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AL Amyloidosis
AL Amyloidosis is caused by the accumulation of an immunoglobulin light chain protein. Typically, the protein is caused by a malignant or pre-malignant growth of identical, (clonal) lymphocytes or plasma cells that continue to produce these immunoglobulin light chain proteins.
- The function of a normal plasma cell is to produce immunoglobulin proteins, (antibodies). Normally, there are millions of different lymphocytes and plasma cells in the body each producing its own, albeit unique, immunoglobulin protein. Each of us should have millions of different immunoglobulin proteins circulating within the bloodstream to protect us from infection.
- When a lymphocyte, (in patients with lymphoma), or plasma cell, (in patients with multiple myeloma), becomes malignant it replicates uncontrollably and eventually within the body there are billions of these cells which are identical, like clones, at the time of diagnosis. Because these malignant cells are identical, they also produce the same identical immunoglobulin protein. Unfortunately, in the case of people with AL amyloidosis, this overproduced light chain immunoglobulin protein can sometimes have the property of aggregating with itself and eventually interact with other normal proteins such as glycosoaminoglycans, (GAG), and serum amyloid P protein, (SAP), to form amyloid fibrils. The fibrils can accumulate in tissues causing damage to the function of the organ.
- Patients with AL amyloidosis can have the condition while also having a fully malignant, cancerous, process as well, such as Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, or Multiple Myeloma. Most patients with AL amyloidosis do not have an additional malignant process. Instead, there is a growth of the abnormal cells but these cells are not fully cancerous. In either event, the treatment is generally the same. One must eliminate the proliferating cells to reduce the production of the harmful amyloid protein.
There is no cure for patients with AL amyloidosis but more frequently patients can go into remission with drug therapy. In our experience, the majority of patients surviving the first six months can often start recovering thereafter and can typically live normal or near normal lives for years to come. Remissions when they occur can last a decade or longer in our and other centers' experiences.
Recently, drugs useful to treat multiple myeloma and lymphoma have improved. Since patients with AL amyloidosis often have a similar proliferation of either lymphocytes or plasma cells, these same drugs have been found useful in these patients.
- Melphalan – A chemotherapy drug used in high doses as part of a stem cell transplant.
- Bortezomib – A new agent that blocks the proteasome, an enzyme in all cells, found to be very helpful in patients with multiple myeloma and most recently in patients with AL Amyloidosis.
- Thalidomide – A sleeping pill later found to cause birth defects was found to be extremely effective in treating patients with multiple myeloma. Our group performed a study showing this agent can lead to remissions of over a decade in some patients.
- Lenalidomide – A newer version of thalidomide with fewer side effects and greater efficacy in general.
- Rituximab – Useful for patients with lymphoma, and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia and AL Amyloidosis.
- Cyclophosphamide – Another chemotherapy drug which can target the cells causing AL Amyloidosis.
Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation- Is a procedure that has the promise of leading to a long-term remission in patients with AL Amyloidosis often without the need for further medication. Blood stem cells normally present in the bone marrow are coaxed into the blood stream using a growth factor drug. When these cells are circulating in high numbers, they are collected and then stored alive in liquid nitrogen. A high dosage of chemotherapy is then given, typically melphalan, to eradicate many if not all of the abnormal amyloid producing bone marrow cells. After the drug has had a chance to work and is cleared from the body, the previously stored peripheral blood stem cells are thawed and then reinfused into the body. It typically takes about 11 days for these new stem cells to grow the bone marrow back.
New versions of bortezomib and lenalidomide have been recently released or are in development. We currently have a clinical trial using an oral version of bortezomib called MLN9708 for patients with relapsed AL Amyloidosis. Other novel agents are also showing promise in research studies.
Cedars-Sinai has a range of comprehensive treatment options.


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While I missed the chance to plug the Sin Eater Festival a few weeks ago, I'm just about in time for the modest fireworks which herald the Frome Festival in Wiltshire.
I'm too late to plug the opening party (in which Frome's own electro-poppers Sweet Machine shared a bill with psychedelic synth-cabarettier, rock biographer and all-round performance character Alan Clayson); I don't have much to say about the festival's big-draw act Reef (currently enjoying a new revival of their original '90s revival of 70s blues-rock); and I feel sorry that the free gig by "ukular fusion" band The Mother Ukers doesn't involve furious Mahavishnukulele jazz shredding (instead of being a variation on banjo-happy rockgrass covers). But there's plenty more on offer, so here are a few other things picked out from the billing.
It's by no means everything on offer (the festival's full of visual art, talks and theatre; there's plenty more jazz and classical; and there's a show by Billy Bragg which will probably take care of itself) but these represent the bits-between-the-bits which are closest to 'Misfit City's natural constituency (if such a thing exists).
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The Magical Folk Garden @ The Archangel, 1 King Street, Frome, BA11 1BH, England
Tuesday 5th-Friday 8th July 2016, 7.30pm each night – information: Tuesday 5th / Wednesday 6th / Thursday 7th / Friday 8th
At the upstairs room at the Archangel pub, The Magical Folk Garden continues to turn itself into an annual institution with a series of cushion-strewn/standing-room-only unplugged gigs, creating a "euphonious forest of folk and contemporary acoustic music from some of the UK's finest talents." It's all pretty well-scrubbed and tasteful – there's nothing to scare the horses here. That said, a few of the performers might own horses, and some might whisper them; while a few might go all 'Poldark' and ride off on one, bareback and bare-chested, a honey-coloured guitar bouncing up and down on the withers (it all probably depends on the state of the booze and the pollen count).
The Tuesday show features two Bath acts – lit-pop cello-and-guitar duo The Bookshop Band and romantic solo-balladeer Tom Corneill – plus the sunny pure-pop/psychedelic fizz of Trowbridge's The Pigeons.
The Wednesday show has a band-backed performance from Frome's Al O'Kane (a gravel-and-honey country-blues-folker who, with his mix of rolling American roots guitar and British mysticism, can come across as a one-man 'Led Zeppelin III'). Also playing are Alex Taylor (bouncy, jazz-and-funk-tinged, broadening his sound and filling out his pockets with pedals and loops) and young songwriter Emma Shoosmith, whose output has ranged from thoughtful folkified Taylor Swift covers to the lilting ska-tinted song shown below.
The Thursday show has a chamber-folk air. Bookshop Band multi-instrumentalist Beth Porter returns with her own augmented-string quartet band The Availables and her own clutch of intricate literary songs. Also on board are the strings, percussion rustles and detailed guitar of Rivers Of England (fronted by Rob Spaulding) who, although they take on some pretty familiar modern folk tropes, land them in an interesting marginal territory in which the early-'70s John Martyn and the early-'80s Julian Cope sit down to exchange lines and tips. The bill's completed by the lost-boy charm of Avebury singer-songwriter (and Nick Harper protégé) George Wilding with his warm, abstracted songs of distraction and heartbreak (simultaneously soothing and haunting).
The Friday folk-final involves wayward Bristol-and-Bath folk septet The Cedar. Beth Porter makes her third Magical Folk Garden appearance of the week as the band's cellist, alongside five other musicians. Playing a variety of instruments and implements (from guitar, glockenspiel, viola, organ and ukulele to calculator, screwdriver, musical and tri-square) they weave Neil Gay's slightly distracted songs into a musical fabric that's sometimes Belle-&-Sebastian communal, sometimes music-school precise, and sometimes as frayed as a scrap-basket oddment.
The rest of the evening gently mixes Western with Western. Accompanying herself on guitar, baritone ukulele, harmonium or shruti box, Bradford-on-Avon's Jess Vincent delivers a set of original country-folk songs with a sound and demeanour that's seen her compared to both Iris DeMent and Kate Bush. Evening openers Ali George and Ruby Brown do their own take on Gram-and-Emmylou duets, filtered through Ali's trunkful of original English folk/clawhammer guitar songs.
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The town's Rook Lane Chapel arts centre is hosting plenty of events. These two in particular caught my ear:
Rook Lane Chapel, Bath Street, Frome, BA11 1DN, England
Thursday 7th July 2016, 7:30pm – information
"Snowapple is an outstanding female harmony trio from Amsterdam who draw on folk, classical and chanson influences, in unique, charming and beautiful arrangements of original songs. Having sold out the Granary for the last two years, Snowapple have earned a reputation all over Europe and the US, and this year appear in the perfect setting of Rook Lane Arts."
Praying For The Rain
Rook Lane Chapel, Bath Street, Frome, BA11 1DN, England
Friday 8th July 2016, 8.00pm – information
From the blurb: "Known for their dynamic and compelling live performances, Praying For The Rain blend contemporary folk, Celtic and world music with irresistible rhythms, memorable melodies, beautifully crafted vocals and inspired musicianship. Their music brings to mind a modern blend of Crosby, Stills and Nash, Robert Plant, to Fleet Foxes and the Dave Matthews Band, creating a truly uplifting experience. Following last year's sell out concert, Praying for the Rain return to Rook Lane for Frome Festival 2016. Expect an exhilarating night of high energy, movement and wonderfully engaging songs."
I'm sure I remember Praying For The Rain from when I was a regular at Martyn Swain's wonderful Dreamhouse acoustic nights, a refuge of warm bohemian chic and unplugged music alongside the Splash Club in scuzzy mid-'90s Kings Cross. These were the same shows at which I was delighted by up-close performances from Marcy Detroit, Simons Warner and Whitaker and many more… there's a little bit about Dreamhouse here, since someone's been writing a crowdfunded book about the Splash years (and you can still pitch in to help it). Dreamhouse was the kind of night where you could expect table candles and belly dancing interludes most weeks; but during their own slot, Praying For The Rain completely overflowed the little Water Rats stage with finger-cymbals, accordions, cellos, cirrus-band harmonies and what seemed like about ten people on whispering percussion, temporarily transforming the place to a full-on New Age folk temple.
Although they seem rather more bluesy and straightforward-rootsy than I remember through the gauzes of memory, it's good to see that they've lasted the twenty-year distance and garnered themselves a new up-to-date list of comparisons.
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Over at the Granary, there's a semi-unplugged triple bill and a visit from a 'Misfit City' favourite.
Three Is The Magic Number presents:
Three Corners + Molly Ross + Gum Girl
The Granary @ The George Hotel, 4 Market Place, Frome, BA11 1AF, England
Friday 8th July 2016, 8.00pm – free/pay-what-you-like
Regular Frome-and-Wiltshire unplugged night Acoustic Plus takes on a new identity for this three-act bill of "original songs, haunting vocals, mesmeric music" celebrating a diversity of approach via three different acts. Molly Ross offers fledgling piano pop touches on folk and R&B; Three Corners (with their roots in 1980s new-wavers The Impossible Dreamers, and featuring ex-Dreamers Nick Waterhouse and Caroline Radcliffe) play sparse, questing songs around more of a loose blues-and-jazz-informed tip; but the one I find most interesting is the dreamy beat'n'texture pop of Gum Girl.
Arch Garrison
The Granary @ The George Hotel, 4 Market Place, Frome, BA11 1AF, England
Saturday 9th July 2016, 8.00pm – information http://cheeseandgrain.ticketsolve.com/shows/873554307
As Arch Garrison, North Sea Radio Orchestra mastermind Craig Fortnam and Stars In Battledress' James Larcombe explore gentle, intricate psychedelic folk: partly gentle clean chapel tones, partly kosmische textures, partly chalk-ridge geomancy. A duo of Craig's nylon-strung acoustic guitar and James' assorted keyboards (organ, monosynth, harmonium and piano), their two albums' worth of songs have enabled Craig to bring the smaller and more personal songs he writes to life, when they don't fit the grander feel of NSRO. Their 'Will Be A Pilgrim' album was one of my favourites of 2014 – an unexpected gem of small voice and thinking space. Support comes from local favourites Dexter's Extra Breakfast, playing Dave Clark's soft-petalled and "Weltschmerzian" songs of middle-aged reflection.
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John D Revelator
The Griffin, 25 Milk Street, Frome, BA11 3DB, England
Saturday 9th July 2016, 8.00pm – free event
At the Griffin, John D Revelator will be bringing along their dark-tinged acoustic swamp-pop for a free show. Even if there's not actually such a thing as the "Somerset Levels delta", they'll lie to their last tooth and their last busted guitar string trying to persuade you that it does exist.
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Towards the end of the festival, the second of Frome's two substantial concert halls is offering two very different performances on the same day. One is a post-lunchtime concert of vividly Catalonian Spanish classical music from the twentieth century; the other is an evening show of polymusical fusion from an all-star collective trio.
Elena Riu & Clara Sanabras: 'A Taste Of Spain'
Cooper Hall @ Selwood Manor, Jacks Lane, Frome, BA11 3NL, England
Saturday 9th July 2016, 1.00pm – information
Pianist Elena Riu and singing multi-instrumentalist Clara Sanabras (the latter on voice, harp, oud, charango and guitar) perform selections from the 'Songs & Dances' of Catalan impressionist/miniaturist composer Federico Mompou and the 'Spanish Dances' of his compatriot Enrique Granados, interspersed with Clara's performances of the original Catalan folk songs on which Mompou drew.
Cooper Hall @ Selwood Manor, Jacks Lane, Frome, BA11 3NL, England
Saturday 9th July 2016, 8.30pm – information http://cheeseandgrain.ticketsolve.com/shows/873554308
"Birdworld is made up of musicians Adam Teixeira (drums/percussion), Gregor Riddell (cello/electronics); and Alex Stuart (guitar). The project came about when Gregor and Adam met during self-directed Banff Creative Residencies where they discovered a shared interest in blending electronic and acoustic sounds. Since Adam moved to the UK in 2014 they have continued to develop BirdWorld, adding Alex along the way. Combining their artistic voices as both instrumentalists and composers, the trio will showcase each members original compositions arranged specifically for this unique musical exchange. Creating a unified sound that blends the inspirations of modern jazz, world music, contemporary classical, rock and electronic music in a rare concert setting."
Here's a video of the original two-piece in action, to give you two-thirds of an idea of what might be on offer.

subset: commoncrawl


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Delhi: After being voted out of the Bigg Boss 7 house, popular TV actress Ratan Rajput says that she has no desire to re-enter the controversial place, where the politics started very soon.
"No ways! I don't want to go back. I don't even know if I will start watching the show immediately. I am so scared of Bigg Boss voice," Ratan said in a telephonic interview.
The actress, who spent most of her time in the hell side of the house, said inmates started playing games since the beginning.
"The politics in the house started very soon. I just can't be a part of the politics. People there love to gossip and I can't be a part of that. I feel so uneasy," said the Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo fame star.
In the house, Ratan was seen being friendly with Gauhar Khan, Kushal Tandon and Elli Avram.
"I like open people better. They tell you how they feel to your face. The game in the house started too soon. I don't believe in groupism. I tried to stay away from Tanisha Mukherjee, Armaan Kohli, Kamya Punjabi and Pratyusha Banerjee," said the actress who had featured in the the reality show Swayamvar Season 3 – Ratan Ka Rishta.
Why were you voted out?
"One of the reasons could be the amount of content a contestant gives… I can't give fake content," she said.
The high point of her stay was when she dared to enter a bath tub filled with cow dung.
"I wanted to prove to everyone that I was not a weak link in the house. That was the only reason I did that task for," she said.
Bigg Boss – Saath 7 comes on Colors.
Now celebrities VJ Andy, Gauhar, Kushal, Apoorva Agnihotri and his wife Shilpa Agnihotri, Tanisha, Armaan, Asif Azim, Sangram Singh, Elli, Kamya and Pratyusha are vying for the title.


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- This event has passed.
Patsy Cline Tribute w/ Aimee Curl, Melissa Wright, Jess Eliot Myhre, and Con Burch
September 7, 2019 @ 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Event Navigation
Thanks to Mark Burgess C.P.A for sponsoring this show!
Jordan Springs will be selling their award winning BBQ from 7:00-8:00.
What better way to spend Patsy Cline's birthday weekend than at a tribute show featuring our local legends, Aimee Curl (Furnace Mountain Band) Jess Eliot Myhre (The Bumper Jacksons) Melissa Wright (Mink's Miracle Medicine) and Winchester's own Con Burch. Along with David Van Deventer on fiddle, and Jesse Shultzaberger on drums, and Colin Thompson on guitar, these women will sing the songs that made Patsy Cline a local, national and international legend in the world of country music.
Doors open at 7:00 and concert starts at 8:00 PM
Award-winning BBQ from Jordan Springs Market will be available for sale from 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Ticket Prices & Info:
All Tickets are General Admission
$20 in advance until 3:00 PM on the day of event
$25 at the door
Children: 12 years and below are free when accompanied by an adult
Tickets may be purchased in advance either online or by calling the Barns of Rose Hill Box Office at 540-955-2004 (Noon to 3:00 – Tuesday through Saturday). If you call when our Box Office is closed, please leave a message and we'll return your call within 24 business hours.
Where are you located?
We are located in dowtown Berryville, Virginia between the Rose Hill Park and the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center / Clarke County Library.
View Map & Directions »
Where do I park & is it free?
Free parking is available next door at the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center / Clarke County Library / Barns of Rose Hill parking lot.
View Map & Directions For Details »
Do I need to print out a copy of my tickets?
Help us save trees! If you purchase your tickets via Eventbrite, then there's no need to print out paper tickets when you attend the event. Just bring a valid ID and we'll check you in at the door via our Eventbrite attendee list.


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The NFB's 23rd Oscar®-nominated film.
Based on Holling C. Holling's book of the same name, Paddle to the Sea is Bill Mason's film adaptation of the classic tale of an Indigenous boy who sets out to carve a man and a canoe. Calling the man "Paddle to the Sea," he sets his carving down on a frozen stream to await spring's arrival. The film follows the adventures that befall the canoe on its long odyssey from Lake Superior to the sea.
Bill Mason looked at securing film rights to the book Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling as early as 1960. It was originally intended for the non-theatrical (educational) market, but was eventually blown up to 35 mm and distributed theatrically, which led to an Oscar nomination in the best short subject category. Parts of the film were shot near Mason's home at Meech Lake.Albert Ohayon
De la sélection : Bill Mason: Beyond the wild, beyond the paddle
...i saw this film in a primary school gymnasium in the early seventies...i had just moved to Canada from Scotland...it was the first time i had seen an actual reel of film projected onto a screen...i remember the slow meditation of the film...and the flickering light...David Bryant
De la sélection : David Bryant (Godspeed You! Black Emperor)
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Paddle to the Sea, Bill Mason, offert par l'Office national du film du Canada
It was so much fun to watch this again - I forgot that my grandfather, Don Wellington, was the sound editor.lmcedit, 29 Jul 2020
I absolutely love this film. Fond memories watching it in grade school in 1972. Thank you.Andy W., 7 Avr 2020
I'd heard about this film but had never seen it until now. Thank-you so much for making it available - it was wonderful. Now I'll be able to show it to my two grandsons who I know will enjoy it as much as I did.None, 10 Mar 2020
is there a version with English captions/subtitles pleaseCaptionsplease, 14 Jan 2017
Saw it back in 71' when I was a kid. Loved it then so much. Still do today.Buzzwinkle, 2 Aoû 2016
We must have seen this film twice a year as kids in the '70's (North Vancouver). Once to keep us amused during the church Annual General Meeting and once at school. It never grows old. I usually name it when I'm asked what my favourite film is though sometimes I say 32 Short Films about Glenn Gould.Jenn_in_Scotland, 10 Jul 2016
Such a joy to find this film. I live in the state of Victoria Australia and in about 1962 I was lucky enough to read the story as a state school child of 6 years of age. I have never forgotten the story and it has been stuck away in my mind for all this time. I too carved many "Paddle To The Seas" at that time as a result of the inspiration of the story. Original story a credit to the author and the film a credit to the film maker. Remembered with great affection!ecotone, 20 Aoû 2015
As an adult i find myself recalling my youth in the early 70's. I seemed to always recall a movie about a canoe going across Canada. After the first Google search I found this old link to my early days. I was able to capture a special moment with my 7 year old watching it all over again. Thanks !Dogbay1966, 7 Avr 2015
I once stopped into a highway "trading post" shop near Pancake Bay on Lake Superior, and among all the classic wood carvings, they sold painted plaster reproductions of "Paddle", obviously a must have for the BM fan. Not sure if any surviving models from the film ever made it to a museum but the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough would be one place to look.chkf, 27 Fév 2014
I live far from any ocean or any sea in Amarillo Texas. However I've always been enthralled with this story. I had only read the book long long ago and was not even aware there was a film. After being locked away in my mind for many many years I dreamed of this book the other night. This morning I googled it and look what I found. One delightful film that made all my memories come rushing back. Thank you for restoring such a fantastic childhood memory on the film such a long time ago.tomslick, 6 Jan 2014
I grew up near Thunder Bay in the 70's and made many a crude wooden boat, imagining them making their way to the sea because of this film. Should be shown in school still. May get one or two kids off their smart phones!Dragoon, 19 Jan 2013
was lucky enough to see in my youth..instilled wanderlust ...Should be watched in schools/homes today to instil breadth of even a small part of Canada..esp in era of 'twitter'& 24 news /entertainment cycle ...CndnTXAN, 24 Jui 2012
Not only is this a great - and Oscar winning - short film, but it's based on a wonderful book (of the same name). The book is a lesson in the formation and geology of the region, but wondrously told; you'll hardly know you've just been educated. ;)Jaq, 23 Avr 2012
Loved this film in elementary school and purchased a VCR tape 10 years ago. I wore it out lending it to all my friends with children! Is there any information available on the making of the movie? I have always wondered how many models were lost during filming!Hanggliderpilot, 26 Fév 2012
I remember seeing this film as a young boy in elementary school, it was a pleasure viewing it again. Whatever happened to the carving? Where is it now?nlartist, 24 Déc 2011
toshiromifune "But seriously, is he in a museum or archive?" He is at the Museum of Civilization. Well at least one of him, Bill Mason made a couple of them for the movie. I believe that not all of him were carved since a mould also exists.PMD, 6 Oct 2011
What a nice retelling! I first read this book in a one-room school house landlocked on the prairies in the late fifties. Though I was wise enough to see that it was a sugar-coated geography lesson about the St. Lawrence seaway, the tiny carved figure dwarfed by the gigantic forces around it appealed to my prairie soul. Decades later I tracked the book down down and bought my own copy. I've come a long way over the years, but Paddle to the Sea, where are you now? And what of the boy that carved you?AnonNFBfan, 3 Oct 2011
Interesting! I remember seeing this in elementary school in the early 1970s, and thinking it was rather contrived, and maybe a little silly. I don't know if I'm wiser now, or just more sentimental, but it definitely has charms I overlooked before. I'm glad I got a second look at it!reid, 2 Oct 2011
@edwinyoung - It's not exactly a place to buy toy canoes, but here's a pretty cool little website that shows you how to make them from scratch: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/toy-canoe-665368/kruscito, 7 Sep 2011
Hi. I remember this film very well from elementary school and just recently watched it again as an adult. Does anyone know if replica toy canoes are available for purchase? Thanks! Ededwinyoung, 7 Sep 2011
Le 27 août 2011, j'ai découvert l'un de ces bateaux sur la rive de l'Île d'Orléans. Une indication, un numéro, m'indiqua la provenance de Little Red. Ce dernier dut passer par la ville de Québec, par Montréal, par Toronto, par le lac Huron et par le lac Supérieur. Une aventure de 2 500 km qui prit naissance à Marquette, au Michigan, où je rejoignis Judith Smith, une enseignante à la retraite. Je mettrai des photos en ligne au cours des prochaines semaines. http://www.quebeckayak.com/article/2011/paddle-of-the-sea/Ornithorynque, 5 Sep 2011
Bonjour Luc, La version française de ce film sera ajoutée en septembre 2011 sur ONF.ca - pendant la semaine du 12 septembre pour être plus précise. C'était déjà dans nos plans de la rendre accessible rapidement. Merci de votre intérêt!cperreault, 9 Aoû 2011
Dommage que la version francaise "vogue à la mer" n'est pas disponible, ni en ligne, ni en DVD......pourtant la version anglaise "paddle to the sea" elle, est disponible ici. Pourquoi ?Luc, 9 Aoû 2011
one of my all time favs from childhood memories...we enjoyed all the nfb films that arrived in our little reservation school in northern sask...priceless.north56sask, 17 Fév 2011
Paddle to the Sea was one of the first books that I read from the public library when I was very young. I have seen the movie before but really enjoyed it again now that I'm in my mid 60's. It brings back fond memories.highhillfarm, 4 Fév 2011
I remember seeing this film in grade school several times in the late 70s. Then in the 90's I had the pleasure of meeting Bill through his daughter Becky who was teaching canoeing. I saw several Paddle models at their house on Meech Lake in the Gatineaus. It took me a few minutes to realise what I was looking at. I love this film and I am introducing my kids to it now.nostalgia, 23 Jan 2011
@toshiromifune - I honestly don't know. Good question, though.jmatlin, 7 Sep 2010
But seriously, is he in a museum or archive?toshiromifune, 7 Sep 2010
Does anyone know what became of paddle? I haven't seen him in any bit roles lately!toshiromifune, 7 Sep 2010
Wow! I remember seeing this film in the theatre before the feature. It is telling that i don't remember the feature, but i remember paddle to the sea!jeffster, 7 Jul 2010


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This article is more than 1 year old
Ten monster tellies to suit all budgets
Olympic winners
Panasonic Viera TX-P65VT50
If high-end performance is your goal, then this 65-incher is a sure bet. For such a huge TV, it's deceptively svelte. An easy two man lift, with edge-to-edge glass and a wispy metallic trim, it wouldn't look out of place in a bijou pad. Images enjoy crisp detail, aided by deep, nuanced blacks and Monaco-rich colours; high def content literally pops from the screen.
While ideal for movies, this set doesn't lose focus when faced with fast motion, making it a sports screen to reckon with. Only the downwards firing sound system underwhelms. The TX-P65VT50 sports both Freeview HD and Freesat HD tuners, has integrated Wi-Fi and boasts a dual core processor which makes using apps and services from Panasonic's online portal a super-slick experience; favourites are ready to roll without having to detour directly to net portal.
Reg Rating 90%
Price £3000
More info Panasonic
Philips 55PFL6007 Ambilight
Philips TVs have a (well-deserved) reputation for brain-boiling complexity, but thanks to Ambilight they're also a lifestyle boon. This 55incher, arguably the prettiest yet from the brand, features wall-colour adaptive two-channel Ambilight LED lighting, and comes with a handy Lounge Light mode to set the Olympic mood.
Of course, it's also tanked up on tech. There's a dual-core CPU for seamless internet-streamed catch-up TV, integrated Wi-Fi, plus a powerful 400Hz picture processor designed to deliver squeaky clean fast motion. This set also marks a big change to the user interface of Philips screens. The result looks far nicer to navigate than before.
Reg Rating 85%
Price £1699
More info Philips


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Half a world away from Des Moines, Iowa, where the World Food Prize "Borlaug Dialogue" International Symposium is being held this week, Bangladeshi farmers are hard at work sowing wheat and maize in their fields.
This year, however, something is different. For many farmers, new techniques supported by USAID are helping to reduce costs, achieve better yields, and earn higher profits. Something as simple as planting crops in raised beds or reducing tillage can have an outsized effect on crop yields and earnings.
Stamping out rural hunger and poverty in Bangladesh is not some distant dream. It is a real and attainable prospect, and with support from the U.S. Government's global food security initiative, Feed the Future, we are doing our part.
To watch how the simple but powerful techniques we support are changing the lives of Bangladeshi farmers, check out the three embedded clips below on strip tillage, bed planting, and saving water and overcoming salinity. The longer version of the video (20 minutes)—"Save More, Grow More, Earn More"—is also well worth a view.
Strip Tillage
How do farmers produce a profitable crop with hardly any irrigation at all? Farmers in Bangladesh are showing the way by planting into mulch, and using simple machines that plow only a small line in their fields, into which seed and fertilizer are dropped at the same time. These easy-to-implement practices conserve precious soil moisture and improve their investment in fertilizer.
Bed Planting
Farmers across Bangladesh are putting the problem of high irrigation costs and water scarcity to bed—literally. Using the simple and effective technique of planting their rice, wheat, maize and legume crops on raised beds, farmers are getting more crop per drop and reducing irrigation requirements by up to 40 percent.
Overcoming Salinity with Conservation Agriculture
Despite increasing fuel and irrigation costs, as well as crop-damaging soil salinity, innovative farmers in Bangladesh are conserving soil moisture and overcoming salinity with conservation agriculture. By not fully plowing their fields, using appropriate machinery to sow their crops in lines under a layer of water-conserving mulch, and rotating between profitable crops, farmers are beating the odds to achieve profitable maize, wheat and legume yields.


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Online MMORPG Battle Game
The empire is no more. Peace has been shattered by the ambition and greed of Lords seeking power. The world has split into factions and Guilds, and Monsters and Darknests are appearing more and more frequently. A war is starting, and the time for powerful heroes has come... Restore the balance of power by creating the biggest empire ever! Recruit warriors, soldiers, and heroes, forge alliances, conquer and expand your territory, win epic battles, and become the world's greatest warlord in this strategy RPG! A new world order is needed to re-establish peace! Explore LORDS MOBILE and its exotic magical lands thrown into war and chaos by terrifying monsters and powerful enemies. Choose your favorite battle hero, recruit combat troops, and fight and conquer fearlessly in a war of epic dimensions! An Open-World RPG Multiplayer Game: Build and Conquer to Create a Mighty Empire Explore, conquer, and clash in the arena with other players in this MMO game! Join a guild and play with millions of players in an open world, on mobile! Defend your Territory Secure your troops and heroes, survive against opponents, and defend your empire's castle at all costs. A perfect war strategy requires an invulnerable defense! Find Friends Fight and counterattack with your kingdom's army allies, and ride into war together as a guild against enemies in an endless fantasy MMORPG! Rule as the Emperor Claim the throne in a MMO battle royale for the kingdom! Will your legacy as a conqueror be just or cruel? Powerful Heroes Recruit and upgrade heroes with unique skills for the battle arena! Let them lead, attack, and conquer enemy kingdoms, or group them into teams to complete an RPG-style campaign! Master Your War Strategy Plan your tactics for the clash! Plan your troop lineups, perfect your strategy, and counterattack! Discover the best strategies to defeat enemy warlords in this mobile RPG MMO! Epic Multiplayer Battles: Different Types of Troops Lead your warriors and soldiers as a king-emperor in these clan wars! Carefully choose your troop types before going into battle: infantry, ranged, cavalry, siege, or a mix! Switch Kingdoms Establish your empire on new lands by moving to any server you choose with a simple tap in this combat MMORPG! Choose Your Battle Path: Fight or Trade Create an economic empire based on trade, treasures, and alliances with friends, or become an offensive player and attack and conquer enemy kingdoms? Will you liberate prisoners of war? Or will your army and kingdom crumble to dust? This online multiplayer village builder game is all about planning your battle tactics and warfare strategy! No kingdom can stand in your way in this RPG! Wage war with your allies in multiplayer RPG LORDS MOBILE. Attack and conquer enemy warlords' territories, plan your combat strategy with your hero, and build a great empire. Fight against enemies' legendary monsters, warriors, and soldiers! Achieve victory using different clash tactics! Your kingdom awaits. Are you ready for the MMORPG showdown challenge? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LordsMobile


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Security was heavy at the Abbotsford courthouse Tuesday morning, as Oscar Arfmann – the man accused of killing Abbotsford Police Const. John Davidson on Nov. 6 – made his first appearance.
Sheriffs were stationed outside the building and directed visitors to enter through a metal detector – a process not usually in place at the provincial courthouse.
Arfmann, 65, was soon led into the prisoner's dock of courtroom 103. He wore the standard-issue orange prison jumpsuit, and his long grey hair was pulled into a messy ponytail.
Arfmann squinted and remained calm during his two-minute appearance, in which Crown counsel Theresa Iandiorio and defence lawyer Simon Buck indicated that the proceedings would be adjourned until Jan. 12.
Buck said he anticipated that only one more court date would be needed "prior to any other proceedings where evidence is called," and said that Arfmann will make all his appearances in person, with none via video.
The judge addressed the delay in the next court date.
"This is a serious matter. Of course, these things sometimes take some time to get started," he said.
Outside the courthouse, BC Prosecution Service spokesman Dan McLaughlin said the appearance on Jan. 12 will involve determining the next stage of the proceedings.
This could include either setting a date for a preliminary inquiry – which determines whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial in BC Supreme Court – or waiving the hearing altogether.
McLaughlin said he has no information about whether Arfmann will enter a guilty plea or whether a psychiatric assessment has been conducted.
"As the matter is now before the court, BC Prosecution Service will have no further comment on the circumstances of the offence, the personal circumstances of the offender or the details of his arrest," he said.
McLaughlin also addressed the delay in the proceedings.
"It's somewhat longer than usual, but counsel has assured us that matters will proceed fairly expeditiously from that point," he said.
Arfmann, an Alberta resident, was charged with first-degree murder the day after Davidson was killed in the line of duty.
The 53-year-old officer was the first on scene after police received reports of shots being fired at civilians at a strip mall on Mt. Lehman Road.
Davidson was struck by gunfire and was pronounced dead in hospital shortly after.
Arfmann was arrested not far from the scene following a brief police chase that ended in a crash and with more shots being fired. He was injured in the incident and was taken to hospital.


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I met my husband, John, when I was 17. I had graduated high school, and moved to Houston, Texas to attend a Bible school that was affiliated with his chuch. (His dad was the preacher.) I moved there two weeks before I turned 18.
On my 18th birthday, John presented me with a dozen roses. Well, that was that, and we began dating. We dated for a year and he proposed on my 19th birthday, down on the beach at Galveston. Very romantic. We were married 4 months later, which I know is way too fast!
We have four wonderful children, one beautiful daughter-in-law, and one fat cat.(not so pleased about the cat) We've lived in 2 states, 4 cities, and have been at 6 churches.
Life has been full of blessings and I am forever grateful that God led me to a wonderful man whose laughter lifts my heart, whose faith keeps me grounded, and whose love holds me close.
I will be unplugged this week since my husband is taking me to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to stay in a treehouse! I told him I would leave the laptop at home, but would take a book or two…or three. Here is a link to see the treehouse we will be staying in! The Lofty Lookout Treehouse.
So have fun this week without me. I know I may have withdrawals being away from my laptop that long, but I am looking forward to the rest, relaxation, and being with my best friend in the world.


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Streaker Disrupts High School Cheerleading Routine
Somewhere, Frank "The Tank" must be beaming with pride. A young streaker decided to interrupt a high school cheerleading routine and then quickly get out of the dodge.
The incident happened last Friday in El Dorado Hills, California during halftime of the Oak Ridge Trojans/Vista del Lago Eagles football game. As the Oak Ridge cheerleaders were halfway through their routine, a streaker wearing only a sock on his junk runs onto the field while an excited parent captures the moment on video.
The fun begins at the 1:05 mark if you want to skip right to the streaking goodness. Unless you like cheerleading routines, then you should watch from the beginning. Frankly, whichever you choose, we're going to make fun of you. Enjoy.


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Cal-ACCESS -- the vital database for figuring out who is giving money to campaigns and what lobbyists are doing -- remains down.
The Secretary of State's Office is trying to repair what is a very old system, but ultimately, a new system needs to be built.
But how can that be done in budget conscious times?
Former deputy state treasurer Mark Paul (full disclosure: also my co-author of the book California Crackup) has an idea: make the people who use the system the most pay for it.
That's journalists, lobbyists and others whose professional responsibilities require them to keep close tabs on the government.
This isn't ideal.
Public information like this should be free. But with the perpetual budget crisis, user fees may be the only way to come up with money to pay for new technology investments like Cal-ACCESS.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Paul suggests a system that would permit free access for occasional users of the system (presumably the public) and higher costs for more frequent users.
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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may have been the first luxury automaker to bring a hybrid to market, but certain benefits come with taking a little more time. looks to capitalize on this position by bringing to market the hybrid version of the midsize MKZ sedan.
The uses Ford's fuel-efficient 2.5-liter Duratec inline-4 (utilizing the Atkinson cycle) in parallel with an AC synchronous motor (powered by a sealed 275V NiMH battery) to propel this front-wheel driver with a combined gas/electric output of 191 hp. While that number doesn't exactly scream "high performance," the car has sufficient power. More important, you can achieve an astounding EPA-estimated 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway (The , by comparison, makes 187 hp and gets 35/34, city/hwy). On our drive route through the scenic confusion of Washington D.C.'s National Mall, one pair of particularly eco-intensive journalists managed to achieve over 60 mpg—though no one could actually verify they didn't get out and push at some point.
The MKZ, which shares a great deal of its underpinnings (including the hybrid powertrain) with Ford's laudable , employs its hybrid power more for added efficiency than as a foot-activated push-to-pass switch. And yet despite this unsporting approach, this remains one of my favorite hybrid drivetrain/user-interface experiences to date.
Why? For one, the MKZ will allow you to operate in electric-only mode at speeds up to 47 mph. Although I'm not entirely fond of the motorboating CVT at full throttle, under less impetuous driving it provides surprisingly easy access to this mode and there's a certain level of satisfaction that comes with silent motoring. The MKZ's gauge cluster, also known as SmartGauge, is an evolution of the Ford version that allows you to customize the amount of real-time information you take in at any given second. There are four levels—Inform, Enlighten, Engage, Empower—the last adding entertaining plant graphics in the far right corner (now with apple blossom-inspired flowers!) that germinate with respect to how you drive. The more efficient you are, the more vibrant your instrument panel remains. It serves as inspiration for habit training—like taking care of that beloved virtual keychain pet—but with positive real world significance.
The cabin of the MKZ is fortified with better sound-deadening treatment, and standard creature comforts include 10-way power adjustable heated and cooled front seats and wood-accented leather surrounds, which enrich the drive experience. Other pluses include the voice-activated communication and entertainment system known as Lincoln (Ford) Sync, which integrates Bluetooth phone connectivity along with Traffic, Direction and Information (TDI) Services (all free of charge for the time being). At $3595 the Navigation options seems expensive, but it comes with a 10-GB internal music jukebox, DVD/CD/MP3 with HD Radio, Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert, a rearview camera and a magnificent THX II Certified Audio System with 5.1 Surround Sound (which can decode and augment nearly any soundtrack from the source of your choosing.)
When the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid goes on sale this fall, you'll be able to get one for the same price as the gasoline version, which starts at $35,180.


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The Moon
Just a quick note: All of the photos have been lightly edited. When an order is placed, I will do additional editing if it's needed. I recommend looking at a photo in it's highest resolution before ordering to ensure you see what you'll actually be getting. You may crop any photo to your personal preference when ordering. If the size you choose requires the photo to be cropped but you would rather not do it, I'll do the cropping for you.Read More
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We'd like to wish a big congratulations to Dave and Emily Waterfall, and welcome Madison Claire Waterfall into the world!
Their baby girl was born at 3:34am on Christmas morning. She's 23 inches long and weighs 9.8 pounds.
Dave is an associate producer with the Malveaux team.
Congrats again to the happy family!


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History of exploration was just becoming a hot topic in the Academy when I started my graduate work in the mid-1990s. Academic interest attached itself to post-colonial studies, focusing on regions of the globe where Europeans and Euro-Americans had done most of their empire-building: Asia, Africa, and the Atlantic World.
The world of Polar exploration, however, remained quiet, a terra incognita of historical scholarship. Meanwhile, non-academic historians were churning out polar books in droves, on Robert Peary, Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton and others. I suspect that all of this attention caused academic historians to shy away even further, to view polar exploration as suspect, a popular rather than serious subject of inquiry.
It was in this environment that Beau Riffenburgh published his pathbreaking book Myth of the Explorer. Here was a scholarly approach to a "popular" subject, in this case a behind-the-scenes look at the most sensational explorers of the Victorian World. Riffenburgh's book shattered explorers' claims to be men of a different world, men built of a different mold. It showed how deeply embedded these men were in the world they left behind, in their values, their careers, and their financial dealings.
Myth of the Explorer thus offered academic historians a bridge to the other side, a way of approaching the sensational explorers with a different set of aims, a different list of questions. Although it is now out of print, Myth of the Explorer remains an essential resource for historians of Victorian exploration and it is cited in the works of Robert Kohler, Felix Driver, Graham Burnett, and Felipe-Fernandez Armesto. Its influence certainly extends to my own book Coldest Crucible.
It is a pleasure to welcome Beau Riffenburgh to Time to Eat the Dogs.
Your first book Myth of the Explorer looked beyond the heroic images of explorers slogging it out in the field to examine explorers' actions back home, particularly their financial dealings with the popular press. This was a very different kind of exploration book when it came out in 1993. What led you to the project and your approach to it?
I long had been fascinated by exploration, particularly of the polar regions and Africa. I decided after working a number of years in publishing to go back for a PhD just because I wanted to spend several years researching something that really interested me. I had previously earned an MA in journalism, and also had strong interest in the history of the press. My PhD thesis, upon which Myth of the Explorer was based, allowed me to use these two interests to look at the other. Since the press played a significant role in sponsoring, promoting, and creating an interest in exploration, it seemed logical to use the press of the time as a vehicle through which to view exploration. At the same time exploration could be a subject by which to test several hypotheses that I had about the way the growth and use of sensational journalism is generally presented in studies of the history and development of the press.
How was it received?
In general, the book was received very well by reviewers. It was published by a small publisher, but it interested Oxford University Press enough that they sought it out to publish in paperback. I would like to think that it helped influence a number of scholars who have done studies since then.
You served as Publication director for the NFL in the 1980s, writing a variety of books about American football. Did your work for the NFL reveal to you any links between modern sports and 19th century exploration?
I was the senior writer for NFL Properties, the publishing and licensing branch of the NFL, and I essentially was director of historical research. I can't say that my work there revealed any particular links between sports and exploration, but the switch between the two is not as bizarre as it initially sounds. I was one of several people around the country who conducted a good deal of research on what was sometimes known as the Ohio League, the informal grouping of professional football teams in Ohio and a few surrounding states before the founding of the NFL in 1920. This included many of the teams that went on to join the NFL, such as the Canton Bulldogs. I would like to say that the foremost scholar in this field, and one who is a marvellous researcher, is Bob Carroll, an independent researcher who lives in Pennsylvania and was the key founder of the Pro Football Researchers Association.
Anyway, the main point here is that much of this research was carried out by carefully going through old newspaper accounts of football games in order to obtain data held there but seemingly otherwise lost. When I began my PhD, I continued using nineteenth-century newspapers as my primary data source, and was able to use essentially the same collection methods. In other words, although my subject matter changed dramatically as I went to exploration, my methods remained similar, so it was not a huge change in what I had done before.
In recent years, you have published a number of trade books on exploration. Your latest book, Exploration Experience: The Heroic Exploits of the World's Greatest Explorers (National Geographic Society, 2008) combines your essays with reproduced documents, photos, and artifacts from famous expeditions. How did the experience of writing Exploration Experience and these exploration books differ from writing Myth of the Explorer?
My two major books of the past five years have been Nimrod (published in the US as Shackleton's Forgotten Expedition) in 2004 and Racing With Death in 2008. The first was the first account of the first expedition led by Ernest Shackleton, the British Antarctic Expedition (1907-09), on which he attained a farthest south. The second is an account of Douglas Mawson's Antarctic expeditions, primarily his Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911-14), on which he made perhaps the most amazing Antarctic journey ever. Both of these are scholarly books, written after extensive research in the archives where original materials are held, but, hopefully, written in a manner than will appeal to a general reader. I believe strongly that there is nothing stopping a book from being both scholarly and interestingly written.
Exploration Experience is a different type of book, in that it is heavily illustrated and contains, as you mention, memorabilia from numerous expeditions. Moreover, it is an attempt to give a look at the overall history of exploration, touching on the highlights rather than giving extensive detail about any one expedition. It was fun to write because it includes accounts of exploration in Asia, South America, Australia, and other areas that I had not written extensively about previously. The text is not one long narrative, but rather shorter highlights about different expeditions, so it is a totally different — but equally enjoyable — writing technique.
These differed from Myth of the Explorer in that they were more aimed at a general audience, whereas all along I felt that Myth of the Explorer would be more appropriate for a more specialist audience. I would like to think that all of them are enjoyable reads, but I think it is safe to say that Myth of the Explorer was not something that would grab the exploration enthusiast so easily as my more recent books.
Myth of the Explorer offered a sober, often critical portrait of Victorian explorers. Trade books on exploration, however, tend to be more forgiving of explorers' motives and actions. Do you feel any tension in moving from one genre of writing to the other?
No, I try to follow the academic process throughout. I collect and analyze data and then present it in a fashion that I feel is fair, hopefully unbiased, and hopefully interesting. Nimrod, once to the ice, is, I hope, an exciting tale of adventure, but the materials for it were still compiled carefully and following the same "rules" of research as Myth of the Explorer. Since I have been writing and editing for a living for more than 25 years, stylistic changes in books are not excessively difficult to make, as shown by the fact that I have written a different book on a different aspect of the Mawson story in a different style. I hope it will be coming out in a year or so.
As an American living in England, you've had ample opportunity to compare national cultures. Do Britons and Americans think differently about exploration?
I can't say that I think folks in Britain and the us think differently about the processes of exploration, but there tends to be a different emphasis perhaps. Regarding the polar regions, older generations in the UK grew up with the story of Robert Falcon Scott as something that everyone knew, and he was a great imperial hero, along the lines of Livingstone or Gordon. Perhaps because of this, and because of the Shackleton connection, in recent decades the Antarctic tends to have been a stronger general interest than the Arctic. The greatest American polar hero, on the other hand, was Robert E. Peary, an Arctic explorer. So although this is a huge generalization with all of the weaknesses that can be expected to accompany it, one finds a bit more Antarctic interest and knowledge in the UK and a bit more Arctic interest and knowledge in the US. This has somewhat changed with the Shackleton-mania that swept through the US and with the growth of tourism to the Antarctic, but it is at least a broad difference. And none of this is to say that neither country had any interests in the other region, as obviously Byrd was a great American hero and the British had any number of Arctic expeditions. Similarly, most Americans will learn more about Lewis and Clark and other explorers of North America, while many folks over here will be much more familiar with African exploration, for which many British explorers were key figures, such as Livingstone, Burton, Baker, etc.
What do you think about the United States' current Vision for Space Exploration, a plan to send astronauts back to the Moon and ultimately to Mars?
I think that space exploration is very exciting. However, I do think that it is a totally different process than the exploration that was carried out in the nineteenth century. Then, to a great extent, it was based on man's heart, will, and personal strength and determination. Now the man going into outer space would play a key role, but a very different role, since he is a part of a much larger package that requires a great deal more technological involvement. I think that much of the shift has been from man's inner strength to his intellect.
What's your next project?
I am currently working on a follow-uo to Exploration Experience that concentrates on polar exploration, using the same format. I am also hoping to write a lengthy book about an explorer in a totally new (for me) area of the world, but I have been asked by the potential publishers not to discuss it at this time.
A mystery to whet the appetite. Beau, thanks for speaking with us.


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Obama warns against 'ramping up' in Gaza
- Obama's comments come on fifth day of Israel's campaign against Hamas
- Says Israel has 'right to defend itself'
- Obama on Monday visits Burma, a historic first
BANGKOK (AP) — President Obama said Sunday that an incursion by Israel's forces into the Gaza Strip could deepen its own death toll, cautioning against an escalation even as he defended Israel's right to defend itself. To Palestinians, Obama warned the latest crisis could crush peace hopes for years.
"Israel has every right to expect that it does not have missiles fired into its territory," Obama said at the start of a three-nation tour in Asia.
"If that can be accomplished without a ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that's preferable," he said. "It's not just preferable for the people of Gaza. It's also preferable for Israelis, because if Israeli troops are in Gaza, they're much more at risk of incurring fatalities or being wounded."
Obama's comments came as Israel's campaign against Hamas militants in Gaza blasted into its fifth day. Israel is at a crossroads of whether to launch a ground invasion or pursue Egyptian-led truce efforts. Obama sought to defend the U.S. ally's rights while pushing for a halt in the violence.
From Thailand, Obama also defended his decision to go to Myanmar, also known as Burma. Obama will be the first U.S. president to visit the country, which is moving from a brutal reign toward democracy, but still holds political prisoners and is living with ethnic violence.
"This is not an endorsement of the Burmese government," Obama said. "This is an acknowledgement that there is a process underway inside that country that even a year and a half, two years ago, nobody foresaw."
Obama said he was also guided by Myanmar's longtime democracy advocate, Aung Sung Suu Kyi, who visited him recently at the White House.
"I'm not somebody who thinks the United States should stand on the sidelines and not get its hands dirty when there's an opportunity for us to encourage the better impulses inside a country," he said.
Change in a country can happen quickly, Obama said, if people believe "their voices are heard."
The president will also visit Cambodia during his Asia trip, which began Sunday in Thailand. He was here as a sign of U.S. commitment to a region his administration deems vital to U.S. economic growth, but the shadows of another Mideast conflict hung over his journey.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Sunday that Israel was prepared to significantly expand its military operation in Gaza. Obama has been lobbying Netanyahu along with the leaders of Egypt and Turkey to try to halt the crisis — including stopping rocket strikes on Israel.
He said Israel was justly responding to "an ever escalating number of missiles that were landing not just in Israeli territory, but in areas that are populated. And there's no country on earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders."
Obama said Palestinians will have no chance to pursue their own state and a lasting peace with Israel as long as rockets are fired into Israel. He said he hoped for a clearer process over the next 48 hours — showing how much the Mideast conflict had intruded on his diplomatic mission to Asia.
Still, Obama got a red-carpet welcome, a dose of sightseeing and an official dinner of authentic Thai food.
In a news conference with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, both leaders spoke of deepening ties of trade, security and democracy. Obama's praised Thailand for being a supporter of democracy in Myanmar, the once-pariah state that is rapidly reforming. He said he appreciated the Thai prime minister's insights into Myanmar during their private meeting Sunday.
On a steamy day, Obama began with a visit to the Wat Pho Royal Monastery, a cultural must-see in Bangkok. In stocking feet, the president and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walked around a golden statue of a sitting Buddha. The complex is a sprawling display of buildings with colorful spires, gardens and waterfalls.
After his time at the temple, Obama paid a courtesy call to the ailing, 84-year-old U.S.-born King Bhumibol Adulyadej in his hospital quarters. The king, the longest serving living monarch, was born in Cambridge, Mass., and studied in Europe.
The centerpiece of the Asia trip comes Monday when Obama travels to Myanmar.
Obama aides see Myanmar as not only a success story but also as a signal to other countries that the U.S. will reward democratic behavior.


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We have all been pwned by the lady with the Facebook friends tattoo. Turns out, Susyj87 did not get a real tattoo. It was a transfer tattoo that washes off in a couple of days.
Is AI Moving Too Fast? | Future Tech
And those thirty hours of pain she had to endure? Yeah, that was a lie, too. According to the tattoo artist in the video, the fake tattoo only took a few hours to craft. Worst of all, the viral video was a publicity stunt to promote Pretty Social, a Dutch company that creates gifts from your Facebook profile pictures. Ugh. [Dutch News via Mashable]


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We deliver results
Digital marketing agency based in South Africa
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About Johannesburg
Johannesburg is a city that began as a 19th century gold mining settlement. A township in the city called Soweto was once home to Nelson Mandela (7/18/1918-12/5/2013), who was a former South African statesman. It was also home to Desmond Tutu (Born October 7, 1931). Mandela's former residence is now a museum. Other museums located in Soweto recount the struggle to end segregation. These museums include the somber Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, a former prison complex.
Neighborhoods around JohannesburgFashion District, Belgravia, Joubert Park, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Village Main, Sunnyside, Pageview, North Doornfontein, Village Deep, Marshalltown, Houghton Estate, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Johannesburg, Highlands, Park Central, Crown North, Riviera, Bellevue, Lake View Estate, Sandton,
Things To Do in Johannesburg
Apartheid Museum
Gold Reef City Theme Park
South African National Museum of Military History
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct
Museum Africa
Johannesburg Zoo
James Hall Museum of Transport
Nelson Mandela Bridge
Zoo Lake
Hector Pieterson Memorial
Lindfield Victorian House Museum
Joziburg Lane
Wits University Origins Centre
Mandela's House
James & Ethel Gray Park
Melville Koppies Nature Reserve
Wits Art Museum
Arts On Main
Absa Money Museum


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It's true, they are my home away from home; sucking me into different lives, worlds, people, and experiences.
For more book filled posts, go to Rainy Days & Rainy Nights
For more on Colin Firth, go to Always There for You
For more quotes, go to Keep Moving Forward
Yesterday I went to a Christmas party, and everyone there was saying how wonderful Christmas is. There is just something so special about it, how it can truly change attitudes from the miserly Scrooges and grumpy Grinches to love, compassion, giving, etc. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year, just like today's Christmas Carol says.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year was written in 1963 and first performed by Andy Williams, being covered many times by others. It was also named by Billboard as one of the top 10 holiday songs. I know I love it!
For more Andy Williams, go to It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
For more Christmas Carols, go to A Cowboy's Christmas


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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 1, 2006) - The men and women's ETSU track and field team opens the indoor season this weekend at the Clemson Indoor Opener and at the Appalachian State Invitational. The Clemson Indoor Opener begins this evening in and will wrap up its events tomorrow. The Appalachian State Invitational is a one-day meet, which begins tomorrow morning in Boone, N.C.
The ETSU men are looking to make it back-to-back Atlantic Sun Indoor Championships, after winning the inaugural championship last season. For more information regarding the ETSU track and field team please read the preview below. For updated results regarding the meets please visit www.ETSUBucs.com.
Women's Track and Field Preview
Senior Anna Marie Ricciardi (Canfield, Ohio) is the top returning high jumper for the Lady Bucs in 2006-07. Ricciardi is searching for her second straight Atlantic Sun Indoor and Outdoor Championship in the event, after sweeping both last season. She claimed the indoor title with a jump of 5-7 � (1.72m) and cleared 5-7 (1.70m) in the outdoor event. Ricciardi ended a stellar season by saving her best for last, as she cleared a career-best height of 5-9 � (1.76m) at the NCAA Mid-East Regional Outdoor Championships.
Joining Ricciardi in the high jump this season is newcomer Jessica Ward from Nashville, Tenn. Ward arrived on campus this fall as a freshman, where she enjoyed a superb high school career at Christ Presbyterian Academy. During her senior season, Ward won the regional high jump title and placed seventh in the state.
After losing Christine Ward from last year's squad, head coach Michelle Byrne is turning to her underclassmen to fill the gap with a trio of freshmen runners, Victoria Currie (Dumfries, Scotland), Valerie Boothby (Glen Gardner, N.J.) and Christin Zink (Herndon, Va.), along with sophomores Heather Adkins (Kansas City, Mo.) and Ali Carney (Sevierville, Tenn.). These runners will provide the strength in the distance events.
Adkins is coming off an injury which sidelined her during the entire 2006 cross country season, but competed in the 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000-meters, along with the mile as a freshman last year. She finished first in her first collegiate 3,000 meters race at the Appalachian Invitational last season, snapping the tape in 11:03.99.
Currie led the Lady Bucs in cross country, as she was the first Buccaneer to cross the finish line in the final four meets of the season. "Boothby, Currie and Zink all of the opportunity to shine, and are talented enough to make an impact as freshmen," said Byrne.
Jenny Knox (Connelly Springs, N.C.) is the lone senior sprinter that will be leading the way for the Lady Bucs this upcoming season. Knox won her first collegiate title during the indoor season last year, winning the 200 meters at the Liberty Record Bash. Along with claiming her first title, Knox set personal-bests in the 100 and 200 events, as well as receiving all-Atlantic Sun conference honors. She also claimed the silver medal in the 100 meters at the conference outdoor championships.
After a late surge in her rookie season, sophomore Nae Nae Bailey (Statesville, N.C.) is ready to light up the track this season for ETSU. Bailey learned a lot last season and grew as a freshman, and by peaking late in the outdoor season she is hoping to carry over the success she had on the track into 2006-07. She ran a season-best 12.12 in the 100m at the A-Sun Outdoor Championships, and scored in both the 100 and 200m at the meet.
Two newcomers looking to provide a spark for the Lady Bucs include Jasmine Redford and Octavia
Burgess. Redford, a local native from Johnson City, Tenn., put together a sensational career at Science Hill High School. Burgess attended Freedom High in Morganton, N.C. "This is the best group of sprinters that we have had since I have arrived here," added coach Byrne.
In the hurdles, Ricciardi will be called upon to carry the load for the Lady Bucs. Ricciardi won the 100m event at the Milligan Open last season and posted a season-best at the Atlantic Sun Outdoor Championships with a time of 15.42.
Sophomore Dedra Jones (North Tazewell, Va.) is the only thrower on coach Stone's squad with collegiate experience, and will need to provide the leadership for the young team. She has looked very strong in preseason drills and hopes to convert her solid practices over to both the indoor and outdoor meets. Freshmen Zachlynn Blackburn (Tazewell, Va.), Brooke Beraducci (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Mallory Lampley-Davis (Decatur, Ga.) all hope to carry the success they shared at the high school level over to the more difficult collegiate atmosphere.
Beraducci shined in the shot put and discus events, winning the 2006 Tennessee state championship in the shot put and the sectional championship for discus. She also was named the 2006 AUU Indoor Champion and is the current AAU National Indoor record holder in the shot put. Blackburn was a three-time regional champion in the shot put and discus at Tazewell High School in Virginia. During her four years of competition with the Bulldogs, she managed to shatter all the school throwing records by throwing upwards of 40-feet in the shot put and over 135-feet in the discus.
Men's Preview
Sprints / Hurdles / Multi's
The men are going to look for senior Johnny Tucker (Spartanburg, S.C.) to lead the Bucs sprinters in the 100 and 200 meters, along with the 4x100 relay. It's his time to shine after earning All-Atlantic Sun honors with his second-place finish in the 100 meters at the Outdoor championships last year. Tucker also ran a leg of the gold-medal winning 4x100m relay at the conference meet, and was apart of the squad that set a season-best at the Vanderbilt Invitational.
Joining Tucker in the sprints will be junior Tyler Woodruff (Sevierville, Tenn.) and freshman Chris Harrison (Woodbridge, Va.). Woodruff will participate in both sprints and hurdles, and will also be coming back to join Tucker in the 4x100 gold-medal relay team. He clocked a season-best in the 400 meters at the A-Sun Outdoor Championships last season, earning all-conference honors, as well as taking home the silver medal by running a leg in the 4x400 at the conference indoor championships. Harrison had a successful high school career, winning the 2005 state championship in the 4x400m relay, and finished second in the nation at the 2006 Nike Indoor Championships in the 4x200m relay.
Senior Mike Wright (Chattanooga, Tenn.) is hoping to repeat last year's success, as he won gold and a pair of silver medals at the A-Sun Outdoor Championships, taking second in the 110-meter hurdles and in the high jump. He was also apart of the gold-medal winning 4x100-meter relay squad, which will be looking to repeat its performance this season. Wright is also an exceptional multi-event athlete, winning the gold in the heptathlon with a final score of 4,455 as the A-Sun Indoor Championships.
Josh Hicks (Riceville, Tenn.) will be leading a solid group of young runners, as he is the lone senior in the distance events. Hicks earned All-Atlantic Sun honors last season, and captured his first conference crown in the 800 meters at the A-Sun Indoor Championships. He won his second gold at the conference championships being apart of the distance medley relay team, which featured returning runners Josh Rock (Spotsylvania, Va.), Jeff Crane (Taylors, S.C.) and David McDaniel (Watauga, Tenn.).
Michael Deren (Blasdell, N.Y.) is hoping to carry over the success he had in the 2006 cross country season over on the track, as he won his first-ever collegiate race at the Gardner-Webb Cross Country Duals in October. He also was the first collegian to cross the finish line a week later at the Blue Ridge Open, and led the Bucs across the finish line in all six events he competed in this season.
Junior Shane Estes (Maryville, Tenn.) is looking to keep his winning streak in tact when it comes to conference titles. Estes has won four consecutive conference crowns in the high jump, and will be seeking number five and six this season. He won the A-Sun Indoor Championship with a leap of 6-4.75 (1.95m) and took home gold in the Outdoor Championships with a personal-best mark of 6-6.75 (2.00m).
Michael Reber (Sunbright, Tenn.) is hoping to join Estes' success after having a late surge during his freshman season. Reber set season bests in the long jump, triple jump and high jump at the A-Sun Outdoor Championships, and is hoping his season-ending surge and preseason practice pays off in 2006-07.
With the return of Guy Hornsby (Morgantown, W.Va.) and a core group of throwers, the Bucs will be hoping to make some noise in the A-Sun this year. Hornsby is looking to build off a silver-medal finish in the 35-lb weight throw at the A-Sun Indoor Championships, along with the success he had in the outdoor events by placing first at the Milligan Open and posted a season-best hammer throw at the Western Carolina Invitational.
After getting a year of experience under their belts, sophomore's Justin White (Athens, Tenn.), Raymond Johnson (Georgetown, Tenn.) and Bradley Jones (Spruce Pine, N.C.) now know what to bring to the table for every meet. "Our throwers have shown much improvement during the off-season and it should make for a fun season," said coach Meg Stone.
Newcomers Dakota Cagle (Rutherford, N.C.) and Jarrod Burton (Bastian, Va.) have been firing on all cylinders since stepping foot on campus and should put some pressure on the upperclassmen. Both of these young throwers hold the record in the shot put for their respective states. Burton was the 2006 Virginia state champion in the shot put for both indoor and outdoor, while Cagle finished first in the shot put and discus at the Northwestern 4-A conference meet and the Western 4-A Regionals.


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From the book cover for Rick Altman's Silent Film Sound
I don't know what might be the cause, but there has been a dearth of silent film-related conferences so far this year. Maybe the upcoming Domitor conference (from which the Bioscope will be reporting) has so dominated the landscape that there hasn't been the urge to come up with anything that might compete with it. Or maybe it's because we don't need to confer quite so much these days because we're all talking to one another online (now there's a topic for discussion).
But film conferences aren't quite dead yet, and a call for papers has just been issued for Silent film sound: history, theory and practice, which is to take place 22-23 February 2013, at Kiel, Germany. The conference, which takes its title from Rick Altman's highly influential book Silent Film Sound, is being organised by Christian Albrechts University Kiel, in collaboration with Kiel Society for Film Music Research.
Here's the full call for papers (for which the deadline is 30 June 2012):
Silent film sound: history, theory and practice
Friday 22 – Saturday 23 February 2013
Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Germany
in collaboration with Kiel Society for Film Music Research
We are pleased to invite proposals for papers in the broad theme "Silent film sound: history, theory and practice", to be presented at a conference of the same name on February 22 – 23 at the Christian Albrechts University Kiel.
With a few exceptions silent cinema was never silent. Cinemas and other spaces of film exhibition were in fact rather loud places where music, voices and sounds intermingled during the screening.
Today public interest in silent cinema is on the rise. Film screenings with live accompaniment have gained popularity in recent years, silent films are shown in concert halls and at festivals and they are (again) staged as events and not simply as presentation of a piece of entertainment or art.
Music and sound for silent film are relatively young fields of study and most research focuses on the American tradition. With this conference we seek to expand the field for other – especially European – regions, and compare them with well documented American cases.
We aim to gather scholars from various disciplines, to discuss and reflect on current and historical approaches to the study of sound and music and moving images. We particularly encourage both musicologists and film scholars to participate in the debate surrounding this topic, in order to benefit from each other's perspectives and to challenge prevailing views and methodologies in this thriving field.
Ultimately, we aim to strengthen the European and international research network concerned with the variety of sound and musical practices in silent film accompaniment. We also want to discuss contemporary practices of silent film accompaniment and explicitly invite musical practitioners to share and discuss their experiences with us.
Papers may address repertories or issues relating to one of the following areas (or others related to the conference theme):
- Film narrator/lecturer
- Sound effects in silent film exhibition
- Relationship of cinema with antecedent theatrical forms like Vaudeville and Variety
- Relationship with theater music, opera and musical theater in general
- Early film and the music recording and publishing industry
- Singers in cinema
- National and regional idiosyncrasies of silent film sound
- Gender aspects in production, performance and reception
- National identity in musical forms (community singing)
- Diegetic music in silent cinema
- Silent film and popular music/jazz: improvised or compiled (structural and formal issues)
- Mechanical music
- Opera films, music films
- Early transmedial star systems
- Historical discourse about music in cinemas
- Issues of research, teaching and knowledge transfer
- Contemporary practices of silent film accompaniment
- Experimental silent film and its accompaniment
Proposals (max. 350 words) for 25-minute presentations should be sent to Claus Tieber (firstname.lastname@example.com), no later than June 30, 2012. Please include a short biography, all current contact information (name, e-mail, phone number, affiliation) and specific AV requirements.
We plan to publish a book based on the refereed proceedings.
More information : http://soundofsilents.wordpress.com
Well, that looks like a fairly thorough survey of the kinds of questions likely to be thrown up by such a subject. It's quite close in its preoccupations to the recent Sounds of Early Cinema in Britain project, and seems to be part of a welcome trend of cross-disciplinary investigation, with musicologists (hopefully) as likely to be attracted to the themes as film historians.
You can always find information on early and silent film conferences, future and past, on The Bioscope's Events pages – and do let me know of any other such conferences coming up.


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There's so much more drama in this one open letter than there ever was on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Actress Janet Hubert, who played the original Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince, was replaced on the show back in the 1990s. She says she "doesn't remember why [she] departed," but it's clear she won't soon forget Wendy Williams' recent discussion about the issue with fellow former Fresh Prince star Tatyana Ali.
Reacting to that segment in an open letter released on Blog Talk Radio, Hubert calls Williams "wicked, awful, conniving, sinister, spiteful" and "jealous of every other woman." She also accuses her of wanting to be "a white girl" and spewing hatred. And that's not even the worst of it. Read it here, from Necole Bitchie.
Dear Wiggy, I'm sorry, Wendy,
Recently, you found the need to put an end to the mystery surrounding my departure from a show that I did so damn long ago that I don't even remember why I departed.
Wendy Williams, or whatever you are supposed to be, I'm not quite sure. I'm writing you yet again, to appeal to your sense of womanhood or manhood as some suggest. Please close your mouth about things that you know nothing of.
Now, I watched your show to see dear Tatyana Ali sadly to say, fall into your trap. She even brought pictures of our days on the show from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. You know most people watch you just to see what heinous things your mouth will say compared to what an overflowing volcano will spew forth on that day.
Now perhaps other black women have allowed you to berate them and continued to support you in this manner of madness and rewarding hatefulness. It seems to become the norm and has taken over our society completely. But I, Janet Hubert, at there and watched you tell the world that I was not a nice mother. I'm thinking to myself, the only person who has the right to say that is my child. So I sat there and watched you like some devilish sinkhole swallow up Tatyana Ali. You reduced her to a child sitting their tempting to keep some symbolism of dignity about her as you pried and invaded her life until you got what you wanted.
You are such a demon Wendy. You are wicked, awful, conniving, sinister, spiteful, jealous of every other woman. Simply put, Wendy you are a virus. You are not nor have you ever been a true woman. It seems as though your audience thirsts for the blood of others, as they are prompted to clap and hoop and holler at your shows and wigs and clothes.
Girl you will have some stars on your show and demean them before they even make it back home. I just would like to know who died and told you that you were reborn as Oprah. You want to be Oprah so bad that you would kill for it and you will kill anyone to achieve success. Sister, you will never be another Oprah. Oprah lifted her audience up and exuded an air of class.
But you know what Wendy, you are not even in my league. It is so beneath me to even bother with someone like you, but you asked for it. Didn't nobody tell you to say my name on your show? You will not destroy all of the hard work that I went through for the last decade to clear my good name. I simply will not allow you to do so. I'm a lady and a real one. Wendy girlfriend you just messed with the wrong sista.
Now it's funny for all that you and the world claim that I've done, I should have my own show like you. Darling there is nothing that I could have ever done in this lifetime in my career that would equal the vulgarity and ugliness and hatred that you spew on your show in one single day.
So, here is my advice to you Wendy. I want to help you. Learn to sit in a chair and stop fidgeting with yourself on camera. Wipe your giant teeth off camera, and don't smear the spit on the chair. Please put some sweat pits under your arms, and darling if your sweater is pulling until there are lines across your chest, its too tight. You might want to deflate those tremendous breast. Take off the fake blonde hair. You have to stop playing the race card because you are coming off like a want to be white girl who will never be white.
Now, I have never seen anything besides hogs slobber at the mere mention of food, so I question your humanism at times. I have never seen a display of such self-hatred.
Just a couple more suggestions for you, please would you stop dissing all of us who've embraced our natural hair as many others and I have? And yes Wendy natural hair does belong on the red carpet whether you like it or not.
I kind of feel sorry for you. You sit there on your big-footed tacky throne everyday while millions of people are laughing at you not with you. There is a big difference. Nobody cares about what you think about his or her lives. But we do care about what you put out there about us. My heart saddens that women, especially black women, have embraced her evil after all of our struggles in society. You and your kind have set us back a hundred years or so. How dare you chastise anyone when you are such a travesty?
Now take that, chew it my dear and stick it on your lord have mercy you are disgusting fly ridden gum wall. And that's the advice I have for you my sister.
Read more at Necole Bitchie.
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All Images Copyright ©2000–2023 by Margy Green, all rights reserved.
Hymenoptera - Ants, Bees & Wasps
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O. Hymenoptera - Ants, Bees, Wasps
The Order Hymenoptera consists of the bees, wasps, ants, sawflies, and horntails. Except for worker ants, most adults have two pairs of membranous wings. Most hymenoptera are ecological specialists with a broad range of behavioral adaptations. They along with the Order Isoptera (termites) are the only orders to evolve complex social systems with a division of labor.


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Low-budget reservations site CheapAir.com has snagged bragging rights to becoming the world's first online travel agency to accept bitcoins for flight purchases.
The U.S.-based site said it will begin accepting bitcoins for plane tickets first, before expanding the service for hotel reservations and other services booked through its mobile app.
Described as the world's first peer-to-peer open-source digital currency that takes banks out of the equation, bitcoins are accepted by vendors like WordPress, Reddit, and Baidu.
Sir Richard Branson also announced on CNBC Friday that his commercial space travel line Virgin Galactic will likewise accept bitcoins as payment. The carrier has already accepted its first bitcoin purchase from a flight attendant in Hawaii who paid for her ticket to space with the virtual currency, he said.


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After releasing OK Computer, an album about technological malaise at the close of the 20th century, Radiohead released the spartan and sterile Kid A, an LP even more devoted to alienation.
And in a charming retro turn, composer Quinton Sung has transformed Kid A's dystopian soundscapes into the background music for an Atari game. I imagine Q*Bert listens to this when he's worried if he possesses the evolutionary faculties to navigate the modern media superstructure. Also, Thom Yorke and Pitfall Harry — separated at birth? Discuss. You can download the whole shebang here.
UPDATE: Song has recently post all of OK Computer à la Nintendo (download full album here). Hat tip to Dented!
Related: The robot rock of Daft Punk as an 8-bit arcade game.
[Via MeFi]


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Graco Inc announced recently, that it is introducing the ExactaBlend™ AGP Advanced Glazing Proportioner. The ExactaBlend AGP is designed to solve the inherent challenges of on-ratio mixing for silicones that are often used in manufacturing curtainwall and insulating glass. The ExactaBlend AGP system provides optimal mixing and on-ratio proportioning capabilities that increase quality assurance of the final product. The system's real-time ratio assurance also reduces material waste because the system automatically shuts down if off-ratio conditions occur.
"Accurate mixing of plural-component adhesive materials is vital in the creation of insulating glass units and curtainwall," said Mike Cryer, Graco Product Marketing Manager. "Obtaining on-ratio mixing and dispensing for these applications has long proven to be a difficult industry challenge but the ExactaBlend AGP offers ratio assurance and is an affordable, high quality solution that offers attractive savings to the end user."
In addition to the cost reduction and quality assurance benefits of the system, the ExactaBlend AGP is also very easy to operate. Compared to traditional proportioners with mechanical linkage and rocker arms, the unit's electronic controls remove the guesswork from ratio setting and maintenance. The controls provide simple set up of ratios and also allow operators to make ratio changes on the fly.
With ExactaBlend's optional data reporting capabilities, window manufacturers can track key information such as ratio, material usage, flow rate, alarm events and system errors. This information can be gathered via USB data download and used to streamline the production process and increase effectiveness of the line.