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"For how many of you, is this your New Year's Eve?" Dean asked from the Old Ironsides stage to the crowd of a couple hundred enthusiastic, middle-aged rock and roll fans. A unanimous roar of confirmation erupted, as I think a great many of my fellow forty- and fifty-somethings were very happy to be celebrating New Year's Eve on December 30, on a beautiful, cold, Sacramento Saturday evening.
Dean is a friend from work, a really good guy with an encyclopedic knowledge of rock and roll, a DIY attitude, and an appreciation for old-school things in all flavors: cars, cities, music, beer, flip phones. None of it is pretentious though; he's just a genuinely cool and authentic person, who sees modern trends and styles and says "Nah, I'm good."
He was in some bands that would play around Sacramento back in the 80's and 90's, but I never caught any of them back then. When he told me the Decibels were reuniting and playing at Old Ironsides on December 30 I was all in, and I knew it would serve double duty as my New Year's Eve celebration.
Through Facebook, I saw that a number of friends and acquaintances were going to be there, from various corners of my life: work, youth baseball, McClatchy High, Punk Rock Movie Night, and other friends of friends. It was shaping up to be my favorite kind of night: loud rock and roll, booze, and random cool people popping in and out. I've come to accept the fact that I'm an extrovert, despite many periods of intense shyness in my life. My return to drinking after decades of sobriety has apparently acted as an adrenaline shot to my inner, hidden extrovert: a most unexpected side effect of giving up years of abstention.
The night started at our brother and sister-in-law's house, where a small gathering of couples and families and killer food and drinks set the stage for what was to be a memorable evening. After a few hours I bid adieu to Amy and the kids and the other partygoers to Lyft over to Jacob's house, where Joey and I were to meet before Old Ironsides. Jacob and his family live in a beautiful old home in Midtown, to which I'd never been, and my eyes popped when he led us to his back house, where his in-laws from Alaska live downstairs in the winter, but where upstairs is a huge, incredible space for playing and recording music. Sofas, beds, record players, lounge chairs, books, CDs, vinyl records and killer custom artwork littered this space, and Jacob said he had a surprise for us.
He had found a vinyl version of …For the Whole World to See, the only real album – released decades after the songs were recorded – from the proto-punk band Death from the 1970's. The Punk Rock Movie Night gang had watched the film a few weeks prior over at Joey's house, and we all fell in love with the Hackney brothers and were itching to get our hands on a copy. It sounded great on vinyl, and I vowed to get my own copy.
Joey agreed to be designated driver, and we showed up to a packed Old Ironsides about a half hour before the Decibles' set. The Decibles had been slated to be the second of three bands – playing after The Ogres but before Th' Losin' Streaks – but they volunteered to be the opening act, being fellow old-timers who wanted to play the set and get the hell out of there. It turned out not too many of my work friends showed up, except Keith and Karen, but there were plenty of other folks from various sectors of my life. The bar was packed, but Jacob, being about six foot four had a better shot of weaseling his way in to place an order than I did (although I am not completely unskilled at this, despite my lack of height). Because I really only started drinking beer a couple of years ago, and found I had a taste for IPA's, I have developed a perverse aversion to essentially every other kind of beer. I'm not proud of this. I don't want to be a beer snob, but as Jacob went in for the order I told him to get me any IPA, but if they don't have one, get me a gin and tonic. He returned a few minutes later with a Lagunitas. Good enough.
I ran into Keith, two Karens, Curtis, Judd and Justin and met some new people too. I ran into Dean in his gray and black striped suit jacket, with red shirt and tie, matching his bandmates. I wished him a great show, and weaseled my way up front. The Decibels absolutely killed it, playing a bunch of songs I didn't know but immediately got into my head. They're an interesting band: a throwback to kind of a Kinksian, semi-moddish era of short, simple songs with infectious hooks blasted at maximum volume, with all band members taking turns on lead vocals. There were jokes from the band about the drummer, Brian – who seemed a bit older than the rest of the band – playing in a suit jacket for the first time. Sounds like a nightmare, but you do what you gotta do for rock and roll. Brian's jacket came off before long, but he hung in there with the shirt and tie. It was obviously hot under the lights in that packed club, but to me it was no worse than any other crowded small venue. Dean, nice guy that he is, apologized to the crowd for the heat, but I think it was ten times worse for the band, outfitted the way they were, than for the audience. Dean didn't look any worse for wear than any other rocker I've seen, but I think he was feeling it. At one point he said something – to the crowd, to himself, to the band – to the effect of "We're dying up here," to which I yelled "You're not dying, you're living!" which got a laugh. I believe it with all my heart, but it's also easy for me to say from the crowd in a thin, comfortable T-shirt.
Although it must have been hot as hell on that stage, the Decibels were truly living up there. Every so often at a rock and roll show I get emotional and have to fight back tears. It's not always about particular songs or sentiment from the band, but when the planets align just right, and I'm front and center in a rock and roll club, watching a band I really dig up on stage, it becomes a religious experience for me. I think about being a little kid, five or six years old and loving The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley, simply because my sisters did. And then being ten and obsessed with KISS, then 14 and the Metal Years, and 17 when it was all U2 and Talking Heads, then the folk years, the garage years, discovering people like Neil Young and Leonard Cohen way too late, Bowie, White Stripes, Cowboy Junkies, sneaking into Andrew Jackson Jihad a couple weeks ago. I'm pushing fifty years old and I love rock and roll music more every year. I feel grateful to be alive at this moment in history, on this night at Old Ironsides, surrounded by friends and strangers alike, listening to a friend's band play songs I don't even know (except the Pictures of Matchstick Men cover), experiencing a perfect, priceless moment.
A guy across the club looked very familiar, but that's how it is in Sacramento. When The Ogres were playing I ended up on the other side of the room, close to this gentleman, and I realized it was Jerry Perry, local Sacramento rock and roll promoter, club owner, and all around legend. I don't know him – I hung out with him on a single occasion back in the day, with a group of others – but I was feeling the rock and roll love (and, admittedly, also the booze) so strongly that night I decided to say something to him. "Hey, you're Jerry Perry, right?" He confirmed, so I told him that I just wanted to shake his hand and thank him for The Cattle Club all those years ago. I believe he was the head promoter for the club, and he was the personality who would come out on stage to introduce the bands. Some of my favorite rock and roll memories came from The Cattle Club in the early '90's, seeing bands like Cake, Urge Overkill, KMFDM, Tool, Mark Curry, Mary's Danish, and a million more at that rad little club on Folsom Boulevard. Jerry seemed to appreciate the gesture, and we chatted for just a minute before I wandered away, not wanting to be more of a weirdo than I already am.
The Ogres came on next, and they were a fun surf-rock-dressed-as-cavemen outfit from San Francisco, but the crowd had thinned a touch by then. By the time Th' Losin' Streaks came on as headliners, I had had enough. The bar was not nearly as crowded now, and some of my friends were hanging out there, so I decided to sit and drink and talk rather than jump back into the crowd for my third band of the night. The combination of booze and rock and roll is a true fountain of youth for me, but it only lasts so long, about two bands worth, seemingly.
God bless Joey, still sober, who drove us home. After dropping Jacob off, as we made our way down J Street to River Park, Joey suddenly swerves over to the side of the rode in front of Chargin's Bar & Grill. He didn't need a sudden drink, but he saw a couple of gentlemen stumbling around out front and rolled down the window to ask them if they needed a ride. These were a couple of white guys, older, but within spitting distance of my age I'm guessing, and profoundly hammered. Joey leaned across me to speak to them through the passenger window, "Hey, is Nick in there?" (The owner, I think? A friend of Joey's anyway.) The drunks didn't know how to respond to that; I think they thought we were an Uber. "Get in, where do you guys live?" Joey didn't even ask how far away they lived, that's the kind of guy Joey is. Part of his altruism may have been to look out for his friend, the bar owner, not wanting a couple of his customers to get mugged or flattened by a car on J Street after just patronizing the establishment. But Joey is truly one of the world's good people, and he is always willing to help someone, stranger or not.
The Less-Blitzed Gentleman said he lived on a street not far from mine, so we saw this as perfect serendipity; it wouldn't put us out of our way at all. The LBG tried tossing some cash into the front seat, but Joey wouldn't take it. I think they eventually settled on five dollars. "Heyyy mannn… I gottta pay you somethin'," to which Joey, who is sneakily quick-witted replied "Oh, you're going to pay tomorrow, that's for sure." The More-Blitzed Gentleman was nearly comatose: eyes open, trying and failing to participate in the conversation, just kind of bobbing his head and moving his limbs around slowly. Joey had the Beatles channel on his SiriusXM station, and we were singing along – badly, we thought – until the drunks tried to chime in incoherently. We got them home, and LBG was all hugs and kisses for Joey and me, what awesome people we were. I can't take credit; I'm not that good of a person, but once Joey made the decision to pull over I played the part as best I could. MBG couldn't quite navigate getting his legs from the inside of the car to the outside of the car, so it took a lot of handling to get him into the arms of LBG as they staggered up to the front porch of what I hope was their house. There was absolutely no chance either of them, even LBG, would remember how they got home.
On actual New Year's Eve Amy and I stayed in like we always do. She's the only one I want to be with on that night, and she's less of a goer-outer these days than I am, so the 31st was just mom and dad time, with the kids all scattered over various places and activities: Josie at her friend's, Henry in Munich, Vincent at his own place while Anya worked an event. We've always done mellow New Years' at home with the family, but as the kids get older and fan out on their own, I'm happy to settle in my cozy house by the fire, hanging out with Amy and watching movies. When the clock struck midnight Amy was asleep and I was midway through Batman Vs. Superman ("Whoever Wins, We Lose" as Josie calls it). Asleep by 12:30, thinking about last night's craziness and wondering if I'll ever feel too old for that kind of thing. For now, at forty-eight, I'm glad to be home on real New Year's Eve though, as the year ticks over to 2018, which seems a very long way from 1969.
Author policehorsePosted on January 26, 2018
One thought on "December 30th: New Year's Eve for Old People"
whatsystem says:
Sounds like fun, Chip.
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I just wanted to give a huge thank you to everyone who bought ornaments. My goal was to offer way more this year than I've ever been able to, and I'm so happy to be steadily making ornaments for your trees! There are ornaments still available (though the elephants are sold out), so if you wanted one you haven't missed out (yay)!
Those boots are FANTASTIC! Ahh leave it to JC..... amazing!
Oh, how cute!!! The sweater is amazing!!!! <3 You have such a great style... Speechless... This red colour suits you perfectly... Wow!
I should get a sweater like this but with the words "Calorie inhaler" cause that's all I been doing since Thanksgiving.
The sweater suits you I will say because it doesn't look like your a heavy muncher! Wow you make Christmas ornaments , cool!
Which Ornament on Christmas Tree are you?
Are you an angel or a star on the Christmas tree?
haha, this is so great!! i love the little red collar peeking out.
That sweater is great, lol. Such a cute outfit.
so cute! i love everything about this outfit, especially the vintage sweater!
That outfit is perfect! haha! I love it!
This jumper is too good! I want to make my own with pictures of cakes & sweets.
That is an awesome sweater! It's adorable!
That sweater is insanely adorable. SO jealous!
that sweater is hilarious.. and adorable!
eeep! what a treasure that sweater is!
Oh my goodness! That sweater is hilarious. Love the sleeve detail, too. What a find. It reminds me of a funny used tshirt I found that said "just get over it" in huge letters. I would wear it when I got cranky and it always lifted my spirits with its ridiculousness.
That sweater is awesome (and you pull it off so well)!
love the sweater. it's just adorable and goes nicely with that pretty red dress.
i love the writing on the sleeve!!
Love the red dress. It's the perfect pop of color.
haha i find it funny that everything is embroidered on it. such a funny sweater.
also, those boots...!!!!...those boots. they are perfect. i am in LOVE with them!!
Oh my goodness! That sweater is fantastic! So cute!
oh my, I'm in love. I'm in love with your blog.
That sweatshirt is hilarious! i love your bag and of course your hair always looks fabulous!
you are PRECIOUS. cutest. gal. ever.
katie you look very cute in your ironic sweater.
I love that sweater! This outfit is super cute, lady!
Love the orange skirt...I don't think I own anything orange! I need to change that...now.
You and your looks are so cute.
That sweater is A-mazing. Adorable.
I really, really like those boots ! You know where I can still find them ? Thanks !


A workshop on preparing for an ever-changing environment. We live in times where companies and individuals need to be aware of new trends in their markets and be agile in the way they work. Join us in this exciting workshop where we will show you our strategic framework using Lego.
Anyone running a business or managing strategy, from start-up to larger organisations.
Envision: What does the future of your industry look like? What are the main challenges that your business will face?
Analyse: What is your organisation good at? What skills are you lacking?
Strategise: Develop strategies keeping in mind what the future looks like and what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Using LEGO helps us work with the abstract concepts that strategy books use and visualise all these ideas that roam in our heads. It's a great way to learn by doing and experiencing!


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The murder trial of athlete Oscar Pistorius was postponed before lunch on Monday after the defence was unable to call more witnesses to the stand.
"We could not get more than two witnesses for the day," Barry Roux SC, for Pistorius, said. Judge Thokozile Masipa adjourned the case until 9.30am on Tuesday. On Monday morning, Roux called to the stand Pistorius's neighbours in the Silver Woods Estate, Carice Viljoen and her father Johan Stander, who went to his house shortly after he shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 2013.
Viljoen and her father Johan Stander were the first people to arrive on the scene after Steenkamp was killed.
Pistorius called Stander at 3.18am, shortly after Steenkamp was shot.
Viljoen said she parked her car in the street and put on her hazards, and then she and Stander jumped out and went to the front door, which was slightly open.
"As I opened the door, I walked in and the first thing I saw was Oscar carrying Reeva down the stairs," Viljoen said.
She explained that Pistorius was on the second landing of the staircase. "You could see he was walking rather fast ... from the second we walked into the house he was frantic. He just wanted to get her to hospital." She said she told him to put down Steenkamp so they could see what was wrong.
"He was begging me to put her in the car and take her to the hospital," she said. As Viljoen broke down in tears on the witness stand, Pistorius sat with his head down covering his eyes with his left hand.
"I told him to put her down.
She said she realised that they needed to stop the bleeding and went upstairs to fetch towels. They held pressure to Steenkamp's right hip.
Viljoen said she spoke to Pistorius and asked him what happened while they were trying to stop the bleeding.
"He just looked at me and he said, 'I thought it was an intruder'." She said she did not ask him more about what happened because they were trying to save Steenkamp's life.
When the paramedics arrived, she told Pistorius to step aside so they could work on Steenkamp. "Oscar was in a state and asked the paramedics to do whatever they could to save her life." The athlete went upstairs to fetch Steenkamp's bag after the paramedics asked him for identification.


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Persuasive Against Animal Testing Essay
Imagine a young boy happily frolicking in the leaves on a brisk fall day. Suddenly, he is gasping for air, because he's suffering from an asthma attack. The frightened boy reaches in his pocket and carefully pulls out his treasured asthma inhaler. Taking a few puffs from this miraculous lifeline, he breathes easily again. Animal research is responsible for the development of asthma inhalers. Without it, this boy and thousands of asthma sufferers like him would be dead. Did you know that animal research has played a crucial part in almost every medical breakthrough over the last decade? Do you support unnecessary human deaths that could have easily been prevented by simple testing on small rodents? If you don't support animal testing, you choose to let humans die over…show more content…
For example, the article "Animal Testing has a purpose" states, "Today the (Food and Drug Administration) FDA sets higher standards for drug testing. Before a drug can even make it to the animal testing stage, it must first pass metabolic studies that prove the drug will be safe in human tissue. These new regulations are designed to save human lives." This shows that animal testing is necessary to find cures, and save lives and we as people are making laws to do what is safe, right and responsible to get the answers we need. Animals are being used for testing in a thoughtful way. When a drug is approved to be tested on an animal, animal tests are done. If the results show a drug can help, it is then tested on humans. So if we are willing to test humans to find new ways of curing diseases, why wouldn't we use animals too? The only way to move forward and find cures is to do research. Laws made by the FDA have made it safer and more responsible to test animals, and therefore this must
Essay Against Animal Testing
However, the pill went on to cause more than 10,000 babies to be born with birth defects (Science). Thousands of babies had deformities because tests on hamsters and rats showed the pill to be effective. Additionally, "Animal tests on the arthritis drug Vioxx showed that it had a protective effect on the hearts of mice, yet the drug went on to cause more than 25,000 heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths before being pulled from the market" (Vioxx). Animal testing is extremely misleading in the medical field. Scientists attempt to link the results of testing drugs on animals to its effectiveness on humans.
The Negative Methods: The Use Of Animal Testing On Animals
Animal testing is known as vivisection and in vivo. There are approximately 12.1 million animal experiments were conducted annually in Europe (Murnaghan, 2010). Animal testing has been practiced across the history of medical research and one of the famous researchers was Galen, 'Father of Vivisection'. In recent years, a lot of animal rights groups and animal protections have criticised about the practice of using animals for biomedical research (Hajar, 2011). To illustrate, European Union regulators have decided to forbid on the import and sale of cosmetic that contain ingredients that had tested on animals and pledge to pursue China to accept alternatives (Kanter, 2013).
Against Animal Testing
There are several reasons to why animal testing needs to be stopped. The method of animal testing is 'bad science' since The Food and Drug Administration reports that 92 out of every 100 drugs that pass animal tests fail in humans. Animals might have similarities to humans but they're not exactly the same, which means testing on animals is useless. Because of that, animal testing is also an act of wasting our time, money and resources that we can spend on other human-relevant researches. In America, 106,000 deaths a year are attributed to reactions to medical drugs.
Persuasive Essay Against Animal Testing
Jeff Flake, an United States Senator wrote for the Waste book, stated, "...Over $7.3 million of taxpayers ' money was wasted on studies involving animals in 2016." Animal testing, also known as animal researching, animal research is the use of animals in experiments that help us find cures and test products to see if they are safe or not. Not testing animals will not help us get cured and test results. Animals testing should not be used because of cures, cruelty, and costs. It has been stated that animals should be used in researching and testing because they cure us. Animal Research.Info, a group that understands animal research, stated, "Animal research has also contributed to major advances in understanding and treating conditions such as breast cancer, brain injury, childhood leukemia, cystic fibrosis, malaria, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, and many others, and was instrumental in the development of pacemakers, cardiac valve substitutes, and anesthetics." However, animals should not be used in researching and testing because they do not help cure us.
A Question Of Ethics By Jane Goodall And Animal Research Saves Lives
"A Question of Ethics" by Jane Goodall and "Animal Research Saves Lives" by Heloisa Sabin presents two sides of the same coin in regards to Animal testing. Thereby, questioning the validity or necessity of animal research and testing today. In "A Question of Ethics" by Goodall she presents a scenery of the living conditions of the animals which are often isolated; posing the ultimate questions of, whether animal research is essential to medical research? Or How many tests are performed only to conform to laws and not out of scientific merit? The Suggestion was made that scientists should explore alternative options, such as testing on cell and tissue cultures.
Persuasive Essay On Animal Testing
We need to refocus and adapt new methodologies for use in humans to understand disease biology in humans" said by Dr. Elias Zerhouni, former director of the National Institutes of Health (8 Expert Quotes Admitting That Testing on Animals Is Unreliable, page 2). According to statistics, an estimated 17 to 22 million animals are used each year in research, education and testing across the world. Of those animals, the majority of them are used right here in the United States alone. "According to studies the total amount of animals killed each year in research are 19,500,000 which is a lot of animals" (www.statisticbrain.com/animal-testing-statistics/. ) Those who are in favor of animal experimentation say "they're taking animals lives to save humans".
The Arguments Against Animal Testing
This essay will put forward some of the arguments for and against animal testing using data and information from published articles to develop an unbiased and balanced conclusion. One of the arguments for animal testing is that certain cosmetics and medicines have to be tested on animals to certify their safety. For example in China, they feel the necessity for all cosmetics to be tested on animals before they go on sale, so companies have to do this before they are able to distribute it across the country. Some products like mosquito repellent must go through toxicological testing which involves testing it on animals before it can be sold in the US or Europe. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends the use of animal testing on makeup
Pros And Cons Of Animal Testing
So with that Commercial and Scientific animal testing should be supported because it can help scientist find a cancer, it can provide life saving treatments and medicines, and that it can benefit the animals. Animal testing can help scientists further their research for a cancer cure. For example, author Ian Murnaghan says that, "Animal testing is held particularly important for its contribution to the development of insulin, antibiotics, vaccines and drugs with high mortality rates such as cancer." (Murnaghan) This means that, animal testing is important to cancer research. Also it means that that the development for antibiotics and other medicines need animal testing. Cancer patients need antibiotics to treat their cancer.
Animal Essay: The Benefits Of Animal Testing
Some makeup products that are still being used on animals are: Benefit, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Makeup Forever, Maybelline, OPI, Victoria Secret, and Avon. Over 100 million animals are killed in these labs, an estimated 17 to 22 million vertebrate animals are used each year in research, education, and testing. The drugs used to kill the cancer cells in Greg Maas´s body have been screened and tested many different ways over the past several decades inbred some strains of mice susceptible to leukemia. In the 1950s sleeping pills thalidomide, which caused 10,000 babies to be born with severe types of deformities, was tested on animals prior to its commercial release. Later tests on pregnant mice, rats, guinea pigs, cats, and hamsters did not result in birth defects unless the drug was administered at extremely high doses.
Essay On Why Animal Testing Should Be Banned
Penicillin, insulin, and Polio vaccine are some life-saving cures and medical treatment which was found by using animals as an experimental objects. The experiment using dog with its pancreas being removed beforehand led to the discovery of insulin which is critical to help diabetics. The polio vaccine, which originally was tested on animals, reduced the global occurrence of the disease from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 223 cases in 2012. Even the California Biomedical Research Association states that "for more than a hundred years, virtually every medical breakthrough in human and animal health has been the direct result of research using animals." It clearly indicates that without "animal testing" we may not be able to achieve these big medical breakthroughs
More about Persuasive Against Animal Testing Essay


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State panel gets rolling on effort to solve highway funding shortfall
The independent commission will look into ways to overcome the state's $140 million yearly funding gap for roads and bridges.
By Peter McGuireStaff Writer
The co-chair of a blue ribbon commission charged with reforming the state's chronic highway funding shortfall pledged that the group will consider all options to reduce the state's reliance on annual transportation bonds.
The 15-member panel is scheduled to hold its first meeting in Augusta on Tuesday. Made up of lawmakers from both parties, private and nonprofit interests, the commission is tasked with examining and proposing ways to bridge a $140 million annual gap between the highway budget and what the Maine Department of Transportation says it needs maintain the state's roads and bridges. Maine borrows annually to shore up its $393 million yearly highway budget.
"The point of the commission is to do two things," said commission co-chairman Rep. Andrew McLean, D-Gorham. "One, to provide education to the public and stakeholders about the need for more transportation funding, and two, to come up with any solutions we think are viable."
Transportation bond continues practice of shoring up budget shortfalls
The commission is expected to draft a report of its findings and recommendations by December. It may also draft a bill addressing issues for lawmakers to consider when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
"It's really not that complicated of an issue," McLean added. "Everyone who drives over roads and bridges knows the conditions of them are poor. What do we need to do? We simply need to spend more money on road infrastructure."
Lawmakers, including McLean, have for years proposed ways to reform the state's highway fund, used to pay for repair and maintenance of the state's sprawling network of roads and bridges. The state's 30-cent a gallon gasoline tax is the fund's primary funding source, but it hasn't increased in years and some worry it won't keep pace as vehicles with more fuel-efficient engines and electric vehicles take to the road.
Maine lawmakers consider raising fuel tax to boost road, bridge repairs
Commissioners will consider a range of options, including a gas tax increase, directing vehicle sales tax to the highway fund, proposing fees on hybrid and electric vehicles, a pilot program that would charge a fee on the number of miles driven, new highway tolling, and sharing highway funding between residents and non-residents.
"We are going to take everything into account, there is nothing that is off the table, there is nothing that is on the table," McLean said.
The commission, formally named the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study and Recommend Funding Solutions for the State's Transportation Systems, includes Republican and Democrat lawmakers, representatives from private trucking, construction and rail companies companies, a town manager, public transportation and bicycling advocates and the heads of the Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority.
Commissioners are supposed to meet up to six times over the four months, including at least three meetings in locations around the state to take public comments. Knowledgeable stakeholders will be given an opportunity to submit written testimony.
Taking the discussion out of the halls of the State House may insulate it from political partisanship and disinterest that doomed earlier attempts to fix the highway fund, said Sen. Matt Pouliot, R-Augusta, one of the commissioners.
Climbing costs drive state to pass up 12 more road and bridge projects
"I think the time is long past for us to identify and actually commit to long-term and sustainable funding solutions to transportation infrastructure in our state," Pouliot said.
This is the first time in at least a decade the state has taken a hard look at how it funds transportation infrastructure. At least 27 states and the District of Columbia have increased gas taxes and added funding sources since 2013, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Maine's tax last increased in 2011, but it is no longer indexed to rise with inflation.
Maine Department of Transportation was forced this year to cancel $59 million in road and bridge work because it could not afford high construction prices. State transportation planners also worried about project timing when a crucial $105 million bond was held up in Augusta last month, not the first time that bond complications threatened Maine's road program.
Maria Fuentes, executive director of the Maine Better Transportation Association, said the commission offers hope things will change after years of inaction from Democratic and Republican administrations.
"Anything we can do to raise awareness and have the public better understand what we are facing is a good thing," she said. "Then there will be a better shot at making something happen for some funding that is a little more sustainable than what we have now."
Two dead after Interstate 95 crash in Penobscot County
Bayside Village tenants rally to halt conversion to market-rate apartments
construction, Maine Department of Transportation, maine legislature


In March we are making repairs at family partner Donna Manchee's Manassas condo. Donna has lived in Manassas since her teenage years after spending her early childhood in many different locations due to her father's career. She went to Osbourn Park and Osbourn High Schools and then settled in Manassas for good.
Unable to work because of a disability and health concerns, Donna applied for Habitat's home repair program for a hand up. Her limited income prohibits her from making needed repairs in the condo that she purchased 10 years ago.
The Habitat construction team and volunteers are repairing or replacing and painting dry wall damaged from plumbing leaks; replacing the vent fan and the GFI unit in the bathroom; repairing, caulking and sealing windows; striping and repainting the kitchen; replacing all outlets with GFI units; replacing the smoke detectors; and installing a grab bar in the bathtub.


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Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat: There are no December statements
By C.A. Clark Updated Dec 25, 2010, 8:40am PST
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As we've been made aware since, oh, the second week of July, the Los Angeles Lakers will face off tomorrow against the Miami Heat. The hype machine has been working on this game all season long, but the machine has kicked into overdrive this week. For example, ESPN, which can certainly be labeled a key cog in Miami's hype machine, was running previews and features for this game on Monday. Which would be fine, if not for the fact that the Heat played the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night.
Whether they intend it or not, the Heat are the NBA's hype flagship. No matter who they are facing, it's a story. No matter how they are playing, the national public are kept up to date, whether they like it or not. Some of the hype is a necessary by-product of the events of this summer, in which LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami. However, the Heat have certainly done their fair share to make sure hype's spotlight never leaves them. The comments and events which have come out of the team make it riveting reality television, in a Real Housewives of Orange County sort of way. There's been some drama (the disconnect between LeBron and coach Eric Spoelstra, the injuries, Chris Bosh's inconsistency), but mostly people pay attention to the Heat to see what they will do and say next, and the two new stars on the team have provided a consistent stream of "He said what?!?" moments. Just the other day, James said he is in favor of contraction (because he thinks everybody should have a superteam). It doesn't matter whether one agrees with him or not, my question is why the hell is LeBron talking about that in the middle of December? The Heat easily have more "newsworthy" quotes this season than the Lakers have had in the past three seasons.
If the Heat are the NBA's hype team, the Lakers are the anti-hype team. L.A. seemingly goes out of its way to play down expectations and keep themselves out of the headlines (Ron Artest excluded). They hardly ever kill an opponent (like Miami does in just about every win), they don't put together long win streaks that might gain attention. In fact, if not for being back-to-back defending champions, being one of the NBA's most storied franchises, and including one of the most polarizing presences in all of basketball, the Lakers would be generating about as much buzz right now as a Caffeine-Free Coke. Only the name on the front of their jersey and the trophies sitting in their trophy case are keeping this team from fading into obscurity as just another good team.
A key component to hype is the attachment and exaggeration of consequences for certain events. After all, the very act of hyping an event is making effort to convince other people of the event's importance, and if an event has no consequences, how important can it be? For the regular season, it can be difficult to really hype a game, because the players play so often that the importance of one game can not be singled out. So, any regular season basketball game which needs the hype is labeled as a "statement game". Team X needs to prove they aren't afraid of their opponents, that they can win on the road, etc. Team Y needs to use this game to get back on track, or to confirm that they are still on top of the NBA heap. It's important because, while the actual result will have little to no bearing on things, we can still derive future probabilities because of this game.
As usual, the hype machine is full of crap. There is no such thing as a statement game in December, especially not for the Los Angeles Lakers. Two years ago, the Lakers beat the Boston Celtics at home comfortably, and everybody said it was a statement of their new found toughness. They went on to win the championship. Last season, they were destroyed at home by LeBron James' former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. This time it was the Cavs making a statement that all of their pieces fit well together and they were a true contender. But the Lakers went on to win the championship again. I guess last year's statement was a Be Right Back sign, with a little clock that pointed 5 months ahead.
There is no one game in the regular season that will paint a clear picture of how the postseason will play out, and today's contest is no exception. The regular season is to be enjoyed on an individual game basis, but analyzed with broad strokes and generalizations. The Lakers know all this, so you can bet they will treat this like they do any other game. They will try to win, and if they succeed, the game will be forgotten. If they don't succeed, the game will be forgotten.
Will Miami act the same way, or will they pursue a statement win? Who knows, but I will tell you this. Anybody trying to make a statement in December knows nothing about making a statement in June.


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 Psalm 10:7 His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
Their mouth is full of curses, lies, and oppression, their tongues spread trouble and iniquity.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression (fraud); under his tongue are trouble and sin (mischief and iniquity).
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and false words: under his tongue are evil purposes and dark thoughts.
His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
His mouth was filled with cursing and deceit and violence: under his tongue, trouble and vanity.
His mouth is filled with cursing, with deceits and oppression; under his tongue are trouble and evil.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud; under his tongue are mischief and vanity.
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit and fraud; under his tongue is travail and sorrow.
His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
6 He says to himself, "I will not be moved; Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity." 7 His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness. 8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.
Behold, he travails with wickedness, And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.
There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue.
They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
And when he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood; His heart gathers wickedness to itself; When he goes outside, he tells it.
You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth.
On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be caught in their pride, And on account of curses and lies which they utter.
They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah.
They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.
"As for the head of those who surround me, May the mischief of their lips cover them.
Whose mouths speak deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaks deceit And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly They trust in confusion and speak lies; They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.
"They bend their tongue like their bow; Lies and not truth prevail in the land; For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me," declares the LORD.
"Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me," declares the LORD.
"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.


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Die Swithinbank Range ist ein kleiner Gebirgszug in der antarktischen Ross Dependency. In den Churchill Mountains des Transantarktischen Gebirges erstreckt er sich in östlicher Richtung zwischen dem Donnally- und dem Ahern-Gletscher zum Starshot-Gletscher.

Teilnehmer einer von 1959 bis 1960 dauernden Kampagne im Rahmen der New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition benannten ihn nach dem britischen Glaziologen Charles Winthrop Molesworth Swithinbank (1926–2014), der in dieser Zeit auf der Station Little America V tätig war.

Weblinks
  (englisch)
 Swithinbank Range auf geographic.org (englisch).

Churchill Mountains

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Located at the Joe Thornton Community Centre, 75 Caso Crossing (formerly 2 Third Ave).
Leisure Skate Spring flyer coming soon for April to June.
$5.00 Adult Shinny is running Wednesday's and Friday's at the Joe Thornton Community Centre until June 28th. No Shinny April 19th.
Scheduled black-out dates are indicated on the above flyer(s) as there will be no programs running that day due to other activities or facility bookings.


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CSFs are made by all tissues in the body
Richard Stanley spent his PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute attempting to purify CSFs from human urine.
CSFs unique behaviour surprises researchers, who find they are produced by almost every tissue.
Following the discovery that 'factors' could stimulate bone marrow cells to produce colonies of white blood cells, Don Metcalf begins to look more closely at where and how these signals act.
Unlike classic hormones, which are produced by a single tissue or cell type and act widely, Metcalf and his team find CSFs are produced by almost every tissue examined, but in vanishingly small amounts, and acting on a limited set of target cells.
"[We] went around testing all the different tissues in the body to see which ones had activity. Turned out they all did, because these hormones are made all over the body," Metcalf says.
A skeptical reception
The scientific community is skeptical. It is suggested that CSFs are 'artifacts' (contamination of the experiment) and of little importance to the regulation of blood cell production in vivo.
Skepticism was the spur that Metcalf relished.
Over a period of three years, the research team went to work accumulating indirect evidence that their idea was correct, studying patients with infections to see if they could find higher levels of CSFs when more white blood cells were being produced.
The answer was yes.
"That sort of indirect evidence said, 'Yep, you're on the right track,' what you're picking up, what you're calling colony stimulating factors, does seem to make sense as a regulator of those protective white cells," Metcalf says.
Don Metcalf joins the institute
Gustav Nossal joins the institute
1966 • CSFs: improving 20 million lives
Metcalf and Bradley grow bone marrow colonies
GM-CSF is purified
T-cell help to clone GM-CSF
CSF trials successful
CSFs are approved for clinical use
CSFs improving 20 million lives


10 years ago LinkedIn for business was just a glimmer in Reid Hoffman's eye. This year the company reached 225 million members and is growing at 2+ members per second. Think about that for a minute. That's more than 170,000 new members each day. Let's look a few important statistics and how it's relevant to today's business environment.
If you looked at 2010's Fortune 500 list, every company had at least one executive on LinkedIn. 75 out of the Fortune 100 companies used LinkedIn as their primary source for hiring. The point here is that big companies get that managing a presence — for the enterprise as well as for their executive — is now integral to doing business.
Your takeaway: be strategic in your personal and/or company page's profile. Customers and potential clients are checking you out and it's another touch point beyond your website.
The average age of a LinkedIn user is 41 years old. 79% are 35+.
50% of users are located outside of the United States (except China where it's banned).
47% of B2B businesses use LinkedIn.
77% of users access the site to research a business or an individual.
69% of users earn $60K/year, and 39% have salaries over $100K/year.
74% of users have college degrees.
27% of users accessed the site via mobile devices.
Key Takeaway: LinkedIn for business is just smart. Leveraging your company pages and individual profile will help you connect with a seasoned, educated audience. Map out how you will strategically network, gather business connections and join in on the online conversation.
How are you using LinkedIn for business?


text:
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Karlovy Vary Film Festival 2021 Trip Report
📅 3 months ago 🏖Traveling
It has been two years since I wrote the last KVIFF report. The worldwide health crisis put stop to all mass events last year, so I am very happy, that the festival organizer made it happen this year in full parade.
I didn't give much hope to it, because governments were still fear-mongering and are making ordinary life difficult with various covid restrictions.
Fortunately, thanks to vaccination and the possibility to hold events with thousands of participants in one public place, they managed to put together a full-fledged program as we know it. Including parallel movie projections across various theatres, a rich accompanying program with concerts and stages.
And also they somehow convinced few big movie celebrities to visit Karlovy Vary, namely Johnny Depp and Ethan Hawk. So kudos to them, even though they had to move the dates from the beginning of the July to end of August.
To make it happen, they enforced new covid restrictions, that any visitor had to comply with. First, everyone had to be tested or vaccinated to enter public festival areas.
Not a big deal. I went for a PCR test, which is valid for 7 full days. Downloaded results into the mobile app Tecka, a Czech kind of a covid pass.
Then I showed certified results to the festival staff, that stood at every corner, who then gave me a bracelet, that shows the test's expiration date. Once I had a bracelet, I could freely enjoy the festival.
Of course, there were general restrictions that applies to every indoor public place in CZ like the necessity to wear protection during projection or keeping distance from each other. The reality was different as always, but I won't go into detail. I don't to hurt the festival.
Anyway, I won't write about the reasons why I enjoy the festival so much or why you would like it as well if you are a movie junkie and love stories. You can read about it in my last report.
Usually, there is little to no chance to book a four-star hotel at the last minute, but this year was different. Tourism hasn't fully recovered yet and the city is swamped with hundreds of hotels. And an average festival visitor is probably a poor student or carefree individual who prefers sleeping in a tent or an apartment over staying in a sterile hotel room. So demand was lower and hotels had to compete with more attractive prices.
To my surprise, I managed to snatch a two-night stay in a four-star hotel in Astoria near Thermal for a mere 1050 Kc per night. What a bargain if you include free breakfast and a room with a view over the colonnade.
I usually book a single bunk bed at student hostels, so I was amazed by the hotel's service. How they treat you as kings and how every service is there for your pleasure. Want to take a swim in a hot tub? No problem, they have a swimming pool, sauna, and jacuzzi. Want to sit down In a quiet room, work on your laptop and sip delicious tea? No problem, there is a tea room with a wide variety of teas for free, including milk and honey.
Want to keep a keto diet and eat one meal per day? No problem, with included breakfast, you will have everything you need to keep yourself satiated. Breakfast in form of a buffet included scrambled eggs, sausages, fried bacon, fresh pastry, ham, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurts, granola, or other types of cereals. Don't forget about jams, dried fruits, nuts, sweet cakes, and fruits.
Oh my god, I love four-star hotel breakfasts.
Let's just say I almost have been able to keep the OMAD diet the whole time. If I eat breakfast at 8 am, 12 hours later I had minor cravings but nothing serious. Few peanuts saved the day.
The only downside of OMAD is that you have to ingest an incredible amount of calories in less than one hour and a half. In my case 2000 plus in one setting.
1 Day 1
1.1 Shoplifters
1.2 Strahinja (As Far as I Can Walk)
1.3 Boiling Point
1.4 Mulholland Drive
2.1 Hytti nro 6 (Compartment Number 6)
2.2 Nö (No!)
2.3 The Sparks Brothers
3.1 Brighton 4th
3.2 Verdens verste menneske (Worst Person In The World)
I arrived early in the morning on a rainy day. On the arrival, I was horrified to see a completely empty city. It might have been the day of the week, the time of the day or the weather, or a combination of it all. It is not something I was used to seeing in the past. Attending an empty festival would be a little sad, I told to myself.
Later through the day, I asked one of the hostesses, who tried to sell me the Festivals new app KVIFF.tv if it was empty the last few days. She comforted me by saying that the mornings are like that and there are plenty of visitors during the day.
That didn't happen afternoon so I accepted the situation and found to enjoy empty Vary much more than a crowded one. Commuting between theatres took a fraction of time due to empty streets.
As always subjective feeling is sometimes miles away far from hard statistics, because later I found out, that there were about 5500 visitors on Monday. So they probably stayed in hotels, while recovering from hangovers.
Based on my years of experience with Kviff, my expectation for the program was low. So I was surprised to see few decently rated movies projected on Monday.
It proves again to better attend the second half of the festival because all movies should be rated at least once after the premiere during the first half of the festival. The con is, if the movie is too popular and you miss the chance to see it that day, there won't be any other projections.
The first movie I saw was a Korean drama released in 2019. It got a sky-high rating and tickets were sold out, so I decided to wait in the queue for two hours prior.
Usually, one hour is a safe threshold for theatre B, but I didn't have anything better to do. Check-in was in four hours and it was raining outside.
Being the first one in line, I got in with no issues. Once inside, I noticed they let in up to 15 more people. Others were out of luck.
It showed how strict they were with covid rules. This year, they would not allow anyone to sit on the floor. Once were all seats taken, it was a game over.
This also meant that you had to be among the first 20 at small theatres and the first 40 at the Grand Hall.
I bet next year people will wait even longer for sold-out projections.
The movie itself offered a colorful peek into the life of an unorthodox Korean family, that is actually not a true family at all. There is a grandma, who owns a tiny house living on a blackmailed money, her niece who has no idea she is considered missing by her parents, a middle-aged woman, and her partner in crime, who together shares a dark secret.
She works at a cloth cleaning factory. And He is a shoplifter, who kidnapped a little boy from his parents.
They both snatch groceries with a motto: "If the item is in a shop, then it does not have an owner yet". So technically speaking, they are not thieves.
On the surface, they live like a family, talk like a family, and have a good time together like a family. The question is, is it enough though to live happily ever after? Can society accept them for who they are and are they ready to live within society?
In a series of unfortunate events and the death of a "family" member, we see that it is not possible to live like an outlaw happily ever after while disobeying norms and laws.
Children have to grow up with their biological parents or at least with government-approved foster parents. They have to go to school, they have to be brainwashed so they can one day become a civilized and obedient member of society.
Adults cannot do a good deed if it does not fit the law. Law does not care if you want to help others. Vigilantes have to be punished regardless.
It is then heartbreaking to see the family dissolved as each has to forcibly go their own way. But while they all have to pretend to be strangers, they feel a profound bond toward each other. And no one can ever take that connection away from them.
There are many biological, dysfunctional, and unhappy families, that would benefit from the lessons presented in the movie. The most obvious one is that being blood relatives is not enough to be called a family. It is the way how we treat each other that counts.
Strahinja (As Far as I Can Walk)
Based on the description, I didn't find the second movie of the day attractive. The storyline revolves around refugees living in eastern Europe. But it was either this movie or a Czech documentary. So I didn't hesitate and enter the waiting line right away.
I have to admit, that I was a little bit judgemental whenever I see headlines about refugees in the news. It is a topic that resonated three years ago. And to this day, it is still going strong thanks to the situation in Afghanistan. And as an ex-pat, I truly understand the need to go after a better life.
But I also believe, that coming to a foreign country as a guest comes with certain rules. It is very important to be accepted by foreign society, to blend in, to bring added value, otherwise as a foreign element, you ask for troubles and create resentment.
However, it is not 2000 B.C. when humans lived in groups and tribes. It is 2021 A.C. and we live in an era when socialists and humanists rule the world. And they are constantly making sure, that every human being is feeling safe, protected, and well taken care of. Regardless of the economical and social constraints.
The reality is never idealistic and there is always a loophole hidden in their good intentions. And once the loophole is discovered, you can bet that the majority will take advantage of it. Which then creates resentment.
And that is why this movie was created. To show you the other side of the coin. To show you the journey each of them has to go through to better their lives.
Fortunately, the movie does not push the sentiment too much and it doesn't make you feel sorry for their faiths.
When I heard the director, who introduced the movie in person, describing it as an answer to the question: What if a refugee would become a national hero? I was concerned.
What a cliche I told to myself. Taking controversial topic and turn it into a classical fairy tale.
Thankfully this was not the case.
We are following a pair of refugees from Ghana. Economical refuges, not political ones. Who lives in a detention center in Serbia.
They already managed to cross Germany once, but they were caught and deported back. So this is their second tour.
Now they have to start from square one. And they were in process of getting a merit-based asylum. While the main hero is trying so hard to establish something good going on. His wife feels bored and disappointed with their current situation.
A classic romantic tragedy. Don't you see? You have a good hard-working guy, who works his ass to provide her a better future. And you have a female hypergamy in action, always looking for a trade-up.
So while he manages to get into the local football team with the potential to be a local sports star, who has a regular paycheck and promise of a permanent residency.
She does nothing, just helping the local community here and there, doing theatre for children's in a refugees camp, and dreaming about becoming a celebrity and going big in one of the rich western countries.
And for her, it takes tooo damn long. They are stuck in a camp and she is not happy. She wants more, so much more.
So one day, when new refugees arrive from Afghanistan, she sees the light at the end of the tunnel and ditches her beloved husband, without a word. Yes, she just ghosts.
Of course, the main hero feels confused and betrayed, but most importantly delusional. And he decides to go after her, hoping to recover his failing marriage, while risking everything he worked hard so far.
He pays for a ride to Hungarian borders, not knowing what kind of horrifying practices smugglers, who scam refugees in every way possible, prepared for him.
We see a poor family paying thousands of euros for a taxi ride thinking they will get to the border. No, the taxi driver will drop them tens of miles far away, so he won't risk his ass with local police enforcements for a few bucks.
They have to continue on foot. No big deal.
Before crossing the border, they have to hire a smuggler, because he knows best which way to go. The only rule is not to bring a crying baby, otherwise, they have to return back or put others at risk of getting caught.
But, all struggles can be anticipated and they all did a calculated risk. So we should not feel sorry for them.
Back to our hero. He manages to catch up with her wife at one of the Hungarian refugee camps thinking she was kidnapped or dragged or something. So he is set to fight in the name of love for the last time.
But he does not know what we all know. Once a woman is half-heartedly thinking about leaving, she is gone forever, marriage or not. Kids or not.
In her words, she wants a better future. And running and mating with a political refugee increases her odds. She wants it all right damn now. Live in the west, and make it big as an actress. So she has to cut loose ends including her husband.
But the main hero is too stupid to move on. And it gets worse after she gives him a pityf**k as a last goodbye and a sorry for harmed feelings. Which only gives him false hope.
In a desperate move, he whistleblows her to the authorities, so she gets deported together with him back to Serbia. What a loser right?
Well, it does not end well and both end in tears. She for marrying such a clinging loser who ruins her future. And he for being so desperate and losing it all, both his once beloved wife and his promising football career at the local Serbian team.
The story realistically paints the sad truth about female hypergamy. Nothing lasts forever, people changes, and marriage is pointless nowadays. The government and society are encouraging and incentivizing women to divorce. It has never been easier to walk out with kids, alimony support, and half of your net worth.
So as you can see, the story is not the reason why the movie won the academic award. Not because it is about refugees, but because of the captivating camera angles and the main actor's solid performance.
I really felt sorry for that guy. He really should have ditched her wife, become a football star, and marry again a young more slender Serbian football fan. He would live like a king happily ever after.
The third movie of the day had again a sky high-rating. So I decided to enter the queue two hours prior. Fortunately, I got lucky and was among the 30 people they let in for free. Grand hall was that full.
The movie is about a chef working in an up-and-coming restaurant, who has a really bad day. Technically, the movie is also special in many ways.
First, it was shot in one shot.
Yes, you heard me right. There are no editorial cuts, everything you see is a live performance.
How they did it? I don't know.
Allegedly they recorded 5 trials and the fourth was the best. Imagine recording 8 hours of footage that gets scratched out.
They had to have a super detailed script describing every second. And I believe actors had to practice day and night to achieve such a realistic performance.
And of course, they had to utilize the restaurant areas to the fullest, using every corner or room to change the scene and let actors breathe.
The movie starts slowly with the main chef getting late for work. He is drunk and right off the bat, he has to put out fires.
The restaurant is overbooked, there are missing ingredients in the fridge and some employees did not arrive yet. To top the crown, his former business partner and a chef-celebrity came for dinner and brought the most feared food critic in the town with him to, in his words, "support our hero's new venture".
I won't go further into detail, because you need to see the movie. It is totally worth it.
You will see why the restaurant business is hard work. It is a business everyone thinks they can do, but only a few will be truly profitable without cutting corners like avoiding taxes or cheating on ingredients.
What's worse. You might end up exactly like this guy.
Despite having a top-tier chef and a good menu, the operational side of the business is what will eventually bite you in the ass.
There is a list of challenges, that any restaurant will face:
Asshole Instagram celebrity customers, who are ignorant about the food and expect freebies, because they are famous
Asshole customers, who treat staff like trash, because they are paying big bucks and expect everyone to treat them like kings
Asshole employees, who slack at their jobs torpedoing others and ruining whole meal prep chain
Incompetent manager, who is the manager because of the connections, and who is making troubles while blaming others
Pedantic government officers, who are ruthless when it comes to correct temperature in the fridge and correct kitchen hygiene
Newbie employees, who can mess up at every step if you are not careful. They should be micromanaged.
Unstable procurement processes dependant on unreliable suppliers
Pretentious food critics who can't cook, but who know that your sauce is simple, ok-ish at 99%, but it is not quite there yet
Your former business partners who became your competitors and who can tank your business on every occasion
Allergic customers, who forget to mention their life-threatening allergies
The on-place romance between your waitress and a bartender. They are more busy flirting than actually doing their job
Debt capital, that you have to repay to keep the restaurant going
Ambitious employees who ask for raises every six month
And the list goes on. After seeing the movie, I know for sure I won't ever want to own a restaurant as my main business. I would have to be permanently on-site and oversee the staff. And I would have to deal with all the bullshit mentioned above.
I can although imagine owning a seaside cafeteria because I would chill in my cafeteria during the day and play as a DJ during the night. It is still one of my childhood dreams, that I keep alive.
When I saw Mulholland Drive on a program list, I didn't hesitate and booked tickets right away.
I saw this movie multiple times, mostly during my childhood. And the only impression I got from watching it multiple times as a kid was that I totally don't understand what it was about.
It was super scary with slow close shots and Hitchcock-like music and there were boob scenes.
Despite rewatching Lynch's movie a decade later, I was still confused and my impressions have not changed. But at least I began to notice hidden crumbs in the storyline and their relations.
Then after I read one of the movie analyses, I was mindblown. Something clicked and It suddenly made total sense.
Now I understand why the director is called a genius and the movie became a cult.
I won't spoil it anymore and just recommend watching it on your own. I enjoyed The Grand Hall remastered projection on the big screen very much and those three hours after midnight was well worth it.
The program on the second day was full of Czech documentaries and there was hardly any movie, that caught my eye. So I took this opportunity to slow down, relax, and enjoy a delicious breakfast, explore accompanying events, and, because it stopped raining, enjoy a clear sky and take short walks.
Today I got into almost all projections, that I wanted to see, so I was pretty satisfied with my movie choice. The only regret was not seeing Olga, an incredibly rated movie about a Ukrainian Olympic athlete, whose career is threatened by her mother's political protests. As someone who does calisthenics and who visited Ukraine, I would love to see a movie with a gymnastic background.
Hytti nro 6 (Compartment Number 6)
The first movie of the day was also the most difficult to watch. We follow a Norwegian lesbian anthropologist, who solo travels across Russia to some remote digging site because there are some ancient stones and she wants to see them in person.
Initially, she planned to go with her much more successful, accomplished, bi-oriented, elitarian girlfriend. But the plan fell apart, when that girlfriend chose to spend her time with her family and kids instead, ditching her lesbian acquaintance.
Despite the rejection, she didn't give up on her dream and booked a train ticket to Murmansk. After boarding the train, she meets her train companion, who shares the same compartment with her. An uneducated Russian guy, whose biggest aspiration is to work at a coal mine.
Seeing two completely bi-polar personalities with different intellectual levels, but the same social background, sharing a 3-meter square space for a week, creates countless funny moments, when two of them interact with each other.
She, of course, is not at all interested in talking with low-level losers, so the Russian guy has to make corny attempts to break her ice. First, by excessive vodka-drinking, smoking, and overeating, claiming his space in a tiny compartment and showing his true Russian inner self.
When he failed to make the first impression by being drunk, his sober other self saved the day by making fun of her.
She deflects his attempts, but not for long. During one of the overnight train stops, she tries to reach her girlfriend on the phone, but unsuccessfully. As she selfishly occupies a phone booth for hours. She is confronted by a random guy, who also wants to make a call. He accuses her of phone-faking and politely asks her to get the hell out of the booth.
Then our Russian hero, who appears out of nowhere, comes for the rescue. He pushes the guy away, which effectively saves her from embarrassment.
To capitalize on her gratefulness, he offers a ride with a stolen car to visit his old friend. She hesitates but has nothing more interesting to do.
His old friend then turns out to be his quick-witted mom. Seeing him as a good mommy boy lowers her barriers and all three of them have fun drinking vodka all night long.
Sadly, they won't end up in bed together as you would expect. But the spark is on and it seems to be a start of a serious romantic relationship.
Will it last until the end of the train ride?
Unfortunately not. As soon as we watch them click, a mysterious handsome Norwegian passenger with a guitar appears on a train, trying to get in without a seat reservation. As kind-hearted as the main heroine is, she takes him under her wings and invites him to their compartment.
Which is a low blow move on her part. Russian guy is understandably betrayed with an unexpected cockblocking move and distances himself from her, so the two Norwegian lovebirds can be alone together.
For a while, She enjoys his singing skills and feel-good charm, but soon she realizes, that there is something missing. Maybe it is teasing and bantering she had with the Russian guy? There is just no fire.
This little episode ends shortly after he steals her camera and vanishes at one of the exit stations. As ridiculous as it seems, the Russian guy tries to cheer her up by becoming an emotional tampon and inviting her to a romantic dinner.
His plan fails because apparently, Russian trains don't have chefs on board so they end up ordering a sandwich.
She sees this as an opportunity to establish a romantic connection with him and orders champagne to show him what he was missing by being a low-class loser. There is a rule that every woman will try to change, transform and shape their partners to match up with their ideals.
But he sees through her bullshit. She is not interested in real him, she just projects her intellectual role model on him, so he will fit her social bubble. Inevitably, he storms out and leaves the train the next morning.
Here, the story does not end yet, but it ends for me. The movie then continues further in a poetic fairy tale fashion.
She is unable to reach her final destination due to icebergs and wild waves, but her stubborn Russian prince, despite what happened, comes to her rescue once again. And thanks to a miracle and his heroism, he fulfills her wish.
It should have ended after she fails to make the final trip digging site.
Nö (No!)
The next movie promised an interesting deep dive into relationship struggles. According to the producer's words, if you see yourself in the movie then "oops" if not then congratulation. And it is supposed to be inspired by their own lives.
The movie is divided into 12 parts, each covering a short episode of a traditional relationship. It all starts with an innocent bed talk about where this relationship goes.
While she is ventilating her biological clock concerns, he thinks about if it is worth it at all.
It cannot end differently than with a huge fight and make-up sex, because well, so far they got along well and they both don't give a f*ck about the same things, so why the hell not.
Moving forward we see how this relationship progresses. She gets pregnant and gets crazy insecure about her body.
As I write this description I don't even remember how the movie ended. There is actually no story to follow. Just a sequence of anecdotal scenes, that illustrate multiple relationship stages.
One thing that I have to bring up though is the production value. From the camera and picture quality to the expensive fx effects. None of which is common among indie films projected at movie festivals.
For example, the scene at the hospital, that illustrates her crazy imagination. She just gave birth and doesn't want to leave the hospital, because it's like a warzone outside.
How can you show something that is not real? You freeze everything in the scene except for the main actors. Like in matrix.
I wondered how they filmed such scenes. But this was not the first North European movie, that uses that technique, so there must be a new way how to film it on a budget.
If you know what technique they used, write in the comment below.
There is one more scene, that I have to highlight. An acting class, that is shot in one go.
In the class, the teacher lectures her students about how being an actor is like being naked in public. Because it is how celebrities feel like.
They are under constant pressure all the time. So unless you are comfortable with unsolicited attention from complete strangers, who judge your every move, then you're not up for the job. That idea was so deep and truthful I had to increase my rating.
I don't usually watch documents, but if I do, it is always about music artists. The most recent ones being about Amy Winehouse or Freddy Mercury.
Those are simply thrilling stories worth telling. The formula is simple. You follow a journey from zero to hero to death.
There is no such thing as an overnight success, so most artists start with tremendous dedication, mixed with some talent here and there. Then they get lucky a decade or two later after grinding and perfecting their craft every day.
Once they reach the top, they can finally enjoy a short period of success together with everything that comes with it. Fans, fame, drugs, money, and rock n roll. Those are rewards everyone wants but only a few will ever achieve.
Then most won't keep up with their success and end in downfall. Either being forgotten or overdosed.
But this is not the case with Sparks. The most famous bro-band, that you probably never heard of.
Originally they were based in the US and although they rode the trend and played Beatles like music, they never succeeded in their home country.
Luckily their music spread all over the world thanks to radio DJs, who discovered their craft. Then it was a matter of time before they hit UK top ten hit list.
After they saw some traction, they beg their record label to send them to the UK to do a tour. Well, it paid off.
They finally reach success and all it took were years of practice, multiple albums, and countless band breakups.
But the story is not over. Beatles' era didn't last long and the craze over their music ended as well.
However they did not stale, they evolved. They closed themselves in the studio and produced multiple albums, each one having different sounds.
One of them was the first electronic album ever produced. Yes, Kraftwerks were not the first ones to come up with synthesized electronic music.
So as they experimented with different genres and repeatedly reshaped their craft, they also lose the old Beatles fanbase. You would expect they would fall into oblivion after all those years, but the opposite was true.
The experiments helped them to grow new fanbases all over the world. Like recently, they became a sensation in Latin American countries. They even have enough fans in Japan, to fill up a huge concert hall.
You might not see it, but this is a huge motivation for all creators, who feels stuck. Who is getting nowhere and wants to give at any moment.
Don't give up, there will always be someone on this planet who will appreciate what you do. And we are so lucky to live in a modern era when anyone can share and broadcast their thoughts, skill, or art.
Use that opportunity to express yourselves and never give up.
You don't know how many times I gave up in the past while doing something that did not get any traction. But As I learned from my ongoing journey, one year is not enough to judge if it will be worth it in the end.
Most people like me, who suffer from shiny object syndrome, will jump from one thing to another. We go after our passions and put 200% effort in the beginning, only to get burned out after the first or second month, give up, and never trying again.
This approach will never work. It is better to give 80% long term. And whenever you feel burnout, just take a pause and return back after few months.
Sparks also had few periods, when they spent 5+ years in the studio 24/7, while not concerting or making any money. They just believed in what they do and guess what. Six years passed by and their next album brought them back to the scene.
The document itself is very engaging. Both brothers are commenting on their journey while being confronted by their associates and former band members.
Whenever there was a story to tell, the director used cartoonish animation to make the point. It worked well and I was captivated the whole time. Their music helped to set the right mood as well.
Unfortunately, Sparks did not have a lot of scandals so there is no drama or sensation, that could spice the document up. To sum it up, I love these feel-good success stories with sympathetic protagonists, who can motivate you to be a better self.
On the last day, there were many interesting movies with colliding schedules projected later that day. And unfortunately, I had to leave Karlovy Vary before 7 pm. For a moment O regretted not booking one more night, so I can enjoy a delicious breakfast one more time and spend another evening in Karlovy Vary. Or I could even see Ethan Hawke and Johnny Depp in real life. But the weather sucked big time, so no regret after all.
Brighton 4th
The first movie of the day had above average rating and I had nothing better to do, so I headed to the cinema one hour and a half before projection. But being first in the queue got me thinking it won't be that ratings might be biased by a few indie movies lovers.
The movie is about Georgian emigrants in the US, who lives their American dreams. The main character is an old man who has to travel to the US to save his son from gambling out everything they had including money, savings, house…
I have nothing against watching drama, but watching a drama about losers pisses me off. I get it, the best way how to produce raw, realistic indie movies is telling stories about drug addicts, gamblers, LGBTs, and other snowflakes, who have a hard time living in the current world because they feel they are not getting enough attention or are pampered enough.
I have seen the fate of those, who were lucky to have full support from their families, who took debt in order to send them to western countries, so they could start better lives and eventually help everyone back home.
And what did they do? They didn't appreciate the chance they got.
They treated it as a holiday trip, paid for by their parents and relatives. Not thinking about consequences and the hard work everyone had put into it.
Instead, they partied, wasted time doing nothing, and skipped school. I had a similar case in my family, and despite them being my relatives, I just could not tolerate and accept their laziness and how threw off the chance of a lifetime like that.
Why I am talking about it? Well, because the movie portraits a similar example. A guy goes to America, where he gambles out family savings including their house in Georgia, and his dad has to put his line in line to save him from debt collectors while dying in the process.
If you are interested in wrestling and perhaps how Georgians live, how they sing, and how they treat each other, then you might enjoy the movie. But it was too depressing and boring for my taste.
Super long static camera shots, pointless silent parts, and the main characters' stupidity made the whole experience painful.
Verdens verste menneske (Worst Person In The World)
The biggest surprise of this festival was a movie I skipped on the first day because of the horrible title and a cliche-sounding description. It sounded like every other romantic drama about love triangles, but the top of the top ratings proved me wrong.
Fortunately, there was a second projection on the day I was leaving and I wanted to make sure I get in, so I joined the queue one hour and a half before the start. I was very lucky because I was among the 10, that got in without a ticket. Yes, even Grand Hall can be sold out like that.
The prologue introduces us to the main heroine. She is an ambitious young lady spending all her free time studying medicine. She is the top of the class and knows what she wants.
However, she quickly changes her mind after her first autopsy class. Disgusted by the idea of dissecting the human flesh, she quits the school and drops out.
Girls like her don't stale for long. She promptly makes up her mind and decides to become a psychiatrist.
But something is not right, dissecting human brains bores the hell out of her and she quits again soon after.
Then she gets an aha moment when she uploads her picture on Instagram and notices her talent. Could this be her dream job? Maybe, or maybe not.
Anyway, she takes the risk and begs her mother one last time for tuition money so she can become a master of photography.
The new hobby leads her to interesting places where she meets new exciting acquaintances. And as an upcoming photographer, she sleeps with the first male model she meets, because why not.
Her bad-boy tattooed toy won't last long though. She ditches him the moment she meets her intellectual counterpart at the bar. Much more mature underground comics artist, who understands her perverse second nature.
They click on the spot and after a one-night stand, he drops the bomb during the post-hookup talk. He is ten years older, vulnerable after many failed relationships, and wants to settle with someone long-term.
She doesn't take him seriously, but he begs her to stay. Because she is young and carefree she agrees to become an official couple.
So their relationship smoothly transitions into a honeymoon period. They stay in bed all day long and they cannot get enough of each other.
Sound familiar? Hell yes, I love carefree honeymoon periods, when the only thing that matters is sex, food, and having a great time. But everything great has to come to an end eventually and too much sex will get old too, sadly.
Their harmonic relationship gets its first test during a weekend retreat with his mature friend couples and their kids. Suddenly she is confronted with what might comes in the future. Taking responsibility, having kids, and getting old and grumpy.
They start a huge fight but realize it's stupid and agree on the status quo. Nevertheless, pandora's box is now open. Is she ready to settle? Probably not. Is he the right one though? Probably yes.
Moving fast forward. She is still working as a low salaried shopping assistant in a bookstore, trying to fund her photography hobby, while he becomes a national sensation after his underground comics hits the mainstream.
The sudden success transforms his life to the next level. He has to organize exhibitions, promote his comics and take interviews. In short, he enjoys the life of a celebrity.
During one of his exhibitions, her feeling of being stuck and forgotten reaches its peak. This is not the life she imagined.
It is hard to cheer for her partner's success when she is not his equal. She is not that kind of caring supportive person.
However, her life is about to change soon. She leaves the exhibition early and decides to take a walk home alone.
On her way home, she comes across a wedding down the street. And because she looks chic in her classy dress, and her wild younger herself calls for some excitement, she snuck into the wedding pretending to be a guest.
It works flawlessly, and she blends in like a natural. The night is officially on.
She enjoys the drinks, food, random conversations with strangers, and she dances like there is no tomorrow. Her sexy moves immediately catch the groom's best friend's attention, who also feels being out of place in some way.
They somehow get into the conversation and the rest is history.
You know the moment when you meet someone, you know it is never meant to be, you will never see her again, but there is a hell of an attraction? This was it.
So to avoid any hard feelings later on, you role-play. You use fake names and you never reveal any pieces of personal information, that might identify who you are or where you work.
Total anonymity will grant you the freedom to reveal all your secrets. You can be yourself. You don't have to pretend to be someone else. You can share your deepest secrets without being judged because there is no future and you both live in the moment.
It happened to me many times over and over and it brought me many fond memories. Like this one time in Paris on top of the Eiffel Tower, I see this cute girl standing in the queue in front of me.
I tap on her shoulder and asks her if she found her flag on the ceiling. She nodded. I make a joke and invites her for a drink. She agrees so I take her hand and the rest is history.
Back to the movie. They both have the time of their lives dancing, smoking, and playing truth or lie. There she reveals her darkest secret, that she loves to initiate sex when it is soft because once she gets it up, she feels empowered and in control.
I had few girls in the past who loved that idea and they were indeed manipulating over-controlling gals.
Anyway night is coming to an end and they say goodbye knowing they will never meet each other again. They both feel huge loss due to immersive attraction but also relieved because, both are in a relationship and anything more than kissing is considered cheating, and they don't want that.
She goes back to her boring life, not feeling any guilt, only excitement.
Btw, you will know precisely when your girl is flirting with someone else. She gets excited whenever she goes out by herself and she dresses more nicely than usual.
All is good until fate strikes once again. What are the odds in real life, that this guy visits a bookstore, where she works, with his girlfriend? Exactly zero. But this is a movie so be it can happen any day.
She notices him in advance and tries to avoid a confrontation, but stumbles to fight against her excitement. This leads to an awkward situation when all but his girlfriend knows what is going on.
It could end right there right now, without saying a word. But he would be too stupid to let the chance of finally nailing her slide away, so they secretly exchange contacts. You know, if any of them changed their minds and wanted to pursue this flirt.
And it doesn't take long for her to get bored to death living with a hard-working comics genius, who neglects her presence because he is so immersed in his art.
What would be better than leave her boyfriend for a moment and check her secret romantic interest right?
To portrait her fling, the movie uses one of the most cinematic storytelling techniques ever, a freeze-frame, to show, how she spent a romantic date with him.
Imagine if the whole world froze. Except for you and the girl. This is exactly what would you feel. You live in the moment. It is just you and her, now. Nothing else matters.
She comes back home, emotionally overwhelmed and she now knows what she wants next. To ditch his boyfriends ass.
Breakup is tough and it always ends with tears and makeup sex. As desperate chump as he is, he begs her to stay once again.
But this time, it won't work. It is over. Once the girl finds a proper replacement, she is gone forever.
So they go separate ways.
Everything goes well and she enjoys the honeymoon period with her new younger, similarly carefree boyfriend, who just lives in the moment like her.
The next 20 minutes of the movie is not that interesting. Her new relationship goes through the same hoops as the previous one.
There is also a side story, that deals with her father's issues. He left her and her mother when she was young and he now has a new family and a daughter, who is better than her in every way.
Do you see the pattern? All comes back to daddy issues.
Anyway, after the end of the honeymoon period, she comes to her senses and has to end the relationship. Why? Because she lacks everything her previous relationship had.
This guy is not ambitious. He works at Starbucks for god's sake. Only lives at the moment, does not plan for the future, and having a good time is the mantra of the day. Sound familiar?
The resentment from dating an ambition-lacking loser is worse than being alone.
I will stop here because all good has been told. The movie continues in a downward dramatic spiral that is not worth mentioning. Sad to say, she never finds her happiness and ends up alone.
Is this the reflection of the current young generation of singles and mingles? Yes, it is. Today's generation doesn't know what they want, and they never stop until they get too old.
It is so much easier to ditch current relationships after the first hiccup, fire up tinder and find another love interest. At least for girls until a certain age.
No one is willing to fight for the relationship, because it is work, hard work to keep it long term. And most don't know, what they miss until they lose it. I know it best, I was that person.
Family values? Get outta here. Being selfish and enjoying high living standards is better than living in compromises until it isn't.
If you are like the main actress and this movie does not open your eyes, then you are doomed.
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(Madison, WI) – Tech-savvy participants at InterVarsity's Urbana 15 will be challenged by Hack4Missions, Urbana's first ever hackathon December 27-31, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri. Students will prototype new ideas and create real-time solutions to challenges confronting missions organizations.
Led by Hack4Missions directors Ali Llewellyn and Nick Skytland, cofounders of the International Space Apps Challenge and the National Day of Civic Hacking as members of NASA's Open Innovation team, over 200 students will explore technology's place in God's global mission. The participants will use their skills to advance God's kingdom, and receive mentoring from technology and missions leaders. Read more of this release at urbana.org.


Childfree News is pleased to announce the launch of her sister project, Childfree Issues.
It will be a place for launching various advocacy efforts on behalf of the childfree. Like Childfree News, the aim is to become more collaborative as time goes on; getting feedback from readers as to what issues to tackle next and what our strategy should be.
The first project has been launched; it is a website to advocate for equal workplace benefits.
Visit the website here to see what you can do!


text:
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Wissen aus der Wikipedia
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Shrek (sheep)
Schafe scheren. Nach 6 Jahren. 27kg Wolle.
Shrek (27 November 1994 – 6 June 2011) was a Merino wether (castrated male sheep) belonging to Bendigo Station, a sheep station near Tarras, New Zealand, who gained international fame in 2004, after he avoided being caught and shorn for six years. Merinos are normally shorn annually, but Shrek apparently hid in caves, avoiding muster. He was named after the fictional ogre in books and films of the same name.After finally being caught on 15 April 2004, the wether was shorn by a professional in 20 minutes on 28 April. The shearing was broadcast on national television in New Zealand. His fleece contained enough wool to make 20 large men's suits, weighing 27 kg (60 lb) – an average Merino fleece weighs around 4.5 kg (10 lb), with exceptional weights up to around 15 kg (33 lb).Shrek became a national icon. He was taken to parliament to meet the then-New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in May 2004, to celebrate his 10th birthday. In November 2006, 30 months after his initial shearing, Shrek was shorn again, on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin, New Zealand.Shrek was euthanised on 6 June 2011 on a veterinarian's advice. He was 16.
Quelle: Shrek (sheep)
Autor: noqqe
Bild: John Abel