1 Cor 12:2 You know that you were Gentiles carried away to these dumb idols. even as you were led.
We are in the world and of the world when we are not born again by the Holy Spirit. We belong to the Devil's kingdom and are led by him – albeit unknowingly and ignorantly. But when God saves us, we are translated [moved] into His Kingdom instantly. We are His new creation with His Spirit dwelling within us. Our lives are transformed as we believe and obey His word.
However – we can still be influenced by, deceived by and led astray by false teachers and prophets. Our best safeguard against that is to bring everything to the light of God's word and ask the Lord to reveal the intents of our heart to us. [Heb 4:12] I learned a long time ago not to simply trust my own feelings and 'leadings' – which from experience could easily turn out to be either right or wrong.
In Heb 5:13,14 the writer [Apostle Paul] addresses the issue of believers who live on the milk of the word and do not progress onto the meat of learning to discern between good and evil. And we have ended up today when it is considered bad form and unloving to do just that when it comes to church leaders, so that the sheep are fed the milk of excitement, signs and wonders and entertaining 'worship'. Doctrine is considered to be dead religion – the exact opposite of what the Lord Jesus and His Apostles taught.Who should we follow do you think? Shouldn't it be a no-brainer for us?
Of course, many believe that they are 'into' their Bibles and check things out – but are they – or are they just 'into' the bits that their favourite preacher is giving them – his own slanted revelations? It all seems so Biblical and true …. But – does the said preacher's anointed, impressive ministry supersede any doubts there may be, so that it no longer matters if what they say is true or not? Particularly pernicious are the Dominionist/Kingdom teachings that are at the root of the social gospel now taking over the true gospel. Do they even bother to search out the roots of any teachings they are hearing and believing? Or is it simply too thrilling and exciting to even consider the possibility that there may be deception at work here? Oh – so what if their foolish prophecies don't come to pass? well that's ok – they'll get it right next time maybe. Is that what God's word says??
It grieves me to say that I have Christian friends who are not yet discerning evil from good in their enthusiasm to see God 'work' in the signs and wonders ministries they support. Please don't think that I in any way am questioning their sincerity, love for the Lord or their salvation, but I am questioning their lack of wisdom. I can do this because I was once exactly the same.
Often they will share their latest experiences, churches they have visited or the latest prophecy. They will also promote favourably books [The harbinger, Jesus Calling etc] that they couldn't possibly give credence to if they had any Biblical discernment. I'm afraid I can't rejoice with them and feel at a loss to tell them why without causing hurt or anger on their part.
Even when I'm as diplomatic and gentle as I can be, the outcome is usually 'we have to agree to disagree' or they avoid any future contact. Some, mistakenly thinking I'm either a 'know-all' looking down on them or that I'm a complete apostate! I find this very frustrating and unsatisfactory, but I take a step back, knowing it's all in the Lord's hands.
Many times Christians get involved in certain ministries and practises because they are sincerely seeking to be 'closer to the Lord', want 'more of God', or are seeking a 'deeper' Christian life or the 'Presence of God'. They think they will find this by going to where they believe God is doing something wonderful, something new, or to experience uplifting 'worship'. Some, in the Emerging church, follow mystical practises that were once the domain of Roman Catholicism, for the same end.
I would add to that – they also have contentment …..
It is by reading and studying God's word that we learn discernment and the false will become as clear as a pikestaff to us, as we do so. Deliverance from all the dross we've been drowning in will come with that first decisive step to lay aside all that we thought we knew, our experiences, our favourite preachers and admired prophets etc and commit to reading the Bible and seeking God's truth. The scales are guaranteed to fall away from our spiritually blind eyes if we do. 1 John 2:26-28 In practise, it doesn't happen all at once but in a gradual 'dawning' on us.
And no – we do not defeat the object and get 'puffed up' with ourselves. We should always esteem others better than ourselves , for whatever we are – it is by the grace of God and given to us to rely on Him and help others, not to glory in ourselves and our perceived spritual 'achievements'.
Believe me – the more you read, the more God's word cuts you down to size. My rightful position before God is as a forever-grateful sinner, saved by His grace through His wonderful gift of faith. Thank God my righteousness is in Him and not in myself! Amen.
Well folks, I guess I'm going to get political in this post …. with all the biased reporting going on in the media, I felt the need to register my support for Israel and the truth. I'm really glad to see that the voices that are pro-Israel are getting louder in the continuing conflict . However, I'm also grieved when naive and uninformed christians condemn Israel on the say-so of Islam. Anti-semitism is in full flow again it seems.
The media in general and the BBC in particular have always shown their dislike of Israel. For years now Jeremy Bowen has been demonising Israel in his reporting. And apparently the BBC among others will be broadcasting an appeal by DEC [Disasters Emergency Committee ] for Gaza today, having previously refused to do so. Today the BBC stated " The BBC will continue to report impartially in our coverage of the story in the Middle East" – are they kidding? Their idea [or deceit] of unbiased reporting is to show one-sided graphic images and distressing scenes from sometimes 'staged' events together with voice- overs giving statistics, comparing casualty numbers as if that all proves Israel is the aggressor and guilty party- deliberately terrorising the innocent. In the interests of 'balance' and BBC non-partisanship , a token Israeli family or govt. spokesperson is tacked onto the end or beginning of the reports. No real, serious attempt is made to understand or report accurately the true situation. it is all taken at face value, which suits Hamas just fine.
Before I ever became a Christian , I too used to believe what the media said about the State of Israel and it's supposed oppression of the Palestinian people. I always wondered why Israel, themselves so terribly terrorised and persecuted ,would act in the same way towards others – they of all people should show compassion shouldn't they? But, like the rest of the world I never understood the absolute deception that engulfs the world and the satanic influence behind it all. Why would a tiny democratic country like Israel command such hatred ? Why is the world anti-Israel and not anti-terrorist? Who is the true attacker or defender here? Has Israel not the right that every country has to defend itself against attack?
Hypocrisy is at it's height when we make one rule for ourselves and another for Israel! Would we expect our own govt. to take appropriate action if another country bombarded us with rocket fire or would we just sit back and let rockets fall where they will? Did we do that when Germany attacked us? Israel would be very foolish if she ignored the situation – it would be suicide !
Now, the US President is authorising air strikes on Iraq – but hey, that's ok isn't it – because ISIS could threaten US interests and Personnel in that country …. BUT – the US wouldn't intervene in Syria, even though the 'red line of using chemical weapons' had been crossed. So – self interest is the crossing line after all then? US assets etc must be protected at all costs.
It is well documented that Islam seeks the destruction of Israel, but they also want to build an Islamic Caliphate everywhere in the world – hence Muslims entrench themselves in democratic countries that they really despise. Where they gain local political power their aim is to impose Sharia law for all. They would force all people to become Muslim if they could. And why were they allowed to block the Blackwall tunnel with their Gaza protests? And Tower Hamlets seems to be a Muslim enclave these days….
Israel is a tiny democracy in the Middle East and poses no threat to anyone – she is in a land historically given to her by Jehovah God [ see my previous Post], the God of the Bible, Jews and Christians. Islam follows the 'god' Allah and the religion of Islam where love and mercy do not exist.
Our country's collaboration with the madness of political correctness reared it's ugly head again recently with the arrest of Paul Weston, [Liberty GB] because he publicly quoted from Winston Churchill's book, The River War, published in 1899. It set out Churchill's views on Islam and it's threats to societies. How times have changed eh? I daresay eventually quoting from the Bible will be banned , because it speaks truth and is far removed from 'political correctness'. But then , the Christian gospel has always been an offense to those who have no love of the truth.
I admire those who are of a high public profile who are willing to speak out in defense of Israel's position eg Melanie Phillips and I'm so pleased to see that Rev.TV is making a stand too – good on 'em I say!
Although I haven't put any specific links here – an appropriate google search will find most of what I've stated if you want to check anything out.
Thank God we know the end of the story and evil will not triumph over Israel … primarily because God will fulfill His own purposes and bring glory to His name with the return of Christ.
When you live alone and you're getting on in years it's so easy to go down in a spiral of dark thoughts, pessimism and fear, because it brings its own stresses and strains. And you can feel particularly guilty if you are a Christian; so your self- condemnation only adds to your misery!
I have always been prone to not wanting to burden others with what I know can only be resolved by my walk with and trust in the Lord Himself. Everyone has enough illnesses and problems of their own anyway …. Over the years, unfortunately and very sadly, I found that 'Church' wasn't always as helpful as you would have expected – indeed, it could even add to your stress, so that, instead of being an oasis from the world and personal trials – it was the exact opposite. I am not complaining about that as it simply threw me more on the Lord's grace and mercy – I'm just stating facts.
So it was I learned to take my woes to the Lord and cry out to Him. His word taught me to bring my thoughts captive to Christ, wait upon Him and trust in His care. It can be very much a difficult learning process though, but He is faithful and answers our prayers in the perfect way for us.
While recovering from a particularly bad bout of depression some years ago, I'd gone into a shop and the title of a book jumped out at me from the shelf. It was 'Peace From Nervous Suffering' by Dr Claire Weekes and it was just what I needed!
I am always wary of self-help books based on psychology and psychiatry as they can be full of humanistic philosophies and occult practises, but this book was as practical, insightful and helpful as it gets, and apart from the Bible it turned out to be the best book I could have read, as it speeded my recovery with understanding.
So, having for so long been fine , it came as something of a shock the other day to experience the return of those same old familiar, but horrible symptoms. however – I was more able to deal with them this time. After crying out to the Lord, I dug out some notes I remember I'd written from Dr Weekes' book and refreshed her advice.
Out of curiosity I did a google search to see if her books were still available so that I could recommend them, and yes, they still are. Not only that, I came across a Blog written by Peter Stone http://cornerstonethefoundation.blogspot.co.uk He has an inspiring testimony and has written very helpful posts, plus an excellent Forum.
I can guarantee that fellow sufferers will be greatly enlightened and helped by both Dr Claire Weekes and Peter Stone 's insights.
The morning I was feeling so down, I read psalm 18 and I will close with verses 28-33 followed by Spurgeon's commentary on it.
Spurgeon's commentary on verse 28: " It may be that my soul sits in darkness; and if this be of a spiritual kind, no human power can bring me light. Blessed be God! He can enlighten my darkness, and at once light my candle. Even though I may be surrounded by a 'darkness which might be felt', yet He can break the gloom and immediately make it bright around me.
The mercy is that if He lights the candle none can blow it out, neither will it go out for lack of substance, nor burn out itself through the lapse of hours. The lights which the Lord kindled in the beginning are shining still. The Lord's lamps may need trimming, but He does not put them out.
Let me, like the nightingale, sing in the dark. Expectation shall furnish me with music, and hope shall pitch the tune. Soon I shall rejoice in a candle of God's lighting. I am dull and dreary just now. Perhaps it is the weather or bodily weakness or the surprise of a sudden trouble; but whatever has made the darkness, it is God alone who will bring the light. My eyes are unto Him alone. I shall soon have the candles of the Lord shining about me and further on in His own good time I shall be where they need no candle, neither light of the sun. Hallelujah!
You are most welcome to leave comments, testimony or advice and help for other sufferers.
In my previous post I mentioned my belief that so much deception has been allowed to invade the church because of a lack of trust in and obedience to the Word of God. Of course, I recognise that church Leaders would not agree with that suggestion because they all , without exception, say they use and take their authority from the Bible – but the question is – which one?
I think, as a result of all the many different versions [and paraphrases] now in use, the green light has been given for preachers and teachers to make the Word of God mean just about anything they want it to mean. Who's to say anything is truly right or wrong when what it all comes down to is a simple matter of man's interpretation?
I write this as a lay person with no authority or qualifications – it is just my humble opinion, drawn from my own observations, experience and research. My contention being that we need to have the utmost confidence that the Bible we read is indeed the infallible, inerrant Word of God, preserved and protected by Him and not a hit and miss exercise of translation and interpretation.
I was first alerted to a 'problem' with the Bible when I began to hear preachers throwing out casual comments that a certain word or passage in the KJB was a 'mistake' – it either was translated wrong or it shouldn't be there at all. It bothered me then and it bothers me now that the reliable Word of God wasn't so reliable after all!
Add to this the sentimental/mystical RC inspired tv series 'The Bible' and the latest portrayal of Christ in the film Son of God [not to mention The Passion of Christ] and the vain imaginations of man are complete. Naive and gullible Christians fall for it hook,line and sinker!
Anyway – I digress ….. To illustrate what I mean by preachers making the Bible say what they want it to say, I will give just three examples of what I came across, almost incidentally, while looking up other things. I have named the last one as he is so well known.
He relates [correctly] how in a certain place Jesus could do no miraculous works because of their unbelief, but then goes on to advocate prayer and taking authority over that unbelief to 'break' it. But where did Jesus ever do that?
Regarding Jesus telling some people he healed not to tell anyone, he seems to impute manipulation on the Lord's part by likening it to when God said to Eve – 'Don't eat that' – she went ahead and ate ! In other words – Jesus knew what people are like and that they would do the exact opposite to what He told them, so He could be certain of their publicity …. How much of that idea this young preacher got from The Message , I don't know, not having read it myself. Maybe I should enlighten myself ….
Anyway – as I see it in John 2: 23-25 the reason the Lord told people not to publicise their healings was because he knew men's hearts and that they were just seeking after 'signs' and not commitment to Him.
My next example happens to be another AoG preacher – this time a young woman. Her sermon was titled 'The Great Involvement' – immediately changing the commission for the church to preach the gospel of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into " go to hurting humanity" – a Humanist Social Gospel.
She continues – " after following them around for several days – finally- fed up with her [ruining his nice, polished sermon] – I love it – it wasn't even spiritual! The fact is – God doesn't care how you get there – just get there! He doesn't care.
Well, I hope you are as appalled as I am at this imputed partiality of the Apostle Paul – what a hypocrite she makes him out to be!! She also appears to rejoice at his supposed lack of 'spirituality'! Her complete lack of understanding is aided and abetted by her use of The Message.
Sounds impressive doesn't it? Till you hear his preaching….. I won't go into detail here but would direct anyone interested in his treatment of the Scriptures to visit http://www.driscollcontroversy.com where you can read his take on Gideon and Noah. Talk about turning the truth into a lie!!
must sign off now – please – if you see any mistakes, inaccuracies , untruths , I would welcome your correction. If you simply want to comment or add anything else relevant – feel free to do so. God bless …. Maranatha!


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Racism? Then we won't play football Published on 11/22/2019
Dutch professional football has issued a collective statement against racism. With the message "Racism? Then we won't play football!", the clubs from the Eredivisie and Keuken Kampioen Divisie are clearly demonstrating their aversion to hearing discriminatory and offensive chanting on the stands. This campaign will be seen in all nineteen stadiums over the coming weekend.
On the initiative of the Eredivisie (Dutch Premier League), Keuken Kampioen Divisie (First Division), a collective action will be set up during the competitions in both divisions, in collaboration with 34 professional football clubs, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), trainers' association CBV (Coaches Betaald Voetbal) and players' association VVCS. Players will not play for the first minute after kick-off, while the message will appear on advertising boards and video screens in the stadium.
This campaign targets offensive chanting from the stands and discrimination on (amateur) football fields. It is intended to raise awareness among fans that football is for everyone, irrespective of cultural background, religion or sexual preferences.
The message "Racism? Then we won't play!" also links in with the protocol that has been applied by the football association and clubs during matches since 2016. In the event of offensive and discriminatory chanting, the supporters are asked to stop their behaviour. If the chanting continues, the football will be brought to a halt.
The statement from the Eredivisie and Keuken Kampioen Divisie comes on the back of event at Den Bosch - Excelsior last Sunday. Excelsior attacker Ahmad Mendes Moreira was the victim of racist voices from the stands. The issue led to a great deal of unrest, in the media, on social media and among the players.
The organisations within professional football very much regret these events and would like to do more to combat this type of unacceptable behaviour. By standing shoulder-to-shoulder and tackling all forms of violence, racism and discrimination together, we are ensuring that everyone feels welcome within football.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Since I was a little girl, the farm has always been so interesting to me! Many of us have heard the nursery rhyme: "Old MacDonald had a farm, EE-I-EE-I-O, and on that farm he had a [cow], EE-I-EE-I-O…" Even now, this nursery rhyme is ringing in my ears. So how can be connecting the farm to child care? Answer: through the foods that are found on the farm.
It is so important for children to understand the origin of food. It is also important for children to see where their foods are grown, so that they can appreciate them more. The Farm-to-Child Care initiative connects local food producers and processors with early care and education sites. The goal is for these child care sites to purchase healthy local foods to be served in meals or/and snacks.
One of the many advantages of receiving food from the farm is the increased consumption of fresh produce within the early care setting. Another advantage is that it helps shape the taste preferences of the children at a young age. Both these behaviors aid in decreasing childhood obesity.
So take the time out this summer and invest in outdoor food experiences with your children. Take them to the farmer's market. Take them to a garden. Conduct a food experience with the children with freshly grown produce and let them get involved. Children will soon learn, not only can cows, be found at the farm, but spinach, yams, and potatoes too!


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The Beat / The Borough
Old Town Road by Lil Nas X: Is it Really Not Country?
April 18, 2019 jonest19Leave a comment
By Ellie Riser
With new hybrid genres and fresh sounds coming from artists such as BROCKHAMPTON and Tyler, The Creator, audiences all over the United States and the world are now being forced to examine what it means to be strictly a "rap" or "country" fan. As we are seeing more and more songs pushing these boundaries, the biggest music industries have begun to make some questionable calls.
The hit single, "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X took the world by storm in early 2019. Released on December 3, 2018, and later uploaded as a sound to the popular app TikTok (formally known as Musical.ly) this country rap hybrid was a mystery smash and very quickly landed a spot on the coveted "Billboard Hot 100 List". I am sure many of you have listened to it already, the signature banjo riff, classic country storyline in the lyrics with a modern twist, and just the raw country tone and dialect used by Lil Nas X, otherwise known as Montero Hill, clearly shows more than just a trap song with a sprinkle of country. Once again it snagged a place on a billboard list but this time on the "Top Country Songs Chart". It seemed that that was all nice and good but controversy arose when the widely popular bop was suddenly booted off the country list.
Soon after people realized that the smash had been removed, much of the public including Lil Nas himself began to question why on earth Billboard would need to remove such a legendary song. While many fans took to social media to slam the decisions the billion-dollar company made, Lil Nas was cooking up a plan of his own. Just days after he had been kicked off the country chart, he decided to call up the country legend Billy Ray Cyrus. The two quickly established the idea of a remix and hit the studio to lay down a couple new tracks. On April 5th, the "Old Town Road-Remix" with Billy Ray Cyrus was born. Once again people began to listen to the song on repeat, but this time with more meaning. Now people began to blast this tune to prove that Billboard had not only made a mistake but that people always have the power. Whether you see this song as a joke, a slap, or an opportunity to talk about how music divides us on a racial level, we should all take a moment to see how this turn of events highlights the changes happening in the music industry and if you are doing anything to advance or hinder this musical revolution.
Ellie R.
The Mueller Report Is Out: How We Got Here
The Birth and the Death of the HypeBeast: What's Next?


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/**
 * @module ol/interaction/ExtentEventType
 */

/**
 * @enum {string}
 */
export default {
  /**
   * Triggered after the extent is changed
   * @event ol.interaction.Extent.Event#extentchanged
   * @api
   */
  EXTENTCHANGED: 'extentchanged'
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 (2012)
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Surf's up for Barbie as she returns as Merliah, the fun and fashionable surfing champion who's also a magical mermaid princess! In this exciting sea-quel, Merliah makes a splash when she heads to Australia for the ultimate surfing competition. When the evil mermaid Eris escapes from her whirlpool with plans to take over the throne of Oceana, Merliah and her sea friends dive in to stop her. It's a fresh new adventure where Merliah learns that anything is possible and she really can have the best of both worlds!
Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite (2020)
It's been ten years since the creation of the Great Truce, an elaborate joint-species surveillance system designed and monitored by cats and dogs to keep the peace when conflicts arise….
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Captured by smugglers when he was just a hatchling, a macaw named Blu never learned to fly and lives a happily domesticated life in Minnesota with his human friend, Linda….
Country: USA, Brazil
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Crime, Family, Musical
Scooby and the gang experience outdoor fun as they go back to Fred's old summer camp.
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Horror, Mystery
Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry (2017)
Natsu Dragneel and his friends travel to the island Kingdom of Stella, where they will reveal dark secrets, fight the new enemies and once again save the world from destruction.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Fantasy
Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic (2010)
Dante journeys through the nine circles of Hell — limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery — in search of his true love, Beatrice. An animated version…
Country: USA, Japan, Singapore, South Korea
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King (2008)
Scooby-Doo and Shaggy must go into the underworld ruled by the Goblin King in order to stop a mortal named The Amazing Krudsky who wants power and is a threat…
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Music, Mystery
The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)
Gotham City is terrorized not only by recent escapees Joker and Penguin, but by the original creature of the night, Dracula! Can Batman stop the ruthless vampire before he turns…
Genre: Action, Animation, Horror, Thriller
Kronk's New Groove (2005)
Kronk, now chef and Head Delivery Boy of Mudka's Meat Hut, is fretting over the upcoming visit of his father. Kronk's father always disapproved of young Kronk's culinary interests and…
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Musical, Romance
The Grinch hatches a scheme to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville plan their annual holiday celebration.
Country: France, Japan, USA
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
With the help of Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes, NBA superstar LeBron James must rescue his missing son by navigating through films in the Warner Bros. catalogue as they…
Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Sport
Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006)
America's coolest heroes, the Teen Titans, go to Tokyo to track down the mysterious Japanese criminal Brushogun.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Trailer: Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2 (2012)


Topics: Structured water, an amazing water filter, and Viktor Schaumberger's work.
The Full Power of God in Your Life – Part 3 (teaching and experiences to help you in everyone's personal journey to experience more of God in their lives), with guest Timothy Martin.
Discussion included structured water, an amazing water filter, and Viktor Schaumberger's work.
Connect next week for a revelation of many curious facts and mysteries surrounding the amazing recent discovery of a free energy device that's been in operation for over 12000 years!


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Last One to Leave the Theatre®
A weekly look at the movies, both past and present. The name of this blog comes from the fact that I stay until the credits have ended. Ratings from Best to Worst: 1). I Would Pay to See it Again 2). Full Price 3). Bargain Matinee 4). Cable 5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again
My View: The Outpost (2020) R A small band of US soldiers in a combat outpost battle against hundreds of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. I wish that more theatres were open and we could see this film on the big screen because, I think to get the full impact of this movie, you need to be immersed in the spectacle of this rough and realistic look at life in a camp that was nearly impossible to defend. Based on a true story, the film looks at life of soldiers in a war zone where their lives can be taken at virtually every moment. This is not your grandfather's or even your father's glamorized look at war but a down and dirty view of how hard it is to be a soldier in a country that doesn't want you there. The film does a great job of letting us get to know the soldiers in the camp and how they deal with a camp that was set up to fail. Scott Eastwood gives one of his best performances as the heroic Staff Sgt. Romesha, Orlando Bloom, is outstanding as the camp commander who has to keep the morale up in the camp while trying to keep the local leaders happy, all the while the Taliban is lurking, always looking at a way to slowly whittle away at his men. The actor that stands out in the excellent cast is Caleb Landry Jones as Specialist Ty Carter, a solider that doesn't quite fit in, but when the chips are down comes through. Added touch to the real feel of the film is that some of the actors were the actual soldiers in the engagement. The battle sequence takes place during the second half of the film and director Rod Lurie, allows us to experience the horror of war as he uses long, unflinching takes that ramps up the tension and the overwhelming feeling that the lives of the soldiers we have gotten to know just might be doomed. The Outpost is a film that needs to be seen, and I wish it was on the big screen. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again The Outpost Info Available for rent on participating on-demand services.
My View: Desperados (2020) Wesley (Nasim Pedrad) hasn't had a great year, and after a horrible blind date, she meets the man of her dreams, Jared (Robbie Amell). After a month of dating, the couple finally sleeps together, and then Wes doesn't hear from Jared for five days. Egged on by alcohol and her two best friends (Anna Camp, Sarah Burns), Wes writes a blistering email but learns that Jared got into a car accident and hasn't been able to reach Wes. Wes decides to travel down to Mexico where Jared is and somehow erase the email before Jared is released from the hospital and can see the document. Let's start out by saying this film is an hour and forty-five minutes long, and it feels like it's even longer. The premise of the film is darn thin that it barely can sustain fifteen minutes of plot, much less a whole movie. I never cared about Wes, and it is so apparent from the start that Jared is not the right guy for her. There is a subplot involving Anna Camp, that wastes her comic talents and the cameo of Heather Graham, that is almost as stupid as the main plot. The film falls flat on its face from the start and never recovers. Sure if you have Netflix, you might think, what can it hurt watching this film…oh it will hurt. My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again Desperados Website Available on the Netflix website.
My View: John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020) PG Documentary on the legendary civil rights crusader and Georgia representative, whose career spans 60-plus years of social activism on essential issues such as civil rights, gun control, and voting rights. These days it is sometimes hard to feel good about your elected officials, but that is not the case with John Lewis, a man who stands for the rights of all people. The film tells the story of a son of a sharecropper, who as a young boy, preached to the chickens he was in charge of feeding and was so worried about his appearance, wore a tie in high school. At a very early age, Lewis became an essential cog in the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.'s movement of civil rights and the nonviolent protest movement. The film moves back in forth from giving us the history of Lewis's struggle for civil rights and his battles in the halls of Congress to the present day with the close defeat of democratic governor candidates in Texas and Georgia. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with John Lewis and now, more than ever, admire a man who was willing to risk his life to bring about change in our society. My Rating: Full Price John Lewis: Good Trouble Website Available for rent on participating on-demand services and at select drive-ins around the country.
My View: Athlete A (2020) PG-13 Documentary that follows the reporters of the Indianapolis Star who in 2016 broke the story which brought to light the USAG women's team doctor, Larry Nassar, had been abusing athletes for over two decades and the cover-up that allowed the abuse to thrive. Athlete A is a fascinating film that just when you think the situation it is showcasing can't get any worse, it does. Looking at the story through the eyes of the investigative team at the Indy Star paper, we get to see how the story kept getting bigger and bigger, as more of the sorted and horrible details came forward. Due to the courageous efforts of some of the victims, especially Maggie Nichols, we see how Dr. Nassar operated under the guise (sometimes in the very presence of parents) that he was doing 'special adjustments' to the young women. The fact that this man had his job for so long and that so many officials knew what was going on is a blight on our Olympic past and will make you incredibly mad. Athlete A is a film and a story that needed to be brought forward into the light and those involved should be punished. My Rating: Full Price Athlete A Website Available on the Netflix website.
Indiefest: Homewrecker (2019) Michelle (Alex Essoe) is a newlywed and an interior designer. Linda (Precious Chong) lives alone and is looking for someone to help her redo her home. Linda coerces Michelle into visiting her home, and it soon becomes clear that Linda has something more sinister in mind than just decorations. This is an odd film that combines horror/suspense with a bit of comedy. Homewrecker a tale of two women who meet by chance or did they. It's a tale with a few surprises and takes some wild turns but is fun to watch. I will tell you that some of the camera work and a few of the action sequences are not well done, and the dialogue is a little clunky, but I did enjoy seeing where the film was going to go and this would make a great addition to any film festival's midnight movie slot. My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Homewrecker Info Available for rent on participating on-demand services.
Forgotten Film: Brassed Off (1996) R The town of Grimley, a Yorkshire mining town, has had a brass band, made up of local miners, since 1881. The government has decided to go to nuclear power, and the local mine is about to close. Danny (Pete Postlethwaite) is the band's leader and is determined to keep the band going despite the layoffs and get his band into the national finals. In walks Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald), a talented flugelhorn player whose late father was a legend in the band. Gloria is the first woman to ever join the band, and there is one problem; she is the former crush of Andy (Ewan McGregor), and Gloria is conducting a study of the mine that might speed up the closing. I love this film, and though you might think that the center of the story is the love story between Andy and Gloria, the film really is about Danny and his determination to keep the band going, convinced that it can keep the town going through the hard times. The music is fun and rousing, but it's Pete Postlethwaite that makes this film work so well. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Brassed Off Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of The Outpost: Pashto Voice Actor
Coming Soon to a Screen Near You: Father Soldier Son (2020) Documentary on a former platoon sergeant and his two young sons spanning over a decade, chronicling his return home after a severe combat injury. The plight of veterans in this country needs to be examined, and I welcome this documentary as it explores just how much our soldiers sacrifice. Father Soldier Son Website
Posted by Mike at 12:30 AM
Labels: Anna Camp, Athlete A, Brassed Off, Desperados, Father Solider Son, Homewrecker, John Lewis: Good Trouble, Orlando Bloom, Scott Eastwood, The Outpost
Last 30 Films I Have Reviewed
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Last Five Long Form Reviews of Films
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I have a degree in Film from The University of Texas at Austin. I see over 300 films a year. Member of Southeast Film Critics Association, Atlanta Film Critics Circle, Georgia Film Critics Association.
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Michael McKinney
Desperado (1995)
Salma Hayek's first English speaking feature film was Desperado in which she co-starred with Antonio Banderas.
The Kissing Booth 2
Fatal Affair
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Check out our 15 things you didn't know about the Spanish legend.
Jose Maria Olazabal is one of the very few golfers to have won The Masters twice, achieving the feat in 1994 and 1999. But by no means are they the only milestones in his career. Let's take a look at 15 things you didn't know about the Spaniard.
1. He was born in Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa, Spain on the 5th of February, 1966. The day before, Real Golf Club de San Sebastian opened right next to the family home.
2. Olazabal's grandfather, father and mother all worked at the club so he spent a lot of time there as a child.
3. He hit his first golf ball aged 2 and started playing full rounds at six years old.
4. His career was nearly cut short after considerable back and foot pain. At its worst he could barely walk and he was forced to withdraw from the 1995 Ryder Cup as his condition worsened after a series of misdiagnoses.
5. In 1984 he beat Colin Montgomerie in the championship match of the British Amateur.
6. Olazabal formed a lethal, record-setting partnership with Seve Ballesteros during the Ryder Cup. It was known as the Spanish Armada and they combined to win 12 points together with an overall record of 11-2-2 in four balls and foursomes.
7. He turned pro at the age of 19 and won the 1985 European Tour Q-School tournament. He would go on to win Rookie of the Year honours.
8. Between 1989 and 1999 the Spaniard put together a brilliant stretch at The Masters – he notched two victories, a 2nd place and four other top-12 finishes.
9. During his 1994 victory he had 30 single-putts, chipped in twice and 100 per cent sand-save record.
10. His best world ranking is 4th.
11. He is currently 9th in the all-time list for most European Tour wins with 23.
12. Arguably his greatest achievement, Olazabal inspired the 2012 Ryder Cup team to a momentous come-back at Medinah. With only the singles matches to come Europe were 10-6 down and yet the next day they emerged victorious.
13. He played on seven Ryder Cups and was on the winning side three times, lost three times, and the match was halved in 1989.
14. He was induced into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009.
15. In 2012 he was also awarded the coveted Prince of Asturias award in recognition of his career successes and the exemplary manner in which he conducted himself as a professional.


MarketResearch.biz delivers in-depth insights on the global rare disease drugs market in its upcoming report titled, "Global Rare Disease Drugs Market Trends, Applications, Analysis, Growth, and Forecast: 2017 to 2026". The global rare disease drugs market is estimated to register a CAGR of X.X% in terms of value during forecast period 2017–2026. The report offers in-depth insights, revenue details, and other vital information regarding the target market, and the various trends, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats till 2026. The report offers insightful and detailed information regarding the various key players operating in the market, their financials, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, apart from future strategies, acquisitions & mergers, and market footprint. The global rare disease drugs market report has been segmented on the basis of therapeutic area, drug class, mode of administration, distribution channel, and region.
Rare diseases or orphan diseases are conditions that affect a small percentage of population at any given time. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), an orphan disease is defined as a disease or condition affecting less than 200,000 people in the country. Orphan Drugs Act under the U.S. legislation allows manufacturer to request FDA to grant an orphan drug status to drugs intended to treat a rare disease or condition.
Increasing government initiatives for spreading awareness about rare diseases coupled with presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure in developed and in some developing economies are major factors driving growth of the global rare disease drugs market. In addition, favorable reimbursement policies in developed economies and favorable regulations for approval of drugs for treatment of rare diseases are other major factors projected to boost growth of the global rare disease drugs market over the forecast period. Moreover, government incentives such as reduced tax on medicines, higher funding for research on rare diseases and their treatments are other factors expected to propel growth of the global market to a significant extent.
However, high costs related with R&D for development of rare disease drugs coupled with presence of small patient pool are major factors restraining growth of the global rare disease drugs market. Additionally, limited number of human trials conducted is another major factor anticipated to limit growth of the global rare disease drugs market over the forecast period.
Currently, the market in North America dominates the global rare disease drugs market in revenue terms owing to presence of proper healthcare facilities, high awareness about diseases and drugs, and favorable government reimbursement policies in the region. The market in Europe accounted for second-highest revenue share in the global rare disease drugs market, due to high healthcare expenditure by governments of countries, and high disposable income, followed by markets in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa respectively. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to witness fastest growth in terms of revenue, owing to increase in number of patients suffering from rare and chronic diseases, and rise in government initiatives for improvement of healthcare facilities in countries in the region.
I read this article and found it very interesting, thought it might be something for you. The article is called Rare Disease Drugs Market and is located at https://marketresearch.biz/report/rare-disease-drugs-market/.


text:
A Staycation guide for Louisianians
Judi Russell,
Louisiana residents just happen to live in a state targeted by folks in the other 49 as a top vacation destination. A desire to experience the great food, culture and outdoor activities Louisiana offers leads people from Maine to Minnesota to pack their bags and head for the Bayou State.
If your vacation budget this year doesn't stretch to a cross-country trip – or if you just want to see what all the others are excited about – plan a "staycation" in Louisiana instead. Check out the ways you can relax, have fun and recharge your batteries right in your own backyard. Because you won't spend a lot of time flying or driving to some distant destination, you'll use less of your precious time off sitting around airports or behind the wheel of a car. That leaves more days for having a good time, and isn't that what vacations are all about?
Whether your hometown is one of Louisiana's exciting big cities or its many charming smaller towns, you'll run out of vacation days long before you run out of things to do.
Northern Delights
Those who hail from North Louisiana can choose from myriad ways to vacation close to home. This part of the state bears the nickname Sportsman's Paradise, a tribute to its rolling hills and many lakes, rivers and state parks. But you needn't go far to enjoy more urban entertainment, including casinos, restaurants, theaters and shops.
If museum-hopping is your thing, opportunities abound. One standout is the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens in Monroe. Joseph Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola, built the magnificent mansion in 1914. Today, guests can tour the historic home, furnished with antiques, as well as the beautiful gardens, a Bible museum and displays of Coke memorabilia.
Those interested in military history can take in the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana in Monroe or the Louisiana Military Museum in Ruston.
Smaller specialty museums are often fascinating. Two in North Louisiana are the Germantown Colony Museum near Minden and the Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum in Homer. The former is the site of a utopian community founded by a group of Germans in the 1830s; the community lasted 40 years, and several of their buildings and a cemetery remain. The Ford Museum is a detailed look at North Louisiana history from pre-Columbian times to the present day and contains period rooms such as a general store, a medical office and a hotel room. The exhibits give visitors a real feel for life in days gone by.
In Ruston, home to the popular Louisiana Peach Festival, the 18-block Historic District lets visitors admire period architecture while they shop and dine.
If you crave outdoor relaxation, head for the region's many golf courses and state parks. You can glimpse a variety of native wildlife at Olde Oaks, an Audubon Golf Trail course near Shreveport, while creeks add interest to the 300-acre Black Bear Golf Course in Delhi. Spend your vacation days in a cabin or camp site at Lake D'Arbonne State Park, where you can fish, swim, bike or go bird-watching. The fishing is also great at Poverty Point Reservoir State Park, near Delhi. If you like canoeing, try the 6,400-acre lake at Lake Claiborne State Park.
Another outdoor treat is the Gardens of the American Rose Center in Shreveport, where more than 20,000 roses perfume the air. The gardens are lovely in spring, summer and into fall; during the winter holidays, thousands of twinkling lights turn it into a wonderland, complete with train rides.
Vacationing with the kids? Don't miss Shreveport's Sci-Port – Louisiana's Science Center, more than 90,000 square feet of interactive, educational fun for families. Kids can learn about science, math and outer space in hundreds of exhibits and catch a flick at the IMAX Dome Theatre. Chimp Haven, a national chimpanzee sanctuary, is located just 22 miles from Shreveport; on Chimp Discovery Days, visitors are admitted to see the chimps and their habitat.
Kids and water go together like peanut butter and jelly, and in addition to swimming in the region's state parks, try Splash Kingdom Family Waterpark in Shreveport, featuring slides, a lazy river and a special area for the small fry.
Shopping, placing a wager or two and taking in a show are other popular vacation pastimes. Don't miss the breathtaking Strand Theatre in Shreveport, built in 1925 and lovingly restored. It reopened in 1984 and provides an opulent backdrop for concerts, plays and touring Broadway shows. In the Shreveport-Bossier City entertainment districts, you can try your luck at several casinos and Harrah's Louisiana Downs, a casino and race track. This summer will bring the grand opening of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Casino Resort.
Bossier City is noted for its giant riverfront mall, Louisiana Boardwalk, with more than 70 outlet stores along with an IMAX theater and restaurants. Or try Monroe's Antique Alley, blocks and blocks of antiques shops.
Other fun side trips include visits to the tasting room at Landry Vineyards in the hills of West Monroe and Vieux Carré Gourmet, also in Monroe, which specializes in food with a New Orleans flavor.
Speaking of flavor, the cuisine in northern Louisiana has something for everyone. "Barbecue is big, and catfish is king," says Louisiana food commentator Ian McNulty (see his column, p. 20). Restaurants run from white-tablecloth to neighborhood cafés, and you can also take advantage of summer's sunny weather and pick up some regional favorites, including pecans, blueberries and those juicy Ruston peaches for a picnic in the park.
With a little advance planning, you can schedule your staycation to coincide with one or two of North Louisiana's festivals. Popular gatherings include the Franklin Parish Catfish fest in Winnsboro, the Teddy Bear Festival in Tallulah, Ruston's Louisiana Peach Festival and the Germantown Bluegrass Festival in Minden.
Capital Thrills, Plantation Adventures
Even if you've lived in the Baton Rouge area for some time, there are bound to be interesting places you've never visited. Maybe you've put off exploring the parts of the region you're not familiar with or you've skipped your hometown's highlights, thinking they would always be available. A staycation is the ideal time to see what's happening in a section of Louisiana that combines big-city life with a glimpse into the lifestyles of the wealthy planters who called the area home in antebellum days.
The area's nickname is "Plantation Country" for a reason: Nowhere else can you tour such a unique collection of mansions that tell the tale of a time when cotton was king and planters lived like royalty. Start with Nottoway, sometimes called "The White Castle of Louisiana," with 64 rooms of grandeur. Other notable plantations include Destrehan, San Francisco, Oak Alley and The Myrtles (which calls itself Louisiana's most haunted home). At Laura Plantation, six slave quarters show the reverse side of the coin; enslaved African Americans provided the labor to keep the plantations going, and the slave quarters show the poverty of their lives. Another don't-miss destination is Oakley House at the Audubon State Historical Site. Oakley is where John James Audubon painted some of his famous bird pictures.
Today, many plantations have turned into bed-and-breakfast inns, and others have special holiday activities and lovely restaurants.
Baton Rouge is rich in interesting sites. Young people would especially like the LSU Rural Life Museum, a collection of 27 buildings filled with tools, furniture and other items from Louisiana's 19th-century rural culture.
At the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, kids can have fun in the interactive science center or view a show at the planetarium. Parents will like the fine art on display. And at the Old Governor's Mansion, built by Huey P. Long, get a look at Long's pajamas, Gov. Jimmie Davis' guitar and other artifacts. Other specialized museums include the Old Arsenal Museum, with its exhibits of military history, and the Shaw Center for the Arts, a downtown architectural gem with a contemporary art museum, restaurants and gallery spaces.
Because kids just want to have fun, spend an afternoon or two at Blue Bayou Water Park and its neighbor, Dixie Landin', filled with thrilling rides for children of all ages. They might also enjoy seeing the U.S.S. Kidd Veterans Memorial & Museum. The destroyer, nicknamed "The Pirate of the Pacific," was launched in 1943. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the Enchanted Mansion: A Doll Museum displays dolls of every description; money raised by the site is donated to benefit the handicapped.
The Baton Rouge area has plenty of places to shop and dine, including the Baton Rouge Mall of America, with its carousel; L'Auberge Casino & Hotel, with three restaurants and plenty of gaming action; and the Denham Springs Historic and Antique District, where dealers sell toys, art, Christmas items and silver. Stop by Cottonwood Books, filled with thousands of new, used and rare books, including those on Louisiana history, the Civil War and Southern literature.
Plantation Country is also home to such charming towns as New Roads and St. Francisville. In New Roads, enjoy fishing, boating and water-skiing on the False River, an oxbow lake. The town is also home to the Pointe Coupee Parish Museum and lots of antiques shops. St. Francisville, noted for its Main Street, is often called one of America's most beautiful small towns. Don't miss Afton Villa Gardens; although Afton Villa burned in 1963, its lovely gardens are filled with sweet olive, magnolias and camellias, as well as azaleas of all colors. In the town of Zachary, take in the Zachary Historic Village, with its blacksmith's shop, and watch corn ground into grits.
If you time your staycation right, you can join the locals and celebrate at the Baton Rouge Greek Festival, the Jambalaya Festival in Gonzales or one of the many other area festivals.
Vacation is an ideal time to head for the great outdoors, and in Baton Rouge and Plantation Country, choices abound. At the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area, northwest of St. Francisville, visitors can hunt, hike, bike, ride horses, bird-watch or take a walk on the 3-mile nature trail with camera in tow. The Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center in Baton Rouge is crisscrossed with gravel paths and boardwalks and is noted for its live animal encounters. Like golf? Try The Bluffs on Thompson Creek, just five minutes from St. Francisville. The course, built to an Arnold Palmer design, is noted for its creeks, ponds and breathtaking rolling bluffs. Or walk the Iberville Parish Birding Trail, where you can spot neo-tropical songbirds, migratory hummingbirds, wading birds and raptors.
Dining is a big part of every vacation, and there are lots of options in the Baton Rouge area, ranging from elegant meals to neighborhood cafés with Cajun and Creole specialties. In Baton Rouge, local favorites include Ruffino's, with its classic Creole Italian dishes, and Juban's, with its Creole menu. Many plantation homes also have restaurants, such as The Carriage House Restaurant at The Myrtles, which features "down home Southern favorites." It's also fun to pick up some fresh produce and prepared foods at one of the area's many farmers markets and have a picnic.
Dining, shopping, hiking or taking in a bit of history – the Baton Rouge area is a complete vacation destination in one easy-to-navigate package.
Big Easy Fun
Few cities have the allure of New Orleans. Its charms are known all over the world, and its restaurants, hotels, museums and cultural activities are a magnet for tourists. Those in the know, however – especially those who live near the city – realize that the Greater New Orleans area holds lots of lesser-known delights just a short hop from the city itself. A staycation is the ideal time to explore one of Louisiana's most exciting regions.
New Orleans has museums to suit just about every interest. Don't-miss venues include the Ogden Museum of Southern Art; the Contemporary Arts Center; the Cabildo and Presbytère buildings in the French Quarter; and Mardi Gras World, where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at how the parade floats are built.
One of the most moving places to visit is the National World War II Museum, which tells the story of the Greatest Generation and the battles fought in Europe and in the Pacific, on land and sea and in the air. The recorded interviews with veterans are poignant; other exhibits show how life was on the home front.
The Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal Street in the Vieux Carré tells the story of the city's past through exhibits and research materials.
Families will especially enjoy the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and Entergy IMAX Theatre and Audubon's spectacular zoo. A fairly new venue, the Audubon Insectarium, gives an up-close look at the smaller critters we all live side by side with. The Louisiana Children's Museum, just a brief walk from Canal Street, is packed with hands-on, educational activities children of all ages will enjoy.
Another treat for children is City Park, where kids can play in Storyland, feed the ducks and ride paddle boats. Woldenberg Park, which borders the docks on the Mississippi River, is another good place for children to run around. They can watch the ships on the river and ride the ferry across and back.
In the nearby town of Folsom is an unusual spot, the Global Wildlife Center. During a 90-minute safari tour, you can see giraffes, zebras, camels, elands and other animals. You can even feed them.
Of course, just wandering through the French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, is an ideal way to spend an afternoon or two. On Royal Street, you can take in the magnificent antiques stores, and later, you should get out and experience the nightlife on Bourbon Street.
Another fun staycation activity – one you may have always wanted to do but never had time for – is to board the streetcar at Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue and ride all the way up the Avenue, through the Garden District, known for its beautiful mansions and huge trees, and into the Uptown area. At the end of the line, get off and walk a short way to Camellia Grill, a favorite with college students and locals. After your meal, take the car back to town, enjoying the breeze and the sounds of the city.
Just a short trip from downtown is Longue Vue House and Gardens. The classic Revival mansion, built by Edith and Edgar Stern, is filled with original furnishings and surrounded by a wide variety of gardens. Longue Vue provides a look at a way of life few people ever experience.
New Orleans also has a full complement of cultural activities, including symphony concerts, ballets, operas and stage shows. In nearby Jefferson Parish, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society offers plays in several venues.
Generations ago, New Orleanians escaped the heat of the summer by crossing Lake Pontchartrain to visit what is now called the Northshore. The communities of Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Abita Springs and Hammond, among others, offer a plethora of activities including bicycling along the Tammany Trace; shopping in Historic Downtown Covington; grabbing a beer and a burger at the Abita Brew Pub; and feasting on fresh shrimp, crab and oysters. Covington has become famous for its Three Rivers Art Festival, which draws art-lovers from miles away. The Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival is another popular destination. Many New Orleans cultural groups, such as the symphony orchestra, offer shows on the Northshore, as well.
If vacation means getting outdoors to you, New Orleans has many fine golf courses, such as the TCP Louisiana Golf Course, a member of the state's Audubon Golf Trail. At Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve's Barataria Preserve in Marrero, you can canoe, follow nature trails and learn about the area's unique topography.
Dining, in all its variations, is a big part of visiting the Greater New Orleans region. The city itself is famous for its elegant white-tablecloth restaurants, such as Antoine's, Arnaud's, Commander's Palace and Brigtsen's. But locals know neighborhood spots, such as Jacques-Imo's on Oak Street, Venezia's in Mid-City and Praline Connection on Frenchmen Street, offer delicious food and lively atmospheres.
Traditional treats include enjoying café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde, where you can sit and watch the world go by, or buying a muffuletta (an Italian stuffed sandwich) at Central Grocery downtown and then sitting on a bench by the Mississippi River to eat it.
Heart of Louisiana
Central Louisiana, which borders both Texas and Mississippi, combines Southern charm with aspects of the Old West. With its rolling hills and piney woods, the area offers many opportunities for outdoor relaxation. Its charming cities and towns, such as Natchitoches, Alexandria, Pineville, Leesville, Ferriday and Vidalia, are popular places to shop, dine and learn about the region's history.
Visitor attractions in Central Louisiana are wide-ranging. Some provide a look at the area's bygone days; at Frogmore Cotton Plantation & Gins, for example, you can tour both a working plantation of the early 1800s and a modern cotton plantation and gin. Particular attention is paid to the lives of the slaves who once provided the labor that made the plantation successful.
Just down the road from Frogmore in Ferriday is the Delta Music Museum, which spotlights the rock 'n' roll and blues musicians from the Delta. Learn more about Mickey Gilley; Jerry Lee Lewis; and Louisiana's "singing governor," Jimmie Davis, remembered for his big hit, "You Are My Sunshine."
Our state's military past is remembered in the Louisiana Maneuvers & Military Museum in Pineville and the Fort Polk Military Museum. The Arna Bontemps African American Museum in Alexandria highlights the life of the Harlem Renaissance writer.
Melrose Plantation, about 15 miles south of Natchitoches, is unique in that it was built by and for free blacks. The famed primitive painter, Clementine Hunter, lived and worked at Melrose, and today it holds a major arts and craft festival. Kent Plantation House in Alexandria, built in 1796, is also an interesting destination. In addition to the main house, you can see slave cabins, a sugar mill, the milk house and the open-hearth kitchens.
Few states can match Louisiana's colorful politics; learn the story at the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. Gov. Huey P. Long Jr., Oscar K. "O.K." Allen and Earl K. Long were born in Winnfield.
Other stops include the Alexandria Museum of Art, the Old Courthouse Museum in Natchitoches and the Museum of West Louisiana in Leesville. At the Tunica-Biloxi Regional Indian Center & Museum in Marksville, learn about the history of the Tunica and Biloxi Indian tribes. You can see ancient Indian burial mounds at the Marksville State Historical Site.
The lovely town of Natchitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory, is a history lesson in itself. Its 33-block downtown Historic Landmark District fronts the Cane River and contains places to shop and dine, as well as some bed-and-breakfast inns. At Christmastime, the town is brilliantly illuminated during its Festival of Lights and Christmas Festival. Be sure to check out the activities on tap at Northwestern State University.
If your staycation includes the family, you'll find enough to do in Central Louisiana to keep the younger crowd busy. Alexandria's T.R.E.E. House Children's Museum and the town's zoo are two such stops.
Youngsters will also enjoy the many outdoor activities in the region. Kisatchie National Forest, more than 600,000 acres, is Louisiana's only national forest. It's a great place to fish; hunt; hike; and go boating, swimming and camping. Toledo Bend Reservoir is one of the nation's top fishing spots, and you can also picnic and camp there. At North Toledo Bend State Park, near Zwolle, amenities include swimming pools, a boat launch and cabins.
Hodges Gardens State Park in Florien is a serene getaway with formal rose gardens, colorful azaleas, nature trails, waterfalls, fountains and cabins. Here you may glimpse deer, otters, geese, ducks and other wildlife; canoeing and kayaking are also permitted.
If golf is on your list, the OakWing Golf Club is just minutes from the Alexandria/Pineville area. One of the state's Audubon Golf Trail courses, OakWing is ornamented with lakes, bayous and tall trees.
All that outdoor exercise will make you hungry, and Central Louisiana can meet that need, too. Natchitoches is famous for its meat pies, and Lasyone's Meat Pie Restaurant is one of the local favorite places to get one. Try the crispy fish at Paradise Catfish Kitchen in Pineville or Tunk's Cypress Inn in Boyce, noted for its alligator, crawfish and oyster dishes, as well as steaks.
There's always something good to eat at the area's festivals, too. The Louisiana Pecan Festival in Colfax pays homage to the tasty nut with pies and pralines, and the Cochon de Lait Festival in Mansura is the place to try suckling pig plus many other Cajun treats. If you like to wager a bit, you'll enjoy the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, with its cinema, spa and restaurants.
Cajun Good Times
If you live in Louisiana's Cajun Country, you already know how many fun things there are to do right in your own backyard. But if you're like most of us, the pressure of work and caring for family means most of your free time is spent taking care of everyday business. Vacation time, then, is the perfect opportunity to experience for yourself all the riches that lie in your neck of the woods.
Cajun Country takes its name from the Acadians, French Catholics who fled Acadie (Nova Scotia) and eventually settled in South Louisiana. Their rich culture endures today and can be enjoyed in the region's unique food, music and festivals.
People sometimes equate Cajun food with hot, spicy food. In reality, Cajun cuisine is delicious because it makes use of the fish, game and crops that are plentiful in the region. One of the favorite foods is boudin, a flavorful sausage sold in dozens of small grocery stores and even gas stations throughout the region.
Many of Cajun Country's attractions center on the area's history. In Lafayette, for example, both the Acadian Village and Vermilionville illustrate life in the past. Acadian Village is a folk life museum focused on 19th-century Cajun life, while Vermilionville shows how 18th-century Acadian settlers lived.
Evangeline Oak Park in St. Martinville is home to an ancient live oak named for the heroine of Longfellow's famous poem. The park also contains an African American museum recounting the lives of slaves and free people of color.
In Lake Charles, take time to view the historic Charpentier District. Long ago, lumbermen used available pine in the area to build tall, angular homes. The area is now on the National Historic Registry.
Crowley, between Lafayette and Lake Charles, celebrates the area's rice crop in many ways. The Historic Rice Theatre, an art deco beauty built in 1940, has been lovingly restored and features local music events. Crowley also boasts the J.D. Miller Music Recording Studio Museum, opened in 1946 and restored to its original state. The studio once recorded tunes by local Cajun, zydeco, blues, country and swamp pop artists.
If you are a Cajun music buff, be sure to visit Opelousas, the birthplace of zydeco king Clifton Chenier. The town draws people from all around to its Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. Opelousas also has plenty of history; founded in 1720 by the French, it's the state's third-oldest city and served as the capital of Confederate Louisiana for a short time. The town's historic district has many beautiful antebellum and Victorian homes, as well as historic churches and cemeteries. And like most Cajun towns, you'll find lots of places to sample the region's delicious boudin, crawfish étouffée and other delights.
Children will find much to do in Cajun Country. Both Lafayette and Lake Charles have children's museums. In DeQuincy, let kids see the train cars at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum. Adjacent to the museum is a playground with rides.
A visit to beautiful Avery Island brings tours of the famous Tabasco factory. In the island's Jungle Gardens, you can see exotic plants, as well as deer, alligator and snowy egrets, among other wildlife.
A real fixture in Cajun Country is Fred's Lounge in the little town of Mamou. The lounge is open only on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to about 2 p.m., and you'll find plenty of folks dancing as the lively Cajun music is broadcast for a radio program. In Eunice, visit the Liberty Theatre to enjoy a live radio show with zydeco music.
Cajun Country is sometimes called Louisiana's festival capital. There are so many fests that you're almost sure to find one coinciding with your vacation. Like omelets? At Abbeville's Giant Omelette Celebration, cooks make a 5,000-egg omelet in a 12-foot skillet. The fest is said to harken back to a time when Napoleon ordered French villagers to bring out all their eggs to feed his soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Rayne Frog Festival holds frog-jumping and frog-racing contests – bring your own contender. The Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette includes music, food and arts and crafts; Crowley's Rice Festival celebrates the harvesting of the rice crop; and the Contraband Days-Louisiana Pirate Festival in Lake Charles recalls the days of pirate Jean Lafitte.
Like so much of Louisiana, Cajun Country provides lots of outdoor entertainment. The swamps and wetlands of the vast Atchafalaya Basin, the nation's largest river-swamp, is heaven for those who like to bicycle, camp, hunt, fish, play golf or spot birds. Calcasieu Lake near Lake Charles is well-known for its abundant fish, including trout, redfish and flounder.
Chicot State Park near Ville Platte is more than 6,000 acres of natural beauty. If you crave catching largemouth bass or bluegill, here's your spot. Ditto for those who enjoy hiking, backpacking, cycling and camping. Cabins are available, too. The Louisiana State Arboretum, located within the park, is a stately beech forest with nature trails. Native plants along the trails are labeled so you can increase your knowledge of Louisiana plant life.
Check out the Creole Nature Trail, a state scenic route, which is composed of Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Peveto Woods Bird & Butterfly Sanctuary and Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, from which you can view alligator and shorebirds. Or try the Lake Charles Boardwalk, which follows the lake and is popular with walkers, bikers and joggers.
For a different type of relaxation, spend a day or two at one of the area's gambling venues. Bet on the horses at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel in Vinton, or try the slots and table games at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel and L'Auberge Casino Resort, both in Lake Charles.
In short, there's no need to feel down if your vacation budget this year doesn't permit an expensive trek to a far-flung destination. You can satisfy just about any vacation-related yen you have not far from your own backyard.
Categories: Lifestyle, LL_Feature, Things To Do


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Demitrios Kargotis (b. 1982/London) and Dash Macdonald (b. 1983/Wendover-England), have been working in collaboration since graduating from the Royal College of Art. Through public performance, social experiment and intervention, their practice explores and exposes the effect of existing socio-political systems and institutional mechanisms. They currently teach at Coventry University within the Industrial Design and Visual Art departments and their work is exhibited internationally, most recently in Helsinki, Istanbul, Tokyo, Linz, Zurich, Zagreb, Gijon and London.


text:
Mission Recherche
Each year, its members fund one to five scholarships enabling young researchers to achieve, under the supervision of a curator and through field studies, interviews or unpublished translations, a work focused on acquisition opportunities.
The members of Mission Recherche enjoy:
- To be part of the general research development project within the Museum and support its scientific activities in connection with the University.
- To complete the national collections by exploring and promoting artistic fields that are still poorly known.
- To generate new ideas from innovative work and circulate them.
- To meet at the Musée national d'art moderne with the Director, the curatorial team, the researchers and the other members.
- To benefit from a hybrid program of events in physical or digital with a community of passionate amateurs.
Attribution of your donation by vote during the acquisition commission meeting
Access to an exclusive knowledge
Discovery of the research subjects supported by the curators as well as the backstage and archive collections of the Musée national d'art moderne, of exceptional richness.
Discussion with committee members and selection of projects.
Visits to the Centre Pompidou's exhibitions presented by their curators on Tuesdays, the day that the museum is closed to the public.
VIP Passes to major contemporary art fairs in Europe.
Unlimited priority access to the Centre Pompidou.
Reader's card of the Kandinsky Library allowing access to the librabry's collections (prints and archives) as well as to events.
Research progress monotoring with young researchers.
Original program of private visits of exhibitions and artists' studios, and discovery of the cultural institutions.
Participation in cultural outings and trips in France (visits to exhibitions with the curators, encounters with artists and cultural figures from the region).
One international trip with the members of the other committees and the donors of the Museum.
Cahiers du Musée national d'art moderne offerts
Personal invitations to the pre-openings of the Centre Pompidou for two.
Free and privileged access to the Centre Pompidou's programming for selected events (workshops, lectures, meetings with artists and evenings at the Museum).
Free Film Screenings at the Centre Pompidou and the BPI, except Cinéma du Réel.
Reduced entry fee for all shows, children & family workshops, and "Face aux Oeuvres" cycles.
5% off at the Centre Pompidou gift shop, and 10% off on the online store (excluding books).


The big catching up post.
All us slacker posters do this every once in a while. It's been so long since we posted that we have to round up the so-called "highlights" of the last several days/weeks/months since the last post we grudgingly turned loose upon those few who actually stumble across our blogs from time to time (usually on their way to webmail, hi sis!). These posts are usually filled with inane drivel, and pointless ramblings. This is one of those posts.
There haven't been very many "highs" in the highlights, which, I suppose, would account for most of the silence here. I've never liked going to some blog and reading about what a drag life has been for someone. It just isn't, I dunno, uplifting. And so, I've never been the sort to post the day-to-day inanity of a life that consists of sleep, work, eat, work, eat, work, rinse, repeat. Throw in the inevitable pains, and you end up with a rather bland view of life. Who wants to read about that?
Though, to be fair, the rare patch of beauty shines through the fog of dreary survival, to remind us that there are certainly worse alternatives to life.
But we'll start with the mucky stuff. There has been much marital strife. And that's all I have to say about that.
Additionally, I've been sick for the second time in the last year. The good thing is that it's only the second time… the year before that, seemed like I couldn't go a month without something infecting me. Immediately upon my recovery, my wife came down with whatever it was that got me. Unfortuately, she took it and ran with it. Then she caught something else… a strep infection. We didn't know that bit at first though, which was rather unfortunate (as you'll soon see).
One of the highlights was that I also got the chance to go on a mini-vacation. I had a bit of money put aside to do something with the kids, and we decided on a trip to the beach. We'd leave on a Thursday, and come back on Saturday or Sunday. So, my three kids and I headed east for what adventure we could find on the coast. There was minor adventure to be had, and I believe it's safe to say that we were soaking it up. We wandered around the tourist-oriented environs of the local boardwalk, bought trinkets and supplies at the local hungry-eyed merchants' pavilions, lazed about on the beach (a little bit), swum in the ocean and the pool, gazed off our 10th floor balcony overlooking the beach and ocean, watched the local live talent show off their skills for our amusement, and of course, we all ate way too much, but there's no place to hit a seafood buffet like the coast, right? The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (with pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and french toast made to order while you watch) didn't help much either. Funny how much pleasure we derive from stuffing our faces more than is good for us, but I digress.
So, remember that strep infection? It turns out that if you get a strep infection to go systemic, either spreading about your upper body, or worse yet, in your blood stream, it causes a disease known as scarlet fever. Guess how I found this out.
Not only did she get scarlet fever, she got scarlet fever that was fairly resistant to antibiotic treatment. My poor wife spent 6 days in the hospital, after a precipitous arrival in a rescue squad, called when my mother-in-law took a look at a particularly distressing looking rash that was taking over my wife's body. The fact that my wife had also become deleriously feverish with a temperature over 104F contributed, I understand. The first little while that she was in the hospital was actually somewhat touch-and-go. This took place while I and the kids were sunnin' ourselves on the sand a mere 3 hour drive to the east.
So, having just decided that we'd go ahead and stay until Sunday… on Saturday morning, around 7:30am, I got a call on my cell phone from my wife's hospital room, tellin' me she needed me. So we packed it in and headed home. As I mentioned before, she was in for six days. So the next week or so after that was spent trying to divide my time among the kids at home, work, and my wife in the hospital. Not very restful, as you can imagine, but I guarantee she had a worse time than I did.
She did get to come home, though, and has been home for a few days, and is still convalescing. It appears that we've probably got another couple of weeks before she's fully recovered, and that's if no complications set in. Whee.
There's really not much else to report. Work has continued to be far more challenging than my previous job, and in many ways more rewarding. But, mostly, life has been about surviving. Waiting. Weathering what seems to be constant storms, and looking forward to a ray of sunshine. There's been a few times where it seemed the sun was about to burst through… but so far it's always been followed by yet another storm.
I'd better quit before this analogy rains itself right out.


Joe O'Donnell is a playwright and writer for radio and television. His radio plays include 'Zozimus Lives' and 'Tall Tales from a Tall Man', a series of eight plays based on the life of the balladeer Zozimus. His writing for television includes 'The Riordans', 'Wanderly Wagon' and a series of eight adaptations of John B. Keane's letters.


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November 10, 2005: In Albany, New York the big grey is on the way. The November wind whips merrily around corners. Mayor Jerry Jennings has won another term in office, empty coat tails flapping behind him. The Albany Times Union continues to cover local pols & players as thoroughly as Lil Kim does her booty. In the midtown section of the city, another citizens' watch group has stepped up to the crime plate in response to muggings of college students and a double homicide stemming from a burglary. The victims were an elderly couple. Life long Albany residents. Their death particularly violent. The most recent FBI stats show Albany's overall crime rate to be almost twice the national average. Violent crime more than double the average. Since national arson data doesn't exist, torch jobs don't figure into FBI stats. If they did, Albany property crime might have made an even more impressive showing.
During the mayoral race Jennings refused to debate challengers Alice Green and Joe Sullivan. Neither of whom stood a chance because neither represents a broad enough swath of the Albany body politic. Green being rad lib and Sullivan ultra conservative. Both made crime an issue in their campaign. If Jennings had debated Green and Sullivan his failure re crime would have been front burner material. He'd have been forced to explain why his policies to date have failed and exactly how he plans to do better. Lucky for Jennings serving the people kept him too busy to debate improving his service. Besides, New York State Senator Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer praised him in posh campaign commercials. What more did voters need to hear?
In Springfield, Massachusetts the feds are moving on up. Reaching into the top levels of X Mayor Mike Albano's X administration. Shaking out X chief of staff Anthony Ardolino. Along with his brother, X cop Chester Ardolino. Charges include tax fraud related to the Ardolinos' alleged hidden interest in various bars. Ones in the downtown entertainment district** Mayor Mike jacked with public money. Being on the city payroll made bar ownership a no-no for the Ardolinos. They allegedly hid not only their ownership but their income. One of their alleged bars was sold by an alleged front man to alleged Gambino loansharks. In order to cover the alleged major gambling debts of yet another hidden--and still unnamed-- owner. As for X Mayor Mike Albano, some allege his famous red sauce is simmering. Others say hizzonor couldn't help it if alleged crooks clustered to him like moths to a flame. The real sad case is X cop Chet. He just wrapped up 6 months of house arrest on a mortgage fraud beef. Only to be served a super sized sack of new allegations.
Who in Springfield said: "We always move up the food chain in corruption cases."
Answer: FBI supervisory agent Michael O' Reilly.
Who said: "We eagerly await a trial based on the merits of the indictment."
When public servants are busted for corruption their attorneys almost always say something about how their clients look forward to the trial. What's puzzling is that these same folks often plead out before the anticipated big day. A recent example being Peter Ellef and William Tomasso in Connecticut. Ellef was X Governor John Rowland's co-chief of staff and Tomasso a preferred developer of public projects. Both pled guilty to corruption charges last month. After a year of trumpeting their eagerness to stand trial and daring the feds to bring it on. Go figure.
Springfield has obviously been cursed with more than its share of crooked pols. But the area is also blessed with many good government types who never cease to lay out their opposite in assorted public forums. Including the alt press and Internet. Say yay such outlets exist. Because according to former Springfield Mayor Robert Markel (in office 1992 to 1996) some of the blame for the rot which flourished during the Albano reign lies with the area's mainstream newsmedia. Including its primary newspaper, The Republican. In early October, as part of a public discussion by a number of civic leaders on how to address the city's problems, former Mayor Markel raised the issue of why Springfield had to wait for the feds to clean house. Asking where was local law enforcement-- and local newsmedia.
According to Markel, The Republican was off publishing puff pieces lauding the revitalizing powers of Mayor Mike Albano. While David Starr, the publisher (now president) of The Republican, was busy meddling in city policy via Springfield Central, an economic development council. Markel claimed The Republican essentially turned a blind eye to political sleaze as practiced by officials who supported and/or belonged to Springfield Central, or who favored the same economic development policies as did publisher David Starr.
For his part, David Starr claims Markel's comments are rooted in bitterness-- since The Republican didn't endorse Markel for a second term. And in its rebuttal the newspaper cites coverage and investigative reporting of municipal corruption dating back over 4 years. While it's true that some of that coverage has been excellent, nitpickers might point out that Mike Albano was elected in 1995. And that The Republican only began hitting on local corruption when the subject reached critical mass; with a federal investigation of local mob activities expanding into public corruption. Furthermore, Robert Markel's critique of David Starr and The Republican are echoed by some of the same good government types who detailed corruption in Springfield for far longer than 4 years.
The observation that local mainstream newsmedia may soften local political scrutiny because of corporate development interests is not unique to Springfield. Its ubiquity causes countless vorpal blades to whir in cyberspace.
Though X Mayor Mike Albano was once seen as a revitalizing ball o' fire, the city's renewal proved to rest not on rock but a sandbox. After Albano left office a state-run finance board was put in charge of municipal spending. Mayor Charles Ryan had to enact a lot of tough cost-cutting measures. Which took a toll on public employees. Despite this, Ryan handily beat back Thomas Ashe in the November 9th mayoral race. Ashe was widely believed to be a Trojan horse for the Albano gang. You go Springfield.
In New London, Connecticut two city council seats were wrested from the old parties by members of a third party. Aka One New London. Born from the revolt against eminent domain as practiced by the New London Development Corporation (NLDC) in the neighborhood of Fort Trumbull. Another council seat may also fall their way via recount. One New London's platform focuses not only on misuse of eminent domain but on rising property taxes and botched redevelopment. The City Council is New London's top governing body, making One New London's coup even more meaty.
In New Jersey aka the Garden State, plutocrat and newly elected Governor Jon Corzine will get to show just what kind of a reformer he can be. For the sake of all the good people in Jersey who feel like regurgitating when they look at their government here's hoping Jon isn't Jim. And when Corzine pops a refill into his senate seat may it be someone less slippery than Robert Menendez from corruption drenched Hudson County. Here's also hoping that boosting rebates isn't the only way Corzine plans to cut property taxes. Though it's nice to get money in the mail why should homeowners give government no-interest loans?
Speaking of Hudson County, have you heard the one about a quasi- public development agency, a Catholic high school in a city chock full of Catholic cronies, and a bar owned by a Chinese guy? Seems the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) walks into a bar called the Golden Cicada and sez to the Chinese owner we're taking your land with eminent domain in order to extend a football field for our good buddies at St. Peter's Prep. Because they measured the damn field too short. The Chinese guy, whose name is Cheng Tan, says so sorry that Sam cut the pants wrong but I have other plans for my land. To make a long story as short as the football field, Cheng Tan summons forth the ACLU. Who don't like government power being used to boost holy recreation facilities. Though the city has backed off a bit due to bad publicity the final punchline won't be delivered till after a few court dates. Expect the usual Hudson County snicker-snack.
From Prague came a note from a friend saying Transparency International (a stellar if selective corruption watchdog group) had named the Czech Republic number 3 on the corrupt country hit parade. "We are the champions!" bragged Antiquated Tory. Then added it was too bad TI didn't rate states not just countries. But why stop there? Counties and cities need outside eyeballs too. Because as former Mayor Robert Markel of Springfield pointed out, local watchdogs have been known to develop a stake in the steak.
"One, two! One, two! And through and through/The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!"
**Or, as the Valley Advocate often puts it, the "so-called" downtown entertainment district.


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