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Tag Archives: Mansfield Park (2007)
The Jewel Carries a Curse: Ruby in the Smoke (2006)
So I was shelving films in the library when I spotted this. A mystery starring Billie Piper, the actress who played Fanny in Mansfield Park?
And J.J. Feild who was the incredible Mr. Tilney in Northanger Abbey?
I just had to watch it.
Victoria Beatrice "Sally" Lockhart's (Billie Piper) father has died and left her with nothing more than questions and a mean relative that insults her and abuses her.
She receives a letter telling her to question Mr. Marchbanks and to stay away from The Seven Blessings.
She has a lot of unanswered questions and heads to the merchant's office where her father held a position. She tries to get answers from one of the head clerks, but as soon as he hears The Seven Blessings he becomes angry, orders her out, has a heart attack, and dies.
They call the police and deal with everything, the only good thing coming out of it is that an errand boy, Jim (Matt Smith, yes Dr. Who himself) agrees to help Sally.
Sally has no other leads so she sends a letter to Mr. Marchbanks to get some answers.
Meanwhile, there is an ugly (the character's comments not mine) woman who has been torturing, killing, and hunting something. She has kidnapped a sailor, Matthew Bedwell, and is trying to get information out of him, but he refuses as he has a message for Sally Lockhart alone.
Sally hears from Mr. Marchbanks and heads out to meet with him. She stops to ask handsome and dreamy photographer Frederick Garland (J.J. Feild) for directions. The part that I really likes is how he looks at her when he is talking to her, but once she starts talking about photography he really looks at her-and is amazed: like what a gorgeous brilliant woman. I thought it was cute.
I just love J.J. Feild in everything I have seen him in. He's just so dreamy.
Anyways, he sends Sally on the right way hoping to get her name, but no dice. She goes to Mr. Marchbanks, but he tells her he can't talk as Mrs. Holland is in the house. Sally has no clue what he is talking about, but listens to him as he gives her a package and asks her to leave as Mrs. Holland is dangerous and will try to kill her.
I'm out!
Sally runs off while Mrs. Holland comes and tries to get the package from Marchbanks. It turns out that Mrs. Holland is the woman who has been chasing and killing all the people-"the old hag".
When Mrs. Holland returns from the other room, Mr. Marchbanks taunts her- telling her that she is out of luck and never going to get the package. Mrs. Holland becomes so angry she kills him.
A Maid sees her, and in fear for her life tells her that a Sally Lockhart was here and just left pointing the way she went. Mrs. Holland runs after Sally and Sally has only moments to hide. She runs to Fredrick, and he hides her in his photography tent. To show her gratitude she gives him her name and takes a train back to London.
As she rides the train back to her Aunt, she opens the package and sees it contains a journal. She starts to read and discovers that her father, Captain Lockhart, was given a giant ruby from the Maharajah when he was a soldier in India. But before she can continue she falls asleep.
Unbeknownst to Sally, Mrs. Holland has a thief on the train, Mr. Hopkins. He steals the journal but doesn't notice one page falls out.
When Sally wakes up she discovers she only has the last page which give clues to where to find the Ruby. When Mrs. Holland sees that the most important page is missing, Mr. Hopkins travels to Sally's aunt's house to steal the last page. His arrival wakens Sally and instead of wondering if she is okay her Aunt accuses her of making the whole business up for attention, Sally moves out and in with Fredrick and his sister Rose (played by Hayley Atwell-who also starred in Mansfield Park as Mary Crawford,) an actress.
Fredrick is a very educated man and deduces the Latin in the riddle. Meanwhile, Matthew sends a servant girl, Adelaide to give them a message. Sally searches for Matthew Bedlam but ends up taking some opium and sees a memory from the past.
Meanwhile, Matthew and Fredrick break into Holland's place to get Matthew out. Matthew reveals to Sally that a criminal called Ah Ling, head of the Chinese Triads called The Seven Blessings killed her father, Captain Lockhart.
Also Sally and Fredrick have been growing closer together…
Mrs Holland figures out the riddle and heads to find the ruby but it is gone. She has Matthew killed and Adelaide kidnapped. Fredrick and Jim run after and try to get her back, but while they stop her people, Mrs. Holland and Adelaide slip out of her grasp.
But what happened to the Ruby?
Sally goes under the opium to remember what happened as a child. She decides to go after the ruby, but Rosa reveals that Jim found it a long time ago and hid it to protect Sally's life.
Sally goes to meet Mrs. Holland, against Rose's wishes, and brings the ruby. The truth is revealed. Captain Lockhart is not Sally's father.
Mr. Marchbanks was Sally's father.
Mr. Marchbanks was an opium addict and actually caused the death of the Maharajah when he left for his fix. Captain Lockhart saw Marchbanks' daughter in the opium den, and afraid for what would happen to her he traded the ruby for Sally.
Mr. Marchbanks said the Ruby belongs to Sally-her inheritance, but Mrs. Holland said it was hers. It turns out that when she was a young girl she traded her virginity in exchange for the ruby, but the Maharajah reneged in the deal.
Sally tosses the Ruby in the water, as she doesn't need it. Mrs. Holland follows the ruby that she desire so much she has killed, stolen, and destroyed many things to acquire.
Meanwhile, Sally is approached by one of her father's trusted men, Hendrik Van Eeden. She expects him to give her a ride home but he ends up kidnapping her!
It turns out that he isn't who she thought he was. He is Ah Ling.
Not kidding, I thought the same thing. Turns out that he is biracial-Dutch and Chinese. H goes by Ah Ling as his criminal name in moving the opium, and then using his father's name to fool the English soldiers. He has been killing all kinds of people who interfered with his opium trade, like Sally's father. He threatens Sally with a knife, but unbeknownst to him her father taught her well, and Sally always carries a gun on her.
After all this turmoil with Sally returns to the Garland home with her friends-Frederick, Rose, and Jim-deciding to remain Lockhart (as he was her real father) and just taking each day by day.
It was a good movie-with a great twist. I did not see the Ah Ling being Van Eeden.
It has wonderful characters that I'm sure you will enjoy.
For the previous post, go to Go Ahead and Shoot…As Far As Killing Me, Well, I Don't Think You're That Good a Shot: Possessed (1947)
For more J.J. Feild, go to Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart
For more Mansfield Park, go to Read Jane Austen, Wear Jane Austen
For more Northanger Abbey, go to No One Would Have Ever Guessed
Tagged Ah Ling, BBC miniseries, Billie Piper, Chinese Triads, Dr. Who, Fanny Price, Frederick Garland, Hayley Atwell, Heart Attack, Hendrik Van Eeden, J.J. Feild, Jim, Maharajah, Mansfield Park, Mansfield Park (2007), Mary Crawford, Matt Smith, Matthew Bedwell, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Marchbanks, Mrs. Holland, Northanger Abbey, Northanger Abbey (2007), Opium, opium trade, Ruby in the Smoke, Sally Lockhart, The Seven Blessings, Victoria Beatrice "Sally" Lockhart
Part IX: Adventures in Movie Lines (My Favorite Movie Lines List)
Same drill as before…another installment of my favorite movie lines in no particular order, for your amusement. Enjoy!
801)"Cameron: You embarrassed the girl. Sacrifice yourself on the alter of dignity and even the score."–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
802)"Eloise Y. 'Honey Bear' Kelly: Let me jump to my own conclusions."–Mogambo (1953)
803)"Uncle Carmine: Brenda, I speak on behalf of your father, my beloved brother, that Morty is garbage, and it would be an honor to me to take him out."–The First Wives Club (1996)
804)"Hugh Forbes: Then, a toast: May their days be long and full of happiness; may their children be many and full of health; and may they live in peace… and freedom."–The Quiet Man (1952)
805)"Alex Fletcher: [singing] Sleeping with a clown above my bed…[spoken] 'Clown' is not right.
Sophie Fisher: That's "cloud." Why would you put a clown in your bed?
Alex Fletcher: It would not be the first time."–Music & Lyrics (2007)
806)"Cal: I will never stop trying. Because when you find the one… you never give up."–Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
807)"Inspector Lestrade: In another life, Mr. Holmes, you would have made a excellent criminal.
Sherlock Holmes: Yes, and you an excellent policeman."–Sherlock Holmes (2009)
808)"[finding empty liquor bottles in trash]
Brenda: Let's examine the evidence. Look! all bottles and gallon jugs!
Elise: I had guests!
Brenda: Who? Guns N Roses?"–First Wives Club (1996)
809)"Eloise Y. 'Honey Bear' Kelly: The only lions I ever want to see again are the two in front of the public library."–Mogambo (1953)
810)"Azeem: Is she worth it?
Robin Hood: Worth dying for."–Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
811)"Alex Fletcher: The best time I've had in the last fifteen years was sitting at that piano with you.
Sophie Fisher: That's wonderfully sensitive… especially from a man who wears such tight pants.
Alex Fletcher: It forces all the blood to my heart."–Music & Lyrics (2007)
812)"Irene Adler: Why are you always so suspicious?
Sherlock Holmes: Should I answer chronologically or alphabetically?"–Sherlock Holmes (2009)
813)"Landon: [voiceover] Jamie saved my life. She taught me everything. About life, hope and the long journey ahead. I'll always miss her. But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it."–A Walk to Remember (2002)
814)"Mrs. Danvers: [the new Mrs. de Winter wants to dispose of Rebecca's letters] But these are Mrs. de Winter's things.
The Second Mrs. de Winter: I *am* Mrs. de Winter now!"–Rebecca (1940)
815)"Wayne Campbell: [to an old man in the neighboring car at a red light] Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?"–Wayne's World (1992)
816)"Elise: You think that because I'm a movie star I don't have feelings. Well you're wrong. I'm an actress. I've got all of them!."–First Wives Club (1996)
817)"Sherlock Holmes: You have the grand gift of silence, Watson; it makes you quite invaluable as a companion."–Sherlock Holmes (2009)
818)"Mr. Knightly: How pleasant to be absent, but in the hearts of everyone."–Emma (2009)
819)"Cleopatra: Together we could conquer the world."–Cleopatra (1934)
820)"Bonnie Lopez: [as Reilly is playing his flute] Do you have to do that?
Reilly O'Reilly: Aye. I'm Irish. It's how I manifest despair."–Luck of the Irish (2001)
821)"Alex Fletcher: [Sophie moves a chair] What are you doing, you madwoman, you're wrecking my apartment!
Sophie Fisher: Well, I can't write sitting all the way across the room.
Alex Fletcher: No, go back to your corner!
Sophie Fisher: …Fine, all right. [Goes, leaving the chair where she moved it]
Alex Fletcher: I'm blocked. How am I supposed to get out?
Sophie Fisher: Go out the other side.
Alex Fletcher: But… but… I've never been out the other side."–Music & Lyrics (2007)
822)"Sherlock Holmes: It's a matter of professional integrity! No girl wants to marry a doctor who can't tell if a man's dead or not!"–Sherlock Holmes (2009)
823)"Mrs. de Winter: Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."–Rebecca (1940)
824)"Antoninus: Are you afraid to die, Spartacus?
Spartacus: No more than I was to be born."–Spartacus (1960)
825)King Leonidas: This is Sparta!"–300 (2006)
826)"Alex Fletcher: Just a little bit louder, because this song is intended for humans, okay?"–Music & Lyrics (2007)
827)"Tramp: Say no more, I get the whole picture. Aunts, cats, muzzles… Well, that what comes of tying yourself down to one family.
Lady: Haven't you a family?
Tramp: One for every day of the week. The point is, none of them have me."–Lady and the Tramp (1941)
828)"Sctanley: My name is Sctanley, spelled with a C."–Couples Retreat (2009)
829)"Stoney: Ya know what, Dave, just Chill, 'cause you know why? Link and I had a Stoney time at the Mountain.
Dave: You took him to Mega Mountain? Are you crazy?
Stoney: Yeah, 'cause they're ridin' The Vapor in reverse.
Dave: They are?
Stoney: Unh-huh!
Dave: Oh, cool!"–Encino Man (1992)
830)"Halley: Sometimes things happens and you just have to deal."–How to Deal (2003)
831)"Brenda:[about her ex-husband's mistress]What's the matter, Morty? Can't you buy her a whole dress?"–The First Wives Club (1996)
832)"Sherlock Holmes: There's only at one case that intrigues me at present. The curious case of Mrs. Hudson, the absentee landlady. I've been studying her comings and goings, they appear most… sinister.
Mrs. Hudson: Tea, Mr. Holmes?
Sherlock Holmes: Is it poisoned, Nanny?
Mrs. Hudson: There's enough of that in you already."–Sherlock Holmes (2009)
833)"Mrs. Weston: Perhaps some tea and cake would revive you, Mr. Woodhouse.
Mr. Woodhouse: Cake! Surely you're not serving cake at your wedding, Miss Taylor! Far too rich, you put us all at peril! Where is Mr. Perry, the apothecary? I'm sure he will support me!
Mrs. Weston: Ah, he is over there, Mr. Woodhouse, having some cake."–Emma (1996)
834)"Father of the Bride: Hey, buddy, I'm not paying you to hear your thoughts on life. I'm paying you to sing.
Robbie: Well, I have a microphone, and you don't, SO YOU WILL LISTEN TO EVERY D*** WORD I HAVE TO SAY!"–The Wedding Singer (1998)
835)"Nick: When you give up your dream, you die."–Flashdance (1983)
836)"Sophie Fisher: Are you OK?
Alex Fletcher: Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's just my Pop! hip. It comes from years of doing our patented dance move. My God, I've suffered for my art."–Music & Lyrics (2007)
837)"Ivana Trump: Ladies, you have to be strong and independent, and remember, don't get mad, get everything."–The First Wives Club (1996)
838)"Rita: This day was perfect. You couldn't have planned a day like this.
Phil: Well, you can. It just takes an awful lot of work."–Groundhog Day (1993)
839)"Qui-Gon Jinn: Remember, your focus determines your reality."–Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
840)"Lori: [walks in] What are you girls doing?
Carrie: Destroying a man."–John Tucker Must Die (2006)
841)"Alex Fletcher: They're aliens, clearly, I have no children."–Music & Lyrics (2007)
842)"Willy Wonka: The suspense is terrible… I hope it'll last."–Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
843)"Bulldog in Pound: He has an eye for a well-turned paw, he has. Let's see, there's been Lulu…
Toughy: Yeah, and Trixie…
Dachsie: Und Fifi…
Pedro: And my sister, Rosita Chiquita Juanita Chihuahua. I think."–Lady and the Tramp (1941)
844)"[on being told the Christians are being blamed for the burning of Rome]
Vinicius: The people won't believe such a lie!
Petronius: But they are believing it. People will believe any lie, if it is fantastic enough."–Quo Vadis (1951)
845)"Athena: The gods cannot do for man what man must do for himself."–The Odyssey (1997)
846)"Edmund Bertram: Surely you and I are beyond speaking when words are clearly not enough."–Mansfield Park (1999)
847)"Robert: So, what's the deal with this prince of yours? How long you been together?
Giselle: [wistfully] Oh, about a day.
Robert: You mean it feels like a day because you're so in love.
Giselle: No, it's been a day.
Robert: You're kidding me. A day? One day?
Giselle: Yes.
[wistful again]
Giselle: And tomorrow it will be two days."–Enchanted (2007)
848)"Cameron: And, um, and here's another problem. Bianca said that Kat likes pretty guys.
Patrick: [looks confused and slowly rises] Are you telling me I'm not a pretty guy?
Michael: H-He's very pretty. He's a gorgeous guy.
Cameron: Yeah. I-I just wasn't sure. I didn't know.
Michael: [gives him two thumbs up] You're a gorgeous guy."–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
849)"E.L.F.S. Leader: Tinsel. Not just for decoration."–The Santa Clause (1994)
850)"Fanny Price: Beware of fainting fits. Beware of swoons."–Mansfield Park (1999)
851)"Alex Fletcher: No, no. He is a jerk! He is a jerk. It's not a question. He is a jerk!
Sophie Fisher: But…
Alex Fletcher: No, he is! He's a jerk! He's a jerk!"–Music & Lyrics (2007)
852)"Sherlock Holmes: The game's afoot."–Sherlock Holmes (2009)
853)"Willy Wonka: So shines a good deed in a weary world."–Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
854)"Sedgwick: Danny, do you speak Russian?
Danny: A little, but only one sentence.
Sedgwick: Well, let me have it, mate.
Danny: Ya vas lyublyu.
Sedgwick: Ya ya vas…
Danny: Lyublyu.
Sedgwick: Lyubliu? Ya vas lyubliu. Ya vas lyublyu. What's it mean?
Danny: I love you.
Sedgwick: Love you. What bloody good is that?
Danny: I don't know, I wasn't going to use it myself."–The Great Escape (1963)
855)"Susan Price: So, this Henry Crawford, what's he like?
Fanny Price: A rake. I think.
Susan Price: Oh, yes, please.
Fanny Price: They amuse more in literature than they do in life."–Mansfield Park (1999)
856)"Hector: And I've seen the limits of your mercy and I tell you now, no son of Troy will ever submit to a foreign ruler."–Troy (2004)
857)"Young Susan: Think up lots of stories for me and eat hundreds of tarts."–Mansfield Park (1999)
858)"Kingpin: There's an old saying that too much pride can kill a man."–Daredevil (2003)
859)"Fanny Price: Run mad as often as you choose but do not faint."–Mansfield Park (1999)
860)"Mr. Connors: Well, what I mean is, it's not what a person looks like that makes them what they are. It's the intent of their hearts and the good they're willing to do for others that matters."–Behind the Waterfall (1995)
861)"Willy Wonka: *We* are the music makers… and *we* are the dreamers of dreams."–Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
862)"Daniel Cleaver: If you have to travel alone, travel in style."–Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
863)"[Mr. Stratford makes Bianca wear a pregnancy belly before leaving for a party, Patrick arrives and sees her]
Patrick: [to Kat] Who knocked up your sister?"–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
864)"Anne Elliot: Are you here for the concert?
Captain Wentworth: No, I am here for a lecture on navigation. Am I in the wrong place?"–Persuasion (1995)
865)"Edmund Bertram: Your keen adaptability to my brother's possible demise sends a chill through my heart. A chill. Happily planning parties with his money. You shush my father like a dog at your table, and then you attack Fanny for following her own, infallible guide concerning matters of the heart. All of this leads me to believe that the person I've been so apt to dwell on for many months has been a figure of my own imagination, not you, Miss Crawford. I do not know you, and I'm sorry to say, I have no wish to."–Mansfield Park (1999)
866)"Patrick: Was that a yes?
Kat Stratford: No.
Patrick: Well, then, was that a no?
Kat Stratford: No."–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
867)"Donkey: Real smooth, Shrek. "I'm an ogre! Arrr!"–Shrek 2 (2004)
868)"Dr. John Watson: [reading a note from Holmes] Come at once if convenient.
[flips the note over to back side] If inconvenient, come all the same."–Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
869)"Mark Darcy: I should have done this years ago.
Daniel Cleaver: Done what?
Mark Darcy: This. [Darcy punches Cleaver, hard]
Daniel Cleaver: Ow. F*** me, that really hurt. What the f*** do you think you're doing?
Mark Darcy: This.[Darcy punches Cleaver again, even harder]"–Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
870)"Rogers: What else is there? She says, "Is beauty all that matters?", and you say, "What else is there?"!
Prince Derek: It was dumb. I know!
Rogers: You should write a book: "How to Offend Women in Five Syllables or Less".–The Swan Princess (1994)
871)"Miles: It's Christmas Eve and we are going to go celebrate being young and being alive."–The Holiday (2006)
872)"Father Fitzgibbons: I'm sure that the way to say what I'd like to say will occur to me after you've gone."–Going My Way (1944)
873)"Henry Crawford: Fanny. You are killing me.
Fanny Price: No man dies of love but on the stage."–Mansfield Park (1999)
874)"Queen Uberta: Where is Derek? Oh,never mind,I know where he is. Working on the mystery of the Fat Animal.
Rogers: The Great Animal,Your Highness.
Queen Uberta: Great, fat. It's large and has fur.
875)"Natasha: Bizarre what some men find attractive."–Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
876)"Willy Wonka: So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it. Thank you."–Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
877)"Camerlengo Patrick McKenna: I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believe in God.
Robert Langdon: I'm an academic. My mind tells me I will never understand God.
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna: And your heart?
Robert Langdon: Tells me I'm not meant to. Faith is a gift that I have yet to receive."–Angel & Demons (2009)
878)"Edmund Bertram: There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time."–Mansfield Park (1999)
879)"Willy Wonka: A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."–Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
1080)"Denise Hennessey: I hate cosmetics companies. They get you addicted to the perfect lipstick or nail polish and then, six months later, they discontinue it. You have to buy your favorite colors like you're storing up for the Apocalypse."–P.S. I Love You (2007)
1081)"Prince Derek: What? You're all I ever wanted. You're beautiful!
Odette: Thank you. But what else?
Prince Derek: What else?
Odette: Is beauty all that matters to you?
Queen Uberta: Derek, what else?
Prince Derek: [stammers; to Odette] What else is there?
[Rogers imitates a buzzer]"–The Swan Princess (1994)
882)"Fanny Price: Is it possible to be so happy?"
Edmund Bertram: Yes. Let's make it our business, Mrs. Bertram, to happy ever after.–Mansfield Park (2007)
883)"Kat Stratford: [to Patrick after he asks her out for the first time] Do you even know my name screwboy?"–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
884)"Walter Burns: [ducking from Hildy's throw and reaching for the ringing telephone] Oh, you're losing your arm! You used to be able to pitch better than that."–His Girl Friday (1940)
885)"Daniel Cleaver: Come on Bridget, we belong together – you, me, poor little skirt. If I can't make it with you then I can't make it with anyone.
Bridget: That's not a good enough offer for me."–Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
886)"Odysseus: Sometimes you need to serve in order to lead."–Troy (2004)
887)"Cardinal Strauss: [emphatically] Man is flawed, always. Even this one."–Angels & Demons (2009)
888)"Rothbart: Once you steal something, you spend your whole life fighting to keep it."–The Swan Princess (1994)
889)"Ms. Perky: So, I hear you were terrorizing Mr. Morgan's class… again.
Kat Stratford: Expressing my opinion is not a terrorist action.
Ms. Perky: The way you expressed your opinion to Bobby Ridgeway? By the way, his testicle retrieval operation went quite well, in case you're interested.
Kat Stratford: I still maintain that he kicked himself in the balls."–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
890)"Roy Miller: I've been trained to dismantle a bomb in the pitch black with nothing but a safety pin and a Junior Mint, I think I can get you in and out of some clothes without… looking. I'm not saying that's what I did."–Knight and Day (2010)
891)"Cardinal Strauss: Mr. Langdon, thanks be to God for sending someone to protect His church.
Robert Langdon: I don't believe He sent me, father.
Cardinal Strauss: Oh my son, of course He did…"–Angels & Demons (2009)
892)"Princess Odette: Will you love me, Derek? Until the day I die?
Prince Derek: No, Odette, much longer. Much longer."–The Swan Princess (1994)
893)"Captain Harvile: Poor Phoebe, she would not have forgotten him so soon. It was not in her nature.
Anne Elliot: It would not be in the nature of any woman who truly loved.
Captain Harvile: Do you claim that for your sex?
Anne Elliot: We do not forget you as soon as you forget us. We cannot help ourselves. We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us. You always have business of some sort or other to take you back into the world.
Captain Harvile: I won't allow it to be any more man's nature than women's to be inconstant or to forget those they love or have loved. I believe the reverse. I believe… Let me just observe that all histories are against you, all stories, prose, and verse. I do not think I ever opened a book in my life which did not have something to say on women's fickleness.
Anne Elliot: But they were all written by men."–Persuasion (1995)
894)"Kat Stratford: We're going now.
Walter Stratford: Alright, wait a minute. No drinking, no drugs, no kissing, no tattoos, no piercings, *no* ritual animal slaughters of any kind. Oh, God, I'm giving them ideas."–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
895)"Mark Darcy: I like you, very much.
Bridget: Ah, apart from the smoking and the drinking, the vulgar mother and… ah, the verbal diarrhea.
Mark Darcy: No, I like you very much. Just as you are."–Bridget Jones'Diary (2001)
896)"Gru: This is literature? A two year old could have written this!"–Despicable Me (2010)
897)"Joey: Mr. Morgan, is there any chance we could get Kat to take her Midol *before* she comes to class?
Mr. Morgan: Someday, you gonna get b****-slapped and I'm not gonna do a thing to stop it."–10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
898)"Willy Wonka: If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it. Anything you want to, do it; want to change the world… there's nothing to it."–Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
899)"Odysseus: [to Achilles] War is young men dying and old men talking. You know this. Ignore the politics."–Troy (2004)
900)"Bridget: The only thing worse than smug married couple; lots of smug married couples."–Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)
For the previous list, go to Part VIII: The Little Movie Lines List
For more on 10 Things I Hate About You, go to You're Just Too Good to Be True
For more on 300, go to Part VII: It Was Said One Night
For more on A Walk to Remember, go to Fulfilling the List
For more on Behind the Waterfall, go to Pot o' Gold
For more on Bridget Jones' Diary, go to The Beauty of Darcy
For more on Cleopatra (1934) go to Snakes on a Post
For more on Crazy, Stupid, Love; go to Save the Last Dance for Me
For more on Emma, go to It's All Jane Austen's Fault
For more on Enchanted, go to According to Disney
For more on Flashdance, go to Darcy's Dream Date
For more on The Holiday, go to 25 Films of Christmas
For more on John Tucker Must Die, go to Sucky Sequels
For more on Luck of the Irish, go to Friday Night Fun
For more on Mansfield Park, go to On the 10th Day 'Til Christmas
For more on Music & Lyrics, go to I'm Sorry Sounds Better in a Song
For more on Persuasion, go to A Letter of Love
For more on Rebecca (1940), go to Mr. Darcy: Man of Dreams
For more on The Santa Clause, go to On the 11th Day 'Til Christnas
For more on Sherlock Holmes, go to The World's Greatest Criminal Mind
For more on Star Wars, go to And Away We Go
For more on the Swan Princess, go to You Should Write a Book
For more on Wayne's World, go to Episode III: Revenge of the My Favorite Movie Lines' List
For more on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, go to A Trip to the Mall Turns into the Twilight Zone
For more on The Wedding Singer, go to Love Stinks
For more on Frank Peretti, go to It's Alive, It's ALIVE!
For more of my fav quotes, go to Be Good to Yourself
Posted in Disney, Emma, Mansfield Park, My Favorite Movie Lines List, Persuasion, Quotable Quotes, Star Wars, Supernatural
Tagged 10 Things I Hate About You, 300 (2006), A Walk to Remember, Adventures in Babysitting, Angels & Demons, Behind the Waterfall, Bridget Jones' Diary (2001), Cleopatra (1934), Couples Retreat, Crazy Stupid Love, Despicable Me, Emma (1996), Emma (2009), Enchanted, Encino Man, Flashdance, Frank Peretti, Going My Way, Groundhog Day, Guns 'N Roses, His GIrl Friday, How to Deal, John Tucker Must Die, Knight and Day, Lady and the Tramp, Luck of the Irish, Manderly, Mansfield Park (1999), Mansfield Park (2007), Mogambo (1953), Music & Lyrics, P.S. I Love You, Persuasion (1995), Quo Vadis, Rebecca (1940), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Spartacus (1960), Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, The First Wives Club, The Great Escape, The Holiday, The Odyssey (1997), The Quiet Man, The Santa Clause, The Swan Princess, The Wedding Singer, Troy, Wayne's World (1992), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory


text:
Q: rdlc Expression Error I am using iif(Field!test1.Value=nothing,"",test1.Value.ColumnName)
It works fine if test1.value is not null. If it is null then i am getting #Error in my report.
Is there something i am doing wrong?

A: if the value u r getting is a string
IIF(Field!test1.Value="","",test1.Value.ColumnName)

else compare with 0 like dis
 IIF(Field!test1.Value=0,"",test1.Value.ColumnName)

try dis.

A: IIF(Field!test1.Value = "" , "" , test1.Value.ColumnName)
In the above if condition the field test1 will check the value as equal to "" (blank) which is the first part before first comma, id it holds true than the value will be assigned as ""(blank), otherwise the last part of the equation test1.Value.ColumnName

A: I guess it will throw an error if you try to access 'ColumnName' on something that doesn't exist.
The below quote might give some help.

IIF evaluates all arguments. If any argument generates an error, then
  the entire function will throw an error, regardless of which of the
  three arguments should have been returned.

A: Try
=Iif(IsNothing(Field!test1.Value),"",test1.Value.ColumnName)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Beautiful parcel of land with some great building sites or mobile home sites. No restrictions. This property is covered in merchantable timber and offers great hunting and outdoor recreational opportunities. This property joins Desoto National Forest which opens up hundreds of additional acres of land out your back door. Taxes are estimated. Part of a larger parcel.


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Home/The Grand Tour/Jeremy Clarkson Reacts To His Top Gear Botswana Special Car Being Found
Jeremy Clarkson Reacts To His Top Gear Botswana Special Car Being Found
Alex HarringtonJanuary 19, 2021
We recently brought you news of Jeremy Clarkson's Top Gear Botswana Special car being found years after it was left in the country after filming had been wrapped up. The car, a Lancia Beta Coupe, was taken to its limits as it was stripped down to allow The Grand Tour presenter to cross the Makgadikgadi. It was a gruelling treck that left the Lancia an inch away from death, but it made it alongside a Mercedes 230E chosen by James May and an Opel Kadett (Oliver), chosen by Richard Hammond.
Now, it's been found by a YouTuber travelling across Africa. See more in the video below:
We got a lot of comments asking for Jeremy's response to the car being found, and finally he's answered someone's request on Twitter to comment on the car.
Thank you for alerting me to this. Great to see it again.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) January 15, 2021
"Thank you for alerting me to this. Great to see it again," Clarkson responded.
Eventually, the Lancia was voted to be the worst car of the special, with the VW Beetle coming out on top thanks to it not missing a beat while it followed the presenters through thick and thin, and while the presenters' cars were modified to allow them to get through the episode, the Beetle was untouched and still managed to make it through, unlike the other cars which at least had slight issues along the way. Despite this, Hammond fell in love with his car and took it home to restore.
The latest special followed a similar theme as the trio drove over the awful roads of Madagascar in order to find lost pirate treasure. Hammond didn't make it in a tracked Ford Focus RS, but Clarkson had an easy time behind the wheel of a Bentley Continental GT which was highly modified to take on rough terrain. This time, Clarkson fell in love with his car and took it home to use on his farm.
It's now in the hands of Bentley Motors themselves. We talked about this on a recent video.
Fans Go Mad At Jeremy Clarkson After Rude Comment On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
James May Reviews An All-Electric MGB Roadster In The Grand Tour Style We Miss
Lamborghini Urus Gets A Ridiculous 820HP From Tuning Company
Watch Someone Ride A Dirt Bike Over The Top Of A Bridge In Dangerous Stunt
Jeremy Clarkson Saddening Update: The Days Of the Old Grand Tour Are Gone
Jeremy Clarkson Collaborates with Emirates to Produce The Ultimate Luxury

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I've been away for a while and I was wondering how the development of the new compression format is going.
When can we expect to see the first version of PA w/ the new format?
no eta, guys are working on it… maybe soon, maybe a little bit later… i dont know until we get closer to the finish line.
i dont want to say 30-40 days and then nothing happens, but it is not because we are not working on it, we have dedicated people working only on paf.


These are some of my yêu thích Disney characters. Which of these characters is your favorite?
Out of the Walt Disney phim hoạt hình Studio Canon Films that I think are good but NOT great, which do bạn like the most?
Out of the only Walt Disney phim hoạt hình Studio Canon Films that I think are mediocre, which do bạn like the most?
Out of the only Walt Disney phim hoạt hình Studio Canon Films that I think are bad, which do bạn think is the WORST?


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See what NS records are, what's their job and why every single domain needs them to function properly.
The NS (Name Server) records of a domain name reveal which DNS servers are authoritative for its zone. Simply, the zone is the collection of all records for the domain address, so when you open a URL inside an Internet browser, your computer asks the DNS servers around the globe where the domain address is hosted and from which servers the DNS records for the domain name should be retrieved. In this way a browser finds out what the A or AAAA record of the domain address is so that the latter is mapped to an IP address and the site content is required from the correct location, a mail relay server finds out which server handles the e-mails for the domain name (MX record) so that a message can be sent to the appropriate mailbox, etc. Any change of these sub-records is performed using the company whose name servers are employed, so you're able to keep the website hosting and switch only your email provider for instance. Every single domain name has a minimum of 2 NS records - primary and secondary, which start with a prefix like NS or DNS.
NS Records in Cloud Website Hosting
In case you register a domain name inside a cloud website hosting account from our company, you'll be able to take care of its name servers without difficulty. This is accomplished using the Registered Domains section of the in-house built Hepsia website hosting Control Panel and with just a few clicks you will be able to update the NS records of one or even a number of domain addresses at the same time, which will save you a lot of time and efforts if you have a lot of domain names you want to direct to an alternative service provider. You can enter numerous name servers depending on how many the other company provides you with. We also permit you to create private name servers for each domain name registered via our company and in contrast to many other providers we don't charge anything extra for this service. The new NS records can be used to point any other domain name to the hosting platform of the provider whose IP addresses you have used during the process, so when you use our IPs for instance, all domain names added to the account on our end can use these name servers.
NS Records in Semi-dedicated Servers
If you go for a semi-dedicated server account from our company, you are going to be able to manage the NS records of any domain registered within it easily. The Hepsia Control Panel, which is basically an all-in-one tool for you to control everything relevant to your web presence, provides a very simple and user-friendly interface. The section in which you will find your domains isn't an exception, so even if you have not had a domain address and a website hosting account before, updating the name servers or entering additional ones will not take you more than a several clicks. You're also going to be able to see with a glance what name servers each and every one of your domain addresses uses currently and if they are the ones required to point that domain address to the semi-dedicated account. As an added feature, we give you the opportunity to set up child name servers dns1/2.your-domain.com at no extra cost. This will give more credibility to your site, especially when it's a business one, and you can use these name servers for every other domain that you'd like to host inside the semi-dedicated account as well.
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"You", "Costumer", "Our guests", "Your" means the person who is making this booking and all persons which names that will be mentioned in the online booking form.
"Us", "Company", "We" means the people who are working under the brand dubaihomeanyday.com, on behalf of DubaiApartment Holiday Homes Rental.
"Booking date" means the day once you compete booking form, sent us payment or downpayment conformation or proceed payment through website or from your registred PayPal account.
Once we received completed booking form and payment (payment deposit), we subject to availability confirm your stay by email conformation or payment receipt.
"Booking form" means legal document which includes guests names, contact details, check in & check out date.
Only those persons whose name filled in the booking form can stay in apartment. The number of persons must not exceed the number of sleeping places indicated on the website and booking form.
In case if more person stay in apartment, then was agreed between us, we have the right cancel reservation with no refund. Booking can be not transfered to any other third party.
On arrival you must have conformation details, your ID card or original passports.
Check in time 15:00 & Check out time 12:00.
Are subject to availability, prior conformation from our side and charge of half day cost.
In case of late check out, we have right to charge you of half day cost.
3. Pets allowed upon request.
All special requests are available prior to arrival by additional cost and conformation from our side.
To receive a booking conformation, you need to pay downpayment of amount 50% of total booking price. In case if your arrival date less then 14 days, booking amount must be paid totally.
The full balance of your stay must be credited to our account before 14 days of your arrival.
Payments for special request must be proceed with the deposit payment or with full payment in case if it prior 14 of arrival.
Bank telegraphic charges, exchange rates is your responsibility and subject of the bank charges.
Payment by PayPal will be charged additionally 4%.
Payments which is made by Visa & MasterCard charges extra 3%.
You need mention clearly booking dates and guest name in subject of payment.
If the booking is less then 5 days, we have right to ask a full payment at the day of booking.
Security deposit is charged on arrival day in local currency or any other equivalent currency of this amount. And returned on the check out date after apartment inspection and receiving all giving keys and access cards.
Security deposit will be refunded on departure date in case if you departure time from 10:00 to 20:00. Otherwise your security deposit after inspection in 7 working days by the way which you will mention in refund form by email.
Security deposit can be paid by PayPal and returned after inspection same way in 3 working days from your departure.
You are responsible for all damages caused by you, your family of friends to the apartment.
If the security deposit doesn't cover all the expenses we can afford legal action.
Studio/One Bedroom apartment – 1000 UAE Dirhams.
For lost keys, apartment access cards you will be charged 100 Dhs per card.
For lost beach cards, parking, membership card you will be charged 200 Dhs per card.
7. Maintenance, access and inspection.
The tenant shall give the permission to Dubai Vacation team or any other third party on behalf of Dubai Vacation to have the access to the apartment any time for inspection or for sorting out maintenance problem or repairings.
Maids service provided only for apartments located on Palm Jumeirah.
Maids service for monthly bookings – depends of agreed monthly terms.
Free changing of linen only for general equipment.
Maids service have the right and access to your apartment any time between 10:00 and 18:00, if other not mention in booking form.
Extra maids service is ordered, paid and scheduled prior arrival.
DubaiApartment Holiday Homes Rental is not responsible for any stolen items (money, passports, goods and food) or private staff. It is your responsibility to investigate the maid/maintenance. DubaiApartment Holiday Homes Rental advice you to keep your precious things and documents in a secure place.
9. Apartment amenities and bathroom equipment.
two shower gels, two shampoo, two soaps, two dental kits, two shaving kits, two toilet paper rolls (provided once prior your check in, per bathroom. Additional set will cost 50 AED).
Cancelations that are made prior 45 days of arrival are refunded fully, except 500 AED and all bank expenses.
Cancelations that are made prior 30 days of arrival will be charged for 25% of the total cost and telegraphic transfer fees.
Cancelations that are made prior 14 days of arrival will be charged for 50% of the total cost and all telegraphic transfer fees.
Cancelations that are made less than 14 days of arrival are not refundable.
You are responsible to follow building rules in common areas such as: pool, gym, parking, lobby, beach etc. Also you must not cause any problems or make the stay of your neighbors and building residents uncomfortable. Strictly not allowed to turn loud music, drink alcohol in common areas, use drugs, dispose cigarets from the balconies, stay naked or not respective clothes in common areas. All these factors will cause report to police and immediate check out from the property with no refund. We are not responsible for common areas, building facilities problems or maintenance. This is not the term for complains and refunds from our side.
12. Property issues and maintenance failures.
We are responsible for the issues that are not cause by guests, neighbors or building of government authorities. Under our responsibility to keep the apartment in good condition, with properly working electronics and living conditions such as: AC, hot water, internet connection and electricity. All problems that is connected with the apartment should be reported by the email message with the clear description of the problem and apartment No. Our obligation is to sort out any problem or provide you same standard apartment in two working days after receiving the email. In this case any complains or refund requests is not applicable. Otherwise the agreement should be made by negotiations between two parties.
Dubai Vacation Team is not responsible for: any injury, illness, death, loss, fault of any other third party to you or member of your family.
Visa and medical insurance is under your obligation. We are not responsible for any problems caused by the absence of these items.
14. Cancelation from our side.
If the cancelation is made prior 30 days of your arrival we make the refund of total amount paid by your side.
If the cancelation is made prior 14 days of arrival we make the refund of extra 10% of your total cost of stay.
If the cancelation is made less than 14 days of your arrival we make 20% refund of your total cost of stay.
Also we can offer you other similar (same building, same area, other similar building in the same area with the same facilities) or higher standard property for the period of your stay. In this case there is no refund from our side.
If we offer you other place with discount in other area or less standards or facilities the agreement must be reached by both parties or we will make you refund that is mentioned in clause 14.
Система бронирования жилья DubaiApartment принадлежит компании ANY STAY ANY DAY HOLIDAY HOMES RENTAL L.L.C и управляется ею. Компания является лицензированным брокером (номер лицензии RERA 11705) и имеет полный пакет документов, необходимых для проведения операций, связанных с краткосрочной арендой жилья в Дубае. В том числе компания имеет официальное разрешение на сдачу в аренду жилья, арендованного у постоянных владельцев.
Офис компании находится по адресу Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Matloob Business Centre, Office 116, Dubai, UAE. Телефон для связи +971-4-380-55-48, факс +971- 4-380-55-43.


Just two weeks away from the X-mas album release. I can just imagine sitting around with a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows or apple cider or sweet nectar and listening to the wonderful sounds of David.
I wanted to tell everyone that I was in Utah this weekend and went to the Brooke White concert. David came out in the middle of her next to last song, Let It Be and sang a wonderful rendition. He made his part his own as always. Brooke was just beaming with happiness! The crowd went crazy! David started to leave and Michael Johns pulled David back on stage to sing Proud Mary with all of them, Brooke, Michael, Benton Paul. David looked really surprised and kind of didn't know what to do since this was obviously not planned. But the pro he is, he smiled and went with the flow and did a great job! It was a really great surprise.
Haha! Congratulations, robin711! You beat me by one second!
What a treat you had, getting to be there when David made his surprise appearance with MJ, Brooke and Benton!
I agree, he is such a pro now and always the crowd pleaser!
Robin, We had such a great time this weekend in Utah. The other thing we noticed is that David is so respectful not to upstage his friends when appearing with them in concert. He was extremely happy to be on stage with them but also didn't want to be the spotlight.
Checkout David's new video of his surprise performance singing Let It Be!!
It was great seeing the three AI alums on stage together again. This time with the very talented Benton Paul. They looked like they were having a blast at "old home week".


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Q: I can't insert data from dropdown html into sql Hi i'm a student and try to practicing on the website and get  some error.
I can't insert data that fetch from sql to dropdown html box into my sql.
I have already tried to give name to form action.
The error said Undefined Index
This is  the code below
Choose Result Mixture:
    <form action="insert_formula.php" method="post" name="mixture_name">
       <select name="mixture_name" input type=" text">
       <?php
         echo "<option value=mixture>" . "Select Mixture" . "</option>";
         $res = mysqli_query($link, "select * from MixtureInformation");
         while ($row = mysqli_fetch_array($res))
         {?>
            <option><?php echo $row["mixture_name"]; ?></option>
   <?php }?>
       </select>
    </form>

And I cant input this type action into sql here is the insert_formula.php

A: Try this code, remove input type from select tag and also check your connection is correct , Try to print query result
    <form action="insert_formula.php" method="post" name="mixture_name">
         <select name="mixture_name">
             <?php
             //$link=mysqli_connect("localhost","root","","yourdb");
             //check your dbconnection is correct
             $res = mysqli_query($link, "select * from MixtureInformation");
             //print_r($res);
             echo "<option value=mixture>" . "Select Mixture" . "</option>";
             while ($row = mysqli_fetch_array($res)) {
                ?>
                <option value="your_value"><?php echo $row["mixture_name"]; ?></option>
                <?php
            }
            ?>
        </select>
    </form>

A: $MixtureResult = $_POST['mixture_name'];

mysqli_select_db($conn, 'Testing');

$sql = "INSERT INTO Formula(first_substance_name,second_substance_name,third_substance_name,mixture_name,formula_name,formula_number,formula_info,research_ID)
VALUES (' $FirstSub',' $SecondSub',' $ThirdSub',' $MixtureResult',' $Formula_Name',' $Formula_Number',' $Formula_Information',' $Research_Number');";


text:
The Rabbi and the Nuns
Menucha
What happens when you take a Chassidic rabbi and make him director of psychiatry at a Catholic hospital, treating nuns who have problems adjusting to the Vatican II reforms?
You get a unique and utterly fascinating read!
The Rabbi and the Nuns: The Inside Story of a Rabbi's Therapeutic Work with the Sisters of St. Francis chronicles the highlights of a twenty-year working relationship between Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski and the nuns and priests of the Pittsburgh Diocese and St. Francis Hospital. Spearheading a groundbreaking rehab program, Rabbi Twerski and the nuns develop a working connection that transcends their religious differences, forges mutual respect, and brings them to a whole new level in ecumenical relations.
Insightful, inspiring, and humorous at times, Rabbi Twerski's personal account is frank and engrossing. We are given a rare glimpse into the inner world of spiritual leaders as they grapple with their personal struggles to adjust to today's tumultuous times.
Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski served for twenty years as the director of the department of psychiatry at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The author of more than sixty books, he has also been featured in hundreds of magazines and newspapers. Two of his books, When Do the Good Things Start? and Waking Up Just in Time, were written in collaboration with the late Charles Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip.
Rabbi Twerski is the scion of great Chassidic dynasties and traces his ancestry back to the Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement. He has lectured extensively on chemical dependency and other topics such as stress, self-esteem, and spirituality, and has traveled the world as a spokesperson for recovery on behalf of the millions who have achieved it, inspiring and encouraging those still finding their way.
Twerski Rabbi Dr. Abraham J.


I was raised on 2D fighting games. My fondest memories include my brothers and me shoulder to shoulder, huddled in front of the TV, battling it out in great games like Street Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat, Samurai Showdown, Marvel vs. Capcom and Tekken Tag Tournament. I was pretty confident I'd seen all there was to see in fighting games…and then I played DiveKick. I'm embarrassed by how much stupid fun I had with this insane and simplistic fighter.
The developers at Iron Galaxy Studios are accurately touting Divekick as the world's first two-button fighting game. Let me say that one more time: this game uses only two buttons. The rule applies to everything down to the character and menu selections. It sounds like a gimmick and they are certainly the most simplistic controls ever attempted in a fighting game, but the amount of depth that these guys managed to squeeze out of those two buttons not only boggles my mind, but also makes me question the need for the rest of the dozen or so buttons scattered across my controller.
[singlepic id=15293 w=320 h=240 float=left]Playing this on a PS3, you'll only need the L1 and R1 buttons. L1 controls your dive (jump), and R1 activates your character's kick (flying attack back to the ground). Pushing the kick button while stationary will make you jump back from your opponent. It's a new experience fighting with only two buttons, and I applaud Iron Galaxy for sticking to their guns and actually pulling it off. They even went so far as to produce promotional arcade style "Hit Box" controllers that prominently display the game's solitary two buttons, although there are no plans for mass production at this time. The controls are easy and inviting to both new and inexperienced players. Even my girlfriend (not big on fighting games) was rocking Divekick and beating me. But the more you play, the more you realize the simple controls are masking the inner workings of a serious fighter that requires strategy, timed precision, character advantages and skill.
The fights are broken up into 20-second rounds. Every fight is a one-hit kill. If you kick your opponent first, you win the round, and five rounds earns you a victory. If your kick lands on their head, there's a headshot bonus and your opponent starts the next round with a concussion that momentarily diminishes their jump and kick abilities. If the timer runs out, the fighter closest to the center of the screen is the winner of that round. Every kick charges up your fighter's "Kick Factor" meter which, when full, can grant added abilities such as speed and kick angle boosts. There is an online ranking board, and already the battle for the top spots is fiercely competitive.
It's wildly fun to experience and, due of the simplicity of control, Divekick leaves no one to blame but yourself when you lose. Let me tell you, it can be extremely infuriating when you lose. I'm a generally calm guy, but for some reason losing a close round in this game really taps into my rage centers in ways I haven't felt in years. I guarantee there will be broken controllers resulting from angry gamers playing this. It's amazing how tense a fighting game using two buttons can get.
[singlepic id=15295 w=320 h=240 float=left]The two button controls also make this perfect for parties. One of the problems I have with contemporary fighters is the need to memorize an advanced button sequence in order to remain competitive. Super move lists are great if you put the time in and it's fun if you know what you're doing, but it can be intimidating for new players. Divekick's two button controls level the playing field, making it perfect for random casual players to join the fun. And while I would never promote inebriated gaming, I could easily see this becoming the dorm room's replacement for beer pong. I know I wish I had this game in college.
I was also happy to see that they added a full single-player story mode that delves into the history and motivation for each character as they enter the Divekick competition. Just like in the classic days of Street Fighter, each fighter has a personal rival and you won't get the full story until you defeat the boss of the game. The scenarios the developers thought up are hilarious. It's the kind of refreshing and random humor that you'd expect a small group of friends to joke about in a comfortable setting. I was hooked and I found myself needing to play through every character to see what crazy stories they would come up with next.
[singlepic id=15296 w=320 h=240 float=right]Just like the control scheme, the art style is simple but fun. You aren't going to find anime-quality renderings like those in the Guilty Gear series or the level of stage interaction experienced in Injustice: Gods Among Us, but you will find a humorous charm that is hard to deny. The look actually kind of reminds me of the animation style found in Adult Swim Cartoons such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It just looks ridiculous and insane, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
It's easy to dismiss DiveKick as a joke taken too far. The initial Kickstarter project admits that it "is a game born from humor." Divekick is a self-conscious parody of every fighting game convention since the early days of Street Fighter. And I must admit that I was at times embarrassed to be caught playing it because it just looks so insane (a pregnant skunk bear fighting a demon in a straight jacket?). But Divekick is much more than a throwaway joke. It's executed so well and with such a meticulous level of detail that it is closer to an homage of the fighting genre than a simple parody. It's obvious that this is a labor of love, and that the developers at Iron Galaxy put a lot of themselves into the game. Trust me, if you're a fan of 2D fighters, you will absolutely love Divekick. This one's made for you.
Divekick is now available on PS3, PS VITA and Steam for $9.99 USD.
Stefan started gaming the day his dad brought home a shiny, brand new commodore 64. He's been hooked ever since. Whether he's leveling up his ninja in Final Fantasy Tactics, cruising the streets of San Andreas or working on his Terran build order, videogames are never far from his mind. He is currently on the lookout for an appropriate 12 step program to address his electronic addiction.


text:
@echo OFF
SETLOCAL

echo "===== calling WaitSet for sac ====="

set EXAMPLE_LANG=sac

call %FUNCTIONS% :runWaitSet

call %FUNCTIONS% :waitsetCheckResults >> run.log

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Missouri Judicial Performance Review findings available at YourMissouriJudges.org
Judicial Performance Evaluations, Missouri Plan
Voters urged to learn more about their judges before they vote Nov. 3
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Judicial Performance Review Committee today provided Missouri voters with their performance findings for 53 nonpartisan judges who will be up for retention in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. All Missouri voters will have at least two judges in retention elections appear on their ballot this November.
"We want to make sure the people of Missouri have good judges who are fair, impartial and skilled," said Dale Doerhoff, chair of the statewide committee. "Our independent committee provides voters with extensive information about the performance of our judges up for retention to help them make informed decisions."
The committee reviewed the performance of 53 judges including one Supreme Court of Missouri judge, four Court of Appeals judges, 26 circuit court judges and 22 associate circuit court judges in circuits where the judges are appointed under the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan. The committee found all 53 judges substantially meet overall judicial performance standards.
The complete performance review information of each judge is available online at YourMissouriJudges.org. For quick reference, landing pages for voters in nonpartisan circuits are provided:
Clay County (7th Circuit)
Greene County (31st Circuit)
Jackson County (16th Circuit)
Platte County (6th Circuit)
St. Louis City (22nd Circuit)
St. Louis County (21st Circuit)
All Other Counties
Doerhoff said visitors to the website "will see the lawyer surveys, juror surveys of trial judges, and written opinions from the judges the committee used in casting their votes."
The committee considers a variety of information about each judge, including lawyers' ratings of judges, jurors' ratings of some trial judges and written opinions from judges.
Jurors were asked a series of questions about the judge's courtroom conduct. The lawyers' survey focused on key traits that judges need to render justice effectively and fairly. Circuit and associate circuit judges were rated in areas including a wide range of observable skills and traits, such as treating people fairly, competency in the law and writing clear opinions. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges were rated on a different set of criteria as they decide cases that are appealed because of possible legal errors, either procedural or through misinterpretations of the law. These judges were rated on areas such as whether their opinions were clearly written, whether they adequately explained the basis of the court's decision and whether they issued opinions in a timely manner. For all judges, lawyers' surveys were converted into a numerical score between 1 and 5, with 1 being the poorest and 5 being the best.
"These extensive reviews help Missouri voters determine whether or not the judges up for retention are meeting the expectations of the public and lawyers," said Doerhoff.
Doerhoff said the committee's work is important because it helps make sure the people of Missouri have good judges who substantially meet overall judicial performance standards. He added that the performance reviews have had a positive impact on the number of people who vote in retention elections.
"The committee's work to educate voters about the performance of our judges has led to improved voter participation in judicial retention elections since 2008 because when voters feel more informed, they are more likely to vote," said Doerhoff.
Missouri uses a constitutional merit system known as the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan to select its appellate judges and trial-level judges in the City of St. Louis and Clay, Greene, Jackson, Platte and St. Louis counties. In other parts of the state, trial-level judges seek election in partisan races.
Before becoming a judge, all nonpartisan judges are screened by a nominating commission whose members include lawyers, non-lawyers and a judge. The commission selects the three most qualified candidates and forwards their names to the governor, who chooses one candidate to fill the position. After their first year on the bench and again at the end of each term, nonpartisan judges must run in retention elections. In retention elections the ballot reads: "Shall Judge X be retained?" To be retained, each merit-selected judge must receive a simple majority.
The Missouri Bar is tasked with sharing the independent committee's findings with the public. The Missouri Bar funds the review process, which was created by a Supreme Court of Missouri rule in 2008. Doerhoff emphasized that the committee operates independently of the bar and judiciary. He added that Missouri's performance review system was developed and is continually updated based on model rules and best practices from the American Bar Association and the more than 20 judicial performance review systems across the nation.
September 22, 2020 /by sasserdesign@gmail.com
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Missouri Judicial Performance Review findings available to the public at YourMissouriJudges.org
Judicial Performance Reviews, Missouri Plan
Citizens urged to learn more about their judges before they vote Nov. 6
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Judicial Performance Review Committee has provided Missouri voters with their performance findings for 59 nonpartisan judges who will be up for retention in the Nov. 6, 2018, general election. All Missouri voters will have at least three judges appear in retention elections on their ballot this November.
"We want to make sure the people of Missouri have good judges who are fair, impartial and skilled," said Dale Doerhoff, chair of the statewide committee. "Our independent committee provides voters with extensive, objective information about the performance of our judges up for retention to help them make informed decisions about our judges."
The committee reviewed the performance of 59 judges including two Supreme Court of Missouri judges, four Court of Appeals judges, 31 circuit court judges and 22 associate circuit court judges in circuits where the judges are appointed under the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan. Of the 59 judges, a majority of the committee voted one judge does not substantially meet overall judicial performance standards.
Brochures with the findings will be available at libraries, courthouses and senior centers across the state. Missouri voters may also request one be mailed to them for free by calling 573-635-4128.
Jurors were asked a series of 10 questions about the judge's courtroom conduct. For instance: Did the judge clearly explain the legal issues of the case? Did the judge appear to be free from bias? Did the judge appear to be well-prepared for the case?
The lawyers' survey focused on key traits that judges need to render justice effectively and fairly. Circuit and associate circuit judges were rated in 19 areas, including a wide range of observable skills and traits, such as treating people fairly, competency in the law and writing clear opinions.
Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges were rated on a different set of criteria as they decide cases that are appealed because of possible legal errors, either procedural or through misinterpretations of the law. These judges were rated on areas such as whether their opinions were clearly written, whether they adequately explained the basis of the court's decision and whether they issued opinions in a timely manner.
For all judges, lawyers' surveys were converted into a numerical score between 1 and 5, with 1 being the poorest and 5 being the best.
"The committee's work to educate voters about the performance of our judges has led to increased voter participation in judicial retention elections since 2008 because when voters feel more informed, they are more likely to vote."
Before becoming a judge, all nonpartisan judges are screened by a nominating commission whose members include lawyers, non-lawyers and a judge. The commission selects the three best candidates and forwards their names to the governor, who chooses one candidate to fill the position. After their first year on the bench and again at the end of each term, nonpartisan judges must run in retention elections. In retention elections the ballot reads: "Shall Judge X be retained?" To be retained, each merit-selected judge must receive a simple majority.
The Missouri Bar is tasked with sharing the independent committee's findings with the public. The Missouri Bar funds the review process, which was created by a Supreme Court of Missouri rule in 2008 and updated in 2016. The Missouri performance review system was developed and is continually updated based on model rules and best practices from the American Bar Association and the more than 20 judicial performance review systems across the nation.
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Commission announces nominees to fill Teitelman vacancy on Supreme Court of Missouri
Patricia Breckenridge, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri and chair of the Appellate Judicial Commission, announced yesterday that a commission has submitted to Governor Eric Greitens its panel of nominees to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court of Missouri. This vacancy exists due to the November 2016 death of Judge Richard B. Teitelman.
The commission unanimously supports the three nominees. After approximately 10 hours of public interviews, more than 3.5 hours of deliberations and seven rounds of balloting, the nominees – each of whom received seven votes – are: Lisa White Hardwick, Benjamin A. Lipman and W. Brent Powell.
Hardwick is a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. She was born in 1960. She earned her bachelor of journalism in radio-television journalism in 1981 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her law degree in 1985 from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Lipman is a member of Lewis Rice LLC in St. Louis. He was born in 1966. He earned his bachelor of arts in economics in 1988 from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and his law degree in 1991 from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.
Powell is a circuit judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit (Jackson County). He was born in 1970. He earned his bachelor of arts in political science in 1992 from William Jewell College in Liberty and his law degree in 1996 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
The governor has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. Should he fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.
In addition to Breckenridge, the commission is composed of Michelle Beckler of Marshfield, Scott S. Bethune of Kansas City, Thomas M. Burke of St. Louis, Kathy Ritter of Columbia, Edward "Nick" Robinson of St. Louis and Donald E. Woody of Springfield.
Click here to see the official press release from the Supreme Court of Missouri.
March 2, 2017 /by sasserdesign@gmail.com
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The Missouri Plan celebrates 76 years of attracting high-quality judges in the least political way
Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan, commonly known as The Missouri Plan, turns 76 years old Nov. 5. In the more than three-quarters of a century since its creation, the plan has served as a model for other states and has been adopted by Missouri voters to apply to trial court judges in additional Missouri circuits. Above all, it has worked to attract high-quality judges in the least political way while giving voters the final say.
As Missourians head to the polls to vote Nov. 8, The Missouri Plan will once again be in action. This year, there are 48 judges up for retention across Missouri ballots – from associate circuit court judges to a Supreme Court of Missouri judge. That means every Missouri voter has the opportunity to vote in a judicial retention election. To help make sure voters are informed, an independent committee reviews nonpartisan judges selected through the Missouri Plan on everything from written opinions to how lawyers and jurors rate a judge's courtroom performance and demeanor. The committee's findings are then made available to the public prior to an election.
The Missouri Plan's process has many advantages. First, because nominations for judicial openings are based on merit, Missourians are assured that highly qualified individuals are selected for nonpartisan judicial positions. Second, each judge remains accountable to the citizens they serve because citizens have the opportunity to decide whether a judge remains on the bench after the first 12 months they serve and at the end of each term. Third, voters are able to decide a judge's fate based on that judge's record – not unsubstantiated allegations contained in an opponent's political rhetoric or advertising.
Although the plan is not without its critics, it has stood the test of time, garnered rave reviews and endorsements, and grown to be a significant leader in the way judicial selection works across the nation. In fact, more than 30 states have adopted it in one form or another since its founding by Missouri voters in 1940.
Still, The Missouri Plan's roots are humble. In the 1930s, corruption and greed ran rampant in judicial decision-making. Elections were greatly influenced by "political machines" that controlled the ballot box through fraud, manipulation and even violence. Many believed that the system was in need of an overhaul, and, in 1937, a movement for change began. By 1940, a bipartisan committee called the Missouri Institute for the Administration of Justice developed a proposal for a merit selection process. On Nov. 5, 1940, Missouri voters adopted the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan to keep politics and money out of our state's high courts.
For many years, evaluations were conducted at the local level with committees either recommending or not recommending that a judge be retained. In 2016, the Supreme Court of Missouri modified this practice to instead have a 21-member statewide panel review judges and determine if a judge substantially meets overall judicial performance standards. Findings from the 2016 review process are available at yourmissourijudges.org.
The Missouri Plan was created to work for Missourians. As the 2016 general election draws closer, celebrate the plan's creation and how it still continues to work for you by staying informed about the judges appearing on your ballot.
November 3, 2016 /by sasserdesign@gmail.com
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New format, structure bring Missouri's judicial performance evaluation process in line with best practices
The Supreme Court of Missouri issued an order dated June 15 revising Rules 10.50 – 10.55 governing Missouri's judicial performance evaluation (JPE) to bring the process more in line with best practices across the nation. The Court's revisions to Rules 10.50 – 10.55 will improve the information available to voters about judges up for retention by expanding the voices of non-lawyers in the evaluation process, leaving judging the judges to the voters, and fostering consistency in the evaluations by replacing the seven current committees with one statewide committee.
The purpose of Judicial Performance Evaluations is to provide information to voters to make sure the people of Missouri have good judges who are fair, impartial and skilled. At the general election every two years, dozens of judges – from nonpartisan circuits up to the Supreme Court of Missouri who were initially selected under the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan – appear on the ballot in retention elections after their first year on the bench and at the end of each term.
Dale Doerhoff, state coordinator and chair of the Missouri Judicial Performance Review Committee, describes Missouri's judicial evaluation process as the product of decades of experience and investigation into the best judicial performance evaluation practices across the United States. He added that "while it has accomplished the goals for which it was created, it can be improved."
The evaluation program will continue to look at surveys which are an integral part in assessing the performance of judges up for retention. The surveys look at many aspects, including whether or not a judge treats people fairly, displays impartiality, and more. Now, with the Court's changes, the voices of litigants will be added to the voices of jurors and lawyers – all of whom have direct experience with the judges. Many voters may not have direct contact with a judge up for retention and the addition of surveys of litigants will give voters an even better look into the inner workings of a judge's courtroom.
Unlike the previous system, which asked JPE committees to make a recommendation regarding each judge seeking retention, the statewide committee will be tasked with determining if each judge meets accepted judicial performance standards. All but one other state with JPE systems have a single statewide JPE committee helping ensure evaluation results are systematic and fair across the state. Under the new structure, Missouri will join this best practice model, replacing its seven committees with one statewide committee composed of non-lawyers, lawyers and retired judges.
Erik Bergmanis, 2015-16 president of The Missouri Bar thanked the non-lawyers and lawyers who have served on the JPE committees for the time and effort they have put into the judicial performance evaluation process, adding that the state bar and the citizens of Missouri are "indebted to them for all they have done to maintain the quality of Missouri's judiciary."
As part of the order, the Supreme Court of Missouri appointed members to serve on the new statewide JPE committee. Click here to see the full list of appointees to the new statewide committee.
Judicial performance evaluations began more than 65 years ago in Missouri when, in 1948, The Missouri Bar began conducting a statewide poll of lawyers about Missouri judges up for retention. Originally, this poll had only one question about each of the judges standing for retention: "Should Judge X be retained?" The survey process was improved upon over the years, leading to the Supreme Court of Missouri adopting a formal rule in 2008 to establish the modern Judicial Performance Evaluation program to help build an informed electorate when it comes to Missouri judges.
Doerhoof noted the Court's newest changes "ensure that Missouri's evaluation program is consistent with current best practices and will help provide even better information to Missouri voters."
To learn more about the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan and judicial performance evaluation program, check out the rest of the website here at www.YourMissouriJudges.org.
June 17, 2016 /by sasserdesign@gmail.com
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It's a Wonderful Life: Celebrating a World with the Missouri Plan
by Dale C. Doerhoff, Chair and State Coordinator, Missouri Judicial Performance Evaluation Committees
In the holiday classic, "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey has a vision of what the world would be like if he had never been born. To his horror, Bailey sees that, without him, darkness and corruption take over. His idyllic hometown of Bedford Falls is no more. Instead, it is "Pottersville," a dark and wicked world where the rule of law has been replaced by the unchecked will of Mr. Potter—the richest man in the realm—who uses his money for power and his power for money.
Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan, commonly known as the Missouri Plan, was established in 1940—six years before "It's a Wonderful Life" debuted. How and why did it come into existence? What would the Show-Me State be like without it?
In the 1930s, Kansas City was comparable to Pottersville. The Mr. Potter of that epoch was Tom Pendergast, the boss of a political machine that fixed elections, had its hand in every public works business deal, and controlled the judicial system—from the Circuit Court of Jackson County to the Supreme Court of Missouri.
In 1937, The Missouri Bar took the lead in countering the corruption of justice by organizing the Missouri Institute for the Administration of Justice. During its first meeting, held in Columbia, the institute adopted an outline of what would eventually become Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan.
But adoption would require a constitutional amendment. Proponents of the plan devised a two-prong strategy. First, they would ask the legislature to put the amendment on the ballot through the referendum process. If that failed, they would go directly to people with initiative petitions for a constitutional amendment.
Because Pendergast's reach extended to the legislative branch, the measure didn't make it to the ballot. So the bar and the institute moved to plan B and circulated initiative petitions. The effort was successful, and at the November 1940 general election, citizens adopted the Missouri Plan. It was hailed nationwide as a successful model and has since been adopted in one form or another by more than 30 states. More details on the creation and defense of the Non-Partisan Court Plan are described in the Fall 2015 edition of "Precedent."
Despite widespread acceptance of the plan, leaders of the movement were under no illusions about the fact that their work would be ongoing. William W. Crowdus, director of the Missouri Institute for the Administration of Justice, wrote an article published in the Missouri Bar Journal in which he said: "The Missouri Bar Association has achieved a great victory but it must be ever vigilant to preserve the fruits of its accomplishment."
Imagining Life without the Missouri Plan
What would our state and its courts be like if Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan had never been born? A glimpse into an alternative world might offer a clue.
Let's drop in on Alabama, where in 2006, Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb says she needed $2.6 million to win a partisan judicial election over an opponent who raised and spent nearly $5 million. That's $7.6 million in a state with 4.8 million people—80 percent of Missouri's population at the time. Adjusted for size, that would mean a $9 million race for a supreme court seat in Missouri.
In 2006, Missouri had three supreme court judges on the ballot: Judges William Ray Price, Jr., Mary Rhodes Russell, and Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. In our vision of the world without Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan, they are all engaged in hotly contested, partisan elections. If one seat costs $9 million to contest or defend, how much will be spent on three seats when virtual control of the court is at stake? $20 million? $25 million? Where does that kind of money come from?
In her article, Cobb wrote that to raise $2.6 million, she had to do things that made her feel "awfully unsavory." Judges and would-be judges are not supposed to ask for money directly, so she would call lawyers she felt might be friendly to her and engage in general chitchat about family and the legal practice. The most she could say about the campaign was: "I'd very much appreciate your support for my campaign." At that point, she would hand the phone over to her finance director to make the "ask" for money.
Without the Missouri Plan, that same thing would likely happen in 2006 in Missouri—times three. You would get calls from Price, Russell, and Limbaugh, as well as their respective opponents and finance directors from all parties. "Can we count on you for at least $5,000? Can we use your name in a full page ad in support of the candidate?"
And what happens after such an election? Let's go back to Alabama, where two days after winning her race, Cobb took a call from a national legal publication. She expected questions about what it was like to be the first female chief justice in Alabama or what her plans were for court reform. But those weren't the questions. The reporter went right to the elephant in the room: "How can you assure the people of Alabama that the contributions you sought are not going to impact how you rule? And how can you convince the people of Alabama not to believe that their courts are for sale?"
Now apply that experience to our tour of our state without the Missouri Plan. How will the millions of dollars that poured into the campaigns be viewed by the people? Will they believe that justice is for sale? Of course they will—and the credibility of the courts and respect for the rule of law is eroded.
Alabama is not the only alternative possibility of what might have been in Missouri. As a result of the decision in Citizens United and a more aggressive attitude on the part of special interest groups that want to use wealth and power to bend justice to their will, the pressures on fair and impartial courts to be something other than fair and impartial have increased. Big money is appearing in increasing amounts seemingly everywhere.
Three states saw record spending on judicial elections in the last election cycle: North Carolina ($6 million), Tennessee ($2.5 million), and Montana ($1.5 million). Retention elections in merit selection states are not exempt from this trend; four states saw a combined $6.5 million spent on campaigns for and against retention of incumbent judges.
This happened in Missouri in 2004. Three weeks prior to the November general election, a coalition of special interests launched a campaign to unseat Judge Richard B. Teitelman from the Supreme Court of Missouri. Regional newspapers called out the campaign, with the Springfield News-Leader suggesting that it was aimed at sending a message to our highest court.
We also saw an attack on an incumbent last year in Cole County. The county is not a Missouri Plan circuit, so Presiding Judge Pat Joyce was up for reelection on a partisan ballot. A month before the election, a stream of dark money started flowing from a Washington, D.C., PAC to defeat her for reelection. It swelled to more than $300,000, two-thirds of which was used to fund a negative campaign that tried to smear her in the eyes of voters. $200,000 bought a lot of local television ads and mailings to what appeared to be every voting household in the county.
Within a month after the election, the PAC had to file its list of donors, and on it was a St. Louis billionaire who sometimes has ballot title litigation in Cole County. That's the way dark money works. The "Potters" of the world don't want voters to know who they are before the election, but after the election is over, they want the judges to know. They get their money's worth that way, win or lose. The message has been delivered: "Adhere to our political ideology or risk our wrath."
Threats to a fair and impartial judiciary in Missouri also appear from time to time in the General Assembly. In 2007, there were four resolutions filed in the House related to the courts. HJR 33 proposed the elimination of the Missouri Plan by giving the governor the power to appoint judges. The resolution did not gain final passage. Five years later, another attempt was made to politicize Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan. A proposed amendment was introduced in the Senate to give the governor the power to appoint four of the seven members of the Appellate Judicial Commission in his first term, eliminating the current method of staggering the appointments to the commission so one governor cannot dictate who will be on the panel during his or her first term. The proposed change appeared on the 2012 ballot as Amendment 3. Missouri voters defeated the measure 76 percent against, with only 24 percent of voters in favor.
Last year, our Missouri courts disposed of 323,000 civil cases in the circuit courts, more than 100,000 of which were domestic relations cases. The circuit courts disposed of 358,000 criminal cases, more than 44,000 of which were circuit court felony cases and more than 54,000 of which were associate division felony cases. No matter how honest or corrupt a court system may be, in each of these cases, the winners were probably happy. But it's the losers we have to worry about. If they do not feel that they have had their day in court or equal justice under law, and if they feel that the rich and powerful are given preference because of their wealth and power, then they will not accept the result, and the disputes will not end in the courtroom.
Regardless of the reasons, efforts to overturn the Missouri judicial system happen.
Supporting the Plan
By providing staff support for committees and publicizing judicial performance evaluations and recommendations through outreach efforts such as YourMissouriJudges.org, The Missouri Bar and local bar associations have been zealous defenders of the plan over the 75 years of its existence.
Individuals can also continue the mission to preserve and protect fair and impartial courts in a variety of ways, including the following:
· Request a volunteer from The Missouri Bar Speakers' Bureau to talk to your community groups and organizations about the Missouri Plan.
· Review figures from the Office of State Courts Administrator about what your courts actually do.
· Host the Missouri Plan traveling exhibit or ask your local bar or community organizations to do so. To learn more, visit mohumanities.org/missouri-plan or contact a representative at The Missouri Bar.
· Read John Grisham's "The Appeal," a novel about how a rich businessman used his money to buy a seat on the Supreme Court of Mississippi to flip the jury verdict against his company in a case on appeal. In the author's note at the end of the book, after giving the usual disclaimer about how the characters, places and events are fictional, he adds this statement, which is unusual for a disclaimer in a novel:
"Now that I have impugned my own work, I must say that there is a lot of truth in this story. As long as private money is allowed in judicial elections we will see competing interests fight for seats on the bench. The issues are fairly common. Most of the warring factions are adequately described. The tactics are all too familiar. The results are not far off the mark."
The story in "The Appeal" bears a close similarity to the Caperton v. Massey Coal Co. case out of West Virginia. After a jury handed down a verdict of $50 million against the Massey Coal Company for fraud and tortious interference with contract, Don Blankenship, Massey's chairman and principal officer, knowing that the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals would hear the appeal, contributed $3 million to defeat an incumbent judge on the court and elect Brent Benjamin in his place. Blankenship's $3 million was the majority of the money on Benjamin's side of the campaign, and Benjamin won the election by a relatively narrow margin. After he was on the bench, he refused to recuse himself from the Massey Coal Company appeal and made self-serving findings on the record that he was not biased in favor of the company. The court reversed the $50 million verdict, Judge Benjamin concurring.
The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari and reversed. The Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause is enforced with an objective standard under which implementation does not require proof of bias. Whether Judge Benjamin was correct in finding himself unbiased was irrelevant. That much money in a judicial election from someone with a case before the court objectively violates due process.[1]
Don't let what happened in the Massey Coal case in West Virginia happen in Missouri. Speak out when the rich and powerful try to take over our courts. Don't let special interests turn Missouri into a "Pottersville." Defend Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan.
[1] Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., 556 U.S. 868, 129 S. Ct. 2252 (2009).
"It's a Wonderful Life" image courtesy of twm1340.
December 24, 2015 /by sasserdesign@gmail.com
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Celebrating 75 Years of the Missouri Plan
Missourians Have Something Big to Celebrate This Nov. 5
Seventy-five years ago today, Missouri voters adopted Missouri's Non-Partisan Court Plan, now known around the world as the Missouri Plan. The plan reduces the influence of politics and money in the selection of our judges, while giving the people the final say in retention elections. Since Missouri voters adopted it in 1940, more than 30 states have copied it in some form making it a model for the nation.
Here's a quick glance of the history that spurred our parents and grandparents to be the first in the nation to adopt merit selection for our judges:
1930s:
During the 1930s, the public became increasingly dissatisfied with the increasing role of politics and money in judicial elections and judicial decision-making. At the time, political machines like that of "Boss" Tom Pendergast would buy votes, packing the Supreme Court, among other state and local offices, with appointees of his political persuasion. Pendergast was leader of the Kansas City political organization known as the "Pendergast machine" which controlled the ballot box through fraud, manipulation, violence and service to the poor. Ultimately, 278 members of the "machine" were indicted for voter fraud and Pendergast spend more than a year in federal prison for tax evasion.
In December 1937, more than 80 people – Republicans and Democrats – got together at the Tiger Hotel in Columbia, Mo., to create the Missouri Institute for the Administration of Justice. The group proposed merit selection of judges in order to return the courts to the people. Nearly every prominent lawyer from across the state at the time, including St. Louis lawyer Kenneth Teasdale and Cape Girardeau lawyer Rush Limbaugh, rose up to fight back.
Citizens collected the needed number of signatures, shown here being delivered to the Secretary of State's Office in Jefferson City on July 2, 1940, in order to put the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan on the Nov. 5, 1940 ballot. Fed up with corrupt judicial elections, the people of Missouri adopted the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan that November becoming the first state to adopt a merit system for selecting judges.
Today, the Missouri Plan continues to be right for the people of Missouri because it attracts high-quality judges in the least political way and ultimately gives the people the final say. It governs selection and retention of all appellate court judges in the state of Missouri and trial judges in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis, Jackson, Clay, Platte and Greene Counties.
To commemorate this important anniversary, The Missouri Bar has partnered with the Missouri Humanities Council to produce a traveling exhibit and courthouse exhibits to help educate Missourians about the plan's history and how it works for them.
The traveling exhibit features a three-panel display and an interactive touch-screen display featuring a video explaining the history, significance and attributes of the Missouri Plan. The exhibit will travel throughout the state over the next year. The courthouse exhibit is a single-panel, educational display that contains the key points of the Missouri Plan. Courthouses and public institutions across the state are eligible to receive this exhibit at no expense. The display is ideal for smaller spaces and can be featured long-term by host courthouses, libraries or educational institutions. Both exhibits include a takeaway brochure titled "Voting for Missouri Judges" produced by The Missouri Bar.
If you are interested in featuring one or both of the Missouri Plan exhibits, please fill out the request form here.
Missouri is historically, and remains, a national leader for integrity, fairness and justice thanks to the Missouri Plan. And that's something to celebrate!
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Educational Exhibits Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Missouri Plan
The Missouri Bar has partnered with the Missouri Humanities Council to produce a traveling exhibit and courthouse exhibits to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Missouri Plan and to help educate Missourians about how all Missouri judges are accountable to the voters.
The Missouri Plan, otherwise known as the Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan, was adopted by Missourians in 1940. Since then, more than 30 other states have copied it in some form. The plan reduces the influence of politics and money in the selection of our judges, while giving the people the final say serving as a model for the nation for 75 years.
The plan governs selection and retention of all appellate court judges in the state of Missouri and trial judges in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis, Jackson, Clay, Platte and Greene Counties.
The exhibits will help the public better understand how judges in Missouri are selected and retained.
The traveling exhibit features a three-panel display and an interactive touch-screen display featuring a video explaining the history, significance and attributes of the Missouri Plan. The exhibit will travel throughout the state over the next year.
The courthouse exhibit is a single-panel, educational display that contains the key points of the Missouri Plan. Courthouses and public institutions across the state are eligible to receive this exhibit at no expense. The display is ideal for smaller spaces and can be featured long-term by host courthouses, libraries or educational institutions. Both exhibits include a takeaway brochure titled "Voting for Missouri Judges" produced by The Missouri Bar.
Both exhibits will be on display for preview at the Missouri Bar Annual Meeting and Judicial Conference to be held October 6-9, 2015, in St. Louis.
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This article was originally posted on the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on May 20, 2011. Click here to read the article.
Steve Koslovsky recalled the lessons he learned in a foreign land as a high school student.
Patricia Hageman talked about the pain of losing a father.
Michael Burton explained that his wife's community service helped guide him into volunteer work.
They were three of 20 applicants for an opening on the Eastern District bench of the Missouri Court of Appeals, and on Wednesday and Thursday in a third-floor downtown St. Louis courtroom, they answered questions about the law and about themselves before a panel that will help determine the next Missouri state appeals judge.
Click here to read the rest of the article
The following was posted on stltoday.com on November 27, 2010. Click here to read the full article.
JEFFERSON CITY • John Johnston, president of the Missouri Bar, sees a simple message in November's elections.


November Basho has started on the 11th of November. Today, on the 3rd day of the tournament, The Georgian Ozeki Tochinoshin (Levan Gorgadze) defeated Myogiryu. He had the positive balance with the sumo wrestler 11:7.
Levan Gorgadze lost the first bout of the tournament to Tamawashi. On the second bout of the tournament, he defeated Nishikigi.
Currently, Tochinoshin has collected 2 wins and a loss and his balance on the tournament amounts to 2:1.
fighting in the 3rd league. It is his first win on the tournament. He lost to the 14th member of the Juryo division on the first day of the tournament.