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The Spring 2012 Anime Preview Guide
Carlo Santos
A veteran of Anime News Network for over 7 years, Carlo is on a neverending quest to get people to spell his name right. He is best known for his manga review column Right Turn Only!!, in addition to other reviews and convention reporting for the site. His favorite series of the last few seasons include Steins;Gate, Hanasaku Iroha, Mawaru Penguindrum, Chihayafuru, Sket Dance, Another, and Black Rock Shooter, which should give you a good idea of his tastes. Or lack thereof.
Arashi No Yoru Ni
Rating: 1.5 (of 5)
I try to go easy on stuff that's obviously for kids. But after spending one's youth being spoiled by Pixar's entire output, all other attempts at CG animation—like this one—fall short. Maybe it's the robotic cartoon-animal eyes, or the lack of fur textures on their bodies, or the way the leaves and grass remain perfectly still instead of rustling with the breeze. In any case, the visual presentation of Arashi No Yoru Ni is the most distracting thing about it.
The story itself isn't all that bad: one stormy night, a little goat named Mei takes shelter in a run-down shack, and is joined by a wolf named Gabu also looking to get out of the rain. Sitting there in the dark, totally unaware of each others' species, the two animals bond over their similar lifestyles and upbringing. (They both like to feed in the same valley, but for totally different reasons.) Mei and Gabu agree to meet again on a sunny day, and only then do they realize the massive predator-and-prey gap between them. Instead of being all dramatic about it, however, they decide to continue with their unlikely friendship—which is where the story starts to crumble. By not playing up the potential conflict between them, this tale of a mismatched animal pair quickly gets boring: all they do is talk, stroll through the woods, and help each other out. Even Gabu's sudden outburst in the final scene leads to a weak, deflating punchline.
But hey, maybe the series' younger target audience won't mind a story that gently floats along like this one. Still, they shouldn't have to stand for such shoddy animation: in addition to the lifelessness mentioned above, the basic visual design suffers from a lack of imagination. The hills, forests and plains all blend into one generic expanse of green, and the main characters look like student animation projects or direct-to-DVD protagonists. Ironically, the story was previously adapted into a 2D animated movie in 2005 ... and looks far more convincing that way.
Shining Hearts -Shiawase no Pan-
Rating: 1 (of 5)
There are some great anime series about baking. There are some great anime series about fantasy and sorcery. Shining Hearts tries to straddle both topics, and fails miserably at all of them. This is the story of Rick, a baker who makes the best bread in town and is assisted by three lovely girls who run his store. While this might make for a good business model, it's a weak story idea, and much of the episode is wasted on Rick and company's idyllic life where they get to go on cheerful jaunts through the woods. The plot doesn't start happening until past the halfway point, when Rick's party runs into a stern-looking elf who doesn't want humans rooting around in their precious Elven forest. Moments later, they run into a much friendlier elf—the sister of that other guy—and she gladly tries some of their bread as a gesture of friendship. But later that night, we get a hint that dark forces may soon disrupt this peaceful lifestyle.
Really? This is supposed to be a premise that gets people all excited for what happens next? It's just one pointless scene after another, with hardly any sign of progression or conflict. When Mister Meanie Elf shows up, that's as close as this story gets to plot development—but all he does is mutter things in an ominous manner that translates to "something dramatic is coming up, but I can't say what it is yet." Right, just like every faux-medieval series that predictably turns to epic magical warfare.
This bland story and setting has uninspired animation to match: still frames and slow pans eat up a lot of running time, the countryside backgrounds are flat and forgettable, and unimaginative camerawork turns most of Rick's encounters into dull talking-head scenarios. On the character design side, the girls get to wear some pretty (if impractical) dresses, but that seems more geared towards selling figurines of them than actually being good art. Throw in some bland easy-listening music on top of that, and this show really is the complete package ... of mediocrity.
Eureka Seven AO
Rating: 4 (of 5)
Eureka Seven AO is the kind of series where you fall in love with Episode 1 not because of what it is, but because of what it can be. Like the original Eureka Seven, this one visits many familiar sci-fi themes, but remixes them in a new way. Our hero, a young boy named Ao, does NOT go skateboarding in the sky or awaken a giant robot in this episode. Instead, the story begins with Ao venturing around his tropical island home. One night he collides with a motley band of couriers transporting secret equipment to the Japanese military. Their encounter turns bizarre when the Scub Coral—the mysterious alien antagonists of the original series—emerge from the ground and light up the sky. No one is hurt in the incident, but Ao comes home with an odd bracelet that the couriers dropped. The next day, things get dramatically worse: the Scub Coral re-emerge, while an alien craft appears and starts terrorizing the island. The bracelet, meanwhile, glows in reaction to the chaos, and triggers a vital memory from Ao's childhood.
So there it is: a futuristic adventure with plenty of potential. How will humankind fend off the Scub Coral this time? What is the military up to? And are Ao's legendary parents who we think they are? The only problem with this exposition is how disjointed the scenes are, as well as all the technical jargon being thrown around. But it's an issue that can be fixed with proper storytelling.
If the opening storyline is a little jumbled, at least the visuals make up for it: between gorgeous island scenery and psychedelic special effects, every moment of this episode is designed to dazzle. The character designs, too, show a level of detail and individuality that stand out from the crowd—even with the generic bad guys. Crisp lines and seamless animation also make it easy to enjoy the action, while an eclectic music score (watch out for that head-bobbing dance beat) sets the mood. The adventure is just starting to get good, while some may say it already is.
Rating: 5 (of 5)
Who'd have thought that a fishing show would be the standout of this season? Tsuritama gets everything right, with bright, eye-catching visuals, instantly memorable characters, and a setting that brings a fresh spark to the "random kids hanging out" formula. Episode 1 introduces us to Yuki Sanada, a schoolboy who moves to the coastal town of Enoshima and goes through the usual struggles of trying to fit in. This is especially hard for him since he easily gets panic attacks (cleverly represented by the visual metaphor of drowning in a rising pool of water). On the flip side is easygoing Haru, a self-proclaimed alien who loves fishing and immediately takes Yuki on one such excursion after school. Thus begins an unlikely friendship—even though one of them is still stuck on the "how to make friends" part and the other is so flighty he might just start flapping and soar off into space one day.
While the series doesn't offer any deep or dramatic turns of plot right away, it does have its unique moments. Haru impulsively moves into Yuki and his grandmother's new house when they arrive, the fishing scene gets the technical details of the hobby right, and there's a mysterious guy with a goose observing them from a tower. Maybe it tries a little too hard to be weird for weirdness' sake, but better to grab the audience's attention that way than bore them to death.
The fanciful animation is another strong point—perhaps the strongest point—with vivid colors, distinctive linework, and characters that move with a sense of purpose. Even little things, like the unwinding of fishing-pole reels, show a high level of attention to detail. But most impressive of all is when Yuki has his moments of panic-attack-by-drowning—a surreal experience that only animation can bring to life. The fun, folksy music adds to the series' positive vibe, although the sheer repetition can start to feel overbearing after a while. But as a whole, this show hits all the right spots, providing a shining example of how slice-of-life comedy should be done.
Tsuritama is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kids on the Slope
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
Kids on the Slope starts out with a little nervousness in its step, as if afraid to reveal how incredible it is to have Cowboy Bebop's Shinichiro Watanabe and musical legend Yoko Kanno teaming up again. The story centers on Kaoru Nishimi, a recently transferred high school student who finds himself out of place among all the small-town kids. Other students talk about his privileged upbringing and geeky appearance behind his back, but what really bugs Kaoru is the fellow sitting behind him—Sentaro, a big, outspoken guy who seems intent on bothering poor Kaoru when all he wants to do is relax on the school's roof.
If this all sounds like dull slice-of-school-life banter, that's because it is, at least for the first several minutes. Things finally start to pick up once the story looks into the characters' personal interests: we learn that Kaoru is a pretty decent classical pianist, while Sentaro is all about jazz drumming. This clash of musical viewpoints comes to a head when fellow classmate Ritsuko invites them into her dad's private music studio, and the two boys simply refuse to get along.
The episode's main fault is that it spends too long on Kaoru's personal awkwardness, thus leaving little time to establish character relationships and conflicts. But even those who were simply excited for a "jazz anime" will be disappointed by the lack of music-making in this one. Ironically, the best music comes not when Kaoru or Sentaro are playing the instrument, but when Sentaro beats up some school punks. (Then again, the concept of slickly directed fistfights set to modern jazz should make perfect sense to Bebop fans.)
Like the story, the animation is polished but doesn't make any dramatic impressions just yet. Its greatest accomplishment is overcoming the challenge of musical instrument animation—the piano-playing and drumming look reasonably accurate, and as anyone who's seen Nodame Canatabile knows, that's not easy. But conservative character designs and lots of typical schoolroom interiors make it hard for the show to visually stand out ... unless they're saving the good stuff for later.
Kids on the Slope is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Medaka Box (Episode 2)
Rating: 2 (of 5)
If there was a way to be even more uninspired than the first episode of Medaka Box, here it is: Episode 2! Medaka Kurokami's ongoing quest to help her fellow students is built on such flimsy plotlines that this episode has to string two half-sized stories together. In the first one, a track athlete has her shoes sabotaged by a teammate, and Medaka—in an impressive, Holmesian flash of brilliance—quickly figures out who it is. After she apprehends the culprit, the story takes an unexpected turn when Medaka proves that a gentle approach sometimes works better than brute force.
The second half of the episode puts Medaka's minion Hitoyoshi in the spotlight: he tries to retrieve a lost dog, but bungles the task because the beast has reverted to its vicious wild state in the six months it was missing. Medaka steps in to save the day, and once again we get an unexpected twist and a snappy ending: as a child, Medaka had some unusual issues with animals ... yet that childhood trauma actually comes in handy for catching the lost dog.
Short stories with twist endings (and occasional bursts of cheeseball humor—what's with Hitoyoshi's gym jacket?) are not a bad thing. But what's bad is the series' complete lack of ambition in telling these stories: Medaka and company take on a case, they try to fix it with unorthodox methods, and boom! Problem solved. Not to break out the Sket Dance comparison again, but at least that series goes down some weird, creative paths—and that's the one that's supposed to be more mainstream, for goodness sakes.
Animation is another hit-or-miss area for the show. The character designs are striking, but suffer from sloppy linework, and the attempts at fanservice are laughable—let's pick the most contrived camera angle possible just to show off Medaka's cleavage, shall we? The show's production values only excel in flashy action sequences, usually accompanied by dramatic swells of music. But a handful of eye-pleasing chase scenes, and cute little plot twists, don't excuse the formulaic execution everywhere else.
Medaka Box is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Zetman (Episode 2)
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
Zetman shows more promise in Episode 2, now that it can fully devote itself to the series' true purpose and not have to go through a messy, all-over-the-place setup. However, some story glitches remain: the episode jumps a few years ahead without telling anyone, then opens with some disjointed scenes of Sinister Old Guys Plotting Things. Only after several minutes does the real story kick in: homeless kid and self-proclaimed "fighter of justice" Jin is now a studly teenager, still trying to help others. This episode also re-introduces Kouga and Konoha, a privileged brother and sister who knew Jin back in the day but parted ways. However, their paths cross once more when Kouga and Jin—both of their own accord—decide to hunt down a serial arsonist who's been terrorizing the city.
After the halfway mark, the episode shows its true strengths: life-or-death suspense as Jin and Kouga try to save the arsonist's vicims, and a thrilling superhuman battle between Jin (transformed into his "Zet" alter-ego) and the hybrid monster that's been causing all these fires. If it's raging macho-man energy you want, this show's got it in spades. However, the subtler aspects still leave something to be desired: Jin's dealings with the homeless community are a contrived attempt to make him look like a saint, while Kouga's conflict between social justice and family prestige is a pretty old cliché. The villains' activities also remain annoyingly cryptic.
The visuals continue to make a strong impression, with detailed highlights and shadows in the art, plus characters with distinctively realistic (and sometimes even grotesque) looks. The scene where Jin transforms and fights the monster amid tongues of flame is an animator's dream, with tons of eye-candy opportunities. However, there's a bit of slacking off in the more ordinary scenes—crowds remain static, characters move stiffly, and the illusion of realism stutters a bit. This is a series that saves itself up for the big fights, but it would be nice if it explained why Jin has these powers and what the evil rich old men plan to do with him.
Zetman is available streaming on Viz Anime and Hulu.
Dusk Maiden of Amnesia
Rating: 4 (of 5)
Dusk Maiden of Amnesia sounds like a stupidly pretentious title—but the actual series is not. This paranormal-themed show is at once serious and tongue-in-cheek, and succeeds on both ends of the scale. At the start we meet Momoe Okonogi, the bubbly secretary of her school's Paranormal Investigation Club. While taking notes, Okonogi fails to notice all the poltergeist activity going on in the clubroom, while her more level-headed clubmates Teiichi Niiya and Kirie Kanoe quietly join her. They head out to investigate a haunted elevator in the school building ...
... And then the episode starts all over again.
Or does it? The "trick" to this episode is that, after seeing everything through Okonogi's unaware eyes, the first act is repeated, showing how resident ghost Yuuko has been making mischief the whole time. She constantly bothers Niiya (causing Okonogi to misinterpret his responses), and makes a prank out of their elevator investigation, and funniest of all, they can't get rid of her because she's the club president. Eventually the club heads out to visit the grave where the real Yuuko is buried, and the story fills in some serious details (although Yuuko still can't help but play more jokes on poor, supernatural-impaired Okonogi).
Telling the same story twice can be a narrative gamble, but in this case there are enough clever details to make it work—plus a sense of humor to keep viewers from getting bored. Each of the characters have clearly defined personalities, and while the horrors they investigate are a bit clichéd, the way that each club member deals with it is what gives the series its unique flavor.
Striking camera angles, smooth animation, and a color palette that goes anywhere from shadowy to glowing also earn this show a high visual rating. The character designs show strong attention to detail, and even more so with the backgrounds—note the intricate clutter in the clubroom. Top it off with background music that is appropriately creepy (and just a touch melancholy), and this polished take on the oft-used supernatural formula emerges as one of the season's best.
Dusk Maiden of Amnesia is available streaming at Crunchyroll.
Saki Episode of Side A
Rating: 3 (of 5)
Remember how Saki told the story of a high school mahjong club but inconveniently placed an epic finale in the middle and a dull in-between arc at the end? Well, sorry, this spinoff series does nothing to fix that. Rather, Saki Episode of Side A steps back a few years to tell another tale. It pays tribute to the original by having pink-haired prodigy Nodoka Haramura pass through, but the real story is about Ako, Shizu and Kuro, three girls who meet in 6th grade and discover a common love for mahjong. They play a few matches at the mahjong club hosted at nearby Achiga Academy, but as the girls enter middle school, they drift apart. However, the sight of Nodoka playing a nationally televised match a few years later compels Shizu to restart Achiga's now-inactive mahjong club—and as fate would have it, her old friends have been waiting ...
Surprisingly, this episode avoids the usual "new kid shows up and has amazing skill" cliché that starts off most sports and gaming anime. Instead, it plays the slice-of-life angle, focusing on friendship and following one's passion. The most effective part of the episode is a subplot where we learn that Achiga's club advisor is a former high school talent, taking some time for "rehab" before getting back into the competitive scene. The main characters aren't terribly deep to start out, but their camaraderie comes across strongly, and that's what looks to be driving the plot.
The other surprise is how little mahjong is actually played in the episode—better to establish the characters first and not drown everyone in terminology just yet. The CGI during gameplay is obvious, but smoothed out with a nice layer of cel-shading; elsewhere, the animation is pretty average (even stooping to the level of a still-frame montage). However, a bright color palette and lots of glowing afternoons in the clubroom add some visual polish. The character designs could stand to be more memorable, but ... maybe that'll happen after getting to know them better? We can only hope.
Saki Episode of Side A is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Space Brothers (Episode 2)
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
Space Brothers is a little less impressive in Episode 2, with the animation dropping a notch and the story taking a more leisurely pace. At this point, recently-jobless Mutta has reached the first round of the recruitment process at JAXA (Japan's space agency), so now get to see all those little baby steps toward becoming an astronaut. The first half of the episode is heartwarming, if a little puzzling—Mutta pays a visit to his old Aunt Sharon, who taught him English and music and also happens to have a mini-observatory at home. While it's fun to see the two of them bond and learn a few more things about Mutta's youth, it's kind of a dead spot in the storyline that doesn't really push the whole "I'm going to become an astronaut!" part forward.
The second half is probably more what viewers had mind for this series, with Mutta going through a high-pressure job interview. Along the way we witness one of those "secret job interviewer tricks" that helps pick out the truly talented engineers, and Mutta meets a couple of fellow job candidates with quirks of their own. Just like last time, the show is all about presenting these characters as believable folks that you might meet in real life—as opposed to predictable schoolyard types or over-the-top superhumans. And of course, everyone's still rooting for Mutta to make it all the way.
Although this episode still manages one of those inspiring reach-for-your-dreams sequences (Mutta playing his childhood trumpet while the sun sets around him), it's less inventive and flashy with the visuals overall. A lot of time is spent with Mutta in close-up, and if it's not him in the frame, it's a straight-ahead shot of one of the other characters. Most of the progress in this episode is made through dialogue, and trying to keep scenes like that interesting is never easy, although Mutta's expressive gestures help—as does the upbeat, tuneful soundtrack. In any case, whatever opinion you might have of the show, it's the only one of its kind this season.
Space Brothers is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Kuroko's Basketball
Rating: 2.5 (of 5)
I'm not saying every basketball anime has to be Slam Dunk, but when your pilot episode is struggling just to match the standards of current sports series like The Knight in the Area, there's clearly room for improvement. This is the story of unassuming basketball whiz Tetsuya Kuroko, who surprisingly has no interest in training to become stronger or becoming the most lauded player. Rather, Kuroko was the "phantom sixth man" of a legendary middle-school team, and now he's bringing his (non-existent?) talents to Seirin High School. His counterpart is red-headed giant Kagami, a center who overshadows the rest of the incoming freshman class with his height, skills, and blazing temper.
Episode 1 takes a predictable path in introducing the series' premise, reminding us about 50 times of Kuroko's near-invisible presence and how everyone forgets he's standing there on the court. Then come the 50 reminders of how strong Kagami is. When the whole Seirin team gets on the floor for a scrimmage game, Kuroko finally reveals his hidden talent (hmm, no surprises there) by making pinpoint passes to the rest of the team while confused defenders can barely spot him.
It's an interesting idea, but haven't we seen enough "ordinary guy with extraordinary ability" types of sports series already? Kuroko's skills might make him an intriguing side character in another franchise, but surely not a lead. Then there's the fractious partnership between Kuroko and Kagami, which seems to be more about establishing yaoi fan-fodder than establishing future character development.
The shoddy animation is what really kills it, though—Kuroko and Kagami's talents are revealed through a series of still frames and awkward, slow-motion gestures. Even less ambitious character movements look choppy, and the predominantly male cast is built upon the most common traits of bishonen character design. The synth-heavy, repetitive background music also makes it hard to take the game action seriously. You'd think that a sports anime should at least make the "sports" part look and sound good—but this one fails to accomplish even that much.
Kuroko's Basketball is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Rating: 1.5 (of 5)
If there's one thing worse than dumb, plotless shows, it's the ones that try to act all fancy and high-concept but just come out a mess. Sankarea falls into the latter category with its attempt at supernatural affairs. The main character is Chihiro, a boy whose life takes a tragic turn when his pet cat Babu is run over. However, Chihiro also happens to be a zombie enthusiast who believes that a certain arcane ritual could bring Babu back to life. (Is this ridiculous enough yet? Keep going, it gets better.) While preparing for the ritual in an abandoned building one night, Chihiro crosses paths with Sanka Rea, a student from the local girls' school. Apparently Sanka is trying to invoke the powers of a nearby wishing well, but when she meets Chihiro, she gets roped into his scheme, and Chihiro asks if she would consider "dying and being reborn as someone else." Creepy much?
This entire episode is a dogpile of conflicting messages—is it taking a tongue-in-cheek stab at the genre, or trying to put a supernatural spin on school life, or simply going for straight-out horror? One thing for sure, it fails at the last one because it's so all over the place, and besides, Another set the standard for that already. Trying to understand Chihiro's motives is a lost cause as he acts like an ordinary schoolboy one moment and then a total weirdo the next. If you can't get a hang of one single character, what hope is there of even understanding the plot?
The muted colors, flashes of occult imagery, and stabs of creepy music try to reinforce the serious tone—but again, the jumbled subject matter doesn't always fit with the presentation. Unimaginative directing also hurts the animation, as we see too many shots of people looking directly ahead or to the side, and the character designs don't show any creativity aside from Chihiro's wacky bed-head hairstyle. Whatever it's trying to be—mainstream horror, dark school tale, user manual for resurrecting dead pets—Sankarea fails.
Natsuiro Kiseki
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
Well, it's about time someone started taking the "random schoolgirls hanging out together" genre seriously. This much-abused formula, so often the subject of unfunny comedies, gets a much more thoughtful treatment in Natsuiro Kiseki. The series throws a slice-of-life spotlight on four middle-school friends—Natsumi, Saki, Yuka and Ringo—as the bonds between them start to change. Natsumi and Saki are partners on the school tennis team, but their friendship takes a sharp downturn when Saki quits and later announces that she's moving away entirely. As a last resort, Yuka and Ringo gather the four of them together at the local shrine, so that they can wish on an enchanted boulder to remain friends forever. Unfortunately, this leads to another argument over personal life goals, but that is promptly interrupted when Ringo "accidentally" wishes for the ability to fly and the four girls find themselves floating over the town. That unexpected outburst of magic brings the episode to close ... and will surely leave some wondering what happens next.
The drama between the characters is what really carries this episode: Natsumi and Saki's impassioned disagreements are a step above the usual fluff that students talk about in a school-themed anime. A flashback about childhood dreams also adds depth to the characters' backgrounds, and while the pacing drags in some spots (it's a show about kids who attend school, what else are they going to do?), there's still enough development to push things forward.
Still, the heart of Natsuiro Kiseki would not be complete without the visuals, which emphasize the bright blues and greens of summer. The animation is smoothly executed throughout—especially in the flying scene, where the staff gets a chance to show off—and believe it or not, the character designs are pretty memorable after just one full episode. (Credit that to distinctive acting and personalities to go with their looks.) The sentimental soundtrack doesn't make that strong of an impression, but it's just enough to capture the gentle, contemplative mood of the series—a mood that we could all use once in a while.
Sengoku Collection (Parallel World Samurai)
Rating: 3 (of 5)
Sengoku Collection starts out by presenting all the tropes people are sick of by now— let's re-imagine the most famous period of Japanese history, and turn all the warriors into cute girls, and throw them into the modern world with hilarious fanservice-laden results. But then something weird happens: the absolute worst expectations never come to fruition, and that characters are almost ... endearing? In this episode we meet Oda Nobunaga, a pink-haired beauty who falls dramatically into a fire and re-emerges in the suburbs of modern-day Japan. Immediately she tags along with a young man who works at a convenience store, and because of her forceful badgering (she's a legendary warlord, what do you expect?) he agrees to show her around town. By the last few scenes, it looks like the seeds of warm, genuine friendship are starting to form. Who'd have guessed?
With such a flimsy concept, of course there will be gaping flaws: the early part of the episode makes a big deal about Nobunaga getting undressed as she tries to take a shower, and the middle scenes rely too much on slice-of-life narrative where nothing ever happens. But as the minutes pass, we get a lot less of Nobunaga and her body parts mugging for the screen; instead it becomes more about two strangers getting to know each other and Nobunaga learning to tone down her demands.
The simple but charming visuals are a big key in lifting this series to "better than it probably deserves to be" status. The crisp lines and bright colors are instantly pleasing, while the character designs have a softness to them that take the edge off the harsh, big-eyed moe aesthetic. The backgrounds may seem like hasty marker scribbles at first, but it turns out that the slight gaps and overlaps between different areas of color give the scenery a bit of life. The animation also moves smoothly enough that there's no reason to complain about choppy motion. This show may not be the greatest, but there's enough artistry to stand above the truly brain-dead stuff.
Sengoku Collection is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Medaka Box
Rating: 2.5 (of 5)
Author NisiOisiN is best known for wordy novels adapted into equally wordy anime—Bakemonogatari, Katanagatari, Nisemonogatari—so his newest project Medaka Box is something of a shock, the way the characters talk in normal lines instead of rambly paragraphs. But that's because the source material is actually a manga, not a novel ... which turns out to be the worst possible thing for NisiOisiN. The resulting anime is as bland as they come, robbed of the writer's personality and populated by watered-down versions of his usual character types. In the role of the domineering, take-charge girl is Medaka, the student council president at Hakoniwa Academy. Medaka maintains a suggestion box where students can submit their problems and she tries to solve them, while long-suffering childhood friend Hitoyoshi (the obligatory beta male who provides third-party commentary) tags along. If this sounds like an otaku-geared version of Sket Dance, it is, except not nearly as funny. Even more infuriating is seeing Medaka fetishized as "that big-chested girl" for most of the episode's first half.
Fortunately, the story picks up and shows promise in the latter part of the episode. Medaka's first assignment, which is to chase some punks out of the school's kendo dojo, takes an unexpectedly positive turn: she reforms the punks and fixes the attitude of the resentful student who submitted the suggestion in the first place. But getting to that point of character development requires wading through a painfully generic school-life scenario in the first place.
Top-notch production values are the one thing that saves this first episode from being a total write-off. The animation is technically accomplished, with high-spirited action scenes and some gorgeous splashes of color in the closing scenes. A varied, richly-scored soundtrack makes Medaka's shenanigans seem more epic than they really are—which is probably a good thing, because you'd be bored out of your mind otherwise. But no matter how slick and polished that exterior, the predictable characters, soulless writing and all-too-familiar setup make it a ho-hum effort at best.
Is This A Zombie? Of The Dead
Rating: 2.5 (of 5)
Those who watched the first season of Is This A Zombie? know that it's all about supernatural-themed comedy antics: Ayumu is a high school boy who just happens to be a zombie, reanimated thanks to the magical powers of silent necromancer Eucliwood Hellscythe (or Yuu for short). When he's not trudging his way through school, Ayumu teams up with Masou Shoujo ("Magically-Dressed Girl") Haruna to fight monsters known as Megalos, which means he frequently transforms into the frilliest, pinkest outfit imaginable while wielding a chainsaw.
When the new season revisits these themes, however, it feels utterly devoid of energy—a mechanical retread of all the old gags. Worse yet, Episode 1 opens with a painfully dull 12 minutes where Ayumu and friends hang out at home and at school, having unfunny conversations with each other. Things only get interesting when a new character appears: a Lolita-clad girl that Ayumu dubs "Miss Fairy," who's been sneaking around school swiping ethyl alcohol from the lab so she can get herself drunk. But as soon as a creepy, trenchcoat-wearing man shows up and turns into a Megalo, it's back to standard magical-combat mode for Ayumu. The end of the episode is much more entertaining than the start, with lavishly animated transformation scenes, intense chainsaw-slashing action, and the frilly pink cross-dressing everyone's been waiting for. But again, it's the same thing fans saw throughout the first season, so this episode carries the stale odor of Been There, Done That.
While the fight scenes are visually impressive, the day-to-day school scenes are practically the opposite: it seems like a struggle just to get characters to move from one side of the screen to the other, and the backgrounds are as flat and static as they come. Major players like Ayumu and Yuu get to wear distinctive outfits, but the overall character designs still fall firmly in a generic mainstream rut. This is a show that works best when surprising viewers with goofy genre mashups—yet the sequel seems to have completely forgotten that.
Kuromajo-san ga Tooru!!
Rating: 2.5 (of 5)
Review: Short-form series tend to fall anywhere between horrible and mediocre. So it's an anomaly when Kuromajo-san turns out to be ... almost decent? Episode 1 introduces Chiyoko "Choco" Kurotori, a schoolgirl whose fascination with the occult backfires when she accidentally summons the black mage Gyubid (and not Cupid). Gyubid immediately starts trying to train Choco in the dark arts, which is totally not what she wanted. However, Gyubid's expertise ends up being useful after all when a haunting happens at Choco's school, and he explains that patching up relations between a certain teacher and student would fix the problem.
Yes, believe it or not, this seven-minute miniature manages to have actual characters, a plot, and throws a little tongue-in-cheek mockery at the "ordinary kid discovers supernatural powers" trope. The biggest knock against it, however, is that the animation appears to have been done by a staff that just discovered MS Paint and Windows Movie Maker, so be prepared to shield your eyes. The character designs themselves are decent, but putting in the effort to make them look okay on-screen was obviously last on this show's list of priorities.
Rating: 2 (of 5)
Review: Gakkatsu! charges forth with so much raging energy that it almost gets away with it. Set in the homeroom ("gakkatsu") class of a typical Japanese school, the series' blaring hard-rock soundtrack and simplified, thick-lined animation—what is this, Cartoon Network?—are about the last thing anyone would expect from a typical school series. And the subject matter is just as strange, with the class president leading a discussion on what to call that bony bump everyone has on their wrist. (It has a proper anatomical name, of course, but why no colloquial one?)
However, looking and sounding different can only go so far. The lack of a proper story, besides the bump-on-the-wrist discussion, makes this a glorified trivia tidbit more than anything else. The script manages a couple of funny and unexpected gags, but only because the students keep yelling out ridiculous lines for a full five minutes. Throw anything at the wall and see what sticks, as they say. Despite a striking first impression, Gakkatsu! turns out to be a disorganized mess that doesn't have much to say.
Polar Bear Cafe
Rating: 3.5 (of 5)
Sometimes it feels like the entire comedy genre has pigeonholed itself into two opposing camps: the obnoxious, pointing-and-screaming "Look how funny I am!" style and the obtuse, deadpan style where random characters talking about nothing is meant to pass for humor. Polar Bear Cafe, however, lands somewhere between those extremes and comes out all the better for it: the show has its puns, pratfalls and visual gags, but doesn't feel forced. At the same time, laid-back moments of conversation have enough wit and energy to them that that viewers won't start wondering when the next scene is.
The title is self-expanatory: a sentient polar bear runs a cafe with his trusty penguin partner, and part of the humor is the surrealness of seeing biologically correct animals standing on their hind legs and coexisting with humans. However, the real main character of Episode 1 is a lazy, bamboo-chewing panda who is forced to get a part-time job (or risk being vacuumed by his mother as punishment). The panda applies for a job at the cafe, but given his horrible work ethic, it's no surprise that he gets rejected. Fortunately, the nearby zoo is hiring, and Panda wins the job by simply being himself. Again, here's the show's surreal humor at work—how silly is it that animals have to apply for the position of being a zoo exhibit? That whole "being able to communicate with regular humans" sure throws a screw into the works of real life.
Choppy animation quality is the biggest weak point, but one that can be overlooked—it's not like the show needs any epic 60-frame-per-second jaw-droppers. Rather, it's the warm, soothing colors and careful attention to animal anatomy (a sloth, an anteater, and a llama are just some of the realistically drawn supporting cast) that give the series its visual charm. It would be nice if they didn't keep looping the same background music over and over, but maybe that repetition makes it easier to just sit back, relax, and enjoy this strange funny-animal ride.
Polar Bear Cafe is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals
Rating: 1 (of 5)
As much as people complain about the fillers in Bleach, at least they never got this bad. Occupying Bleach's former time slot is a Naruto gag spinoff about green-clad ninja Rock Lee, and just like his canon version, Lee tries his hardest at everything despite not knowing any ninjutsu techniques. Although it's meant to be exaggerated for comic effect, the series ends up more like "Rock Lee does all the things he normally does" ... for a mind-numbing 25 minutes. First, he saves an innocent girl from predatory loan sharks, and then he challenges Naruto to a duel over a food coupon. The resulting jokes are woefully predictable—Lee turns his pratfalls into physical attacks in the first story, and in the second he tries to mimic Naruto's Sexy Jutsu and Shadow Clone techniques in the goofiest way possible.
As far as appealing to the original target audience of Shonen Jump (grade-school children), this brand of humor does the job—most kids will cackle madly at seeing someone's pants pulled down or a flying attempt to dodge a pile of dog poop. But the opening episode does little else besides that: it sets up these lightweight gag situations and recycles the same slapstick formula every few minutes. The super-deformed visual style further emphasizes the show's low standards: by drawing the characters and scenery as simply as possible (was this done in crayons and magic markers?), it also means being able to animate each scene as cheaply as possible. For those who thought Rock Lee's displays of effort might look impressive, think again—all he does is strike gag poses while big words flash on the screen to show what attack he's using.
Even the presence of Lee's comrades adds little to the comedy mix: Neji stands around grumbling and sniping at him, fan-wielding Tenten waits for every opportunity to slap him into a wall, and Naruto is reduced to a one-dimensional screaming-and-fighting rival. The title character may be a guy who puts in a lot of effort, but this show clearly does not.
Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Rating: 2.5 (of 5)
Zetman is thematically confusing—it tries to live up to the standards of "dark urban action-adventure" but drowns itself in too many genre elements. Episode 1 starts off with sci-fi/horror undertones, telling a back-story about deadly genetic mutations that live secretly among humans. One of them, a creature with a long razor-sharp tongue, goes around slashing people to death on the street, and his methods look like inexplicable serial killings to anyone else. Only an equally powerful form of technology can stop him.
It's an intriguing enough concept by itself, but then the show has to throw a shonen cliché into it: here's Jin Kanzaki, a homeless boy of about 10 or 11 who goes around "fighting for justice" on the streets. When the mutant serial killer takes the life of Jin's grandfather, the boy falls into despair—and once again the story whiplashes in an entirely different direction. Now it's this weepy, tragic melodrama, and Jin goes running into the arms of Akemi, a hostess that he befriended while fighting goons on the streets. When the serial killer goes after Jin and Akemi, the boy's hidden powers are unleashed (did anyone not see that coming?), and the episode's sci-fi undertones come full circle as we see the beginning of an epic war between deadly monsters and a super-powered crusader of justice.
For fans who like their anime dark and violent, the bleak tone of the series, semi-realistic character designs and muted color palette should suit their tastes. There isn't much flashy animation to be found here, but the action sequence at the end—with the enemy's inhuman movements and Jin's sudden outburst of energy—proves that quality visuals are being kept in reserve for when it really matters. Dramatic background music adds to the seriousness of these moments as well. At its core, however, the scattershot plotting of this episode makes it difficult to grasp: what genre is it meant to be anyway? Boy-hero adventure? Sci-fi thriller? Human tragedy? If they were going for "all of the above," well, that's a bit too much to absorb in one shot.
Zetman is available streaming on Viz Anime.
Space Brothers
Rating: 4 (of 5)
Usually it takes half a week of shows to find the first big winner of the season, but Space Brothers bucks the trend by coming out right on Day One. This inspiring tale of space exploration lies somewhere at the crossroads of Planetes, Moonlight Mile and Twin Spica, but strikes a different tone with its blend of wit and human drama.
Lead character Mutta is a thirtysomething salaryman who's just lost his job after headbutting his boss—but if your boss made fun of your little brother for being the first lunar-bound Japanese astronaut, wouldn't you do the same? That's right, Mutta's overachieving younger brother Hibino is in the space program, while poor Mutta feels like a disgrace to his elder-brother status. (Apparently this is due to him being born during one of Japan's greatest sporting disappointments—how's that for serendipity?) So while the "mature and responsible" brother bums around his parents' house looking for a job, the little brat is about the reach the pinnacle of achievement. Just when all seems lost for Mutta, he recalls a childhood memory with Hibino and considers aiming for Mars ... and as luck would have it, the Japanese space agency has taken an interest in his resume.
It sounds like a lot to take in, but that's what happens when characters are actually well-developed to start out. A dreamy coming-of-age flashback, a realistic portrayal of the Japanese economic situation, and the strong dynamic between Mutta and Hibino give the story lots of depth—as well as a clear sense of purpose to the plot. The visual design also shows attention to detail with its wide-ranging color scheme and an interesting portrayal of near-future technology (check out the curvy car that Mutta designed at his old job). The animation could be smoother at times, but critical scenes like the childhood flashback do get a quality treatment. Meanwhile, the soaring, fully-orchestrated soundtrack adds an extra layer of polish to the developments in the first episode. After this strong start, things are surely looking up.
Space Brothers is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Folktales From Japan
Rating: 3 (of 5)
Anime has its fair share of series based on Japanese folklore, like legendary creatures getting caught up in epic magical battles (Nura), or tales of horror and mystery built on folklore elements (xxxHOLiC). But Folktales From Japan goes straight to the source and does exactly what it says: it tells traditional Japanese tales, many of which will be fresh to Western viewers.
Think of a children's anthology of fairytales and short stories, and that's basically how this show works. The first story is something of an expanded goose-with-the-golden-eggs tale: an old couple takes in a magical puppy that keeps bringing them good fortune, and the greedy folks next door only run into failure every time they try to replicate that success. The second tale isn't quite as exciting or clever: a merchant follows a business hunch from a dream, then prospers because of his diligent, honest ways. (Snore.) The third story also seems dull at first, but actually executes well—it's about a con-man who pretends to be a monk and swindles a poor old lady, but after seeing the consequences of his actions, eventually changes his ways. So there is a story there, just not one that involves a direct conflict like one would expect.
The biggest barrier to entry in this series may be the super simplified, comic-strip character designs, but anyone who can sit through Crayon Shin-chan can surely sit through this (albeit without the promise of dirty jokes). The different artistic teams on each sub-episode also add variety: one episode takes a pastel-crayon approach in bringing the scenery to life; another one goes to the school of brush calligraphy and fills in the colors from there. See? No reason to be bored when there are so many neat little things that aren't "traditional mainstream anime." And who would believe that otaku princess Shoko Nakagawa sings the sweet, folksy theme songs in this series? These folktales may not be wild creative masterpieces, but they're a soothing oasis of calm among the clamor of more typical genre fare.
Folktales From Japan is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
Hiiro No Kakera
Rating: 2.5 (of 5)
It's easy to be fooled by a pretty face. Hiiro No Kakera certainly puts one on at the start, with its eye-catching autumn landscapes, detailed and well-proportioned character designs, and a couple of nods to traditional Japanese folklore. The opening scenes introduce us to Tamaki, a young lady whose journey to the countryside takes a supernatural turn when she runs into some mysterious spirits in the woods. Luckily, a gruff but good-looking fellow named Takuma saves her from demonic dangers, and escorts Tamaki to the home of her grandmother where she will be staying. Tamaki learns from her grandmother that she is, in fact, a distant descendant of the Princess Tamayori—with all the historical and spiritual responsibilities that entails. That's the real reason Tamaki and her family are moving out to the boonies, and so she's now going to enter a world of supernatural adventure ... right?
Oh, just you wait.
The second half of the episode covers Tamaki's transfer to the local school and the friends she makes, most of whom happen to be seriously attractive guys. Oh, you got me there, Hiiro No Kakera! This is actually an adaptation of a bishonen dating-sim game—and the plot mechanics become painfully obvious as the latter part of the episode progresses. Takuma plays the stone-faced leading man, but there are plenty of other harem options to drool over: the laid-back guy, the babyface, and (when Tamaki gets home after school) the mature older man. As the characters interact with each other, it becomes clear that the animation is struggling to keep up with the very basics of motion—even the simplest gestures come out looking stiff, and the camerawork is as flat and uninspired as they come. The understated soundtrack doesn't add a whole lot either, but at least it stays out of the way rather than being a distraction. As this first episode shows, striking art and design can be an attractive lure at first, but good anime needs more to survive on than just pretty boys and lush backgrounds.
Hiiro No Kakera is available streaming on Crunchyroll.
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Maxview Remora
- Simple and intuitive manual operation
- Single LNB and Twin LNB variants available (for PVR's, SKY+ or 2 receivers)
- Easy adjust manual skew system
- Includes satellite compass
- High quality, durable and robust construction
- Designed and tested for outdoor use
- Designed and manufactured in the UK
- 2 year guarantee
|Transmissions from satellites worldwide (UK/European satellites as standard).
|Compatible with all SD/HD free-to-air satellite receivers including most SKY receivers.
For SKY Q – a LNB upgrade will be required. See link.
|Passive. LNB Powered through Coaxial cable from satellite receiver. No separate power supply required
|Dish Size:
|40cm (actual 36w x 38h)
|Dish Acceptance:
|Angle Azimuth; 6 deg / Elevation 8 deg
|Elevation Range:
|10 deg – 50 deg
|Skew Adjustment:
|Manual -30 deg to +30 deg
|Azimuth Range:
|95 deg
|Single Universal LO 10.7 – 12.75
|1.5kg (Dish Assembly Only)

subset: commoncrawl


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Slideshowify is a super easy-to-use jQuery plugin for generating image slideshows with a Ken Burns Effect, where images which don't fit the screen exactly (generally the case) are cropped and either panned across the screen or zoomed in a randomly determined direction.Fullscreen* Demo
* Fullscreen refers to the entire browser window. If user's platform supports true fullscreen mode for web browsing, they can manually activate it and enjoy the slideshow without the browser chrome.
Basic Use
It really can't be any simpler. Once you include the necessary scripts, this works:
$('img').slideshowify(); // Slideshowify all images on page. You may not want this.
Cake, right?
A Note Regarding Image (pre) Loading
While the plugin is smart enough to preload the following image (which likely hopefully takes less time than the current animation) and knows to stop pre-loading once all images have been loaded, you may want to ensure that the browser itself doesn't start loading all of the images on page load by keeping them out of the source.
Slideshowify is configurable. Without any parameters, the plugin with apply the effect to the entire browser window with default animation settings. To restrict the slideshow to a specific element, do something like this:
$('#someDiv img').slideshowify({ parentEl:'#targetDiv' });
// parentEl will be injected with each image to animate
Slideshowify also extends jQuery with a method which allows it to be used without a selector. The example below shows this, along with other supported parameters.
dataUrl : "js/photos.json",
dataType : "jsonp", // if cross-domain
parentEl : "#target",
randomize : true, // default is false
aniSpeedMin : 8000, // shortest animation will be 8 seconds
aniSpeedMax : 10000, // longest animation will be 10 seconds
filterFn : function(imgs){ // sanitize or filter data
var fixedImgs = [];
$.each(imgs, function(i, img){
fixedImgs.push($.extend(img.versions["9"], {id:img.id}));
return fixedImgs;
It should be pointed out that Slideshowify can be instantiated multiple times on a single page. I imagine this could produce effects which range from pleasantly subtle to cataclysmic.
A Plugin Without Hooks is Simply...well, Hookless
Slideshowify fires a number of events which can be hooked up for additional customizations.
beforeFadeOut afterFadeOut afterFadeIn beforeFadeIn
To use these, simply bind your custom functions to the target element:
$('#target1').bind('beforeFadeOut', function(e, img){});
// function will receive event object and current image
If you are using the plugin in fullscreen mode, the target is document:
$(document).bind('afterFadeIn'), function(e, img){});
In addition to jQuery (tested with versions 1.4+), Slideshowify requires the fantastic jQuery Transit plugin for CSS transformation and transition support. Kudos to @rstacruz for creating and distributing it.
Browser support
Slideshowify works on every single browser I tested it on! That's right - only those. But don't worry, that includes all browsers released in recent years, even IE6; perhaps even IE7. It also works and looks great on tablets and other mobile devices.
Obviously, browsers which support CSS3 transitions will produce better results. The plugin falls back to plain old frame animation for others, and zoom transitions aren't supported in this case.
The latest stable version of the code can always be found on Github.
jquery.slideshowify.js Development (8kb, uncompressed and commented code)
jquery.slideshowify.min.js Production (4kb, conservatively minified)
For completeness, here's a link to the tested version of Rico's jQuery Transit:
If you're reading this that means that the sections above were not entirely clear. Sorry about that. To use this thing, make sure your page includes the following scripts, then initialize as instructed previously:
<script src="jquery.js"></script>
<script src="jquery.transit.min.js"></script>
<script src="jquery.slideshowify.js"></script>
Obviously, the paths to these files should be adjusted accordingly. Oh, and you really shouldn't include these files separately but instead bundle them (along with other scripts, if any). I made a thing that does that back in 2008. Its called FileBundler and should still work. It even supports CSS files as well.
Meet the Maker
Slideshowify was created by Alex Kolundzija (@AlexKolund) a web developer who has spent the last decade++ working on cool products at companies including Google, Meebo, MLB.com, TabletHotels and Razorfish.
Like most humans, he owns a digital camera and often uses it. At some point, love of photography combined with a deep interest in web development led him to create a photo hosting and management web service Gallerama, which has been around for a few years and which you should consider using. Not surprisingly, Slideshowify-powered slideshows are avaialble for all galleries hosted on Gallerama.
He rarely (but not never) writes on his blog, and is generally quick to respond to emails sent to a[at]ak.rs, an address he is very proud of.


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Cranbrook's Baker Street Mall will become a one-stop professional medical centre opening later this year.
New Dawn Developments has formed an affiliated business to purchase the mall in downtown Cranbrook which has been under utilized since Giant Tiger closed in December 2012.
While plans are still being confirmed, the 55,000 square foot Baker Street Professional Centre will contain two family practice clinics, a physiotherapy practice and a pharmacy.
There will be space in the clinics to bring another four or five doctors to the community.
"We are very excited about the redevelopment of the Baker Street Mall and are actively working on securing tenants for the currently vacant spaces," said Chad Jensen, president of New Dawn and the Baker Street Professional Centre.
"This project will bring together various practices within the healthcare community, along with retail spaces focused on healthcare."
Jensen said negotiations to purchase the mall began last April, and the developer took possession last week, on January 31, 2014.
Renovations will begin as soon as city permits are in place and the first stage is expected to open in summer 2014.
The location was chosen because it is close to both downtown and the regional hospital, Jensen explained.
"The development provides ample parking and full accessibility, with close proximity to public transit and the hospital," he said.
The new health centre will help revitalize this part of downtown Cranbrook, he went on.
"As our city and our healthcare industry expand, Baker Street Professional Centre will play a valuable role in ensuring adequate facilities for doctors, specialists and related healthcare providers," said Jensen.
More details about the development will be reported by the Townsman as they are determined.


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The Life of Nelson A. Rockefeller: Worlds to Conquer, 1908-1958, Volume 1
Doubleday, 1996 - Biography & Autobiography - 875 pages
A triumph of the biographer's art, "The Life of Nelson A. Rockefeller" is the first full-length biography of one of the most powerful, magnetic, fascinating figures on the twentieth-century stage.
Of all the great American dynastic families, few could match the combinedwealth, power, and influence of the Rockefellers. And of all the Rockefellers, none was more determined to use these advantages than Nelson A. Rockefeller.
Nelson was never content to live off the fame and fortune due him as aRockefeller. His imperious grandfather, John D. Rockefeller, and intimidatingfather, John Jr., set standards and boundaries that Nelson blithely ignored. Hepushed for position within the family, and then broke a family taboo by takinghis ambition to the forbidden world of politics. A devoted family man, he tookmany lovers with an almost casual sense of "droit du seigneur." Hesurrounded himself with brilliant, devoted subordinates; he flattered andcajoled more powerful people who would also end up serving his needs.
Handsome, ferociously energetic, charming, and ruthless, Rockefeller had arapacious appetite for life--and for power--that showed itself in the stunningbreadth of his activities and in the daring of his ideas. Nelson's sunny, optimistic demeanor masked a Machiavellian mind. At a young age he wrestedcontrol of the Rockefeller Center project from his father's minions, turned theMuseum of Modern Art into a world-class institution, used a midlevelbureaucratic position during World War II to run the affairs of an entirecontinent; through pure ego and drive he bent the United Nations conference tohis will and redirected the path of history. Nelson A. Rockefeller's fiercedrive to achievewould have a profound effect on a city, a state, a nation, andthe world.
Cary Reich's masterful biography, eight years in the making, brings thisawesome figure to life. Reich enjoyed unprecedented access to the Rockefellerfamily archives, scrutinized FBI and FOIA files, and interviewed over threehundred individuals for the book, including many who had never spoken aboutRockefeller for the record. This two-volume work (the second to appear in 1997)will surely stand alongside the works of Robert Caro, Doris Kearns Goodwin, andDavid McCullough.
Cary Reich is the author of "Financier: The Biography of AndrTMeyer." He is the former executive editor of "Institutional Investor" and has written numerous portraits of the powerful and the wealthy. He is therecipient of numerous journalism awards, including the Overseas Press Award, the Deadline Club Award, and the John Hancock Award for Excellence in Businessand Financial Journalism. He lives in New York City.
Praise for Cary Reich's "Financier: The Biography Of AndrTMeyer":
National Book Award Finalist
"A fascinating mixture of financial history involving household names of thecorporate scene, gossip at rarified altitudes and big bucks. The focus is onpeople, mutual back-scratching, wheeling and dealing through the conglomeratejungle of the 1950s, '60s and '70s."
"I laughed until I cried while reading passages of Cary Reich's chatty, conscientious portrait of Meyer's raids and rages...must reading for anyoneinterested in contemporary finance."
"This book is fun to read. Mr. Reich, while prudently avoiding heavy legalandaccounting exegesis, has a talent for the clear explanation of essentialtechnical detail."
"Hard-edged and uncompromising...a lucid and well-researched account."
What people are saying - Write a review
THE LIFE OF NELSON A. ROCKEFELLER: Worlds to Conquer: 1908-1958User Review - Kirkus
An epic, revealing biography that becomes, in its author's words, ``a study in the unapologetic use of a great fortune to secure influence.'' In this first of two projected volumes on the four-term ... Read full review
The life of Nelson A. Rockefeller: worlds to conquer, 1908-1958User Review - Not Available - Book Verdict
Public interest in politicians and government figures often fades quickly after their death, and Nelson Rockefeller (he died in 1979) has not proved an exception. Despite his many terms as governor of ... Read full review
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H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum inaugurates 3rd Ideas.Arabia International Conference
Two-day event aims to promote broader "Suggestion Schemes" implementation in the Middle East
Dubai Quality Group (DQG), an organization dedicated to raising the general performance level of the local business environment, has announced the start of the 3rd annual Ideas.Arabia International Conference today (Monday, April 21, 2008) at Majlis Al Salam ballroom in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Department, and the patron of DQG, under whose patronage the event is being held, inaugurated the conference.
The two-day Conference will gather international experts and regional businesses to discuss best practices and current trends concerning 'suggestion schemes', a human resource strategy that encourages ideas from non-management employees to enhance standardized procedures and improve quality.
The event was preceded by two workshops that were moderated by Bernie Sander, President of Innovation Transfer, and Thomas Dupre, IBM Learning Program Manager for Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing. The conference proper will include presentation sessions led by prominent speakers which include Andy Beddows, Chairman, IdeasUK; Chris O'Donnell, CEO, Nakheel; Abdulqader Obaid Ali, Chairman, Ideas.Arabia; Dr. Akbar Jaffari, Chief Executive, Jaffari Consultants; and Strategic Innovator Jabir Walji.
"The Dubai Government recognizes the important role of innovation in realizing the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to develop Dubai as a global business hub, promoting business excellence and competitiveness. The potential for innovation is not exclusively found in corporate and public leaders, though; it dwells within all employees, and harnessing it spells greater success for organizations, and sustained growth for Dubai and the country as a whole," said Marwan Al Sawleh, Chairman, DQG.
The Conference's major sponsors include Dubai Aluminium (Main); Dubai World and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Jumeirah Group (Platinum); Dubai Properties, the Kanoo Group, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Oman Insurance Co. (Gold); and Silver Al Khaleej Sugar Co., Ducab, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Silver). The event will be capped by the announcement of the winners of the annual 'Idea of the Year' Award.
Organised with the theme "Living Innovation," the Conference is the major annual event of DQG's Ideas.Arabia Subgroup, a forum of companies dedicated to disseminating and optimizing the effectiveness of suggestion scheme programs.
The Ideas.Arabia Subgroup aims to create a broad awareness of suggestion scheme programs; their implementation; evaluation; award structure; audit system; and benchmarking. The Subgroup supports the DQG's broader goal of enhancing business performance levels in Dubai, which in turn complements the Dubai Government's Strategic Plan 2015.
"Our Conference seeks to be an agent of change in the Middle Eastern businesses; we want recognition for the potential of employee empowerment to enhance organizational productivity and efficiency. Last year, our theme was "Innovation: Make It Happen", where we emphasized on the power of innovation to attain success; this year's theme, "Living Innovation", urges organizations to include innovation as an essential part of their philosophy and daily operations. Participants will definitely be enlightened and motivated by the experiences and thoughts of our impressive lineup of international experts," said Abdulqader Obaid Ali, Chairman, Ideas.Arabia Subgroup.
International studies have shown that the degree of success of innovations is greater in organizations that encourage and accept ideas from non-management employees and provide significant feedback to employees about corporate ideas. DQG through its Ideas.Arabia Subgroup has committed to exploring this human resource management paradigm and how it can be more effectively implemented in Dubai companies and the unique Middle Eastern business environment.
© 2000 - 2022 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)


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At the age of 20, vocalist and voice imitator Ward Palmen started his journey into the European tribute band scene. Gunz N' Rozes would become a 15 year success story with many highlights.
In the years between 2010 and 2017, Ward got into studio productions. An album was produced in the U.S. with hit producer Erwin Musper, and he worked on more than 200 productions with various Artists like DJ Jessy, Jaydee, DJ Galaga, 2 Unlimited, Moombahteam, Soca Boy, Koen Herfst and Eller van Buuren.
After this, the live gigs exploded, with 200 events last year.
" I set myself the task of singing the album versions. It's a challenge, but I think it's what the audience wants to hear "
In December 2018, he was asked to bring a tribute to Queen at a grand dinner show in Kalkar Germany.
Whilst preparing for that event, he realized that this was the one tribute that would top all other efforts.


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Earlier this month we had the opportunity to stop by the Net-A-Porter offices to check out their new spring beauty products. Net-A-Porter does an amazing job editing and selecting the best of the best — not only in designer duds, but also in the beauty world! New products are thrown at us from every direction in this ever-changing market, but Net-A-Porter does the dirty work to find efficient — and, not to mention, beautifully packaged — products. Today we're sharing a few of our favorites!
1. Estelle & Thild Magic Rose Otto Duo ($116): This organic duo works to create firmer skin while it deeply hydrates. We love it because you control how much serum and oil you blend together — it's like creating a custom cocktail for your skin!
2. Deborah Lippmann 'Break 4 Love' ($18): This punchy pink just may be the perfect shade for spring!
3. Original & Mineral Mini Minerals Pack ($36): Think of this highly addictive set as a facial for your hair. And how convenient is that small pack for travel?!
4. Kilian 'Good Girl Gone Bad' Eau de Parfum ($150): We've been wearing this scent non-stop since we tried it.
5. James Read Tanning Mitt ($10): We'll never apply sunless tanner without this handy mitt again. Farewell, stained hands!
6. Ilia Illuminator ($34): There's nothing like adding a subtle glow to the skin, and this all-natural stick makes application a breeze!


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KingOfDoma wrote:... That was more awesome than Paint The Line, the X Presidents, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Abridged combined. o.o
pd Rydia wrote::kirteach: Kirby's epic yarn trailer
KingOfDoma wrote:Every anime opening. EVER.
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An arrest has been made in connection with the vandalism to Howard's Rock as Clemson University police have charged an 18-year-old man with one felony and one misdemeanor, the school announced in a news release Friday.
Clemson University Photo: Arrest Made In Howard's Rock Case
Micah Rogers of Pisgah Forest, N.C., was charged with felony malicious injury to animals or personal property valued at more than $2,000 but less than $10,000; and misdemeanor trespassing.
Howard's Rock, the iconic fixture Tigers football players rub before entering Memorial Stadium, was vandalized June 2. The protective casing was destroyed and a chunk of the rock was chipped away.
Capt. Eric Hendricks said the vandalism was captured partially by video surveillance cameras. A witness also identified the suspect. The broken portion of the rock has not been recovered yet, and the investigation is ongoing.
Rogers appeared in Clemson University Municipal Court Friday morning and was released on personal recognizance bond of $5,470. Though Rogers has no official ties to Clemson, Hendricks told one publication the suspect "does have a Clemson Tiger Paw sticker on the back glass of the truck that he owned. He also had Clemson memorabilia that he owned in his home. I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that."
Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich added in a statement: "On behalf of the athletic department and the football coaches and players, I want to thank the Clemson University Police Department, the State Law Enforcement Division and the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office for acting in a swift, thorough manner with regards to the vandalism to Howard's Rock. We appreciate the efforts of everyone involved in this case."


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Cultural attraction
Nám. J. A. Komenského 9, 739 44 Brušperk
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Tel.: 558 666 271
A permanent exposition on the life and work of the significant Brušperk native. Presented exhibits were lent by the Beskyd Museum from Frýdek – Místek. A part of the Museum is also an exposition devoted to other significant natives: music composer Jožka Matěj, teacher and music composer František Palkovský, visual artist Bohumil Fiala, director and dramatist Vilém Viteker, conductor Vladimír Matěj, actors Adolf Král and Vladimír Petrovský.
Chagall GALLERY of the Visual Art Center
The Chagall Visual Art Center, which initiated its activity on 10 September 1990, is one of the oldest private galleries in Ostrava, which exceeded the region significance already a long time ago due to its versatile activities, activity reach and quality of its projects. It presents works of leading Czech and foreign authors in its eight galleries in Ostrava, Karviná, Brušperk and Čeladná.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 12.00 – 17.00
Saturday: 9.00 – 12.30
Sunday: 13.00 – 17.00
Private Gallery of Photos by Oldřich Malík
Nám. J. A. Komenského 11., Brušperk
Mobile phone: 606 546 176
Access upon ringing the bell.


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350 million euros for Fukushima victimsComments
A court in Fukushima has ruled that Tokyo Electric Power and the Japanese government are liable for damages of almost 38 million Euros in the largest lawsuit to be brought over the 2011 nuclear disaster.
A group of about 3,800 people filed the class action suit.
Izutaro Managi, a lawyer for the plaintiff group was damning of the way the nuclear plant was protected from flooding,
"The Japanese government and TEPCO, in fact, had predicted that if a tsunami happened, the wave would reach higher than the protective height of the nuclear power plant. However, even though they knew the situation, they didn't take any protective measures, which cannot be forgiven."
This result comes just as campaigning begins for the parliamentary elections. Nuclear power will undoubtedly be high on the agenda, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seeking to repel a new party that has pledged to rid the government of cronyism in a challenge to Abe's near-five year hold on power.


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Before The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty had Tulsa ties
By Jennifer Chancellor
Tulsa World - Sunday, September 19, 2010
Who was Tom Petty before he was Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers?
Well, he was Mudcrutch.
But even before Petty became famous, he was a musician in Dwight Twilley's band. For a few gigs, anyway.
Petty's first national television appearance as a bass player was when he played for Tulsa's Twilley on the short-lived children's comedy and variety show "W.A.C.K.O." in the late 1970s. They were invited back four times, Twilley recently said during an interview at his Big Oak Studio in Tulsa.
Both were signed to Shelter Records, co-founded by Tulsa Sound icon Leon Russell in the 1970s.
"A lot of people used to think Petty was from Tulsa. It used to really bother him," said Twilley of the Florida-born multi-instrumentalist.
Even though Russell was the cornerstone, Shelter Records signed artists including J. J. Cale, the Gap Band, and Twilley, as well as Freddie King, Petty, Jimmie Rogers, Phoebe Snow, Larry Hosford and the Grease Band.
Shelter Records co-owner Denny Cordell changed the names of Petty's band (formerly Mudcrutch) and Twilley's band (formerly Oister) around the time the pair started working for studio.
"He was key in making us both household names," Twilley said in a recent Tulsa World interview.
In fact, a pre-fame Petty played guitar on the Twilley tune "Looking for the Magic," from the latter's "Twilley Don't Mind" album, released in 1977.
"Tom and Dwight ran around together," said Tulsa producer and filmmaker Jon Schroeder.
Petty also sang on Twilley's hit tune "Girls" nearly a decade later.
"Petty wasn't in the video, but the director hired a girl that looked just like him to perform in it," Schroeder said.
Petty recorded music here in Tulsa, too. Russell's Shelter Records operated with Cordell from 1969 to 1981. In 1976, Russell left to start Paradise Records.
Petty went on to sell more than 60 million albums - in all his incarnations - worldwide. Petty's newest, "Mojo," was released earlier this year. Twilley's newest, "Green Blimp," drops nationally Oct. 5.


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Moving is regarded as one of the most stressful activities with all the emotional and physical upheaval it entails. The best way to reduce the pressure is to make sure you have done everything you can ahead of time to ensure the process goes smoothly.
By following the five tips below, you will have eliminated most of the problems that cause hassle during a residential move.
Get organized early
When you're planning a house move, there is no such thing as starting too early. Even before you've signed contracts you can be creating a basic 'to do' list as some tasks you might be able to complete without a firm moving date (e.g. researching moving firms).
Make a note of everything you have to do and, as soon as it's possible to do so, organize them into a timeline based on the moving day (e.g. moving day, one week before, two weeks before, one month before, three months before, etc.)
Give yourself plenty of time to choose and book a decent moving company. It may seem a long way before your move but it doesn't take long for weekends and holidays to get booked up. Read customer reviews, check the company's listing on the BBB website and enter their USDOT number (which should be marked on their website) into the search box at https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/hhg/search.asp
Using a decent professional moving company can make all the difference between a smooth, hassle-free moving day experience and frustration caused by delays and mishandling of your possessions.
Rather than leave it until the last minute, decide on a packing plan everyone is happy with. Some people choose to move methodically from room to room while others empty the least used rooms first and use those rooms for storing packed boxes.
Don't forget to contact USPS and set up mail and package forwarding. This will stop you worrying about whether you have remembered to update your address details with all of the companies you receive regular mail from.
If the new property is empty and you have the chance, arrange to visit ahead of time to give it a thorough clean. While you are there, measure the doorways to make sure your furniture and white goods will fit. If you are changing carpets or window fittings, take measurements of the space too.
De-clutter before your Move
The less you have to pack and move, the less time it will take and the less money you will spend (especially if moving interstate where weight is factored into moving rates).
As soon as you know you are going to move, go through each room and create three piles for anything you want to sell, donate or recycle/throw out. By the time you've been through your entire house you will probably be amazed at how much stuff you have saved yourself the hassle of moving. Hosting a garage sale is a great way to lighten the load while making a buck or two and saying goodbye to the neighbors.
If you are torn between transporting or buying new, think about how heavy the item is compared to its value. For example, if you are moving a long way, it can often be more economical to leave heavy items of furniture or white goods behind and buy new on arrival.
You will also need to find out what items your moving company will not carry so you can make alternative arrangements for them. For example, chemicals, tins of paint, potted plants and hazardous materials are often prohibited. If you have a lawn mower, you will probably have to empty the gas out before a moving company will take it.
Pack an essentials bag
An essentials bag (or box) should contain everything you are likely to need should your moving truck be delayed or you're simply too whacked to be bothered with unpacking at your destination.
The actual contents will vary depending on what your family considers essential but most will include:
- Food which can be quickly and easily prepared (eggs, sandwiches, chips, fruit, canned beans, candy bars, soup, etc.)
- Bottled water
- Plate, bowl and set of cutlery for each family member
- Washing soap, dishcloths and dish towels
- Basic cleaning items (bleach, small pan and brush, surface cleaner, cloths, etc.)
- Torch
- Batteries
- Cell phone chargers
- Basic tools (hammer, screwdrivers, wrench, box cutter, etc.)
- Change of clothes per family member
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Deodorant
- Hand towels
Your essentials bag will travel with you so make sure it is clearly labelled and doesn't get packed away by accident (it happens!)
The importance of stocking up on good quality items from a movers equipment supply company should not be underestimated. Equipment and packaging failures are a big source of unnecessary hassle that you should avoid at all costs.
First, second hand cardboard boxes from the local store are not a reliable substitute for brand new moving cartons from a specialist supplier. Moving cartons are tested to ensure they can resist the hazards that come from moving including being crushed under the weight of other boxes.
Despite appearances, second hand boxes could be very old and may have suffered mistreatment, spillages and more. This will have weakened the structure of the box and increases the risk of damage during the move.
It is worth considering investing in specialist cartons for certain items. For example, wardrobe boxes make it easy to store your clothes without taking them off their hangers while telescopic picture cartons will expand to fit any size of artwork or mirror.
Good quality packing tape, shrink wrap, newsprint and other supplies will all pay off in the long run by saving time and maximizing the protection of your valuable items.
It is best to spend a bit extra on good quality cotton moving pads. These will provide the best protection for your furniture and white goods. You might want to even considering buying your very own 2 wheel dollies to help you to move boxes and furniture between rooms, reducing hassle as well as the chance of injury.
Follow a useful labeling system
There's one thing guaranteed to lead to hassle, it's failing to label your cartons properly. There are many different labeling systems out available.
First, you should label each box with both the room it is destined for together with a few bullets highlighting key items (e.g. blender, coffee machine, toaster). Make sure that you write this on the top and all four sides of the box. This means that it doesn't matter which way round they are loaded in the mover's truck.
Next, make sure that each box has a clear arrow pointing to the top to ensure the cartons are stored the right way up. This is another reason why professional moving cartons are best because they usually have arrows pre-printed on them.
Finally, mark any boxes containing fragile items clearly.
By taking care of the five areas covered above, you will reduce the chances of unforeseen problems adding to your stress levels. You might even give yourself permission to enjoy the process! Here's to a hassle-free move.
Author Bio-
Mr. Levine has served at New Haven for forty years. He has had several positions within the company prior to becoming CEO, including serving as General Manager of the Louisville, KY office; Vice-President of the Texas Companies, and President of New Haven. Get in touch via Facebook.


text: Listen to highlights from Ayalew Mesfin's LGW set + view Photo Series of his EU premiere by Melanie Marsman Thu Mar 26th Unable to show videos. Please click here to accept cookies and enable embedding of videos. 2019 Photo Playlist Following our video of Ethiopian funk legend Ayalew Mesfin's triumphant show at Le Guess Who? 2019, we can now release some highlights of his performance as audio stream, recorded by Marc Broer, together with a stunning photo series by Melanie Marsman of Mesfin's first ever European performance, after his music has gone unheard for 40 years, either on stage or on record. Listen to five tracks from the show below and view Melanie Marsman full photo series here in our gallery. Ayalew Mesfin in particular was a revelation. Apparently was his first ever performance in Europe and both he and the crowd clearly relished every moment, not least when Mesfin and his wireless mic took an impromptu tour of the entire venue, dancing with audience members as the band whipped up groove after irresistible groove. Oh to have that energy when you're in your seventies (or to sound that good at any age). - MusicMap Listen + watch more Le Guess Who? recordings via our archive. Ayalew Mesfin backstage at TivoliVredenburg, by Melanie Marsman. About Ayalew Mesfin's music rebelled vigorously against Ethiopia's dictatorial oppression of the 70s and, like many of his contemporaries, he struggled against obscurity amidst political turmoil. Distributing 4000 cassettes for free - later becoming collector's items - led to several months in jail for Mesfin and a prohibition to play music for 13 years. After his music has gone unheard for 40 years, the quintessential Ethio-groove performer gave his first ever European performance at Le Guess Who? 2019: a show that featured the Debo Band, who formed in 2006 to keep the spirit and craft of Ethiopia's golden age of pop alive. Ayalew Mesfin & Debo Band backstage at TivoliVredenburg, by Melanie Marsman. Ayalew Mesfin live at TivoliVredenburg's Ronda during LGW19, by Melanie Marsman. View the full photo series here.


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Discussion in 'Trading' started by gdtrader, Mar 4, 2003.
I need the 55 books any body has a used copy I will pay reasonable price.
i have the dearborn/passtrak series 55 cd, it has over 600 questions on it and it is set up exactly like the test that you take. I found it very helpful........i paid 105 for it....make an offer
same here make me an offer...
Some of the guys in my office just took the 55 soon after I took it.
Supermontage is now in the test but 4 months ago wasn't.
thanks but I just got the 55 books. For all you other traders I will tell you a good way to get any study material for 10% of the purchase price. If you go to stcusa.com and purchase any of their books their is a 30 day return policy with 10% re-stocking fee. P.S. you never heard this from me.
I just put my STC Series 55 Self-Study Manual (includes practice exams) on ebay. They contain the latest updates covering the recent NASD rule changes and SuperMontage. Here's the link:
Separate names with a comma.


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The power of the Church in 12th Century Europe was not confined to the spiritual realm. On the contrary, because of their aristocratic background, high levels of education, and lack of dynastic ambitions, princes of the church were widely employed as royal officers. As chancellors, particularly, bishops and archbishops often wielded great influence in secular affairs.
In this excerpt from The Last Crusader Kingdom based on a true incident during the "German Crusade of 1197," John d'Ibelin must convince an Archbishop, the Archbishop of Hildesheim and Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire, to take military action.
[John d'Ibelin] burst into the Archbishop's great hall to find it already crowded with men milling about. To his relief, the Archbishops of Acre and Hildesheim sat together on the dais. They were apparently in earnest discussion with a number of noblemen. John pushed his way through the seething crowds in the lower hall, unable to understand what was agitating the occupants, because they were all speaking German. He sprang onto the dais, provoking a tardy response from a young knight in Hildesheim's service. The latter tried to put himself between John and the men at the table, but John shoved him aside so forcefully that two German noblemen sprang to their feet with their hands on their hilts.
"My lord of Hildesheim!" John called out to the Imperial Chancellor from half a dozen feet away. "Your men are plundering and looting in the streets of Acre as if they were in Damascus! And you have nothing better to do than sit and drink?" The outrage in John's voice rang to the vaulted ceiling and reverberated there.
The German noblemen at once drew their swords and shouted back at John, while behind him a general uproar erupted. The Archbishop of Acre, however, leaned back in his chair with an odd smile on his face, and the Imperial Chancellor gestured for silence, telling the noblemen to sheath their swords.
The level of noise dropped but did not fully die away. The Imperial Chancellor spoke into the lull, "It's young John d'Ibelin, is it not?" He spoke in Latin.
"Yes, my lord," John answered in the same tongue, because it was their only common language.
"And you presume to give orders to me? The Imperial Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire?" he asked with raised eyebrows.
"My sister the queen," John started deliberately. He was breathing heavily, but he had a grip on himself. He answered slowly and clearly, speaking so every man in the hall could hear him, "...is in grief and mourning. The Dowager Queen of Jerusalem, therefore, tasked me with restoring order. And that I will do, even if it means riding down and butchering your men," John bluffed. "I would prefer, however, if you brought your men to order."
Behind him he heard men muttering "Juden" and "Schweine," but he ignored them and focused on the Imperial Chancellor. Hildesheim might be a bishop, but he was a worldly bishop -- and one who know how to wield a mace.
"What makes you so certain you can stop thousands of fighting men from obtaining what they believe is their just reward, young man?"
"My faith in God, my lord bishop," John answered as forcefully as he could, gulping air into his lungs to try to calm his racing pulse. "He knows that what your men do is an offense against His people -- the people he was born to -- and His Holy Gospel, for which He gave His sacred blood. Even now my men are calling out the watch. If you do not take action, we will." John's heart was pounding furiously in his breast. God help me! He pleaded silently. God help me!
"Is this not what I have been saying for the last hour?" the Archbishop of Acre spoke up, leaning forward and hissing to his fellow bishop: "You know it is the right thing to do."
"My men won a great victory over the Saracens, and what have they got for it? Nothing. No loot. No gold. Nothing."
"They have received the remission of sins past," the Archbishop of Acre countered, "but not, I must stress, absolution for what they are doing now. The sins they are committing here in the Holy Land against innocent people will take them all to hell, regardless of what they did to al-Adil's army!"
Hildesheim looked over at Acre with raised eyebrows for a moment, but then he pulled his feet under him and stood. He started distributing orders in German. The noblemen around him nodded, turned toward the hall, and started calling to their men. Abruptly all the men in the hall appeared to scrambling to find their helmets and gauntlets. John felt himself quaking. If they were going to join their men in the looting, he -- no, Acre -- was utterly lost.
As if reading his mind, Hildesheim clapped him on the shoulder and remarked, "You win, boy. I've ordered my knights to rein in their men and move them out of Acre. We'll set up camp outside the walls -- and then look for a Saracen city to sack."


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What is life coaching?
Coaching is a tool for an individual to gain clarity, direction, and support while moving past barriers caused by fear, anxiety, confusion, toxic thoughts, and uncertainty as they transition to the next stage in their life. A coach helps you create new habits that lead to accomplishing your desired goals. Beginning with mindset, long-term results can be found through coaching. By identifying your desired goals in life, career, relationships, and health, a life coach can support you by creating a personalized road map to get there. At Soul Space, working with a coach enables you to take control of your life by taking action to steer it toward your goals.
What can be achieved through personal coaching?
Through coaching at Soul Space, you can design a life that you not only love but also desire. We help you work towards the change you crave.
- Find the right job or gain a promotion (both identify it and pursue it)
- Build a successful business
- Build a new life post-divorce
- Experience less stress & overwhelm
- Make health a priority, increased energy
- Find a partner /Start a family
- Create loving relationships with those closest to you
- Better time management
- Thrive in your current circumstances
- Improved communication
- Experience a joy-filled life
Is a certified life coach right for you?
- Change is needed but you feel stuck and you're unsure where to start.
- You become easily overwhelmed by the idea of change.
- You've tapped out your friends and family and want to talk with an impartial third party who can help you see your blind spots and think things through.
- You want an accountability partner to support you as you build new habits that will promote change.
- You want to level-up your career or business and need guidance.
- You and your partner are making big changes and you are too busy to support one another; you need a coach to support you each independently, and support your relationship as a couple.


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Bring in a tree, a young Norwegian spruce,
Bring hyacinths that rooted in the cold,
Bring winter jasmine as its buds unfold:
Bring the Christmas life into this house.
Bring red and green and gold, bring things that shine,
Bring candlesticks and music, food and wine.
Bring in your memories of Christmas past,
Bring in your tears for all that you have lost.
Bring in the shepherd boy, the ox and ass,
Bring in the stillness of an icy night,
Bring in a birth, of hope and love and light;
Bring the Christmas life into this house.
Wendy Cope
Almost there. H finished school this afternoon. We've done three airport runs out of four, and from tomorrow will be a massive group of twelve.
The tree is up. All the beds are filled. It's going to be a good one.
Happy Christmas to you, lovely people. Wishing you peace, and slow mornings, and really giant pastries for breakfast, and so much love.