LADEE Launch Pad 0B at NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
Aerial view of NASA Wallops launch site on Virginia shore shows launch pads for both suborbital and orbital rockets. The Antares rocket Pad 0A for missions to the ISS is in the foreground. Suborbital rockets blast off just behind the Pad 0A water tower. This photo was snapped from on top of Pad 0B that will soon launch NASA's LADEE orbiter to the Moon.
Orbital teams preparing the rocket and the Cygnus cargo spacecraft for the demonstration mission to the International Space Station are "well along in preparations," the release said.
The mission is the last milestone in the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services agreement between Orbital Sciences and NASA.
If successful, it will clear the way for Orbital to begin regular cargo resupply missions to the space station. The company has a contract with NASA for eight such missions under the Commercial Resupply Services program.
The two stages of the Antares rocket have been joined and the rocket is in the final stages of integration and testing, the release said.
Additionally, the Cygnus spacecraft has already been loaded with some 1,300 pounds of cargo. About 250 pounds more is expected to be added before the launch.
The rocket and spacecraft should be ready for launch by late August, but the date is being pushed back because NASA Wallops Flight Facility is also supporting NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Experiment Explorer mission, set to launch Sept. 6.
Priority has been given to the LADEE mission, which will be launched on a Minotaur V rocket, also built by Orbital.
The target date for the Antares launch is Sept. 14, with a launch window of Sept. 14 to 19. The Cygnus carrying its cargo is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Sept. 22.
Orbital teams will continue work to get the Antares and Cygnus ready for launch as early as the end of August in case the LADEE mission is unexpectedly delayed, "giving NASA additional options to maximize the launch manifest from Wallops," the release said.
ESA-Observatorium in Spanien wird per Laser im Spätjahr mit NASA Mond-Orbiter LADEE kommunizieren.
The laboratory testing paves the way for a live space demonstration in October, once NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer – LADEE – begins orbiting the Moon.
LADEE carries a terminal that can transmit and receive pulses of laser light. ESA's Optical Ground Station on Tenerife will be upgraded with a complementary unit and, together with two US ground terminals, will relay data at unprecedented rates using infrared light beams at a wavelength similar to that used in fiber-optic cables on Earth.
"The testing went as planned, and while we identified a number of issues, we'll be ready for LADEE's mid-September launch," says Zoran Sodnik, manager for ESA's Lunar Optical Communication Link project.
The testing took place in July at a Zurich, Switzerland, facility owned by ESA's industrial partner RUAG and made use of a new detector and decoding system, a ranging system and a transmitter.
A NASA team, supported by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, brought over their laser terminal simulator, while ESA together with RUAG and Axcon of Denmark set up the European equipment to test compatibility between the two sets of hardware.
"This interagency optical compatibility test was the first of its kind, and it established the uplink, downlink and the ranging measurement," says ESA's Klaus-Juergen Schulz, responsible for ground station systems at the European Space Operations Centre, Darmstadt.
The first laser link-up with LADEE is expected to be attempted four weeks after launch, around mid-October.
These units are lighter, smaller and need less power than today's radio systems, promising to cut mission costs and provide opportunities for new science payloads.
In addition, DLR, the German Aerospace Center, has developed satellite-to-satellite laser communication terminals embarked as technological demonstration payload on the Alphasat mission. ESA plans to use the optical communication terminal developed by Germany as the main operational payload for its European Data Relay System missions.
Despite its light absorbancy the Moon looks so bright to Earthlings because of its proximity to us, and because of our overall proximity to the Sun. But why is it so non-reflective? As with many phenomena, the answer is not entirely straightforward. The low average lunar albedo seems to be due to a variety of things, from the specifics of rock and 'soil' chemistry in a fairly intense radiation environment, to the physical texture of the surface.
They weren't simple in structure, as seen in this page of sketches from Apollo 17 made during sunrise. In the span of a few minutes the glow above the horizon went from a centrally peaked luminosity to a set of 'linear structures' radiating outwards.
ut what could be reflecting and scattering sunlight in the lunar vacuum? It could be something like the tenuous glow of irradiated sodium ions, but it could also be the glinting of lunar dust – levitated from the surface by powerful electrostatic charges generated by interplanetary radiation swirling across the landscape.
When NASA's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) begins operation aboard the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission managed by NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., it will attempt to show two-way laser communication beyond Earth is possible, expanding the possibility of transmitting huge amounts of data. This new ability could one day allow for 3-D High Definition video transmissions in deep space to become routine.
Since NASA first ventured into space, through the moon landings, shuttle program, and unmanned exploration missions, radio frequency communication also known as RF, has been the communications platform used. But RF is reaching its limit just as demand for more data capacity continues to increase. The development of laser communications will give NASA the ability to extend communication applications such as increased image resolution and even 3-D video transmission into deep space.
The LLCD experiment is hosted aboard NASA's LADEE: a 100-day robotic mission designed, built, integrated, tested and will be operated by Ames. LADEE will attempt to confirm whether dust caused a mysterious glow on the lunar horizon astronauts observed during several Apollo missions and explore the moon's tenuous, exotic atmosphere. Launch of the LADEE spacecraft is set for September aboard a U.S. Air Force Minotaur V rocket, an excess ballistic missile converted into a space launch vehicle and operated by Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va., from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va.
The LADEE spacecraft will take 30 days to reach the moon because of its flight path. LLCD will begin operations shortly after arrival into lunar orbit and continue for 30 days afterward.
LLCD's main mission objective is to transmit hundreds of millions of bits of data per second from the moon to Earth. This is equivalent to transmitting more than 100 HD television channels simultaneously. LLCD receiving capability will also be tested as tens of millions of bits per second are sent from Earth to the spacecraft. These demonstrations will prove the technology for increased bandwidth for future missions is possible.
There is a primary ground terminal at NASA's White Sands Complex in New Mexico, to receive and transmit LLCD signals. The team at MIT designed, built, and tested the terminal. They also will be responsible for LLCD's operation at that site.
There are two alternate sites, one located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, which is for receiving only. The other is being provided by the European Space Agency on the Spanish island of Tenerife, off the coast of Africa. It will have two-way communication capability with LLCD. "Having several sites gives us alternatives which greatly reduces the possibility of interference from clouds," said Cornwell.
LLCD is a short duration experiment and the precursor to NASA's long duration demonstration, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD). It also is a part of the agency's Technology Demonstration Missions Program, which is working to develop crosscutting technology capable of operating in the rigors of space. LCRD is scheduled to launch in 2017.
NASA engineers believe this technology becomes even more advantageous for communications beyond Earth's orbit. In the past, NASA has experimented with sending low amounts of individual pulses to cameras on far-away space probes near Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury.
The European Space Agency already has successfully demonstrated laser communication between satellites in Earth orbit. Recently they launched Alphasat to demonstrate laser transmission between a low-earth orbit satellite and a satellite in geostationary Earth orbit. LLCD's laser link from the moon will be ten times farther away.
The small car-sized Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is a robotic mission that will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the structure and composition of the thin lunar atmosphere and determine whether dust is being lofted into the lunar sky. A thorough understanding of these characteristics of our nearest celestial neighbor will help researchers understand other bodies in the solar system, such as large asteroids, Mercury, and the moons of outer planets.
"The moon's tenuous atmosphere may be more common in the solar system than we thought," said John Grunsfeld, NASA's associate administrator for science in Washington. "Further understanding of the moon's atmosphere may also help us better understand our diverse solar system and its evolution."
The mission has many firsts, including the first flight of the Minotaur V rocket, testing of a high-data-rate laser communication system, and the first launch beyond Earth orbit from the agency's Virginia Space Coast launch facility.
LADEE also is the first spacecraft designed, developed, built, integrated and tested at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. The probe will launch on a U.S. Air Force Minotaur V rocket, an excess ballistic missile converted into a space launch vehicle and operated by Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va.
LADEE was built using an Ames-developed Modular Common Spacecraft Bus architecture, a general purpose spacecraft design that allows NASA to develop, assemble and test multiple modules at the same time. The LADEE bus structure is made of a lightweight carbon composite with a mass of 547.2 pounds -- 844.4 pounds when fully fueled.
"This mission will put the common bus design to the test," said Ames Director S. Pete Worden. "This same common bus can be used on future missions to explore other destinations, including voyages to orbit and land on the moon, low-Earth orbit, and near-Earth objects."
Butler Hine, LADEE project manager at Ames, said the innovative common bus concept brings NASA a step closer to multi-use designs and assembly line production and away from custom design. "The LADEE mission demonstrates how it is possible to build a first class spacecraft at a reduced cost while using a more efficient manufacturing and assembly process," Hine said.
Approximately one month after launch, LADEE will begin its 40-day commissioning phase, the first 30 days of which the spacecraft will be performing activities high above the moon's surface. These activities include testing a high-data-rate laser communication system that will enable higher rates of satellite communications similar in capability to high-speed fiber optic networks on Earth.
After commissioning, LADEE will begin a 100-day science phase to collect data using three instruments to determine the composition of the thin lunar atmosphere and remotely sense lofted dust, measure variations in the chemical composition of the atmosphere, and collect and analyze samples of any lunar dust particles in the atmosphere. Using this set of instruments, scientists hope to address a long-standing question: Was lunar dust, electrically charged by sunlight, responsible for the pre-sunrise glow above the lunar horizon detected during several Apollo missions?
After launch, Ames will serve as a base for mission operations and real-time control of the probe. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., will catalogue and distribute data to a science team located across the country.
NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington funds the LADEE mission. Ames manages the overall mission. Goddard manages the science instruments and technology demonstration payload, the science operations center and provides overall mission support. Wallops is responsible for launch vehicle integration, launch services and operations. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages LADEE within the Lunar Quest Program Office.
A $6 million instrument built by the University of Colorado will fly to the moon this Friday with NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer, a mission designed to better understand dust patterns within its tenuous atmosphere.
The $280 million mission will take about a month to reach the moon and another month to enter the proper elliptical orbit and begin collecting data from the instruments.
CU physics professor Mihaly Horanyi of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics is the principal investigator for the Lunar Dust Experiment, which is able to chart the existence, size and individual velocities of tiny dust particles as small as 0.6 microns in diameter. For comparison, a standard sheet of paper is about 100 microns thick.
The Lunar Dust Experiment, as well as many previous LASP instruments launched into space since the 1970s, will carry a laser engraving of the CU mascot, Ralphie, as well as the names of all those who participated in the project.
LADEE's launch in 2013 will mark several firsts. It will be the first payload to launch on a U.S. Air Force Minotaur V rocket integrated by Orbital Sciences Corp., and the first deep space mission to launch from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The Minotaur V is a five-stage version of the Minotaur IV. It is designed to provide launches for small missions requiring geosynchronous transfer or translunar orbits.
Wallops, located on Virginia's eastern shore, was established in 1945 by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The oldest continuous rocket launch range in the United States, Wallops is a national resource for aerospace-based science and technology research using suborbital and orbital vehicles.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (center) poses with the LADEE team on a recent visit to the Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, CA. LADEE (which stands for Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) is the first spacecraft designed and built at Ames and is scheduled to launch from Wallops Flight Facility, VA.
NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE, pronounced like "laddie") is a robotic mission that will orbit the moon to gather detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface and environmental influences on lunar dust. A thorough understanding of these characteristics will address long-standing unknowns, and help scientists understand other planetary bodies as well.
WALLOPS ISLAND — Thousands of space fans and invited guests have come to northern Accomack County to view the liftoff tonight of the first moon mission launched from Virginia.
The island resort town of Chincoteague near NASA Wallops Flight Facility is ground central for local viewing of the launch of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer, which will be carried aloft by a five-stage Minotaur V rocket from a launch pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island.
The launch is scheduled for 11:27 p.m.
There is a four-minute window for tonight's launch, with alternate dates and times running through Sept. 10.
East Coast residents from the Carolinas to Maine and as far west as western Pennsylvania should be able to see the rocket in the sky, NASA Wallops spokesman Keith Kohler said.
In addition, live television coverage from Wallops begins at 9:30 p.m. on NASA TV.
Live coverage of the launch also will be broadcast on the huge screen in New York's Times Square from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The weather forecast is calling for a 95 percent chance of good weather at launch time, "so all systems are go," said Sarah Daugherty, NASA Wallops Flight Facility test director.
Chincoteague, the site of the popular annual Pony Penning held each year in July, is not unused to handling crowds.
The town's preparations for the lunar launch were "a mixture of what we do for Pony Penning and what we do for Fourth of July," said Town Manager Robert Ritter.
Chincoteague is where the majority of visitors coming to the area for the launch are staying, including some 1,400 VIP guests who will board 33 coach buses at the Chincoteague Community Center this evening to travel to NASA Wallops Flight Facility for the launch.
The town also is where the two officially designated areas for launch viewing are: along Maddox Boulevard and Beach Road east of the traffic circle, and in Robert Reed Waterfront Park downtown.
Other nearby areas the public typically views launches from, including the beach at Assateague Island National Seashore, are off-limits this time because the lunar mission's trajectory puts them within a hazard zone.
The beach will close 7 p.m. on launch day.
Parking along the causeway leading from the mainland to Chincoteague Island is not allowed and could be dangerous; the road runs through the marsh and in most places has no shoulders.
John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Thursday called Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer "a mission to help unravel the mysteries of the universe.
Grunsfeld and four other NASA officials spoke to some 70 journalists and 50 social media representatives at a prelaunch briefing Thursday afternoon.
He predicted the mission will give scientists "whole new vistas" on the moon.
NASA Wallops Flight Facility Director Bill Wrobel praised the teamwork evident among the entities involved in the mission, including NASA Ames Research Center in California, where the compact car-sized LADEE spacecraft was designed and built.
"I'm confident we are going to have a good showing here tomorrow evening," said Wrobel.
The is a mission of many firsts. In addition to being the first lunar mission launched from Virginia and the first moon mission flown by Dulles, Va.-based Orbital Sciences Corp., it is the first mission to use Orbital's Minotaur V rocket, a five-stage, 78-foot-tall rocket that weighs about the same as 40 minivans.
It's a go for liftoff tonight at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility for the first moon mission to be launched from Virginia.
NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environmental Explorer will be carried aloft by a five-stage Minotaur V rocket.
At 11:27 p.m. there will be a four minute launch window with alternate dates running through September 10th.
NASA Wallops Flight Facility officials say there is a 95 percent chance for good weather.
14-hundred VIP guests are expected to be in Chincoteague to view the launch.
Wallops officials say that residents from the Carolinas to Maine should be able to view the rocket rise up into the night sky.
New Yorkers will be able to see the live launch on the huge screen that overlooks Times Square beginning at 10:30 p.m.
One month after a dazzling late-night launch from Virginia sent NASA's LADEE mission into orbit, ground controllers in California are readying the lunar probe for a make-or-break rocket burn Sunday to put the modest spacecraft into orbit around the moon. The four-minute engine firing is scheduled to begin at 1057 GMT (6:57 a.m. EDT), changing the craft's velocity by 737 mph and allowing the moon's gravity to capture LADEE in a retrograde equatorial lunar orbit.
The $280 million Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer launched Sept. 6 aboard a Minotaur 5 rocket from Wallops Island, Va., putting on a Friday night pyrotechnic sky show for observers along the U.S. East Coast.
The five-stage launcher put LADEE in a high-altitude transfer orbit, and the bullet-shaped spacecraft completed three loops around Earth over the last month, using its rocket thrusters to nudge itself higher to set up for an intercept with the moon's orbit Sunday.
"On the third pass, we're hanging out there in space right around where the moon is going to come by," said Butler Hine, LADEE's project manager at NASA's Ames Research Center, in a prelaunch press conference. "It swings by, whips us around behind it, and then once we come out from behind the moon, we do a big braking burn with our main engine. That braking burn is what captures us around the moon."
LADEE's main engine, built by Space Systems/Loral, fired several times in September to change the probe's trajectory on the way to the moon. Sunday's lunar orbit insertion maneuver is the longest planned engine firing in LADEE's mission.
The mission's arrival at the moon is not impacted by the partial shutdown of the federal government, which furloughed 97 percent of NASA's civil servant workforce because Congress failed to pass a budget for the new fiscal year.
LADEE's operations are not affected by the shutdown because the mission is in a critical phase, said Rachel Hoover, a spokesperson at NASA's Ames Research Center, before the shutdown.
Sources said NASA had no plans to communicate the outcome of LADEE's insertion burn to the media or the public because the agency's public affairs staff is not at work.
Two more rocket firings are planned for Oct. 9 and Oct. 12 to lower LADEE's lunar orbit to an altitude of 155 miles. The spacecraft will initially be in an elliptical 24-hour orbit after Sunday's insertion maneuver.
During the mission's 30-day commissioning phase, due to begin in mid-October, ground teams will activate the spacecraft's research payload and deploy covers on LADEE's three science instruments. The sensors all appeared healthy during aliveness checks after LADEE's launch.
The spacecraft, which stands 7.7 feet tall and stretches about 4.7 feet in diameter, also hosts a laser communications package to demonstrate next-generation high-speed data links between Earth-based antennas and deep space probes.
The laser communications demo is scheduled to kick off later this month, and LADEE's laser payload - built by MIT Lincoln Laboratory - will connect the spacecraft with ground terminals in New Mexico, California and the Canary Islands.
LADEE will try to send and receive data packets transmitted through a laser beam connecting the spacecraft and the ground terminals at a range of about 250,000 miles.
Officials say laser communications on future missions could enable 3D videos and high-resolution imagery to be beamed from Mars to Earth at fiber-optic speeds, limited only by the one-way light time, the time it takes for a signal to travel from distant destinations back to Earth.
Then LADEE will begin its 100-day science mission, dipping as low as 12 miles above the moon's surface.
The orbiter's three instruments - a lunar dust experiment, neutral mass spectrometer and ultraviolet spectrometer - will scoop up dust particles and analyze the composition and variability of the moon's tenuous atmosphere.
"The orbit around the moon is retrograde, meaning opposite the lunar rotation, and also around the equator," said Greg Delroy, LADEE's deputy project scientist at Ames. "A lot of the lunar science missions have done a polar orbit, but because of the kind of science we're after, we very much want to be around the equator."


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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Orders 50% Discount on UAE Traffic Fines
Great news as all UAE drivers who have incurred traffic fines will get a discount of 50% if you pay it within the next 3 months!
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has issued a directive to the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to reduce traffic fines nationwide by 50 percent.
Related Post: Sharjah Cancels Black Points, Offers 50% Off on Traffic Fines
The discount is applicable on traffic fines incurred before 2nd December 2017, with these traffic fines to be paid within three months. This announcement was made as the UAE celebrates its 46th National Day. as the country celebrates its 46th National Day.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Orders Ministry of Interior to Provide 50% Discount on Traffic Fines Nationwide
Below is the tweet from HH
محمد بن زايد يوجه وزارة الداخلية بالتنسيق مع إدارات المرور بتخفيض المخالفات المرورية على مستوى الدولة بنسبة 50 %
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) December 1, 2017
Twitter Translated Message – Mohammed bin Zayed directs the Ministry of Interior in coordination with traffic departments to reduce traffic violations at the level of the state by 50%
It's important that you pay your traffic fines asap while it's still on this huge 50 percent off.
Source: http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302651411
In case you are wondering how you are going to pay your traffic fine, you can actually do so online. Here's a guide – How to Pay RTA Traffic Fine Online
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Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen: For Two Fitness $100 Gift Card Giveaway!
Being a For Two Fitness Ambassador I wanted to let you know about this awesome opportunity to win a $100 gift card from them!
Giveaway runs from June 23 - June 27!!!
One lucky intsagrammer will win $100 gift card to For Two Fitness - the very best in maternity activewear. Simply post this image on your Instagram feed along with the tag #fortwofitnessgift and mention @fortwofitness. Include in your comment the item or items you love the most. A minimum of 50 repost will be required to unlock the prize, so share with all of your pregnant friends, and good luck!
I am so sad to have to retire my For Two Fitness racer back tank for the time being. I will say that it was my absolute favorite top to wear exercising! It was long enough to cover by ever growing bump and stretch to fit me through my entire pregnancy! I am even debating on buying the racer back tops without the "running for two" design on it so I can wear them regularly not pregnant because they are that comfy and amazing! But I we aren't done having kids yet so time to pack it away for a little while! Good luck to everyone entering the giveaway!


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Q: What does ~ in the beginning of an URL in asp.net exactly do? I am editing a certain website which before used the port 80 (default) that was not required at the url (because it's default..)
But the port had (for technical reasons) to be changed, and now it has to be informed.
I can access the main page through ip:port\page like this:
1.2.3.4:81\page.aspx

Every link in the website is composed like this:
<asp:HyperLink runat="server" Text="random" NavigateUrl="~/fdr/whatever.aspx" />

And whenever I click on a link, the page doesn't load, but the URL is composed on the URL bar of the browser, then I simply add ":80" after the IP in the URL and it works.
Due to the existance of querystrings (in other words, for already having access to the URL) I before thought that '~' in the beginning of a URL in a link was saying "keep in the same website, just change to this webpage in this folder", but if the port vanishes, I assume now that the address is requested (probably to IIS) for the location of the current website.
I want to know then (instead of having to add the port to each link in my website) how do I set up whoever is requested by the ~ in the link to add the port somehow. How do I do that?
--[EDIT]--
Check this other question of mine for more info:
URL losing port number in every page load

A: It points to the current root directory of the asp.net app (which may live in a subdirectory of the website). It allows links to be coded independent from whether the app lives in the root folder or not.
The Port / domain is never part of the game. Ports are assumed to be 80  -by your browser.
That said, what please is the technical reason to move an app off port 80? I know of not a single valid reason, sorry ;)

A: The ~ sign is known as the application root operator. You can read more about it here (MSDN) and to quote:

ASP.NET resolves the ~ operator to the
  root of the current application. You
  can use the ~ operator in conjunction
  with folders to specify a path that is
  based on the current root.
The following example shows the ~
  operator used to specify a
  root-relative path for an image when
  using the Image server control In this
  example, the image file is read from
  the Images folder that is located
  directly under the root of the Web
  application, regardless of where in
  the Web site the page is located.

It's essentially a shortcut for the property System.Web.HttpRuntime.AppDomainAppVirtualPath.

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text:
In Between Translation, 2012
MOT/Arts
Installation view, In Between Translation, MOT/Arts
Installation view, Ancient Future, Wooyang Museum of Art
Meekyoung Shin
신 미경
How do you say it in your language?
Edward Allington
Its time to wash my hands, behind the wash basin is a sculpture in the form of a Buddha, its made of soap and I'm invited to use it by rubbing my hands over its head to build up a lather then rinsing them under the tap. I do this with some trepidation because I know that part of it will adhere to my skin and wash away, my skin will be cleaner, but the sculpture will be just that little bit less than it was before. By washing my hands on the sculpture I've just contributed in some small way to a work which is part of the long term Translation - Toilet Project by the Korean born artist Meekyoung Shin. These works will eventually leave their places besides the wash basins and be shown in partially eroded form in galleries and museums.
Soap is a very strange substance, a mixture of two substances you would not usually want on your skin, or associate with being clean: fats and ashes, animal or vegetable oils mixed with potash. Processed in the right way a chemical reaction called saponification occurs creating a new substance, which we know as soap which acts as a " handle" dissolving the dirt and also rendering it soluble in water. The process is ancient, a soap formula exists, a mixture of water, alkali, and cassia oil written on a Babylonian clay tablet from around 2200 BCE. (1) In the West we mainly owe our knowledge of soap to the Muslim world, most modern soaps are little changed from the Arabian soaps of the Middle Ages. In the classical world it was known but not used for cleaning. Soap although seemingly unusual as a sculptural material has, in fact, a history of being used for sculptural ends. It can be cast, carved, modeled, engraved, even painted (2) . Meekyoung Shin has mastered all these techniques with dazzling skill, and more importantly has chosen to do so with a great sense of purpose.
Washing is a symbolic, as well as practical act, in the Western Christian world the most significant act of washing is, perhaps, that of Pontius Pilate the Prefect of the Roman Province of Judea ( CE 26 - CE 36) Pilate is mentioned in all the canonical gospels; Mark, Matthew, Luke and John. It is in Matthew that Pilate famously washes his hands of the fate of Jesus. The phrase: "to wash your hands of it" is still in common usage in the West meaning to wash away responsibility. It is also an activity, as Shin has emphasized, usually seen as women's work. Women are traditionally expected to clean and were, and in many cases still are, judged by their ability to clean and to be clean.
My hands are clean, yet some other transference has taken place. I have touched the sculpture, a copy or rather a "translation" of an actual religious idol. I have worn some small part of it away. I have in turn been made clean, but to touch an idol is also to be some how blessed in return. We are all familiar with idols in Churches or Temples where the Madonna's have feet polished by the supplicant kisses of believers, or the heads of Buddha's are worn away by the single touches of those who reach to gain access to the Western Paradise, or some small gift to ease daily life. Through out the world ikons to every known belief have some aspect of touching or being made ceremoniously clean. To wash, to touch, it seems such a simple act, normal, every day, but in fact it is a very complex transaction: Practical, chemical, historical, cultural, and gendered. Meekyoung Shin encapsulates this artistic project under the term: translation, but what does Meekyoung Shin mean by translation?
In his book" Mouse or Rat, translation as negotiation" (3) Umberto Eco outlines some of the criteria of translation, the first he refers to as "...translation proper ( that is, from one natural language to another)". (4) Let us take one of Meekyoung Shins best known works ' Crouching Aphrodite 2002. This is a sculpture in soap coloured to resemble marble, cast and modeled over an armature of wood and steel. 90 x90 x 70 cm. The sculpture is based on a Roman copy, of which the cast in the Louvre is 115 cm x 74 cm x 58 cm, of a work also known as The Venus of Vienne, the original being attributed to Diodalas of Byhinia who was active between 240 and 200 BCE. In fact there are many versions of this particular classical pose, most of them Roman copies. Crouching Aphrodite 2002 is a cast taken from the artists body in the pose of these well known statues. Significantly it is widely accepted that the the goddess of beauty is being interrupted whilst bathing, or at her toilet. There are many issues here but let us return to the first. Is this "translation proper" as in from one natural language to another? At first it would seem not as they are both sculptures, however I would say this assumption is incorrect. Sculpture as a distinct aesthetic ( as in separate from religious and ritual life) is a completely Western concept (5). Western style sculpture, a tradition in which Meekyoung Shin was trained at, and became expert at, while studying at Seoul National University, was introduced to Korea when Kim Pok-chin was sent to study at the Tokyo School of Fine Art in 1919 during the Japanese occupation of Korea(6) The Japanese had imported these techniques, mainly from Italy at the begining of the Meiji Restoration. So yes I would say this is " translation proper". The artist translates the notion of a sculpture of a woman, from a Western tradition, and in the West the human figure remains the basic paradigm of beauty, by using her own body to translate a Western image into an Eastern form through her own experience as an artist who has trained and works in both Korea and England.
Eco goes on to discuss aspects of translation, one he describes simply as length, saying it would be unreasonable if a manuscript of two hundred A4 pages using the same size and type of font was returned translated with four hundred pages. Shin's translation's as we have seen above remain close to scale. Eco then contrasts Disney's "translation" of Pinocchio in contrast to Collodi's original text. Meekyoung's Shins "translation" does not resemble Disney's. Her work is not a major reconfiguration of the story, it is not a substitute for the original. Then Eco talks about idioms: how a phrase in one language if translated literally would not make sense, but would if exchanged for a matching idiom in another language with the same meaning. Eco uses the English phrase " to pull someone's leg" which means to tease someone and suggests to translate this literally into Italian would be meaningless , but to translate this as "to pull someone's nose" would give exactly the right impression to the reader. Shin's work doesn't seem to be about idioms, but there is a clear exchange of style and terms in keeping with this notion of Umberto Eco's. In this body of work Shin transposes an Eastern body type, usually her own, over the idealized Western body type in the classical works she is referring to. Eco states that the translation must be "literally unfaithful" (7). He also mentions adequacy, equivalence and faithfulness. I think it is clear Meekyoung's Shins work does meet these criteria, but meets them in terms appropriate to her media. Most importantly Eco describes translation as a form of negotiation. This is where the work of Meekyoung Shin operates, we stand in front of one of her works and we have to begin to negotiate, to interchange existing paradigms of thought, familiar images with slight shifts in meaning, changes of materials, the shift from one language to another. In this work she translates Western notions of the idealized female body, into real Eastern female form.
In some works in the continuing series of figurative "translations" of classical sculpture Shin has added tints, added colour. It is known that classical statues were coloured, but this 19th century discovery posed problems for the Victorians who felt at ease with nude statuettes and sculpture as long as it was in the classical manner and monochrome. The most famous example was Canova's British pupil John Gibson (1790 - 1866) whose Tinted Venus (1851-6), now in the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, caused an outrage at the time been seen as vulgarizing the art of sculpture and being far too life like and hence erotic. Meekyoung Shin's use of colour in the soap allows her to both to remind us of this debate and to give her "translations" an uncanny presence. It emphasizes the material: soap, and the associations of that material with the body. There is something else we must not forget, these sculptures now in our museums were once in private hands, they were trophies, they were symbols of knowledge and power. Symbols of the supposed superiority of Western values, they were also a mechanism of exchange and trade, either in themselves or through their replications. and as Margaret Visser has said when discussing food: " Women have always been another symbol, used for the knitting together of families and tribes; they too are 'given away' in marriage, shared, stolen, used to enhance status, or abstained from." (8) All translations have to closely question the original, unpick the underlying issues and then re present them in a new language. For those that are bi lingual these differentiation's are clearly apparent, and Shins work allows us this pleasure, reveals her interrogation of the original.
Recently she has built a new body of work where the translation is seemingly less complex: the Translation - Vase series, and the Translation- Glass Bottle series. These technically extraordinary works are replicas in soap of Chinese ceramic vases made for consumption by Western markets. again a system of exchange. Meekyoung Shin sometimes shows these works on open crates standing on mirrors, sometimes on plinths. by doing this Shin also opens out notions of transportation, protection and storage. Most sculpture, most art if not actually on display is stored in crates, and when it is on display it has to have some mechanism to protect, to distance it from the actual world; a plinth, a podium or a vitrine.
There is direct translation from one language to another, from ceramic or glass( both are made from silicates heated to very high temperatures) to soap, that curious mixture of organic and inorganic materials. The realism of this translation is breathtaking, we can fully believe that there is access to these works in a different medium, from one language to another. But again, as is often the case, with Shin's work there is a difficult contrast to over come. Ceramic and glass is fragile, but as a material virtually indestructible, most of our knowledge of prehistoric cultures comes to us through the remains of their ceramics. Soap is in fact a very durable material if like paper it is kept in the right conditions, but if not it is very transient, it can literally be washed away.
Korea has been and still is one of the most significant producers of ceramics. A heritage which is universally admired. In 2007 I visited the British Museum with the artist on the occasion of the display of her work: Translation: Moon Jar 2007 in the Korean galleries of the museum. First of all we went to see a special display of a Moon Jar in the collection. A truly beautiful pot, and interestingly donated to the British Museum by Bernard Leach, perhaps the most influential Western potter of the modern era. Leach, an ex Slade student like Meekyoung Shin was a close associate of the Japanese aesthetic theorist and founder of Mingei Yanagi Soetsu.Yanagi was a great supporter of Korean art and of its ceramics in particular. It was their work which made available so many of the wonders of Korean ceramics to the West. Later we went up to see the Translation: Moon Jar 2007, displayed in a vitrine just like the original. It was only by reading the label that it was possible to believe it was soap and not ceramic. The Moon Jar in the lower gallery had been handled, touched by many hands, Leach must have held it, yet there is no trace of him other than the label. The trace of everybody who had touched had been cleaned from its surface. Meekyoung Shin's Moon Jar, could be just washed away, both were fragile but in very different ways.
All of Meekyoung Shin's work, has this quality, it needs to be cared for, protected, maintained, its fragility reminds us of our own. How we need to care for ourselves, our families, our friends, our environment, our cultural heritage and our cultural exchanges. Just how hard it is to make these things and how hard it is to look after them. Meekyoung Shin has made works you can wash your hands on but one thing is for certain this is not work you can wash your hands of.
(1) Wilcox, Michael, "soap" in Hilda Butler. Poucher's Perfumes, Cosmetics and Soaps ( 10th edition.) . Dortrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 453
(2) Jack C. Rich, The Materials and Methods of Sculpture, Oxford University Press, 1947, pp 357 - 358
(3) Umberto Eco, Mouse or Rat, translation as negotiation, A Phoenix paperback, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, GB 2003.
(4) ibid, p2
(5) See: Paul Oskar Kristellar, The modern System of the Arts, in Renaissance Thought and the Arts, collected essays, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 1980, pp 163-227
(6) Kim Pok-yong, Modern Sculpture Responds to International Trends, Korean Arts Guide, Yekyong Publications Co., Ltd, pp 90-91
(7) Umberto Eco, Mouse or Rat, translation as negotiation, A Phoenix paperback, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, GB 2003.p5.
(8) Margaret Visser, The Rituals of Dinner, the origins of, evolution, eccentricities, and meaning of table manners, Penguin Books, London, 1991.p3
Edward Allington 2009 (c)
© 2020 by Meekyoung Shin. All rights reserved.


A new teaser for Shazam! dropped this weekend giving fans a lot of new footage for the upcoming DC Extended Universe film. However, there was one particular part of the teaser that has a bit of interesting trivia behind it, trivia that director David F. Sandberg let fans in on via social media.
Sandberg continued his streak of sharing interesting facts and behind-the-scenes information about Shazam! with fans on Monday when he posted a little bit about the scene glimpsed in the teaser in which Shazam fights Dr. Sivana in front of a collapsing Ferris wheel. The trivia? That Ferris wheel wasn't CGI. It was very real, and the director even took a ride on it before it was destroyed for the film. Check out his post below.
It's a pretty cool detail, especially considering that some substantial CGI has to be employed in other elements of the film -- such as the lightning the two characters are exchanging in the clip. It's also not the only interesting tease that Sandberg has given fans since the teaser's release.
On Sunday, the director offered fans a detail shot of another moment from the teaser -- one that offers a first look at the Seven Deadly Sins.
"It goes by pretty quickly in the video I posted earlier so here's a still with some neat stuff in it..." Sandberg wrote.
While Sandberg's caption plays it pretty cool, comic book fans will easily recognize the figures and it's pretty exciting. For those who aren't familiar, the Seven Deadly Sins made their debut in Whiz Comics #2 back in 1940 along with Captain Marvel (the hero we now know as Shazam, not the Marvel character. That's a whole interesting tale all its own) and Dr. Sivana and they are pretty much exactly what you would expect based on the name. The villains are based off of the classic mortal sins such as lust, greed, envy, etc. and are embodied within seven demons.
As for how the Sins may be represented in Shazam!, with the film being based off of the Geoff Johns' New 52 run in the comics, it's likely they will be similar to their New 52 counterparts themselves.
Of course, this new teaser is exciting for more than just a glimpse of the Seven Deadly Sins. The teaser also includes some clever nods to other DC films, including the homage to Man of Steel's mid-air fight scene, and the hilariously tongue-in-cheek tagline of "He's not so serious."
Aquaman is in theaters now. Upcoming DC films include Shazam! on April 5, 2019, Joker on October 10, 2019, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) on February 7, 2020, and Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5, 2020.


The Diablo III blog has been updated with the news that character profile sheets are now available on Battle.Net. The character sheet shows off gear, stats, progress, skills and more. It can also be shared with folks on your friends list to compare data.
View your heroes' gear, stats, and skills. How high have you raised your characters' attributes? What are they wielding in each slot? What are their most prominent gear bonuses? What skills comprise their current build? Nuance awaits you in the Heroes tab.


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Special Events Committee Paves Way for 2016 Public Events
By Claudia Morell - November 17, 2015
The Council Committee on Cultural Affairs and Special Events approved an ordinance yesterday giving the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) the authority to produce public events and festivals for next year, an action the committee must take every year.


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Tag Archives: fancy dress
Liverpool Comic Con 2021
Exhibition Centre, Liverpool
How long is it since the last time I went to a Comic Con? Any Comic Con? It must be pretty much exactly two years. The pandemic ruled out mass gatherings of this type completely over that time. Now, we're back – a long overdue visit to the wonderful city of Liverpool and it's excellent convention.
Our only initial bad luck was arriving to find massive queues snaking back for what seemed like miles. We had purchased early bird tickets for a 9am start, however arriving on schedule at nine left us in a long line with hundreds of other punters. It took an hour before we were finally inside the exhibition centre, which wasn't a great start.
This was a case of Queue Hard, with several sequels including Queue Hard 2: Queue Harder – and finally, Queue Hard with a Vengeance.
When we were in the building, however, all was swiftly forgiven. I think we can accept some teething troubles in getting this event back up and running. It was great to finally be indoors at a Comic Con, and we gleefully threw ourselves into the experience with enthusiasm.
There were many guests signing on the day, but none that were of particular interest to myself. So, I braved the throngs of convention goers to view the treasures on sale at the stalls, purveying all type of nerdy goodness. As always at Comic Cons, there was far too much merch for me to buy it all – though I made some fine purchases, there were oodles more a timely lottery win would've made mine.
I picked up a couple of Star Wars The Vintage Collection figures that I needed, and a Mego Wolfman action figure that I couldn't resist. Plus, the Christmas shopping commenced with some unusual items I wouldn't have been able to pick up elsewhere. The only disappointment was a total lack of ReAction figures.
Of course, the main highlight of the day was the varied and spectacular costumes worn the attendees. Cosplay was alive and well, which was great to see. Hopefully these photos will give you some idea of the skill and splendour that was on show.
Despite a dodgy start, Liverpool Comic Con was a great day out. We came, we saw, we took photos and bought tat – a fine time was had by all. I'd recommend this convention as one to visit, and I'll definitely be back.
Have a look at the Liverpool Comic Con webnet here.
Posted in Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged 1970s TV, action film, adventure film, animated film, animation, Aquaman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, B-movie, Batman, book, Buzz Lightyear, Captain America, cartoon, classic film, classic movie, classic Star Wars, classic tv, comic, comic book, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, Convention, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, cult film, cult horror, cult movie, Daphne, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Dead Snow, Disney cartoon, Disney Cosplay, Doctor Doom, Dr Doom, Edward Scissorhands, event, events, family film, family movie, fancy dress, fantasy, fantasy character, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film fans, film scene, film star, Flash, ghost, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hallowe'en, Halloween, Halloween film, halloween movies, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn cosplay, Heavy Metal, Hera Syndulla, horror, horror actor, horror character, horror film, horror film star, Horror movie, horror movie star, Horror movies, horror novel, horror star, Indiana Jones, Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden The Trooper, Iron Man, John Carpenter's Halloween, kids tv, Lara Croft, late night movies, Leia, Liverpool, Liverpool Comic Con, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, Marvels Avengers, Mary Poppins, metal, Michael Myers, Mjolnir, movie, movie star, movies, Nazi zombie, Ned Flanders, Negan, novel, outfit, Papa Emeritus, Poison Ivy, Predator, Princess Leia, Rick Grimes, Sandpeople, Scarlet Witch, scary movie, scary movies, sci fi film, sci fi horror, sci fi television, sci-fi, sci-fi movie, science fiction, Scooby Doo, Scooby Doo Where Are You?, star, Star Trek, Star Wars, Star Wars action figures, star wars characters, Star Wars cosplay, Star Wars figures, Star Wars film, Star Wars photos, Star Wars Rebels, star wars toys, Suicide Squad, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super hero movie, super heroine, super star, super villain, superhero, superheroes, supervillain, The Simpsons, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead cosplay, Thor, Toy Story, Tusken Raider, tv, TV movie, tv programme, tv series, tv show, Two Face, vampire, vampiress, Velma, walking dead character, Yondu, zombie cosplay, zombie outfit	| Leave a reply
Bloody Hammers – Album Review
Posted on August 13, 2021 by platinumal
Bloody Hammers – Songs of Unspeakable Terror
Running time: 32 mins approx
Review by: Alun Jones
Outside, the nights are starting to get lighter and Spring is on its merry way. The birds chirp merrily and warmth is returning to the land. Which is completely inappropriate for a review of the new album by Bloody Hammers, "Songs of Unspeakable Terror". It should be Halloween instead: gloomy and dark with the bizarre and uncanny just outside your door.
Anders Manga (vocals, guitars, bass) and Devallia (keyboards/organ) are the Morticia and Gomez husband and wife team behind Bloody Hammers, a metal/rock/goth creation based in Transylvania County, North Carolina. How's that for an address? Bet Glenn Danzig's crying into his Count Chocula cereal.
On this opus, Lily and Herman have left behind their previous established sound of Alice Cooper-style hard rock, crunchy metal and Sisters of Mercy atmos. Entombed alive due to the pandemic, Bloody Hammers have exhumed the bloody corpse of horror punk, in a temporary tribute to the genre.
And it's huge fun! Fast and furious tracks like "Night to Dismember" and "Waking the Dead" rocket from the crypt like the hounds of hell are on their tail. Huge "whoah-oh" Misfits choruses are of course present and correct. Rousing and energetic, these songs are obvious but loving celebrations of influences that have only been hinted at on previous albums.
There's macabre melody on "We Are the Damned", with a choir vocal effect to help power the camp horror feel. "Hands of the Ripper" and "Not of This Earth" are slower, more metal sounding with a grinding riff.
Little of the occasional Andrew Eldritch explorations exist on "Songs of Unspeakable Terror", though "Lucifers Light" unites guitar and keys into a moody Danzig like ballad. A little more of this approach would still have fitted perfectly however. I don't know if Devallia can sing, but if she can this was a missed opportunity.
The listener never feels too far removed from the original Bloody Hammers style, however. Likewise this isn't a simple, derivative rip-off of "Walk Among Us", even though "The Brain That Wouldn't Die" is a nice radioactive "Hatebreeders" mutation. But whereas the Misfits took their inspiration from monochrome B-movies, Bloody Hammers have changed gears to a Kensington gore-drenched 60's Technicolor horror fest.
"Songs of Unspeakable Terror" is an album of pure enjoyment, which is just what we need right now. With song titles taken directly from classic Hammer/Amicus movies, a warm rediscovery of horror punk style and some familiar Bloody Hammers rock, you can't go wrong. Go dig out your Halloween fancy dress, find your "Plan 9 From Outer Space" VHS cassette and get ready for a ghouls night in!
Check out Bloody Hammers on Bandcamp, Facebook and Instagram.
This review was brought to you by Platinum Al and Ever Metal.
Posted in Music	| Tagged 70s rock, album, album review, Alice Cooper, alternative rock, Amicus, Amicus film studio, Amicus films, Amicus horror, Anders Manga, Andrew Eldritch, B-movie, ballad, bass, bass guitar, bass player, Bloody Hammers, Bloody Hammers album review, Bloody Hammers review, Bloody Hammers Songs of Unspeakable Terror, classic rock, Danzig, Devallia, doom metal, Ever Metal, Ever Metal review, Ever Metal website, fancy dress, Glenn Danzig, Goth, goth rock, Gothic, Gothic rock, guitar, guitarist, Hallowe'en, Hammer, Hammer film, Hammer film studio, Hammer films, Hammer Horror, Hammer movies, hard rock, Heavy Metal, heavy rock, Herman Munster, horror punk, keyboard, Lily Munster, metal, metal album, metal band, metal review, Misfits, Munsters, music, music genre, music review, music style, musician, musicians, Napalm Records, organ, Plan 9 From Outer Space, punk rock, review, rock, rock album, rock band, rock music, rock review, rock'n'roll, singer, Sisters of Mercy, song, songs, Songs of Unspeakable Terror, The Misfits, The Munsters, track, tracklist, tracks, Transylvania, Transylvania County, vocalist, vocals, Walk Among Us	| Leave a reply
Sci-Fi Weekender: Back to the Future
March is usually the time for Sci-Fi Weekender: a weekend long, stay-over-and-party Comic Con that's full of entertainment. From special guests, interviews, signings, screenings, games and all manner of live entertainment, this event has always been a fantastic, full-on experience for all your geeky desires.
Sadly, the Covid pandemic exterminated the event this year. It should have been taking place this last weekend. It's a real blow, as Sci-Fi Weekender offers just the kind of escapism that we need right now.
Have no fear, however: I've used my Indiana Jones-like archaeological skills to rediscover some long lost photos from the past.
Cosplay is always a big deal at SFW. All manner of glorious, gruesome, magnificent and marvellous costumes can be seen on display, worn by some of the coolest and most down-to-earth people you'll be likely to meet this side of Tosche Station.
Thanks to my old pal Darf Dork (that's Adam G, to you), I'm able to present some photos from the past that will bring back some fond memories. These pics are all Adam's work – he's been kind enough to thaw them out of carbonite for your enjoyment.
Hope in my Virtual Hot Tub Time Machine and let's go back to SFW past. Hope you enjoy the photos. And keep dreaming: one day Sci-Fi Weekender will return…
Posted in Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged adventure film, Alien, Artyfakes, B-movie, Bat Man, Batman, Beast, book, chap hop, character, classic film, classic movie, classic tv, comic, comic book, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, Convention, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, cult film, cult horror, cult movie, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, fancy dress, fantasy, fantasy character, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film character, film fans, film star, graphic novel, Hafan Y Mor, Hafan Y Mor Holiday Park, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn cosplay, hip-hop, horror, horror character, horror film, horror film star, Horror movie, Horror movies, horror star, Joker, Leia, lightsaber, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, monster movie, movie, movie star, movies, North Wales, North Wales coast, novel, party, Pennywise, Pennywise the Clown, Planet of the Apes, Princess Leia, Princess Leia slave girl, Professor Elemental, Rocketeer, scary movie, scary movies, sci fi film, sci fi horror, sci fi television, Sci Fi Weekender 2018, sci-fi, sci-fi movie, Sci-Fi Weekender, Sci-Fi Weekender 2015, Sci-Fi Weekender 2016, science fiction, Shaun of the Dead, Sith Lord, slave Leia, Spooky film, spooky movie, Star Wars, star wars characters, Star Wars cosplay, Star Wars photos, Stephen Kings It, Stormtrooper, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super hero movie, super heroine, super villain, superhero, superheroes, supervillain, sword and sorcery, Tabitha Lyons, Tabitha Lyons Cosplay, Tank Girl, The Joker, Tim Curry Pennywise, tv, tv programme, tv series, tv show, Wales, Zatanna	| Leave a reply
MCM Comic Con Birmingham 2019 – Part 2
Right back atcha with some more fabulous photos from the recent MCM Comic Con at the NEC in Birmingahm. Here's Part 2, 'cos one blog post just wasn't enough. So many photos, you see.
There's not much else to report that I haven't covered in previous editions of my MCM Comic Con blogs. You know the drill, right?
So let's just crack on and you can witness the awesome Cosplay photos of these amazing, talented people.
Here's a bit of fun for you, though – can you spot my pal Darf Dork hanging around in one of these pics? There might be a prize for someone who can…
Finally, another big THANK YOU to everyone who posed for a photo – the true stars of the day. See you at the next Comic Con!
Posted in Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged action film, adventure film, animated film, animation, Aquaman, Ariel, Aurora, B-movie, B-movie monsters, Bat Man, Batman, BBC television, BBC TV, Beauty and the Beast, Belle, Birmingham, Birmingham MCM Comic Con, Birmingham NEC, Birmingham NEC Memorabilia, Boba Fett, book, Book of the Dead, cartoon, character, Clark Kent, classic film, classic movie, classic television, classic tv, comedy horror, comic, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, cult film, cult horror, cult movie, Daphne, Darth Maul, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Disney, Disney cartoon, Disney character, Disney Cosplay, Disney film, Disney movie, Disney Princess, Disney Snow White, Doctor Who, Dr Who, dressing up, Elvira, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, family film, family movie, fancy dress, fantasy, fantasy character, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film character, film fans, graphic novel, Gremlins, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn cosplay, He Man and the Masters of the Universe, He-Man, Heimdall, Homelander, horror, horror character, horror comedy, horror film, horror film star, Horror movie, horror movie star, horror novel, horror spoof, horror star, It, It Stephen King, Joker, Kylo Ren, Maleficent, Man at Arms, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, Masters of the Universe, MCM Birmingham Comic Con, MCM Comic Con, MCM Expo, MCM Memorabilia, Mera, movie, movie memorabilia, movies, NEC, Nightmare Before Christmas, novel, outfit, Pennywise, Pennywise the Clown, Poison Ivy, Predator, Robin, Sally, scary movie, scary movies, sci fi film, sci fi horror, sci fi television, sci-fi, sci-fi movie, science fiction, Scooby Doo, Scooby Doo Where Are You?, Shaun of the Dead, She-Ra, Skeletor, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Spiderman, spooky movie, Star Wars, star wars characters, Star Wars cosplay, Star Wars film, Star Wars movie, Star Wars photos, Star Wars props, Stephen King, Stephen Kings It, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super hero movie, super heroine, super villain, superhero, superheroes, Superman, supervillain, television, television programme, The Boys, The Joker, The Little Mermaid, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Thor, Thor Ragnarok, Tigra, tv, tv programme, tv series, tv show, Velma, Wicked Queen, Wolverine, Wonder Woman	| 1 Reply
OK, look – I won't write a blow by blow account of this years MCM Comic Con at Birmingham NEC. I'll just provide a little info; a flavour, if you will, of the attractions and atmosphere.
That way, we can cut to the chase and you can see the photos I took of the many and varied Cosplayers at the event.
Maybe you were there? Maybe a photo I took of you is featured here? If so, I'd like to thank you for your contribution. Also, I'll offer my apologies, if the pic isn't that great. Fingers crossed some of these images look alright.
The main goal of the day was to see as many of the stalls as we could, and spend a few quid here and there. There were a great many treasures to be seen – oh, if only I had the money to buy them all…
I did buy the following:
A ReAction figure of Jerry Only from the Misfits (to go with my Misfits Fiend I'd purchased previously).
A ReAction figure of the classic Universal monster, the Mummy (bargain price).
Freddie Mercury Funko Pop – the yellow jacket version, the first I'd ever seen in the wild and a steal for only a tenner.
A Marvel comic book: Master Of Kung Fu – cos I felt I needed to add at least one comic to my collection.
Not a bad little haul, really.
Over all, though, the greatest success of the day were the amazing Cosplayers. Thanks to all of your for posing for a photo. Hope you all had a great day!
That's it for Part 1 of the MCM Comic Con write-up: stay tuned for Part 2 very soon, with loads more photos to enjoy…
Posted in Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged action film, adventure film, animated film, Aurora, Avengers, B-movie, Baroness, Beast Boy, Birmingham, Birmingham MCM Comic Con, Birmingham NEC, Birmingham NEC Memorabilia, Black Widow, book, Captain America, character, classic film, Columbia, comic, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, cult film, cult horror, cult movie, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Disney, Disney cartoon, Disney character, Disney Cosplay, Disney film, Disney movie, Disney Princess, dressing up, family film, family movie, fancy dress, fantasy, fantasy character, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film character, film fans, film prop, Freddie Mercury, Ghost Rider, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn cosplay, Harry Potter, Hellraiser, hero, heroes, heroine, Homelander, horror, horror actor, horror character, horror film, horror film star, Horror movie, horror movie star, Horror movies, horror star, Iron Man, Jean Grey, Joker, kids film, Killer Croc, Lego, Luke Skywalker X-Wing Fighter Pilot, Luke X-Wing Pilot, Maleficent, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, Marvels Avengers, MCM Birmingham Comic Con, MCM Comic Con, MCM Expo, MCM Memorabilia, Memorabilia, Merida, monster movie, movie, movie memorabilia, movie star, movies, NEC, Nightmare Before Christmas, Phoenix, Pinhead, Pocahontas, Raven, Rebel Alliance, Rebel Pilot, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Scarlet Witch, sci fi film, sci fi horror, sci fi television, sci-fi, science fiction, Sleeping Beauty, Snowspeeder pilot, space film, Space Lego, Spider Man, Spiderman, Stan Lee, Star Wars, star wars characters, Star Wars cosplay, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V, Starfire, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super hero movie, super heroine, super villain, superhero, superheroes, supervillain, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go, television, television programme, The Avengers, The Boys, The Joker, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Uncanny X-Men, tv, tv programme, tv series, tv show, villain, villainess, Winter Soldier, Wolverine, X Wing pilot, X-Men, X-Wing Fighter Pilot, xmen	| 1 Reply
Wales Comic Con
Saturday 27th – Sunday 8th April 2019
Storm Hannah was raging on Saturday when my family and I made one of our regular visits to Wales Comic Con. The usual site at Glyndwr University was drowning under torrential downpours and lashed by fierce winds.
That may sound overly dramatic, but it really was grim. Thor, God of Thunder, must have been in a really bad mood. Or maybe it was Storm from the X-Men?
As a result, our family day trip was a bit of a washout. Corridors were packed out as attendees shuffled along like zombies from The Walking Dead.
We managed to get into the merch tent, which was also very crowded and difficult to get near to the stalls. Some traders looked to be suffering as the marquis roof was leaking rainwater.
I didn't manage to get many photos of Cosplayers or props etc. Most people were wrapped up against the elements, or there just wasn't room to take a pic. I don't think anyone particularly felt like dawdling, posing for a photo – and I didn't fancy hanging around in the wet!
The queue to get in to the signing tent was massive, stretching outdoors as people waited to get in. As it was still chucking it down, we decided not to bother joining the line and decided to leave.
No big deal for me as I wasn't really interested in autographs; Mrs Platinum Al had been thinking about meeting Kiefer Sutherland for a signing though, so that never happened..
But we'd had enough – the miserable weather had us beat. We were wet through. Basically, we paid £22 each to look round some stalls in a leaking tent.
Now nobody can be blamed for the weather, it was just unfortunate. I did feel sorry for the traders with their soaked merchandise. And the people in the rain waiting to have a photograph with a celeb whilst they looked like they'd just been rescued from the Titanic.
And the poor celebs too – what a welcome to the country!
Well the only answer was to just get on and make the most of things, which I think most did. The organisers can't be blamed for Storm Hannah. Maybe in the future they need to consider shelters for the queue, rain or shine.
Sunday's weather was much improved, however we'd only got tickets for Saturday. The reason for that was because Rupert Grint, some Harry Potter kid, was there that day. For some reason this was a big deal in our house, so we booked tickets for Saturday (the only day Ron Weasley was there) rather than our usual Sunday.
After buying the tickets, we then found out that autographs with Rupert would cost over £130 – so he was priced out of our range anyway. Ironically, had we known that cost up front, we'd have bought Sunday tickets; avoided the storm and had a great day.
Rupert Grint better not show his face round here, I'll stick his wand where the sun doesn't shine for him.
The Wales Comic Con website is here.
Posted in Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged action film, Addams Family, adventure film, Ant Man, Avengers, BBC television, BBC TV, Captain Marvel, classic comedy, classic movie, classic silent film, classic television, classic tv, comedy, comedy programme, comic, comic book, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, Convention, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, cult film, cult movie, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Disney film, Disney movie, dressing up, Elektra, family film, family movie, fancy dress, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film car, film character, film fans, film star, Glyndwr University, Goth, Gothic, Grandmaster, Gumby, Hallowe'en, Halloween film, Harry Potter, He Man and the Masters of the Universe, horror film, Horror movie, Horror movies, Hulk, Iron Man, Jack Skellington, Jeff Goldblum Grandmaster, Jurassic Park, Kiefer Sutherland, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, Marvels Avengers, Masters of the Universe, Michael Myers, Monty Python, Morticia, Morticia Addams, movie, Nightmare Before Christmas, North Wales, outfit, Rain, Raven, Ron Weasley, Rupert Grint, scary movie, scary movies, sci fi film, sci-fi movie, Skeletor, slasher movie, space film, spooky movie, Storm, Storm Hannah, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super hero movie, super heroine, super star, super villain, superhero, superheroes, supervillain, Teen Titans, television, television programme, The Addams Family, The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Thor, Thor Ragnarok, tv, tv car, tv programme, tv series, tv show, Wales, Wales Comic Con, Wales Comic Con 2019, Wales Comic Con Wrexham, weather, Wonder Woman, Wrexham, Wrexham Comic Con, Wrexham Glyndwr University, Wrexham University, X-Men, xmen	| 4 Replies
Liverpool Comic Con 2019 – Part 1
Liverpool Comic Con
Friday 8th March – Sunday 10th March 2019
Exhibition Centre Liverpool
The Albert Dock was under ferocious attack from strong winds as I made my way to the Exhibition Centre for Liverpool Comic Con. It was bitterly cold, the sky was grim – I wondered how the American guests would enjoy the weather on this visit?
Not to worry though, inside the event all was transformed into a safe refuge. Getting in seemed very straight forward and hassle free, and as with all things Liverpool, there was a great atmosphere from the start.
Greedo
This was my first visit to Liverpool Comic Con, though I'm very familiar with the city from numerous gigs, nights out and shopping trips. Great place. My buddy Adam was going to the convention and I tagged along to check it out.
Inside, my first impression of the huge event hall was of the life size X-Wing fighter on display – smack bang in the middle. Sadly it was a pretend X-Wing from the new films, not a proper Episode IV to VI Incom T-65 – but it was impressive none the less.
A and M
U and MM
M and H
Also on display were the A-Team van, a Back to the Future DeLorean and KITT from Knightrider (amongst various other replica vehicles and props). It was a real thrill to see all of the cool items and grab some photos.
I'm always a big fan of investigating the merchandise stalls at a Con, and this was no exception. There was plenty to see and spend some cash on. Sadly there's never enough cash, otherwise I'd have spent a fortune. As it was I picked up some Masters of the Universe figures and Marvel comic books, so all good.
The guests were interesting, though none of them particularly appealed to me so my wallet stayed closed there. Top of the bill were Teri Hatcher (Lois Lane), Dean Cain (Superman) and Burt Young (Paulie from Rocky) – so an impressive calibre of stars.
The real stars however were the Cosplayers. There were some fantastic Cosplayers of all types and ages, displaying amazingly talented creations. I tried to get as many photos as I could, which you can see here. Thanks to everyone who posed for a photo!
All in all, Liverpool Comic Con was a great day out with enough entertainment for everyone. I'll definitely try to visit again next time.
In Part 2, I'll share some pics of the props that I photographed. In the meantime, enjoy these shots of the awesome cosplayers.
Visit the Liverpool Comic Con Website here.
Posted in Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged 1970s TV, A Team, action film, adventure film, animated film, Aquaman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Avengers, B-movie, Back to the Future, Batman, Black Canary, Black Widow, book, character, childrens television, childrens tv, Cinderella, classic film, classic movie, classic television, classic tv, collectibles, comic, comic book, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, cult film, cult movie, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Delorean, Disney, Disney character, Disney film, Disney Hercules, Disney movie, Disney Princess, dressing up, event, family film, family movie, fancy dress, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film car, film character, film fans, film prop, Ghostbusters, Greedo, Han Solo, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn cosplay, He Man and the Masters of the Universe, He-Man, Hercules, hero, heroine, Joker, Justice League, kids film, Knightrider, Leia, Liverpool, Liverpool Comic Con, Martian Manhunter, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvels Avengers, Masters of the Universe, Mera, merchandise, MOTU, movie, movies, outift, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Princess Leia, Red Sonja, Rollerball, sci fi film, sci fi television, sci-fi movie, She-Ra, Skeletor, space film, Star Wars, Star Wars cosplay, Star Wars film, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super heroine, super villain, superhero, superheroes, supervillain, television, television car, television programme, Terminator, The Avengers, The Joker, The Terminator, Thor, toy, Toys, tv, tv car, tv programme, tv series, tv show, Wonder Woman	| 1 Reply
Posted on December 11, 2018 by platinumal
Saturday 1st – Sunday 2nd December 2018
Another weekend, and another trip to a convention! After my previous excursion to Birmingham, this one was a fair bit closer to home: just down the road in Wrexham. Wales Comic Con takes place at Glyndwr University, and has steadily been building up a great reputation over the years.
The main attraction at Wales Comic Con has been the guests. Held twice a year, and in a somewhat smaller area than other events, the con has consistently punched above it's weight in terms of the sheer quality of guests that it has attracted.
X-Wing pilot
Phoenix and Storm
Harry and Hermione
It was for this reason that my family and I were attending again this year. Mrs Platinum Al wanted to meet the actor Chris Sarandon, who as the voice of Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas (as well as playing evil Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride) was a definite must-meet for her.
Unfortunately, Chris dropped out just a day or two before, after we'd bought tickets and a photo op. Not good news, but not the end of the world: these things happen.
Star Lord and Mantis
Flash and Ivy
Meeting Hagrid
Sally and friends
The photo op money would be returned, and we decided to go to the con anyway to have a day out. This was the right move as there was still plenty to experience, even though the weather was temperamental.
The cosplayers at WCC were fantastic, as always. There were a large variety of characters from comics, film, tv, games and more. The costumes were of the highest standard and the cosplayers were all friendly. After the disaster at MCM Birmingham the week before, I had manged to remember my camera this time and got quite a few good shots.
Mary Poppins and friends
Witches together
Darth Talon
My daughter has discovered Harry Potter not long ago, so she dressed as Hermione Granger. She posed for some great photos, some of which are included here. Plus she was really happy to meet Stanislav Ianevski, who played Viktor Krum – that made her day.
In the past, there hasn't been a massive amount of merchandise available at WCC. This has improved over the years though, and I was able to acquire a few nice action figures for Christmas. Very happy!
So we all had a fun family day out at Wales Comic Con, and hope to return for the next event in the new year. Hopefully Chris Sarandon will be there. Third time lucky?
Battle of the century!
Posted in Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged actor, adventure film, animated film, Aquaman, B-movie, book, Captain Marvel, cartoon, childrens television, Chris Sarandon, classic tv, comic, comic book, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, Convention, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, cult film, cult movie, Dark Jedi, Darth Talon, Daryl Dixon, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Disney, Disney character, Disney movie, dressing up, Elmo, family film, family movie, fancy dress, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film character, film fans, Flash, Glyndwr University, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hagrid, Harry Potter, He Man and the Masters of the Universe, He-Man, Hermione Granger, horror comic, Indiana Jones, Jean Grey, Jessica Rabbit, kids film, Logan, Maleficent, Mantis, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, Marvels Avengers, Mary Jane Watson, Mary Poppins, Masters of the Universe, MCM Birmingham Comic Con, MJ, monster movie, movies, Ms Marvel, Nightmare Before Christmas, North Wales, Phoenix, Poison Ivy, Rick Grimes, Sally, Scarlet Witch, sci fi film, sci fi television, sci-fi movie, Sesame Street, She-Ra, Skeletor, space film, Spider Man, Spiderman, Spidey, Star Lord, Star Wars, star wars characters, Star Wars cosplay, Storm, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super heroine, super villain, superhero, superheroes, supervillain, television, television programme, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead cosplay, tv, tv programme, tv series, tv show, Wales, Wales Comic Con, Wales Comic Con Wrexham, Walking Dead, walking dead character, witch, Wolverine, Wrexham, Wrexham Comic Con, Wrexham Glyndwr University, Wrexham University, X-Men, X-Wing, X-Wing Fighter Pilot, xmen, zombie cosplay	| 1 Reply
Posted on December 6, 2018 by platinumal
And now we return to Birmingham NEC for Part 2 of my MCM Comic Con report…
Despite forgetting my camera, which is a new low even for me, my trusty phone was at hand to document everything. So luckily, I managed to take plenty of photos during the day – and there are plenty of awesome cosplayers still to see.
Which is good, because I don't have much else to write following the previous post.
But you're not here for my ramblings, are you? Enjoy the pics instead.
DC gang
Joker and Hela
Meg and Herc
Horror gang
Hellgirl
Horror family
Black Cat and Spidey
Darth Talon and Scarecrow
Lara 2
I'll leave you with one final image: the Stan Lee memorial. This was a massive mural to commemorate the life of the recently departed genius – a nice touch.
Posted in Activities, Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged animated film, Avengers, B-movie, B-movie monsters, bad guy, Bane, Birmingham, Birmingham MCM Comic Con, Birmingham NEC, Birmingham NEC Memorabilia, Black Cat, Black Widow, Boba Fett, book, Captain America, cartoon, character, classic book, classic film, classic Star Wars, comic, comic artist, comic book, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comic creators, comic writer, comics, Convention, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, cult film, cult movie, Dark Jedi, Darth Talon, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Disney, Disney cartoon, Disney character, Disney film, Disney Hercules, Disney movie, dressing up, Emperor, Emperor Palpatine, family film, fancy dress, fantasy, fantasy character, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film prop, film star, Freddy Krueger, Friday 13th, graphic novel, Green Arrow, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn cosplay, Hela, Hellboy, Hercules, hero, heroes, heroine, horror, horror character, horror film, horror film star, Horror movie, horror movie star, Horror movies, horror novel, horror star, Imperial Stormtrooper, Jason Vorhees, Jedi, John Carpenter's Halloween, Joker, kids film, Lara Croft, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, Marvels Avengers, MCM Birmingham Comic Con, MCM Comic Con, MCM Expo, MCM Memorabilia, Memorabilia, Michael Myers, monster movie, movie, movie memorabilia, movie star, movies, NEC, Nightmare on Elm Street, novel, Poison Ivy, RIP Stan Lee, sandtrooper, Scarecrow, Scarlet Witch, scary movie, scary movies, sci fi film, sci fi horror, sci fi television, sci-fi, sci-fi movie, science fiction, Spider Man, Spiderman, Spidey, spooky movie, Stan Lee, Stan Lee Obituary, Star Wars, star wars characters, Star Wars cosplay, Star Wars photos, Stormtrooper, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super heroine, super villain, superhero, superheroes, superpowers, supervillain, television, television programme, The Avengers, The Joker, Thor, Thor Ragnarok, Tomb Raider, tv, TV movie, tv programme, tv series, villain, villainess, Winter Soldier	| 1 Reply
Regular readers will know that a visit to the NEC in Birmingham for MCM Comic Con is on the cards at least once a year. I missed the earlier event as the gang and I were at Sci Fi Weekender, however we were able to make the November Con.
My intrepid companions and I arrived at the massive site and after parking up, wandered down to the event hall. Already there were dozens of cosplayers around, showing their awesome costumes.
Jareth
Hulk and Spidey
Harley and Ivy
Batman and Alfred
After a chill in Wetherspoons, we made our way towards the hall. Thankfully we didn't have long to wait before we could enter. This year we had regular tickets rather than early bird, so although this gave us later entry we had no problems.
Inside Comic Con, the aisles were busy and we formulated a plan of attack on how best to navigate our way around the stalls. There were hundreds of people there, so not always easy to get to see some of the merchandise. With a little patience and a bit of skill we were able to get a good look around.
Gamora
The guests this time weren't particularly inspiring – it seemed like all the best stars would be at Wales Comic Con the following week! We were happy to spend the day viewing the displays and stalls to see what amazing paraphernalia we could afford.
Sadly, despite buying some fantastic items, there's never enough money. Oh, the damage I could do with a lottery win. Seriously, there were dozens of action figures (for a start) that I could have give a home to.
Indy and Catwoman
Besides the joys of spending hard earned cash, there were of course the magnificent cosplayers out in full force. A mind boggling array of characters, some well known and some more obscure, were to be seen.
Due to various organisational issues, I had forgotten to bring along my trusty Canon camera. There's always something, right? Forgetting to bring the camera was a new low though! Never mind, I was able to take photos with my phone – and the cosplay superstars were just as friendly and happy to pose as ever.
Spidey and Supergirl
Wonder Woman and Thor
My thanks to all those who posed for a pic, much appreciated! You were all great.
After hours on our feet wandering round, wishing for the cash to buy more stuff, the day was finally over. After another Wetherspoons break, it was back in the car for the long drive home. Another great day out – looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to Adam for driving and Greeny and Kurt for the company.
There are numerous pics of cosplayers here, feel free to let me know your favourites, Or if you know the people in the [pics, please let them know.
Finally, i any one in the pics would rather they didn't appear here, just let me know.
That's all for Part 1 – stay tuned for Part 2.
Pennywise and chums
Posted in Activities, Books & Comics, Film & TV, Travel & Events	| Tagged adventure film, Avengers, Batman, Birmingham, Birmingham MCM Comic Con, Birmingham NEC, Birmingham NEC Memorabilia, book, bounty hunter, Bowie, Bram Stokers Dracula, Cammy, cartoon, Catwoman, character, comic, comic book characters, comic book cosplay, comic books, comic characters, Comic Con, comic convention, comics, computer game, Cosplay, cosplay photos, cosplayers, costume, costumers, Count Dracula, cult film, cult movie, David Bowie, DC, dc character, DC comics, DC superheroes, Deadpool, Dengar, Disney, Disney cartoon, Disney character, Disney film, Disney movie, Disney Princess, Doctor Strange, Dr Strange, Dracula, dressing up, Empire Strikes Back, event, events, fairy, family film, family movie, fan, fancy dress, fans, fantasy film, fantasy movie, film, film character, film fans, film prop, Freddie Mercury, game, games, Gamora, Ghostbusters, Guardians of the Galaxy, Harley Quinn, Harley Quinn cosplay, horror film, horror film star, horror movie star, Hulk Hogan, Indiana Jjones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, It, It Stephen King, Jareth, kids film, Kylo Ren, Labyrinth, Logan, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel comics, Marvel superheroes, Marvel Universe, Marvels Avengers, Masters of the Universe, MCM Birmingham Comic Con, MCM Comic Con, MCM Expo, MCM Memorabilia, monster movie, movie, movie memorabilia, movie star, movies, NEC, Pennywise, Pennywise the Clown, Poison Ivy, Psylocke, Purple Muffinz, Queen, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Scarface, sci fi film, Shaun of the Dead, Skeletor, Sleeping Beauty, space film, Spiderman, Star Wars, Star Wars cosplay, Star Wars Episode V, Street Fighter, Super Hero, super hero cosplay, super hero costume, super hero film, super heroine, super villain, Supergirl, superhero, superheroes, supervillain, The Avengers, The Empire Strikes Back, Thor, Thor Ragnarok, Tinkerbell, Tony Montana, tv programme, tv series, tv show, video game, Winter Soldier, Wolverine, Wonder Woman, X-Men, xmen	| 1 Reply


When it comes to pleasing your taste buds, doughnuts have an all-star reputation. They're also pretty flexible when it comes to flavor and topping options: From glazes and sprinkles to frosting and fillings, doughnuts give you plenty of options to fuel your sugar cravings. Find all the sweet, doughy variety you can imagine (and more) at one of these 10 best donut shops in South Carolina.
Here you can find savory doughnut creations you never knew existed, all crafted with care and a high caliber taste. You can expect fun flavors like orange pistachio, s'mores, and German chocolate to become your new favorites.
Even the pickiest doughnut eaters can get exactly what they want here, as each doughnut is specially crafted to your exact specifications. They start with a basic doughnut cake, then you choose the toppings (key lime or Srirachadoughnut, anyone?). This is South Carolina's only location of the six-location chain.
This family-oriented hometown gem features doughnuts that are lovingly made from scratch each morning, ready to help you power through whatever your day throws at you. And they taste just as good as they look! You can also find a variety of other tasty breakfast foods, like cinnamon rolls, tiger claws, and apple fritters.
This is your ultimate sweet snack spot. Serving up a huge variety of doughnuts, you can also find bagels, breakfast sandwiches, frappes, cappuccinos, chai tea lattes, fruit smoothies, and more.
Murray's Donuts lives up to the hype. These delightful, melt-in-your-mouth rings of sweetness should really be their own food group—nothing else compares.
With a huge focus on fresh, you'll appreciate the difference here. They have their own unique set of recipes that go to work each morning in preparing made-from-scratch doughnuts and other breakfast favorites to sate those morning sweet cravings.
If a doughnut could be even the slightest bit healthy, it would be the vegan doughnuts you'll find at Nana's Donuts. These doughnuts break through the common idea that vegan treats can't be sweet, scrumptious and healthy.
Not exactly your traditional doughnut shop, you save time and pick up both breakfast and lunch in a single stop. Aside from their extensive, unique deli options, you can find a good selection of doughnuts ranging from classic glazed to funky treats like maple bacon.
Best doughnuts ever? The loyal fans at Rainbow Donuts think so. Here you can grab a fresh variety of doughnuts, along with an eclectic offering like apple fritters, cake, burritos, hot dogs, and breakfast sandwiches.


text:
Van Brabant is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

Ozzie Van Brabant (born 1926), Canadian baseball player
Piet Van Brabant (1932–2006), Belgian journalist
Jozef Martin Paul van Brabant (1942–2006), Belgian economist

Surnames of Dutch origin

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


On its fifth album, French band Mona Lisa altered its style a bit, opting to record a selection of only shorter, more-focused tracks instead of balancing them with several extended pieces, which typically occurred on the band's previous albums.
Yet although the songs on Vers Demain are fairly streamlined, that's not to say the group didn't still produce creative material. Indeed, the humorous theatricality the band injects into the various arrangements keeps the songs from getting too commercial or stale.
Instead, what Mona Lisa delivers is still a collection of Symphonic Prog-Rock, but with more of an Art-Rock flavor, similar in approach to groups such as Kayak, Wigwam, Ariel, or City Boy that specialized in including a ton of exciting twists and turns in its instrumentation and tempos, and unexpected orchestration within generally shorter tracks that often possessed almost pop vocal hooks.
This entry was posted in 3.5 Stars, Album Reviews and tagged Art Rock, Progressive Rock, Symphonic Prog by zapniles. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
William Ellis Corey (May 4, 1866 – May 11, 1934) was president of the Carnegie Steel Company from 1901 to 1903, and was president of U.S. Steel from 1903 to 1911.

Biography
He was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania in 1866.
In 1883 he married Laura Cook, whom he met when she worked for his family, and they had one son, Allan Corey.  In 1906, Laura filed for divorce in Reno, Nevada, charging that William had deserted her in May 1905. Laura was awarded custody of Allan and a settlement of $3,000,000 (approximately $ today).   After the divorce, William married an actress, Mabelle Gilman on May 14, 1907, and in 1914 Laura married Lenn A. Duckworth. In 1911, Corey resigned his position as president of U.S. Steel.  In 1923, Mabelle and William were divorced.

He died in Manhattan, New York City on May 11, 1934.

City of Corey, Alabama
The city of Fairfield, Alabama was originally named for Corey in 1910 by the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, which built the city as a model city for workers at the company's nearby Fairfield Works. The negative publicity from Corey's divorce prompted U.S. Steel, who had taken over TCI, to rename the city for the company president's hometown in Connecticut.

References

1866 births
1934 deaths
American industrialists
People from Braddock, Pennsylvania


Bernie Mitchell has it all — a successful business, a loving and supportive wife, four children, and a great home life.
However, it wasn't always this way. Debilitated by mental illness, there was a time when he only wanted to die.
With deep courage, Bernie breaks down the stigma that is associated with bipolar disorder, and demonstrates that it is possible to succeed in business with the right determination. He also firmly believes that no matter what challenges you have in life you can overcome them.
Bernie's story is a testimony to the human spirit. By sharing his rise from the dark abyss to his role as a leading businessman, Bernie demonstrates the universal desire we all share—to succeed in life.
Bernie's insights, and experience will help anyone struggling to get ahead in business and life. He shows us that no matter who we are, or how much we have suffered, we can still achieve our dreams on our own terms.


Donald Trump on Friday attacked Democrats for leveling accusations of racism against him, calling such claims the "oldest play in the Democratic playbook." Speaking at a rally in Miami, Fla., Trump said that Democrats use the word "racist" to describe their opponents when backed into a corner."When they're in trouble they always pull out the racist word," he said. "And they are in very big trouble, I have to tell you." "It's the oldest play in the Democratic playbook," Trump added. "And Americans have had enough of it. We get it. We get it." How can the Democratic party keep claiming Trump as a racist, when the Democrat party is the party that created the Jim Crow laws and created the KKK. Remember America it was the Republican party who ultimately ended Slavery in America, and was the party of Martin Luther King. Remember also during the Civil Rights movement it was Democratic leaders in American cities an towns who ordered police to spray black people down with powerful fire hoses. I guess when your party is tied to so much racism against Blacks and Hispanics in this country, place the blame on someone your running against who has shown his love of people of color over his whole life. Donald Trump has black and Latino leadership in his real estate business, and is the only candidate so far who has gone into the black community to talk personally about the problems African Americans face in today's America. Trump is correct that the racist card is getting beyond ridiculous...Especially when speakers at his rallies are African Americans. It's the oldest play in the Democratic playbook, because Democrats feed off of it like rabid dogs. Remember also earlier this summer that the KKK announced $20,000 in donations to Hillary Clinton, and that Will Quigg KKK Grand Dragon pretty much told America that Hillary Clinton is their choice...And the Democratic party still has yet to disavow the endorsement or the donation.


Ongoing empowerment workshops are going on. For the past year empowerment meeting have seen increased numbers of children and guardians attending.
This shows that participants to the meetings understand and appreciate the need for children living with life limiting illnesses and their children to share knowledge, experiences and challenges.
During these workshops, providers present sessions on topics which have been chosen by either the guardians or children themselves so that they can understand some of the issues better. To date about 500 children sensitized on CPC.