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from Newsweek / by David Ansen and Devin Gordon
At least we think there will be, which is why we collected these likely acting nominees for our 11th Oscar roundtable. They're a lot of fun, and they've got lots to say. Best of all: they didn't need writers.
Daniel Day-Lewis arrived a little late, but he did it in style. He was wearing a jaunty porkpie hat and a black-and-white Western shirt that looked like something swiped from Bob Dylan's closet. The result was so un-Hollywood that George Clooney, this roundtable's class clown, couldn't stop ribbing his fellow best-actor hopeful. Question: "Daniel, do you remember your first professional job?" Clooney: "It was a Western, wasn't it?" One of the delights of these annual gatherings is watching beautiful, talented, rich celebrities become just folks. James McAvoy, who stars in "Atonement," spent the time waiting to go onstage at L.A.'s Hammer Museum talking about trying to steal some wineglasses from a recent Oscar event, only to be caught by the waiter. Just before they were announced onstage, Clooney turned to Angelina Jolie and said, "Let's not go out!" She then pointed to two nonactors nearby and said, "Let's send them instead." Before long, everyone—newbies and supercelebs—bonded. Jolie and Marion Cotillard, the French star of "La Vie en Rose," chatted about Provence. "Juno" star Ellen Page confessed that she just got her first apartment. It's a converted brothel, and it's haunted. "My stuff keeps vanishing," she said. "Weird things, like makeup." Advice to Ellen: if you do win an Oscar, hide it. An edited transcript:
NEWSWEEK: Was there a movie you saw when you were young that made you say, "This is what I've got to do with my life"? Daniel, I read that you mentioned seeing the movie "If… ," about a rebellion at a British boarding school, with Malcolm McDowell.
Daniel Day-Lewis: Certainly that was a very important moment, but not just because of Malcolm in that film. It was partly because I was at a boarding school at the time, and if I could have got away with setting fire to the place, I would have done it. And he created a banner around which all the outcasts rallied, and so that film was a big influence.
Marion Cotillard: I love Greta Garbo, and I was fascinated by her as a child. One of the most incredible feelings I had was watching "Camille."
James McAvoy: It sounds weird, but there's a film called "The Goonies." [Laughter] And I mean it with all my heart. As a young boy that film made me cry because it's about how you still have your problems at 10 years old or 12 years old. When I was little, you didn't get chased by pirates and you didn't get chased by gangsters and nobody was trying to kill you with guns, but your adventures were no less exciting. It helped inspire my imagination.
Ellen Page: It wasn't until I was about 15, when I shot a film with this Canadian actress named Molly Parker, who I just absolutely adored and looked up to, and became inspired by. For the first time, I felt something different. I felt myself being overcome by something I can't necessarily explain. But I wanted to keep feeling that and finding out what that was and learning more about it.
You worked with Molly Parker, didn't you, in "Marion Bridge"? [Pause] You look startled.
Page: Oh, you know, it's a Canadian independent film. They don't always get seen.
Angelina Jolie: Because I had acting in my family, I didn't like the movies very much, and I didn't watch them that much. I remember "Streetcar" and I remember Brando, but I don't know if that was as a woman or as somebody who liked acting.
Do you remember the first time you were paid to act? Daniel, you're nodding.
George Clooney: It was a Western, wasn't it?
Day-Lewis: George, I think you should answer this question.
Clooney: The first job I was paid for was "Batman & Robin."
That's the first job you were paid a lot for.
Clooney: You couldn't get a job without getting into the Screen Actors Guild, so everybody I knew, including myself, would make up these credits just to get in. They didn't have the Internet at the time, so you could get away with anything. I remember lying to a casting director, Barbara Claman, about this movie called "Cat People." She was, like, "You were in that, were you?" I was, like, yep. And she goes, "Because I cast that." I finally just said, "I can't get in SAG. Help me out." She helped me get a job on a film then called "The Predator." We shot it in Hungary. It was Charlie Sheen and Laura Dern and I, all three of our first jobs. As big as they became later, the movie never came out, that's how bad a film it was. But I got my SAG card.
Page: I would like to see that.
Clooney: I would, too. The guy—and I'm not kidding—the guy who financed it went to jail.
McAvoy: Because he made the film.
Clooney: Yes, as a matter of fact. If you'd seen me in it, you would understand why.
Daniel, were you paid for that little thing that you did in "Sunday Bloody Sunday"?
Day-Lewis: Yeah. I was 12 at the time, and there was a local grocer in southeast London who was, like, the unofficial mayor of that parish, and so the casting agent wisely asked her to round up all the local hooligans, of which I was one. She asked us initially to play soccer in the park as a background shot, and we were going to get £2 a day for that. I thought they must be insane. Because that's what we were doing all the time anyhow. It was my first professional soccer match, in fact. Then the next day [director] John Schlesinger asked to see the nastier types amongst us, and he chose three of us to walk out of the local church and scratch a row of fancy cars with a broken milk bottle. I got £3 for doing that.
You were all quite young when you started. Angelina, didn't you study at the Lee Strasberg center when you were 13?
Jolie: Yeah. Method is a very strange thing to study at 13. It's all about recalling things from seven years ago. [Laughter]
Day-Lewis: You were asking about films that might have set us off on that path. I'm not sure if it's the same for you, James, but certainly when I was coming up as a kid there was absolutely no expectation whatsoever of working in movies. They still don't make very many films in Britain, and so all our expectations were focused on the theater. You know, film was kind of a secret hope that you didn't talk about too much, because it was considered to be an inferior form by people where I come from. Theater was the thing.
Clooney: There is this weird pecking order, you know. Theater actors look down on the film actors, who look down on the television actors. Thank God for reality shows, or we wouldn't have anybody to look down on.
McAvoy: What is really interesting about coming to L.A. is that there is an expectation to make it into films, television or whatever. Whereas as a child it was never even a consideration for me. But certainly in L.A. it is different because it's everywhere. But even at home in Scotland I think there's kids going, "I want to be a famous actor."
Day-Lewis: Actors were weirdos when I was growing up.
Clooney: They're fine now. [Laughter]
Day-Lewis: It was like flying the freak flag. You know, that was where the pride was—that you were a pariah of some kind.
McAvoy: I don't know if you ever had a similar thing, but to see someone on television or in a film who was from your hometown was really embarrassing. You couldn't watch it. Because that guy who's speaking with such a strange accent—that's your accent. Scottish television was full of English things and American things, so every now and again when you got the odd Scottish program, you were, like, that's terrible.
I might be misattributing this quotation, but I think Matt Damon said at one point that you stop emotionally maturing at the age you get famous.
Clooney: Matt did; you're right.
Is there any truth to that?
Clooney: Well, if you do, that would be your own fault.
Jolie: Yeah, but I think your daily life experience does change and therefore there are certain things that you don't do. My favorite thing used to be to just sit in the subway and watch people; just walking by myself everywhere and living among people and watching them and talking to strangers. And I lost that. It was the hardest thing to lose. And I think that does affect you. You learn quickly how to get to know people, how to build maybe a smaller, more intimate world so that you can grow and learn from people and still be the same. But it is different.
Cotillard: The light on the American actors is very bright, and in France it's kind of different. But each time I go back home, it's so weird that I don't have the same life anymore. People are staring and looking at me, and I can't look at people as I was able to do it before.
Day-Lewis: Ellen, how are you finding it?
Page: It's kind of intense right now. And a little surreal. Just sitting at this table is a little surreal. I've been so absorbed in it that I don't really have the outside perspective right now. Daniel, the other night at the Critics' Choice Awards, you said that it gets to a point sometimes when you start being unable to recognize yourself. And now I have those moments, or even just moments within the moments, of being like, what? But it is what it is. You know, I don't know what's going to happen.
James, I loved the story you told backstage about your experience with the paparazzi.
McAvoy: I've only ever had anybody waiting outside my house once. We got in our car and we were followed, and it was very weird and disconcerting. We thought we would just go about our daily life and just ignore it, all that kind of thing. I think because we had once read that Clive Owen said just ignore it. Like, do whatever Clive Owen does—he's a solid guy. We were going into town to buy something for the house, and we went into a parking lot that costs £10 an hour, and on seeing the price of the parking, the paparazzi went, "F— that." They left us alone. So the lesson is, if you're being chased by paparazzi, don't drive fast. Just find a really expensive parking lot, and you will be fine.
Clooney: I just found out about 10 days ago that I must live 300 or 400 yards from Britney Spears. I found out because I came home at 10 at night and there's all these helicopters over my house with these spotlights on. I have a guesthouse where my assistant sometimes stays, and I thought someone had broken out of prison. Like something out of "Die Hard." I get my baseball bat, which is what you always do in every film—I actually think Clive Owen said, "Get a baseball bat"—and I called up my assistant, who I thought was in the guesthouse, and I said, "Are you OK?" And she said, "Yes." And I said, "Look, if there's someone in the house with you and you can't talk, say the word 'Stonehenge'." And she's like, "What the f— are you talking about? I'm in my apartment." I go, "You're not in the guesthouse?" "No." So I'm, like, "Well, then, what the f— is going on?" And I go out and I'm running around with a baseball bat in my robe. And it turns out it's paparazzi over at Britney Spears's house. So now I have to move. [Laughter]
Angelina, do you travel with a baseball bat?
McAvoy: And Clive Owen?
Jolie: No.
Angelina, you've hit upon a strategy of dragging the press with you somewhere important, like Africa. Like, "If they're going to follow me, I might as well go where I want people to see what's happening."
Clooney: She's been really good about it. [To Jolie] When you guys showed up in Pakistan after the earthquake, at a point when our government, had they taken that moment to step in, could have actually made a huge difference in the area, you and Brad were the only people that were really showing up there. I remember specifically watching and thinking, "That is such a great use of people following you with a camera." They have done it a bunch of times.
Jolie: They [the Pakistani media] didn't know we were there at first. We turned on the TV when we got back home and there was a picture of us unloading our gear. It said, "Aid workers have arrived." [Laughter]
This is obviously a big year in America for politics. George, in 2004, Kerry asked you to help him and you said, "I'm not going to help you. I can only hurt you." Why do you think that?
Clooney: You know, Michael Moore—and I like Michael a lot—but that speech he gave at the Oscars was polarizing. It became Hollywood versus the heartland, and I always find that it's best not to raise the rhetoric at that point. I've been a big supporter of Barack Obama since his Senate run and I'm a friend of his, but I said to him, "I stay completely out of it." I don't show up at those things. And believe me, it's not because his group doesn't say, "Come on, help us out." It's just not the attention you want. I worry about that a lot, because you don't want to do harm.
Can you guys talk a little bit about the trust required of the director in order to get you to do a movie and why that's so critical? Daniel, how did you know you could trust Paul Thomas Anderson? You had never worked with him.
Day-Lewis: Well, I suppose because I have had this very strange sense that, even though we came from very different cultures and were separated by a vast ocean and a continent and quite a number of years in age, we have been separated at birth. So I suppose I trusted him in the way you might trust a brother. You might kill each other, but you'd fight to the death for everything else.
Where did that sense come from?
Day-Lewis: I have no idea. I felt I knew something of him from his work. That's a rash thing to think, perhaps, but I was certainly intrigued by him. When I met him, it was love at first sight.
Angelina, how did you get comfortable with Michael Winterbottom? I mean, the level of trust you must have had in your director to do a movie like "A Mighty Heart," with so much emotion in it, must've been very high.
Jolie: I was comfortable when Mariane [Pearl] was comfortable. But I wasn't so comfortable the first day of shooting, when I realized his style was so unbelievably raw. There is often no rehearsal, no one saying "cut." For example, you have three different rooms, and we would go into one room and we'd be talking, say our five lines, and he'd film us. Then I'd go pee, and I'd come out, and the camera was still on. So I'd think, "OK …" Then I'd say my five lines again, and that would turn into 10 more minutes of talking, and then someone would go get something from the kitchen and I'd go to my bedroom, and he'd follow me and he just wouldn't leave. It was really odd. But it became just the most perfect way to shoot that film. It was chaos in that moment. It was very intimate, and my big fear was that something horrible might happen and the camera would be like this. [She gestures as though there's a camera right in her face] But everybody was absolutely connected in every single moment. Even when we'd have lunch, we'd have it together at the table, or we'd all go for a walk together. We were just always present in the film. And so as an actor it brought me back to loving acting, and that was just great. But he does cross a line. One day one of the girls got sick and threw up, and he said, "Next time, tell us." So he can be a little crazy. But I absolutely adore him.
Ellen, what was the atmosphere like working on "Juno"? It's a very stylized piece, so I suspect there wasn't a lot of improvisation.
Page: No, there wasn't. I mean, Diablo Cody wrote one of the best screenplays I've ever read. It just didn't need it. There was a lot of freedom in the sense that it was one of the most wonderful, open, collaborative atmospheres I ever have been involved with, which was just such a joy. Especially because I did trust everyone.
Day-Lewis: There's one thing I wanted to ask you, Ellen. The wit, the very particular wit of "Juno"—it's hard to imagine that that isn't close to your own wit. But maybe that's just part of the wonder of the work that you did in it. Did you feel when you were reading it and when you were doing it that there was a real kinship between your own sense of humor and the sense of humor of that character?
Page: I think it was even more than that—it reminded me of an aspect of what a lot of young women are like that absolutely never gets reflected in popular media. And so when I first read the screenplay I was just so in love that this was going to go out into the world. It really felt like a teenage female lead that had never existed before.
Marion, the amazing thing about your getting cast to play Edith Piaf was that the director didn't even audition you.
Cotillard: I heard about the project before it was written. And I didn't know Olivier Dahan, the director. But he said he thought about me, and I don't know exactly why. Talking about trust, when I met him, we never talked about the script, we never talked about the character. We just talked about Piaf.
Is it hard, when you get so deeply into the part, to leave it behind once you're done? How do you shake it off?
Cotillard: Before "La Vie en Rose," I thought that it was just a job and when it's finished you go back to your life. And I realized that it was not true when I finished playing her. First of all, I had that awful face. I had no eyebrows anymore. No hair. And when it grows back you really look like s–t. But when you carry someone around with you, and really have a relationship with that new person inside you-you give that person the emotions, and that character also gives the emotions—I think that sometimes it can be hard to just go back to your life.
Does Piaf still pop up in your behavior every now and then?
Cotillard: No, hopefully finis. But it really took a while. Everywhere I went just after we finished the movie I saw part of her. Like, I remember going to the … shrink? Right, shrink?
Clooney: Yes, shrink. [Laughter]
Cotillard: I went to a shrink right after the movie, and I saw Piaf everywhere. I arrived and the street was Marcel Cerdan Street, who was her lover. And there was this huge statue of Cerdan, and I was, like, "No way!" I'm quite a normal person, but it was getting weirder and weirder. I didn't go to the shrink because I couldn't get rid of Piaf, but in a way I kind of was.
McAvoy: Can I ask all of you, do you ever consider the effect on an audience of the decisions that you make as an actor? Or do you just consider truth?
Day-Lewis: As you're working, James, or in the decision to do the job in the first place?
McAvoy: In the decisions that you make on set as a character. Decisions about how to play the character.
Day-Lewis: When I'm working, it doesn't really occur to me that anyone is ever going to see the thing. It's a perversity, I suppose, but that appeals to me a lot. It kinds of harks back to the days when I felt like a bit of an outcast for doing the work that I did.
Clooney: But before you get to the set, do you have discussions about the character, in terms of how he will be perceived by the audience?
McAvoy: Yeah, my question was just, literally, "If I do this, will this have the effect on the audience that we want it to have at this point in the story?"
Clooney: You never can.
Day-Lewis: I think if I started a thing like that, I would crash the car.
Is it different for you, James?
McAvoy: It is different for me, yes. I'm fascinated by the way you work, Daniel, and I have worked with Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland"—he gave an exceptional performance, completely doing it that way. And I've never done it that way. I think I'm too scared to, and that's partly a controlling aspect with my personality, I suppose. But it is a way of working that I really admire, and I don't know if I have it in me.
Did you rehearse at all for "Atonement"?
McAvoy: Yeah, for three weeks, which is kind of unusual. I usually dread rehearsal for film because I've found that film people will never know what to do except sit in a room together and make you say your lines 5,000 times. But [director] Joe [Wright] galvanizes everyone. He literally gives direction.
Daniel, do you ever rehearse?
Day-Lewis: I prefer not to.
Clooney: They'll do stuff like put tape on the floor and go, "OK, now you're walking in and three vampires are going to come out over here." And you're pretending that there's vampires across from you and everybody is laughing at you. I don't find it helpful in any way.
McAvoy: It was great. It was such an amazing experience. I've never had it in film.
Clooney: I've never seen it. I think it's fantastic. I'm not putting it down at all.
McAvoy: Do you want to fight me? [Laughter]
Clooney: I do.
McAvoy: Let's do this.
Clooney: Unplug your microphone first. [More laughter]
Day-Lewis: It is so important to work the way you need to work, and you have probably found a way that works for you. Angelina, what you had to do in "A Mighty Heart" is a very, very particular thing—to have that responsibility of trying to play the part of a woman who you obviously got to know very well during that time. What was your experience of leaving that film?
Jolie: I was thinking about that when you were talking about letting go of a character. I looked face to face at the person I had been playing. And I continue to see her. Our kids still play together. So it was very odd. But she's just the most wonderful woman, and there was some kind of kinship that I felt with her. I really truly love her, and I can say that because I do know her. That actually made me terribly nervous. It was the first film where I didn't sleep the night before we started shooting. That night, she and her son came by to say hello to everybody, to say good luck before they left. Adam talked about his dad, and I realized that when this little boy grows up, this whole film—whatever the critics say, whatever anybody says—is going to be his re-enactment of how much his parents loved each other and how upset his mother was when this happened. So as an actor it certainly filled me with as many tools and emotions as I needed, because it was so real. But as her friend I was very, very scared. I was very relieved when she felt we had done it right.
Was Mariane on the set during the shoot?
Jolie: No, she never came on the set. She was going to come the first day, and she walked in on me in a costume fitting for her wedding dress. I think she just realized in that moment that she could not see any of it. She said it looked absolutely exact, and then we had dinner, and then she said she was going to leave the next morning.
When I watch "A Mighty Heart," I think it's a very political movie, but not overtly-its politics are in those scenes around the dinner table, where there's all these different people from different cultures working together. There's a kind of commentary in that. Did you discuss that when you were working on the movie?
Jolie: Yeah, we were very conscious of it. It's something that Mariane made a big point of in her book, and it's very much who she is, and what that family represents today. They all continue to work toward dialogue. Just having all those actors at the table was a nice balance, because during this time when our country is at war and there's so much happening, to be in India and Pakistan with Indian and Pakistani actors, who usually also don't work together and don't cross each other's border, to have them asking us questions about politics, to actually have open discussions about 9/11, about Muslim culture, American culture, sharing food, sharing ideas, writing each other's kids' names down—that did something for us. It was really exciting to say, "God, that Pakistani actor or that Indian actor is one of the best actors I've ever worked with," and I don't often think of actors beyond, you know, the list we're all used to. I think that is very symbolic of what the piece represented.
Daniel, there's a lot of politics in "There Will Be Blood." Do you think about those things?
Day-Lewis: No, not at all. I just figured it would take care of itself.
Jolie: Your process is just amazing. You are just so brilliant. We all look to you as this mad genius, like, "He must have the most difficult time because of the work that comes out of him."
Clooney: OK, let's get it out right now. All actors bow to this f—er right here. And it makes us crazy when he goes, "Yeah, and then I went and I was a cobbler for a year." He made shoes for a year! You're amazing, and you just kill it for the rest of us. [The audience applauds]
Day-Lewis: Thank you, George.
Clooney: Yeah. Whatever. [Laughter]
Speaking of shoes—
Clooney: Wow, that's a segue.
Actually, it came up when we were doing this roundtable with Annette Bening and Kate Winslet. They were talking about how they physically create a character, and how important clothing is. Bening said that for her it begins with the shoes—that once she gets how the character walks, she gets the character. And Winslet said that it was her bra. I think she was serious. Is there some physical aspect that helps you find characters?
Page: I really have to say, I think the most commonly asked question—and the most annoying question—is, how do you relate? How do you relate to Juno? How are you like Juno? If you're playing someone who is honest and whole and well written, you are going to be able to relate to that individual, because we are just all made up with the same stuff.
McAvoy: But Ellen, can I ask, how do you relate to Juno? [Laughter]
Clooney: She gets a new bra.
McAvoy: I had an experience when I did "Narnia"—I read that book a lot when I was a kid, and I imagined that character from the ages of, like, 8 to 24. So when I was given the script, I already knew how I was going to play him, because I imagined him so much. And it taught me that when I got a new script, clothes and all that stuff are important, but I try to imagine the character like he's been in your head for 12 years. It's about finding the character in your head first, and then recognizing him in the right clothes.
That character didn't wear shoes.
McAvoy: Or a bra.
I have a technical question, Marion: when you were playing Piaf, you had to spend several hours a day getting your makeup done. How long was it?
Cotillard: Depending on the day, it was from three to five hours.
I always wondered, what do you do during those three to five hours?
Cotillard: I slept all the time.
Cotillard: Yes, we had almost 30 days of heavy makeup. I wanted to kill everybody, and especially everybody wanted to kill me. So they put me in a bed, and they did the makeup while I was sleeping. It was very funny because there's a guy who came to shoot video of me almost every day getting this done. And I saw the video, and they were doing things to me and I can't believe I didn't wake up. It was acrylic painting and latex and prosthetics, so there's glue and all that. Sometimes I had nightmares, and I would wake up with a big scream and cry. One day I was crying while I was sleeping, so the makeup artist's assistant had to spend four hours with tissues around my eyes, so the salt from my tears didn't spoil the makeup.
Were there ever roles that any of you regretted taking?
Jolie: That's part of it. You've got to have your bad ones.
Clooney: People will give you s–t later and say, "Why did you do this movie?" Because I needed a gig. Sometimes you just needed the job.
All the actors I've ever talked to always say they're afraid that every job they are offered is going to be their last.
Clooney: I still have that in me. You are always still auditioning in your head. If you don't think that way, then I think you are lost.
McAvoy: In your head, do you make yourself take off your clothes?
Clooney: Just now I did.
McAvoy: Excellent. And did you get the part?
Clooney: Hang on, wait, I'm still working on it. No, I did not. Clive Owen got it.
Ellen, because of the success of "Juno," are you now suddenly getting a lot of offers?
Page: More than I was a little while ago. Which is absolutely wonderful. Obviously that's the huge gift of a film like this doing so well. For an actor at any age, that's huge. But I am going to take my time.
There's a flip side, of course. Can some of you talk about moments where you failed?
McAvoy: I was once told that I'd never work in Scotland again. And it was on my third job.
Clooney: Really?
McAvoy: Yeah. And that's the end of that. I'm not going any further.
Clooney: I did a series called "Baby Talk." It's a little baby that has to talk—it was the "Look Who's Talking" sitcom. I have a whole list of really s–tty shows that I was really s–tty in. I'm really proud of them. I had a mullet in this one. I have a whole career with a mullet, actually. But this was a sitcom with a guy who was a very big, powerful producer. One of the first things he did was he fired the baby, which I thought was a little strange. And then the lead actress was fired. And then he started on me, and it was the worst experience of my life, because I had never been in that position, where you can't defend yourself. I remember—it was a very specific moment; it changed my career, actually—going home and I called up my agent and I said, "How bad does it get if I just say 'f— you' to this guy?" And my agent goes, "It gets bad." And I said, "OK," and I walked in and the producer went after me and I said, "F— you." And I got fired and sued by the network, though they eventually dropped all of that. It was a terrifying time, but it absolutely freed me up to the idea that the worst thing that could happen is-what? You take away my sitcom? It freed me up to decide that I was going to try to do better projects and not worry so much about succeeding. It changed everything for me.
McAvoy: Was the main problem between you and your mullet? [Laughter]
Clooney: Yes, it was.
Speaking of acting with kids, Daniel, was your acting process any different on "There Will Be Blood," because you had a lot of scenes to play with a 10-year-old who had never acted before?
Day-Lewis: No difference, but it certainly would very much depend upon the 10-year-old. And this was just a remarkable young person. He was just a great companion. He was my partner. I miss him a lot, actually. His mom was a state trooper, and his dad was a cowboy. They didn't know anything about the movies. There was a moment which could have gone awry at the very beginning, when his mom quite rightly thought, "What kinds of people are going to be involved with my son?" She wanted to see what I was going to be like, because she knew he would be spending a lot of time with me. So she rented a copy of "Gangs of New York." [Laughter] And there was a flurry of phone calls. And the studio dispatched a copy of "The Age of Innocence" very quickly.
You also were in a very strange position, because you had to reshoot a lot of scenes that you had done because Paul Dano replaced the original actor playing Eli Sunday. Was it hard to gear yourself up to do all that again—redo about three weeks of work? Or did you see it as an opportunity?
Day-Lewis: Quite honestly, I can't imagine doing that with anyone else except Paul Dano. I really can't. He made that possible. Often when you're making a film, even on a good day, you feel like you're wading in quicksand. And to take a big step back like that—it felt like a pivotal moment, but Paul made it possible.
How did the director tell you that this was going to have to happen?
Day-Lewis: We talked about it for a while beforehand. It wasn't something that happened just overnight. It was something we tried to avoid at all costs. I hope I'm never again in a situation where a young actor is replaced, because you understand how devastating that can be to somebody. I found that the hardest thing to deal with, really.
Have any of you been fired?
McAvoy: No, but I've been on a job where an actor was replaced. It wasn't a young actor, either. He must have been 40, and it was devastating. Absolutely devastating. I mean, it's ridiculous. He was told every day that what he was doing was "iconic." That was the phrase. "What you're doing is iconic. Brilliant, it's genius, iconic." And then he's sacked in three weeks.
Day-Lewis: So if anyone says "iconic" to you, just punch them straightaway.
George, didn't you once have an experience like that in television, where someone was telling you that what you were doing was brilliant and then the next week they hired an acting coach for you?
Clooney: Yeah. I was doing a pilot. It was a Western sitcom in a whorehouse. It seemed like a good idea to me. [Laughter] I came in and they kept saying, "It's great, it's great. You're the next big thing, you're the funniest thing we've ever seen. You're great." And then literally four days later, nothing was working. The script had problems, I was probably terrible in it. [Writer] Barbara Corday and a couple of other people came in and said, "We want to bring in an acting teacher for you." It was like, wait, so I'm not lightning in a bottle anymore? It's over? It was humiliating. TV can be really brutal, because it's so quick. You'll do a pilot and there's so many subtle ways to fire you if the show gets picked up. You'll get the first call—"The show got picked up for 13 episodes!" And you're like, "Yay!" But you're not picked up yet. Your agent says, "OK, they have four days to call and activate your contract." So now you're going, "Uh, yay?" And then you wait and you wait and you wait and then they call and say, "Listen, they're going to replace your part. But it's not because of you—you're lightning in a bottle."
McAvoy: "And keep the mullet. It looks great."
George, is it true that you are getting involved in the writers' strike?
Clooney: That just happened the night we were at the awards show. It's actually Harvey Weinstein getting me involved.
He can do that.
Clooney: Yes, he can. I was at the Critics' Choice Awards and I said, "Let's get everybody in a room and stay there until we solve it." Which I really do think is a good idea. I talked to Spielberg and a few people—the CEOs and the writers that can help facilitate that. I am happy to be a part, but I wasn't standing out there going, you know, "You're going to do it and you're going to like it."
In the old days, when it was just the studios and they weren't part of these conglomerates, it was easier to get these things solved.
Clooney: Yeah, Lou Wasserman and Jack Warner would go in and sit down and say, "OK, now how are we going to solve this?" But who are you getting in the room now? Multinational corporations?
McAvoy: It's interesting how this is all so financially important for the industry, but it is also a celebration of peers, and that's a shame that can't seem to happen.
So what happens if the Oscars come around and there's still no resolution to the strike?
McAvoy: The world will end. It's fact. It's official. I was told so. [Laughter]
Clooney: Nobody is going to cross a picket line. Nobody would even consider it. Would you want to be the only person at the awards?
Jolie: We're all going to George's house.


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New Years Eve Glam!
>> Thursday, December 30, 2010
Instead of wearing one of those awful tin foil looking tiaras this New Years Eve make yourself a quick glam hair accessory! The crafts stores have a fabulous selection of feathers and even some of these large feather pads lately. All you need is an old sparkly earring, a feather pad, a hair clips and some glue. Poke the earring through the feathers, bend the post over so it doesn't poke you and hot glue a hair clip or hair comb to the back! You can whip this up in no time and I guarantee you will be the best accessorized lady at the stroke of midnight!
Read more...

subset: commoncrawl


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Every now and then something comes along and the reaction is, "COOL! Why didn't I think of that?" (or…"I thought of that years ago and it's FINALLY come out.)
Back in the early 2000s JVC had something called the GY-DV300u aka the Streamcorder. That little gem was way ahead of its time. I grabbed one because after some pretty heavy duty research I found it had all the gizmos I wanted and needed to have a life after a multi-decade career as a broadcast news cameraman. But it had that little extra "umph" in the background that intrigued me – the ability to stream live to the web. And for some reason it never really took off. And the camera and it's revolutionary potential kind of faded away…
Until NAB this year when the 300u's great granddaughter returned. And with a vengeance.
Meet the JVC ProHD Mobile News Camera! To me it's an old friend gussied up and modernized. But it is a game changer and this time the time is ripe for it to reach the heights it missed last time around.
What's new? Okay, so I admit I'm addicted to glass. A 23x zoom. Something that can reach out and pull you (and your audience) in close to situations you don't even WANT to get close to. Most prosumer cameras in this price range only have a 10x or 14x zoom, leaving you miles short of the shot you really want.
Dual slot recording…the less expensive version of this camera, the JVC GY-HM600 ProHD Camera has two slots for continuous recording too, but lacks the ability to record in HD in one slot and SD in the other. That ability allows you to shoot HD for the main event but SD to stream back quickly to the station for on-air. Wow.
I don't even need to get into real manual controls, XLR inputs, three chips (1/3 CMOS)…the usual suspects in a pro's array of necessary tools.
What happened in the past ten years that makes this new again?
Well, this time news is READY for a camera like this. In 2002 (when I got my JVC 300u) going live on the web was something entertaining…fun. But nobody in real news considered it seriously. After all, it wasn't really professional – was it? Tiny little camera, poor quality…and there were live trucks and microwave trucks to handle important stories.
Times change…and now cell phones and Skype can put out decent enough (okay, so even I debate that one) images for news. Plus, reality has set in – financial reality. With the competition out there, lean and fast may make the difference between survival and death to cost conscious news organizations.
And while I absolutely love those good ole days, I'm a realist. What I see is a camera that may mean survival.


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Florida Green Water Snake
Scientific name: Nerodia floridana (GOFF 1936)
* Currently accepted name
* scientific names used through time
- Natrix cyclopion floridana – GOFF 1936
- Nerodia floridana – CONANT & COLLINS 1991
Description: Adults average from 30-55 inches (76-140 cm), record 74 inches (188 cm). Adults are thick bodied and may be greenish, brownish, or orangish, with no real distinctive markings other than dark speckling. The belly is unpatterned but light-colored, with a faint pattern beneath the tail. The head is large, with a scale between the eye and the scales on the upper lip. The scales are keeled and there are 27-29 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juvenile color is similar to that of adults.
A. Top of the head
B. Underside of the head (chin and throat)
C. Elongated scales below the tail (subcaudal scales) are typically divided
D. Front (face view) of the head
E. Side of the head
F. Keeled scales
Range: The Florida Green Water Snake is found throughout most of Florida, excluding the Florida Keys. Outside of Florida, it occurs into southern Georgia, and in a disjunct population in southeastern South Carolina.
Habitat: Commonly found in calm waters of prairies, marshes, lakes, ponds, hyacinth-choked canals, and estuaries.
Comments: HARMLESS (Non-Venomous). Like all other Water Snakes, the Florida Green Water Snake is commonly mistaken for the venomous Cottonmouth. The Cottonmouth is usually darker and will typically open its mouth as a warning display, showing the bright white interior of its mouth.
It feeds on frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and fishes. It is live-bearing. Breeding takes place from March-June. Almost all large adults (over 3.5 feet in length) are females. When gravid, females can become quite large and thick. Litters, usually around 20-30 and up to more than 100, are born from June-September.
Comparison with other species: The Mississippi Green Water Snake (Nerodia cyclopion) has a patterned belly. All other Water Snakes lack scales between the eye and the scales of the upper lip.
Harmless Water Snakes are frequently killed in the mistaken belief that they are the venomous Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). However, Cottonmouths can easily be distinguished from Water Snakes. Cottonmouths have a triangular shaped head and vertical pupil. If the head is viewed from above, the eyes of Cottonmouths cannot be seen while the eyes of Water Snakes are visible; Cottonmouths have elliptical pupils and Water Snakes have round pupils; and Cottonmouths have a facial pit between the nostril and the eye, which the Water Snakes do not.


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Anna Pump is another of my favored cookbook authors, this recipe is from her latest book "Summer on a Plate". I've not been disappointed with any of Anna's recipes and this one is no exception. The flavor combinations in this one are perfect, it's a delicious and healthy take on chicken salad.
Anna's Comments:
"You'll find yourself making this throughout the summer. It has a nice bite and crunch and leftovers (if any!) make superb sandwiches."1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (skin and bones removed)
4 scallions, sliced thin (white & green parts)
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1 cup jullienne or shredded carrots
1 tablespoon minced, seeded jalapenos (or less if preferred)*
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 cup broccoli, cut into very small florets
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
Bring 2 quarts of water to a rapid boil. Add the chicken, cover, and turn off heat. Let it stand for 2 hours, don't lift the lid. The chicken will be moist and perfectly done. Remove chicken from the pot. Cut the chicken into bite-size chunks and mix with the scallions, celery, peppers, carrots, jalapenos, lemon zest, sesame seeds, cilantro, and broccoli.
Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well to blend. Add the dressing to the salad ingredients in the bowl with the and toss gently to combine.
Makes 6 servings.
* My notes; There were no jalapenos at the market so I substituted 2 small serrano chili peppers (I removed seeds and membranes before mincing finely.)
This is a great recipe, I've never made it into sandwiches because there is never any left!
I think it would be a perfect filling for pita bread though.


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News 2005
Back in June a Projects Abroad teaching volunteer, Scott Liddle, began a small newspaper with his students from the Linguistics Department at the Universidad Mayor de San Simon while on placement in Cochabamba.
Jo Walton, has been working as an Assistant Manager for Projects Abroad in Sri Lanka since September, here she tells us about a recent group volunteer 'clean-up' effort at one of the children's homes.
Assistant country manager Jess Doyle reports back from the Projects Abroad - China, Christmas party.
Volunteers and children at the 'Casa Juan Diaz' care home in Mexico have been working hard to complete a large-scale map of the world.
Projects Abroad volunteers and staff were proud to attend the opening ceremony of the newly constructed fisherman's shelter in Keelamuttom on the South Coast of Tamil Nadu.
Projects Abroad are thrilled that last month nearly 100 children completed a three month-long computer training course at Mawala IT Centre.
Joel Ibarra, who works as a member of staff for Projects Abroad on our Conservation Project in Mexico updates us on their work.
The time has come again to bring you up to date with the latest goings on at Taricaya and as usual there is so much to report it is hard to know where to start.
Projects Abroad - Ghana would like to say a massive thank you to Becka Jaroszevicz, who after volunteering on a Care & Community Project for three months in 2004...
NACER ('No a conductas en riesgo' meaning 'No to unsafe behaviour'), is a youth group begun by Dr. Gino Badani...
Projects Abroad are delighted to have supported ICTC this summer to bring a hugely successful summer course to the children of low-income families.
Three volunteers from Germany have recently made a real difference to the surroundings of children who attend crèches in and around Vaalwater in South Africa.
The month of July has flown by incredibly fast as both staff and volunteers alike have been busy.
The Ghanaian schools may have broken up for the summer holidays, but there is still plenty of teaching for volunteers to get involved in.
We feel part of the village of Keelamuttom. We live with a family here...
Looking back at your time away on a project can be all the more memorable when it culminates in something which you help mould and create.
John Etheridge was the first volunteer working there from Projects Abroad and responsible for the painting project.
Scott Liddle who is on his gap year in Cochabamba came up with the idea of the students putting together a newspaper to practice their English.
Natasha Whiting joined Projects Abroad in Thailand to work in a refugee camp.
Volunteers who have been working on the Ghana medical programme have started to work on an outreach programme going into the Orphanages where volunteers work in and around Cape Coast.
The volunteers in Zurite, the base for our Inca Projects, are to be involved in two significant and exciting projects. The restoration of the beautiful 17th century church in the village square has recently started while an excavation of the original village site will begin in mid-May
A couple of years ago some volunteers set off on their trip of a lifetime with a Projects Abroad placement. Little did they know that their trip was to have a profound affect on their own lives and the lives of the children they were working with.
The vaccination campaign was organised by the Head Doctor at the Centro de Salud Sarcobamba who passed a huge "Gracias" to Projects Abroad for providing her and her staff with 'caring and dedicated volunteers'.
When they arrived at their placement at Snowland Ranag School in Kathmandu Niamh Creed, Nicole Von Kaenael and Tamara Wood were shocked that some of the children were being taught lessons in the dining area and even in the playground.
In the wake of the tsunami no one knew how the teeming wildlife in the seas surrounding Sri Lanka would be affected.
We are pleased to announce the introduction of new projects in the beautiful, south-east Asian country of Cambodia.
Three volunteers from Germany have recently made a real difference to the surroundings of children who attend crèches in and around Vaalwater in South Africa.
When Kathy Miller decided to travel to Southern India with Projects Abroad in 1999, little did she realise how much it would change her life. Five years on, Kathy's charity, The Neem Tree Trust has gone from strength to strength.


text: Hi guys, I bought an industrial CNC router which should have been provided with a certain software which is installed on the machine. They charged me a fortune nearly £12000 for the software but they have only given me access to half of it. They never told us that's what they were going to do, we got a demo for the full software package and I was assured thats what I would get. As the contract stated CNC with software, doesn't specify exactly what I was going to get, they are now trying to make me pay another £9000 for the rest of the software. I can't afford to pay that amount as a new business and after enquirying the manufacturer, the package is actually 1/2 the price they trying to make me pay but the manufacturer can't do anything as I have bought it for a reseller and I have to deal with them, they don't want to upset the company as they put a lot of business their way. The actual price of the software is only £9000 in total but this company is making me pay for it through the nose. I have asked them for another dongle for the laptop but they want £4000 for it??? I have a new CNC machine sat there not working becasue I don't have the software I have paid for but they are making me pay the installement every month. I have also found out that the company didn't buy a new software package for us, they transferred it from another company which only costs £900 but I've paid 10 times that amount. Any help would be appreciated. Please send me a PM and I will let you know the name of the software. We're going to go bust before we've even started.:cryin: Is there anything I can do to get full access????


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A grand and glorious New Year greeting to you all! We now stand firmly in the dawn of a New Age on planet Earth. No more almost, not quite, or nearly. We're in! The calendar year of 2013 invites us to answer the question, "What do you really want to experience in your life?" There is a great power of manifestation in this year as the overall number is a 6 (2+0+1+3=6). Number 6 is the projective psyche, which is the ability to focus the forces of our mental, physical, and spiritual projection into a beam, or frequency of thought. Number 6 represents the Arc Line, or halo, and our ability to feel protected, contained, and conscious. A strong Arc Line gives you the ability to "know the field" and read people's intentions correctly, as well as maneuver with ease in changing environments. An athlete may be physically strong and have endurance, however it's the player with the strong Arc Line who will be able to anticipate the movements of the opponents. His "6th sense" will allow him to out-maneuver their advances, and win a touchdown for his team.
The number 6 always brings a busy-ness to life, so this is a year to pace yourself. The classic motivational slogan "Work smarter, not harder" rings true to 2013. Focus, engage, complete, and rest is a good 4 point plan for moving through your day. Spinning too many plates will only create clean-up work later.
We live in a world of polarity, and for those of us fortunate enough to have a spiritual skill-set, this promises to be a great year. However, not everyone is so fortunate (yet!), and this is where we all need to wake up. We are in the midst of a cultural Titanic, where the previous prevailing consciousness has only made enough lifeboats for a fraction of the passengers. Where is the greatest measure of loss? Our youth, primarily in the categories of broken families and the mentally ill.
We are struggling as a humanity to find our balance and equilibrium in relation to ourselves, family, and community. For many in these times, a sense of family exists more in the areas of friendship and community, rather than in blood family. It is a growing phenomenon that I have been observing over the years, and the breaking point seems to be, "I will no longer tolerate being mistreated, just to support the illusion of belonging to a healthy family." This turning point is propelling many people to seek out other forms of support and connectivity, outside of the traditional family structure. The realms of religion, spirituality, and special interest groups will skyrocket in 2013, as many will be feeling, "I have got to find my people, I know I belong somewhere." The metal group Linkin Park had a hit single in 2003 with the song "Somewhere I Belong " . In the emotionally searing lyrics are the lines, "I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I'm close to something real. I wanna find something I've wanted all along. Somewhere I belong."
What I personally found interesting where the remarks posted on a music website that created a forum for comments on the song. Some of the people who said this was their favorite song had user names like "Dark Silence" and "Blink Vampire." It is important that we have a greater involvement with our youth and the emotional issues they are struggling with. An angry young man may channel his pain into a powerful song creating awareness and connecting people, or he may choose an act of violence instead. We now stand at a societal crossroads where we need to develop a greater awareness and spiritual skill-set with which to help our "at risk" youth. A conscious dialogue on these themes started in December of 2012, and needs to be brought forth and developed in the New Year.
In case some of you are worried about the number 13 appearing in the calendar year, let me put your mind at rest. Thirteen is a very powerful number in the science of Numerology, and it represents "The Power of the Word." This means, what you say will happen. Our spoken words will have a greater power to manifest and come true this year because of the presence of the 13 in the yearly cycle. Be aware, as this can certainly manifest in either the positive or negative polarity, and the tipping point is our intention. We can break the heart of another person, or mend and heal, through the frequency of our spoken words. Allow yourself to work with this empowered awareness as you move into the New Year, and see what miracles you can create for yourself and your loved ones. This is the year that we as a collective psyche on planet Earth can begin to turn things around, and hit the "100th Monkey Effect," shifting the global intention towards peace and reconciliation. It truly is possible, and our collective intelligence has the ability to change the previous tide of indifference into a wave of regenerative compassion and conscious action. In the words of Mother Teresa,
"Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness,
of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the
kingdom of God — the rest will be given.
Would you like to know more? Nam Hari can do a personal reading for you over the phone. Start your New Year right by knowing your personal energy cycles, and how to create the best possible success for yourself. Nam Hari specializes in the area of relationships, and by understanding the lines of connectivity between you and another, clarity and right action can be achieved. Nam Hari also offers an advanced study course in the science of Numerology.
310-202-8937 or 575-305-0017
email: email@example.com


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This means that MASN will give the birds at least as much coverage for the next round of the playoffs. Since they play after the Nats that means the 1 hour postgame for the Nats will be bounced to MASN 2 to give the birds time for their pregame coverage.
No I was a kid with Baseball fever in 69 who found themselves without a team in 72. Dad would take me to games at Memorial Stadium.I saw Brooks.Boog Palmer Cuelliar. EDDIE -CAL-EARL PLAY fantastic baseball for years. I blame previous commissioners for DC not getting a team! TORONTO-TAMPA-COLORADO-FLORIDA. ALL GOT TEAMS BEFORE ANGELOS AND BEFORE DC!
Meh we have lived with it. And if you get MASN you also get MASN 2 since they are a package. As long as the pre/post game gets broadcasted.
It freaking sucks when you go to bars and MASN is the default with MASN 2 not on a single TV.
Fair point, CALSGR8. I will never understand why Tampa got a team before DC. What a worthless fan base they are.
profar is going to be really really good.
Trade Andrus for J-Upton.
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Festivals & Seasonal Events
Marksmen's Fair Hannover
Rocket Tower, Eclipse and Konga, Roue Parisienne, Wild Water and Snorter: the very names of the rides promise a wide diversity of pleasures, ranging from high-tech excitement to nostalgic fun for the whole family at the Marksmen's Fair. No less than 13 big rides, some of which are appearing in Hannover for the first time, will ensure the ultimate kick and butterflies in the stomach.
The Grand Parade of the Marksmen
The climax of the ten-day festival is the Grand Parade of the Marksmen on the first Sunday, which traditionally processes from the New Town Hall through the city centre to the fairground.
A very special atmosphere
And of course you can also find everything here that goes to make up a traditional fairground: smart marquees, some 50 stalls serving drinks and delicious snacks, shooting galleries and booths selling tickets for lucky draws will all do their bit towards creating that very special Marksmen's Fair atmosphere on the 25-acre fairground.
More information (in german): Schützenfest Hannover


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Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/recipes.html
3 1/4 cups chicken breast, cooked, cubed, and skinless
1/4 cup celery, chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp salt*
3 tbsp mayonnaise, low-fat
Bake chicken, cut into cubes, and refrigerate.
In a large bowl combine rest of ingredients, add chilled chicken and mix well.
* To reduce sodium, omit the 1/8 tsp of added salt. New sodium content for each serving is 120 mg.
Makes 5 servings
Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Per Serving:
Calories: 176
Total Fat: 6 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 77 mg
Sodium: 179 mg
Protein: 27 g
Carbohydrate: 2 g
Calcium: 16 mg
Magnesium: 25 mg
Potassium: 236 mg
Fiber: 0 g
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


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Activity Materials
- Getting Little Feet Wet BUNDLE: Printed Guide & Music Download$21.50
Save big when you purchase the Getting Little Feet Wet printed guide and "Water We Singing About?" music download together! Plus, for a limited time only, receive an exclusive printed version of the Water for You and Me children's storybook!
A card with your music download instructions will be included in the package with your book delivery.Learn More


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Headphones have been around since the 1920s and the basic design has not changed very much since then. What has changed is the way we use headphones, and the different uses are reflected in the slight difference in the modern headphone. Possibly one of the most significant variations is the introduction of the ear buds that were introduced alongside the iPod in 2001. At Musicians Friend we have separated our headphones into a number of convenient categories. Studio headphones, as the name implies are designed to be used in the recording studio and usually offer a less colored sound that offers the listener a more accurate representation of what is being recorded. They are often padded so that they can be worn for long periods of time. DJs have to concentrate on both the current track being played and the track being queued up, so DJ Headphones need to be loud so that the DJ can hear the song being queued up above the club noise. They also tend to have swivel ear cups for comfortable one-ear monitoring. Noise Canceling Headphones exclude external sounds so that the wearer can concentrate on what he or she is monitoring, without having to listen at hearing-damaging volumes. They are especially good for drummers who want to hear the rest of the band without having to crank the headphones so high that they distort. Consumer headphones are often designed to look good as well as sound great. The increasing popularity of the MP3 format meant that music fans could carry their entire library around in a palm-sized MP3 player and headphone manufacturers have modified their designs to reflect this. Ever since the rapper Dr. Dre founded Beats Electronics his "Beats by Dre" headphones have been particularly popular. As with everything we sell, all our headphones are supported by our price & satisfaction guarantees and free standard shipping applies to all orders except heavy items.
If you're looking to enhance your headphone sound even further, check out our headphone amplifiers page. .


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HAMILTON is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and helped shape the very foundations of the America we know today. The score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway - the story of America then, as told by America now.
Shows on 9 October 2020
Select a date to find all scheduled shows
Winner of 4 2014 Olivier Awards including Best New Musical. Rolling Stone says, 'The Genii of South Park hit Broadway, and history is made. Mormon is on its march into legend'. It's The Book of Mormon, the Broadway musical from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez. Time Out New York says, 'You'll laugh your head off. Mormon is musical comedy heaven'. The New York post says, 'I Love The Book Of Mormon'.
Disney's musical phenomenon The Lion King continues to captivate audiences of all ages. Combining dazzling staging and highly imaginative costumes, masks and puppets, this astonishing show at the Lyceum Theatre uses breathtaking theatrical magic to tell the story of Simba - join him now in his epic journey to reclaim his kingdom!
Striking a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is a six-time Tony Award®-winning musical about life and the way we live it.
From the Tony, Oscar and Golden Globe-winning songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (The Greatest Showman, La La Land), DEAR EVAN HANSEN is directed by four-time Tony Award®-nominee Michael Greif (Rent) and features a book by Tony Award®-winner Steven Levenson.
Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that re-imagined the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', the WICKED musical tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. Experience this unforgettable, award-winning musical and discover that you've not been told the whole story about the land of Oz...
Based on the 1990 film of the same name, the musical adaptation of Pretty Woman transfers from Broadway to London's Piccadilly Theatre from February 2020, with tickets now on-sale.
Harper Lee's enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence has sold 45 million copies worldwide. 2020 will mark the 60th anniversary of its publication.
Set in Alabama in 1934, To Kill a Mockingbird centres on one of the most venerated characters in American literature, the small-town lawyer Atticus Finch. The cast of characters includes Atticus's daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker Calpurnia, their visiting friend Dill, a mysterious neighbour the reclusive Arthur "Boo" Radley, and the other indelible residents of Maycomb, Alabama.
To Kill a Mockingbird, celebrating one year on Broadway today, has not played to an empty seat and holds the benchmark of having become the most successful American play in Broadway history. A national tour of the United States opens at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC in August 2020.
This unique musical is set in the Canadian town of Gander where, in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the town - which had a population of 11,000 – welcomed 8,500 passengers from diverted flights. Winner of best new musical at the 2019 Olivier Awards, the musical gets its London premiere at the Phoenix Theatre.
& Juliet is the irreverent and fun-loving new West End musical that asks: what if Juliet's famous ending was really just her beginning? What if she decided to choose her own fate? This is Juliet's story now. So don't tell her how it ends...
Soaring with pop anthems including ...Baby One More Time, Everybody (Backstreet's Back), Love Me Like You Do and Can't Feel My Face, & Juliet is a riotous blast of fun and glorious music that proves when it comes to love, there's always life after Romeo...
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's multi award-winning musical MARY POPPINS returns to its original West End home at the Prince Edward Theatre from 23 October 2019.
The magical story of the world's favourite Nanny is triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. Starring Zizi Strallen, returning to play the title role following great acclaim on the recent sell-out international tour, and Charlie Stemp as Bert, who recently gave an award-winning performance as Arthur Kipps in Cameron Mackintosh's production of Half A Sixpence.
Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl.
From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner didn't just break the rules, she rewrote them. This new stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race.


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Archive for the 'University of Alabama' Category
A Sunday, March Madness Recruiting Tale: Geno Auriemma and UConn – Pat Summit and the University of Tennessee
ESPN's Bob Ley, in Sunday's excellent Outside the Lines segment on women's college basketball, illuminated the "feud" between University of Tennessee Women's basketball head coach, Pat Summit, and the University of Connecticut's head coach, Geno Auriemma. The rivalry that was reached nasty status this summer when UConn extended a contract to continue the annual regular season meeting between the two teams and Summit and Tennessee refused.
It is no secret that the coaches dislike each other. It is no secret that, as the Boston Globe's Jackie McMillan said today on the OTL segments, that Auriemma wishes that Summit would understand the entertainment, "grow the game" through a staged rivalry side of their jobs, while Summit wishes Auriemma would take the game and everything around it more seriously and, as McMillan said, "respect the game" more.
However, there is something more than just a difference of perspective that led Summit and the Volunteer program to refuse to sign an extension for the teams' annual meetings. The obvious question is why, but when that question was put to Summit, she refused to answer. For his part, Auriemma said that it comes down to an intense dislike on Summit's part: "Sometimes you wonder why" [somebody doesn't like you]. "I don't know. I like me."


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Treatment for Panic Attacks
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Treatment for Panic Attacks
Treatment For Panic Attacks
If you have read my previous articles I hope you now have a much better understanding of what a panic attack is, and how to cure them. It's my opinion after suffering from them myself for over ten years, that there are numerous techniques that can help you overcome panic disorder. Every person is unique, what will work for me, will not work necessarily for you in quite the same way, but there are FUNDEMANTAL TOOLS WHICH WILL BE OF BENEFIT FOR EVERYONE. These strategies will help you lift yourself out of the depression of panic attacks and get you enjoying life again.
I am not a medical professional and I would never say do not seek professional help. However, from experience I have found doctors help to be extremely limited. In the course of trying to cope with panic attacks I saw numerous doctors. Most of their help involved medication. One doctor did give me some literature to read which was useful but on the whole I knew the only person that was to help me - WAS ME. This will be the same for you – the only person who can really help you, IS YOU.
I believe medication can play a vital role in helping somebody make the first steps to recovery. When someone is lost in the panic attack world they are often undiagnosed and have no idea that they have anxiety and panic disorder. For me, when I was finally diagnosed with panic attacks I did not believe the doctor because I could not think my own thoughts, my own body was doing this to me.
My recovery only really started when I read everything I could on the subject. When I read other sufferers stories they perfectly described the panic attacks I was experiencing. When you see a doctor your just on a conveyer belt of patients and you can only spend a few minutes with them. If you're lucky enough to get sent to a specialist then great, make the most of the opportunity. Most doctors will jump straight to the medication route and offer you tranquilisers. I am not against medication but I strongly believe this is the wrong treatment for a full longterm recovery.
When I went on medication for a short period it did relieve my symptoms especially my heart beating fast. It did give me some time to just get back on my feet and start taking those first brave attempts to put myself in situations which I knew would make me feel uneasy. But deep down I also knew the medication was masking and hiding the problem and I wanted to make a full recovery.
Growing up we get use to going to the doctor when we have an infection and taking some prescription antibiotics. In a few days the pain has gone. If you fall over and break a finger you go to the hospital. Within a few hours its bandaged up and you are on the road to healing and recovery. With panic attacks it's very different. There is no magic bullet that is going to cure you instantly ultimately it's down to you to work hard and to take on board on the things you will learn. None of us want to take on this battle but it's something we must face up, ultimately YOU CAN OVER COME THIS.
My advice to you, with your doctor's help, is to devise a program to come off the medication and start implanting the strategies you will learn from positive panic attacks. I also recommend lots of resources which will get you on the road to recovery.
My resource page lists programs that I used on the road to recovery that I would personally recommend. The programs are ones I have tried and found to be the most beneficial. There are also some great books which will give you valuable information and support. Remember there is some fantastic free information on the internet, but I have personally found that medical websites can be quite technical and sometimes even scaremongering with information which is not relevant to recovery.
The key to longer term success with panic attacks is changing your thoughts to overcome anxiety. There are also ways to short circuit and stop the anxiety and tension building into a full blown panic attack, and give you some breathing space to change how you think. As with most things practice, practice and more practice are the keys to building change on a permanent basis. An Olympic athlete would not just fall out of bed and win the 100m final; it would take years of hard training.
|"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill
Relaxation is a common way to improve your health and stress levels generally. It has been used for thousands of years in one form or another to help combat tension and improve the feel good factor, (think of the Roman Baths). One of the common symptoms of panic attacks is feeling very tense and not being able to breath properly. If you feel a panic attack coming the worst thing you can do is try and fight against it, just must just accept and relax as much as possible. The more you go with the panic the quicker it will stop.
Firstly relaxation is a technique which must be learnt. Simply watching TV is not relaxing and this can sometimes have the opposite effect and induce a panic attack.
Relaxation is a great way of releasing muscular tension and is great way of reducing the strength of a panic attack. Like with most things the more you practice relaxation the more effective it will be. I strongly recommend reading some books on the subject and buying some relaxation music or hypnosis cd's to really get you in the mood. There are techniques to obtain full relaxation. They take a little time to master the full benefits they can give. Most of the techniques involve alternately tensing and relaxing your muscles, starting from the top of your body down. To be the most effective against panic attacks you really have to do the relaxation exercise before you feel panicky in order to help reduce the strength of the panic attack. Another specialist kind of relaxation is Yoga ; this definitely also has benefits to help with relaxation and breathing.
Relaxation is a great way to release muscle tension and this in turn helps you to breathe much easier. Many sufferers complain of stress headaches and tightness around the top of the head and neck. This is simply your muscles contracting so relaxation is a superb way of reducing this tension.
|"Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You've got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it." Ray Bradbury
We are all different so it's best to try different relaxation exercises to find out which works best for you. When you are able to switch off from the rest of the world, please practice when you have 20 mins to yourself. Practice and repetition is the key, and it's amazing just how deep and relaxed you will be able to feel. Even if you can't lie down on your own bed, you should be able to find a quiet room if you're at work, to relax your mind and body whilst sitting on a chair.
Relaxtion / Hypnosis Cd's - Contrary to what they claim should be used as a relaxation aid rather than any quick fix Thoroughly recommend you read through the description of the Cd to make sure you know what they contain. Some techniques may work better than others for you, so taylor them to suit your needs.
Hypnosis Cd for Panic and Anxiety Attacks
A very good hypnosis Cd thats especially produced for panic attack sufferers. The more you use it and apply the techniques the more benefit you will get.
Control Stress : Stop Worrying and Feel Good Now I have included this in the Cd section but the bulk of the information is in a book format. Paul Mckenna is one of the most famous hypnotists, and this book/Cd gives sound practical advice on decreasing stress. The book has lots of techniques and tips which need to be applied and can bring a sense of reality when you might start thinking negative thoughts.
Glen Harrold hypnosis cds Glenn Harrold has produced lots of different Cd's from weight loss to inner clam. They certainly helped me in my recovery and I would recommend them fully. If you click on the link you can search through the Cd's he has produced and see if any catch your fancy.
Ultimate Relaxation A guided meditation by the well known Dr Hilary Jones (you have probably seen him on morning TV). Contains tips and techniques on relaxation.
Dream Surf If you like the sound of the ocean then this will be the Cd for you.
Body and Soul - Relaxation: Resting the Mind Reviving the Body If you like just gentle soothing music without any hypnosis, meditation or talking then I recommend this.
You can find the bestselling Relaxation/Anxiety Cd's here. The most popular Relaxation MP3 Downloads can be found here and you can listen to a preview.
You can find some FREE meditation and relaxtions audios at excelatlife
If you want to record your own relaxation recordings then I have relaxation scripts/exercises you can record yourself. I good way to do this is record them on your mobile phone and listen to the exercises when you need to.
Breathing and relaxation are interlinked. If you're feeling anxious you tend to tense your muscles and this can stop you breathing properly. We are also designed to breath much more quickly in stressful situation so our hearts can pump oxygen through our bodies. This is the classic fight or flight response and means we are ready for action.
Panic attack sufferers and people with acute anxiety often are in such a high anxious state that they will constantly over breath leading to hyperventilation. Hyperventilation causes a person to breathe too much and too fast leading to an array of unpleasant sensations including faintness, panic feelings, tingling, palpitations/skipped heart beats etc. Hyperventilation is un-harmful but causes more feelings that add to an already sensitized body.
In my opinion once you get to grips with relaxation, improving your health and eating habits and changing your thought patterns your breathing will naturally return to a more balanced state. Similarly to relaxation, breathing techniques should be done when you're feeling calm and relaxed. It is virtually impossible to control your breathing whilst having a panic attack as your mind will take over and do it for you.
There are several books I would recommend on the market and I'm sure you will find lots of free techniques on the internet. But the basis of breathing is to breathe in slowing counting 1 to 5 seconds watch you abdomen (around your belly button!) lifting slowly, holding the in breath for a few seconds and then exhaling slowing for about 6 to 7 seconds. The out breath should be longer than the in breath. It's really worth reading about how to breath properly as it's something we take for granted but it's very easy to fall into bad habits. POSTURE is also very important to encourage good breathing.
Breathing Techniques
I have read several books on this subject and I would recommend either Anxiety Free: Stop Worrying and Quieten Your Mind - The Only Way to Oxygenate Your Brain and Stop Excessive and Useless Thoughts Featuring the Buteyko Breathing Method and Mindfulness orThe Breathing Book: Vitality and Good Health Through Essential Breath Work . Both tell you the benefits of deep breathing which will help reduce feelings of panic and anxiety, but you can also control your emotions much better if you breath correctly. If you are after listening to guided breathing through headphones than can find Breathing MP3 Downloads here.
Distraction is a very effective way to reduce anxiety. I'm sure we have all been so engrossed in something that we have forgotten the time or an appointment somewhere. Distraction works on the same basis. Instead of our mind being totally fixed on the way we are feeling its possible and much healthier to be thinking of a task which will take our mind off the anxiety.
For this to work we have to be completely engrossed in what we're doing and it also helps if we enjoy it. For example gardening would be a good way of distracting oneself from anxiety. Gardening is physical work and will help to produce endorphins the body's natural feel good factor. Working outside in the fresh air getting involved in a hobby is a great way to occupy your mind in a positive way. A person interested in gardening will be thinking what needs cutting back, what they're going to plant next, how they're going to design their garden, etc. They will immerse their thoughts in the task ahead and this will distract them from anxiety and panicky thoughts which usually occupy their mind.
Distraction is a way of short circuiting the anxiety thoughts. It does this by redirecting the brain neurons to link up and follow a separate path (a more positive path) and start the brain problem solving and thinking of what needs doing. Hopefully the task in hand is enjoyable (i.e. gardening) and the person is totally engrossed in what they're doing.
'A neuron (also known as a neurone or nerve cell) is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information by electrical and chemical signalling.'
When I was suffering from panic attacks a great way for me to relax, control my breathing and distract myself was walking my dog. For me it was something I enjoy doing. The exercise was helpful; I believe seeing the country side has great benefits on the human brain. Think of all the people who live in the city who but still have plants in their rooms and pictures of landscape on their walls. The human brain is designed to feel better when we are outside. It's how we have evolved. Even when I was at me lowest point I rarely had a panic attack walking me dog. It was something I enjoyed doing. Walking in the countryside watching the wildlife and seeing the wild flowers or the morning frost being burnt away by the morning sun always brought a smile to me face. These thought processes distract from your brain from following a panicky, negative route and can bring about real positive change.
The great thing about distraction is it helps the sufferer to focus on external things instead of focusing on nasty sensations internally within the body. It's amazing that when you do concentrate on something that totally immerses you in a hobby, work, etc.; bodily sensations naturally start to fade away as your mind realizes that what you are doing has no threat and is actually enjoyable to you.
There will be times when you can't immerse yourself in a hobby. You may be somewhere where you may have experienced panic attack before and you won't be able to remove yourself from that situation such as driving, in a busy shop, a stressful meeting, etc. In these scenarios there are other distraction techniques we can use. We have all got a song stuck in our heads that seems to play over and over again. This can be used as a distraction. Think about your favourite song and play this over in your head and sing along to the words. Maybe take along an MP3 player (Relaxation MP3 Downloads ) in situation where you think you might panic and sing along to the words. In doing this you are not running away from the situation that causes panic and anxiety but you are letting your mind know that firing off panic symptoms is totally inappropriate. By singing the words to a song or by imagining that you're on some golden beach using your Meditation techniques which you have done before hand, is a great tool to distract and reprogram your behaviour.
There are loads of ways to distract yourself. If your boss makes you panicky then picture him in a clown suit. Whatever you do to distract yourself you have to totally immerse yourself in it or else it will not work.
I would also add that if your undertaking something and you are feeling extremely panicky and anxious then a good technique is to tell your mind to 'stop' . Tell yourself that the panic should do either do its worst or go. Wait a few seconds and just laugh at the panic and smile and think of something that gives you a nice warm glow inside. I would recommend you take a short break and either eat a healthy snack like an apple for example or have an herbal tea such as peppermint (Pure Peppermint tea ) or camomile (Twinings Pure Camomile ). Camomile has supposedly got good relaxation properties. In 2009, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania concluded the first controlled clinical trial of chamomile extract for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The results suggest chamomile have modest anxiolytic activity in patients with moderate GAD. In other words camomile has recognized health benefits for anxiety. Personally I recommend you stay away from coffee and tea until you get better and then only one have one cup a day as a treat. It's surprising how addictive and pleasant herbal teas can be.
Distraction can be a powerful tool but in my opinion the underlying thoughts have to be challenged to provide a long term solution to panic. Worrying thoughts can really be a cancer that can eat away within you so it's essential that you confront these. It's very difficult to distract yourself if you enter a situation fearful, or you feel resentment against somebody, or you are constantly trying to control a situation. If you are totally happy in your own skin and enter a situation calm and collected it's much easier to distract yourself to a more positive place.
It also best to face your negatives thoughts and write them down as they happen. Counteract them with as many reasons as you can why they are simply unfounded.
Remember to PRACTICE and PRACTICE the breathing, relaxation and distraction techniques when you're not anxious before trying to apply them to situations that make you panicky.
Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway: How to Turn Your Fear and Indecision into Confidence and Action
Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through The Storm
Relaxation/Anxiety Cd's
Anxiety Free: Stop Worrying and Quieten Your Mind - The Only Way to Oxygenate Your Brain and Stop Excessive and Useless Thoughts Featuring the Buteyko Breathing Method and Mindfulness
Self Help for Your Nerves: Learn to relax and enjoy life again by overcoming stress and fear
Relaxation MP3 Downloads
Ultimate Relaxation
Body and Soul - Relaxation: Resting the Mind Reviving the Body
Control Stress : Stop Worrying and Feel Good Now
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This release offers some great new features including the long anticipated GeoScript editor (thanks to HydroloGIS), a full featured graticule map decoration (thanks to Kenneth Gulbrandsoy), and a new Document view (thanks to LISAsoft).
Thanks to Galdos, lat-lon and LISAsoft for their participation in OWS9. Their extensive quality assurance work has allowed uDig to enable WMS 1.3.0 by default.
On the development front the SDK now functions as standalone target platform complete with Eclipse and GeoTools source code. Thanks to Sam Guymer for this work, and to community members Suraj Patil and Thomas Dolley for testing. We also offer our congratulations to Kenneth Gulbrandsoy for his promotion to committer status.
The release is issued under a dual EPL and BSD license and marks our initial contribution to LocationTech. No further releases are scheduled under the Refractions banner.
Release Details
- uDig Downloads (Mac, Linux, and Windows)
- Release Notes
- Issue Tracker Change Log
- What is new (User Guide)
About uDig 1.4.0
License Transition Complete
The uDig project has changed to a dual BSD / EPL license. This license is in support of our application to LocationTech (an Eclipse Foundations industry working group).
GeoScript EditorThis release offers some great new features including the long anticipated GeoScript editor. The use of scripting within a GIS application affords a great middle ground between developers and users. The GeoScript project is focused on taming the power of GIS for dynamic scripting languages. This strong focus on ease-of-use makes for an excellent alignment with the uDig project.
Document View
The use of feature attributes as a jumping off point for a document, web page or script action is known as a hot-link, while the concept of an attachment is well-known from the use of email. uDig provides the innovative combination of these two ideas in a single Document view.
As part of this work, dynamic feature labels can be defined (used by the Info Tool and Document view).
About uDig 1.4 Series
The 1.4 series brings several exciting new features to the table while serving as a stepping stone for the project's migration to LocationTech.
For users:
- GeoScript editor allowing scripting directly from the uDig application
- Document view for working with attachments and hot-links
- New graticule map decorator supporting metric coordinate reference systems
- WMS 1.3.0 now enabled by default
- Provided under a dual EPL and BSD license with associated refresh of a all headers, plugin license and about.html files.
- Transition to Maven command line build is complete with both product and SDK builds
- SDK is a complete target platform (no longer requires an Eclipse Download).
- Based on GeoTools 9.0-M0
Known Issues
- The mac release does not support the full range of ImageIO-EXT formats. Please contact udig-devel if you are in position to build GDAL on Mac OSX.
- The ImageIO-EXT / GDAL library requires native code for MrSID and ECW limiting support to win32 and linux32 platforms.