handled a difficult role beautifully, perhaps learning a thing or two from Maddy O'Reilly who plays a blind daughter in another Skow production, Daddy's Girls.
And let's not forget that Reena Sky delivers an entertaining scene with Steven St. Croix and Adriana Chechik is as fine a gonzo girl as can be found, plus she can act.
B Skow takes chances with Color Blind. In fact, he's courageous beyond any adult director I know. His work moves past the tepid political/social statements we usually see in porn while keeping the genre going with explosive sex scenes.
So where does this leave Color Blind?
Rodney King, whose arrest sparked the 1992 riots, said in retrospect, "Can't we all just get along?"
That is the question Skow presents in this dynamic film and for those in our society who can't, the consequences can be dire.
Color Blind is a product of B Skow for Girlfriends Films and can be ordered from the website.
Tagged as Adriana Chechik, B.Skow, Color Blind, Isiah Maxwell, Jovan Jordon, Kasey Warner, Layton Benton, Reena Sky, Steven St. Croix
A Nice Girl Who Howls at the Moon: Part Two, Be Grateful
by Rich Moreland, January 2016
This is the second in a series of posts about breakthrough performer, Madeline Blue. All pics are courtesy of her social media accounts. Watermarked photos are courtesy of the studios that shot them.
How does Madeline Blue feel about shooting sex scenes outside her relationship with Gee Richards? It's a situation porn girls often face in dealing with significant others.
"[I'm] totally fine [doing a scene] with someone else," she says, because it's okay to love your partner and have sex with another person. The primary relationship does not have to suffer as a result.
Madeline has an open-minded attitude reflected in an older woman whose years traveling the dating lane have elevated her free-spirit.
But it took some effort to reach that level of self-acceptance.
"I had to work hard to come to terms in myself where I don't encounter judgment about my sexual proclivities," Madeline proclaims."I am a really good person, why should I feel guilt or shame because I have a wandering eye for both sexes!"
Why, indeed? Sexuality is the essence of humanity. To deny it usurps who we are while keeping it in perspective is a function of our love for others.
That's Madeline's lesson for all of us and, incidentally, a message in Gone, her landmark performance.
"I decided at thirty-five that I wanted a trusting honest relationship and have adventures that were just that, adventures." Madeline and Gee have discovered what works for them: the occasional sex partner that does not violate the bounds of their "loving, communicative relationship."
In other words, "we believe that sexual experiences and sexual relationships are very different."
Engaging with another person is "a great time, a break in the regular routine," Madeline believes. What's more, sharing her experiences with Gee is rewarding.
"It is very liberating to finally be in a place where I accept that part of myself [that likes to wander]," Madeline claims, because for many years she "felt so alone," not understanding that other people had similar feelings.
"I want to love and be loved and I don't want to feel trapped or controlled."
It's a balancing act that maturity understands, much different from younger girls in porn who may desire the same, but haven't reached the stage in life where they are comfortable with the requirements.
Be in the Moment
How does an adult actress, regardless of her age, pull off a sex scene with a co-star she has just met?
Simple, it's all about attitude.
"Arrive in your own body and be in touch with your own chemistry and be open to mingle [with your on-screen partners]," Madeline says. "Let yourself be turned on" because in porn it's "allowed and its exciting!" If the players are hot for each other, all the better. Directors always want their performers to communicate and be comfortable before a scene.
"Find where you two match and go from there," Madeline insists.
Madeline does offer one more piece of advice. Respect everyone's boundaries and "incorporate the director's wishes" into what you are doing. Most important, "be in the moment."
Because she and Gee have "no conflicted emotions" about making porn, they allow each other the space to explore and have fun.
"I want to be in situations at all times that empower me and make me feel good!" That happens when communication is the watchword.
Arrive Prepared
Not every porn performer takes the job seriously and for filmmakers, that's distressing. Top-of-the-line girls arrive prepared to give their best rather than just collect a paycheck. Responsibility is the maxim and Madeline knows what works, it's the mantra of every agent, director, and studio.
Arrive prepared, be on time and ready to go with a "pleasant attitude" and for goodness sake, "pay attention." Madeline's next comment is a justifiable annoyance veteran Steven St. Croix mentioned to me not long ago. . . phones.
From my visits on sets, I understand his gripe. Girls spend far too much time with texting and selfies.
"Don't use your phone very much at all" or better yet, "turn it on airplane mode," Madeline suggests. "Take one selfie right before your showtime when you look your best and then leave it alone 'til afterwards."
My bet is Steven would love to do a scene with Madeline who, by the way, has more advice for those willing to listen.
"Be present and don't worry about your makeup or your nerves. The best performers are the ones who show up and do the job. It can be fun but it is still a professional commitment, so show your work face and smile. You're getting paid . . . be grateful."
The rewards are self-evident, she believes.
"The smoother you are, the smoother the show goes . . . and the more likely you are hired back."
And, of course, no alcohol or drugs. Madeline exclaims, "I have heard bad stories [about them] from pretty much every producer I have met."
So have I, I might add.
Next we'll talk with Madeline about BDSM. Visit her website when you have a chance. It's a work in progress, but worth a look.
Tagged as Gee Richards, Gone, Madleine Blue, Steven St. Croix
"You of All People"
In an industry where brilliant story telling is often overlooked, B Skow's dark and brooding These Things We Do (distributed by Girlfriends Films and written by David Stanley) is among this year's best adult offerings.
Water is running from a bathtub tap as the opening credits roll. The grouting around the tub and tile has a worn, tired, and discouraged look. As the credits conclude, the camera moves beneath the water line, focusing upward toward the distant shower head. Still water moves ever so perceptively.
An over voice says, "It's all your fault . . . You were supposed to be helping me, you of all people.
Three Candles
These Things We Do is a sordid tale. Dr. Tom Berkin (Alan Stafford) cannot escape his personal demons to clear a path for his patients. A "voyeur" of the worst order, he masturbates while his female patients describe their sexual dysfunctions.
Today it is Mandy (Kimber Day) on the couch. In Freudian psychotherapy mode, Tom sits behind her. She can't see him, but she knows . . .
"I can hear it. I can hear it right now!" the incensed girl shouts. Without warning, an aroused Tom pours water in Mandy's mouth, gagging (drowning?) her, shutting out her story and minimizing her reality. Water is a major motif in the film. Soon Mandy will fill her own mouth with the deadliest water, her final vision that of a shower head, bent downward toward her.
Kimber Day.
Photo courtesy of Digital Desire
Mandy is sassy and a tease (a cover for a tortured soul?), just the right ingredient for the self-destructive chemistry she has with her doctor. He pushes at her, she pushes right back. Despite her emotional turmoil, Mandy is in charge of the pulsating sex that ensues in his office, a feminist attitude that permeates adult film today. By the way, AVN film reviewers should nominate Kimber Day's performance in this scene for a 2014 award.
The settings for the sex in These Things are stark. In the consultation room, the wall is blue, the couch a dirty beige, a reflection of Tom's perversions and his seedy affairs.
A small bookshelf sits to the right of the couch, empty except for three small candles, the film's central image.
A frustrated and angry Mandy storms out of the room, slamming the door. Skow's camera follows her, capturing the door's reflection in the full length mirror beside it. Naked, Tom studies himself in the glass. His debilitating self-absorption is illustrated with a single drop of fluid dangling out of his semi-erect penis. Mandy will see this image pointing down at her as she breathes her torments away below the water line.
Incidentally, keep in mind that Skow uses rapid camera shots to explore the neurotically driven sexuality that is the film. There will be sudden flashbacks and off center angles, techniques reminiscent of Orson Welles' classic, Citizen Kane.
Back in the office the doctor's secretary, Roberta (Dana DeArmond), takes a call from the police. No words needed, just an image. An overhead shot of a submerged and nude Mandy, staring straight ahead, legs splayed, water gentle rippling over her and into her, an invitation in death.
The cast on set, left to right. Siri, Steven, Dahlia, Alan, Dana, and Marie.
Photo courtesy of Girlfriends Films.
Not for Real, Just for Fun
The narrative moves to Tom's bedroom. Staring at her cellphone, his wife Abby (Marie McCray) utters, "My little sister is dead." Flashbacks of Tom choking Abby and forcing himself on her are Mandy reminders. Is he trying to silence his internal demons? The camera quickly reverts to Tom and Abby reflected in an oval mirror above her dressing table. A bouquet of roses, mixed reds and whites in full bloom is to the right. The roses are Freudian orgasms, the colors an entanglement of the two sisters Doctor Tom covets, one illicitly, the other nominally.
Tom and Abby.
Another flashback to Mandy on the couch once again. She begins a thought that is sharply cut off, just like her life. Was she about to mention her sister? The camera shifts back to the bedroom. Tom is masturbating while his wife sleeps; a voice over transitions the scene to the doctor's office where another patient, Sara (Siri), recounts her boyfriend's kinks.
Sara's narrative moves the story forward. Her boyfriend Hodgy (Steven St. Croix) has a toolbox filled with ordinary items that serve a delightfully deviant sexual imagination.
Dahlia Sky taking a break.
Photo courtesy of Girlfriends Films
She confesses a fear of him at first, but once Hodgy got into his kinks, "it was nothing like I'd ever experienced before." Emphasizing that the pain was "exquisite," Sara deliberately plays to Tom's fatal Mandy connection. Sara tells the doctor that everything was "an act." Hodgy, who manhandles one of his BDSM submissives, Anna, played by Bailey Blue (aka Dahlia Sky) wouldn't hurt anyone. It's just a play session, Sara insists, "not for real, just for fun to make the sex better."
Listening to her story, Tom wriggles in his chair. Erotic excitement carries with it discomfort and tension, all part of Sara's agenda. She describes is a highly charged three-way played out in a sterile room only a clinician would love. The bed is covered in black with nothing on the walls except a pair of lights. Skow lays bare the turbulent emotions and violent outbursts that are the film itself.
Awful and Wrong
Because Skow lets his performers do what they do best, the sex scenes are unscripted. The three-way dabbles in BDSM; Anna wears a collar and a leash, light spankings with spatulas and long handled spoons flavor the sex.
Overall, it's BDSM lite with lots of oral, vaginal, anal, and a DP that includes sex toys. Skow's camera keeps all bodies fully on screen, giving performers a larger reality than is normally seen in a wall-to-wall shoot. A mechanically operated dildo drives Anna and Sara to ecstasy and after the pop, a nasty clean up between them seals the deal.
Sara says she never "felt so much pain" and "it was awful and wrong, but great," a phrase that indicts Tom. Like a wounded adolescent, the guilt ridden doctor retreats into his fantasies to ward off his own anxieties. Unconsciously projecting himself into Sara, he asks, "Are you afraid of hurting somebody or if somebody is going to hurt you?"
Shifting immediately to the bedroom and a comatose Abby, a nearly empty wine bottle and tumbler are on the bed stand along with some pills. Felled by Mandy's death, Abby is as emotionally dead as her sister is physically gone.
Abby and her sedatives.
Hearing a voice repeating, "What are you afraid of?" the doctor's fascination with a pocketknife corkscrew and his unresponsive wife is devilishly psychotic.
I Know What You Are, Doctor
While on the couch, Sara confesses that she's thought about making him cum, and wondered what his expression would be. Skow concentrates on fidgeting in this scene: Sara's hands look to release energy; Tom's face twists as he yields to his compulsion and opens his pants.
In a wicked seduction, Sara tempts him with "Don't you know a free meal when you see one, doctor?" Girls like her "know what boys like," she taunts.
Reaching for his crouch, Sara's anger seizes control in a deft movement. "I know what you are, doctor!" she explodes.
While Siri's acting is top of the line, Alan Stafford is superb as the obsessive physician. His facial expressions reveal Tom's distorted mind. However, at times Alan's dialogue is not easily understood which may be as much a technical issue as an acting one.
Later Skow captures the deadness and futility that pervade this film with a single image.
Tom and his matches.
Once again, Tom is sitting at the bed's foot board. Shut away emotionally from her husband, Abby lies self-tranquilized, her legs spread. The doctor stares straight ahead before lighting a match. Sadly, there is little left to stimulate her in a relationship that is barely a flicker.
Harpies
In the office, Roberta attempts to blackmail her boss over the Mandy affair. Sara bursts in, grabs Roberta and throws her on the couch, preparing the viewer for the girl/girl sex to come. Skow's camera dwarfs an astounded doctor by showing Roberta and Sara visually taller.
The women run the sex. Tom can watch, Sara concedes, but he can't cum.
The girls will trade slaps, choking, and finger banging, ducking in and out of positions as dominants. Though they laugh with each other, they scowl at the doctor, humiliating him repeatedly.
A water cooler adjacent to the couch is a reminder that fluid will stay pent up in this scene. Before the water can run and wash away guilt as in Mandy's fated bathtub, more must be resolved. In the end, the girls climax, Doctor Tom does not.
During the sex, Roberta lashes out, "You're not doing anything to help me," she says, taunting the doctor in the guise of Mandy's ghost who hovers over the final scenes of the film.
Improvised camera work (a la Blair Witch Project) shows up here, but seems a bit out of place. At one point, a camera carelessly appears in the shot. Why that wasn't edited out is a mystery.
Female revenge is the centerpiece of the dinner scene later at Hodgy's house where Sara has invited Tom to join them.
Dana and Alan go over the script.
At last, the layers of the three candles are revealed. Tom, Abby, and Mandy form a three-way fated relationship. Now Tom, Sara, and Hodgy are a trio with a different theme: revenge. In a oddly brief sex scene, they sit on a couch with Sara in the middle, repeating the dinner table arrangement where the emotionless distances between the characters is illustrated in beautiful camera work.
When the scene shifts to Tom bound to a chair, Roberta and Abby join Sara in an unholy trinity. They are the final version of the three candles: the Harpies, who in Greek mythology carry those responsible for the deaths of family members to the Furies for punishment.
As the film concludes, conflicts are muted after a cleansing outburst of Abby's Freudian id, and most important, pictures appear on the walls to conquer sterile desolation. In the final scene, the serenity of boats in a harbor at sunset watch over Tom and Abby's sexual reconciliation. Forgiveness is possible, after all.
Sometimes when reviewing adult films, the story surpasses the sex. These Things is such a movie. In an industry that depends on the erotic to survive, it is unfortunate that good filmmakers like B Skow cannot spend more screen minutes developing their artistic storytelling talents and less on sex acts that can fall victim to repetition. Just a thought.
Tagged as Alan Stafford, B.Skow, Bailey, Dana DeArmond, Girlfriends Films, Kimber Day, Marie McCray, Siri, Steven St. Croix, These Things We Do
Hilarious Dads: A Review of Jacky St. James' Father's Day
by Rich Moreland, July 2014
In a classic stag of yesteryear, the main character is the butt of a joke that centers on an early version of the glory hole. On the other side of a farmer's fence, the buffoon thinks he is copulating with a hottie he can't see, but he's in for a surprise. Three young women control the fun, substituting a goat for one of their own. It's comedic porn in its purest form.
Comedy is the key difference between Jacky St. James' Our Father (reviewed here) and Father's Day, an amusing set of tales in which the clumsy step dad is seduced by his sexually aggressive stepdaughter.
The dads are hilarious. In the first episode, Evan Stone is a cheesy disco era throwback with an unbuttoned shirt, lengthy unkept hair, and a medallion. The second segment features a self-indulgent Hollywood agent (Steven St. Croix) who "seduces" his career seeking stepdaughter, but is clueless to the real deception. A shy and warmhearted Mark Wood is led by his stepdaughter through sex with a tender touch. Lastly, step dad Alec Knight is so embarrassed by his stepdaughter's nonchalant poker face that the smiles keep coming along with her, of course.
These shoots are no nonsense porn unburdened by troublesome issues of real family sex. That's their magic. Mom is never around and rarely mentioned; this is just a bit of fun.
That Would be Tragic
Casey Calvert is home for summer vacation and mentions that her stepfather always tried to be "cool with the kids." Once she found this embarrassing, but now grown up, her affection for him has matured.
While cleaning Casey's room, Evan Stone finds a small object sitting on the bed stand. Remembering his younger days, he immediately thinks drugs and confronts his stepdaughter. Suppressing giggles, Casey casually mentions it's an "anal plug."
Casey and Evan.
Photo courtesy of Eddie Powell
In an amusing exchange, Evan admits that in his time unless a man was gay, he would rarely have anal sex. "Your mother thinks it's disgusting," he says.
"Well, I don't," Casey responds and raises her miniskirt to reveal another toy inserted in her backdoor.
With tongue firmly planted in cheek, she says, "You can't die without ever experiencing anal sax. That would be tragic."
With pants quickly unzipped, dad is in for a treat.
Other than carrying on a dirty talk monologue, Evan Stone's character steps aside because the shoot is all about Casey Calvert's provocative and exotic look. Porn is a menagerie of female body types and the sultry Casey's is smooth, pure, and perfect.
With her characteristic "bang me hard" frown, she deep throats, loves rough sex and choking, and alternates seamlessly between anal and vaginal penetration. Her reverse cowgirl is the best shot in the entire film. By the way, don't miss Casey's turquoise heart-shaped ear studs, appropriately tacky for the sophomoric college girl look.
Of course, a St. James motif is in every scene. Notice the three-pronged candle stand. The center candle rises above the other two, just as anal dominates oral and vaginal when Casey gets down to work.
Jacky St. James' casting is close to perfect. Evan is the right look for this scene and Casey Calvert is worth the price of the DVD.
The ear studs and a hot frowning Casey.
Photo courtesy of Digital Sin
Incredibly Naive?
"I guess you could say I nailed the part," Remy La Croix thinks after doing her step dad Steven.
This episode borrows an old stag theme, the casting couch. Remy is a Hollywood hopeful and stepfather Steven a big deal agent who wants to play her in the finest Tinseltown tradition.
Eying his "incredibly naive stepdaughter," the self-assured Steven fully intends to use his power to satisfy his carnal desires.
First, he must get her to ditch her hula hoop and "girl next door" look. (Remy La Croix is more than an award-winning porn performer, she's an accomplished hula hoop artist and dancer.)
Dad, daughter and the hula hoop.
The high comedy of this episode occurs in the bathroom where Steven's freshening up routine is sensational . Set for the kill, he kisses a photo of himself hanging on a hook beside a towel.
Later, Steven puts his hands on Remy's hips, drawing her close to him. "What are you doing?" she protests weakly before demonstrating how much she wants the part and, co-incidentally, how well she is playing a part. As the supposed "victim" of his power play, Remy's drama skills rival Steven's bathroom antics.
The diminutive veteran's sweetness and natural body highlight this segment. Steven and Remy have an overflowing mutual chemistry that underscores their teamwork.
Remy and Steven.
Photo courtesy of Digital Sin and Jacky St. James
Like other scenes in Father's Day, this vague familial set up is overtly covered in a porn overlay. The plot line tends to scoot away, though in her usual manner, Jacky St. James drops in a reminder that it is still relevant. In the background are two items of note on a shelf: a pair of trophies (who really wins one for their deception?) and a modern sculpture of two s-shaped figures, one looming over the other. The flowing motion of the art work relfects the Remy/Steven sexual Show.
Incidentally, Eddie Powell's cinematic trademark—facial close-ups—eroticizes the sex no matter what the shoot demands. Remy La Croix knows how to balance enticement and innocence with subtle expressions.
After the pop, Remy's voice over reveals a humorous little twist that begs the question of whose lusts are fulfilled. Her wry smile tells all.
The Unbroken String
For anyone who fantasized about making the grade with the blonde cheerleader type will love newcomer Lucy Tyler.
Having attended a sorority gathering with step dad Mark Wood, Lucy wants an after-date payoff. He walks into her bedroom with a few cut flowers as a "thank you" and she seizes the opportunity, pulling his tie to give him a kiss.
Thinking sex with an older man may disgust her, Mark is hesitant. But Lucy tosses aside his concerns along with the flowers. She has an unbroken string of dates with sex afterwards, she says, and she's not about to stop now.
Mark and Lucy.
Behind her cute, huggable demeanor, Lucy Tyler hides a lusty appetite that feasts where it likes. Though the sex is fairly standard (oral, doggie, mish), Lucy's smiles create a lighter atmosphere than Casey's wicked sensuality and Remy's manufactured naivete.
In a chair beside the bed is a mysterious pair of black platform heels pointed toward the action. Why?
At the end when Lucy and Mark are cuddling like lovers, she says in a voice over this was the day she "slept with her mom's husband." The phrasing is odd. Perhaps she doesn't think of Mark as a father because he is a recent addition to a family she is growing out of, thus the slutty shoes, a mother-daughter commonality positioned to spy on a blossoming affair.
You Should Just Look
The final vignette features a down-to-earth Dillion Harper who disrobes bit by bit in front of her stepfather Alec. The game is strip poker and Dillion manages to lose repeatedly. As her nakedness takes over the tale, Alec psychologically backs away, fighting temptation in the name of preserving family dignity.
A little discomfort now has a payoff later!
He wants to know if she is bluffing him (what do you think?) only to get "Are you flirting with me?" from Dillion. At the height of the merriment, her boobs are staring at dad. "You should just look," she says, before losing the last hand.
Once the panties are gone, they sit across from each other with mischievous stares.
The camera shifts immediately to the sex and Dillion's slurpy, bubbly oral is her calling card. She's as nasty as they come (pun intended) and her eagerness absorbs Alec's manhood. Because she passes for barely legal, Dillion is perfect for the stepdaughter role.
Dillion riding dad.
This segment has a couple of shooting moments the others pass over. There is good male to female oral and Dillion gets a partial facial, a Jacky St. James concession because most feminist filmmakers prefer to avoid them.
In the modern era of adult film, the array of fetishes can overwhelm the viewer. Sometimes just straight up sex, charming and not overly gonzo, is a treat.
Of course, the performers are the linchpins of memorable shoots, no matter the subject.
Casey Calvert, a girl who cares and gives her best in every scene.
Photo by Eddie Powell
In the Behind the Scenes segment, Lucy Tyler references the industry's earlier days when talent would sometime look bored and disinterested. Her remarks brought to mind 1990s director Greg Dark who tired of the business for a variety of reasons, one of which was the attitude of the starlets. In his mind, they showed up for the money, had sex with a "fuck buddy," and left with no thought of how their performance turned out.
Today the art of porn is challenging such attitudes. Performers, and the directors who bring them together, take pride in their work in a business that is moving closer to mainstream culture. Nowhere is that more evident than in the films of Jacky St. James whose fans can be certain there is no ennui on her sets. In an industry that can get trapped in its reliance on sameness, a St. James shoot has hardworking talent that imbues every scene with a fresh outlook.
Father's Day stands as evidence.
Tagged as Alec Knight, Casey Calvert, Digital Sin, Dillion Harper, Eddie Powell, Evan Stone, Father's Day, Greg Dark, Jacky St. James, Lucy Tyler, Mark Wood, Remy La Croix, Steven St. Croix
Whatever is Best, Dad: Part Two of Our Father
A delightful installment in Digital Sin's Tabu Tales series, Our Father proves once again that Jacky St. James and Eddie Powell are among the most creative filmmakers in adult cinema.
Incest porn's "transition moment" is the topic of Part One of my review. Part Two explains how it is used in this film.
Dakota Skye on the box cover. Can you keep a secret?
Photo courtesy of Jeff Koga
Our Father concerns step dads who tackle their stepdaughters' sexual hang-ups. Each of the four vignettes is a secret incestuous arrangement that requires the willful suspension of disbelief. How this taboo is handled reveals director Jacky St. James and cinematographer Eddie Powell at their cleverest. By using the "transition moment," they move the viewer away from perceived familial perversity and into a porn film.
To mollify viewer reservations about family sex, each episode is heavily laden with dirty talk, a porn fixture that, along with cheesy music and looped sex scenes, played to audiences of yesteryear when adult film was creating an industry. In Our Father, nasty verbiage is a reminder that this is a porn movie with professional entertainers who can psychologically move out of their characters when the sex starts.
Anal is First
"It was weird how much I confided in my step dad," Penny Pax says in an over voice. She's sitting on the kitchen counter top talking with "dad" (Alec Knight) who is sipping coffee.
The conversation is about pregnancy avoidance. Alec speaks authoritatively about sex toys (he uses them in his practice) and offers Penny a backdoor education in birth control.
Penny and Alec
To close out the storyline and set up the transition moment, Penny convinces herself any experience with her stepfather would not be "in a sexual way" because he is an instructor. She declares, "I think we should do it." When the lesson evolves into real sex, the film changes gears, willful suspension of disbelief is abandoned and pure porn takes over.
Getting there, however, requires that St. James' script highlight Penny's naiveté. Alec explains everything about anal and she concedes to his authority. "Whatever you think is best, Dad," Penny coos.
Comfortably lying on her stomach, the trusting "student" never looks back at dad. After inserting toys into Penny's backside as a warmup, Alec quietly penetrates her. Unaware, she says it feels great, though different and natural. Suddenly daughter spots dad's hands and turns to look. "We shouldn't be doing this," she says, trying to preserve propriety.
Her initial cooperative demeanor has moved through doubt into acceptance. Does she want him to stop? No, and they make a secret pact: she won't tell mom, he won't tell her boyfriend.
The camera pulls back, framing each of their bodies equally. For the first time the penetration appears on screen, completing the transition. She tells him it feels good and wants to know if he's enjoying himself. Penny Pax is an anal queen and the scene continues with doggie and oral.
After the pop shot, willful suspension of disbelief reappears. Resuming her stepdaughter persona, Penny thinks of her boyfriend and dismisses any further thoughts of sex with her stepfather. Nevertheless, the experience was a valuable exercise with an upbeat conclusion.
Jacky takes a break with the talent
A Lolita
In the second segment, the script uses the transition moment to create arguably the best sex scene in the film.
Stepdaughter Dakota Skye is struggling with a negative self-image and claims she has good reasons for wanting breast implants. Stepfather Ryan McLane hopes to quell her demands and insists via an over voice that his "intentions were innocent," at least in the beginning.
Their disagreement quickly persuades her to pull up her shirt. With perky boobs staring at him, Ryan covers his face in feeble protest. Dakota's invitation is up front. "You're not my biological dad." He concedes her assets are "incredibly beautiful" and the transition moment hits like freight train. A few kisses and the sex is underway.
Ryan and Dakota
Photo courtesy of Jacky St. James
This episode has a different feel because the players are more youthful. Athletic and hard bodied, Ryan McLane seems much younger than his years. Dakota, on the other hand, is Lolita-like. Obviously, St. James paired these two so that the hardcore is anticipated when the performers first appear. In other words, such a step dad/daughter encounter is possible when age differences are minimized.
As the sex heats up gonzo style, Dakota screams "Please fuck me, Daddy" in the best of BDSM tradition where submissive women deliberately seek older men for "age play." Incidentally, this small touch sets up the third episode starring Carter Cruise and Steven St. Croix which will delve into the power exchange common in BDSM.
While Dakota is getting her fill, Jacky St. James' talent for placing explanatory objects about her sets steps up once again. In the background is a Grecian-type urn or amphora sitting on a pedestal, a reminder that the ancient Greeks believed the penetrated person, rather than the one who penetrates, gets the pleasure from sex. Dakota's toe curling verifies their wisdom.
Following the pop shot, Ryan's voice over embraces the Lolita shadow. "That's how I convinced my stepdaughter to stay a sweet young girl as long as possible," he says.
Please Daddy!
Steven St. Croix is a stepfather with an undisciplined daughter (Carter Cruise) who parades into his office, boasting that her mouth is her classroom asset. When Steven, whose business success hovers over the scene, gets annoyed, she retorts, "You can get farther in life by sucking cock than working hard."
"If you were my daughter I'd spank you," Steven growls. Dropping her pants, Carter goads him with, "Pretend I'm your real daughter." He obliges, giving her a few whacks, then tries to get back to work. Unfazed, she taunts him about his porn mags and infatuations with college girls.
This episode has a strong age play component and high believability because parents do spank kids. But it doesn't end there; the spanking is foreplay and suspension disbelief will soon be set aside when the sex gets rolling.
Carter tells Steven they are both screwed up and when she demands, "I want my Daddy to spank me," the transition moment occurs. The viewer is immediately in the BDSM arena watching the players act out their dominant/submissive roles. "Brat," "bad girl," and "baby girl," are thrown around as Steven manhandles her to intensify the sex.
Hair pulling, choking, spitting and slapping heighten the show. By the way, BDSMers appreciate a denial moment. Carter's sucking wants a workout, "Please daddy, please daddy," she begs, but Steven won't let her. It's all part of the game before she gets her wish.
In the background there's a small statue of a raging bull, typical of a stock broker's office, snorting and bellowing as if awaiting his turn. After the pop, Carter, whose orgasms sweep over her with a dead quiet, dips her fingers into Steven's closing statement and licks away.
Disbelief suspension briefly returns; Steven notes that he now pays all her bills in the best of sugar daddy fashion.
(Note: The Carter/Steven sex scene lasts approximately 28 DVD minutes. At its beginning Steven's watch reads 4:10 and when the sex is a wrap, the clock behind the desk is at 5:55, corresponding closely with the last shot of Steven's watch at 5:50. Breaks discounted, the cinematic results are impressive.
Making a porn movie maximizes budget and time. Most of the money goes to talent who can turn on when the lights are up. Unfortunately, appreciation is rarely extended to editors whose skills foster everyone's success, so kudos to Gabrielle Anex!)
A Virgin?
In the final vignette, "dad" (John Strong) is having sex with everyone but his wife. Though he wants to be a role model for his twenty-year-old stepdaughter (Ava Taylor), an opportunity arises he can't refuse.
Photo courtesy of Sweet Sinner/ Mile High and AVN
The bookwormish, but hardly shy, Ava wants to know how many women he's nailed (a hundred, John replies) and coyly asks if he'd like to deflower a virgin. Dad hopes Ava won't tell her mom because he's game.
"If you weren't my daughter, you'd be naked right now," John says, maximizing his Lothario come-on.
Ava eagerly strips, sporting tats and piercings that highlight a shaved pubis. This is a virgin? Not on your life, but it is the transition moment, dissolving a weird situation in which a sexually well-traveled stepfather is willing to bang his untouched stepdaughter.
Chuckles abound when dad asks if his step sweetie knows how to "suck a cock" and if not, would she like to learn. Of course, that's silly because Ava Taylor is a pro; she deep throats and sticks out her tongue for the pop shot, no virgin here! Suspension of disbelief aside, Ava is an exotic beauty with superb oral skills and a great career in front of her.
This final episode is all in good fun and there is never a moment when the viewer is in doubt this is porn, pure and simple.
Tagged as Alec Knight, Anal sex, Ava Taylor, BDSM, Carter Cruise, Dakota Skye, Digital Sin, Eddie Powell, Jacky St. James, John Strong, Lolita, Penny Pax, Ryan McLane, Steven St. Croix, Tabu Tales
A Suspension of Disbelief
Written and directed by Jacky St. James and filmed by Eddie Powell, Our Father is part of Digital Sin's Tabu Tales series . This is the first of a two part review of the DVD.
Our Father, a series of four vignettes about stepfather/daughter relationships, plays with the incest theme, a taboo familiar to commercial pornography but not frequently filmed.
Jacky St. James and Eddie Power offer up titillating sexual encounters that are a mix of seasoned performers and new entrants into the business. The older man role features four outstanding veteran actors: Steven St. Croix, Alex Knight, Ryan McLane, and John Strong; the younger woman is played by Penny Pax, recent arrivals Dakota Skye and Carter Cruise, and newcomer Ava Taylor.
Of course, a taboo that hints of incest survives on a secret. Because daughter and dad are willing co-conspirators, so to speak, the stepfather must not allow his sexual escapade to bring down his marriage. And, neither sex mate wants to upset an attractive arrangement beneficial to both. The result is a "don't tell mom" collusion that flavors the forbidden intimacy.
But why does a porn film about pseudo incest work when the idea is "gross," as Penny admits in her BTS (Behind the Scenes) segment? The explanation lies in a literary mechanism that convinces the imagination to allow a story, in print or film, to come alive: the willful suspension of disbelief.
Coined by British writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge, suspension of disbelief is the reader's (or viewer's) desire to go along with the improbable for the sake of the story at hand. Logic and the limitations of realism are ditched (sacrificed?) in the name of entertainment. In other words, we can go down the rabbit hole with Alice and delight in the ride.
In Our Father, when the brief plot line of each vignette is established, the viewer engages the story as just that, a story. Disbelief suspension excuses any feelings that the episode is disgusting because it isn't realistic or likely, at least in an ordered society as we know it. To think about it another way, the burden of disbelief lies with the audience, the filmmaker is merely the persuader who constructs the narrative to finesse the viewer's imagination, recognizing that what works for some may not work for all.
Transition Moment
The idea is simple enough, but porn offers an interesting twist, something St. James and Powell skillfully employ. At the "transition moment," the viewer reverses his or her expectation and, consequently, the reason for watching the film. The spectator now settles in for a porn movie in which the sex moves center stage and the larger reality of the performers as step relatives, established in the suspension stage, is set aside. For the duration of the film, a deliberate suspension of disbelief is no longer needed. Now it's people having sex and they could be anybody. The scene survives on the performer's skills and their attractiveness, the heart and soul of a porn shoot.
In fact, despite a brief wrap-up following the pop shot, the viewer is finished with this encounter and disposes of the characters' final comments that are necessary to package the episode. The segment's actual conclusion is an old porn standby dating to the stag film, the camera moves to fade out.
Notice that mom is mentioned in passing but never appears. As a result, she doesn't mess up the arrangement and does not have to be dealt with as a real figure. Guilt is assuaged all around because the wife/mother character remains ethereal; in fact, she is non-existent. The viewer can relish the sex and once it's finished who cares if anyone—family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers—really finds out.
Incidentally, an old stag component—the third party—can be added without skipping a beat. Perhaps an aunt, a cousin, or a neighbor happens onto the scene. No worries because a suspension of disbelief reappears to adjust the storyline, then it's onto the sex especially if the third person jumps right in.
The transition moment is a clever artistic device St. James understands. Without its placement in the script and animated in the directing, an uncomfortable viewer may feel "grossed out" and set the movie aside.
Daddy Theme
Madison Young
Photo courtesy of Jiz Lee
On another level, there is the Daddy theme that requires no willful suspension of disbelief, but can involve suspension of another kind that is not the subject of this review. Sexually submissive filmmaker Madison Young's recent book by the same name discusses the many levels of "Daddy" that operate in the sexual arena, particularly BDSM. It involves the need to please and yield control in a loving relationship that fills a void and stimulates desire within both parties.
St. James' script hints at the Daddy idea, actual relationships some younger women seek with older men that, incidentally, are not unusual within the porn community. For example, twenty-one-year-old Jessa Rhodes admits in the BTS for The Sexual Liberation of Anna Lee that the Daddy complex is her "thing," though at one point she thought is was "so wrong." Porn superstar and BDSM devotee Casey Calvert has always preferred older men, her personal long-term relationship is well into his forties.
Photo courtesy of Twisty's
In other words, age differences do not always require a disbelief suspension but may beg for sociological, cultural, or psychological exploration. Are Madison, Jessa, and Casey playing out a Freudian scenario, a father fixation within a their sexual make-up, or do they simply have a natural attraction for an older man? Or, are they flaunting a society that insists sexual relationships have a narrow age acceptance, unlike generations past? Hard to say, perhaps their real life lovers simply indicate that sexually one size does not fit all.
If porn performers are widely accepting of age difference, then a twenty-something girl having on-screen sex with a man twice her age comes with no qualms or sense of impropriety.
Possibly then, willful suspension of disbelief in incest themes may be easier than at first it seems.
It Feels so Good!
There is an added component. The Daddy/Babygirl or Brat paradigm is not uncommon in the BDSM community where Madison and Casey flourish and Penny Pax often resides. In Our Father, Dakota says to Ryan as the foreplay heats up, "Please fuck me, Daddy." In her spanking scene with Steven, Carter recalls this dynamic when she responds to his pronouncement that she's a "manipulative little brat" with "I want my daddy to spank me." This is language that is the lifeblood of BDSM age play.
Jacky with the cute and cuddly Penny Pax.
The fetish community's Daddy/Babygirl dynamic carries over to non-BDSM porn with the power exchange. In the first episode of Our Father, dad's pride in his daughter and her sexual performance is part of that energy. Penny says to Alex at one point, "It feels so good," and wants to know if he's enjoying himself in a hoped for verification that they are sharing the moment. Sitting on the younger side of the age dynamic, Penny wants to please, complimenting Alex with "Daddy, you fuck me so good." In the case of Carter and Steven, the daughter plays the power card in the beginning to get what she wants, the dominating father figure who'll pay her bills, then allows the power interchange to reverse course to reside in his command over her.
In truth, power exchange is found in all sexual relationships. The playing field is never level and Eddie Powell's brilliant cinematography captures this imbalance by focusing on faces and expressions. In traditional porn, pleasure is individualized, just as it is for the viewer who uses the film to "get off." Unfortunately, that can disconnect performers from each other in gonzo type shoots that mute their abilities as actors. Eddie Powell never lets that happen. His close-ups move the eroticism along with a sensuality that complements the hardcore penetration.
Unlike porn romances, parodies, or BDSM fetishes, the art of making an incest-oriented movie is to assure the viewer that he or she can become a voyeur for voyeur's sake once the story line is established then silenced via a transition. In other words, to appreciate the sex show for what it is, the sexual situation along with the characters' attitudes and desires must be muted. The taboo may lurk in the back of the mind, but the viewer knows that the director and the performers are in on the game.
In the part two of this review, each vignette will be examined with their respective transition moments noted.
Tagged as Alex Knight, Ava Taylor, Carter Cruise, Casey Calvert, Daddy Complex, Daddy/Babygirl, Dakota Skye, Digital Sin, Eddie Powell, incest porn, Jacky St. James, Jessa Rhodes, John Strong, Madison Young, Our Father, Penny Pax, Ryan McLane, Steven St. Croix, Tabu Tales, The Sexual Liberation of Anna Lee
Is That Something You Can Live With?
Proud Parents is B Skow at his cleverest, a parody of porn history and a history of porn told tongue-in-cheek. Skow presents an inside look at adult film with a movie within a movie that entertains a question every parent faces.
The sex scenes are top notch with three standout women, India Summer, Lily LeBeau, and the incomparable Casey Calvert. There's enough nastiness in that trio to guarantee the success of any adult film.
The movie opens with Stan (Steven St. Croix) and Marge (India Summer) being interviewed by an unseen film director (B Skow). After meeting on a porn set—it was "love at first thrust," Stan says—they married in 1982. Porn has brought Stan and Marge a comfortable home with a swimming pool they never use and enough money to pay for their daughter's elite education.
Though their conversation has the casual appearance of a BTS (Behind the Scenes) segment that is common in today's DVDs, Stan and Marge are actually talking with the documentary filmmaker who is following their daughter Casey (Casey Calvert). Unbeknown to her parents, she plans to enter the business and is set to do her first shoot.
Skow establishes the tone for the film when it's revealed that Casey grew up around porn. Despite the opportunities the business has provided them, Stan and Marge are adamantly opposed to Casey following in their footsteps.
The Happy Family.
Jamie Gillis, the rough-sex porn icon of 1980s and 1990s—the era of the VCR and white nose powder all around—is offhandedly mentioned. When Stan and Marge move into the film's first sex scene at the request of the documentary filmmaker, the legendary Marilyn Chambers' oral skills on Gillis in Insatiable II (1984) are recalled. Marge drops her head over the bedside for Stan's pleasure in a salute to Chambers. At film's end, Casey Calvert will offer another round of the same.
A Garage Studio
When Casey shows up for her first shoot in garage studio (the American dream often starts in a garage), Skow presents a hilarious 1980s moment. A dude named Leonard bops in wearing a tacky two piece outfit that thankfully is locked away in pop culture's disco past. In this uncredited cameo, Richie Calhoun tries vainly to produce wood for his scene with Casey. It's hopeless, of course, because he's really the late John Holmes, cokehead extraordinaire, whose droopiness couldn't respond to the best oral efforts of Marilyn Chambers in Up and Coming (1983).
Casey moves in to handle the casting couch on her own.
1980s cheesiness is not all rotten apples, however. When Casey's identity is accidentally exposed, the garage director, Jean Kreem (Scott Lyons) is ready to drop her like an overheated halogen lamp. To save the day she reverses the casting couch schtick (they are on a couch, literally). She sucks him off. All the while Jean takes on a bizarre, wild-eyed look. Remember the fantasies of 1980s filmmaker, Rinse Dream (aka F. X. Pope), whose Night Dreams I, II, and III (1981, '89, '91) are avant-garde classics to this day?
The garage has a green screen and in an all-too-short segment, Casey's friend Franny (Aiden Ashley) has a brief fling with porn newcomer, Keisha Grey. It's steamy, but nothing like Franny and Casey's earlier scene for the documentary guy.
Challenging Casey's career decision, the director suggests that sex for money is different from loving sex. Casey's answer is to have a good grind with her friend in his presence. Beyond the finger banging and oral with a scissors wrap-up, what makes the Casey/Franny scene top quality is their slutty demeanor. In warming up for her best sex, Casey's eyes narrow with a wantonness that is deviously framed in a puckered brow. It's the Casey Calvert erotic trademark. Like a cat ready to strike, Casey draws back a little before feasting on her lover with a smuttiness that redefines salacious. On the other hand, Aiden is demure and dreamy, but when the action starts is as aggressive as Casey.
Photo source unknown
"Does that answer your question?" Casey says, finishing up with Franny.
To add an exclamation point to her performance, Casey crawls across the bed toward the director and as the camera focuses on her chest and neck, muffled slurping is heard. Remember a teenaged Traci Lord's rep for doing everyone on the set?
Gonzo Implanted in a Feature
B Skow shoots the garage sequences in the reality TV mode popularized in porn with John Stagliano's Buttman series. By the 1990s, gonzo, as the style came to be known, was appropriated for all-sex productions. Close-ups of anal and oral thrusting moved to the front of the line. Skow pays tribute to Stagliano with over-the-shoulder POV shots, including Franny's tongue on Keisha's crotch. The final sexcapade between Casey and Kurt Lockwood ends with a splashy facial (Casey is careful to keep her eyes closed), gonzo to the core.
Skow's camera moves about in Stagliano style, not always removing objects around the cluttered garage. With sex scenes hastily set up in an amateurish way, Proud Parents seems like an off-the-cuff production. In truth, it's a carefully crafted tribute to porn in the new century, gonzo implanted in a feature.
The threesome with the strap-on attachment at hand.
An eventual three-way between Stan, Marge, and Casey's friend Zooey (Lily LaBeau) is superb, proving that Skow's sex scenes are rich and diverse. During Zooey's oral work on Stan, cameras drift in and out of picture adding moments of delightful confusion. In one part of the sequence, Stan holds the camera that is shooting Zooey's efforts and a crewman's foot is spotted momentarily.
This is porn set reality. Things and people get in the way inadvertently and because of limited budgets, retakes don't happen and editing doesn't cover it all. Proud Parents is a commentary on how movies are made.
There is much in the threesome to be appreciated, though one shot stands out. Skow moves his camera above the action when Stan doggies Marge, Marge munches Zooey, and she kisses Stan. Later when Zooey moves to the floor, a cameraman hands Marge a strap-on. Priceless.
Zooey and Marge warming up.
Raised in the Wild
Shoot cancelled, a disappointed Casey comes home reluctant to deal with her parents. The documentary director persuades her to give it a try, saying, "They raised a horse in the wild and they don't expect it wants to run?"
When Casey finds a note her parents are out, her agent, Mark Spiegler, calls with a booking (Casey Calvert is a highly regarded Spiegler girl, by the way). Excited, the determined neophyte returns to the garage to be surprised by her parents and her old babysitter, their good friend Kurt (Kurt Lockwood), who refused to do Casey in the earlier scrapped scene.
Everything is a go now. Before they start, Kurt mentions the reality of a porn career. "Every day on the set, you're going to do something you regret," he says to Casey. "Question is, is that something you can live with?"
Like loving parents supporting their child's first game, play, party, what have you, Marge and Stan are there to videotape the launch of Casey's career. In hot sex with Kurt there is a standing sixty-nine, Casey positions her head upside down in front of his crotch in the best of gonzo acrobatics.
Oh yes, like Marge and Marilyn Chambers before her, Casey drops her head over the couch to fellate Kurt again. Stan later comes in to pause the action for the stills. In a reverse anal cowgirl, Casey seduces his camera with her signature expression, eyes of determined pleasure, as he clicks away.
"She's going to have a great career," Kurt says.
Who, then, are the Proud Parents in this film? Don't be deceived by the obvious, because there is a twist to come. In a porn movie about making a porn movie with an embedded documentary film to drive the story, possibilities abound.
Not long ago, I talked with B Skow about the comeback of the feature, a vehicle that he admires and is able to supplement with gonzo elements that satisfy a modern audience.
Though the DVD does not sustain the popularity of the video tape when that was a viewer's only option, it survives with verve because people want to own things, he says, "they want to have it somewhere."
"If you make something interesting, there's a crowd [for it]," Skow believes. The crowd does not have to be huge, it just needs to exist.
Girlfriends Films' award-winning boy/girl director proves his point with each of his productions. Proud Parents sold out in two weeks of its release, unheard of in today's market. But it is no wonder, B Skow has built a following with films he rightly considers art.
When I asked about Casey Calvert, Skow's praise is effusive. "She's one of the top," he exclaims, "a girl that loves what she does."
"Loves what she does."
Photo courtesy of Casey Calvert
Casey Calvert treats Skow with similar enthusiasm.
"B Skow is very easy to work with. He pretty much lets us do whatever ideas we have," she comments. He avoids over directing the sex scenes "unless he needs something super specific." When I inquire about shooting with Kurt Lockwood, Casey references their creativity. "Skow sets up three cameras and just lets us do our thing," she explains, "Kurt and I made up that last scene as we went."
Though we don't get into the MILF aspect of the film, Casey praises my favorite mature couple in porn.
"I LOVE India. Steven has played my dad in multiple movies, but we have never had sex. I like him. He's very professional and a good actor," she beams.
No doubt India and Steven have similar praise for Casey. There is a reason why these top tier performers appear on the boxcover; it's all about competency, responsibility, and a personal pride in their work.
Tagged as Aiden Ashley, B.Skow, Casey Calvert, F.X. Pope, Girfriends Films, gonzo porn, India Summer, Jamie Gillis, Keisha Grey, Kurt Lockwood, Lily LaBeau, Marilyn Chambers, Proud Parents, Rinse Dream, Scott Lyons, Steven St. Croix
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Director Billy Watson Finishes the Job
A Commentary on Monxa Mala: Part Two
A Commentary on Monxa Mala: Part One
Sofie Marie: Part Two, Micro Bikinis and Solo Cams
Sofie Marie: Part One, Girl in Charge
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3hattergrindhouse · Adult Film from an East Coast View


I'm always astonished when people say it doesn't work, but it is THE THING that is working the best for me and for coaches I work with….when done right. All of those saying, "It doesn't work," just don't have a clue, or, at best, it was one of the things that just didn't work for them. Good luck to them. Hopefully they do have things that do work for them.
Bushel baskets of leads in the top – You need to put a lot of leads into the top of your clickfunnels review 2018. This mean you need to get a lot of traffic to your capture page. I recommend using a variety of free and paid methods to do this. The more people that see your capture page, the better the probability you will find some people that are really interested in what you have to offer.


text:
Вішварупа ("універсальна форма", "Омні-форма"), виходячи з санскритського слова Вішва, також відомий як Вішварупа Даршан, Вішварупа і "Вірата рупа, є іконоґрафічна форма і Богоявлення Вішну або Крішни. Пряме об'явлення Єдиного без Другого, Пана-Хазяїна Всесвіту. Хоча є кілька богоявлень Вішварупи, найвідоміша є у Бгаґавад-Ґіті, "Пісні Бога", дане Крішною в епосі Махабгарата, яку розказано царевичу Пандавів Арджуні на полі бою Курукшетра під час війни в Махабхараті між Пандавами і Кауравами. Вішварупа вважається вищою формою Вішну, де весь Всесвіт описаний як такий, що міститься у Ньому, і походять від Нього, всі форми життя і чотири варни з людей, які він створив для добробуту людства: браміни народжуються з голови Вірати Рупи, а кшатрії від грудей, ваішйі зі стегон і шудри народжуються зі стіп Вірати Рупи.

Форми і іпостасі Вішну

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Which Visa is Right for Me?
Should I move to Australia?
Martin Darke has spent most of his working life overseas. In 1998 Martin was living and working in Hong Kong as the Director of Executive Recruitment and Human Resources Consulting for Ernst & Young. He moved to Australia in 1996 to new and exciting career challenges, culminating in eight years proudly supporting people with disabilities. Martin recently returned to his home town of Nottingham in the UK to reconnect with old friends and reach out to new ones. Martin has a wry, dry sense of humour and has agreed to write a number of blogs that reflect his personal perspective on Australia and Australians … warts and all!
If you get the chance to live and work in Australia, just do it. Millions of people all over the world have this aspiration, but very few achieve it. I'm one of the fortunate ones. Back in 1996, when my (then) wife and I landed in Melbourne, we genuinely believed we had won the lotto. We felt that good. We felt so lucky.
Do I miss Hong Kong? No. Do I miss Oz? No. Circumstances dictated that the best thing for me to do with my life, aged 65, was to come back to Britain, and I am very, very happy with my decision. I'm even looking forward to experiencing a British winter again. After all, 60m Brits put up with it!
I still have loads of friends in Hong Kong, and love going back for a holiday, but the pollution is horrendous. I have very few friends in Oz, but I was privileged to live in such a vast and beautiful continent with such unique wildlife, and one day (thanks to my dual citizenship) I may well return and undertake that dream I still have of joining those 150,000 'Grey Nomads' and visiting some of those 8,000 beautiful beaches in my motorhome equipped with all mod cons.
But all that lies ahead. What matters is now, and whether you make that decision. The purpose of this blog (warts and all) is to help you make that decision. Should I stay or should I go? That reminds me of a song.
EasiVisa is passionate about providing our clients with the best possible visa services. We focus on Skilled Sponsored Migration, Skilled Independent Migration, Business Migration and Family Visas. Our team of qualified migration professionals provide support to a wide range of Australian businesses needing skilled workers from overseas, as well as individuals seeking to come to Australia.
Copyright © 2019 EasiVisa. All rights reserved.


What is the most expensive breed?
While looking at the Friday paper I seen CKC registered Stephens Curs for sale at $200, I also seen an add for a CKC registered Yorkshire terrier for $1800, now that is a big diffrence in price for these breeds and it made me wounder why the big price gap in breeds?
What is the most expensive breed of dog out there or what is the cheapest?
The most expensive I have seen here are English Bulldogs, going for £1800 each.
Cheapest pure bred dog is probably Border Collies, most of them go for free around here as there are so many of them and loads of people have pups. Although apparently on the mainland where they are less common people actually PAY for border collies which is new to me!
I'm guessing it varies in each country though. Because some dogs will be rare and some virtually unheard of in some places and could be really common in other countries making them cheap.
Like when I first joined this forum, I have never heard or seen an ACD. Or a rat terrier. As far as I know there are no rat terriers in the UK. Never heard an ACD mentioend here either, so if someone in the UK wanted one it would cost a fortune to get one.
Stephnes Curs are a hunting dog, I think some kind of hound.
That is one cute puppy. Breed or pure bred. There are very expensive cross breeds but don't want to start a fight.
Missy this breed sales on this link cheap. I would venture to say that the Caucasian Mountain Dog is alot higher in prices. Not pretty to me but useful dogs. Check this link of a breeder of this breed, somebody is pricing toooo high?? http://www.blackmouthcur.com/sandridge_kennel.htm Now these dogs are not bad, but I would have no use for one, too lanky looking. short coats however and also useful.
I paid £70 for my border collie, I think that's about $40 in the states, however, I paid £140 for my greyhoundXsaluki. (about $80 in the states).
I have no idea what the most expensive breeds would be. It all is down to personal preference though isn't it? It might not be expensive in £'s, but they are worth so much more as companions. I'm sure if I bought a dog for a million pounds it would but as good a friend as a dog I rehomed for nothing!
DonnaSim, £70 would be roughly $130.
Melissa, the Dogue de bordeuax works out as £1238 roughly, so here the bulldog would still be the most expensive.
I believe the english bulldog is highly expensive I paid $1500 us dollars for ours only to have constant skin problems, breathing etc. It is just what you like, what you find worth the money regardless and is paying alot for any kind make sure u get warrantys or guarantees on it be it mix, rare, etc. We all have our own likes and will pay most anything to obtain an ownership of a puppy regardless. No reason to start fights it is a matter of opinions. Some breeders are money hungry and breed junk, come price reasonalbe and you get an even better puppy, so plunge into whatever fits your needs, wants and likes. No matter the price, just wanted to let you know Missy that I found a cheap breeder for the dog in your book, ha ha. No kiddn we all love certain breeds and will pay. It is a personal choice and our money spent.


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text:
China launches first satellite for space-based broadband to rival Google
China launched its first communication satellite to provide broadband internet services worldwide in an apparent bid to rival Google and other international firms.It is the first in the Hongyun project planned by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.
The Hongyun project, started in September 2016.
Bank credit grows by 15.07%, deposits by 9.66%
According to the latest RBI data, Bank credit rose at a healthy 15.07 percent to Rs 92.03 trillion in the fortnight to December 7, while deposits grew 9.66 percent to Rs 118.84 trillion.In the year-ago fortnight, advances were at 79.98 trillion.
RBI Governor- Shaktikant Das
Odisha Government Announces 10,000 Crores Scheme For Farmers Development
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a Rs. 10,000-crore the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme for the overall development of farmers in the state.
KALIA will accelerate agricultural prosperity in the state.
Government to meet fiscal deficit target of 3.3%
The GST Council, headed by the finance minister in its 31stmeeting expressed confidence of meeting the fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent of GDP for the current fiscal despite revenue loss due to reduction in GST rates.
Finance minister of India- Arun Jaitley.
Indigo signs codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines
To expand its international footprint, IndiGo announced that it has entered into its first codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines, allowing either of the airlines to book seats for its passengers on each other's flight.
IndiGo CEO- Rahul Bhatia.
CCI clears Hitachi Payment's 26% stake buy in SBI Payment Services
The Competition Commission of India approved the acquisition of 26% stake by Hitachi Payment Services in SBI Payment Services. It also gave green signal to Ageas Insurance International's acquisition of 40% equity share in Royal Sundaram General Insurance.
Devender Kumar Sikri- CCI Chairman.
Information Fusion Centre inaugurated near Delhi for Indian Ocean Region nations
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) for the countries of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) for information sharing and capability building, coordination of incident response and disaster relief is also covered.
The Navy has already signed the agreement with 21 countries.
India's stock market is 7th biggest in the world with m-cap of $2.1 trn
India's ranking improved two notches in the league table of the world's biggest stock markets. Currently, India ranks 7th with a market cap of $2.1 trillion. At the end of 2017, India was at the 9th position despite its market cap being $2.4 trillion.
Ranking topped by USA followed by China.
UN grants permanent observer status to China-led AIIB
The United Nations has granted permanent observer status to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Following a resolution passed by UN member states ,now it can observe the deliberations of both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.
AIIB - Beijing-based multilateral development bank.
Govt forms logistics development committee
Govt. forms Committee to assess key challenges & suggest reforms in logistics development and associated commerce. Boosting trade and making India a simple and easy place for doing business are integral part of the economic priorities of the Government.
Chairman of the committee- Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman EAC-PM.
National Mathematics Day - 22nd December
131st birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan celebrated as National Mathematics Day. His work has had a fundamental role in the development of modern mathematics.At the age of 31, he was one of the youngest members of Britain's Royal Society.
He was the 1st Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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O's goalkeeper Charlie Grainger was out in the community recently to help hand out awards at the Ridgeway Rovers fundraising day at the Peter May Sports Ground in Walthamstow.
The O's have a good relationship with Rovers as Kevin Lisbie and Lee Butcher visited the club last season and Charlie was on hand to meet and greet youngsters and offers some advice to the young players.
Louise Moody, Fundraising Co-ordinator for Ridgeway Rovers, said, "We were really pleased Charlie could make it. We have a good relationship with Leyton Orient and it's really great of the players to come down and meet our young players and hand out awards. He was a big hit and we wish him and the club all the best for the new season."


text:
<?php

namespace common\models\property;

use Yii;

/**
 *
 * @property string $electric_power
 * @property integer $electric_power_increase
 *
 * @property string $electricPowerIncreaseString
 * @property string $electricPowerString
 */
class Office extends Space
{
    const TYPE = 'office';

    public function getElectricPowerIncreaseArray() {
        return [
            '0' => 'невозможно',
            '1' => 'возможно',
        ];
    }

    public static function find() {
        return new SpaceQuery(get_called_class(), ['type' => self::TYPE]);
    }

    public function getType(){
      return self::TYPE;
    }

    public function rules() {
        return array_merge(parent::rules(), array(
            ['electric_power_increase', 'boolean'],
            ['electric_power', 'number'],
        ));
    }

    public function attributeLabels() {
        return array_merge(parent::attributeLabels(), [
            'space_useful' => Yii::t('app', 'Полезная площадь, кв.м.'),
            'electric_power' => Yii::t('app', 'Присоединенная мощность электричества, кВт'),
            'electric_power_increase' => Yii::t('app', 'Увеличение мощности'),
            'space_num' => Yii::t('app', 'Номер помещения (БТИ, если применимо)'),
        ]);
    }

    /*
     * Getter'ы для полей модели в строковом представлении
    */

    public function getElectricPowerIncreaseString() {
        $arr = $this->getElectricPowerIncreaseArray();
        $key = $this->electric_power_increase;
        return array_key_exists($key, $arr) ? $arr[$key] : null;
    }

    public function getElectricPowerString() {
        return $this->electric_power != null ? $this->electric_power.' '.Yii::t('app', 'кВт.') : null;
    }

    public function beforeSave($insert) {
        $this->type = self::TYPE;
        return parent::beforeSave($insert);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
New audit says San Diego must revamp employee discipline, rewards, performance reviews
ByRichard Moran
City is facing retention problems, loss of institutional knowledge, with its 11,800-member workforce
By Richard Moran
Richard Moran loves to write about sports with the Golden State Online. Before that, he worked as a senior writer at ESPN. Richard grew up in San Diego and graduated from the University of San Diego in 2004, after which he worked as an editor for five years.
Thirty-five Years of Interviewing Amazing Survivors Yields Patterns of Success That Can Help Everyone
Bob DeGrasse, Professional Recruiter & Founder of SignatureSoft Takes Advantage of This Red-Hot Job Market to Place His 1,000th Candidate Over His 30-Year Career in the High-Tech Industry!
Printron Assists Clients in Producing Award-Winning Packaging in a Collaborative Work Environment
EcoGen America is One of the Premier Solar Companies in Tallahassee, FL, Offering First-Rate Services
Champion Concrete Contractors is a Trusted Lexington Contractor Offering First-rate Services


text:
Should a Series be Continued After its Author's Death?
April 13, 2015 April 13, 2015 John Guillen30 Comments
I read a post this weekend that got thinking about this very thing.
Have you ever been reading a series and then the author suddenly dies before finishing it? And another author is tasked with continuing the series. I have, though I'm not near the end of the series just yet. In 2010 Robert B. Parker died suddenly before he could finish either of his most popular series (Spenser and Jesse Stone). In the years since his death there have been 11 books written in three of his series by various authors. And I think all have been New York Times bestsellers.
I don't know how I feel about this. Wait, actually I know exactly how I feel. These characters will not go on forever. Eventually there will be an end to their respective series, and I don't like knowing that Parker will not be able to be the one to finish them. I think the first two or three books published after his death were unfinished manuscripts he'd had when he died. But I think it's safe to say that the new books being released at this point are hardly the creation of Parker.
I understand that it sucks that he happened to die before he could finish his series. But if given the choice of continuing the series written by other authors or finishing where he left off, I'm not sure what my pick will be. I have plenty of books left before I reach that point, but this hopefully doesn't become a trend.
What do you think? Want your favorite series to be continued after the author dies or not?
book series, books, Jesse Stone, publishing, publishing books after author's death, question, reading, robert b. parker, Spenser, writing
Baseball is Back (poem)
If you Could Meet one Author, who would it be?
30 thoughts on "Should a Series be Continued After its Author's Death?"
bkraine says:
If its done well, I say yes. Though I totally get your argument against. When the Dragonriders torch got passed from Anne to Todd McCaffrey, I don't know that it was done well so much as that I was just so happy to be back in the world of Pern. But at least that torch was passed with Anne's blessing. Otherwise, it's really not much more than fanfic, is it?
Hmmm. I guess it all depends on how well they are done. If George R.R. Martin dies before he finishes his Game of Thrones series (which is entirely possible) something will need to be done. I think it will have to finished.
I believe G.R.R.M. has said that he doesn't want anyone else to complete the books if he dies before they're completed but he has provided the tv show with an outline of how he expects the series to end which may or may not match up with what we eventually get when he finishes the books.
That's actually a pretty good compromise.
Which part?
I don't know if I would see the story as authentic if someone completed the series or story other than the original author. There's no way another person can have the same ideas, thoughts, and/or intentions that the original author had. There is no telling how the original author would have finished the series or story. However, if I was a big fan of the series then I would probably read the future releases just to see how the story played out.
Hmmm. You're exactly right. One author can never get inside the head of the other. I still haven't read any of the new books written by the new authors, and I'm not I ever will.
This happened to the Wheel of Time series. Robert Jordan died before he could finish his 14 story epic. His wife selected Brandon Sanderson to finish them. At a recent signing Brandon spoke about how much Jordan left him to work with. And while the the first of the three had extensive drafting, the second had almost nothing. Just a rough outline. But the third and final installment had a thorough outline with notes.
Obviously, the stories would have been different if Jordan would have been able to finish them. But, Jordan's wife wanted Sanderson to finish them, called him at his house. You can't argue with a widow's request.
I disagree. How hard would it be to say you're not the man for the job or that you're working on your own stuff? Not hard. Parker's family also made the decision for his books. Doesn't make it the right decision.
4ukpe says:
I disagree with your disagreement, the purpose of writing a book is that others would read them, the purpose of telling a story is that others would listen to the end. I've read the wheel of time series, and even if, as a die hard brandon fan I'm biased, I still feel it was the right decision. He did a good job, what you're proposing can be likened to leaving a building uncompleted just because the head architect, who just happens to have all the main drive for the project, meets his demise.
That's fine.
It all depends on how the new author handles the characters and the story. The Spencer and Jesse Stone books have stayed very close to Mr. Parker's writing style so the change is less jarring. When Tony Hillerman died and his daughter wrote another book in the Leaphorn/Chee series, I was sadly disappointed in the book.
Really? Then why has Michael Brandman been replaced for the Jesse Stone novels?
Diane Brander says:
If the previous book was written in such a way that the story is more or less concluded (maybe a few questions might be left unanswered) I don't think there is a need to continue. If it is left wide open, perhaps one book could be written by someone with a similar style to close it off. Basically, I'm not sure where I stand on this!
Haha well I don't think a series necessarily needs finality to be considered good. I think I'd be okay with one book, but it just seems like that'd rarely be the case.
J.R.Barker says:
I wouldn't mind if said author passed the baton onto another, but it would annoy me to read several different outcomes from several different authors.
But why would an author do that? I think most would want to finish their series on their own.
Some that know their death is imminent, such as Terry Pratchett, pass on the care of their work, if the author trusts them then so do I.
I'm anti other people finishing someone's work. If an author dies, hopefully the family would know his/her wishes. Or at least know them well enough to make the right decision. If it were me, and I died before my series ended, I wouldn't want someone else to tell the story. It's MY story. That may seem rude and territorial, but that's how I feel. I MIGHT be okay with my family giving away tidbits about how the series would have ended, but I would not be okay with someone else writing it.
Exactly! Why did no one think about what they would want if it were their series? The family always makes the choice, but they can't be counted on. They have a financial stake in continuing a popular series. Most people like money.
I know. It makes me sick. Whatever happened to writing being an art? Why don't the families remember that?
Because they aren't writing. To them, writing is a source of income.
Barb Knowles says:
I'm pretty sure that I was in utero when Robert Ludlum started to write. I read all of his books and was devastated when he died. But I'm guessing now that he's written more from "the other side" than when he was alive. And I stopped reading those a long time ago.
Yep. Parker started writing in the 70s. I wasn't even a thought yet. I'll decide on the books in his series he didn't write when I get to them. Probably won't read them.
I loved Parker. I would have loved to be his next door neighbor . So far so good on his post-mortem books. I'm wonder how many unfinished manuscripts he has floating around.
I'd say zero. There's already been 11 books written after his death. No way he had even that many outlines or manuscripts. These are stories that aren't his, but feature his characters.
charlotte49 says:
There've been some interesting additions to the Agatha Christie and James Bond books. Always interests me to see how contemporary authors interpret and add their own stamp to the works of deceased authors esp when a few decades have passed. But nothing beats an original in my view.
I've never read a book written like that. But I agree completely, nothing beats an original.


We demonstrate using multi-layered networks, the existence of an empirical linkage between the dynamics of the financial network constructed from the market indices and the macroeconomic networks constructed from macroeconomic variables such as trade, foreign direct investments, etc. for several countries across the globe. The temporal scales of the dynamics of the financial variables and the macroeconomic fundamentals are very different, which make the empirical linkage even more interesting and significant. Also, we find that there exist in the respective networks, core-periphery structures (determined through centrality measures) that are composed of similar set of countries—a result that may be related through the 'gravity model' of the country-level macroeconomic networks. Thus, from a multi-lateral openness perspective, we elucidate that for individual countries, larger trade connectivity is positively associated with higher financial return correlations. Furthermore, we show that the Economic Complexity Index and the equity markets have a positive relationship among themselves, as is the case for Gross Domestic Product. The data science methodology using network theory, coupled with standard econometric techniques constitute a new approach to studying multi-level economic phenomena in a comprehensive manner.
ASC acknowledges the support by the institute grant (R&P), IIM Ahmedabad. AC and KS acknowledge the support by grant number BT/BI/03/004/2003(C) of Govt. of India, Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Bioinformatics division, DST-PURSE of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, and University of Potential Excellence-II grant (Project ID-47) of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. KS acknowledges the University Grants Commission (Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India) for her senior research fellowship.


With Christmas just around the corner, you might be thinking about buying a puppy to join your family.
But there are puppies being illegally transported into our country each year and it is important to make sure that you buy from a licenced breeder.
New legislation came into effect in October 2018, overhauling current animal licensing laws and providing East Northamptonshire Council (ENC) with more powers to combat puppy smuggling in the district.
Dog breeders operating as a business, must now apply for a licence from East Northamptonshire Council. Adverts selling pets must include a photograph of the pet, the country of origin and residence of pet, licence number and the name of the local authority issuing the licence.
Officers at ENC are able to suspend, vary and revoke licences where conditions are not being complied with, where the law is being breached or where it is necessary to protect animal welfare. If the council becomes aware of dog breeding taking place without a licence, officers are also able to investigate with a view to prosecuting the individuals concerned.
"The recent changes in legislation will enable our officers to help stop puppies being sold illegally in our district, and ensure residents have the essential information to make sure that they are buying pets from a responsible breeder.


Toyota introduced Fortuner for the very time in India by 2009. Since its launch, Toyota Fortuner SUV has a good demand and sold over 41,000 units in the Indian market.
The facelifted version launched in 2012 Auto Expo with a four-speed automatic transmission. As per the customer feedback, the 4-speed automatic gearbox is replaced with a new 5-speed auto'box.
The Toyota Fortuner engine is powered by a 3-litre diesel engine that has a peak power of 169 bhp and a peak torque of 343 Nm. The Fortuner offers a fuel efficiency of about 10.8 kmpl. The four wheeler is built on the IMV platform, which is shared by the Toyota Innova and the Toyota Hilux.
The exterior changes include the tail lamps with new design and a large chrome plate with "FORTUNER" marked on it. When came to inside, the vehicle uses good quality materials for the interior designing. The vehicle comes equipped with Touch-screen system, Bluetooth connectivity, new improved music system with DVD, cruise control and leather upholstery. For the first two rows, the vehicle has enough space for both the knee room and head room. But the third row is best suited for kids only.
The limited-edition model, TRD Sportivo(introduced in October 2012) variant got a high demand, so company turned it to regular variant. The Sportivo edition cost Rs. 60,000 more than the regular version and it come with a new sporty front bumper, TRD decals, a roof spoiler, a redesigned rear bumper, more chrome and dual tone colours.
The Toyota Fortuner 4×4 manual transmission has no changes and continues to be one of the best selling Fortuner models. For the past few months, Toyota has been selling an average of 1,200 units of Fortuner. After the launch of the 4×2 manual and automatic variants in January 2012, the sales increased by around 900 units. The 4×2 automatic transmission has got a lot of appreciation from the customers.
The new five-speed Fortuner 4x2 AT is available at a price tag of Rs 22.3 lakh, the TRD Sportivo 4x2 AT TRD Sportivo (5 speed) is available at a price tag of Rs 22.93 lakh and the MT TRD Sportivo 4x2 is available at price tag Rs 21.96 lakh (at ex-showroom, Delhi). The pearl mica white colour that was only available in the Sportivo edition, is now available on all variants. The Fortuner 5-speed automatic Fortuner will compete with the Ford Endeavour, Hyundai Santa Fe and Renault Koleos. The new Fortumer has a powerful engine with an improved drivability and performance.
Last updated on 18-03-2013. Published on 18-03-2013.


AnMed Health will pay the U.S.
AnMed Health, a not-for-profit South Carolina health system and affiliate of the Carolina Health Care System (CHS), has agreed to pay close to $8 million to the U.S. government as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over a False Claims Act lawsuit.
The suit alleges that AnMed Health violated federal law by submitting false claims to Medicare and other federal payors, stating that physicians were present in the supervision of radiology and oncology services. The allegations within the suit were brought forth by whistleblower Linda Jainniney, a former radiation oncology manager for AnMed Health.
The False Claims Act prevents individuals and companies from defrauding the government, allowing individuals with information on false claims or overcharges to come forward.
Jainniney filed claims on behalf of the U.S. government against the health system, CHS and other defendants, after urging AnMed management, physicians and staff, as well as CHS employees, for several years to require the presence of a radiation oncologist to oversee treatment of cancer patients.
The suit also accuses AnMed Health of using inaccurate billing codes to charge Medicare and other federal payors for emergency room nurse and nurse-practitioner services, thereby falsely suggesting that physicians were overseeing these services, and its Minor Care Facility of billing Medicare at rates for a Type B Emergency Department despite not qualifying as one.
Under the terms of the settlement, AnMed Health will pay the government $7,073,000 while agreeing to resolve the allegations against it, and has entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
AnMed Health recently reached another settlement in June, in which it agreed to pay HHS $1,295,000 over allegations of violating the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) by holding people with psychiatric conditions in its emergency room instead of admitting them as inpatients. The settlement is the largest to date under the EMTALA.
It will pay Jainniney $850,000 to resolve her claims of retaliation under the False Claims Act. Of the amount paid to the government, Jainniney will be awarded $1.2 million.
Moss says that he hopes that the case encourages providers to make sure that physicians are present to oversee treatment and care for patients.


text:
Tamron Hall Married, Bio Husband, Age, Boyfriend, Salary, Dating and Net Worth
Updated on April 23rd, 2022
Tamron Hall is an NBC News national reporter who has always been dedicated to answering questions, anchoring NewsNation, and being known as a hot and beautiful American journalist.
Quick Facts of Tamron Hall
Tamron's Salary And Profession
Has Tamron's Husband Found Out About His Dating Affair?
Biography of Tamron Hall
TV Presenter
Steven Greener
Boyfriend/Dating
Lawrence O'Donnell (Rumored- 2011)
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Mary Newton (Mother), Clarence Newton Sr (Step-father)
Renate (step-sister)
Tamron Hall began her career as a general assignment reporter at KTVT in Dallas, Texas, before moving on to NBC News and NBC's Today Show as a national correspondent.
Tamron Hall, an NBC News and NBC's Today Show national correspondent, has a net worth of $5 million and a salary of $1 million.
From 1992 to 1994, Hall worked for the KBTX channel, which was also her first foray into the media, before moving on to the KTVT channel, WFLD channel, and MSNBC since 2007. Hall has also served as a replacement host for 'Orange Space' and 'news on Today.' She also co-anchors "Today's Take," which airs during the third hour of Today.
Hall is best known for her work on the Investigation Discovery Network's 'Deadline: Crime,' but she has also received several awards, including an Emmy in 2010, a Lew Klein Alumni in the Media award from Temple University, and most recently, a 'Edward R. Murrow Award' for her older sister's coverage of domestic violence in 2016.
Many reports about Tamron's relationship with Lawrence O'Donnell, an American political analyst and journalist, emerged in the media in 2011, causing confusion among the public; however, the couple never verified the rumors, and because of her low-key lifestyle, people also believed that she was a lesbian or bisexual, which she denied.
Despite keeping a low profile, she admitted that she had a boyfriend in the music industry, and it was later revealed that she secretly married her boyfriend, Steven Greene.
She recently revealed on Instagram that she and her husband are expecting their first child and that they are ecstatic to welcome their child two months later.
The happily married couple is now living together without any signs of divorce or separation.
Tamron Hall, a 48-year-old American broadcast journalist, was born in 1970 in Luling, Texas, and she celebrates her birthday on September 15th.
Find out more about Andrew Frankel's wiki, age, marriage, and wife, Bridget Moynahan, as well as his net worth.
Hall holds the American nationality and is well-known as a broadcasting journalist of Afro-American descent, having earned her bachelor's degree credential from Temple University.
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King Bach
Flavia Cacace Biography,Age,Family,Husband,Baby and Strictly
Yasmeen Stafford