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How Linkin Park's "In The End" became a worldwide smash hit
Linkin Park's Brad Delson explores why "In The End" became the band's highest-charting single in the new book Anthems We Love. Read an exclusive excerpt now.
Grey Daze announce new album 'The Phoenix' featuring remastered Chester Bennington vocals
Grey Daze have announced an upcoming album, The Phoenix, which celebrates the legacy of late vocalist Chester Bennington. The record is out June 17 via Loma Vista Recordings. Bennington was in Grey Daze prior to joining Linkin Park. Before Bennington's death, the band had intended to reunite to re-record their discography...
Bring Me The Horizon discuss their musical evolution in AltPress issue #401 cover story
The best laid plans can even go awry for one of the biggest rock bands in the world. The day before Alternative Press connects with Bring Me The Horizon was scheduled to be the band's first in earnest working with BloodPop (aka Michael Tucker, the man who's overseen records by Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber) on the follow-up to 2020's POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR. Within an hour o...
James Hickie
Comeback Kid release seventh full-length 'Heavy Steps'—listen
Comeback Kid have released their long-awaited seventh studio album, Heavy Steps. The album is out via Nuclear Blast Records. Heavy Steps is the band's first release in nearly five years since their 2017 record Outsider. It finds the band treading into heavier ground sonically and upping the production value, all while retaining their signature brand of metallic hardcore paired with anthemic choru
Alessandro DeCaro
20 nü-metal bands that defined the late '90s and early 2000s
On paper, hip-hop and metal shouldn't work together — two polarizing genres with very different intentions and attitudes. However, thanks to a new wave of outfits in the late '90s and early 2000s bravely merging the two contrasting flavors at the same time, nü metal was born. Read more: A beginne... Read More ...
Ali Cooper
A beginner's guide to Linkin Park: from radio hits to rarities
Rock 'n' roll as we know it today would probably look a lot different without Linkin Park. Instead of following the pack in an era when nü metal was reaching its height of popularity, this scrap of musicians outta California put everything that made them tick into their music. Somehow, they m...
Tim Coffman
Reach NYC team up with Stitched Up Heart for "Last Surrender (Remix)"—watch
Reach NYC have released a new video for their latest single, "Last Surrender (Remix)." The new track also features Alecia "Mixi" Demner of Stitched Up Heart. Additionally, the band made their triumphant return to the stage this past weekend, appearing at the Welcome To Rockville festival alongside artists such as Spiritbox, A Day To Remember, Korn and more. Read more: Ch...
Nandi Bushell shreds on new cover of Linkin Park's "Numb"–watch
The ridiculously talented multi-instrumentalist Nandi Bushell has added a performance of Linkin Park's "Numb" to her catalog of badass covers. The Twitter video features the 11-year-old shredding the drums with the same characteristic gusto that has made her an internet sensation. The young dru...
Josh Carter
Mastodon and more appear on DC Comics 'Dark Nights: Death Metal' album
DC's Dark Nights: Death Metal was already one of this year's must-read comics. The Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo-helmed seven-issue series follows Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman as they grapple with foes from the Dark Multiverse, including the nefarious Batman Who Laughs. As its ...
Jeremy Price
10 alternative artists who brought the scene to the 'SNL' stage
No matter the genre, performing as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live is a huge feat for any rising musician. SNL performances are moments in history, and artists tend to know that. There has been no shortage of over-the-top performances and onstage gags that have made headlines for years to come. Read mo...
Coda Meraki searches for closure on film-inspired track, "Spotless Mind"
While we won't hold it against you if you haven't heard Coda Meraki yet, we will if you're not entirely captivated by his storytelling. Emerging amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Meraki's debut single "Happy" hit streaming via Heartsick Records. Reminiscent of his influences such...
10 vocalists who brought a unique sound to the 2000s scene
2000s vocalists received an enormous amount of attention compared to the rest of their bandmates. It's no surprise, really. In a scene characterized by edge, these frontmen and women drove their bands' unique personalities. That's not to say that they were all distinct. In ...
Hear 100 gecs give this Linkin Park 'Hybrid Theory' hit an intense remix
Last year, Linkin Park celebrated the 20th anniversary of their album Hybrid Theory. Now, it looks like the band are continuing the celebrations in 2021 with the help of 100 gecs. This week, the musical duo unleashed a wild new remix that is reimagining a Linkin Park classic released two decades ago...
10 bands who are crushing all the stereotypes you've heard about nü metal
Everybody's favorite genre to have opinions about, nü metal shortly peaked as an object of global obsession. Not unlike the finale of Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer, the scene got ravaged by the collective madness of its own stans. Which fai...
Love And Death are doing everything they can't do in Korn and Breaking Benjamin
It's been nearly eight years since Love And Death's last album, Between Here And Lost, but the project's return couldn't have come at a better time. With scheduling difficulties being cleared due to the pandemic, Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, longtime collaborator and Breaking Benjamin guitarist Jasen Rauch, J.R. Bareis and Isaiah Perez have fin...
Twiztid's upcoming rock album is taking them back in time
Twiztid have been doing their own thing for a long time. Over the years, the rap duo of Jamie Madrox (Jamie Spaniolo) and Monoxide (Paul Methric) have evolved from the horror-flick hip-hop that first got them noticed in the '90s to amassing a dedicated cult following and a highly successful merchandising business. Case...
Kyle Cochrun
Ultimate Vinyl Guide: 12 essential 2020 releases every collection needs
As we enter the 2020 holiday season, we're all eagerly searching for that perfect gift for the music lover in our lives. Concert tickets are obviously out of the question unless you want to plan far in advance. And merch can be hit or miss, especially if you aren't too sure of your loved one's personal style. Luckily, with th...
QUIZ: Which legendary drummer are you the most like?
Without drummers, rock music would be so boring. Thanks to the likes of blink-182's Travis Barker, twenty one pilots' Josh Dun, kid extraordinaire Nandi Bushell, the Summer Set's Jess Bowen and many, many more, they give songs driving beats and rhythms that make you want to headbang. Despite being...
11 times musicians turned to acting with epic results
Everyone loves to see their favorite band get mentioned or played in a movie, but it's far more exciting when you see the musicians you love come to life as a character on the big screen. Sure, plenty of actors such as Johnny Depp, Taylor Momsen or Jared Leto have transitioned into performing music after solidifying themselves as high-profile actors. But ...
Hear FEVER 333 and grandson reimagine these Linkin Park classics
This month marks the 20th anniversary of Linkin Park's legendary album Hybrid Theory. Now, FEVER 333 and grandson are honoring the classic album with reimaginations of two popular Linkin Park songs. Read more: Oliver Tree runs rampant in his new graphic novel 'Alien Boys!' Li...


The origins of Childe Rolande date back to the mid 1960s when a group of friends in the sixth form at school got together to form a band to play Beatles, Stones and Kinks covers. The name of the band was originally the Ravens (after the school badge) which soon became the 'Swinging Ambers', then finally the '5 Ambers'. The band line-up included Ed Criswick on electric bass, Dave Percy on electric rhythm guitar and John Richards on drums. The band developed and played a few gigs around London before finally breaking up in the summer of 1966 when some members of the band went off to university.
At the same time as this was all going on John had met up at school with Patrick Doherty through mutual friends and started writing and recording songs together.
During their time at school Ed had introduced Dave, Pat and John to his local church youth club at St. George's Church in Forest Hill. At one point the youth club decided to put on a revue of sketches and musical items. John, Pat, Dave and Ed, decided to put a band together to play some songs. Originally referred to as the 'Package Tour' the band originally comprised ten members with the addition of Ian Cooper (harmonium), Sue Cooper (recorder/violin), Linda Rapley (drums), Janet Carder (clarinet/violin), Judith Fuller (violin) and John Dowsett (viola). In the summer of 1968 John and Judith left to go to university and later the remaining band changed the name to 'The Bright Green Pleasure Machine' when they needed a name for a talent competition. The name was later shortened to 'Machine'.
During this time John and Pat had introduced a number of their songs into the repertoire and one of these was about the legend of Childe Roland – Pat had come across the Robert Browning poem 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came' at school. The band decided to use the name of Childe Roland for the band, adding an 'e' to differentiate it from the poem and also the musical instrument manufacturers. It also resulted in the band's name being misspelt on numerous occasions. And so the young Childe Rolande was born.


Peter Kostelov's unusual Volga House is constructed from an elaborate slotted framework of wooden patchwork tiles. Emulating the traditional "dacha" year-round home, this Soviet-style structure is made up of fragments painted in varying shades of brown and arranged at different angles in order to regulate sunlight. Spotted over at Architizer, the interesting multi-layered structure combines traditional wooden overlapping planks with less conventional additions such as spade hafts and forged square timber.
Each section of the project varies in size, shape, and color, creating the unusual aesthetic of a patchwork blanket. Dachas are traditionally constructed using any materials which happened to be available, so they tend to be unique structures that are highly personalized.
Designed with the aim of providing a comfortable space for a family, Volga House includes a variety of verandas and a plot for a future summer cottage. The project is nestled alongside the Volga River in Tverskaya, Russia where the weather tends to be cool, so the designers have integrated insulation panels made from squared timber.
haha, and looks like he always misses some spots in between.
I bet he plays Tetris.
Dachas are traditionally constructed using any materials which happened to be available, so they tend to be unique structures that are highly personalized.
Each section of the project varies in size, shape, and color, creating the unusual aesthetic of a patchwork blanket.
Designed with the aim of providing a comfortable space for a family, Volga House includes a variety of verandas and a plot for a future summer cottage.
The project is nestled alongside the Volga River in Tverskaya, Russia where the weather tends to be cool.
The building integrates insulation panels made from squared timber.
The interior of the home.


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May 17, 2019 - Technology
How the new Huawei ban will affect the U.S.
Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Industries began tallying up the likely costs of President Trump's latest executive orders this week targeting Huawei, the Chinese telecom manufacturer that sits at the center of the U.S./China trade dispute, after Trump essentially barred all U.S. telecommunications firms from using its equipment and blocked it from access to U.S.-made goods.
The impact: Major U.S. telecoms don't use Huawei equipment, but roughly a quarter of smaller rural network providers do, according to a Financial Times story, and those companies may have to spend millions to replace those devices.
The Huawei ban could also make it even harder to bring 5G networks to less heavily populated U.S. regions.
In preparation for the likelihood of the U.S. shutting off its access to parts, Huawei "has been stockpiling critical U.S. components for almost a year," the South China Morning Post reports.
With those moves, analysts suggested, Huawei can probably buy itself up to a year's time to build a supply chain to provide alternatives to the key U.S. components it obtains from companies like Intel and Qualcomm, per SCMP.
Go deeper: Trump may stop Huawei in U.S., but the underseas cable race continues

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Our main priority at All Will Know Him Inc in Cape Haze, FL is to rapidly assemble as many churches as possible in a short period of time. We started a Church Planting Movement among the Aguri in 2006. We are more of a youth counseling and encouragement center… we teach English and the Bible, we have art classes and movie nights.
A Church Planting Movement (CPM) is a rapid multiplication of indigenous churches that sweeps through a group or population. There are three components involved in a true Church Planting Movement: rapidness, multiplication, and indigenous churches. Without all three components, a Church Planting Movement simply does not exist.
Contact us today if you are interested in learning more about the Church Planting Movement or about All Will Know Him Inc in Cape Haze, FL.


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Quick and Easy Spanish Recipes
Snížit množství produktu Quick and Easy Spanish Recipes
Zvýšit množství produktu Quick and Easy Spanish Recipes
A collection of 100 recipes, each with a cooking time of 30 minutes or less.
Quick and Easy Spanish Recipes presents 100 recipes, each of which can be made in 30 minutes or less. Collected from the wildly successful Spanish bestseller 1080 Recipes and its sister title The Book of Tapas, and written by the authorities on Spanish cooking — the late Simone Ortega, and her daughter Inés — each of the 100 recipes has been tested and is accompanied by a photograph.
Spain's most popular cookbook, 1080 Recipes, was published in 1972, and sold over 3 million copies in Spain. Quick and Easy Spanish Recipes culls the quickest and easiest recipes for an updated collection geared toward busy home cooks. Culinary novices and experts can master iconic Spanish recipes such as paella, patatas bravas, tortilla espa?ola, churros, and crema catalana, among many others.
With a career in food writing spanning 50 years, Simone Ortega was the foremost authority on traditional Spanish cooking, and contributed articles and recipes to countless newspapers and magazines.
Inés Ortega has written many cookbooks and collaborated with her mother on 1080 Recipes and The Book of Tapas, also published by Phaidon. She is based in Madrid, Spain.
Format: 18,99 x 24,6 cm
Features: hardcover, 240 pages


We spent an early Saturday morning in downtown Toledo. Abandoned buildings are my favorite. The colors, the textures, the materials. Perfect. This urban setting seemed fitting for Jacob. He is a 2017 Bedford Graduate and will be attending Monroe County Community College this fall, and then on to Specs Howard School of Media.
We discussed the important things…least favorite actor, least favorite actress…best cinematography. Important things.
We traipsed around the old warehouse district, some unique alley ways,and ended at the Great Lakes Terminal Warehouse.


Just a year after releasing the stunning VIRB XE, Garmin has released yet another action camera again, the Garmin VIRB Ultra 30. In the saturated world of action cameras, it's divided into two broad categories: those made by GoPro and those that aren't. While this could be true at some point years ago, it isn't what it is now. Making it's global appearance in August 31st, the Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 is one of the most fully featured action cameras on the market currently.
Since its' introduction, fierce rivals like Sony and GoPro have come out with newer versions of their flagship action cameras. This detriment the Ultra 30's key selling points as it no longer stand to the audience. For instance, its electronic image stabilization was beaten by Sony's optical system and both voice control and the highly anticipated integrated touchscreen were matched by GoPro's latest camera, the Hero5 Black.
In response to this, Garmin has since lowered the Ultra 30's price to bring it in line with its competitors. But just because the competition is fierce and unpredictable, it doesn't mean that Garmin's flagship camera is any less good.
Unlike its predecessors, the VIRB Ultra 30 has somewhat similar looks like a GoPro and you can still mount the camera on GoPro-style mounts. What stood the Ultra 30 out is its integrated touchscreen that works through a standard waterproof case, a high point over its competitors. However, if we bring the Hero5 Black's touchscreen into the frame, the Ultra 30 would be less impressive as the Hero5 is built with a totally waterproof, case-less design.
As far as the screen is concern, it works well even when wet; with or without the case. However, the screen became less responsive after it's scuffed up. Depending on your level of adventurism, this may or may not be an issue. That being said, it was way faster to go through the system interface using the physical buttons rather than swiping on the touchscreen.
Luckily, the physical buttons on the Ultra 30 is built intelligently. Much like the older VIRB models, there is a dedicated video switch which will turn the camera on and recording automatically starts. The reason it is very convenient and easy to use is because the it is literally a switch and not a button.
We put the Ultra 30 on our own adventurism and all results trended towards the positive. We mount the Ultra 30 on our bike and took it for a ride. With just one finger, the camera can be toggled on and off.
Built inside, the video switch is the still photo button that acts like a larger camera's shutter release. Both Power and Wi-Fi buttons sum up the physical controls and double as navigational buttons when the touchscreen isn't and can't be used.
While ease of use is an important aspect in building an action camera, the quality it produces cannot be overlooked. The VIRB Ultra 30 is Garmin's first action camera that's capable of shooting in 4K Ultra HD, and it has done pretty good.
The VIRB Ultra 30 feature a tons of advance settings unlike its' predecessors which includes three different levels of sharpness as well; a high bitrate mode that records video at 60 megabits per second, and an option for a flat color profile that gives constant dynamic range. If you're wondering, exposure compensation and ISO limit can also be set.
Just like many cameras in the market, while 4K is as good as it sounds, many features are still limited to 1080p and many are still struggling to produce a constant result while in 4K. For instance, the three-axis electronic image stabilization mode in the Ultra 30 just doesn't go well with 4K or even 2.7K mode. Furthermore, 4K is limited to only the "wide" field of view and you can forget about correcting lens distortion as it can't be enabled. While in 1080p, you have a choice of two narrower files of view and lens correction did pretty well in removing fisheyes.
What sets Garmin's action cams is the G-Metrix. It houses a collection of detailed movement, positional and environment data. By leveraging data and information fed by the five sensors built into the Ultra 30 which include an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, barometer and GPS, the G-Metrix will then show you a detailed data collection such as your speed, position, g-force, hill grade and much more. Additionally, you can get even more data such as temperature and heart rate for extra costs on additional sensors.
The one letdown of the Ultra 30 is its battery life. All we get was around 90 minutes of video spread out over a two-hour period on a single battery. While longer battery life is always welcomed, the Ultra 30 is just about on par with other action cameras.
The VIRB Ultra 30 simultaneously writes G-Metrix data, all while recording a video. When you connect the camera into your computer, that data file is seamlessly imported together with the video into Garmin's Virb Edit desktop app or the Virb mobile app.
Unfortunately, the G-Metrix data can only be decoded in Garmin's own apps and for veteran video editors, it is a major letdown. However, in order to provide a solution, Garmin has included an option to export G-Metrix overlays as a PNG sequence with a transparent alpha channel. Yes, it's a hassle, but after that you can take then do whatever you want with those PNGs.
The Ultra 30 is installed with a USB 2 connection, which is agonizingly slow (imagine transferring hours of video). So it is advisable that you get a USB 3 MicroSD card reader or SD adapter on standby. If waiting isn't a word in your dictionary, the Virb iOS app can do just about everything you think of. You'll be able to view/transfer videos and photos with Wi-Fi, add G-Metrix overlays and even share your edited work straight onto social media. You can also live-stream those seamlessly to YouTube, together with G-Metrix data intact.
With a reduced price of RM1,749, the Garmin VIRB Ultra 30 is still very much standing along with top tier action cameras such as GoPro and Sony. The Ultra 30 is a cumulative success off of the tings Garmin already did wel, like the G-Metrix sensors and the convenient start/stop switch, and bundles a 4K resolution, voice control and even an integrated touchscreen. Though it isn't perfect, with stabilization limited to only 1080p res. But hey, nothing is perfect and the Ultra 30 is a solid option for any action camera enthusiasts. Check it out below.


Ohio weather has continued its depressingly frigid trend this week, with more snow on the way shortly. Admittedly, motorcycle news has improved slightly this week as manufacturers are getting their new demo bikes out to the press outlets; I caught a few "first rides" this week. What really caught my eye this week was an article from Motorcyclist regarding the focus on heritage of the Indian brand. With this in mind, I also recently came across news of a new Indian Motorcycle dealership in northern Cincinnati; under the influence of cabin fever, it was time for a field trip.
I was really excited back in 2013 when I first heard that Indian was making a comeback. I'm a sucker for underdog stories, I can't help it, but Indian's story is even deeper. After essentially ceasing operations in 1953, the Indian trademark passed through the hands of various owners for years with little success until Polaris acquired the company in 2011. While the lines of Victory Motorcycles are extremely polarizing, it is difficult to ignore the fact that Polaris Industries has essentially built a successful motorcycle brand from the ground up with Victory. I'm hopeful that with Polaris at the reins, Indian can finally experience the rebirth the brand deserves.
Itching to finally get an in-depth look at the new Indians, I pulled up to the new American Heritage Motorcycles (AMH) store in Cincinnati. Apparently AMH is a dealer franchise that's popping up in the Midwest in attempt to bolster the Indian dealership network. I will say unlike other dealers I've been to, AMH is advertising that they aspire to form lifetime relationships with motorcycle riders, which is actually a breath of fresh air after the way I have been treated elsewhere in southwest Ohio. Apparently AMH Cincy opened right around the turn of this past year, but didn't really start getting motorcycles in stock until just recently. The showroom opens up with surrounding glass windows for ample lighting, wood floors, several Indian bikes about, with a "fireplace", leather couches, and coffee table as the center piece. A nice "homey" touch on a motorcycle shop if I do say so, much less industrial compared to pretty much every other dealer I've been to.
I have an inexplicable appreciation for Indian motorcycles. Honestly, the fenders do absolutely nothing for me, but I can't stop looking at the bikes. I don't know if it's the engine, the heritage, the copious chrome, I just can't stop looking at them. It's like the Art Deco of the bikes stands timeless against the iPhone age we now live in. I am by no means in the market for a new cruiser, but still found myself impressed with this up and close interview with these new bikes, so much so I immediately found myself combing over the details of the new Roadmaster. The Roadmaster, essentially a loaded Chieftain, is land barge by all rights; undoubtedly aimed directly at Harley Davidson's Electra Glide. While certainly not my cup of tea, I was still impressed with the on-screen menus, unobtrusive digital user interface, cruise control, internally wired handle bars, and general fit and finish of the controls, especially after looking over the Victory touring bikes. I was extremely impressed with the new adjustable windscreen, which I had completely forgotten was adjustable until the sales rep started thumbing through the options for me and changed the height setting; credit to Indian for making the mechanics of an adjustable screen overly subtle. Beyond electronic adjustability, I'm also impressed that Indian made the screen ported at the bottom in order to avoid the helmet buffeting issue common on other touring bikes. While the Roadmaster won't be parked in my driveway anytime soon, I will comment that I'm actually a big fan of the distressed leather saddle, but especially the extra detail in diamond pattern stitching, unique to the Roadmaster from what I can tell.
Having at least snapped a few photos of the new Indians at the Cleveland motorcycle show, this visit offered me the opportunity to review some of the details up close. As mentioned with the Roadmaster, I was curious what the quality of the controls looked like, and whether the cruise control was a bolt on contraption. Apparently I didn't bother to notice in any of the reviews, but the common features of the Roadmaster are actually standard through the Indian Chief models, cruise control, internally wired bars, etc. In all reality, all of the 111 Thunder Stroke Indians are essentially the same, simply changes in options and trim. The Touring bikes have decreased rake for improved handling, but for the average passerby, the guts of the bike pretty much the same. Having figured that out, I moved on to deeper details, like engine construction and quality of the hardware.
I noticed when riding Victorys that the floorboards and foot controls seem a little loose along with the hand levers. From what I can tell, it appears that the controls on the Indian are generally of better quality than the Victory, but I am still hesitant to say on par with Harley Davidson. The floor boards are sprung mount rubber, which is pretty nice, and truthfully I'm not sure if that's the case for Victory. I am concerned that, while the floorboards are not fixed, they don't appear to pivot beyond about 15 degrees. In the event that hard parts begin to make contact with the ground in a steep turn, it won't be long before there's "nowhere else" for the rider to go. Reviews suggest that only the most aggressive riders would ever experience this lean angle, but that doesn't mean the less experienced ones wouldn't discover this fact through carelessness. The electronics on the bars do appear to be chromed plastic, but it isn't overly obvious. Upon first review, I am impressed with Indian's attention to detail and subtle branding throughout the bike.
Walking around the show room I found myself continually captivated by the Thunder Stroke engine. Having not noticed until I read that article this week, I was fascinated by the downward exhaust pipes; excellent hat tip to Indian heritage there. Like Harley Davidson, the 111 has push-rod overhead valves; while not the sportiest selection, certainly offers advantages in the maintenance department as they are hydraulically adjusted. Generally it sounds like the new Indians have roughly 5,000 mile service intervals, mostly just requiring the usual oil changes and cable adjustments. That's pretty convenient for the garage handyman, especially after going through the headaches of adjusting your own valve clearances on a DOHC motorcycle like my Speedmaster. The oil filter is also mounted low and up front, which I hope proves for easy servicing. The salesman actually started up the Roadmaster for another customer while I was wondering around the showroom. I was extremely impressed by what I heard from stock pipes. Mind you, I was indoors, but from what I can tell, the new Indian has a lot of bass, and in short, sounds oddly familiar to a 45 degree V-twin I've heard before. The salesman claimed that the Indian packs a lot of torque at the low end of the rev range, which is right where it's supposed to be on a cruiser. That's been my beef with Victory up until now, peak torque is in the stratosphere by comparison, and that's totally backwards to me. Ultimately, the lines, finish, tone, and maintenance requirements for the new engine all score high marks from me, I'm looking to see the platform developed into new models of Indians.
Despite the fascination with the new Thunder Stroke engine, I have a few reservations about the new frame beyond the aesthetics. Having done the extensive service on my bike last year, I have started noticing the maintenance related headaches designed into new bikes on the showroom floor, not just Indian. My concern with the Chief line is access to brake calipers, and suspension settings because of the long fender skirts. Undoubtedly a classy nod to the Indian past, those skirts are one more part that needs to be removed in order to change brake pads. I fear the exhaust will also have to be removed in order to properly work on the rear brakes as well. Fortunately, the new Indians are belt driven, so final drive adjustment won't be as much of a concern. Cleaning the rear wheel on the other hand will be a real bear, especially the wire wheels; something to think about if you find yourself riding in the rain like I do.
Maintenance concerns aside, I somehow find myself granting a pass to Indian for their eclectic styling trespasses. Undeniably, I am my father's son, a cruiser was my first motorcycle; that said, studded leather and vintage fringe is his bag, not mine. On a Harley, or worse a Honda, the eccentric leather accents are absurd to me; to each his own, but unless it's a '48 Pan Head, it just looks silly. Yet, I find myself transported to a different era when it's adorned to an Indian, I have no excuse. Beyond the fringe and studs, the saddle is otherwise comfortable; the pillion seat appears to be even more so. I am anxious to get my tail-gunner aboard the new line to get her approval of the supple pillion seat. Indian has also taken the time to design a standard easy-off passenger backrest; of which I am a big fan. Now that I typically take my lunch to work, strapped to my luggage rack, I don't take the sissy bar off much anymore, but it was certainly a process when I first put it on my bike. In general, the ergos and saddles are all plush, hopefully a ride this spring will prove that to be true.
While mystified and star struck by the Thunder Stroke 111 engine, the new Scout it actually what I was most enticed by. The Chief is an absolute class act, but at the end of the day, probably not something I'm shopping for; the Scout on the other hand has the potential to be a cruiser with real "sport" prowess. I wrote at length about the Scout in my IMS review, it goes without saying I'm pretty enamored with the bike. Love it or hate it, without a doubt, the cruiser is pretty much the flagship of motorcycles in America. In the sea of low sling, V-twins, there is an apparent gap between the 650 cc "beginner bikes" and the big-bore heavy weights. Indian, releasing only its 5th new model has slapped the sporty Scout right in the heart of the cruiser displacement gap. Are there competitors? Sure, the Harley Davidson Sportster 1200, the V-Rod, the Honda CTX-1300, the Star Stryker, even the Honda Stateline. I contest that the new Scout is the lightest in its class, makes more HP than every competitor, save the V-rod, and has competitive torque despite being the runt at 1133 cubic centimeters. The Sportster 1200 is arguably the closest competitor on the scales, at 584 lbs., still heavier than the Scout, and anemic against the DOHC power plant. The rest of the 1300 cc range bikes easily tip the scales in the 600 pound range and still don't reach 100 HP; again, save the V-Rod. On paper, the Scout is a breath of fresh air into the middle weight cruiser class. The local Indian demo truck should be around this June, I intend to see firsthand how the Scout truly handles on the ground.
A complete departure from the lines of the Chief, the Scout is lean and angular; yet another contrast against the American cruiser market (cue from Victory?). I'm a big fan of the chopped fenders, matte paint, and distressed leather seat. Even with bags, windshield, and pillion seat, the Scout still looks good. All of which is way off the reservation for me, I hate bags on a cruiser; I suppose I look the other way considering the vintage nature of the brand. I have some concern about the 3.3 gallon tank, certainly required to keep the Scout light, I fear that will limit the Scout's touring abilities. The harsh angle of the rear suspension combined with the 3 inches of travel stir concern in my mind. Lack of suspension travel is in the top three complaints with my current steed. Inner city travel for the daily commute can test the limits of a bike between January and June, at which point the urban streets, and even highways are in their worst disrepair. The controls are simple, which is not a mark against quality, merely function over form. I will say that the subtle Indian markings are an excellent touch; on an otherwise overly modern styled cruiser, the hints of the Indian legacy are classy. The new Scout mill is also a demonstration of practicality, with no cooling fins to speak of. Certainly it's the efficiency craving mind of an engineer, but the new engine is a hot piece of hardware, right up to the exhaust. After the suspicion of a harsh rear end, the exhaust is probably my only other complaint about the Scout. Agreed, the Scout is modernly styled, but even the Star Bolt's exhaust seems more in line with the "modern motif". How stereotypical of me, the first thing I would change on a cruiser would be the exhaust… the antithesis of how I feel about my current ride.
Beyond maintaining faith to a classic brand and raising the bar on a class of Motorcycles, Indian also offers classy clothing options. I assume this is a carryover from Victory, the new Indian jackets and casual clothing nod to the past while offering modern features like CE armor. I typically feel like an alien on a cruiser in textile armored gear, the new Indian gear has altered that view. Branding is unquestionably one of Harley's greatest successes, Indian has taken notes and is offering an alternative to riders of every stripe.
I have already marked my calendar for when the Indian demo truck will arrive in Cincinnati, stay tuned for the real on the road "feel".
This entry was posted in Reviews and tagged American Heritage Motorcycles, Chief, Chieftan, Cincinnati, Electra Glide, Harley Davidson, Indian, Motorcycle, Roadmaster, Scout, Speedmaster, Sportster, Star, Stateline, Stryker, Thunder Stroke, Triumph, V-rod, Victory. Bookmark the permalink.
I'm a sucker for Indians. They have been, and continue to be the bike that turns my head anytime, anywhere. If I ever win the lottery there will be a vintage parked in my garage. Or two.
Agreed. I'm not in the market for a new cruiser, but I love these new Indians. I'm a sucker for vintage and the new 111 is kind of both. That and Indian was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers.


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Tag Archives: Morgan Freeman
Adventureland, Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway, Ant-Man, Aquaman, Avatar, Batman, Batman v Superman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck, Black Panther, Captain America, Captain America : Civil War, CGI, Chadwick Boseman, Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, Cinema, Comics, Cyborg, Dawn of Justice, DC, Deadpool, Doomsday, Ezra Miller, Film, Gal Gadot, Guardians of the Galaxy, Henry Cavill, Jared Leto, Jason Momoa, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Man Of Steel, Marvel, MCU, Morgan Freeman, Movie Review, Ray Fisher, Spider-Man, Suicide Squad, Superman, The Avengers, The Daily Planet, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, The Flash, The Joker, The Justice League, Tom Holland, Wonder Woman, Zombieland
On Wednesday morning I saw "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice". I did my best to resist the temptation of seeing yet another superhero movie at the cinema, but alas my will-power just wasn't strong enough and I caved in. I'd heard mixed reviews, and having hated "Man of Steel" for various (and I think very valid) reasons, I was trying to avoid giving DC any more of my money.
Having seen the film I can say that I was justified in my reluctance, because whilst there were parts of it that I enjoyed, there were other moments at which I couldn't help but roll my eyes and shake my head in disgust. I'm being overdramatic of course, but when the main motivation for warring superheroes to team up is that their mothers share the same first name, you know that there's something drastically wrong with the film that you're watching.
via screenrant.com
Whilst Ben Affleck is a fine Batman, and he isn't putting on a voice when playing the hero (instead he has a device which modifies his voice for him), he doesn't inspire love or devotion to the character and he's far less likeable than Christian Bale's version. This isn't a major problem because at least it differentiates him from the previous iteration of the character, but when the solo Batman film that has already been confirmed comes into theatres I won't be rushing to see it… unless Jared Leto is amazing in "Suicide Squad" and The Joker is the villain.
Henry Cavill is also okay in this movie – he's definitely better than he was in "Man of Steel" – but Superman as a character is given no real personality, and the only thing that gives him any humanity at all is his relationship with Lois Lane. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad if Lane herself was likeable in the movie, but Amy Adams (who I hate to criticise because I like her as an actress) was awful and her character had no real depth; you can basically sum her up by saying that she's a reporter who loves Superman because that's really all there is to her.
As a whole the film just doesn't work. I could write 20,000 words of criticism on it and still have more bad words to say, but instead I'm going to bullet point what I liked and disliked about it and then talk about why I think that it should never have been made.
via omelete.uol.com.br
Let's start with the things that I liked:
(SPOILER ALERT) The court scene – Despite the fact that "Batman v Superman" was mostly a paint-by-numbers story, the scene in which the courtroom was blown up was quite unexpected and powerful. The aftermath could've been more exciting, perhaps with the dust settling and Superman still stood in the middle of the debris for all to see, but it was still a great scene in an average movie.
Gal Gadot was a pretty good Wonder Woman – I actually really liked Wonder Woman in the film and I thought that she was introduced well. Her initial introduction felt a lot like Catwoman's (Anne Hathaway) in "The Dark Knight Rises", but it was still good. The only problem I have here is that the marketing for the film ruined it slightly by having Wonder Woman appear in the trailer.
The question that the film fumbled over a couple of times – 'should there be a Superman?' – was a fair one to ask, and could've been fascinating if it was allowed more time to be explored.
The action was well shot.
Onto the things that I didn't like (expect a longer list):
Alfred – Although I like Jeremy Irons and I don't think that his portrayal of Alfred was completely awful, I thought that the film underused him by making him something of a comic relief character. He had the potential to be so much more given how recklessly Bruce Wayne was acting, so it was a shame that most of the time he simply went along with whatever Wayne told him to do.
Lex Luthor – Jesse Eisenberg is another actor that I don't take any enjoyment from criticising. Eisenberg is great at what he does and he's been in two of my favourite films ("Adventureland" and "Zombieland"), but he should never have been cast in this movie. His portrayal of the iconic villain is unique and he gives it everything, but it comes off as cartoonish and ridiculous, destroying tension and bringing more laughs than gasps.
Doomsday – If DC had courage in their convictions then they wouldn't have allowed another villain to appear in this movie other than Luthor, but alas, they chose to throw Doomsday into the mix so that the heroes could team up at the end. What they should've done was got a better writer on board and focused on the war of ideologies between Batman and Superman.
Martha – Superman convinced Batman not to kill him by saying that his mother's name was Martha. That's all that really needs to be said here.
The Daily Planet is a terrible newspaper which allows its staff to come and go as they please and write rogue articles.
So many scenes should've been cut from the film – the dream sequences, when Batman confronted Lex Luthor at the end, the scene in which Superman and Doomsday were hit by a nuke, and many more, were awful and should've been omitted from the final product.
The dialogue was terrible.
(From left to right) Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Gal Gadot at Comic-Con.
From my perspective, "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is an example of when business trumps quality in film-making. With "Captain America: Civil War" set to smash box-office records and continue Marvel's commercial and critical dominance in the superhero genre, DC had to do something big. Their answer was to throw their two most famous heroes together, in what was billed as a gladiator match yet ended up being a team-up against a giant CGI monster.
The baffling thing about this isn't that DC's biggest heroes tried to kill each other and then joined forces, but rather DC's crazy decision to throw Batman into the mix without first giving him a solo movie. They clumsily rehashed his backstory and tripped over his motivation for taking the fight to Superman, and instead of building the character properly they tried to fit multiple storylines into what should've been a focused narrative.
DC is desperate to compete with Marvel financially and yet they fail to take the lessons that Marvel has taught them on board. They misunderstand how the universe that Marvel has built has developed over time and they ignore where it all began.
Marvel has spent an admirable amount of time building its characters and creating a very noticeable tone which carries through each film, and they didn't have the entirety of their main cast together in one movie until they had each had their own solo flick. This meant that by the time that "The Avengers" came along Marvel had already acquired a dedicated fan-base of comic book readers and mainstream cinemagoers, and thus they made an obscene amount of money from that movie. Now that this initial development has passed they are able to throw characters like Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland) into the mix prior to giving them their solo films, but they earned the right to do this and they have strong characters alongside them.
Thinking back, Marvel's cinematic universe took off with "Iron Man", a film based on a character that had never truly been a fan favourite. Marvel took a character that they knew they could build around, cast him perfectly, and then made a coherent and isolated film about him which only connected itself to the rest of the MCU through its end credit scene and a couple of Easter eggs here and there.
If DC really wanted to create a dynasty like Marvel's and steal some of their thunder what they should've done was saved Batman for either a brief cameo in their upcoming "Suicide Squad" movie, or his own solo movie, and then they should've made a second "Man of Steel" film which focused on the question 'should there be a Superman?'. This would've given Superman much more depth as a character and allowed us to better understand Batman before the pair faced off in a future film. Plus, in the meantime they could've introduced characters like Aquaman (Jason Momoa), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Cyborg (Ray Fisher), in much more natural and interesting ways, instead of shoehorning them into an already convoluted film like they did in "Batman v Superman".
Of course, it's easy to make these statements in hindsight, but it really is mindboggling that a company like DC could be so impatient. People aren't stupid – if a movie looks like it's going to be a muddle then they won't go to see it, and if they aren't going to go on the opening weekend then they'll probably be indifferent enough to listen to a couple of negative reviews and stay well clear. You can't just throw special effects at people and expect a crowd to gather anymore – we live in a post "Avatar" world where amazing CGI is commonplace, going to the cinema costs £10+, and the superhero genre is incredibly diluted! If it's a choice between something new like "Deadpool", "Guardians of the Galaxy", and "Ant-Man", or something that fans have seen multiple times before like a new Batman movie, I think that most people will choose the former.
At the end of the day, "Batman v Superman" was exactly what I thought it would be. A film which was doomed from the start because it was trying to do too much, with the wrong writers and director on board, and a marketing team that was so scared that people wouldn't go to see it that they showed everything they had on the trailer. The action was good and so were the effects but modern day audiences have a right to expect more for their money. The actors did what they could to save the film, and Henry Cavill was a lot better this time around than he was in "Man of Steel", but ultimately the script let him and the audience down.
A Million Ways To Die In The West, Amanda Seyfried, American Dad, Animation, Cinema, Comedy, Family Guy, Film, Fox, Giovanni Ribisi, John Bennett, Liam Neeson, Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Morgan Freeman, Movie Review, Seth MacFarlane, Ted, Ted 2
via projectcasting.com
"Ted 2" is a decent film with plenty of memorable moments; we see hilarious hijinks aplenty, and it's genuinely hard not to laugh at some of the more despicable jokes that the writers fire at every available target. It isn't perfect – for every joke that hits the mark there's another that falls flat, usually because the build-up is there solely to facilitate an upcoming punchline, but it makes up for its failings by attacking the audience with a constant stream of gags, so that they quickly forget the bad ones. I liked what I saw, and although the more critical side of me wants to penalise the film for basically being a live-action "Family Guy" homage involving a talking teddy, I think it would be wrong to review the film negatively when people who like this sort of humour will be more than satisfied.
"Ted 2" follows the titular teddy bear, voiced by Seth MacFarlane, as he attempts to prove his humanity and be deemed worthy of being called a person, rather than 'property'. Assisting him in his efforts are his best friend and thunder buddy John (Mark Wahlberg) and their intern lawyer Samantha L. Jackson, played by the ever-reliable and extremely likeable Amanda Seyfried. The story is a lot more coherent than it was in the first film and I actually really liked it – I thought it was a clever way to facilitate tropes that Seth MacFarlane loves to use, like cross-country road trips and courtroom craziness, and it also gave the character's a bit more depth than they had in "Ted".
via fandango.com
Wahlberg and Seyfried have surprising chemistry, and it's refreshing to see Seyfried play such a care-free and easy-going character. She doesn't take herself too seriously here, and she brings a lot of energy to her character. Wahlberg is much better in this film than he was in the predecessor, and although he doesn't do that much I thought he was as good as can be expected in this kind of role. He has a rapport with Ted even though the bear isn't really there, and he's just ridiculous enough to deliver his lines believably whilst remaining entertaining.
Beyond the main cast there are some enjoyable performances, particularly Liam Neeson's in what was an unexpected and brilliant cameo. I won't give anything away about the short scene that he was involved in, but it was my favourite of the film. Morgan Freeman is also involved in the film, although he plays a peripheral figure and has very few meaningful moments.
I personally didn't care for the musical numbers in "Ted 2", mainly because they don't speak to my tastes and I find them a bit distracting. The first of these in particular was a real disappointment, because the movie had just started and the jokes were beginning to flow, so to spend two or three minutes on a sequence that had no humour seemed extremely odd. It took me out of the film and destroyed the momentum that I thought might be building into a pretty funny wedding reception – an inappropriate best man's speech or an eccentric first dance would've been a much more fruitful use of those minutes.
via dcfilmdom.com
Comedy sequels are difficult, because you want to do something different while keeping things amusing, but the things that the audience found amusing in the first film are usually integral to that movie's plot and the universe that it built. As a result, lots of comedy sequels end up doing the exact same things that their predecessors did, meaning that jokes feel too familiar and fall flat, and in the end the film feels a bit like a cash grab. On that front this movie isn't entirely innocent; "Ted 2" rehashes certain plot points, like Donny's (Giovanni Ribisi) attempting to kidnap Ted, and brings back people like Sam J. Jones playing a parody of himself. Still, these revisited aspects didn't really harm my experience of the movie itself because they weren't excessively used, and they simply reminded me of what I enjoyed so much about the first film.
"Ted 2" is funny. If you don't like Seth MacFarlane's work in the world of animation or the original film then this probably isn't for you, but if you do then there's absolutely no reason that you won't enjoy it. There are numerous scenes that are just hilarious, and the novelty of a talking teddy bear smoking weed is still as awesome as it was in "Ted". This is a fun movie that knows exactly what it is and caters to a certain audience, so if you think you might be a part of that demographic I would highly recommend you take the time out of your busy life to eat some popcorn and have a good old chuckle.
Aliens, Andy Serkis, Animation, Arsenal, As Above So Below, Ben Affleck, Best Films of 2014, Bill Murray, Birdman, Bradley Cooper, Caesar, Chris Pratt, Christopher Nolan, Cinema, Comedy, Dan Stevens, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Edge of Tomorrow, England, Film, Gary Oldman, Ghosts, Gone Girl, Groundhog Day, Guardians of the Galaxy, Horror, How To Train Your Dragon 2, I Am Groot, Independence Day, Interstellar, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Franco, James Gandolfini, Koba, Liam Neeson, Marvel, Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman, Movie Review, Nightcrawler, Noomi Rapace, Planet of the Apes, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Rosemund Pike, Superheroes, The Boxtrolls, The Drop, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Guest, The Imitation Game, The Inbetweeners 2, The Lego Movie, Thriller, Tom Cruise, Tom Hardy, Tyler Perry, Vin Diesel, War, Will Smith
via hypable.com
There have been some genuinely impressive movies out this year, movies which have exceeded my expectations and will live long in my memory, but there have also been a few films which I've absolutely hated. This list isn't supposed to contain those movies which I think are objectively the best or be ordered in that way.
There might be a film which I've reviewed and given a high score which is placed below a film which I gave a slightly lower score, but that's because this list is about the films which I enjoyed the most not those which have the best cinematography, script or performances.
Finally, there are probably movies which I don't mention on this list that a lot of people liked, such as "The Imitation Game" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel". Unfortunately I haven't seen all the movies that were released this year, and whilst it's a romantic notion to wait until a year or two down the line to write a list like this it doesn't make practical sense. With that said, here are my top 10 favourite films of 2014.
"The Drop" is probably the least impressive film on this list, given its simple story and small scale, and that's why it's placed at number 10. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it very much. It had a standout performance from Tom Hardy and three fine contributions from the supporting actors, making it very interesting and easy to watch, but there was a slight lack of explanation involved in the way the story was told. If this film had been a bit more ambitious with regard to its plot and its handling of the events which preceded the main story, it could've been great, but sadly the fact that Bob Saginowski's (Tom Hardy) story was so self-contained led to a film which was more restrained than it ought to have been. Still, it was a smart and well acted film, and given the number of poor films I've seen this year "The Drop" props up this list.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/12/28/the-drop/
When I walked out of the cinema after seeing this film I was very happy, because it was an undeniably enjoyable movie, and although it wasn't perfect, it was ALMOST as good as I'd hoped it would be. I'd been waiting to see it for a long time, and there had been a lot of hype over Andy Serkis' performance and the powerful emotion that the computer animation of the apes was able to portray, so I was expecting a lot from it. I saw it at midnight the day it came out, and it was worth the money and the journey, because as you watch it you are immersed in a beautifully realised world of intelligent apes, and you really feel the tension as Caesar (Andy Serkis) attempts to keep the peace among his colony whilst also trying to avoid the inevitability of war with the humans.
It's a strong film with some great scenes and it could've easily placed higher on this list. However, what lets it down is the lack of compelling human characters to drive the conflict forward, the slightly heavy-handed dialogue which is often present only to inform the audience of something they may have missed, and the clichéd ending, involving Caesar and his confrontation with Koba. Overall the film is great, but I feel it will never be thought of as the defining film of this franchise.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/
The best horror movie of this year belongs on this list. This film is downright terrifying, and that's exactly what it was intended to be, so to not give it a mention would just be wrong. I had a lot of fun watching "As Above, So Below", it reminded me of a time when I wasn't so cynical, and films about devils, ghouls and monsters really did scare me. There's something so satisfying about being scared in a room full of like minded people; the screams that turn into laughter, the adrenaline that courses through your body as the crowd jumps in unison, I just love it. I enjoyed this movie as much as any other on this list, and the only reason it isn't higher is that the ending was slightly strange, and the rest of the films are of a really high standard.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/09/26/as-above-so-below/
"Nightcrawler" is all about one man, Jake Gyllenhaal. This film has to be on this list, because for me it contains the best performance of the year from a male actor. In other countries that accolade would probably go to Michael Keaton, given the praise that has been heaped on his performance in "Birdman", but sadly that film hasn't been released in England yet, so it doesn't come into consideration when I'm talking about 2014. "Nightcrawler" was a very dark film, with some disturbing scenes, but what I loved the most about it was how fun it was. The dialogue was clever and made for a very funny film, because Lou Bloom's (Jake Gyllenhaal) delusions really were quite entertaining. How he talked to other people and how other people responded to him was novel, strange, and satisfying. Again, this movie could've been higher on this list, but it petered out towards the end, and didn't really provide the finale that the quality of the rest of the film deserved.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/11/24/nightcrawler/
The Inbetweeners 2
Just as the best horror film of the year deserved a place on this list, my favourite comedy also has a spot. I laughed SO much at this movie, it was just hilarious. The fact that the characters in "The Inbetweeners" have aged at the same pace as I have, going through sixth form as I did and beginning university as I did, probably explains just why I find their exploits so funny, but I still think that this is a great film for anyone who has a sense of humour which leans towards crudity. Although "The Inbetweeners 2" isn't exactly a work of art, it was always going to make this list, because it achieves everything it sets out to. It's supposed to be funny, and it is, and the characters are also quite believable for the most part. I know plenty of people who mirror one of the characters or another, and I feel that the film captures young adult life quite well. I wouldn't feel right putting it higher on this list, because the films above it are fantastic, but I'm happy to put it in sixth.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/the-inbetweeners-2/
"The Guest" rivals "Nightcrawler" for the strangest leading character in a film this year, but "The Guest" beats it out in terms of enjoyment and comedy. I feel that these films are quite similar, so to compare them is quite useful in deciding which should be higher on this list. "Nightcrawler" is a funny film, thriving on its darkness and its oddity, but "The Guest" is funnier. "Nightcrawler" has a great performance from its star man, but so does "The Guest". The films are evenly matched, but what puts "The Guest" above "Nightcrawler" is that it's the more enjoyable to watch.
I was extremely pleased to have seen this film, I felt glad to have watched it and knew I'd got my money's worth, it spoke to my tastes perfectly. It uses dark humour to make otherwise quite controversial subject matter more accessible and enjoyable, because generally movies about serial killers are quite uncomfortable and difficult to watch, but when things happen in such a weird and wonderful way you can't help but laugh. It takes a lot of skill to pull this kind of film off, because it could've turned out just plain strange and been a bit hit or miss, but what was created was a brilliant, entertaining, and funny piece of cinema, which I would happily pay to see again.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/the-guest/
"The Lego Movie" is a wonderful film. There haven't been many animated movies that I've actually felt I had to see in recent times, because so often I find that these kinds of films don't cater for all ages as they used to. "The Boxtrolls" was good, I'm sure "How To Train Your Dragon 2" was fine, even though I never felt compelled to see it, but "The Lego Movie" is great. This isn't a child's film, it isn't stupid and it doesn't pander to the lowest common denominator, which I would say a lot of successful animated films of recent times definitely have done. Liam Neeson's good cop, bad cop, routine is probably his best role in years, and I'd say the same for Morgan Freeman, whose voice fits his character perfectly. Chris Pratt was also great as Emmet, who was probably the best character in any film of 2014. This is the best animated film of the year, the most worthwhile movie to show your children, and it is definitely worth the watch.
What was the biggest surprise of this year? Arsenal winning a trophy? Christopher Nolan making a bad movie? Or Tom Cruise actually making a good movie? I would go for the latter. The fact that this film was even half decent was a big shock to me, and if it wasn't for the fact that my brother told me to go see it, I never would've given it the time of day. Thankfully, I went to see this film and had a great time doing so.
A lot of people said that this film was a mix of "Groundhog Day" and "Independence Day", and I'd be inclined to agree (although I think it's a lot better than "Independence Day" personally, because I don't really rate that film at all highly). The fact that Tom Cruise's character could relive this traumatic battle over and over again, trying new strategies and dying in weird and wonderful ways, was just a joy to watch. The special effects were very good, which made the aliens seem that bit more threatening despite the fact that the audience knew that Cruise was not in any immediate danger. The reason behind Cruise's resetting abilities was well explained and although it wasn't necessarily believable, it made sense in the overall story.
Perhaps the best thing about this movie was the thing I expected the least, and that was that it was extremely funny. Cruise's idiocy at the start of the movie was really entertaining, and it allowed for his character to develop a lot over the course of the film; the fact that he knew he wouldn't really die if he was killed in battle meant that he tried some hilarious things to get the situation right. He would die in such ridiculous and silly ways, which allowed the audience to relax in between tense scenes. All in all, this was an awesome film and a lot of fun, which makes it one of the best from 2014.
I loved this film the first time I saw it, I thought it was funny, intelligent, and had some great performances. But having seen it again, I think it's even better than that. This film has made me believe that I can still enjoy a superhero movie even though I'm getting older and becoming a lot more cynical. Not only that, but it has made me remember that some films don't need to be completely immune to being dissected to be brilliant. "Guardians of the Galaxy" isn't perfect, there are explanatory gaps, for example, characters are able to communicate with one another in different ships without once initiating a call or even wearing an earpiece.
However, I'm willing to overlook those flaws when I see that this film is everything a movie should be. It's funny, it's smart, it's extremely well written which I didn't realise the first time I watched it, and it's also a film for every type of person. I watched this film recently with three people who wouldn't see it at the cinema, like me they'd had enough of Marvel, and didn't believe that the comedy in the film would work. How wrong they were. Each one of them loved it, because it's really that good. I haven't met one person who saw this film and wasn't immediately in love with it, and I haven't met anyone who doesn't love Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel). What you have in "Guardians of the Galaxy" is a movie which is strong in all aspects, it has wonderful characters, an interesting story, a clever script, and great performances, and at the end of the day that is all a film really needs.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/guardians-of-the-galaxy/
This was a difficult decision, not because I didn't love this movie, but because I'm still not sure if this was in fact my favourite film of 2014. How do I separate this film from "Guardians of the Galaxy"? The two are very different, but at the same time they are both so good. I think at the end of the day the reason that "Gone Girl" has beaten the rest of the movies on this list is that it had the fewest flaws. I left the cinema having seen this movie and thought of what I could say when reviewing it, what little details I could criticise or scrutinise, and I realised that there was so little to say. Nothing negative to pick up on, nothing glaringly obvious to dislike. This is a brilliant movie, well written, well paced, well acted and well directed. How can it not be at the top of the list?
The performances in "Gone Girl" are outstanding, with Ben Affleck and Tyler Perry showing that they are genuinely fine actors despite the fact that they've made one or two really poor movies. Rosemund Pike gives what I feel is the best performance of the year bar none, and I was captivated from start to finish by the story and the character development. I'm sure that a lot of people will like this movie because of the twist, but that's not why I like it, in fact, I was able to guess that particular plot point before even entering the cinema, simply because the trailer worked so hard to conceal it. What I loved about this movie was the fact that the characters seemed so genuine and real, none of them were black and white, they all had their own faults and unclear motives. This was 2014's most perfectly executed film, and for that reason it is my personal favourite of the year.
https://benjaminwhittaker.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/gone-girl/
Amr Waked, Brain, Cinema, Citizen Kane, Film, Game of Thrones, Honey 2, Limitless, Lucy, Morgan Freeman, Movie Review, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Scarlett Johansson, Worst Movie of 2014
"Lucy" is the worst film of the year, with poor performances and a ridiculous plot, it is in no way enjoyable or worth your time. Take my word for it and save your money. The trailer didn't look all that great to begin with, but I decided to give it a shot, because it had the potential to be interesting; it had the most attractive premise of the films which were in the theatre at the time (bearing in mind that I saw "Lucy" at the start of September and had seen almost everything else).
However, the trailer looks like "Citizen Kane" compared to the end product, which was a complete aberration. There are no positives to be found in this awful piece of cinema; the script, the acting and the visuals were just terrible, and the worst thing is that this movie actually did quite well in terms of revenue! The only thing this movie serves to show is that having a box-office draw in your film such as Scarlett Johansson or Morgan Freeman will bring the money in; the quality of the final product doesn't really matter.
The film is all about Lucy (Scarlett Johansson), as she comes into contact with a drug (CPH4) allowing her to access 100% of her cerebral capacity. That sequence of events actually takes place in the early parts of the film, and the build up is almost non-existent. We are immediately thrown into the story with no character development. Lucy doesn't come across as very likeable in those first few moments, as she's tricked into delivering a briefcase to someone that she doesn't know and who is clearly dangerous. At that point I had serious concerns about how good this movie could possibly be, and worried that the film would continue to be rushed throughout, which it most definitely was.
via ethosreview.org
"Lucy" does so little with its premise that it is genuinely laughable. There are hundreds of ways to develop on the idea of a human being accessing the entirety of their brain's potential; Lucy could've been a superhero, she could've attempted to create a whole species of super-intelligent humans in the style of Caesar in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", she could've attempted to cure cancer! So the fact that the filmmakers took this path is an absolute disgrace, because what Lucy does with her intelligence is so small and insignificant, even though she has a seemingly infinite array of skills and 'limitless' power.
(SPOILER ALERT) The actual plot of this film, beyond the generic, revolves around Lucy's attempt to retrieve the rest of the drug that she has been infected by, as well as her struggle to understand what she should do with her new found intelligence. Now with super-intelligence you would think that it wouldn't be too hard to decide what the best course of action in any particular situation would be, but Lucy has to ask Professor Samuel Norman (Morgan Freeman) for some extremely vague advice about her abilities, because clearly she's still not the best decision maker in the world.
Lucy actually wastes most of her time on a journey to meet Norman, and gets very little else done (other than terrifying civilians), so you have to wonder why she doesn't just alter her matter to grow wings and save time (because towards the end of the movie it is revealed that she is able to manipulate here genetic code, for example, she is capable of creating another hand next to her original hand with complete ease). This kind of issue leads me to believe that the filmmakers just didn't take enough care to create a coherent story or credible characters.
"Lucy" offers no justification for why it's titular character is able to do all the incredible things she can do. The main problem I had with actually seeing the film in the first place was that I didn't believe that its premise could be fully fulfilled. We don't know what would happen if we unlocked the entirety of our cerebral capacity, so to try and explain it takes a lot of inventiveness and some real imagination. To get a film like this right you have to have both an exciting and unique idea for what Lucy is going to do with her ability, and also a sense of realism. Both of those aspects together would make for a very entertaining movie, but they weren't to be found in this one; to get this film right would've been a real achievement and I never believed that it would happen.
The only explanation that this film offers for why Lucy is able to control matter, gravity and other external things, is that 'she can use 100% of her brain', which really tells us nothing about the nature of her abilities and is extremely basic. The brain is situated in the body, it is wholly located inside flesh and blood and bone. The mind is a different matter, but the brain is stuck, and that's what she is able to get the most out of through this drug. Now I will concede that we don't know what would happen if we could access our entire cerebral capacity, but I feel confident in saying that it would be localised to processes internal to us as human beings, such as highly increased intelligence and heightened emotion. Therefore, I feel that Lucy's abilities aren't interesting or fantastic, they're just nonsensical! There has to be a point at which you stop and say, 'no, human beings just can't do that', but "Lucy" just refuses to accept that fact and it really suffers as a result.
This is a science-fiction film, and as such the filmmakers have a bit of a license to bend reality; the "Game of Thrones" universe has a giant wall made of ice which would never be able to exist in the real world, but that doesn't mean that it isn't brilliant. However, "Game of Thrones" takes place in an alternate reality, and that is very clearly the case. We don't even know for sure that Westeros is a place on Earth, it could be in another galaxy, and most likely it is. "Lucy" on the other hand is very clearly set on this planet, and should attempt to be as realistic as possible, considering the fact that it takes itself so seriously and seems to want to say something about the nature of our reality and how we see the world. I really couldn't see past this problem, because the movie wasn't entertaining enough to make me turn off my brain and ignore faults, it was a boring, badly acted film with a shaky premise and lifeless characters.
via horrornews.net
The filmmakers treat you like you're stupid for the majority of the film, as Lucy must explain what's going on to scientists specialising in understanding the brain and its potential, in order to tell the audience what's going on at every turn. The director and the writers refused to give Scarlett Johansson the respect she deserves, because they forced her to constantly explain what Lucy felt and how the drug was affecting her, rather than allowing her performance to give the audience an indication of the emotions at play.
The insults to our intelligence don't only come from Lucy, they also come from Norman, as he gives a lecture on the plot of the film, which coincides with Lucy's infection via the drug. In that scene the writers felt that it was essential to force feed the idea behind the film to the audience, which is always annoying, but it was also unnecessary (almost everyone in the cinema would've been familiar with the plot, because they are likely to have seen the trailer).
The only reason why Norman is giving the lecture is so that the premise can be reinforced and to foreshadow what's about to happen, because university lectures are of a much higher standard than Norman's lecture in this film. Norman's dialogue was clearly written so that it would be accessible to the entire audience, but university isn't like that; for this to be a genuine lecture Norman would've had to have been a guest speaker and the lecture itself would've had to have been recreational, in that it would not be on any actual course. However, the students listening to Norman have laptops at the ready and take notes on what he's saying as if he is a revolutionary, so this is not an open lecture, it's a tool to explain the plot of the film for anyone foolish enough to watch this movie without seeing the trailer.
via images.cdn.whathifi.com
The performances in "Lucy" are awful, as you would expect considering the fact that I've already said that this is the worst film of the year. Scarlett Johansson's performance has no subtlety, as she goes from being the stupidest person in the world to the smartest with absolutely no transition period. Once the drug was in her system she became emotionless and expressionless, but she was a nervous wreck just minutes before. I feel that this is partly a problem with the direction, because she was probably told to be cold and calculated now that she had higher intelligence and knew what needed to be done, but I still think that Johansson could've given a more nuanced performance. When the drug initially entered her system she reacted to it by having a kind of fit, but it just looked so artificial. There are plenty of actors who could've pulled that scene off and made the whole escapade a bit more disturbing, but Johansson's acting in that scene was just ridiculous and I actually burst into laughter. Johansson is over the top, completely lacking in charm, and delivers her lines extremely tediously.
The special effects in this movie weren't great; the drug going around Lucy's body was interesting to watch, or at least it could have been, but it was accompanied by the sultry sounds of dubstep. Who thought that this was appropriate for those scenes? I understand that the drug is making her insides go crazy and that the sounds we're hearing are attempting to convey that sense of destruction and chaos, but this kind of music doesn't belong in a serious movie. There are plenty of other examples of terrible effects in this film, (SPOILER ALERT), the computer generated imagery for the car crashes was really quite dreadful, and the primordial goo which Lucy became at the end of the film was just bizarre. The really shocking thing about that aspect of the movie is that it can't be blamed on the budget, this movie had more than enough backing to warrant some exciting special effects, so the only people to blame are the filmmakers.
via perezhilton.com
There are so many stupid moments in this film:
1) Norman talks to Lucy through his phone even when Lucy is visibly not holding her phone anymore. He might have been so shocked by what he was seeing that he couldn't process what he was doing, but it didn't come across in that way, there was no humour in what was happening.
2) Lucy tapped away on her keyboard to do crazy things that she could clearly have done with her mind alone. She doesn't need the laptop just like she doesn't need to drive or get on a plane to get where she's going, so why does she use them?
3) Lucy kisses Pierre Del Rio (Amr Waked), a police detective located in Paris, a man that she barely knows and has no emotional connection with. Her explanation for why she does this is that it acts as a reminder of her humanity, but that just makes no sense! If she is so far from being human (in the normal sense) then why does she want a reminder at all? Why would kissing a complete stranger act as a reminder? Is that all she did with her time on Earth before the drug?
4) The Korean drug lord (Mr. Jang, played by Choi Min-sik) didn't really react to the fact that Lucy was able to kill half a dozen of his henchman, even though he met her just hours before, and she was a snivelling coward! Moreover, the henchman themselves weren't fazed by being flung into the air by a flick of Lucy's wrist, or by being turned into mimes. They just looked angry about it; they should've been mesmerised, the nature of their reality has been turned on its head!
This movie should never have been made. Nothing groundbreaking happened, the performances were poor, the effects were appalling and the characters were very underdeveloped.
"Lucy" is the worst film of the summer, and one of the worst I've ever seen, which is a big statement because I've seen some pretty horrible films (I saw "Honey 2" at the cinema for God's sake). I asked my father (who came to see this film with me on my recommendation – I'll never live it down) what he thought the film would be out of 10 before it started, and he said 4; how I wish he was correct! This movie is so far from being a 4/10 that it doesn't even deserve to be in the domain of positive numbers, but if I go any lower than 1 things might get slightly silly in the future. Going into this film I thought that it might just be "Limitless 2.0", which would've at least been watchable, but this isn't even worthy of that title.


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Donor Central
PLAN YOUR GIVING
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Youth in Philanthropy
Women's Giving Circle
Courthouse Development Team Cementing Its Connection to Howard County
(Images courtesy of ESJP)
The development team working on the new Howard County Circuit Courthouse is building a foundation in our community in more ways than one. In the first public-private partnership (P3) for Howard County, County Executive Calvin Ball and his team are working with Edgemoor-Star America Judicial Partners (ESJP), the private entity formed to collaborate with the county on the project.
Ball broke ground on the endeavor on June 24, 2019. The 238,000 square foot facility will resolve deficiencies in the existing courthouse, which was built 175 years ago and has numerous safety challenges that impact access to justice. The new courthouse is scheduled to be completed in July 2021.
ESJP has proved to be a tremendous partner, and its investment in Howard County goes well beyond the construction project. In late April, ESJP began creating a new fund for the Community Foundation of Howard County to help with community needs related to COVID-19. The New Howard County Courthouse Development Team COVID-19 Relief Fund is a donor-advised fund that supports local nonprofits providing relief from the pandemic.
"I've been thrilled to see the way our new courthouse development team has rallied to support the Howard County community during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Brian Dugan, the CEO of Edgemoor-Star Judicial Partners. "By contributing through the Community Foundation of Howard County, we know we're supporting the small and local non-profit businesses that are so integral to the fabric of our community during times when grant funding and fundraising may be curtailed or impossible because of COVID-19. Plus, these beneficiaries are the very firms currently helping address the needs of Howard County residents and families adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need them in business now more than ever."
Volunteering with the Howard County Conservancy, November 2019
"It's fantastic to see what these companies are doing to support the Howard County community," said Beverly White-Seals, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County. "The needs of the community are staggering. We are in an unprecedented crisis, but we are so gratified at how ESJP has taken a leadership role to take care of people in need."
The ESJP team isn't stopping there. Dugan heard about the fundraising campaign that the Community Foundation's Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program is working on, and he quickly got consensus from the courthouse development team to assist the high school students. The 15 Howard County sophomores and juniors learning about philanthropy in the YIP program initiated their own student-led fundraising campaign to raise $5,000 for coronavirus relief. The students reached out to 19 people in their network seeking $19 by June 19 to battle COVID-19. ESJP will match the YIP $5,000 goal to double the impact the students can make with their next round of grants.
"In addition to the corporate leadership and the $38,600 raised to date in their fund, they've stepped up to help support our Youth in Philanthropy program, a key new initiative at CFHoCo," said Dan Flynn, Director of Development, Marketing and Communications at CFHoCo. "It's another statement that shows how they're cementing their connection to our community. This matching grant both empowers the students to make a bigger impact and inspires our next generation of philanthropists – our YIP students."
"Though our original intent was to rally the other companies working on the project to donate (and they have done so), it has been heartwarming to see the number of individuals who have voluntarily and generously contributed personally to the cause," added Dugan. "It's truly an honor to work with a group of individuals who care enough to step up and help out personally in these challenging times."
Led by developer and equity members Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate (Maryland-based) and Star America Infrastructure Partners, the ESJP Team also includes Clark Construction Group (MD-based) as design-builder, Harkins Builders (Howard County, MD-based) as associate design-build contractor, HOK as lead architect, and Johnson Controls as facilities manager.
Other key team members include:
– Allen & Shariff Engineering (Howard County, MD-based)
– Project Finance Advisory Ltd
– Bracewell LLP
– O'Connell & Lawrence (MD-based)
– Site Resources (MD-based)
– S2N Technology Group (MD-based)
– Cagley & Associates (MD-based)
– Wiley|Wilson
– Kirlin Design Build (MD-based)
– Rosendin Electric
– Turner & Townsend
– Gordon Contractors (MD-based)
– Physical Security
– Crystal Steel Fabricators
– C&E Constructions
– Sody Concrete (MD-based)
– DXI Construction (MD-based)
– MetLife
Dan Flynn June 18, 2020 Calvin Ball, CFHoCo, Clark Construction, Courthouse, Edgemoor, ESJP, Howard County, Maryland, Youth in Philanthropy
Local Philanthropic Organizations Issue Joint Statement on Insurrection at U.S. Capitol
CFHoCo Celebrates Philanthropy at the Virtual Annual Dinner
Howard County Funders Announce Another $201,000 in COVID-19 Emergency Grants
Remembering CFHoCo friend, Bob Moon
CFHoCo partners with Bushel and a Peck for fun Annual Dinner dining experience
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FUNDS (18)
Columbia MD, 21044
© 2021 Community Foundation of Howard County. All Rights Reserved. CFHoCo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. All donations are tax deductible.


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Students Rock N' roll their way to music industry
Kimberly Valle
Kimberly Valle, Staff Reporter
Thanks to a recording studio school that opened last year, interested students no longer have to leave town to get a hands-on-experience in the music industry.
A & R School of Audio and Recording studio was started by Vavy Lozano, a famous music producer, recording engineer and live sound engineer. The purpose of the recording studio is to prepare students who are interested in the music industry, with the right tools and equipment. It is a hands-on experience, where students get the opportunity to produce and record a music album.
As A&R School of Audio and Recording studio is getting ready to say farewell to its first class, they are ready to welcome the new set of students for this upcoming 2014-2015 school year.
"There's a good start right here and the school is expanding," said Kevin Arellano, A&R student. "This first year, I can tell it's going to get even better, it's just a matter in valuing what we got here and seeing that things are growing and things are getting better as far as our industry goes."
The school is welcoming students who are interesting in this particular area of the industry, and ultimately expanding their knowledge of producing music.
"I was going to go out of state for college to study the exact same thing at a university," said Jose Clanche, A&R student. "I heard about the school and it was exactly what I was going to learn over there out of state and I just decided to stay here."
Sarayha Galarza will be the first female to enroll at the school. Galarza attended UTEP for a year and studied vocal performance. However, after realizing what she truly wanted to pursue with music, Galarza turned to A & R for help. Lozano and his colleagues teamed up to surprise Galarza with a $1,000 scholarship through A&R.
"She posted through Fund Me. She was asking for help and to me it meant a lot," Lozano said. "For me, having the first school girl enrolled in my school means a lot for the parents that we're not kidding here. This is a serious thing, and that for the other students it can be that same."
Galarza said she is excited about all the different activities and events that will be provided at A & R. Students will be able to get familiar with mixing and the technical aspects behind the music.
"My goals are just to be working in a field that I really love. I want to understand the technical side how to produce a good album, get as much hands on experience, hands on right away," said Galarza
Lozano enjoys giving back to the community, and he said it was important to help others with what they love doing. Lozano hopes to provide future scholarship opportunities for other students down the road once the school expands.
This studio also benefits local artists and they can also record demos for free, as long as they permit students to produce them.
"I know there's a lot of talent here. What I'm trying to do is try to get my students the opportunity through music. I want to train my students to be a recording engineer, they are going to be doing music and that's great––enjoying the good life through music, is the most beautiful thing," Lozano said.
For more information, you can log https://www.facebook.com/vavy.lozano or https://www.facebook.com/ARAudioAndRecording/info.
Kimberly Valle can be reached at [email protected]


text:
Louis-Amédée-Joseph-Marie-Ferdinand-François de Savoie-Aoste, duc des Abruzzes (italien : Luigi Amedeo Giuseppe Maria Ferdinando Francesco di Savoia-Aosta, duca degli Abruzzi), né le  à Madrid et mort le  à Mogadiscio (Somalie), est un prince, alpiniste, marin et explorateur polaire italien qui a réalisé la première ascension du mont Saint-Élie en 1897. Il a également servi comme amiral pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Il est l'auteur d'Expédition de l'Étoile Polaire dans la Mer Arctique 1899-1900.

Biographie

Fils d'Amédée de Savoie, éphémère roi d'Espagne (1870-1873) et neveu du roi d'Italie Humbert , il entre à l'école navale à onze ans et est lieutenant de vaisseau à dix-neuf ans.

Il découvre la montagne à Ceresole Reale en 1892 et s'initie à l'escalade l'année suivante. Au cours de l'année 1894, il devient sénateur et est admis au sein de l'Alpine Club. Il apprécie également la chasse en montagne.

Louis-Amédée de Savoie effectue deux fois la circumnavigation du globe terrestre (de 1894 à 1897 et de 1902 à 1904). Il participe à une expédition au Pôle Nord (1899-1900), au cours de laquelle le , il atteint la latitude arctique maximale (86° 33' 49") et doit être amputé de deux doigts gelés. En 1906, il explore le massif du Rwenzori, en Ouganda, et gravit quatorze sommets. Il participe en 1909 à l'expédition au K2, au Pakistan, mais faute de moyens se tourne vers le Chogolisa, échouant à  du sommet mais établissant un nouveau record d'altitude. Cette entreprise marque la fin de la carrière alpine du duc des Abruzzes, qui part ensuite à la découverte de la Somalie de 1918 jusqu'à sa mort.

Ascensions
1893 - Levanna orientale et centrale, Grand Paradis et dent du Géant et traversée du Cervin
1894 - Petit Dru, aiguille du Moine, aiguille du Grépon, aiguille des Grands Charmoz, dent Blanche avec Francesco Gonella et Daniel Maquignaz, Zinalrothorn avec Francesco Gonella et Daniel Maquignaz, pointe Dufour au mont Rose avec Francesco Gonella et Daniel Maquignaz et arête de Zmutt au Cervin avec Albert F. Mummery et Aloys Pollinger
1897 - Ascension hivernale du mont Viso avec Francesco Gonella et les guides David Proment et Claudio Perotti et première ascension du mont Saint-Élie, entre l'Alaska et le Canada
1898 - Première ascension de l'aiguille Sans-Nom (nommée depuis pointe Petigax) avec Joseph Petigax, Laurent Croux et Alfred Simond et Grandes Jorasses, premières ascensions des pointes Hélène () et Marguerite () avec Joseph Petigax, Laurent Croux et César Ollier
1901 - Première ascension de la pointe Yolande (Dames Anglaises) avec Laurent Croux
1906 - Première ascension du mont Stanley, en Ouganda, et treize autres sommets du Rwenzori

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Refuge Duc des Abruzzes à l'Oriondé
 Pointe Louis Amédée
 Cabane Louis-Amédée de Savoie
 Musée alpin Duc des Abruzzes

Liens externes

Militaire italien de la Première Guerre mondiale
Explorateur italien du XIXe siècle
Explorateur italien du XXe siècle
Alpiniste italien
Himalayiste
Amiral italien du XXe siècle
Explorateur de l'Arctique
Grand-croix de l'ordre des Saints-Maurice-et-Lazare
Grand-croix avec collier de l'ordre de Charles III d'Espagne
Chevalier grand-croix honoraire de l'ordre royal de Victoria
Maison de Savoie-Aoste
Naissance en janvier 1873
Naissance à Madrid
Décès en mars 1933
Décès à Mogadiscio
Décès à 60 ans
Récipiendaire de la médaille Vega
Duc des Abruzzes

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Leo, a passionate player of the online browser-based football game ManagerLeague is currently petitioning the game to accept Bitcoin as a payment method, and is reaching out to the wider Bitcoin community to help make this happen.
The online browser-game ManagerLeague has just started its 100th online season. Since the launch of the game in September 2005, almost 1 000 000 people from over 180 countries have played the game. Today, there are 45 000 active players, and the earliest players have been with the game since launch. While the game is free to play, certain features require credits which can currently only be purchased with Paypal. Leo, a member of the Romanian League in the game, is a huge fan of both Bitcoin and ManagerLeague, and is petitioning ManagerLeague to accept Bitcoin as a payment method.
The online game is the fastest free football manager game, with 2 matches each day from Monday to Friday, resulting in a season played every month. There are 32 national leagues, as well as one International League; where managers from all over the globe are fighting to win the title. The Champions League winner receives a real cup trophy at home, and each league and cup winner also receives a real diploma in the mail. Features include trainings, custom cups, training camps, friendlies matches, teamless players and more.
Currently, ManagerLeague players can only purchase credit in Paypal approved countries, limiting the potential user base of the game. In Leo's own words, if Manager League accepts "purchase with Bitcoins, then virtually any manager from any country may buy these". The other benefits of taking Bitcoin as a payment method include: no fraud and chargebacks, being seen as a tech savvy business, and the huge potential upside of being involved in this cutting edge decentralized cryptocurrency.
Leo is seeking support from the wider Bitcoin community to help ensure ManagerLeague becomes the first global online football game in the world to deal in Bitcoin. They could easily integrate BitPay into their existing shopping cart, and convert the Bitcoin directly into USD or their currency of choice if they wished.
If you are interested you can sign up for ManagerLeague here.


PLATFORM ARTS – Degraves Subway, City.
Carl "Synchronicity" Scrase is a Melbourne born–and–bred artist; an exile of the leafy suburban bourgeoise set. From this somewhat culturally tethered outlook, Scrase resolved to "change the world" through art. Immediately following his graduation from the VCA Fine Arts (Painting) programme, Scrase hit the ground running with an impressive display of works. As an exhibitor in the Next Wave Festival, he was accordingly represented in the esteemed Melbourne Art Fair. Subsequently, Scrase has maintained his artistic integrity with shows at local ARIs (Artist Run Initiatives) including TCB Waratah Place, and as part of the Platform Artists Group in the Degraves Subway. He says that some of his greatest influences come from "psychologists, philosophers and writers; Carl Jung, Haruki Murakami, Tom Robbins" and I believe you may well be able to detect shades of Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas in some of his works.
As stated, Scrase endeavours to change the world and has established a framework in doing so; using a three–pronged approach that encompasses (documented) personal introspection, his pronounced tactility in objets d'art, and in seeking to determine the nature of societal reflex and the possibility of such an endeavour. Although I define these 3 directions in my own words; his Artistic Statement can be found on the carlscrase.com website. I must also comment that within these endeavours it is clear in my mind, that Scrase has achieved such a pronouncement in the tactility of his art. This was most recently seen in his 14–metre tall The Generative Power of Opposites; an inflated "2–finger salute" that was featured at the Splendour In The Grass festival and then re–mounted during February at the Perth Cultural Centre.
But of course you must see his art to make of it what you will, yourself. Carl "Synchronicity" Scrase (or) his Wemakeus Collective will no doubt be exhibiting at a gallery near you.
Psychological landscape of a man flying off the planet.
Carl Scrase is represented by John Buckley Gallery in Richmond.
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