Phillip Phillips Keeps Moving Up the BillBoard Album Chart as Tour Begins

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR72kciuwbHmfdx45uikzWlzX0OxRI6o_zltY3vHoZ0fButqqlzIVUZG2HMqgqMFoGF365mmFMrkBJMyTv0SxpwVXv8YokMI6oe86-C24-Ug-oJC-rQuGFd-w2xTC6umnGH0waemoyo_Rq/s1600/bb200-20130726.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR72kciuwbHmfdx45uikzWlzX0OxRI6o_zltY3vHoZ0fButqqlzIVUZG2HMqgqMFoGF365mmFMrkBJMyTv0SxpwVXv8YokMI6oe86-C24-Ug-oJC-rQuGFd-w2xTC6umnGH0waemoyo_Rq/s400/bb200-20130726.png" width="400" /></a></div>Wow, Phillip Phillips' "World from the Side of the Moon" has been out now for 35 weeks, but it keeps <a href="http://www.mjsbigblog.com/billboard-%E2%80%93-chart-date-080313.htm" target="_blank">moving up</a> the <a href="http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200?page=1" target="_blank">BillBoard 200 album chart</a>. It is now at #31, its best position in over 3 months. He is again the leader of the Idol winners on the chart, with three other lady winners in the Top 100 with their latest albums. Fantasia sees her "Side Effects of You" fall to its lowest position since its release at #92, but it still remains in the Top 100 after 13 weeks. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood continue to stay very steady on the chart as well, with Carrie's "Blown Away" at #81 and Kelly's "Greatest Hits" at #88. "Blown Away" has been on the chart for 64 weeks now and Kelly's is at 35 (the same week as Phillip's) which show both albums have very strong continued sales. Pretty impressive for a 15 month run for Carrie, and an 8 month run for Kelly with a greatest hits release.<br /><br />And last Friday the American Idol Summer Tour kicked off, and nobody probably noticed. I will be very curious to see what the final sales numbers will be for the full concert tour. It sounds like the first concert in Kent, Washington, was <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-tour-kicks-washington-589569" target="_blank">about one half full</a>. Similarly the LA show Tuesday in the Nokia Theater <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-review-american-idol-live-nokia-theater-20130724,0,6039882.story" target="_blank">was not filled near capacity</a>. The tour will be over on August 31 in Nashville, and apparently there will not be any Walmart or Amazon EP's on sale. The only item on sale instead is the <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/23993590?findingMethod=rr" target="_blank">"Idols Singing Idols" CD</a> which is not a very impressive sounding compilation.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1ZSZZ_cLFV2LQRoC2l9k2-YZtWrrrjTW0lovRaXqGnmsbWk0MeCTMmSZPbuVd76VA3Nr1mzRy0e_TgdiPt8bVkjQ1sc_w8KX15NSUADKAaxxvhz05HNLABLYpKanHH_bpkVCDvi37m95/s1600/idols-singing-idols.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1ZSZZ_cLFV2LQRoC2l9k2-YZtWrrrjTW0lovRaXqGnmsbWk0MeCTMmSZPbuVd76VA3Nr1mzRy0e_TgdiPt8bVkjQ1sc_w8KX15NSUADKAaxxvhz05HNLABLYpKanHH_bpkVCDvi37m95/s1600/idols-singing-idols.png" /></a></div><br />

Phillip Phillips Keeps Moving Up the BillBoard Album Chart as Tour Begins

Wow, Phillip Phillips' "World from the Side of the Moon" has been out now for 35 weeks, but it keeps moving up the BillBoard ...

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Goldman Sachs makes your beer more expensive

<div style="background-color: black; width: 520px;"><div style="padding: 4px;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:428060" width="420"></iframe><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 4px; text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-july-25-2013/john-oliver-s-arcane-details-of-boron-group-metals-pricing-update">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart</a></b><br />Get More: <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/">Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/indecision">Indecision Political Humor</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow">The Daily Show on Facebook</a></div></div></div><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;"><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-great-american-bubble-machine-20100405#ixzz2METQCo8q" rel="nofollow" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: line-through;">The great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money</a> Goldman Sachs is making your beer more expensive by cornering the aluminum market. Also your canned soda, juice and anything else affected by the price of aluminum. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;">The way Goldman Sachs is manipulating the market is probably less important than the fact that no one will go to jail for it. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;">But here's how the Wall Street behemoth does it, according to <a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2013/07/24/how-goldman-sachs-and-wall-street-manipulate-alumnimum-and-other-commodities" rel="nofollow">US News & World Report</a>:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.889204025268555px;">...a million and a half tons of aluminum – a quarter of the national supply at any given moment – typically sits in a network of 27 Detroit warehouses owned by Goldman Sachs. And hardly anyone would have thought that manufacturers seeking to purchase that aluminum might wait 18 months or more for delivery, while warehouse owners like Goldman Sachs collect additional rent, paid for by consumers of aluminum products ranging from beer cans to home siding.</span></span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.889204025268555px;">In an important hearing yesterday before the Senate Banking Committee, Tim Weiner of MillerCoors described the operation and how it boosts prices for real-economy companies. The witnesses at yesterday's hearing explained how the largest Wall Street banks have accumulated massive amounts of physical commodity infrastructure, ranging from warehouses to oil tankers to power generation plants.</span></span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.889204025268555px;">Supply bottlenecks in bank-owned warehouses are only one part of the story. Banks are central players in the financialization of commodity markets, the treatment of physical commodities as purely financial assets to be manipulated for trading and investment purposes, rather than inputs for the real economy.</span></span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.889204025268555px;">The original purpose of markets in commodities and commodity derivatives was to ensure steady prices and consistent availability for real-economy users of commodities. But the selling of commodities as an inflation hedge and a retirement asset (over $440 billion in investor money has poured into commodity investment funds since 2004, as opposed to just $25 billion into equity funds) has transformed these markets, increasing price levels and price volatility, and opening up many opportunities for manipulation.</span></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;">At least Sen. Elizabeth Warren is on it. Earlier this week she said she wanted Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs to have way less control of commodities. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/senate-banking-on-wall-st-commodities-2013-7" rel="nofollow">Business Insider </a>reported that warren, on Tuesday, said in that same Senate Banking Committee hearing,</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.889204025268555px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;">"...I share the concern of many of my colleagues about asset managers at huge Wall Street banks exercising control of key parts of America's infrastructure..."</span></span></blockquote>Here's the back story:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Back in 2003 the Federal Reserve decided to temporarily allow banks to purchase commodities directly. That means oil, power, copper, aluminium etc. This September, that temporary regulatory relaxation is set to expire, and if it does, a big chunk of Wall Street's business will expire with it. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">And now that the ruling is up for discussion, Congress gets to weigh in. Wall Street be warned, if this hearing was any indication, the Senate is coming down on the side of culling the commodities business. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Warren decried the idea that banks would use "other people's money" in pension and retirement savings "to pave the way for big banks to be able to control an electric plant or an oil refinery." </blockquote>Let's hope Congress decides to limit Wall Street's ability to control commodities markets. But we're not holding our breath. <br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;"><br /></span>

Goldman Sachs makes your beer more expensive

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes , Indecision Political Humor , The Daily Show on Facebook The great vampi...

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Part-Time Library Clerk - Prospect Library

<strong>Part-Time Library Clerk - </strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Prospect Library</span></strong></strong> is seeking a part-time library clerk to work at its circulation desk for 20 hours per week. Will require working Saturday hours from September thru June (5.5hrs per Saturday) and regular day and evening hours during the week. Clerk may occasionally be offered substitute hours to fill in for vacationing staff. Salary is $9.88 per hour. No benefits. The successful candidate should be able to meet the public courteously and perform a wide variety of library tasks. Besides circulation duties, clerk will work closely with children’s librarian to supervise children during story times, and prepares supplies and community room for children’s events and other programs. Enjoys creating in-house flyers, registration forms, displays, and crafts as needed. Must have knowledge of Microsoft Office and be familiar with Micorsoft Publisher and Adobe Photo Elements. Experience in using Auto-Graphics Verso circulation system and having prior work experience in libraries is preferred. Interested applicants should send letter of interest, resume and references no later than Friday, <span style="color: red;">August 16, 2013</span> to – Director, Prospect Public Library, 17 Center St., Prospect, CT 06712 or email them to: <a _fcksavedurl="mailto: libraryprospect@yahoo.com" href="mailto:%20libraryprospect@yahoo.com"> libraryprospect@yahoo.com</a> or fax to: 203-758-0080.

Part-Time Library Clerk - Prospect Library

Part-Time Library Clerk -  Prospect Library is seeking a part-time library clerk to work at its circulation desk for 20 hours per week. Wi...

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Librarian, Part Time - Bay Path College, Longmeadow Campus, Longmeadow, MA

<strong>Librarian, Part Time - </strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Bay Path College, Longmeadow Campus</span></strong></strong>, Longmeadow, MA. The librarian will provide one-on-one reference services and participate in teaching information literacy skills primarily to students in our One-Day-a-Week undergraduate program. Twelve-month position. Total of 7.5 hours per week on Saturdays, when the librarian will be responsible for opening or closing the library. Hours may vary slightly during One-Day program breaks. Qualifications: MLS degree from an ALA-accredited program; reference and instruction experience in an academic library; knowledge of online databases and Internet resources; excellent interpersonal and communication skills. To apply, send a curriculum vitae and cover letter that includes a summary of your qualifications, and names and contact information of four professional references to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:hr@baypath.edu" href="mailto:hr@baypath.edu">hr@baypath.edu</a>. Application materials should be sent in MS Word format. For questions about the position or the curriculum, email Michael Moran, Director of Library and Information Services, at <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:mmoran@baypath.edu" href="mailto:mmoran@baypath.edu">mmoran@baypath.edu</a>. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. An equal opportunity employer, Bay Path College is committed to fostering diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff.

Librarian, Part Time - Bay Path College, Longmeadow Campus, Longmeadow, MA

Librarian, Part Time - Bay Path College, Longmeadow Campus , Longmeadow, MA. The librarian will provide one-on-one reference services and ...

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Information Literacy Librarian, Tutor - Bay Path College, Central Mass. Campus, Charlton, MA

<strong>Information Literacy Librarian, Tutor -</strong> <strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Bay Path College, <span _fcktemp="1"></span>Central Mass. <span _fcktemp="1"></span>Campus</span></strong></strong>, Charlton, MA. Part-Time. This position provides instruction on the use of the library and its resources to students, faculty and staff; assists and tutors students in research approaches; serves as library-services liaison between the Hatch Library at the College’s main campus in Longmeadow and CMC. Twelve hours per week, including two evenings and Saturday. Hours may vary slightly during One-Day program breaks. Teach information literacy skills to library users at all levels of the curriculum, primarily students in our One-Day-a-Week undergraduate program and several graduate programs. Provide traditional and electronic reference services to students, faculty and staff of the College. Assist and tutor students throughout the research process, including use of print and electronic resources, source evaluation, and other aspects of research and writing. Provide discipline-specific support to students in the Legal Program at the CMC. Consult with faculty to determine information-literacy needs in relation to the curriculum. Develop strategies to make students and faculty aware of library services. Assist in routine library duties including circulation and collection maintenance. Qualifications: MLS from an ALA-accredited program. Reference and instruction service experience in academic library. Demonstrated progressively increasing administrative responsibility. Familiarity with electronic information services and resources. High level of competence and comfort with technology, including online courses and programs, campus learning management systems, and social media. Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and students. Ability to work independently and maintain confidentiality. To apply, send a curriculum vitae and cover letter that includes a summary of your qualifications, and names and contact information of four professional references to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:hr@baypath.edu" href="mailto:hr@baypath.edu">hr@baypath.edu</a>. Application materials should be sent in MS Word format. For questions about the position or the curriculum, email Michael Moran, Director of Library and Information Services, at <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:mmoran@baypath.edu" href="mailto:mmoran@baypath.edu">mmoran@baypath.edu</a>. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. An equal opportunity employer, Bay Path College is committed to fostering diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff.

Information Literacy Librarian, Tutor - Bay Path College, Central Mass. Campus, Charlton, MA

Information Literacy Librarian, Tutor - Bay Path College,  Central Mass.  Campus , Charlton, MA. Part-Time. This position provides instruc...

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Librarian - The Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain

<strong>Librarian - </strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">The Hospital of Central Connecticut</span></strong></strong>, New Britain, offers you the opportunity to team up with bright, motivated people like yourself who share your values, enjoy a sensible work/life balance and make a real difference in the lives of others. For over one hundred years, the Hospital has remained committed to its mission of delivering outstanding patient care to the central Connecticut community. The Hospital of Central Connecticut is actively seeking a Librarian (30 Hours/week) to join the staff of the Health Sciences Library. Job responsibilities to include the following: Provide advanced information services, including evidence-based research and document delivery using multiple online databases to library patrons. Conduct orientation sessions and individual and group library instruction. Responsible for processing and cataloging new items in the collection. Working in collaboration with the Library Manager, supporting departmental planning, collection development, program development and evaluation, and outreach. All other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications: M.L.S. [ALA-accredited] and 1 year of experience, preferably in a health sciences library. Requires advanced knowledge of several computer-based information retrieval systems (e.g., MEDLINE, OVID, CINAHL) and the Internet. Knowledge of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classification system and nomenclature (MeSH). At The Hospital of Central Connecticut, we take pride in our outstanding staff. We strive for the perfect balance of career and lifestyle. So we’ve created an environment with a healthy respect for you, your career and your life. Each member of our staff, regardless of where they work, contributes to fulfilling our mission of excellence in the delivery of health care, education, and research. The Hospital of Central Connecticut is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information about this position and to apply online, please go to <a _fcksavedurl="http://thocc.org/jobs/" href="http://thocc.org/jobs/" target="_blank">http://thocc.org/jobs/</a>.

Librarian - The Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain

Librarian - The Hospital of Central Connecticut , New Britain, offers you the opportunity to team up with bright, motivated people like yo...

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The Safe Way To Get Into Shape Before Summer

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Vanessa Summer</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Bathing suit season is coming up quickly and this has people taking on different eating habits (shunning those of the winter season) and promising themselves that they will get in shape before the weather prevents them from hiding their bodies under heavy layers of clothing. So many individuals throw themselves straight into working out all the time because they are desperate to lose weight and get into shape before anybody gets to see their body. Unfortunately if you attempt to get into shape too fast, you could actually end up hurting yourself. Doctors just about everywhere agree that it won't help you to just hop into a daily workout routine. So how are you supposed to get a lean body soon enough to put on that bathing suit?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> The most important thing you must do is visit your doctor. Ask your medical professional to give you a comprehensive physical assessment. This can help you see precisely what your kick off point is before you start working out and trying to get in shape. Your doctor can help you figure out your goal weight and body mass index objectives as well as helping you determine if there are any health conditions that you need to treat carefully while you work to get in shape. Your physician will help you set up an excellent diet plan so that you can get your eating style under control as well.<br /> <br /> Start gradually. Do not try and run too far too fast too soon. A excellent program for starting to get into shape is the Couch to 5K program. This is a regimen that will slowly but surely raise your running workouts until you're able to run a 5K marathon. Of course, to get in shape you have to do more than simply run. You must also start doing some weight training and cardio workouts as well. If you do not have time for that many exercise sessions, find a way to implement the Couch to 5K program to a swimming regimen so that you can work all of your body systems slowly but surely.<br /> <br /> You really should have a support team. Sure putting on excess weight can be embarrassing, but you stand a much better chance of losing weight and getting into shape if you find a few folks to work with. You can work together to eat right and exercise-these are generally individuals who can visit weight watchers meetings with you, take exercise classes with you, etc. If you don't want to do this with folks in your normal life, you can generally find this kind of emotional support on the internet. There are wide ranging internet support groups set up for people who want to lose weight.<br /> <br /> The simple truth is that it is going to take time to lose weight and get into shape. You'll be a whole lot better off if you can get started changing your eating and exercise habits sooner rather then later. The earlier you begin your efforts, the easier it'll be to work on building your body slowly and over time. Try to bear in mind this is a circumstance when slow and steady does win the race: your health and body will thank you for your efforts in bathing suit season.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Recommended website: <a href="http://www.naturalfishoil.info">http://www.naturalfishoil.info</a>.</div><br /> </div><br />

The Safe Way To Get Into Shape Before Summer

By Vanessa Summer Bathing suit season is coming up quickly and this has people taking on different eating habits (shunning those of the ...

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Great Methods For Dropping Weight And Staying Healthy

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Darcey Ashbacher</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>It is essential to remember to have patience when beginning a weight loss program. Pounds don't come down overnight. Nevertheless, these article is going to offer information that'll jump start the procedure. Remember, no matter how frustrating it may seem at times, do not give up before you reach your target weight.<br /> <br /> Reading food labels faithfully, will get you on the way to food reduction. Create a habit of reading the labels before you consume or purchase a product, paying special attention to the serving sizes. You'll be surprised to understand exactly how many calories you're eating in certain of the favorite snacks. It's much easier to express no to your address when you know exactly how bad it's for you.<br /> <br /> A <a href"http://php-security-scanner.net/practical-programs-for-burn-the-fat-inner-circle-simplified/">great way to lose excess weight</a> is to begin eating more fiber. Eating foods that have more fiber, such as for example oats and whole wheat bread, could keep you full longer. They're also low glycemic, meaning they will be more unlikely to be kept within your body as fat.<br /> <br /> When you're wanting to slim down, you must make sure to weigh your self regularly. This means that you keep on track and helps you to focus on the progress you've made. Most authorities recommend weighing about once per week to obtain a good idea of the weight loss or gain.<br /> <br /> A great way to lose excess weight is to grab the device and call a pal everytime you are feeling hungry. If you phone a friend when you feel hungry you'll distract oneself, and you'll suddenly lose the need you had to consume anything. Your pals will not mind knowing they are helping you also.<br /> <br /> Stay hydrated when trying to lose weight. Drinking ten glasses of cool water daily could keep you hydrated. Once the weather is hot you should eat more. Drinking a lot of water will help your digestive tract keep moving; it will also give you the impression that you are fuller, so you can avoid overeating.<br /> <br /> A good fat loss idea to follow would be to clearly separate hunger and thirst. Sometimes, you may possibly think you're hungry when you're really only thirsty. For that reason, if you are feeling hungry, drink a of water instead and wait a few minutes or so to see if that has been the problem.<br /> <br /> When baking, make an effort to reduce the level of unhealthy fats the recipe requires. This can make your chosen formula healthier in the long-run. Watch the amounts of whole fat milk, butter and oils and make an effort to either reduce their amounts down or discover healthier alternatives.You can often use such things as yogurt, healthier butter types, etc.<br /> <br /> If you wish to stay with your weight loss goals, try and get a friend or member of the family to be your effective weight loss "partner". It helps if they're slimming down themselves, but it's unnecessary. What is crucial is the fact that they are helpful and ready to take notice and ask you questions about your daily fat loss activity. A caring person who does not mind being only a little hard for you may go a lengthy way.<br /> <br /> Eat a great deal of snacks to lose weight. To get rid of weight without being hungry, eat several small meals each day rather than 2 or 3 large ones. Eating every three hours or so guarantees you're never far from your own next healthy meal; which makes it easier to resist the temptation of a poor but easy-to-grab treat such as a of chips or a candy bar.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>While planning improving your life by <a href="http://dqwlh.net/burn-the-fat-feed-the-muscle-pdf-advice-in-the-uk.html">losing excess weight</a> was extremely interesting, you should feel a lot better since you understand how. You can now apply your newly acquired information to <a href="http://amandamarie.info/uncategorized/choosing-no-fuss-programs-in-burn-the-fat-feed-the-muscle-review/">creating a program that works</a> with you and speaking to your doctor about it, so that you can put it in place and start dropping now.</div><br /> </div><br />

Great Methods For Dropping Weight And Staying Healthy

By Darcey Ashbacher It is essential to remember to have patience when beginning a weight loss program. Pounds don't come down overni...

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How Many Times Per Week Should You Workout To Build Lean Muscle?

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Russ Howe-Pti</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>If you don't know how to build muscle one of the first questions you'll likely ask is how to work out the optimal number of gym sessions to see great gains. Today we will explain this for you and show you where quite a lot of exercise enthusiasts go wrong.<br /> <br /> Before you visit your local gym there are a few changes you should make at home in order to ensure your workouts are more productive. <br /> <br /> If you are brand new to training you might be worried when you see ultra fit friends who seem to exercise non-stop. Perhaps that's something which has previously put you off the whole idea of getting fitter. You needn't worry, because building a better body is not about torturing yourself on a daily basis.<br /> <br /> If you can get to the gym two-to-three times per week you should see positive results within the first four weeks. Especially if you combine cardiovascular exercise with regular weight training. That means you too, girls. Don't buy into the incorrect philosophy that weights will make you huge.<br /> <br /> With that as a starting point, your body will begin the process of changing.<br /> <br /> Once you begin seeing results, however, a different type of situation is upon you and there are different risks to your progress. No longer will you have to worry about hitting the gym regularly enough, because seeing a positive change in the shape of your body will be enough to kick-start your desire to exercise more than ever before.<br /> <br /> When you reach this stage, people tend to buy into the false philosophy that more equals better. In terms of exercise and fitness, it doesn't work that way.<br /> <br /> Rest plays a very important role in your log-term progress and you should not fall victim to the common mistake of training purely because you enjoy it. You have a long-term goal to experience hypertrophy, you'll need to remember this.<br /> <br /> Hypertrophy cannot occur if you aren't letting your muscles rest after each hard session you complete. This is why most people tend to change their routine to incorporate a split routine instead of hitting all the major muscles during each workout, as this allows them to spend more time on a muscle group as well as letting it recover while they train other body parts in their next session.<br /> <br /> Don't waste your time in the gym rebuilding the same body part repeatedly. If you aren't resting, you aren't growing.<br /> <br /> Four to five sessions per week is the absolute maximum recommendation for those looking to learn how to build muscle or how to lose weight through effective weights and cardio training. If you find it hard to take a day off once you start seeing good results, think of it as a day of growth rather than a day off.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Bio: Russ Howe PTI is the UK's premier fitness instructor. If you want to know <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KFcTIpXe90">how to build muscle</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oGRMaqPfdk">how to lose weight</a> our easy proven guides will help you achieve more from your training.</div><br /> </div><br />

How Many Times Per Week Should You Workout To Build Lean Muscle?

By Russ Howe-Pti If you don't know how to build muscle one of the first questions you'll likely ask is how to work out the optim...

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A Personal Trainer Camarillo Explains The Value Of Regular Exercise

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Jackie Johnson</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>In this world where there are lots of unhealthy temptations that could hinder a person from losing weight, it can be a bit hard to commit to a daily workout routine. But if you're really desperate to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle, then you should do it as early as now.<br /> <br /> You might not realize the value of exercises at this time of your life, but sooner or later, you'll realize that working out regularly is something that everybody should take seriously. Here, a personal trainer Camarillo explains the importance of regular exercise.<br /> <br /> Keep the Lungs Healthy<br /> <br /> Regular exercises can benefit your lungs up to a lifetime. If you try to exercise every day, your lungs will be able to function well. As you know, our lungs are responsible for infusing oxygen to a person's blood supply. The greater the amount of oxygen that your lungs could provide to your body, the healthier you will turn out to be.<br /> <br /> Prevent Heart Related Diseases<br /> <br /> Studies show that those who are 60 years old and above are at high risk of heart diseases like heart attacks. Heart attacks can actually happen at any time, regardless of your age. So to prevent this from happening, you should take care of your heart while you are still young and the best thing that you can do is to exercise regularly.<br /> <br /> If you work out regularly, the personal trainer Camarillo explains that this will improve the heart related functions in your body including the control of the cholesterol level and blood pressure.<br /> <br /> Mental Alertness<br /> <br /> Regular exercises can also benefit you by keeping your mind alert. Thus, you will be able to concentrate on your tasks and be more productive at work. According to the personal trainer Camarillo, regular exercise helps to increase the presence of endorphins in our body and these chemicals are the ones responsible in keeping our mind alert at all times. Endorphins also help to prevent depression, anxiety as well as dementia.<br /> <br /> The personal trainer Camarillo further added that if you make it a point to work out regularly, you could lower your chances of becoming overweight or obese and you could even live longer in this world.<br /> <br /> Mental Alertness<br /> <br /> Regular exercises can also benefit you by keeping your mind alert. Thus, you will be able to concentrate on your tasks and be more productive at work. According to the personal trainer Camarillo, regular exercise helps to increase the presence of endorphins in our body and these chemicals are the ones responsible in keeping our mind alert at all times. Endorphins also help to prevent depression, anxiety as well as dementia.<br /> <br /> So as you can see, there are certainly a lot of benefits that you could get if you exercise regularly. Based on the explanation of the personal trainer Camarillo, we can clearly conclude that an individual who workouts regularly will be able to live longer. So if you still want to live longer and enjoy life even more, then you should give utmost importance to your health. It's about time to look for the very best trainer to hire and discuss how you can begin with your fitness routine.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Getting in top shape with the help of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-camarillo/"> front page </a> not merely improves your physique but likewise your overall health as well. The rewards that one could get from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com"> Perfect Workout Camarillo </a> are endless</div><br /> </div><br />

A Personal Trainer Camarillo Explains The Value Of Regular Exercise

By Jackie Johnson In this world where there are lots of unhealthy temptations that could hinder a person from losing weight, it can be a...

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Benefits Of Getting A Personal Trainer Cupertino

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By James T. Swanson</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Hiring a Personal Trainer Cupertino is quite advantageous. Due to the professional personal fitness trainers in the region that can accommodate your schedule, you can work out and stay fit regardless of how busy you are.<br /> <br /> But before you hire the very first personal fitness trainer that you see in an ad, you should consider your needs, your wants and your goals first. It's also wise to look for a Personal Trainer Cupertino that is quite acquainted with the workout routine, the sport or even the strategies that you need to do so that you can achieve your primary goal. Getting a personal fitness trainer from Cupertino is quite advantageous, but you need to ensure that you are hiring the right one to be able to achieve your goals in an efficient and safe way.<br /> <br /> Why Employ A Personal Fitness Trainer From Cupertino<br /> <br /> Here are a few of the benefits of getting a personal fitness trainer within the town of Cupertino, California.<br /> <br /> * Personal Trainers Can Teach You In Various Parks With Fitness Courses<br /> <br /> When you employ a Personal Trainer Cupertino, you can train or exercise even though you may not have access to much space in your house and office. There are a lot of spacious parks in the region where you can meet your individual fitness trainer whenever you want.<br /> <br /> And because personal fitness trainers in the region prioritize their clients' schedules, you will be able to make your sessions work for you and not worry about exercising inside your already hectic schedule just for your routine sessions.<br /> <br /> * Personal Fitness Experts Can Accommodate Your Schedule<br /> <br /> Unlike attending group classes for your workouts, you won't need to work your schedule around your training sessions. Because personal fitness trainers within this city to accommodate their client's schedule, you won't need to cancel appointments simply to exercise.<br /> <br /> You can call your individual fitness trainer in advance to inform him when you are able exercise and have scheduled meeting sessions so that you can have your individual fitness trainer encounter you on your free times.<br /> <br /> * You Can Function From Home Or In The Office<br /> <br /> Personal trainers Cupertino would also gladly show you inside your workout routines even if you are at home or perhaps in the office. If you have an available spot in your home, apartment or office, your personal trainer can hold your requests to do your sessions there, so long as it is allowed. Thus, you can exercise on your spare time both at home and during your break time in your workplace.<br /> <br /> * Work Out At The Gym<br /> <br /> Whenever you employ a Personal Trainer Cupertino, you can also exercise in the club. Since most personal fitness experts work for or are affiliated with gyms and schools, you can exercise under the supervision of the trainer when you want to go to a fitness center.<br /> <br /> Due to this, you can use various equipments that can help you make your sessions more effective. You can also spend less money by hiring personal trainers as the majority of them offer packages that already incorporate a gym membership. Thus, you are able to work out in the club without paying for additional fees such as monthly membership fees on gyms.<br /> <br /> Hiring a Personal Trainer Cupertino is beneficial especially if you are a busy person who needs guidance so that you can achieve your fitness goals. Because your schedule is going to be agreeable with you, you can work out and attend your sessions and get your goals with less stress on your part. Thus, you may be healthier and fitter without exerting too much effort on arranging your sessions.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Getting in excellent shape with the aid of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-cupertino/">browse</a> not only enhances your physique but also your well being too. The advantages that you can get from <a href="https://plus.google.com/109454995085255177594/about?gl=US&hl=en-US">website link</a> are endless.</div><br /> </div><br />

Benefits Of Getting A Personal Trainer Cupertino

By James T. Swanson Hiring a Personal Trainer Cupertino is quite advantageous. Due to the professional personal fitness trainers in the ...

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Today's Teamster News 07.26.13

<a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175424/industry-where-few-workers-are-employees-teamsters-mount-multi-front-attack#" rel="nofollow">In Industry Where Few Workers Are 'Employees,' Teamsters Mount Multi-Front Attack</a>  The Nation   ...A rare union election victory in New Jersey and a battery of wage theft complaints in California represent the latest steps in the Teamsters union’s effort to transform port trucking, a growing industry in which most workers aren’t considered employees under the law...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/after-long-battle-waste-workers-evansville-indiana-ratify-contract" rel="nofollow">After a Long Battle, Teamster Waste Workers in Evansville, Indiana Ratify Contract</a>  IBT   ...On July 22, 80 workers at Republic Services/Allied Waste in Evansville, Ind., who are members of Teamsters Local 215, ratified a contract that provides significant wage increases and strong retirement security...<br /><a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-24/news/sns-rt-us-usa-vietnam-trade-20130724_1_human-rights-watch-vietnam-tpp" rel="nofollow">U.S., Vietnam to intensify talks despite protests</a>  Reuters   ...The United States and Vietnam have agreed to intensify talks on a regional free-trade agreement in hopes of finishing by the end of the year, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office said on Wednesday, following a call by labor and human rights groups for negotiations with Hanoi to be suspended...<br /><a href="http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Global-Action/Journalist-Covers-Extreme-Violence-Against-Workers-and-Union-Activists-in-Colombia" rel="nofollow">Journalist Covers Extreme Violence Against Workers and Union Activists in Colombia</a>  AFL-CIO Now   ...“The dangers faced by union members and human rights activists mirror a long-lasting vortex of violence propelled by guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries, drug cartels, criminals and, according to human rights groups and others, military and government officials as well...”<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/24/us-ubs-bidrigging-ghavami-idUSBRE96N1D520130724">Former UBS bankers get prison terms for muni bid-rigging</a>  Reuters   ...Three former UBS AG (UBSN.VX) bankers were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for deceiving U.S. municipalities by rigging bids to invest municipal bond proceeds, with the longest sentence at 27 months, a fraction of what prosecutors had sought...<br /><a href="http://nhlabornews.com/2013/07/detroit-war-on-middle-class/" rel="nofollow">Detroit: latest battleground in the war on the Middle Class</a>  NH Labor News   ...On Wednesday afternoon, the federal judge overseeing Detroit’s bankruptcy proceedings <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/24/us-usa-detroit-idUSBRE96N05Z20130724">suspended all other legal actions by public workers</a> who are trying to protect their constitutional rights. And it is very unlikely that workers’ rights will be considered during the bankruptcy proceedings...<br /><a href="http://www.walb.com/story/22925016/georgia-cities-unable-to-file-for-bankruptcy" rel="nofollow">Georgia cities unable to file for bankruptcy</a>  WALB News   ...Detroit's bankruptcy filing has some asking if a Georgia city could be next, but one attorney said the answer is no. State law prohibits cities from filing bankruptcy to absolve themselves of debt and forces city leaders to make tough decisions on raising taxes and cutting benefits and jobs...<br /><a href="http://www.goerie.com/union-reps-decry-liquor-privatization-expired-beer-in-erie-stores" rel="nofollow">Union reps decry liquor privatization, expired beer in Erie stores</a>  Erie Times-News   ...A union group opposing liquor privatization was at a local grocery store Wednesday claiming some stores in Erie, Pennsylvania, have been selling beer past its expiration date...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/passenger-train-derails-in-northwestern-spain-leaving-at-least-40-dead-many-injured/2013/07/24/39043a58-f4c5-11e2-81fa-8e83b3864c36_story.html" rel="nofollow">80 dead, 31 critical after Spain train crash blamed on high speed; 1 American among the dead</a>  Washington Post   ...A Spanish train that hurtled off the rails and smashed into a security wall as it rounded a bend was going so fast that carriages tumbled off the tracks like dominos, killing 80 people and maiming dozens more, according to eyewitness accounts and video footage obtained Thursday...<br /><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/07/25/315509/lowwage-workers-rally-in-new-york/" rel="nofollow">Low-wage workers rally in New York</a>  PressTV   ...Demonstrators gathered in Brooklyn on Wednesday calling for better wages and denouncing harsh working conditions without benefits. The rally was organized by Fast Food Forward. The participants said the rally is part of the national movement of low-wage workers fighting for a better future...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-department-to-challenge-states-voting-rights-laws/2013/07/25/c26740b2-f49b-11e2-a2f1-a7acf9bd5d3a_story.html" rel="nofollow">Justice Department to challenge states’ voting rights laws</a>  Washington Post   ...The Justice Department is preparing to take fresh legal action in a string of voting rights cases across the nation, U.S. officials said, part of a new attempt to blunt the impact of a Supreme Court ruling that the Obama administration has warned will imperil minority representation...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-25/north-carolina-first-to-weight-voting-laws-after-ruling.html" rel="nofollow">North Carolina First to Toughen Voting Laws After Ruling</a>  Bloomberg News   ...North Carolina is poised to become the first state to pass a more restrictive voting law after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a core provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act...<br /><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/state-union-workers-will-have-to-wait-for-1-raise-b9961851z1-216947971.html" rel="nofollow">Wisconsin’s union workers will have to wait for 1% raise</a>   Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ...Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach is upset that at least 2,000 union state workers won't immediately share in the 1% pay raise put forward by Scott Walker's administration for each of the next two fiscal years. "Passing a state employment compensation plan without including any represented state employees reeks of punishment," Erpenbach said...<br /><a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/capitol-police-clash-with-singers-for-second-straight-day/article_be2446ae-3b1e-5fb3-a170-d20bf2561bc9.html#ixzz2a5IlOqrs">Police clash with Capitol singers for second straight day </a> Wisconsin State Journal   ...For the second day in a row, police at the state Capitol arrested people gathered in the rotunda without a permit as part of the long-running noontime singalong in protest of Gov. Scott Walker...<br /><a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/International/2013/Jul-24/224796-most-big-american-tech-groups-slip-european-tax-net.ashx#axzz2a4ilIv9g" rel="nofollow">Most big American tech groups slip European tax net</a>  Reuters   ...Most big U.S. technology firms cut their tax bills by not declaring a tax residence in their main European markets, preventing tax authorities in those countries from even assessing their income, a Reuters analysis of hundreds of corporate filings shows...

Today's Teamster News 07.26.13

In Industry Where Few Workers Are 'Employees,' Teamsters Mount Multi-Front Attack   The Nation   ...A rare union election victory in...

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Demise of the DVD stores

Do you still rent films from the traditional DVD store?<div><br></div><div>Over the past few years with the advent of movies that are downloaded to your computer or streaming websites, DVD shops have begun to struggle.</div><div><br></div><div>Chartbusters closed a few years ago in Ireland and Xtravision are currently closing many of their stores.</div><div><br></div><div>We used to rent DVDs but last night we bought one directly on our TV from our service provider UPC.  For €5 we didn't have to move from our couch and we were instantly able to play Denzel Washington's movie "Flight" which we now have for another 48hrs (this is a great movie btw).</div><div><br></div><div>UPC also offer TV box sets on Demand.  We watch the Good Wife and Blue Bloods like this.</div><div><br></div><div>In other news, did you hear the Plague is back???  </div><div>Also known as the Black Death this fatal disease has been found in a squirrel Californian park.  </div><div><br></div><div>When I was a child my twin sister and I would scare ourself before bedtime by reading a book we had that had a story about the Black Death in it - the pictures were terrifying!!! </div>

Demise of the DVD stores

Do you still rent films from the traditional DVD store? Over the past few years with the advent of movies that are downloaded to your comput...

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I'm So Excited: Not by a long shot

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>I'm So Excited</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/sony/imsoexcited/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>One star. Rating: R, for strong crude and sexual content (all verbal), and drug use</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m still struggling to believe that Pedro Almodóvar had anything to do with this flimsy waste of celluloid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTmJxgJmlxFPlbjtIxhdxkY4smbs-WUJvQgB-ZNUUvY3C4FUNNZNmatK4Tp-XfbP1JjaOy2CK6x8L86NEk3cktpC3RadFa4ipL56Yn5FO3R1Pw6eVWVMCzeQ5P2gQ5kswCLQ8IypjZqw/s1600/I'm+So+Excited+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTmJxgJmlxFPlbjtIxhdxkY4smbs-WUJvQgB-ZNUUvY3C4FUNNZNmatK4Tp-XfbP1JjaOy2CK6x8L86NEk3cktpC3RadFa4ipL56Yn5FO3R1Pw6eVWVMCzeQ5P2gQ5kswCLQ8IypjZqw/s400/I'm+So+Excited+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">In an effort to distract their passengers from the dire circumstances that are preventing<br />the plane from landing, three flight attendants — from left, Fajas (Carlos Areces),<br />Ulloa (Raúl Arévalo) and Joserra (Javier Cámara) — break into a hilariously<br />choreographed rendition of the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited." This three-minute<br />sequence is absolutely the only thing worth watching in this bewildering bomb.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almodóvar, the acclaimed Spanish filmmaker who brought us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All About My Mother</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Volver</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>That</i> Pedro Almodóvar? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seriously?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hard to imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almodóvar knows better than most that cheeky, exaggerated sensuality is a magical blend of setting, sharp dialogue, camera-friendly actors who radiate lust and, yes, artful nudity (the less expected and more inappropriate, the better).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I’m So Excited</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> contains none of the above. Worse yet, Almodóvar has abandoned his (usually) progressive Western European sensibilities in favor of stale and vulgar homoerotic jokes: the sort of tiresome one-liners currently viewed as the height of sex humor by arrested American adolescents such as Seth Rogen and the rest of Judd Apatow’s repertory company.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I’ll give Almodóvar the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he deliberately spoofs timeworn gay male stereotypes here ... but that’s not apt to mollify viewers who will recoil from his mincing portrayal of three flight attendants. Not even Liberace was this swish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On top of which, if Almodóvar removed every dialogue reference to fellatio — spoken by men, women and genders hard to determine — I suspect his entire script would clock in at fewer than 25 words. Never have so many men, some of them defiantly heterosexual, claimed to so thoroughly enjoy wrapping their mouths around ... um, you get the idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This might be amusing — even hilarious — under better circumstances. But absent context or back-story, it’s just a bunch of ill-defined characters with potty mouths and overcooked libidos. Never has polymorphous perversity sounded so ... well ... dull.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This film also looks cheap, with almost all of its “action” restricted to the cramped, obviously fake-set interior of an airplane. Brief detours are taken to a) an apartment; and b) a city street. Also not what you’d call budget-busters. Production costs couldn’t have topped $1.78.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The cast looks and sounds under-rehearsed, and the dialogue is forced, unpersuasive and (from the sound of things) frequently improvised. I’m amazed Almodóvar had the audacity to claim scripting credit; I see scant evidence of actual writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">He also opens with a tease: a quick scene between Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz, leading us to hope that we’ll see more of them. No such luck. Their radiant faces — their naturalistic performances, and their obvious chemistry — vanish after a quick prologue. After that, we’re stuck with the B-Team. No, wait ... more like the P-Team.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The story then, such as it is:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Banderas and Cruz make their cameos as León and Jessica, members of the ground crew for Peninsula Airlines Flight 2549; thanks to a brief interruption, León fails to properly remove the large wheel chocks, prior to take-off.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We then join Flight 2549 during take-off, as the flight crew preps all passengers with the usual lecture about oxygen masks and seat flotation devices; this is our first glimpse of flight attendants Fajas (Carlos Areces), Ulloa (Raúl Arévalo) and Joserra (Javier Cámara).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whoosh</i>, time passes. The plane is quiet, which is no surprise; everybody in coach is fast asleep, having been doped with muscle relaxants (!). For some reason, the business class passengers have been allowed to remain awake. (I guess we’d have no movie otherwise, which I’d argue would have been a good thing.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The reason for the doping, and for the worried expressions shared by pilot Alex Acero (Antonio De La Torre) and co-pilot Benito Morón (Hugo Silva), is that Flight 2549 is in trouble. It can’t land because the aforementioned chocks have interfered with the deployment of landing gear. The intended flight to Mexico City has been canceled; the plane just keeps circling, waiting for ground-based Folks In Charge to find and then prepare a runway for an emergency landing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We now pause, for a moment of topicality.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Almodóvar can’t be blamed for bad timing; he certainly didn’t know that his film would gain its U.S. opening mere weeks after the Asiana Airlines crash in San Francisco. I’d like to think, however, that the folks at Sony Pictures Classics might have deemed release a wee bit tasteless, and elected to postpone. Absent that bit of prudence, we’re left with a low-rent sex comedy that would have been dreadful under the best of circumstances, but becomes even worse by attempting to mine humor from a situation that is seriously un-funny at this particular moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Disney “waited” six months, until April 2002, to release <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Big Trouble</i>— with its tasteless bomb-in-a-plane climax — in the wake of 9/11. That didn’t work either.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Anyway...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">With death a very real possibility, the business class passengers eventually confess the reasons for their trips: revelations apparently intended to be provocative and/or amusing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hardly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Bruna (Lola Duenas), a self-proclaim psychic, frets that she may die a virgin; she can’t stop eyeing the impressive pants bulge of one fellow snoozing away in coach. A newlywed groom (Miguel Ángel Silvestre), actually a drug mule with a baggy of mescaline shoved up his fundament, pops pills into the mouth of his bride (Laya Martí) so that she’ll sleep through whatever happens next.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Gossip queen Norma (Cecilia Roth), actually a dominatrix who boasts of having slept with her country’s 600 most powerful men — while taping said encounters, for blackmail leverage — worries that this calamity is a rather ostentatious plot to kill her. Infante (José María Yazpik), a somewhat sinister fellow, keeps close counsel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Corrupt businessman Mas (José Luis Torrijo), having fled just ahead of arrest back home, laments the ongoing estrangement from his daughter, who has embraced a provocative sexual lifestyle. Finally, soap opera star Ricardo Galán (Guillermo Toledo) has abandoned his most recent lover, while contrived circumstances bring a former lover (Blanca Suárez, as Ruth) back into his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our brief sojourn with Ruth takes us back to the ground, for a subplot that appears to have been dragged in from another film. A better one, too, from what we see of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Back in the air, everybody gets drunk — including the pilots — in some cases will past the point of acute alcohol poisoning. That’s not funny; it’s just dumb. Inhibitions disappear, particularly after the application of mescaline-laced punch. Confessions emerge, none the slightest bit interesting. The bride demonstrates a talent for having sex in her sleep. Bruna has sex with the well-hung fellow in coach, while <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he</i> sleeps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Nobody undresses, not even a little. As Joe Bob Briggs might have groused, back in the day, we don’t even get a flash of side-boob during any of these couplings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The film’s sole saving grace comes when the three gay caballeros — ah, flight attendants — wriggle and jiggle their way through a lively lip-synched and hilariously choreographed rendition of the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” (hence the film’s title).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">No doubt this scene soon will be extracted as a YouTube video, saving everybody the trouble of enduring the rest of this tawdry turkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Actually, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m So Excited</i> has one more virtue: It’s short. At 90 minutes, it’s only 87 minutes too long.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I don’t care how much you admire Almodóvar; this one must be skipped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You’ve been warned.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><!--EndFragment--></span></div><!--EndFragment-->

2013 Antonio Banderas Antonio De La Torre Carlos Areces Cecilia Roth Comedy Foreign films Hugo Silva Javier Camara Lola Duenas Pedro Almodovar Penelope Cruz Raul Arevalo I'm So Excited: Not by a long shot

I'm So Excited   (2013) •  View trailer   One star. Rating: R, for strong crude and sexual content (all verbal), and drug use By  Derric...

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The To Do List: Better left undone

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>The To Do List</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thetodolist/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>2.5 stars. Rating: R, for pervasive strong crude and sexual content, graphic dialogue, drug and alcohol use, and constant profanity, all involving teens</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the day, youthful sexual explorations followed a common sports metaphor, starting with reaching first base and concluding with the obvious home run.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My, how things have changed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXOQCxlSEPeDXh3UBot7qtuoSkJbhUB9cKdzywuSS67X7qBNzjkhgXl-MrTe7Wx07btvNu31PE_AmmI86O69LqQf1kK-4VDkZn2N4CavJk3R7g1Eue5Aov27jvcW3cpx15LVMN1KitRs/s1600/To+Do+List+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXOQCxlSEPeDXh3UBot7qtuoSkJbhUB9cKdzywuSS67X7qBNzjkhgXl-MrTe7Wx07btvNu31PE_AmmI86O69LqQf1kK-4VDkZn2N4CavJk3R7g1Eue5Aov27jvcW3cpx15LVMN1KitRs/s400/To+Do+List+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">At first, Fiona (Alia Shawkat, right) shares good friend Brandy's (Aubrey Plaza) elation<br />over the progress being made on her summer list of planned sexual accomplishments.<br />But like the so-called comedy in this film, Brandy eventually takes things too far, at<br />which point Fiona demonstrates that while she might talk the talk, she apparently<br />doesn't think much of people who walk the walk.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In these sexually liberated and quite raunchy days of the 21st century, that simple baseball metaphor has blossomed into the complexity of a 22-level video game. Libido-driven folks keeping score begin with quaint French kisses and hickies, progress through once-unspoken acts such as motorboating and teabagging, and ultimately, ah, climax with the horizontal bop itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least, that’s what writer/director Maggie Carey would have us believe, with her smutty teen sex comedy, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The To Do List</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, this new film is neither as witty nor as memorable as 2010’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Easy A</i>, which made a star of Emma Stone, and to which <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The To Do List</i> inevitably will be compared. While this new film’s star — the richly talented and still under-appreciated Aubrey Plaza — deserves a similar breakout hit, she won’t get it here. Carey’s film is too uneven, too clumsy and (to its detriment) too reflexively coarse, in the manner of various Judd Apatow or Farrelly brothers guys-behaving-badly yock-fests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ironically, Carey’s biggest problem is that she doesn’t have the courage to pursue her genre convictions. Her script is plenty dirty, but only at a potty-mouth level the Three Stooges would appreciate. She never achieves genuine heat or eroticism, and too many of Plaza’s fellow cast members work beneath their talents, their line readings stiff, unpersuasive and motivated more by writer’s fiat than narrative rational.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We should perhaps ask the basic question: Is this film intended to be genuinely sexy, or merely filthy? Because if the former was Carey’s intention, to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i>degree, she fouled out before reaching first base.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her story is set in 1993, apparently to avoid granting its characters any exposure to the Internet porn that has become readily available since then. We meet the over-achieving Brandy Klark (Plaza) as she graduates from high school and gives a roundly jeered valedictory speech. Whatever her academic accomplishments, she has become infamous as both a teacher’s pet and a virgin, the latter epithet apparently far more heinous than the former.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite being a social pariah, Brandy has two gal pals — Fiona (Alia Shawkat) and Wendy (Sarah Steele) — who like her but agree that she could, well, loosen up a bit. To hear Fiona and Wendy talk, they’ve either performed or contemplated every act once relegated to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kama Sutra</i> or Dr. David Reuben’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One suspects this may be nothing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but</i> talk; indeed, a third-act crisis results when Fiona and Wendy realize that Brandy has taken them word for debased word. But if this means Fiona and Wendy didn’t really <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mean</i> anything of what they suggested ... well, Carey never makes that distinction. To her story’s detriment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, taking her cue from her friends’ encouragement, Brandy decides that — before entering college in September, as a freshman — she really must become more, ah, experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She receives help — in terms of establishing the all-essential, 22-point “to do” list of desired “skills” — from her contemptuous older sister, Amber (Rachel Bilson). Big sis is a foul-mouthed, full-time slut who’s a profound disappointment to their father (Clark Gregg), a local judge — nothing is made of this profession, beyond its mere mention — who displays the puritanical censure, in all matters sexual, of a chaste nun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, Mrs. Klark (Connie Britton) is much more hip, and her unexpected candor prompts quite a few giggles, thanks to the juxtaposition between Britton’s cheerful, Mom-type calm, and the explicitness of her parental advice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although objectively willing to discover and embrace her bad self, Brandy doesn’t develop genuine passion for this challenge until bumping into hunky Rusty Waters (Scott Porter). Thanks to a summer job as lifeguard at the local public pool, Brandy is granted constant exposure to Rusty’s constantly exposed bod: a delectable potential “partner” for the final line-item on her list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As is typical of such stories, the poster-perfect Rusty out-classes poor Cameron (Johnny Simmons), the longtime friend Brandy always has treated as a platonic buddy, having failed to notice that he has worshipped her from afar, lo these many years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The final key ingredient in this hormonal bouillabaisse is Willy (Bill Hader), an older slacker who manages the aforementioned pool (and whose character therefore is a close cousin to the role Sam Rockwell plays in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Way, Way Back</i>). Hader is the one actor who matches Plaza’s comic timing, and occasionally tops it; he’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hilarious</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He’s funny because Willy occupies a slightly sideways portion of Brandy’s summer hijinks, and has almost nothing to do with her vice-laden mission. In other words, he’s a reasonably credible character, rather than a one-dimensional walking libido.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shawkat and Steele make a good double act: The former has a naughty, scheming air that makes Fiona look capable of just about anything, while Steele’s Wendy seems sweet and angelic until she opens her mouth and uncorks another unexpectedly earthy observation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bilson overplays the potty-mouthed shrike card, her rendering of Amber too one-dimensionally shrill, and the usually memorable Christopher Mintz-Plasse is wasted in a throwaway part as Duffy, Cameron’s best friend. As for Cameron himself, Simmons has some choice moments as the eternally frustrated “good guy” who wants to be noticed for all the right reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like Apatow and the Farrelly boys, Carey frequently elicits groans for the display of taboo bodily fluids, particularly those leaking or expelled at inopportune moments. Such moments may register on the funny-because-they’re-gross meter, but Carey gets better-deserved laughs at other moments; many involve Hader, and a few concern some of the wide-eyed adolescents who populate the public pool, and can’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">believe</i> the great stuff they’re hearing and seeing during this particular summer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But as Brandy drinks and debauches her way through the summer months, initially apprehensively but with increased enthusiasm, she quickly develops an entirely different sort of bad reputation, this time among the people who mean the most to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that’s a problem: not so much within this story’s thin framework, but in terms of the unbalanced tone Carey takes. After encouraging her protagonist to yield to every sexual temptation for nearly 90 minutes, often in slapstick fashion, Carey clumsily inserts a heavy-handed, real-world “lesson” that sounds like it was scripted by the Moral Majority. Apparently, this little sermon is intended to compensate for everything that has gone before, and demonstrate that Brandy has Learned An Important Lesson. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn’t work, and not only because Plaza, despite her comic timing, can’t make her eleventh-hour “purity diatribe” sound the slightest bit genuine. No, the major hiccup is that all these characters have been little more than sex-crazed cartoons up to this point, and Carey suddenly wants us to “feel” for them as real people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Tilt</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doesn’t work that way. If Carey wants that sort of ethical reckoning, she needs to better layer Brandy, her friends and family from the get-go. As it stands, this film’s conclusion feels like a cheat, or a take-back: much like a career Catholic sinner who “recants” everything in Confession, and walks away with a Get-Out-of-Hell-Free card. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Phooey</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carey comes to us from TV work, most notably <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Funny or Die Presents</i>; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The To Do List</i> is her debut big-screen feature. Like Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Way, Way Back</i>, Carey’s script wound up on Hollywood’s annual “Black List” of the industry’s best unproduced screenplays, a few years back. Carey had written the script with New York City improv troupe colleague Plaza in mind, and the rising actress joined a staged reading at the 2010 Austin Film Festival.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That audience loved it; flash-forward a bit, to this big-screen disappointment. Let’s just say that Carey didn’t make the most of her moment, the way Faxon and Rash did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve long noticed that title credits often indicate the quality of what follows: the more clever the credits — and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The To Do List</i> has the best I’ve seen for awhile — the better the film. Alas, my little handicapper let me down this time; aside from genuine chuckles here and there, the credits are the best part of Carey’s movie.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which can only leave us unfulfilled, regardless of the scoring system employed.</span></span><!--EndFragment-->

2013 Alia Shawkat Aubrey Plaza Bill Hader Christopher Mintz-Plasse Clark Gregg Comedy Connie Britton Johnny Simmons Rachel Bilson Sarah Steele Scott Porter Vulgar The To Do List: Better left undone

The To Do List   (2013) •  View trailer   2.5 stars. Rating: R, for pervasive strong crude and sexual content, graphic dialogue, drug and al...

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Immigration, PEDs and Sex Scandals: I Don't Care

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Holaaaaaaaa y’all! You know, there’s been a lot going on this week that has been covered pretty heavily in the news and on social media and this afternoon something suddenly hit me. I don’t really give a shit about most of it. I know some of this stuff is pretty important and shit, and maybe I should care on some level, but I just can’t. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>PED Use in Sports:</b> Don’t really care. I know, I know, “Kids look up to these pro athletes and want to be like them and will use PED’s if their favorite player does!” Don’t care. I know it’s always “Think of the cheeeeeeeeldren!” but, I just can’t get worked up over it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I know that steroids are dangerous (probably) but it’s not like people are forcing Ryan Braun or A-Rod or anyone else to take HGH or steroids. They’re doing it on their own. If steroids cause their nuts to shrink or mess their minds up or make them shoot blanks then so what? It’s just like smoking, drinking and eating too much, we all know the risks. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The only thing the PED discussion does is give sanctimonious sportswriters the opportunity to wag the finger of indignation at everyone which is their favorite activity, of course. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg58qeohBKv_Tc2GjtQFGv-uy-T3iplumxvXco768krJHF4Nbsv8VF_DjA4dr9tySJbDc-wWGFjRFdH5GnKNYzKAN02w4F6wlY62UShUXxUWv6trXYIm5EpJXPRniIlJv7baOnmDrQ6g/s1600/Daniela-de-Jesus-Cosio-Hot-Topless-Mexican-Babe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg58qeohBKv_Tc2GjtQFGv-uy-T3iplumxvXco768krJHF4Nbsv8VF_DjA4dr9tySJbDc-wWGFjRFdH5GnKNYzKAN02w4F6wlY62UShUXxUWv6trXYIm5EpJXPRniIlJv7baOnmDrQ6g/s400/Daniela-de-Jesus-Cosio-Hot-Topless-Mexican-Babe.jpg" width="210" /></a><b>Immigration: </b>Come one, come all I say! Well, maybe not but pretty close. I know people who start talking about immigration and their faces turn red and I think they’re gonna have a heart attack within like five minutes. And while they’re doing that I’m sitting there shrugging my shoulders and saying “Yeah, I guess. Whatever.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Want to build a fence? Go ahead. I don’t give a shit. Want to pass a “path to citizenship?” Okay, that’s probably a good idea. Want to round up all 11 million illegal immigrants up, stick them in the Astrodome and then “process them” and send “back where they came from?” Get real. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Basically the immigration debate is just a way for people to just go off on rants about brown people using all kinds of racist code words. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Political Sex Scandal: </b>Oh sure these always start out fun. Anthony Weiner sent pics of his wee-wee to some chick? Hilarious! He used the online moniker “Carlos Danger?” Lacks creativity, but still pretty funny. Mark Sanford simply walks off the job as governor and goes to Argentina to spend a week with his mistress? Way cool! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The problem is that it never takes long before the discussion about these sex and sexting scandals become nothing more than partisan politics. All the conservatives who are “disgusted” by Anthony Weiner never had a word to say about Mark Sanford, David Vitter or even Larry Craig. And, everyone who was up in arms about Sanford think Weiner is getting the shaft. (Hey-OOOO)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The worst are the people out there who say “It’s just not right to make fun of Anthony Weiner because he has an addiction and addiction isn’t funny.” Oh bullshit! Addiction is hilarious. These are just people who basically support Weiner, but are embarrassed to admit so they come up with silly shit like that. Kind of like all the people who claim to be a Libertarian who are really just too embarrassed by the idiocy of the Republican Party to admit they’re a member. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Basically, the only thing the Weiner Sexting Scandal serves it to give sanctimonious political writers the chance to wag the finger of indignation at Weiner and anyone who might try to defend him, which is THEIR favorite activity, of course. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So now you’re probably wondering what I do give a shit about. Well, I tell ya, this story about NBA player and former Dukie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Redick">J.J. Redick</a> having an <b>“<a href="http://deadspin.com/how-j-j-redicks-abortion-contract-was-conceived-912727291">Abortion and Relationship Contract</a>”</b> with some chick? Now THAT’S freaking awesome! I guess you have to sprinkle a little schadenfreude on my Scandal Burger to make it interesting to  me. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jayman68">Facebook.com/Jayman68</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws">Jayman_IWS</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Immigration, PEDs and Sex Scandals: I Don't Care

Holaaaaaaaa y’all! You know, there’s been a lot going on this week that has been covered pretty heavily in the news and on social media and ...

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Uh-oh

Last week Jim Ukrop, formerly of Ukrop's Supermarkets and now with New Richmond Ventures, <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/ukrop-joins-campaign-group-for-mcauliffe/article_2871c8c8-f1ae-11e2-9b3b-001a4bcf6878.html#.Ue0diR_jZRY.gmail">announced his support of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe</a> through Virginians for Terry McAuliffe.<br /><br />The group is described as <span class="paragraph-1">a "nonpartisan group of Republicans, independents, Democrats and business leaders working to elect a pragmatic businessman as Virginia’s next governor.”</span><br /><br />On Thursday more business leaders -- John Shinholser, Bob Blue, Chris Clemente, and John Richardson -- announced their support for McAuliffe, perhaps drawn to him because he is a businessman.<br /><br />The McAuliffe campaign announced the additions: <br /><blockquote><b>Statement by John M. Shinholser:</b><br />“I am supporting Terry McAuliffe for governor because he will support mainstream policies that will attract new, innovative companies to Virginia to grow our economy and create jobs here in the Commonwealth. He knows the challenges entrepreneurs face in starting and growing their companies, and will work with both sides of the aisle to make it easier for businesses to start and grow here, and again make Virginia the best state for business.”<br /><br /><b>Biography of John M. Shinholser:</b><br />John Shinholser is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He owned and managed a successful contracting business for over 30 years, during which time he served as President of the Richmond Chapter of the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association. In 1982, John co-founded a non-profit recovery community resource foundation, at which he currently serves as president.<br /><br /><b>Statement by Christopher Clemente:</b><br />“I am supporting Terry McAuliffe for governor because he will work with both Republicans and Democrats to keep Virginia's economy growing. Terry will implement policies to encourage entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses here. He understands that workforce education and training, as well as robust infrastructure are the keys to attracting and retaining strong companies to our Commonwealth.”<br /><br /><b>Biography of Christopher Clemente:</b><br />Chris Clemente has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of real estate development and finance, and more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur. Clemente founded the Comstock organization as a residential developer and homebuilder in 1985. Over the years, Comstock has expanded operations to include all aspects of residential, commercial and mixed-use development, construction management, asset and portfolio management, and real estate related services. Clemente serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comstock Holding Companies, Inc. and as Managing Director of Comstock Partners, LC. In these roles, Mr. Clemente has direct responsibility for the corporate vision and strategic direction of the Comstock organization, as well as operational responsibilities.<br /><br /><b>Statement by John W. Richardson:</b><br />“Terry McAuliffe is the right choice to be Virginia’s next Governor. Terry will focus on bipartisan ways to strengthen our communities, invest in vital transportation improvements, and support our public safety systems. As Chairman of the Virginia Beach Development Authority, I know that Terry will focus on these and other issues that the citizens of Virginia Beach and communities across the Commonwealth care about.”<br /><br /><b>Biography of John W. Richardson:</b><br />John W. Richardson is the managing partner of the Virginia Beach office of Kaufman & Canoles, practicing in the areas of banking and lender representation, commercial/business, real estate, and title insurance law. Richardson is also the Chairman of the Virginia Beach Development Authority. He earned his law degree from The College of William & Mary and received a bachelor’s degree from The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.<br /><br /><b>Biography of Robert M. Blue:</b><br />Robert M. “Bob” Blue is Senior Vice President of Law, Public Policy, and Environment of Dominion Resources. He serves as chief legal advisor and directs the legal affairs of the Company. Blue is also responsible for Dominion’s federal, state and local public policy; environmental programs; economic development; philanthropy and community affairs; and corporate communications. From 2002 to 2005, Blue served as counselor and director of policy for former Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner and was a partner with the law firm of Hogan & Hartson prior to that. He is a member of the boards of directors of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, Virginia Healthcare Foundation, the American Civil War Center, the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority, Virginia forever, and Virginia21. Blue is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Yale Law School. He also earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.</blockquote>

Uh-oh

Last week Jim Ukrop, formerly of Ukrop's Supermarkets and now with New Richmond Ventures, announced his support of Democratic gubernator...

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A bowl full of imagination

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWqhx9X8Am-PEF-eaL2XEGcwW5nm4pPdKvO1RDxFlzBBpjZD09YgB9rd0ubLzuTU43WxxTWQhfW1xzAjVVrnllHXAN8KRtHUmygPz9zdC6LRumOeV8Ouv5AtF3oAuJ7lA-jCODFtjdCvQ/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWqhx9X8Am-PEF-eaL2XEGcwW5nm4pPdKvO1RDxFlzBBpjZD09YgB9rd0ubLzuTU43WxxTWQhfW1xzAjVVrnllHXAN8KRtHUmygPz9zdC6LRumOeV8Ouv5AtF3oAuJ7lA-jCODFtjdCvQ/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A bowl of colorful wooden beads along with a group of five-, six-, seven-, and eight-year-olds is the beginning of unleashing imaginations at the Frontier Culture Museum's summer camp.</div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 25, 2013

Frontier Culture Museum Summer Camp Shenandoah Valley Staunton A bowl full of imagination

A bowl of colorful wooden beads along with a group of five-, six-, seven-, and eight-year-olds is the beginning of unleashing imaginations a...

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