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Directed by: Peter Hyams
Category: Action / Comedy
I remember this one vaguely, but had always been meaning to check it out again because Peter Hyams did this and while he's had a hit or miss career, he has made a couple of really good films. Plus, an action comedy with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines as cops in the 80's? Throw in a cheesy Michael McDonald 80's hit and dude, I'm sold!
This was a lot of fun, especially on a day when I couldn't seem to find anything to watch that I was in the mood for. A solid cop/buddy action/comedy from the mid 80's with a really high entertainment value. Here, Crystal and Hines play two wise cracking Chicago cops who have a smart ass answer for everything and who seem to be inseparable, even in there daily lives outside of work. I mean, they should just be a couple because that's how close they are. They're in the midst of bringing down a ruthless up and coming drug lord named Julio Gonzalez (Jimmy Smits), and after successfully capturing him when some rookie cops who had been undercover infiltrating his organization couldn't, they are forced to take an extended vacation to Florida so things can settle down. After loving the life in Florida, they decide they are going to retire and open up a bar over there. When they return to Chicago to tell there boss they are done, they learn that Gonzalez has been released from jail and is walking free. They decide that they just can't let this guy roam free knowing that whatever he's doing, it's sure to be illegal so they vow to track him down and lock him up for good before they turn in there walking papers. Only Gonzalez seems to have the upper hand this time sabotaging them whenever they think they are getting close and when Gonzalez kidnaps Costanzo's (Billy Crystal) ex-wife, then it becomes personal and Costanzo and Hughes (Gregory Hines) will stop at nothing to bring him down.
Crystal and Hines chemistry is purely evident, but I think a lot of what Running Scared has going for it is director Peter Hyams direction. The guy has proven in his long career that he can shift styles and genre's from film to film, to varying degrees of success. This one, for the most part, is definitely a winner though and I had a lot of fun with it. I've seen Hines in a few action oriented roles before, but for me watching Crystal play a cop and even get serious from time to time was a hoot. The end is where he really delivers in the serious cop role though, and I loved every second of it. I think it's just because it's something I've never seen him do before, play a cop in gritty film. Yea, he's a wiseass most of the time, but when they involve his ex wife, his attitude shifts and he'll do anything he can to get the job done without involving the cops. And after seeing this, especially in some of the scenes at the end when things turn deadly serious, I wish Crystal would have taken on more roles like this. It was a surprisingly nice departure from his usual stuff.
I think what also makes Running Scared so successful is that it works on two different levels. There's enough solid action to satisfy an action fan, and there's enough comedy if that's what you're looking for. Me, I would have liked it to lean "more" towards the action because it was done so well and when the shit hits the fan, I just wanted more and more of it. Hyams has a gift for filming this stuff when he's firing on all cylinders and he pulls off the action and a really cool car chase really well.
Sure, I had a few very minor complaints about it, but honestly not any even worth mentioning. This was definitely a blast from beginning to end with plenty of action and comedy to make it worth your while. Throw in a cheesy montage of Crystal and Hines living it up in sunny Florida to "Sweet Freedom" by Michael McDonald and well, you're just gonna have a good time.
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Category: Sci-fi / Horror
You know, I'm a huge fan of writer/director Guillermo del Toro. Ever since Blade II (where I was first introduced to this wonderkid), the guy has seriously impressed me with his writing and directing style. It's safe to say that he's definitely one of the few visionary filmmakers out there. He's one of those filmmakers who has a very specific look to almost all of his films, much like Peter Jackson. But this is one of those films that I somehow never got around to for various reasons. I think the lame U.S. DVD cover art never appealed to me to begin with. I mean, it's a film about mutant bugs and the cover is a close up of star Mira Sorvino? Actually, the more I think about it, the DVD cover art must be the reason. But when I heard they were releasing a "Director's Cut" with some nice special features and an intro by del Toro himself? Well I thought this would be the perfect time to finally check this sucker out. Plus, look at that new cover art! Brilliant, bloody fucking brilliant and if they put this much attention into it's initial release, I think it would have been a much more successful film than it initially was.
When roaches seem to be the cause of a disease striking children in great numbers in New York City, entomologist Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) seems to have created a miracle cure, a mutated bug created in the lab that will kill off the cockroaches, effectively putting an end to the fast spreading disease, and then die also within a week. The approach seems to work and there appears to be no sign of this child killing disease for a few years. But when a rash of murders and disappearances along with the discovery of one of her genetically mutated bugs that were supposed to have died off years ago come to light, she soon realizes they have something much more dangerous on there hands. A super bug that has grown and adapted to mimic human beings, which make them much more dangerous than anybody could have ever imagined.
This was a really good movie. Director Guillermo del Toro has such a keen eye for fantasy, that even in the realms of a horror film, it looks and feels like a fantasy film also. Atmosphere. Atmosphere is what this film is all about and del Toro pulls it off splendidly. It's a purely cinematic experience that only someone of del Toro's gifts can generate. I've never seen the theatrical cut though, so I can't compare that version to this one. Though in the supplemental material found on this release he states that there were problems right from the beginning and he states matter of factly that it was a miserable experience and he was not able to make the film he set out to make. Even with this "Director's Cut", though he says he's happy with it seeing the light of day, he's still not completely happy and if this is the closest we get to his original vision, then it's better than nothing.
Mimic: The Director's Cut tells us immediately what's going on right from the get go, which I really liked. They lay it all out for you with the disease that's killing children and with Susan Tyler single handedly putting a stop to it........seemingly. This is all done in the first 15 minutes. Fast forward a few years and she's married to another scientist and they are trying to have a baby, while both also being married to there work. One day a couple of kids bring her a huge bug that they found in the subway which they intend to sell to her for a few bucks. While observing the bug it attacks her, which she in turn kills out of frustration and when it starts secreting a white liquid, the same secretion she designed and created years ago to kill off the cockroaches in the first place, she realizes that these new bugs somehow survived and that's only the tip of the iceberg. Soon she realizes they've also evolved, grown and adapted tremendously within just 3 years and can now mimic human beings in the dark of the subway tunnels.
The slow burn pace in the first half didn't really put me off because I really liked what I was seeing. Visually, it's impressive. And for me, most of the time, it's enough to keep me interested enough to finish it through to the end. But thankfully, the second half of the film really delivers with all the suspense, chills and even action you'd come to expect from Guillermo del Toro. Not in the same way as in Blade II or the Hellboy films, but in the parameters of a horror film, it was exciting and well done. I'd been wanting to pick up this Blu-ray ever since it was released, but was unsure if it was any good so I didn't want to shell out the cash for it, you know.....just in case it sucked. But, as luck would have it, it was on sale at Best Buy for very cheap and wanting to buy myself a little father's day gift, I just couldn't resist and what a gift it was. I'm glad I purchased it though because this is something I can see myself revisiting from time to time for the visual stimulation. Plus, it has a healthy dose of special features. Short, but with a lot of info on the problems that plagued the production and also on the creation of the creatures and whatnot. The most fascinating though would be del Toro's candid interview in his curse laden explanation as to why he doesn't think it's a very good film in general (though he's happy this release reflects more closely to his vision than the studio's theatrical cut) and what his original intent had been for the film right from the beginning. All in all, Mimic is not great a great film, but it's a very satisfying horror/fantasy film with a killer ending.
Directed by: Robert Resnikoff
Man, I hadn't seen this one in forever. I vaguely remember it. I remember some cool scenes, Jeff Kober being creepy and one of the few films Lou Diamond Phillips starred in that actually hit the theaters. It's also a surprisingly difficult film to get cheaply in the states for some reason. I don't know why. It's not great or anything, and the DVD itself is as bare bones as it could possibly be. Maybe there was a limited run? I don't know. But anyway, I finally saw it and I have to say I enjoyed it. It's utterly preposterous, silly and for the most part, logic is completely thrown out the window, but it does also have a few things going for it. Like the stunts for one. There is some pretty amazing stuntwork going on in here and though they were ridiculous, I think they had a big part in why I ended up liking this so much. You know, it's your standard late 80's early 90's supernatural thriller/detective story about a cop chasing a serial killer, only they throw in some insane stuntwork out of nowhere that serves no real purpose in moving the story along, but looks great on screen. Sometimes, depending on your taste or mood, it can be enough. In this case, for me it was.
Detective Russell Logan (Phillips) is an LA cop who has a reputation for putting serial killers away. His latest suspect, Patrick Channing (Jeff Kober), is a serial killer with a satanic edge, sacrificing his victims in a demonic and ritualistic fashion. When he's caught by Logan, he's immediately tried, convicted and sent to the gas chamber. Only this is exactly what Channing wanted all along and in the process, his evil spirit is freed and he's able to move from body to body continuing his murderous rampage until Logan can find a way to stop him again, this time for good.
I really liked seeing Phillips in a leading role like this. I've always liked the guy and though he's played plenty of cops, playing a standard cop in a serial killer flick was a guilty pleasure. Same goes for the always reliably creepy Jeff Kober. I know he doesn't always play villains, but when he does it just seems so natural. I'll just always remember him creeping me the fuck out in this and Out of Bounds when I was a teenager. Seeing Mykelti Williamson in this as Logan's partner was a surprise. I didn't remember him being in this and only became aware of him after Forrest Gump came out. Strangely though, they misspell his name in the credits as Mykel T. Williamson. Weird. But he was fun to watch as the more lighthearted of the two and the one more willing to crack a joke in an awkward situation. I think the only one I had an issue with was Rachel Griffiths, who plays a psychic who helps Logan in tracking Channing down and who seems to be the only one who knows how to put a stop to him once and for all. I just didn't find her very good or convincing and I was constantly annoyed whenever she was on screen.
Directed by: Timo Vuorensola
Category: Sci fi
You know when you're about to watch a movie, and you don't really know anything about it or anything about the people who made it and all you know is that you've heard a few things here and there online about how it's a low budget movie, and somehow made with the financial help of fans and that it's a mish mash of genre's and categories and so you don't really know what to expect and then it exceeds all your expectations and then some? Well Iron Sky is that film. Iron Sky literally blew me away with how awesome, inventive and creative it was right from the beginning, only getting better and better as it progressed until the thrilling final act where you're treated to an amazing display of special effects that seem to have been made on a minuscule budget, only looking so much better than half of the big budget garbage being shown in our theaters today.
To me, this is what Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow should have been. I love that film, I even have a rare Comic Con art deco poster hanging on my wall, but it all felt very amateurish and couldn't help but feel how much better it would have been had a more experienced director been at the helm. Yea, I know, the guy never made a big budget film before, so I will cut him a little slack for creating a very impressive looking film. But for my money, Iron Sky is the film that Sky Captain should have been. It's got an insane amount of action, plenty of humor that actually works, some suspense, thrills and really good use of special effects that you just wouldn't expect to see in a film this small. Which only adds to amusement of how good this film ends up being because it's a seriously entertaining flick from beginning to end, retaining a constant fun vibe all the way through.
Long story short: 2018, some Nazis somehow found there way to the moon, hiding on the dark side for over 70 years after World War II in 1945. After a group of astronauts stumble upon there base, one of them is captured and taken prisoner. Convinced this American astronaut is a spy and is part of a bigger conspiracy to attack and infiltrate them, they decide to attack Planet Earth.
I think the cast of unknowns here were all pretty great and effective in portraying the kind of characters they were trying to portray, almost at a cartoon or parody level at some moments. I will admit, there were a few scenes here and there that didn't work, but for the most part it all works fine. Even the sillier moments. But that's okay, because it does get serious off and on, and when the shit hits the fan in the last act of the film, it's impressively done. I think this director has a big career ahead of him and I'm curious to see where he goes from here. I don't know what the release dates are for this as I know it will be different everywhere. I don't think the U.S. will be seeing an official release for some time, so I'm very grateful and thankful to Ingo over at Hellford667 Movie Reviews for giving me the chance to. Thanks man! To check out his review of this awesome flick, go here.
Like any comic book geek or animation fan, I watch these DC and Marvel DTV flicks when they come out. Some are not so special, but then some are just plain badass when done right. Batman: Year One is probably one of the best and most recent ones that come to mind, but a lot of the Superman ones are really good too, and this one is no exception. I'm usually up to date on these releases or at least aware of them through various media outlets I regularly peruse on a daily basis, but for some reason I'd never heard of this one until it came out. And the title kind of threw me off too because it has a "kid" vibe to it, or is that just me? In any case, don't let the title throw you, this is badass and certainly one of the better DC Universe titles released in some time.
The first thing you'll notice immediately, if the opening credits didn't scare you away, is that there's a definite change in art style compared to the other Superman animated flicks. It actually takes about 10 minutes to get used to, but once you do you can't help but feel that it works, because it does. And be warned, the opening of this thing really, really throws you off and me and my buddy were both looking at each other with a "Uh oh" look. But it's all to throw you off. Immediately with the credits, it has a kid TV show retro kinda intro, which was cool but not what I was expecting. Then when the credits are done you're given a "WTF?" moment because you see Superman doing his thing, but drawn with a juvenile style and right when you're about to think "What the hell is this?", you realize it's a cartoon being shown on a television that's being seen by Clark Kent and Lois, a kind of parody of Superman for the kids, and then it's back to normal and good.
A new band of superheroes known as The Elite, each with there own unique super power, seem to come out of nowhere. Young, hip and with a slight dark edginess to them, the media, the public and even Superman himself take to these teenage super heroes immediately until it becomes very clear that they do not hold the same ideals and value for life that Superman does and soon it becomes Superman vs. The Elite in a no holds barred for dominance on planet Earth.
This was really, really good, especially considering I knew nothing about it going in. The slightly different animation style really works for this particular story and the story ended up being a lot darker, and much more violent, going places I wasn't expecting it to go to. I should also note that Tim Daly didn't return as the voice of Superman this time around. Here he's replaced by veteran TV and film character actor George Newbern who is a dead ringer for Daly. I actually had no idea until it was over that it was somebody else other than Daly doing the voice because you just can't tell. I've always felt Daly was perfect for the voice of Clark Kent / Superman, but after this, I'll be just as happy with Newbern in the role. Like Daly, he exudes bravura and confidence befitting Superman.
Even though the film is entertaining throughout, with a healthy dose of action and battles right from the beginning, it's really the second half that really delivers. I was pleasantly surprised at how dark and violent it got with the last act, which is always a good thing. Keep it fresh and you'll keep the fans interested. And I have to give it to DC, though I am and will always be a Marvel guy, when it comes to the DTV animated films, there's just no competing against DC Universe. Oh, and to just add to the overall badass experience of renting or buying this, there's a 13 minute feature on the making of the new animated film currently being worked on based on Frank Miller's legendary and genre defining graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns, with Peter "Robocop" Weller voicing Batman. I get chills just thinking about that. I'd say this is definitely worth a viewing if you should ever get the chance.
Snagged this beauty with some help from my good buddy and fellow filmgeek Ingo over at Hellford667 Movie Reviews. A cool cover, and so much better than the lame U.S. cover we've had to endure for decades. You know the one, the simple black and white image of John Travolta screaming? I've always hated that cover art and it says "nothing" about the film, which is a shame because I only recently saw this one myself for the first time back in December, and was floored by how amazing it was. Definitely one of director Brian De Palma's best films (helming this between Dressed to Kill and Scarface between 1980 and 1983) and so much better than I could have ever imagined. I think Criterion nailed it with there recent DVD and Blu-ray release, even right down to the cover art, which speaks volumes of the film as a whole.
You can check out my review for this incredible film from back in December here.
Directed by: George P. Cosmatos
1989 was oddly a big year for deep sea films. Just in this year alone we had Leviathan, Deep Star Six and James Cameron's The Abyss. Nobody can argue that Cameron's The Abyss is the best of the bunch, but for my money, I'd have to say George P. Cosmatos's Leviathan is easily the second. While The Abyss plays a lot to the fantasy/sci-fi genre with some drama thrown in, Leviathan often times feels like a horror film underwater. In fact, it has a lot in common to John Carpenter's The Thing, only it's underwater and the creature they do battle with is not an alien. But it has a big The Thing feel to it. Deep Star Six however, I remember nothing about other than it was directed by the original Friday the 13th director and starred 1/2 of the father duo on that 80's show My Two Dads. But anyway, we're here to talk about Leviathan, so let's get crackin'.
My good buddy Ingo over at Hellford667 Movie Reviews recently saw this one, and from what I remember he liked it. I honestly hadn't seen it since maybe the 90's and like Deep Star Six, remember nothing about it and when Netflix recently added it onto there Watch Instant list just the other day, I jumped at the chance. I've recently been on this extreme late 80's, early 90's Cinema kick and this one got me excited to watch. And that's one of my biggest problems when watching films, I have to be in the right mood or mindset to watch certain genre's of films. That's why I'd make a horrible reviewer for hire. I just can't go watch anything whenever. I have to be in the right mood or I just won't enjoy it.
Leviathan is a good ol' fashioned monster movie. You've got great visuals by Cobra and Rambo: First Blood Part 2 director George P. Cosmatos. You've got some nifty practical creature effects by none other than Stan Winston himself. You've got a better than expected score by Jerry Goldsmith. You've got Peter "Robocop" Weller being a badass surrounded by an awesome ensemble cast which includes the impossibly cute Amanda Pays and you've got two screenwriting powerhouses penning this sucker in the names of Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, The Fugitive) and David Webb Peoples (Blade Runner, Unforgiven). If all that's not enough to get you excited enough to see this then I just don't know what is.
A crew of underwater deep sea miners on the last leg of there 90 day stint encounter a sunken Russian vessel. When one of them brings a safe containing vital information on the ship and it's crew as well as other items, the crew soon realize something horrible has been unleashed in there station, something that kills them off one by one and seems to absorb their memories. It's up to Steven Beck (Peter Weller) and his remaining crew to take a stand and find a way to destroy the creature while simultaneously finding a way to escape to the surface where a hurricane is looming above.
It's really difficult not to get into the specifics of the plot because it will unfortunately give too much of the little surprises away that aren't huge by any means, yet pay off nicely when revealed as the story progresses. So that little summary up there will just have to do. But it had a healthy dose of surprises that made it above average quality, if somewhat similar to a few other notable films like The Thing and Aliens. In fact, I would have to say it owes a "lot" to those two films. Yes, it's a smaller and cheaper looking version, but fun all the same.
As I mentioned before, this has a pretty stellar ensemble cast, with each getting plenty of screen time and plenty to do. The one I really dug was Richard Crenna (Col. Trautmen from the Rambo films), who plays the character of Doc aboard the mining station. He's a good guy, and seems good at his job, but there's always this underlying feeling of something's just not right about this guy. Like he seems like a great stand up guy and all, but seems to be hiding something from his past, or seems to be capable of something...........dangerous. I'm not going to tell you whether he is or isn't in this film, but he played him so well that you just can't tell. Some other notable character actors that make up the rest of the mining crew are Daniel Stern, Hector Elizondo (no relation to me by the way), Ernie Hudson and Amanda Pays, who I remember from Max Headroom.
I wouldn't say this is a slow burn kind of film, because even though things take a short while to get going, the look and feel of the film make up for the lack of suspense until they discover that mysterious sunken vessel, which isn't very long into the film. Then things start kicking into gear and the pace picks up tremendously, offering some really good tension and suspense with some good ol' fashioned creature effects. Maybe not as good as Rob Bottin's work on The Thing, but cool nonetheless. There's also a really gnarly sequence in here that I just loved. It's the sequence where the remaining crew decide it's time to take a stand and protect themselves and they start pulling out all these crazy weapons that they would normally use on the job underwater. They don't have guns, but they do have crazy looking retro future industrial chainsaws and flamethrowers that look awesome. And it's a great montage with creative angles and quick cuts. Thank you George P. Cosmatos.
I've heard a lot about how Cosmatos didn't really direct a lot of both Cobra and Tombstone, leaving both Stallone and Kurt Russell to have to finish directing duties themselves to an extent. I don't know if all that's true or not, it very well could be, but I will say that Leviathan "looks" like a George P. Cosmatos film, much like Cobra, Rambo: First Blood Part 2 and Tombstone did. They all possess a similar look and style and Leviathan is no different. Great ensemble cast, great look and a helluva lot better than I was expecting it to be, this should be on your immediate watch list if you haven't seen it in a while.
Directed by: John Carpenter
I've always hated this cover art for John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness. It all looks very cheap 80's direct-to-video and I don't even think that person on the cover is even in the film because he doesn't resemble anyone in it. And I think that's why I never gave this one much thought up until now. It just didn't look like anything I'd enjoy and just going by the cover alone, it looked cheap. Boy was I wrong!
Prince of Darkness is a very rare thing in deed, old school filmmaking at it's finest by one of the men who helped define the genre himself. A film with a miniscule budget, but with the talent of someone like Mr. Carpenter being the camera, you'd never know it. Like a lot of his better known films from this era, it's just visually stunning, yet simplistic. It's a slow burn kind of film, but with a huge payoff when it's all over. And even in it's slower sections, Carpenter keeps the tension and suspense at a near constant beat. For me, out of all his films, this one closely resembles The Fog and The Ward in overall tone, a kind of film I wish he had made more of.
Before man walked the Earth..........it slept for centuries. It is evil. It is real. It is awakening.
Synopsis via Derek O'Cain:
A sinister secret has been kept in the basement of an abandoned Los Angeles church for many years. With the death of a priest belonging to a mysterious sect, another priest opens the door to the basement and discovers a vat containing a green liquid. The priest contacts a group of physics graduate students to investigate it. Unfortunately, they discover that the liquid contains the essence of Satan himself, and they also discover that he will release HIS father - an all-powerful Anti-God! The liquid later comes to life itself, turning some of the students into zombies as the Devil comes forward to release his father. Will these students be able to stop him?
I could have tried to come up with my own synopsis, but this one pretty much nails it completely. So kudos to Derek O'Cain for hitting it on the mark.
This was truly a really great little film and so much better than what I was expecting it to be. I just couldn't shake this constant feeling of "They just don't make them like this anymore" from the opening credits to the last frame, all accompanied by John Carpenter's signature brooding and thoroughly effective score. John Carpenter made this right smack in the middle of Big Trouble in Little China and They Live. Two of my favorite Carpenter films that did not meet critical or box office expectations at the time, but are considered certified Cult Classics today. One of the things I love about this one is that it stars two Big Trouble in Little China alumni's Victor Wong and Dennis Dun, two really great actors I thought should have had bigger careers than they did. Donald Pleasence also stars as the priest who invites the physics students and there teacher to the church to study the mysterious container full of the green ooze, which in turn get's the ball rolling when the ooze starts taking over the students and turning them into zombies one by one. I have to say, this has a pretty large cast for such a small film, yet Carpenter is able to give each character ample screen time and with plenty to do. You never wonder "Hey, what ever happened to that guy?". For me, one of the biggest casting surprises was of the lead, which happens to me Jameson Parker. I only ever remember him from tv's Simon & Simon, which he was still on while making this film, and just remember thinking how strange it was to see him starring in this little horror film. But he does a great job and kudos to him for trying something different. Though Donald Pleasence gets top billing, and Jameson Parker seems to be the lead, the one I think responsible for carrying the film squarely on his shoulders has to be Victor Wong, who plays the physics professor and who you will remember as Egg Chen from BTiLC. He's just awesome in this and too bad other directors didn't take Carpenter's lead and cast him in more prominent roles.
As simple as the movie is made, you've got lots and lots of the classic John Carpenter flourishes throughout that make all of his best films what they are. Some pretty damn good effects, the classic simplistic John Carpenter score, beautiful widescreen cinematography and just enough tension and suspense to keep you on your toes and never bored. I really loved how the second half really delivered on the goods with this one too, with just the right amount of "everything". So much so that I really didn't want it to be over. If you should ever get the opportunity to check this one out, I strongly recommend you do so. I'm shocked I never really tried before until now, and it's the perfect example of "Don't judge a book by it's cover".
Directed by: Mark L. Lester
Category: Badass Cinema
Mark L. Lester has always been a hit or miss director. He can deliver some really solid action entertainment with films like Commando, Class of 1999 and Showdown in Little Tokyo, but then he can also make films like ........well pretty much every film he's directed from 1996 until today. It's a shame really, because when he's working on all cylinders, he can certainly deliver the goods. He reminds me a lot of director Russell Mulcahey, whose film Ricochet I just recently reviewed and which I loved to death. When Mulcahey hits, he hits hard, but when he misses, we get films like Highlander 2: The Quickening.
Extreme Justice, thankfully, falls into the badass category for the most part. Released in 1993, 2 years after the awesome Showdown in Little Tokyo, he shows he can still direct an action film when given the right tools, no matter how small the budget. And that's something you'll notice immediately with Extreme Justice. It looks and feels like a direct-to-video film shot on a tiny budget and years before his biggest hits. Only this was made "after" the height of his directing career. It's a good solid action thriller though, just utterly ridiculous most of the time. I mean, the entire concept and the things these guys do and are able to get away just defy all logic. Yet, it's based on a real outfit called the S.I.S. (Special Investigation Section). Wholey exaggerated of course for effect, but still incredible.
Dan Vaughn (Scott Glenn) leads a highly secretive investigative force of the LAPD called the S.I.S., whose job is to hunt down the most dangerous criminals and take them down by any means necessary without protocol and without fear of being prosecuted. In most cases, they watch the criminals actually do the crime they are being investigated for and let them finish before taking them down, all so that they an say they didn't act prematurely and had enough evidence to pin on them, no matter how horrible the crime. When one of there men is killed on the job, they recruit young hotshot and former protege to Vaughn by the name of Jeff Powers (Lou Diamond Phillips). Known for a hot temper and taking extreme measure, they also note that he gets the job done and that's what the S.I.S. find appealing. Soon, Powers discovers that his new partners are not playing by the rules and in most cases, crossing an ethical line that Powers just can't comprehend and before long, it's him against his unit. Who will come out on top?
I have to say, despite it's small budget and DTV feel, I really enjoyed this one. Scott Glenn is always fun to watch, and watching him play a character with a dual personality was fascinating because he pulls of charming and menacing in the same breath so convincingly. Lou Diamond Phillips does a great job playing the tough cop with a conscience, battling both his morals, his duty to his fellow officers and his live in girlfriend (Chelsea Field), who also happens to be a reporter hellbent on uncovering his secret and exposing the S.I.S., a fact that his new partners are aware of and do not take kindly to. There's also Yaphet Kotto as one of these S.I.S. guys, only in full cowboy getup, which just looks...........odd.
But what really drives you nuts about this elite group of cops is the fact that they always know when something is going to go down, only they stand by and "let" it happen so they can catch the bad guys in the act. In one shocking instance, they stand by as a woman is kidnapped and raped in the back of a van knowing full well what's going on. Powers, incensed and appalled just can't contain his anger and stand by helplessly as a woman is getting raped by a group of 3 guys, takes a stand by disobeying orders from Vaughn and engages the 3 rapists in a gun battle, blowing the cover of the S.I.S., which ultimately becomes the beginning of the end for his career with the group and the downfall of Vaughn. The victim get's killed anyway, as do the rapists and that's a recurring theme that Powers just can't get used to. There are so many casualties in almost every case they take on, so much bloodshed and unnecessary violence without ever attempting to even apprehend these guys before they do anything bad, yet nobody get's reprimanded and the S.I.S. almost always get off Scott Free.
All in all, not one of director Mark L. Lester's best efforts, but definitely not one of his worst either. A good solid piece of 90's action, if a little on the outlandish side. Good fun though, you should enjoy it.
Directed by: Luc Besson
This was one of my favorite films when it first came out. Being a huge fan of director Luc Besson, I was mesmerized by the Frenchman's take on the sci-fi genre. Incredible visuals, lush and daring design, Bruce Willis just being a badass and a frenetic pace teeter tottering between comedy and sci-fi action made this one stand out from the rest. It was just fun, no qualms about it. But revisiting this one recently, I was surprised at how much more comedy there was actually in here than I remember and how for me, a lot of it just doesn't work. It has a few standout funny scenes, but it starts to get pretty old after a while with the constant fainting, or the annoying apprentice to Ian Holm's character of Father Vito Cornelius who's just so annoyingly jumpy and weak.
But The Fifth Element is also just plain awesome in so many other respects. The casting of Tiny Liston Jr. as the president for one. Is that just not genius casting?! And the always badassness of Bruce Willis. But there's also a very unique and even brave design aesthetic going on here with everything from the costumes and sets, to the design of the creatures, ships and the decision to use old school puppetry for the Mangalores heads, bounty hunters for Gary Oldman's character Zorg. Speaking of Oldman, he definitely adds a nice healthy dose of flavor to the table with his rendition of Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, but I still don't get why he had a southern accent. I mean, of all accents, why a southern one?
As much as I love this film and the unique direction it takes by implementing a lot of comedy into the mix, I can't help but think how much better it would have been had it been a straight up hard edged sci-fi spectacle. All the necessary ingredients are here and accounted for, but it always feels like it takes such a huge detour when something silly or funny happens, often becoming unfunny. Don't get me wrong, some of the comedy bits work here and there, but I think it's too much at times and I found myself rolling my eyes more often than not. But hey, that's just me. It still works remarkably well with enough action to satisfy any action fan and some amazing costume and set design. Still not sure if I agree with Milla Jovovich being a "perfect" being though. I mean, she's hot of course, but I could easily imagine a lot of other hot actresses at the time that would have looked a lot better in that costume. I'm just sayin'.
One thing is for sure, The Fifth Element is a lot of fun, no matter what issues you may have with certain aspects of it. Writer/Director Luc Besson, who had just completely floored me with The Professional 3 years earlier again delivers some outstanding visuals, just in a different context. Whereas with films like La Femme Nikita and The Professional, the colors and tones were dark and gritty, everything here is bright, colorful and shiny. Though I'm not one for agreeing with the need for sequels often, I think I would have loved to have seen this world expanded some more with a sequel. Maybe not so much with the actual Fifth Element's character, but rather Bruce Willis's Korben Dallas character. I think it would have been a lot of fun to see what other adventures Besson and frequent screenplay collaborator Robert Mark Kamen could have come up with for the character of Korben Dallas. Basically he's John McClane, only.............you know, in space.

domain: entertainment


text: Not only does it add delightful flavor to savory dishes, but it also offers a range of health benefits. Explore the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of oregano that can contribute to your overall well-being. Discover the potential medical uses, from managing diabetes to relieving cramps. Unlock the power of oregano to reduce the risk of cancer and enhance your health journey. Shop now and infuse your meals with the goodness of oregano, making every bite a delightful and beneficial experience. Embrace the flavors and wellness benefits of oregano today.

domain: food


Read the full article on the ROG website.
When we launched the original ROG Phone back in 2018, it reshaped the mobile gaming market as we know it; with its 90Hz display, top-end specs, and gamer-friendly controls. The ROG Phone II built on those successes with a new design and an even faster screen. Now, we’re thrilled to continue leading the mobile gaming market forward with the new ROG Phone 3.
Behold, the ROG Phone 3
We’ve kept many of the best features of the ROG Phone II, including the expansive 6.6” screen size and the same huge 6000mAh battery. But we’re always pushing the envelope, which is why we’ve packed in a powerful new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform and a beautiful 144Hz AMOLED screen that will advance what’s possible for elite mobile gamers in today’s hottest titles.
We’ve listened to your feedback on the ROG Phone II in order to create the best mobile gaming device possible. Features such as a second, side-mounted USB-C port for charging while gaming, a 6000mAh battery that lasts all day, and a high-refresh display are all essential elements that we’ve carried over into the ROG Phone 3. But while the two phones may look similar at first glance, there’s a lot more power under the hood that’s ready to level up your game.
One of the biggest challenges on a gaming phone is balancing screen size and the overall size of the device. We found that the 6.6” screen size and 21:9 aspect ratio of the previous ROG Phone gave users the largest screen size that was still comfortable for landscape gaming. A high-refresh-rate display is essential for fast-paced mobile shooters, which is why we’ve outfitted the ROG Phone 3 with a 144Hz AMOLED display to give gamers a new edge against the competition. High-refresh-rate panels just feel better for all the other things you do on a phone, too.
For more information about everything that's packed under the hood of the new ROG Phone 3, follow this link to the official product page: ROG Phone 3 | Phone | ASUS Global
ROG Phone 3 expansion accessories
The ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad has been redesigned to provide the best versatility, whether you’re using the phone by itself, or with an external display. The Kunai 3 is made up of four modular components that can be rearranged depending on how you’re playing. Handheld mode attaches one Bluetooth controller to each side of the phone, or you can attach both controllers to either the full-size or lightweight gamepad, depending on your preference.
The ROG Gaming Clip holds your phone in landscape mode and clips onto an Xbox, PlayStation, or Stadia controller. The variable clip is compatible with any phone that’s between 69mm and 80mm wide, including the ROG Phone 3, and can be adjusted to the optimal viewing angle for gaming.
If the bundled case isn’t eye-catching enough for you, then look no further than the ROG Lighting Armor Case 3. This case keeps your phone protected from wear & tear and sports a head-turning Aura RGB ROG logo on the back that you can customize with various lighting effects to match your style. The case uses NFC to communicate with your phone to apply a matched theme with wallpaper, icons, and sounds for a unique and uniform look.
One 6.6” 144Hz AMOLED screen is great, but what about a second? If you multitask while gaming, it can be difficult to keep an eye on things like chat apps or Twitch streams. But with the ROG TwinView Dock 3, you can add a second display above your phone. This is great for streaming, watching YouTube videos or tutorials while you play, or for games that let you take advantage of a second screen. The TwinView Dock and Kunai Gamepad can also be used together for the most comfortable mobile gaming experience.
While a pair of USB-C ports are enough for most people, those who like to connect extras like headsets, external monitors, and wired controllers to their phone will appreciate the Professional Dock. This dock uses a single USB-C port and gives you an HDMI output, two USB Type-A ports, an Ethernet jack, and an additional USB-C port for charging.
If you want to transform your ROG Phone 3 into a desktop gaming rig, then our Mobile Desktop Dock lets you do just that. This dock gives you everything a laptop or desktop would offer: Four USB 3.1 Type-A ports, a DisplayPort and HDMI connections capable of outputting 4K 60Hz, Gigabit LAN, and 3.5mm audio jacks. What’s more, you can connect a PC to the dock to seamlessly switch between the same hardware on both devices.
We designed the ROG Phone 3 with a laser focus on the needs of the most demanding mobile gamers around, and we’ve changed the game again. The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform and our comprehensive GameCool 3 heatsink system, plus the 144Hz HDR screen, massive 6000mAh battery, AirTriggers, and flexible accessory ecosystem let you use the ROG Phone 3 to play how you want, when you want, all with the leading performance you need to come out on top.
For more information on pricing, availability, and specifications of the ROG Phone 3 in your region, please contact your local ASUS representative.


text:
A Marijuana Consequences Checklist for Young Adults with Implications for Brief Motivational Intervention Research.
Prev Sci. 2020 Oct 24;:
Authors: Lee CM, Kilmer JR, Neighbors C, Cadigan JM, Fairlie AM, Patrick ME, Logan DE, Walter T, White HR
Measures assessing marijuana-related consequences or problems experienced by young adults have typically been adapted from measures assessing alcohol consequences. These measures may not fully reflect the specific unwanted or perceived « not so good » effects of marijuana that are experienced by young adults. Thus, using these measures may present a gap, which needs to be addressed, given that reports of consequences are often utilized in brief motivational personalized feedback interventions. Data from three different studies of young adults were used to (1) examine self-reported « not so good » effects or consequences of marijuana use among frequent marijuana-using college students (Study 1), (2) create a new version of a marijuana consequences list and compare it to an existing marijuana consequences measure (Study 2), and (3) assess convergent and divergent validity between a finalized Marijuana Consequences Checklist (MCC, 26-items) and marijuana use and risk for cannabis use disorder (Study 3). The most frequently endorsed self-reported effects of marijuana included the impact on eating (the « munchies »), dry mouth, trouble concentrating, and acting foolish or goofy. Higher scores on the MCC were associated with more frequent use and a higher probability of meeting criteria for cannabis use disorder. The MCC represents a range of negative consequences of marijuana use derived from frequent users’ own accounts and includes consequences not assessed by other measures. The MCC captures marijuana-specific negative consequences relevant for young adults, which can be incorporated in brief motivational personalized feedback interventions.
PMID: 33098002 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
Source: ncbi 2

domain: psychology


text:
Beyonce’s half-time Super Bowl show has been branded a “race-baiting stunt” by organisers of a protest against the singer.
The American superstar’s performance was watched by an estimated 112 million people but drew praise and consternation.
Beyonce’s dancers donned berets, sported Afros and wore all black, similar to the style of the Black Panther party, as she sang her new single Formation.
At one point during their routine, the dancers formed an “X” on the field, which some people are taking as a tribute to slain black activist Malcolm X.
In addition, they raised a fist to the sky, reminiscent of the black power salutes of the 1960-70s, made popular internationally by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised their fists to the sky after winning gold and bronze at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Several people applauded her for embracing the history of black activism and of her own identity.
But many have complained that she should not have brought politics to a sports event.
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani slammed her tributes to black activism during the half-time show when performers are “talking to Middle America.”
“I thought it was really outrageous that she used it as a platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her and protect us, and keep us alive,” said Mr Giuliani, who said he would have preferred “decent wholesome entertainment.”
Organisers behind the “Anti-Beyonce Protest Rally” say they were “offended” by the show which they believe “glorified” the Black Panthers.
The webpage says: “Are you offended as an American that Beyoncé pulled her race-baiting stunt at the Superbowl?
“Do you agree that it was a slap in the face to law enforcement?
“Do you agree that the Black Panthers was/is a hate group which should not be glorified?
“Come and let’s stand together. Let’s tell the NFL we don’t want hate speech & racism at the Superbowl ever again!”
The rally is due to take place outside the NFL’s headquarters in New York on 16 February. It is not known how many people will attend.
(c) Sky News 2016
This content is published through a licensing agreement with Acquire Media using its NewsEdge technology.

domain: artistic


Silver lining: Teen robotics team wired to work on after competition scuttled by COVID-19
“The main takeaway of it all is what we learn,” he added, citing the team’s preparation along the way, including the thrill of past competitions. “It’s not really about competing or winning, but the experience that we get from it, and the fun — it’s actually a lot of fun doing all of it.”
At a distance: Rural churches navigate COVID-19 closures
As churches across Ontario are forced to shut down physical gatherings, a few rural communities are delving into online exploration.
Troubled waters: Road salt increasing in Ottawa waterways, new study shows
Ottawa waterways are increasingly tainted by road salt, a new study by the Riverkeeper shows.
Six months after LRT launches, Ottawa rolling out solutions to noise complaints
Ottawa installing noise dampeners along the LRT trenches after complaints from residents.
Escape from Canada: A stranded international student describes the journey home in a time of COVID-19
Diary of an international student from Australia who is forced to leave Canada early on an emergency flight, due to COVID-19.
Ottawa gym enthusiasts finding new ways to stay fit amid COVID-19 pandemic
As gyms are shut down in an effort to contain COVID-19, Ottawa fitness lovers are getting creative to stay in shape.


PoleMaster For Raspberry Pi is based on QHYCCD& 39;s cross-platform SDK and POLEMASTER& 39;s QT cross-platform versi
Japan& 39;s Tainai Star Party, which is the 35th year of this year, is quite famous in the global astronomical
The QHYCCD 3rd-Generation Color Filter Wheel is coming!
There is an astronomical phenomenon called Mars, and the Earth and Mars are on the...
Introducing Two New High-End Full Frame Cameras!
Welcome to QHYCCD - Your Source for Astronomical CCD and CMOS Cameras
2016 11 26QHYCCD hosts the annual party at QHYCCD new site 2016 11 10Speical designed QHYCCD camera launch into Spac
QHY183M and QHY183C are one inch back illuminated cmos camera with sony IMX183 senso...
503, Block A, Singularity Center, Shahe Town, Changping District, Beijing, China, 102206


Singer and pianist Nellie McKay has made a name for herself with an unusual blend of irrepressible pop music and political awareness. Recently, she helped promote Oceana’s mission with a series of radio PSAs recorded with original music in New York. Check out the PSAs here, and keep your ears open to hear them on your local radio station.
- Reducing Bycatch Casualties, One Whale at a Time Posted Mon, April 14, 2014
- New York, the New Windy City? Posted Mon, April 14, 2014
- Drill, Spill, Repeat: Shining a Light on the BP Gulf Disaster 4 Years Later Posted Tue, April 15, 2014
- Hands Across the Sand Posted Wed, April 16, 2014


text:
John Elway, the most famous figure in Denver Broncos history, reportedly had the chance to acquire a 20 percent ownership stake in the franchise that he helped build at the end of his career, worth $36 million.
He turned it down.
Today, with the team officially selling for a record $4.65 billion, Elway's piece of the Broncos pie would've been around $930 million.
The Hall of Famer's name immediately started trending once word got out.
"He could have beaten out Bobby Bonilla as best contract ever," one user replied.
"Ouch!" another commented.
"And he doubled down on those bad decisions as the GM post Peyton Manning," a Broncos fan tweeted.
You win some and lose some.

domain: news


Wrist-Worn Systems for Activity State Recognition: Evaluation of Challenges and Benefits
- Author(s): Nematihosseinabadi, Ebrahim
- Advisor(s): Sarrafzadeh, Majid
- et al.
This dissertation investigates the limitation and challenges of wrist-worn sensing in activity state recognition including posture and gait quality inference. In spite of all the benefits that come with wrist-worn sensing systems, there are many challenges in inferring activities using them. The most important challenge is the high rate of false positive due to unwanted hand motion when the system is worn on the wrist. Another important challenge is the limitation on the power budget and processing capabilities of a wrist-worn device. Being far from the Center of Mass (COM), inferring posture and gait seem to be a very challenging problem using wrist data. This dissertation tries to provide a deep investigation on these challenges and propose ways to mitigate them. Different time series analysis methods are employed to serve for improvement in both accuracy and power consumption of activity state recognition. Along the way, we introduce some of the systems and algorithms that were built around these ideas and how they can be helpful in tackling the challenges of wrist-worn sensing systems, when it comes to activity state recognition.


Graphstructures have proven computationally cumbersome for pattern analysis. The reason for this is that, before graphs can be converted to pattern vectors, correspondences must be established between the nodes of structures which are potentially of different size. To overcome this problem, in this paper, we turn to the spectral decomposition of the Laplacian matrix. We show how the elements of the spectral matrix for the Laplacian can be used to construct symmetric polynomials that are permutation invariants. The coefficients of these polynomials can be used as graph features which can be encoded in a vectorial manner. We extend this representation to graphs in which there are unary attributes on the nodes and binary attributes on the edges by using the spectral decomposition of a Hermitian property matrix that can be viewed as a complex analogue of the Laplacian. To embed the graphs in a pattern space, we explore whether the vectors of invariants can be embedded in a low- dimensional space using a number of alternative strategies, including principal components analysis ( PCA), multidimensional scaling ( MDS), and locality preserving projection ( LPP). Experimentally, we demonstrate that the embeddings result in well- defined graph clusters. Our experiments with the spectral representation involve both synthetic and real- world data. The experiments with synthetic data demonstrate that the distances between spectral feature vectors can be used to discriminate between graphs on the basis of their structure. The real- world experiments show that the method can be used to locate clusters of graphs.
|Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:||Copyright © 2005 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.|
|Keywords:||graph matching,graph features,spectral methods,SEGMENTATION,EIGENVALUES,FRAMEWORK,ALGORITHM,SHAPE|
|Institution:||The University of York|
|Academic Units:||The University of York > Computer Science (York)|
|Depositing User:||Repository Officer|
|Date Deposited:||21 Feb 2007|
|Last Modified:||12 Apr 2017 17:37|


text:
Dogs Trust says number of strays 'highest in 11 years'
More than 120,000 stray dogs were picked up by local authorities in the last 12 months, the highest number in 11 years.
New figures from the Dogs Trust suggest that on average 345 stray dogs are picked up every day.
But more than one in 20, a total of 7,571 dogs, were put down as they were unable to be rehomed.
Louise Hubball reports
05 Sep 2011
- From the section UK

domain: pet


text:
Anticoagulants are medicines that help prevent blood clots. They're given to people at ahigh risk ofgetting clots, to reduce their chances of developingserious conditions such as strokes and heart attacks.
A Arterial thrombosis is a seal created by the blood to stop bleeding from wounds. While they're useful in stopping bleeding, they can block blood vessels and stop blood flowing to organssuch as the brain, heart or lungsif they form in the wrong place.
Anticoagulants work by interrupting the process involved in the formation of blood clots. They're sometimes called "blood-thinning" medicines, althoughthey don't actually make the blood thinner.
Although they're used for similar purposes, anticoagulants are different to antiplatelet medicines, such as low-dose aspirin and clopidogrel .
The most commonly prescribedanticoagulantis warfarin .
Newer types of anticoagulants are also available and are becoming increasingly common. These include:
Warfarin and the newer alternatives are taken as tablets or capsules. There's also an anticoagulant called heparin that can be givenby injection.
If a blood clot blocks the flow of blood through a blood vessel, the affected part of the body will become starved of oxygen and will stop working properly.
Depending on where the clot forms, this can lead to serious problems such as:
Treatment with anticoagulants may be recommended if your doctor feels you're at an increased risk of developing one of these problems. This may be because you've had blood clots in the past or you've been diagnosed with a condition such as atrial fibrillation that can cause blood clots to form.
You may also be prescribed ananticoagulant if you've recently had surgery, as the period of rest and inactivity you need during your recovery can increase your risk of developing a blood clot.
In many cases, treatment will be lifelong.
If you're unsure how to take your medicine, or are worried that you missed a dose or have taken too much, check the patient information leaflet that comes with it orask your GP, anticoagulant clinic or pharmacist what to do. You can also call NHS 111 for advice.
If you're going to have surgery or a test such as an endoscopy , make sure your doctor or surgeon is aware that you're taking anticoagulants, as you may have to stop taking them fora short time.
Speak to your GP, anticoagulant clinic or pharmacist before taking any other medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, as some medications can affect how your anticoagulant works.
If you're taking warfarin, you'll also need to avoid making significant changes to what you normally eat and drink, as this can affect your medication.
Mostanticoagulant medicines aren't suitable forpregnant women. Speak to your GPor anticoagulant clinicif you become pregnant or are planning to try for a baby while taking anticoagulants.
Like all medicines, there's a risk of experiencing side effects while taking anticoagulants.
The main side effect is that you can bleedtoo easily, which cancause problems such as:
For most people, the benefits of taking anticoagulants will outweigh the risk of excessive bleeding.
Anticoagulants are medicines that reduce the ability of the blood to clot. Read about why they're used, how you take them and what you need to bear in mind while taking them.
Anticoagulant medicines are used if your blood is clotting too quickly. When this happens, blood clots can form in the wrong places.
Read about how anticoagulants are taken, what to do if you miss a dose or take too much, and how your treatment will be monitored.
Read about the things you need to bear in mind if you're taking anticoagulants, including whether they're safe while pregnant and what other medications you need to avoid.
Read about the main side effects of anticoagulants, including excessive bleeding.

domain: medical


text:
Till was a typical urban kid growing up in the nineties with skateboarding and hip hop; he was running his own street wear shop for seven years until he in 2006 decided to focus 100% on his music career.
Now, Till is a heavily acclaimed DJ and producer with releases on labels such as Supplement Facts, Suol and Dirt Crew Recs, including collaborations with Tigerskin, Aera, Chopstick, Catz’n’Dogz and more. Not to mention countless remixes on Ministry of Sound, Plastic City and many others on the discography.
His heart and dedication, however, is to be found in DJing. For the past two years he has been travelling all over the world: South Africa


text:
That Transform Technology Summits launch on October 13 with Low-Code / No Code: Enabling Enterprise Agility. Register now!
The core of the gaming industry is doing well. By various measures, it grew users and revenue by 23% last year as the pandemic caused almost everything else to fall apart. The center held. But our next gaming conference is about the edges of the industry and the opportunities to expand the gaming industry beyond its natural boundaries.
GamesBeat Summit Next is coming (you can sign up here) on 9-10. November as an online conference featuring dozens of leaders in gaming as speakers. It will focus on what comes next for games and feature themes that include dealmaking and investing, esports, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain games, augmented reality and virtual reality, influencers and creators, user-generated content, emerging markets and metaverse. I’m very excited about the speakers we line up. (Sponsors can contact us here.)
These sub-themes are critical because they could sweep through the industry like tidal waves or just get our feet wet. GamesBeat Summit Next will explore the next great opportunities in a disciplined way with industry thought leaders. We will focus on the new parts of games that can become the next big markets. It feels like the industry needs this growth to go beyond the lukewarm forecasts of revenue that will either fall in 2021 or perhaps grow 4.4%.
We see famous faces like Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, Niantic CEO John Hanke, metaverse expert Matthew Ball, Roblox CTO Dan Sturman, Vindex CEO Mike Sepso, Forte and Rally founder Kevin Chou, Genvid CEO Jacob Navok, Mythical Games CEO John Linden, Stanley Pierre-Louis of the Entertainment Software Association, Gabby Dizon of the Yield Guild Games, Nick Tuosto of Griffin Gaming Partners and Liontree, influencer and owner of new sports group Mari Takahashi, Mike Vorhaus of Vorhaus Advisors, James Zhang of Concept Art House and Fifth Era and Eve Crevoshay, CEO of Take This.
Three good investment professionals open up what it takes to get your video game funded.
See On Demand
Ball is the perfect one to talk about the vision of the metaverse, while Sturman at Roblox can talk about its plumbing. Sweeney can argue why it should be open and built by many companies. Sepso can talk about our ability to create lots of local esports communities, while Chou will help game investment managers discuss where to place bets in the future. Bond on the Xbox can talk about how acquisitions are changing the landscape industry, while Crevoshay can explore how to create different studies and efforts against harassment from scratch.
We also have fresh faces that we have not seen on our stages before like Jeffrey “Jiho” Zirlin from Axie Infinity maker Sky Mavis; Sarah Bond, Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Xbox; Amy Wu, partner at Lightspeed; Maria Kochmala, co-founder of The Games Fund; Anna Sweet, CEO of Bad Robot Games; Jack Attridge, CEO of Flavourworks; Animoca Brands CEO Yat Siu; Salone Sehgal, partner at Lumikai; Miko Matsumura, partner at Gumi Cryptos; Piers Kicks by Bitkraft and Delphi Digital; Imran Sarwar from Rockstar Games; David Washington of HiDef, Jessica Lindl of Unity; Anat Shperling of Toya; Witek Radamski, Chief Technology Officer at Enjin; Dapper Labs CEO Roham Gharegozlou; and Jay Chi, founder of the Makers Fund.
Dizon, Wu, Matsumura, and the Kicks will explore the fast-growing phenomenon of “play to earn,” where players make money playing games. Sweet, Navok, Ball and Sarwar will talk about the Metaverse ETF, a basket of the 50 largest metaverse stocks. And Radamski, Gharegozlou, Zirlin and others will talk about whether NFTs will be the next big revenue model for the gaming industry, just as free-to-play was at the beginning of modern mobile gaming. And Shperling and Vorhaus will discuss the future of user-generated content.
Our old friend Peter Moore from Unity will be talking about joining the board of Nifty Games, a new sports game producer, with Nifty CEO Jon Middleton.
We’ve even got Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley to grow poetically on the 20th anniversary of the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox game console. Our emcees include Chris Mellisinos, who curated the Smithsonian’s exhibition on gaming, and Keisha Howard, founder of Sugar Gamers. And MIT Game Lab leader Riz Virk will moderate a roundtable if we live in a simulated universe.
Our format will be two days of online lectures, pre-recorded with Zoom Q&A for our VIP audience and other intimate events such as round tables and one-on-one sessions. Our participants often include high-level CEOs and executives. We get a diverse mass of game developers, game publishers, marketers, investors, industry vendors and other executives with the best ideas and insights.
We even expect to close the event with a special podcast by the GamesBeat staff, which includes me, Mike Minotti, Jeff Grubb and Rachel Kaser. Hope to see you there.
GamesBeat’s creed when coverage of the gaming industry is “where passion meets business.” What does it mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you — not just as a game maker, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts or watch our videos, GamesBeat helps you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging in it.
How will you do it? Membership includes access to:
- Newsletters, e.g. DeanBeat
- The wonderful, informative and funny speakers at our events
- Networking opportunities
- Special interviews for members only, chats and “open offices” events with GamesBeat staff
- Chat with community members, GamesBeat staff and other guests in our Discord
- And maybe even a fun prize or two
- Introductions to like-minded parties


Controllers, Sensors and Metering Systems
Making sure the water quality is always the best, balancing the variables that affect it, demanding the measuring and dosing systems with the highest precision.
SEKO’s Controllers and Sensors and Metering systems are built with precision in mind and can function in both internal and external environments. Specifically conceived to fit a wide range of individual applications, they are available in different performance classes providing quick, accurate analysis and control with a reassuring constancy.
Measurement and analysis also covers our range of photometric products, sensors and probes.


text:
The Campbell earls of Argyll have traditionally had an unsavoury historical reputation. This book reassesses these negative images and interpretations of the growth of Campbell authority from the thirteenth century and the opening of the Wars of Independence through to the death of Archibald, 2nd earl of Argyll, at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
The spectacular advance of Campbell power in the medieval Scottish kingdom has normally been explained in terms of the family's ruthless and duplicitous suppression of their fellow-Gaels in Argyll and the Hebrides at the behest of the Scottish crown. In particular, Clan Campbell's success is seen to be built on the destruction of older and more prestigious regional lordships in the west, such as those of the MacDougall lords of Argyll and the MacDonald lords of the Isles. But in this book the lords who dominated the medieval Clan Campbell emerge more as individuals enjoying complex and ambiguous relationships with the Scottish crown and the culture and politics of Gaelic-speaking Scotland, rather than as unquestioning agents of the Stewart monarchy and committed converts to the aristocratic culture of lowland Scotland.
Why buy from World of Books
Our excellent value books literally don't cost the earth
Stephen Boardman is Lecturer in Scottish History at the University of Edinburgh. His first book, The Early Stewart Kings: Robert II and Robert III, won the Agnes Mure Mackenzie prize. A lively writer as well as an intrepid researcher, he is widely regarded as one of the finest Scottish historians of his generation. He lives in Ladybank, Fife.
The Campbells, 1250-1513 by Stephen Boardman
Used - Like New
John Donald Publishers Ltd
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins.

domain: library


text:
Tupperware Brands operates as a direct-to-consumer marketer of various products across a range of brands and categories worldwide. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of design-centric preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as a line of cookware, knives, microwave products, microfiber textiles, and water related items under the Tupperware brand name. The company was founded in 1996 and is based in Orlando, Florida.
TUP Price Forecast Based on DCF Valuation
DCF Fair Value Target:
We started the process of determining a valid price forecast for Tupperware Brands Corp with a discounted cash flow analysis -- the results of which can be found in the table below. To summarize, we found that Tupperware Brands Corp ranked in the 46th percentile in terms of potential gain offered. The most interesting components of our discounted cash flow analysis for Tupperware Brands Corp ended up being:
The company's compound free cash flow growth rate over the past 5.74 years comes in at -0.09%; that's greater than just 18.16% of US stocks we're applying DCF forecasting to.
Tupperware Brands Corp's effective tax rate, as measured by taxes paid relative to net income, is at 40 -- greater than 92.45% of US stocks with positive free cash flow.
Relative to other stocks in its sector (Consumer Cyclical), Tupperware Brands Corp has a reliance on debt greater than 58.82% of them.
Terminal Growth Rate in Free Cash Flow
Return Relative to Current Share Price
CSV, SGA, ICON, SIRI, and AZO can be thought of as valuation peers to TUP, in the sense that they are in the Consumer Cyclical sector and have a similar price forecast based on DCF valuation.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Tupperware Brands Corporation second-quarter 2020 earnings conference call. With me on today's call are Rich Goudis, our executive vice chairman; and Sandra Harris, our executive vice president and chief financial officer. The press release is available on our company's website on our investor relations page.
ORLANDO, Fla., July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: TUP) Tupperware Brands Corporation (the "Company") today reported operating results for the second quarter ended June 27, 2020. Second Quarter Financial & Operational Updates Second quarter sales down 16% versus last year and 8% in local…

domain: finance


‘Latin Instruments’ Loops & Samples includes seven Latin genres. They are son montuno, bossa, samba, bolero, afro cuban in 6/8, cha cha cha, and timba. Each genre includes all of the traditional instruments elements plus some non-traditional. Available in ACID/WAV and Apple Loops formats.
This set includes Piano, Guitar, Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Flute, and Sax.
Performances were performed in both C Major and C minor. There are also parts A and B to inspire more creative possibilities. The drums and Percussion in this demo are available as a separate package here.
Both the Instruments and Percussion packs were designed to work together so get them both!


An article that features a photo of an emaciated Yemeni child has been flagged by Facebook as going against its community standards.
The New York Times op-ed by Nicholas Kristof titled “End This Shameful War” was published on Wednesday, and on Sunday, a Twitter user pointed out to the writer that he was unable to share the article because of its “nudity.”
YOUR ARTICLE WAS BANNED BY FB, SEE PHOTO: @NickKristof pic.twitter.com/wmTMWdAq6r— K. Sennholz MD (@MtnMD) December 16, 2018
Kristof then retweeted it, indicating that some others were facing a similar issue.
People are telling me that @Facebook blocked posts of this starving girl from Yemen that ran with my column a few days ago. Others have this experience? To me this is ridiculous: The obscenity is not the photo but the starvation that arises from our policies. https://t.co/RLzLKM44Eh— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) December 16, 2018
Yup, i got the same thing pic.twitter.com/2AjNf1szxg— dianesoveryourshit (@wildscenery) December 16, 2018
Same thing with me!!!!! I have appealed twice and told them to change their fucking algorithm!!!! It still shows me- UNDER REVIEW!!!— Ron Marcus (@ronmarcus) December 16, 2018
Kristof later shared the issue on his Facebook page as well. “I’m now hearing from lots of people that you are censoring this photo of a starving Yemeni child that ran with my Thursday column,” he wrote. “Yes, indeed, it’s a hard photo to look at. But what’s horrifying isn’t the photo but the reality,” clarifying that he had permission from the family of the girl to share her photo.
Many agreed with Kristof, pointing out the hypocrisy of Facebook allowing actually offensive posts, some of which borders on harassment, despite being reported.
@Facebook Lets Russians fill our timelines with fake news stories and doesn’t know what the meaning of most recent is yet blocks actual news and allows bugs to share millions of private photos. #Makessense #whydoanyofusstilluseit— Minnesota Girl (@MnMegK) December 17, 2018
Some shared their theories that the war in Yemen, given America’s stance on it, has been blocked on Facebook on purpose, and that it’s happened before.
The American public are actively blocked from knowing about the wars in Yemen. Now that you know that, you should understand why. The American public had no clue about nazis for almost a year of the Nazis putting people into concentration camps. This is called empire rule.— Angela M Ricks (@Burkina_858) December 16, 2018
On his Facebook post, Kristof sums up his point aptly, “If Facebook is concerned, then it should help end the U.S.-backed Saudi war in Yemen that has brought 12 million Yemenis to the brink of starvation.”
On late Sunday evening, Kristof posted an update that a product official from Facebook had reached out to him and was looking into it.
Thanks for flagging this @NickKristof. The image doesn't violate our Community Standards – it’s exactly the sort of thing we want to leave up on the platform given the public interest value. We’re looking into the reports and working to address this ASAP.— Guy Rosen (@guyro) December 17, 2018
A Facebook spokesperson told the Daily Dot the block was a “mistake.” “As our Community Standards explain, we don’t allow nude images of children on Facebook,” they said. “That said, we recognize that people use Facebook to share content that is newsworthy and important to the public interest—those are exactly the types of images that we want to leave on the platform. We undid the mistakes we made on this basis, and people should be able to share Mr. Kristof’s column on Facebook moving forward.”
Yemen has been embroiled in a bitter civil war since 2014, an offshoot of the 2011 Arab Spring revolution which ousted its long-time dictator. The new era led to a resistance from the country’s Shia Muslims; Saudi Arabia responded to the resistance with a coalition of eight other countries in the region, leading to a war where nearly 400,000 children are at risk of starvation because of the “closure of all ports and airports” that block food and medicine supplies into the country.
The U.S. has been backing the Saudi-led coalition, which recently came under severe scrutiny following the Saudi government-backed murder of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Since then, many across the U.S. have denounced America’s support and alliance with Saudi Arabia.
On Thursday, a day after Kristof’s op-ed was published, the Senate voted to end their military support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen.


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Big Room, EDM/Dance, Progressive Trance
Producer from Sweden, hungarian born in Romania!
Producing mainly EDM/Dance, Progressive trance etc. I love to make remixes, and make my original tracks too offcourse.
Also master HipHop, Reggae, Reggaeton and more!
I hope you will enjoy my music! Don't forget to hit the FOLLOW button!
Mail: email@example.com Show More


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Have you ever asked yourself what makes someone follow a leader? In fact, let’s try something. Ask yourself why you follow the people in your life that are leaders? It could be your manager, parent, teacher, pastor…..anyone you consider a leader? What makes you follow them? In John Maxwell’s soon to be released book, The 5 Levels of Leadership Maxwell shares the five motivations for followers:
What are the traits you desire in a leader? If you’re a leader ask yourself why those that are following you follow you? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.


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|Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct|
Home | Bridges | Inventory | Snapshots
All photos by David Denenberg, please do not reuse without permission. This is the oldest surviving suspension bridge in North America, completed in 1848. It was one of four aqueduct structures designed and built by John Roebling for the Delaware and Hudson Canal. When first converted from an aqueduct to a highway bridge, motorists were afraid the bridge was not strong enough to carry traffic. Perhaps they didn't realize the bridge was designed to carry 2,000 tons of water. These pictures were taken in the early 1990s before the bridge had been fully restored.

domain: geography


Introduction to Fingerpicking
INFO & EXPLANATION
RIGHT HAND PLACEMENT
One of the most frustrating things about learning a new right hand technique is finding the strings you're supposed to play without looking at them. At first that can be very challenging. Let's approach this challenge logically
- If your right arm is placed correctly on the body of the guitar, good hand position is easy to achieve.
- If your right hand is positioned correctly over the strings, your individual fingers can easily reach and execute good finger-strokes.
As in most things, doing it right from the beginning can save you time and great frustration. Just something I thought you'd like to keep in mind as we advance through this lesson. Trying to skip ahead will only cost you time in the long-run.
Take a look at the images to your right. First, notice the position of the hand. The wrist is slightly curved and relaxed. The knuckle-line is somewhat parallel to the strings and the thumb extends straight out beyond the the index finger. Be sure not to bend your thumb. As you'll see, when executing a thumbstroke, the side of the thumbnail is what actually plucks the strings.
FINGERNAILS vs FINGERTIPS
A WORD ABOUT FINGER-NAILS
If you have a tendancy to bite your finger-nails now's a good time to make an effort to stop. The finger-picking technique is a whole lot easier if you use your nails to pluck the strings. Every time I've demonstrated this to a beginner, they're always surprised to find that to be true. Their first inclination is to think that direct contact of the finger-tip would give them more control. The reason that's not true is because the tip of your finger has a larger surface area than that of your finger-nail. That makes it harder to achieve a good consistent stroke. Each time you pluck the string with the flesh of your fingertip, you may initially touch (or grab) the string a little more or less on the tip.
I will admit that I have heard guitarists who have developed a very warm, consistent tone using the fingertips instead of the nail but these folks are far and few between. Take a look at the illustration below. Notice that the fingernail plucks the string. Also study the finger movement at the active joint.
Once your hand is in good playing position you can easily play any of the strings with almost no effort at all. We'll get into the idea of playing melodic lines with alternating finger-strokes in the intermediate lessons for Classic guitar. This lesson, however, will simply teach you the basics of the technique and a simple finger-picking pattern.
There is one over-riding thought you should have as you practice this movement and that is RELAX! Don't allow your hand to become tense. That works against your effort in more ways than you can imagine.
Study the illustration and picture below. Your fingers have 3 joints and your thumb only has 2 joints. When you pluck a string using your finger or thumb, you should think of a specific joint as the "engine" of the stroke. In other words, the "active" joint. Notice that the active joint for finger-strokes is the middle joint and the active joint for the thumb stroke is the joint where your thumb connects to your hand.
DIVISION OF LABOR
Our approach to teaching a beginner this technique is to assign specific strings to the fingers and thumb. We're using the standard letters from the Spanish finger names to label the fingers on your right hand. Refer to the image below:
p comes from pulgar or thumb.
i comes from indice or index.
m comes from media or middle.
a comes from anular or ring.
Ok, with your guitar in playing position, place your ring finger on the 1st string, your middle finger on the 2nd string and your index finger on the 3rd string. These fingers will only play these strings. Your thumb will play any of the remaining strings, i.e., the 6th thru 4th strings. Study the image to the right. Now you're ready to tackle the lesson. It should be pretty easy to do now that you've established good hand position!
©2022 Hotfrets, Inc., All Rights Reserved.


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Webinar on International and Canadian Sustainability Reporting Developments
Recent global and national developments in sustainability reporting present both opportunities and challenges for capital market participants.
In November 2021, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation established the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in response to calls from investors and other stakeholders for high quality, reliable and comparable disclosures on climate and other sustainability issues. Offices in Montreal and Frankfurt, Germany will support the activities of the new Board.
The ISSB will develop a comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosure standards to meet investors’ information needs. To that end, it issued exposure drafts in March on its first set of proposed standards: climate-related disclosures and general requirements for sustainability disclosures.
Closer to home, the Canadian Securities Administrators recently closed a consultation on climate-related disclosure proposals. An Independent Review Committee on Standard Setting in Canada just closed a consultation of its own, one focused on the governance and structure for establishing Canadian accounting and assurance standards. The consultation also explored future imperatives, including the need to support the development of sustainability disclosure standards.
It’s important for business leaders and others to monitor developments in this area and understand evolving market and regulatory expectations for sustainability reporting. This webinar will provide important information on:
- Global and Canadian developments in sustainability disclosure and standard setting
- Canadian regulatory initiatives focused on sustainability disclosure
- The newly launched ISSB Exposure Drafts: Climate-related Disclosures and General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information
- The important role of Canadian organizations in shaping future sustainability disclosure standards and regulation
Member Development and Support
Email: [email protected]

domain: economics


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Take Action Today!
Tell your governor legalization without justice is HALF BAKED.
Ben & Jerry’s is back with another season of Into the Mix, a podcast about joy and justice. Hosted by Ashley C. Ford and produced with Vox Creative, this season will bring you stories of struggle and success from the everyday people at the heart of our greatest fights — from voting rights, to cannabis justice, to dignity for migrant workers — today.
Subscribe now, and don’t miss a moment of Into the Mix.
Andrea Phillips loves her job. She works at an elementary school as a reading interventionist, teaching struggling readers to love books. When she was told by her district to pack up her classroom library earlier this year, she was devastated.
In 2022, Florida lawmakers passed HB 1467. This new law mandated that every book in Florida public schools be cataloged and reviewed for “harmful content”, and that schools create a system for parents to petition the removal of books they found inappropriate. Out of an abundance of caution, two county school districts – including Andrea’s – decided to block or remove all unreviewed books from schools while they adopted this new system. Otherwise, administrators worried they could be liable for violating another Florida law. In effect, more than 175,000 Florida students went to schools where library books were off-limits for part of the school year. Across the state hundreds of books containing themes of race, sexuality, and LGBTQ identities have been pulled from school libaries, even classics that are required reading in other states. Critics say this is just another example of Governor Ron DeSantis attempts to silence marginalized voices in Florida classrooms.
Book bans have happened throughout our country’s history, usually in response to changing social norms. But when public education is unequal and struggling schools can’t afford to lose any resources, what do laws like this do to our most vulnerable students? Host Ashley C. Ford explores Florida’s book bans, their effects on students and educators, and the evolving history of American public education.
Most kids in the U.S. go to a school that’s patrolled by police officers. They’re supposed to keep students safe, but after decades of increased surveillance, in-school arrests have skyrocketed for kids of all ages. And most of the kids arrested at school are students of color.
A group of students in Des Moines, Iowa didn’t need data to know that police in their school district were harmful, so they set out to do something about it. Here’s how they worked with their community to build a greater movement to protect students, and especially students of color.
Learn more about the Advancement Project’s Opportunity to Learn campaign here.
Learn more about the effectiveness of restorative justice in schools (13:45), How Des Moines Public Schools have updated their policies (25:50), and how Endi, Lyric and Kai made change in Des Moines (10:00).
One Woman’s Unlikely Journey from Afghanistan to the UK
In January 2021, Zahra Shaheer had to get out of Afghanistan… fast. So when she had the rare opportunity to secure safe passage for herself and her two children, she made the heartbreaking decision to flee, even though it meant leaving her mother behind. Now, Zahra and her mother remain separated by thousands of miles, and insurmountable policies that are designed to prevent her mother from reuniting with her family in the new home in the UK.
David Miliband from the International Rescue Committee joins us to look at the history of global refugee policy, and the importance of safe routes as more displaced people seek safety around the globe than ever before.
As lawmakers consider more than 500 anti-trans bills nationwide, experts warn that these efforts will increase already-high rates of depression and suicidality for trans kids. But what happens when these kids are affirmed and supported in their transition? When their communities welcome them with open arms?
Hear the story of Oli Oski, who, when he was just seven years old, helped convince an LGBTQ resource center to start offering play groups for trans and queer kids under 13. Oli is 19 now, and already he’s left a legacy for the next generation of LGBTQ kids who face acute social and political persecution. Host Ashley C. Ford helps tell this story of self determination, legacy, and sanctuary.
Did you know that without migrant farm workers, the price of dairy would be twice as expensive? Dairy farming is one of the most challenging jobs in agriculture, and like a lot of farmwork has notoriously weak legal protections for workers, leading to long hours, poor pay, and unsafe conditions. Host Ashely C. Ford tells the story of how a group of farmworkers came together after a senseless tragedy to demand change – and together built a safety net to protect their most vulnerable workers.
Back in the day, Michael Thompson was a local legend in Flint, Michigan. He brought acts like Aretha Franklin to town, and did incredible work to ease vicious gang violence in his community. So when he was sentenced to 42 to 60 years in prison, Flint was shocked, and devastated. His crime? Selling marijuana to a police informant.
Michael was still serving time while recreational dispensaries began popping up all over his hometown, and he ended up serving the longest sentence for a nonviolent drug charge in the history of Michigan. As he navigates life post-release, he’s calling for others left behind in prison to get the same opportunity to walk free through clemency.
You can learn more about his mission at MTclemency.com.
Tell your governor legalization without justice is HALF BAKED.
Today, over 4.5 million people can't vote in the United States because of a mistake they made in the past.
Desmond Meade is one of them. He's a "returning citizen" who understands the devastating impacts of having your civil rights stripped away, and the redemptive power of second chances. So, he set out to do something about it, and brought about the greatest expansion of voting rights in America in half a century. It’s that work that just earned his organization a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
You can learn more about Desmond’s work at the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition here.
Mount Rushmore, like so much of the land now known as the United States, once belonged to Indigenous people. In fact, it’s a holy mountain to the Lakota. Here’s why we need to give it back.
One year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion bans are on the rise and reproductive rights are under attack. Here’s what you can do to fight back.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for American children. To save their own lives and the lives of their friends and classmates, young people are demanding action from politicians to end gun violence.

domain: politics