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This is how it creeps. via Atlas Shrugs – Islamization of the Workplace: Wegman’s Adheres to Sharia, Halal Checkout Line for Muslim Cashier.
Wegman’s has put up a sign asking customers buying pork or alcohol not to use a particular checkout line when a Muslim teenager is on duty as the cashier.
More islamization of the marketplace. This is a pattern.
If you dont want to handle meat that’s not halal, work for a Muslim butcher. Don’t take a job at Wegman’s, Wal-mart or Target. But it is not about that. It’s about imposing Islam on non-Muslims. Special accommodations for a “special class.” This is part of a systematic campaign to impose the sharia on the secular marketplace. Muslim workers suing Disney over their sixty-year-old dress code or Muslim cashiers suing Wal-Mart and Target over their refusal to handle meat that is not halal is all part of a much larger supremacist effort. It has succeeded in Europe, which is all but doomed. They mean to replicate it here. This is well documented in my book, Stop the Islamization of America: A Practical Guide to the Resistance.
Wegmans Foods Markets, Inc.
c/o Jo Natale, Public Relations
1500 Brooks Avenue
PO Box 30844
Rochester, NY 14603-0844
Customer Affairs: 1-800-WEGMANS (934-6267)
The media shapes the story like it’s a great thing and oh doesn’t everyone thinks it’s a great idea? No, we don’t.
It’s a first for Wegmans in this area. They’ve put up a sign asking customers buying pork or alcohol not to use a particular checkout line when a Muslim teenager is on duty as the cashier.
The sign went up a week ago at their Lyell Avenue store.
Wegmans says they haven’t gotten any in store complaints and Wegmans was very upfront about the cashier. They just wouldn’t allow us in the store to talk with her or customers.
Spokeswoman Jo Natale says the cashier is a teenaged girl who wears a head covering. She told her supervisor she was uncomfortable handling those items because of religious reasons. So the store manager who had experience with this type of situation outside of Rochester decided to put up a small sign whenever the girl was at the checkout counter.
It says, “If your order contains pork or alcohol product, we respectfully ask that you choose another lane.”
Wegmans also says the girl has been coached what to say if customers ask why. People News10NBC spoke with outside the Lyell Avenue Wegmans store said they were okay with it and one even knows Christians who don’t like the idea of serving alcohol.
Bernard Thomas said, “I feel like if they’re going to hire her and she’s got to have the job, why shouldn’t we respect her. Just go to another cashier.”
Darlene Hucko said, “I would respect her beliefs and go to the next line if I had alcohol.
Levato said, “You think that’s okay.”
Hucko said, “I think it is okay.”
Alex Gritsvuta said, “I’m from a Christian background and waiters…the Christian girls that I know have a problem serving alcohol to people in a bar. Not in the bar necessarily, maybe in the restaurant.”
It’s not ok and should not be tolerated. If you want to live in an Islamic country you are free to do so. The overwhelming majority of Americans do not want to live under sharia law. Contact Wegmans and your elected officials.
Update: via the comments below:
I wrote to JO and this is the reply I got…
It is not Wegmans’ policy to permit signage like this for any religious or lifestyle reason. The decision to post the sign was made at store level by a single employee, and it has since been reversed. The sign has been removed. We have coached the store on other ways they could have addressed the concerns of this employee, who knew when she took the job that it would include handling these products. We apologize if this has offended anyone.
Jo Natale, director of media relations
Wegmans Food Markets | Consumer Affairs
1500 Brooks Ave. | Rochester, NY | 14603
phone: 585.429.3627 | intercompany: 8500.3627 | email: firstname.lastname@example.org | website: http://www.wegmans.com


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In Predator 2, renegade cop Mike Harrigan (Glover), eighteen years on the job, has racked up a reputation for excessive violence. So has his glorified "B" movie, which—according to Hollywood lore—went through over twenty edits to talk down the MPAA from an NC-17 rating. Made by Stephen Hopkins just after the fifth Nightmare on Elm Street picture, Predator 2 is undeniably bad, but sort of a nice try. Original screenwriters Jim Thomas & John Thomas sequelize the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger hit without the participation of the star, who wisely absconded to the vastly superior sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Predator 2 takes place seven years into the filmmaker's future, in 1997 Los Angeles. During a 109° heat wave, a drug war is waged openly in the streets. The Colombians take on the "Jamaican Voodoo Posse" for the title of worst ethnic sterotype—I mean, dominant drug lords. But they didn't count on one thing: the hulking alien Predator (Kevin Peter Hall), a warrior—drawn to "heat and conflict"—who enjoys hunting the so-called "most dangerous game." After the Central American setting of the first film, the jungle-to-urban-jungle concept is a witty idea for a sequel. It's the execution that's largely witless. Hopkins succeeds in creating a profane, violent testosterone fest, but a terribly awkward one.
The plot is the essence of simple-mindedness—I mean, simplicity. With the Predator bloodily killing druglords, Harrigan is grateful but confused. Harrigan puts his team—Detectives Danny Archuleta (Ruben Blades) and Leona Cantrell (Maria Conchita Alonso), and new recruit Jerry "Lone Ranger" Lambert (Bill Paxton)—on the job of figuring out who or what the heck is slaying criminals and slinging them upside down from the rafters. Naturally, this puts the good guys (including the pregnant Leona) in the harm's way of a creature able to bend light as camouflage and armed with a wrist-mounted computer and ray gun. One man knows more than he's saying: DEA agent Peter Keyes (Gary Busey, bringing the crazy). Assisted by a dude named Garber (a young Adam Baldwin), Keyes is tracking the Predator with the intention of trapping it for study.
Plot points and characters (like Robert Davi's Captain Phil Heinemann) come and go, as Hopkins instructs everyone to overact feverishly. Alan Silvestri's exciting score helps, but the film's narrative approach is conspicuously haphazard. One droll scene finds the Predator attacking a subway train full of Bernie Goetzs at least as well armed as our LAPD heroes; it's an isolated Robocop moment in a film more interested in brute force than satire. After a slow and clumsy buildup, the flick does improve with its foregone conclusion: the half-hour-long third act is all one extended mano a mano climax pitting Harrigan against the Predator. As a guilty pleasure, one could do worse. Still, it's hard to tell whether the presence of TV tabloid "journalist" Morton Downey Jr. (remember him?) as Tony Pope, host of "Hard Core," is meant as satire or unintended irony, since Predator 2 is as sleazy as they come.
Predator 2 gets a solid transfer in its Blu-ray debut, one that seems to accurately represent the somewhat dingy source material. The image gets solid marks all around, especially given the film's dim, murky visual scheme. Grain is minimal, and black level is solid, but the smoothness of the image also suggests a bit of detail was sacrificed to digital noise reduction. The lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix offers plenty of immersive ambience and concussive action effects that will leave the movie's fans happy.
Unlike the Blu debut of Predator, Predator 2 comes loaded up with bonus features, beginning with audio commentary by director Stephen Hopkins and audio commentary by writers Jim Thomas and John Thomas. Both tracks offer up interesting takes on what went wrong and what went right on the picture's way to the screen.
"The Hunters and the Hunted" (35:41, SD) is a fairly thorough making-of documentary collecting behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Thomas and Thomas, John Rosengrant of Stan Winston Studios, Hopkins (contemporary and vintage), Paxton (vintage), Glover (vintage), executive producer Michael Levy (vintage), stunt coordinator Gary Davis (vintage), Kevin Peter Hall (vintage), Gary Busey (vintage), Maria Conchita Alonso (vintage), Ruben Blades (vintage), Morton Downey Jr. (vintage), and Stan Winston (vintage).
In four "Evolutions" (8:24 with "Play All" option, SD) featurettes, special effects supervisor Joel Hynek narrates footage tracing the development of various sequences.
Six "Weapons of Choice" (6:49 with "Play All" option, SD) segments follow a similar pattern, with Rosengrant explaining the various weapons, illustrated in clips and stills.
"Hard Core Segments" (7:05, SD) presents two unexpurgated reels of Tony Pope's show.
The Promotional Gallery includes three "Original Theatrical Trailers" (4:02 with "Play All" option, SD); five "Original TV Spots" (2:24 with "Play All" option, SD); the 1990 EPK "The Predator Goes to Town" (3:03, SD) with Levy, Alonso, Glover, Busey, Paxton and Hopkins; the 1990 "International Making-of Featurette" (5:42, SD) with Busey, Glover, Alonso, Blades, Hopkins, and Paxton; and the 1990 special-effects-themed promo "Creating the Ultimate Hunter" (3:40, SD), which includes comments from Hopkins, Thomas and Thomas, Glover, Winston, and Downey Jr, among others.
Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 55" Plasma 1080p 3D HDTV
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Speaker (2)
Pioneer SP-C21 Center Speaker
Pioneer SW-8 Subwoofer

domain: entertainment


Premier Kathleen Wynne suggests the Ontario government will not stand in the way of any formal request to impose road tolls on two major highways leading into downtown Toronto.
Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown wants the Liberals to reject a proposal from Toronto Mayor John Tory to impose tolls on the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway.
Brown pointed out that Wynne opposed road tolls five years ago when she was transportation minister, and asked the premier directly during question period if she would stop the tolls on the two Toronto highways.
Wynne responded with an attack on how the Conservatives had disrespected municipalities when they were in government, and said the Liberals would not take “unilateral action against the city of Toronto.”
Brown said Tory’s plan to put tolls on the DVP and Gardiner would help pay for Wynne’s “mistakes” in overseeing road and transit projects, which the auditor general said cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
If Kathleen Wynne wasn’t building bridges upside down, repaving roads every two years when it should be 15 years, we wouldn’t be having this debate,” he said. “By allowing these tolls to go ahead, she’s asking 905 commuters and 416 drivers to pay for her mistakes.”
Tory’s office put out a release Tuesday accusing Brown of trying to “score cheap political points” by opposing road tolls as a revenue tool for the cash-strapped city.
“Maybe he should have championed a plan to fix people’s commutes into Toronto,” said his spokeswoman, Amanda Galbraith. “Now he needs to explain to Toronto residents why he’s happy to let them live in a city that can’t afford to fight traffic or build transit.”


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A mutually beneficial marriage is one out of which each party are able to leverage the other party’s achievements. It can be anything by a marriage or perhaps business layout find a colombian wife to a casual friend. It is important to notice that a mutually beneficial relationship is not for everybody. The benefits for just one party are usually greater than the advantages for the other. But it is still practical to have a mutually beneficial romantic relationship. Read on to find out about how to create a mutually effective relationship with a potential spouse.
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Mutually beneficial connections are a form of relationship that is beneficial to both parties. The relationship can be passionate, non-sexual, or perhaps business-related. The goal should be to benefit the other person. A mutually beneficial romantic endeavors is a win win situation just for both parties. While it may not be the very best type of romance, it is the most suitable choice for equally people. It is a good choice for couples who want to stay together for years.
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A mutually-beneficial relationship is a relationship in which each person rewards from other’s success. It can be romantic, business-related, or legal. A mutually-beneficial relationship can be a win win situation intended for both parties. If a partnership is a win-win circumstances, both parties profit. A romantic relationship is mutually beneficial when it is both peoples’ needs will be met. A partnership can benefit from a shared relationship, however it doesn’t have to involve sexual activity.

domain: psychology


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there are times when I wonder what’s going on. how did I get here? what am I doing here? where do I go from here?
then I remember: I am here to bring glory to my God.
that’s [almost] all the motivation I need [sometimes]. it reminds me of who I am and whose I am and what I’m here to accomplish. that’s my “reboot statement”.
Nana Agyeiwaa Nyameba
P. S. Be Praised by Maverick City Music. I don’t know when it got to me, but one day I just felt it so deeply in my heart and it didn’t let go. I hope it grabs your heart too.
Alsooo… excuse the weird capitalisation (or lack of it) my brain is… doing something.
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domain: artistic


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By Jared Janzen
HALSTEAD—The city of Halstead plans to take advantage of state loan to help pay its exorbitant gas bill from February. This would mean that residents can expect to have a monthly surcharge added to their bill for the coming years but not worry about paying a bill for $1,000 come April.
At a work session Thursday evening, City Manager Ethan Reimer told the governing body that the state legislature had just made $100 million in state idle funds available to loan to cities like Halstead that are facing extraordinary bills relating to the energy crisis two weeks ago.
The city expects its February bill to spike from $100,000 to more than $2 million, but it hasn’t received the final amount yet. Estimated price points also showed that a resident who normally paid $75 for gas in February would have received a bill for nearly $1,000, Reimer said.
“There is no magic wand that just says we’re not going to have to pay this,” Reimer said. “It was a consumed commodity, and the investigations into whether there was some kind of price manipulation are going to take many months, if not years, probably before those answers are known and what the recovery would look like.”
The state loan would allow the city to pass the cost along to citizens over time. To do that, the city expects to place a monthly surcharge on customers’ utility bills. While Reimer didn’t have a firm number on what that surcharge would be, he said it could easily be $10 or more every month until the loan is paid back.
He said the most feasible way to assess the surcharge given the city’s billing software capabilities would be a flat rate across users.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say we are probably set up to do something assessed equally across accounts or would only be able to be differentiated between a residential and an industrial account.”
At this point, he didn’t think the software had the ability to let customers pay their sum upfront and avoid the surcharge for the next 8-10 years. He also added keeping track of that would be problematic as people move in and out of town.
“If it’s a per meter charge, someone who didn’t live in Halstead during this crisis is going to end up paying, and part of that just goes to we’re a community; we’re all in it together,” Reimer said.
In addition to the loan, the state expects municipalities like Halstead to draw from their reserves to help cover the cost of the gas bill, according to Reimer.
“By the nature of this crisis, it is kind of one of the reasons we keep reserves, although our reserves we always looked at more from a laying new infrastructure side, not purchasing the actual product,” he said. “They understand that, and we don’t have to completely drain, but they do expect if you have reserves, you use that.”
Even after pulling from its reserves and suspending transfers from the gas fund, Halstead would still The loan would amortize over up to 10 years at a 0.25 percent interest rate, subject to change annually.
Reimer said the council would have to pass an ordinance and resolution during its Monday night meeting next week to move forward with applying for the loan. Applications are due March 15.
Reimer added the city does not have the option of not paying its bill and pretending nothing happened, as this would put the city in violation with KMGA and could lead to the city not being able to buy gas in the future.
Council member Sam Farmer said he was in favor of the loan.
“The nice thing about, in my mind, doing the loan is it stretches it out and also gives us more time for potential litigation and possible rebates,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but the potential could be there to help pay that loan off.”
Mayor Dennis Travis was also in support of the loan but added that the work is not over in getting to the bottom of how the city ended up in this situation.
“The bottom line is this is an avenue that provides us a band-aid for the financial relief we need, but there’s a lot us, myself included, that are very concerned about what caused this situation in the first place, and how do we keep it from happening again?” Travis said. “We’re going to continue to make noise with our governing officials and legislature to continue this investigation and find a solution.”

domain: news


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I've given up pretending I'm not interested in watching a new Stars Wars movie.
I’ve given up pretending I’m not interested in watching a new Stars Wars movie.
I don’t really want to get bogged down in hypotheses about plots or returning characters from the old movies, nor am I particularly interested in ranting about Hollywood’s on-going obsession with franchises. It struck me it was pretty inevitable that at some point someone – George Lucas or, as it transpired, Disney – would resurrect Star Wars. After all, the six movies so far are the most financially successful movies of all time, with $4.5 billion in ticket sales worldwide and an additional $20 billion in merchandise sales.
The good news, of course, is that Oscar-winner Michael Arndt – Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3 – is writing Episode VII, which at least suggests the script will be superior to Lucas’ own hammy efforts. But who to direct it..? While we wait for an official announcement, there’s this brilliant spoof from American chat show, Conan, purporting to be some ‘test footage’ for Episode VII shot by none other than Wes Anderson. So, here’s A Life Galactic for you…


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THIS A LIVE MUSICAL EVENT AT “THE MUSIC LOUNGE”.642 Pittwater Rd, Brookvale NSW 2100
Bookings Essential…Doors open at 7pm … show starts at 8pm..
This conscious multi-instrumentalist is one of the most unique artists in Australia right now. Dubbed ‘The Rhythm King’ AKoVA brings an inspiring vibe wherever he performs. This eclectic artist utilizes vocals, guitars, ukulele, Cajon, djembe, ankle bells and an assortment of other percussive instruments. Enthralling audiences as he plays most at once. His signature blend of alternative rhythmic roots comes from a life of music. With tribal drumming, driving rhythms and lyrics that make you glad to be alive. This formidable artist’s quirky nature is enticing, an experience for the eyes, feet ‘n’ soul.“AKoVA’s welcoming vibe has a worthy place at summery festival gatherings universally. He’s a natural showman. Any act to get people dancing like no-ones watching is always welcome in this crazy world.” Forte Magazine“This guy is sic!” Ash Grunwald AKoVA has been recognised for his song-writing talent by MusicOz, finalist in 2012 and 2013 and Unsigned Only song-writing finalist. Whilst touring his last Cd, Earth Recruit nationally AKoVA has shared the stage with Ash Grunwald and the boys from The Living End, Dustin Thomas, Kingtide, Fyre Walk, Tijuana Cartel, Afro Moses, The Gin Club and Dubmarine. With extensive national community radio support AKoVA has stepped it up with his new CD, This Is Me
A soulful balladeer with a voice of pure honey that soars to the highest heights and touches you deep within. Think of artists like Chris Isaak and Jeff Buckley and then add a large pinch of soul. His credits include supports for high profile artists Leonard Cohen and Michael Buble at the Acer Arena and VIP Entertainment for Powderfinger’s concerts at the Sydney Entertainment Centre as well as Deisel, Iota and Jenny Morris. He has played the city’s premier venues including The Vanguard, The Basement, The Victoria Room, The Piano Room, The Supper Club, The Beach Road Hotel, The Arthouse Hotel, The Heritage Hotel and The Bucket Room (Bondi) as well as holding residence at fine dining establishments Tony Bilson’s Number One Wine Bar and Bistro, Liquidity (Balmain) and Manly’s Artichoke Café. Don’t miss this one.
Angharad Drake grew up on Sunshine Coast and blends a mixture of folk storytelling, lullaby melodies and atmospheric harmonies. She is influenced by the stylings of Feist, Laura Marling and Bon Iver, and began to develop her own individual style during her university years and recorded a self titled debut EP in 2010. Since then she has completed two more self produced EP’s (2013’s Lay Down, and 2014’s Swing), all in preparation for her debut full length album, Sword. She is currently on tour following the release of her single ‘Baby’ and will be a welcome addition to the Acoustic Picnic.
$20 per person (children under 16 are $10)


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Jamie Carragher offers advice to Tottenham over Arsenal rivalry
Jamie Carragher tells Tottenham Hotspur to forget about rivalry with Arsenal
Jamie Carragher says Tottenham Hotspur need to forget about finishing ahead of Arsenal and focus on winning silverware.
The Lilywhites were left with a sour taste in their mouth after Sunday’s 5-1 defeat by Newcastle United on the final day of the Premier League season.
Tottenham’s embarrassing defeat meant that Arsenal hoisted themselves above their fierce north London rivals and into second place in the table.
The Gunners have now finished above Tottenham in the last 21 Premier League season despite what many consider to be a poor campaign for Arsenal.
However, former Liverpool centre-half Carragher had some words of advice for Mauricio Pochettino’s players ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
“Forget this Arsenal thing. It is about winning titles and trophies. Of course they want to finish above Arsenal,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
Tottenham failed to win any of their last four Premier League games in an otherwise positive season for the north London side.
Spurs drew with West Brom and Chelsea before successive defeats by Southampton and Newcastle to finish the Premier League season.


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Private Chef - Elevated Seasonal Dining
This gourmet seasonal supper brings together the best flavors of winter in one cozy meal.
Warm up this winter with delicious dishes prepared with flair in this private chef experience with Chef Jenn. She'll create a spread that presents the tastes of the season dressed up in gourmet fashion. Enjoy the bright tang of a panzanella salad with citrus and beets before sampling the warm goodness of sweet potato bisque with leeks. You'll also enjoy crisp romanesco and cauliflower, and tender stuffed dumpling squash. And for dessert, a crisp strawberry pavlova topped with whipped cream.
Guests are welcome to provide wine and beer to accompany the menu, and may request pairing recommendations from the chef upon booking.
- Minimum Guests 2
- Maximum Guests 20
- Meal Courses 5
- Event Duration 3 hours
- Chef Arrival Time 30 minutes prior to the selected serving time
Cozymeal guest reviews for other experiences with Chef Jenn
15 Feb 2023
Jen was so fun and knowledgeable. We loved the flavor combinations and the surprising taste of her inspired recipes
11 Feb 2023
Chef Jenn was awesome. Very friendly and personable. She knew her stuff and got us involved every step of the way. We will for sure have her come back.
13 Jan 2023
My fiancé and I absolutely loved learning from Jenn. She was super knowledgeable and really good at keeping us engaged in different cooking tasks and fun conversation throughout the whole night. We learned a ton and had some amazing food. By the end of the night, it felt like we had all known each other for a while and were just hanging out as friends. 11/10 would book with Jenn again!
$ 99 Per person
All inclusive: 5-course meal, ingredients, cooking, service & clean up.
Meet your chef
Chef Jenn is classically trained chef specializing in plant-based cuisine who brings nearly 15 years of professional experience to the table. Since graduating from culinary school, she has spent time honing her craft in Australia, Italy and in the U.S., including in Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City. Chef Jenn is now a freelance personal chef offering everything from catering services to cooking classes and beyond.
The Cozymeal Protection®
Chef Jenn will travel to guests within Phoenix for this experience.

domain: food


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Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an important annual culinary herb grown in the United States. Recently, basil production was drastically affected by downy mildew caused by Peronospora belbahrii, a recently discovered foliar disease of basil in Homestead, FL. The disease has spread to more than 30 states in the United States causing significant losses to basil growers. As a result of the recent emergence of the disease, limited management tools are available for control of downy mildew, and it is critical for growers to apply management measures at appropriate times. This study was designed to evaluate 2- to 7-week-old basil plants for their susceptibility to downy mildew. Another objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of a pre-inoculation application of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) for control of downy mildew. The results suggested that 2- to 3-week-old basil was more susceptible to downy mildew than 4- to 7-week-old plants. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was smaller for 5- to 7-week-old ASM-treated basil plants than for 2- to 4-week-old ASM-treated basil plants. This study indicated that 2- to 3-week-old basil plants need to be protected, and ASM should be applied before pathogen infection on 5- to 7-week-old plants to reduce downy mildew to a greater extent.
The rapid expansion of Asian populations in the United States presents significant opportunities and challenges for the eastern U.S. produce sector to take advantage of their close proximity to densely populated areas. Initial crop studies followed by ethnic consumer and crop surveys were conducted to examine vegetable, leafy green, and herb consumption and expenditures among Chinese, Asian Indians, and other Asian groups. Consumer choices were used to prioritize subsequent production trials. Family expenditures were determined for specific Asian produce types and total produce purchases. This market data were extrapolated to the east coast Asian populations to assess potential market size (90% confidence interval, error margin 5.6%). Chinese consumer values ranged from $245 to $296 million per annum and Asian Indians ranged from $190 to $230 million per annum. The average annual fresh fruit and vegetable expenditures by both Asian groups were 2 to 3.5 times respective national averages. Leading Chinese vegetables determined by average expenditures were baby bok choy, pak choy, oriental eggplant, snow pea, oriental spinach, and napa cabbage. Highest expenditure of leafy greens and herbs for Chinese consumers were chives and garland chrysanthemum. This market-driven survey reported consumption of over 100 Asian crops and 42 cultivars were ranked “feasible” to grow in the eastern section of the United States. Horticultural matrices of selection criteria narrowed the list to the most promising candidates for production. As a result, 28 cultivars were then grown in University research and demonstration plots at Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida in determining growth characteristics and yield to focus horticultural crop producers. Leading vegetable cultivars for Asian Indian consumers were bitter gourd, eggplant, fenugreek leaves, cluster beans, and bottle gourd. Leading leafy greens and herbs for Asian Indians were turmeric, fenugreek, sorrel spinach, and radish greens. Most of these Asian cultivars were demonstrated to grow well in the three main growing zones of 5, 7, and 9. Phytochemical attributes such as antioxidant activity, polyphenols, and mineral contents were analyzed for several of the leading crop candidates. This initial field and laboratory data shows that many of these ethnic crops can be grown in the eastern United States to direct production opportunities and are nutrient rich to help drive consumer demand.


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iNews TV Live now: Keeping You Informed and Connected
In today's fast-paced world, staying updated with the latest news is crucial. iNews TV, a leading news network, recognizes this need and offers a seamless way to access real-time news through their live streaming service. With its innovative features and informative content, iNews TV Live ensures you're always connected to the world's events and developments.
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By tuning into iNews TV Live, you gain numerous benefits. You're not only informed about the latest news but also get diverse perspectives on various issues, enhancing your understanding of the world around you.
iNews TV: A Reliable News Source
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iNews TV Live now offers a modern way to consume news - conveniently, instantly, and effectively. By leveraging technology, iNews TV ensures that you're always connected to the latest happenings, empowering you with knowledge and awareness.
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Related: Automotive Materials
Every time the cost of gasoline rises, the aluminum industry rubs its hands together. The same happens when Congress discusses tougher CAFE standards. Should the auto industry ever need to enter into a serious weight reduction regime over a single generation of vehicles, aluminum is the only real answer. And the bauxite barons are ready. Trouble is, the price of a gallon of fuel never rises high enough or remains there long enough, and political reality keeps the CAFE monster at bay.
"If the aluminum industry keeps following the same path it has to this point," says Subodh Das, president and CEO of aluminum analysis and research firm Secat, Inc. (Lexington, KY), "its future as an automotive material is limited." Das isn't some commentator without real-world experience. He knows the industry well. Prior to starting Secat, he was the vice president of Technology and New Products at Arco Aluminum, and chairman of the ALCAR consortium created to develop a low-cost, non-heat treatable aluminum alloy sheet. Before that, he worked for Alcoa as a senior scientist. Total industry experience: 30 years.
"What the aluminum and auto companies have not been very good at," Das continues, "is getting the discussion away from pricing." Das believes the historic price differential between steel and aluminum, though much closer today, keeps automakers from seriously considering the metal. He says this is compounded by the structure of the aluminum industry itself, which is dominated by a small number of large companies who act independently of each other instead of collaborating on solutions beneficial to all, despite the best efforts of organizations like the Aluminum Association to focus industry efforts on common needs.
"Steel companies must work together because they have a commodity material and there are numerous suppliers," says Das. "Which creates initiative like the Ultra Light Steel Auto Body [ULSAB] to attack problems common to the industry and blunt the perceived weight advantage of aluminum." Das's admiration of the steel industry's efforts is that of a warrior bested by a more agile and hungry competitor on more than one occasion. "It has done an excellent job of speaking with one voice and promoting a vision tied to its customer's needs," he says. "Even though the aluminum industry's structure prevents it speaking with one voice, it could learn a lot from the way the steel industry does things." That includes creating distinct aluminum alloy commodities so automakers can satisfy their desire to multiple-source the material, and keep prices in check. Aluminum companies typically promote specialty products to give them a marketing advantage over their competitors.
Secat, Das explains, helps bring aluminum companies, government agencies, universities and the national laboratories together to conduct collaborative research. Each program participant invests the same amount of money. The results are equally shared and any intellectual properties generated are protected: "It gives them an incentive to bring fresh ideas and take greater risks at a much lower price than can be achieved by working alone."
Overall, however, Das maintains that the competitive advantages of aluminum have not been well articulated to vehicle manufacturers or consumers. What's more, many of the advantages of aluminum–such as being lighter than steel–have been countered by the steel industry which, not unimportantly, can point out that its material is less expensive. Consequently, there is no demand-pull for aluminum.
The solution for the aluminum industry, Das suggests, may be greater collaboration between the aluminum companies so that they can create compelling attributes for their products. "The only sure thing is that you have safety if the customer wants your product," he says. "The aluminum industry must come to its own defense."


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Facebook has over a billion users worldwide and every month, there are more than a million active users that are checking their account, likewise with Twitter and YouTube. This is the reason why it became a prominent platform among marketers and businesses to advertise like their archerypower and so on. This made social media an integral element among businesses.
A Web of Information
Connecting with a massive number of consumers on these sites open up huge opportunities for lead generation as well as marketing. Not only that, social media monitoring can provide valuable insights as well as a better understanding of how your audience, competitors and industry reacts to products and latest market trends at the same time.
Aside from providing a platform both to consumers and businesses in sharing their thoughts and take part in ongoing conversations and threads, there are other uses for social media.
For one, it may be used as a channel in which people can have easy access to important t information and current events.
Backed by Research
According to recent study made by Pew Research, they discovered that over 64% of adults are actually active on Facebook and 30% of them are using the site itself to be updated on news. Meaning to say, around half of people who are using Facebook, trust the website in getting news source. Likewise, 16% of US adults are also active on Twitter with precisely 8% of them are accessing the news via tweets.
Not just users read news through social media sites but, it gives them the power to join the conversation and share their own stories. Half of users among different social networking sites shared news stories on their account and about 46% have discussed the news they found on their groups or pages.
On the other hand, while social networking websites are quite popular media to get news, the research found as well that users of the sites are spending less time in engaging with news that they’ve read. Readers who have visited the news straight from the provider’s site are spending more or less 5 minutes on the page. Compared to those who found the news via link on Facebook who spends about 2 minutes reading the page.

domain: sociology


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"We are looking to revolutionise the way companies in Spain hire remote talent"
Celerative is a platform that provides a solution for recruitment, payment and management of remote talent in technology. It can solve one or all three of the above issues, which are the main challenges in building remote teams.
Celerative currently has experts in its own talent pool in 39 countries and five continents, and clients in nine countries.
Pablo Baldomá Jones is the project's founder and works with his partner Juan Salas, with whom he also created a technology-based start-up accelerator.
Celerative has the support of the Rising UP in Spain programme run by ICEX-Invest in Spain, which focuses on attracting foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up and grow in Spain. The selected start-ups receive resources to develop their project in Spain.
How was your experience with Rising UP in Spain?
We were selected from a group of several start-ups from all over the world, and the process has been very good. Mainly with the assigned mentors, who have helped us both to validate our value proposition and even to commercially develop our platform in Spain.
Why did you decide to apply for the programme? What attracts you to the Spanish market?
We knew from referrals that it could be an interesting location for expansion. We currently have 3 clients in Spain. Our vision is to continue to grow in terms of our number of clients and talent in Spain and to use Spain as a platform for expansion throughout Europe.
How is entering this market going? What are your plans for growth?
We are looking to revolutionise the way companies in Spain hire remote talent for the digital transformation of local businesses. In addition to the expansion of digital products launched from the mainland, we are looking to change the way companies adopt Remote as the new working philosophy for talent.
Where are you in terms of expansion in other countries?
We currently have clients in 12 countries, 4 continents and experts in our talent pool from 39 nationalities. All this growth has happened in 21⁄2years since 2019 and we believe it is just the beginning.
What do you wish for Celerative's future?
To be the leader in terms of borderless hiring, simplifying the whole process of assembling teams of engineers and software developers remotely.
Source: El Referente
Read the full interview: Celerative, a platform for recruitment, payment and management of remote talent (elreferente.es)

domain: geography


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My son asks me regularly to play nerf guns with him. My daughter wants me to play Rapunzel with her as a doofy version of Flynn Rider. My wife has an endless list of tasks she wants help in accomplishing. I have my list. Far too often it seems that those lists wind up taking priority of imaginative playing with our kids.
When we finally whittle each of our lists down each day, the day is over. The kids march up to their rooms, dejected that the “When are we going to play?” response of “Later” never came. It’s hard, and we have responsibilities our young children simply don’t understand, or perhaps, we just get too busy placing our focus on the wrong to-do list.
Our recent trip to Long Beach, Washington, turned out to be just what we needed. Some time to play with our kids and be able to put more of our attention on them and their growing worlds.
About Long Beach, Washington:
Long Beach is on the Southern Corner of Washington state, not far from Astoria, Oregon. It is where Lewis and Clark ended their Journey to the Pacific. Long Beach also claims the world’s longest continuous peninsula beach, boasting 28 miles of sandy beaches. You can drive on significant portions of the beach, outside of areas that are marked off for conservation purposes.
It is a great spot for grey whale watching. Twice a year, in December and Mid-March to April, you can take advantage of the off-season to watch the grey whales migrate.
In Late August each year, the International Kite Festival is held on the shores. It’s the largest kite festival in North America and draws huge crowds to check out the lighted kite shows and kite fights. Kite fights are when abrasive lines are used to cut the lines of an opponents kite. Some of the kites are massive and it is truly one of the most interesting festivals in Washington.
Where we Stayed:
I spent some time looking around before going. The hotels all seemed to be booked. I found the Sou’wester Lodge. Having seen a handful of the Vintage Trailer park resorts in the area I couldn’t help but feel a bit inclined to stay. They, unfortunately, had all their trailer rooms booked, but they had a handful of RV spaces available. So, we booked one of those and packed up the RV.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of Vintage Trailer Park resorts. Think old shiny airstreams parked on a grass lot with plastic furniture and pink flamingos. The Sou’wester had these but they also had a bit of an off-the-grid commune feel to it as well.
The lodge itself, a large red building was built in 1892 as a vacation him to Senator Corbett, an Oregon Senator, and businessman. Today the lodge features several rooms that are available to rent, a wrap-around porch with an honor system store. Which is great when it’s late and you need a few snacks. They also have a handful of toys for the kids to borrow as well as a collection of movies and various crafts.
The lodge also has a thrift store and art store in small vintage trailers and a Garden Spa and Finnish Sauna. There aren’t fire pits for each RV spot, campsite, or trailer, but there are plenty scattered around giving you the opportunity to converse with the others staying at the Sou’wester Lodge.
What stood out to me was the concert they had in the lodge and the artist in residency programs. I stuck my head in and snapped a few photos of a Wood carving class being taught by Long Beach Local Artist Emilie Rigby. She provided tools and protective gear and walked people through the process of wood carving. If I had known earlier, I would have attended. Some part of me has always wanted to learn how to whittle.
Overall, we really enjoyed staying at the Sou’wester Lodge!
What We Did:
We got to the Sou’wester late, so we didn’t start exploring until the next morning. We walked down the street the Sou’wester sits on, which dead-ends into the Seaview beach. The beach was pretty much empty, except for a few people spread out far and wide. The beach had more Bald Eagles on it than people.
After breakfast, we headed into town and explored a bit. We arrived the weekend before the International Kite Festival, so they were setting up. We wandered along the beach and watched some of the large kites already set up and flying.
I bought two kites from Wind World Kites. A Frozen themed kit for my daughters and a trick kite for my son and me to play with. I hadn’t flown a kite since I was a young child. As I was checking out the person on the counter remarked, “You know this has two strings, right?” I didn’t catch the warning. My three-year-old had no issue getting her Frozen kite into the air. I easily spent an hour with my son failing again and again at getting the kite into the air. I was frustrated but determined, and in the end, I was unsuccessful. It would go up, then immediately dive into the ground. No amount of YouTube videos seemed to give me the skills required to fly it.
About that time the girls were crashing, so while they napped in the RV, my son and I snuck over to ride Go-Karts and check out the horses. There seemed to be two different places to take beach horseback tours. We stopped by the West Coast Horse rides and chatted with the women who were working the booth they were really funny. Unfortunately, our girls were a bit too young, so we couldn’t take the tour. I want to go back as soon as they are old enough! Strangely enough, I spent most of my youth in Texas and have never rode a horse that wasn’t connected to a fair ground spinning wheel.
The Fun Beach Speedway Go-Kart track was amazing. Kids need to be at least 12 to drive, but they have two-seater carts that younger kids can ride. He was thrilled to go on his first Go-Kart ride, and I hadn’t been on a Go-kart in a while either. The track seemed to be oiled just enough to get squirrelly around the corners which he seemed to enjoy. We spent the whole race trying to pass a young girl who would just glance back, laugh, and taunt us. My son loved it.
I visited Long beach once or twice before when I was young and saw Jake the Alligator Man. When I first moved back to Washington, unsure of what or where exactly it was, I spent the last decade of my explorations throughout Washington with my eyes peeled for this mythical creature. And at Marsh’s Free Museum is where I was reconnected with the mummified remains of a half-human, half alligator of tabloid fame that so enthralled me when I was a kid.
I excitedly took my son in to see Jake. He shrugged it off saying, “Dad, that’s not real.” He was much more excited about a wooden box that he could lock his treasures in that had “World’s Greatest Dad,” carved on the lid. I successfully diverted his attention to another toy.
We also drove down to Cape Disappointment State Park. We hung out on the beach for a while climbing on the rocks and exploring. One of my favorite things to do is to check out the driftwood cabins and structures people built on the beach. I think next time we visit we’ll stay here and spend the day at the beach building one.
There was a little stage off the main drag, and we watched Giants in the Trees play. Giants in the Trees is Krist Novoselic’s new band. Krist was the bassist for Nirvana. Our kids joined other kids dancing in front of the stage while we watched. It was super enjoyable.
Other than that, simply stroll up and down the main drag. There are tons of stores to stick your head in, from antiques to art galleries to the Kitschy gift shops filled with Shwag emblazoned with Long Beach Washington.
What We Ate:
The Crab Pot is a must. It is known for basically dumping a bowl filled with your pick of crab legs, potatoes, Corn on the cob, Mussels, Clams, Andouille Sausage onto your table and you just sit there and engorge yourself on the supporting cast of the Little Mermaid. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in the area. They have locations in Seattle and Bellevue as well. They have other more reasonable meals as well, we just haven’t tried anything else outside of the large bowls.
The 42nd Street Café for a low key but delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. I only wish we had a babysitter with us! Right next door to the Sou’wester this little diner was amazing for breakfast. Probably wasted on our children’s palates, but the New Orleans style Beignets were delicious, and the Chicken fried steak breakfast held me over for the better part of the day.
For a quick bite stop by the Hungry Harbor. It gets busy, but the burgers are delicious which is usually expected from little vacation spot mainstays. If you eat outside, just keep an eye out for the seagulls that are keeping a very keen eye on you/
For dessert try Scoopers! The whole day we saw people eating these brightly colored Ice cream cones. The Ice cream was surreally brightly colored. We had to stop-in. we ordered a waffle bowl of the brightest colored Ice creams we could find, it was a swirl of pinks and reds and blues, so deeply colored I thought it looked like neon playdough. If they sold this stuff in stores, I wouldn’t buy anything else.
Would We Go Again:
All in all, the trip was worth it. We got to put off our busy schedules and get tons of much needed playtime with our kids. They loved it!!! We plan on making Long Beach a regular Washington get-away. It’s also really nice to break away from the humdrum of day to day life. I think our only complaint is this unusually dreary PNW summer.


Drilon disagrees with Gordon, files dissent on Dengvaxia report
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon opposed on Thursday the blue ribbon committee’s draft report, as he defended former President Benigno Aquino III, who was recommended for prosecution for the Dengvaxia mess.
Drilon said he does not concur with the draft report, which recommended the filing of charges against the former President, former Health Secretary Janette Garin, and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad among others, over the purchase and administration of the P3 billion Dengvaxia vaccine.
“Upon careful review of the draft report, I would like to inform you that I disagree with its findings, conclusions and recommendations,” Drilon said in a letter to Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the committee, on Thursday.
“Thus, in accordance with Rule XI, Section 24 of the Rules of the Senate, I am formally entering my objection thereto and submitting herewith my dissenting vote,” he added.
In his 30-page dissenting vote, Drilon said: “We found no conclusive scientific evidence to support the conclusion that any of the reported deaths were in any way connected to Dengvaxia,” as he pressed for the matter to be studied by “qualified pathologists.”
Drilon, an ex-officio member of the panel, found no basis for the committee’s recommendation to file charges against the former President and his officials for violation of the Revised Penal Code, R.A. No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Civil Code and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Declaring certain personalities guilty at this point would not only be premature but would also reinforce impressions of the politicization of a legitimate public health concern that must be addressed in a clinical manner,” he said.
Drilon however said, “If and when it is indubitably established that Dengvaxia is the proximate cause of the deaths in question, all those involved should be made to account – without exception.”
Dengvaxia was administrated to 280,000 children during Aquino’s term, and to 400,000 during President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
The draft report cited Garcia v. People, wherein the Supreme Court held that a person committing a felony is responsible for all the natural and logical consequences resulting from it, though the unlawful act performed is different from the one intended.
Drilon said the doctrine in Garcia v. People and Article 4 of the Revised Penal Code could not apply to Aquino’s act of approving the procurement of Dengvaxia.
He explained that in order for a person to be liable for a felony under this provision, two elements should be present: 1) an intentional felony was committed, and 2) the wrong done to the aggrieved party be the direct, natural and logical consequence of the felony committed by the offender.
“The first element – that an intentional felony was committed is conspicuously absent. It is clear that President Aquino did not act with malice or dolo in procuring the vaccine,” Drilon stressed.
Drilon pointed out that good faith is evident in the process by which the former President arrived at his decision to procure the vaccine.
He said it is evident when Aquino considered factors such as the prevalence of dengue in certain regions of the country, the spike in reported cases in areas outside of Metro Manila, the costs of getting sick, the estimated costs for the entire country which could total in P58.2 billion, the absence of a cure for dengue, and the fact that countries like Mexico and Brazil have already approved the vaccine.
The Senate leader also quoted Dr. Halstead’s testimony at the Senate, who said that the diagnosis on whether Dengvaxia caused death cannot be based on mere autopsy.
Considering that there is no conclusive proof to establish that Dengvaxia was the proximate cause of the deaths of the children whose bodies were autopsied by the Public Attorney’s Office, Drilon said it was evident that the second element of Article 4 of the Revised Penal Code is not met.
The minority leader also said Aquino did not commit technical malversation when he authorized the purchase of Dengvaxia, as it is well within his Constitutional authority to use the savings to fund the Dengvaxia procurement.
He also explained that there was no undue haste in the procurement of the vaccine as the approval was well within the timelines provided in the law and relevant regulations. /je
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With their father serving overseas in the Navy towards the end of the World War 2, Seita and his younger sister Setsuko are living as normally as they can. One day during a firebomb raid on the city their mother suffers fatal wounds and the two siblings' lives are turned upside down as they go to live with a relative. After suffering the cruel treatment of their aunt, who makes it clear that their very presence is a nuisance, Seita and Setsuko decide to leave and go to live in an abandoned bomb shelter. With no one else to rely on, Seita and Setsuko try their hardest to live from day to day. Though when food becomes ever more scarce and no one is willing to sell what little provisions they have, life for the pair is increasingly difficult. Then when Setsuko falls ill, Seita begins to realize just how fragile life is...
StorySay, isn't Studio Ghibli the one that makes those really cute movies about forest spirits and flying castles? Uh-huh, but it's also the one that in one ninety-minute masterstroke makes you question every ounce of faith you had in society. When the terms ‘heart-rending', ‘abject misery' and ‘oh my God, I'm going to kill myself' were invented, it was with this movie in mind. It's not due to whimsy that this anime is titled Grave of the Fireflies - there is not even a glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel. And that is precisely what makes this film so beautiful; it does not once flinch from the direst possibilities of human existence, but portrays misery in such a way that we never stop believing this story is worth telling. The film has a different sort of pacing, a refreshing angle on war, and brings a unique flavour to unconditional love, suffering and endurance. Watching it feels a lot like running through quicksand; the obstacles keep piling on, and the more the protagonists claw away at them, the faster they seem to sink beneath their weight. Especially poignant are the interspersed moments of happiness used to relieve the constant anguish, for they usually happen to everyone but Seita and Setsuko. For the characters involved it seems there is no point, but for us, the viewers, it is a vital learning curve. Perhaps the film's only drawback is that, being such an emotional journey, you rarely feel like revisiting it. I first watched Grave of the Fireflies many years ago (after reading ‘Ghibli' on the back of the DVD and mistakenly assuming it was a Miyazaki film), but since then, this review has been the only excuse I've had to rewatch it. I'll confess that I started sobbing again in the first five minutes because the haunting scenes awoke emotional memories (not actual vivid memories) of the things that were about to happen to the children. Considering I haven't cried like this since the Auschwitz episode in Band of Brothers, I take that as testament to the film's subtle, timeless power.AnimationThe quality of animation is fantastic, and that it still looks so good even after all these years is to Ghibli's credit. There are some beautiful details of the grass and the sky reflected in the water in a montage of Setsuko playing by the river. Contrast that with the hellish red hues of the war scenes and what I like to call the ‘ghost' scenes, and you have a movie that weaves a bittersweet undertone into its very fabric. My favourite moment is after the shells fall in the beginning and Seita looks around to see shots of a ladder, a bucket and mop, and a trough - it just so perfectly captures the ordinary amidst the nightmarish devastation. The character designs are of the typical simplistic Ghibli variety, with certain personalities having quirky features. Movement is always perfectly smooth. Where Setsuko is concerned, they simply must have observed a bunch of kids in natural play, for her movements, habits and mannerisms are nothing but realistic. Not to mention that I looked for repeat frames as people ran from the bomb blasts and found there were none.SoundIn terms of the Japanese voice acting, everyone is brilliant, but Setsuko stands out as the pinnacle. As well as being animated realistically, she must surely be voiced by some kind of super seiyuu. Even if you don't like kids (which I don't), you'll still find yourself saying, ‘Ah' at her innocent speeches. The American voice actors in comparison don't come across as mesmerising, mainly because of the difference in pacing, but they do an acceptable job. The soundtrack, although not a prominent feature in itself, is suitably haunting.CharactersThe only excuse you could have not to care for Seita and Setsuko is that you're dead. At times, empathy is taken to such excruciating levels that you wonder whether you can take any more. Yet somehow Grave of the Fireflies never ranges into the realms of melodrama and petty sentimentality, meaning you never lose interest in the siblings and their plight. Setsuko is adorable, temperamental and ignorant of any wider implications (just as a baby should be), whilst Seita is a teenager abandoned in a cold adult world way before his time, and with nothing to cling to but his sister. The two are characterised almost wholly in these terms, which made it easy to view them as representatives of all children of war. They are not brave, independent children, but lost children - lost through war, lost through time, lost through memory. We see so many touching moments between them, that it's impossible to pick out the most important; from Setsuko showing her brother all the ‘money' she has saved, to Seita trying to hold her in his loneliness and being rebuffed, each one takes on such harrowing significance in retrospect. The supporting characters are realistic enough considering the few minutes we get to spend with each of them, and rightly so, since this is meant to be a historical portrayal. Although not complex in themselves, each of the cast brings a new insight into the uncompromising culture that's developed in response to the terrible times. For example, although Seita's aunt can justifiably be viewed as a miserly bitch, the fact is that food is scarce and her primary concern is for her own family. This is a dog-eat-dog world steeped in conflict, and as terrible as it sounds, two orphan kids are the least of everyone's problems.OverallGrave of the Fireflies is no less than a classic masterpiece. Watch it if you're dying for an overwhelming emotional experience; watch it if you fancy a no-bullshit plunge into the decay of humanity; and by all means watch it with a box of tissues. Don't watch it if you're looking for another Miyazaki fairy tale.
ANIME EVOLUTION SERIES Full list of the review series can be found on this page, 3rd post from bottom: http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?uid=251338&show=userpage&do=blog&blogid=29009&page=0The 80’s were the decade when the atrocities of war stopped being taboo and several anime were made to depict the aftereffects, the most direct of which was Barefoot Gen with the bombing of Hiroshima. Grave of the Fireflies takes a rather different approach to the subject by focusing solely on its characters and not on the actual catastrophe, in this case the bombing of the Kobe area. That is after all what makes this movie unique; it is more about the mentality of the characters and not of the actual destruction. In a way, it is a far more dramatic and realistic version of Barefoot Gen and its idealistic characters with their positive attitude and an ending that gives you hope for the future. This movie does the exact opposite; it starts by telling you that the kids will not have a good ending (thus not a spoiler) and then begins a flashback showing what exactly happened. The movie also shows a lot of the bad side of humanity, with the Japanese being cruel to one another in their struggle to find enough to survive to the point they become uncaring even towards the suffering of children. It is at the same time not without its sparks of hope for a better future, especially in the scene with the kids burying the dead fireflies and wishing them better luck in their next life. That makes sense for those who believe in reincarnation and not one life and then straight to heaven or hell; thus from a Japanese perspective the ending hints that the kids may get a second chance in their next life (thus the meaning behind the name of the movie). The movie practically shows the aftereffects of the destruction through the eyes of the two main siblings. It is meant to present the world with their innocence, their pure minds not tainted from the various social-political issues behind the war and the deaths of their relatives. They do not understand all that, nor do they care to find out. They are just trying to have a happy life with survival being a much secondary issue. When finally that issue does arise because they have nothing to eat, they still try to reason everything with their child innocence, thus once more the whole movie is in a way a criticism against the real reasons of the war. The grown ups make wars for various agendas but the children do not understand or care about them, yet suffer the consequences nonetheless. It is a much more poetic and direct form of anti-war message compared to Barefoot Gen and its over-the-top focus on making the explosion to look horrifying and the survivors to suffer yet try to find hope and move on. And that is why I consider it far more mature and superior as well. The production values are also very good for its time, with the characters being full of lively motions and the backgrounds looking plain albeit detailed in secondary areas, such as textures and physics. The elegiac BGM and the innocent voices of the children, as well as the occasional cruel ones of the adults manage to create a much appropriate atmosphere that may even bring tears to all the not-so-good-at-self control viewers. Another thing that is done in a far better way than Barefoot Gen, where visuals and voice acting are so bad you feel like laughing at points. And now for some excused scorings. ART SECTION: 9/10 General Artwork 2/2 (well-done) Character Figures 1/2 (generic) Backgrounds 2/2 (detailed) Animation 2/2 (good) Visual Effects 2/2 (symbolic) SOUND SECTION: 8/10 Voice Acting 3/3 (fitting with the feeling of the series) Music Themes 3/4 (not great but fitting with the feeling of the series) Sound Effects 2/3 (ok I guess) STORY SECTION: 9/10 Premise 2/2 (interesting) Pacing 2/2 (good) Complexity 1/2 (not much) Plausibility 2/2 (fine) Conclusion 2/2 (powerful) CHARACTER SECTION: 7/10 Presence 1/2 (generic) Personality 2/2 (cheesy but well founded) Backdrop 1/2 (simplistic but it’s there) Development 1/2 (overblown but it’s there) Catharsis 2/2 (symbolically, a lot) VALUE SECTION: 8/10 Historical Value 3/3 (all-known) Rewatchability 1/3 (low because of too much overblown drama) Memorability 4/4 (extremely tragic to the point of forever remembering it) ENJOYMENT SECTION: 10/10 In all, this is for me the best anti-war drama ever made in anime. It is not afraid to show the cruel side of man next to the innocence of children and end in a very tragic way for the viewers to despise war and sympathize with the characters even more. A very successful movie for what it was made for. VERDICT: 8.5/10
Story: 99% of all anime – no matter how great they are – are little beyond pieces of entertainment. Before I start receiving cries of outrage in the comments section, I must say that I mean no ill will by this statement; there is nothing wrong with anime serving this purpose. In fact, entertainment should be an anime’s primary focus; if it is boring, there’s no point in watching it. However, there are the select few anime that serve a higher purpose, a form of storytelling that goes beyond its medium. It could be a satire of otaku culture (Welcome to the NHK!), a dark, twisted look into the world of modern philosophy (Serial Experiments Lain), or the one I will be discussing in this review, a personal account of the plight of the Japanese people during World War II. The story condenses the entire historical experience of the Japanese people during the late stages of World War II into the perspective of a typical teenage boy. Tragedies rain upon the boy and his little sister in the form of fire and bombs from the Americans. As an aside, the story does an excellent job of not overtly painting the Americans as evil, but displaying their evilness through their distance and facelessness. The place where the story truly shines is its use of symbolism and motif. There are several reoccurring themes in the story represented by singular objects. Luxury and comfort are condensed into fruit drop candies. Death is represented by drops of fire (which is, by the way, how the word “fireflies” in the title is spelled in the Japanese kanji). Life is contained in the biological glow of hundreds of fireflies. The anime’s ability to affect the viewer emotionally retains its value over the 22 years since its release in 1988. While I didn’t cry, I’m sure that others would. The contrast between the impact of Grave of the Fireflies and other animes is the sheer realism and bluntness of the story. “Not sugar coated” doesn’t even come close to how the plot is portrayed. Animation: Unfortunately, with the advent of CGI and other improvements in technology, the animation in Grave of the Fireflies appears dated. It certainly was top of the line animation for its time, but it falls bellow a viewer’s expectation of top tier animation today. Imagine what the impact of the movie would be if it were animated today with a Hollywood animation budget. Still, the animation contributes to the realism of the story, despite its dated appearance. Everything displayed in the foreground is depicted with precise detail, from the wrinkles in people’s clothing to the maggots that eat away at their flesh. Light, shadow, and water are all present in this movie and used to the full effect of that age’s technological capabilities. Sound: If anyone can find more perfect voice acting, please tell me. How Setoko was voiced so well is beyond my comprehension. The even more awe inspiring part about the voice acting in the Japanese is that is almost equaled in the English dub. As for the soundtrack, it wouldn’t be one that I would buy, but the music did contribute to the eerie, dark atmosphere. There isn’t much more to say about the sound other than it was very well done and contributes greatly to the realism and effect of the anime. Characters: There are only two named characters in the entire hour and a half long movie, Seita, the older brother, and Setoko, the younger sister. This contributes to the centrality of the viewer’s focus and the apparent selfishness of the characters, especially Seita. If seen from any other perspective, the viewer would likely see the pair as selfish freeloaders during a time when everyone should cooperate for the good of the whole. Before I start getting hate mail, allow me to explain myself. Seita’s greatest weakness throughout the movie is his pride and self worth. However, these are all that Seita has left for most of the story after having lost everything of value to him. In the observation of Seita’s actions, the viewer feels conflicted between his or her own self pride and social justice. The question that the movie should prompt is “Would I do the same if I were in Seita’s situation?” Overall: With all my gushing about the quality of Grave of the Fireflies, one might wonder why it isn’t at the top of my favorites list. Unfortunately, Grave of the Fireflies’ greatest shortfall is also its greatest strength. Its storytelling runs on a single track towards doom. Scene after scene the viewer becomes more and more depressed. Even the seemingly calm and cheerful scenes will either be disrupted by a reminder of the harsh reality of the situation, or be totally deconstructed by another tragedy. Not to end by condemning the work, I must say that Grave of the Fireflies is not only an anime classic, but also a classic among war movies in general. Any fan of anime should watch it, but beyond that, I believe that the events that transpired in this movie should be taken into consideration whenever one feels inclined to violence and war. This review is written in memory of all civilians killed in the history of humanity’s wars. May you never be forgotten.
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